Tag: The Life of Katie!

Hey y’all! It’s been a while since the most recent sharing of my life of Katie. Essentially, in these blog posts, I provide y’all with a sneak peek into the Life of Katie. I am very excited to be getting back into the groove of sharing this type of post with y’all, especially since I have had a hectic past few weeks. But, before I got into sharing all about my life, I’d LOVE to hear a little bit about yours. That being said, comment below something exciting going on in YOUR life – I want to hear!

What’s Been on my Mind?!

• Fall EVERYTHING! – Recently, I have enjoyed ALL of the Fall merchandise in stores and everywhere I turn – it’s like its its own holiday. A local to me casino that attracts visitors from anywhere and everywhere for much more than gambling even decked out their atrium for Fall. I even visited a local farm and pumpkin patch – Nall’s Produce – where they were ALL decked for Fall, including a pumpkin wall that’s perfect for Instagrammable photos! At the same time, my Papa and I decorated for Fall outside at our house and it was so much fun. Needless to say, all of the Fall things feels like an extraordinary holiday that lasts until the Christmas cheer comes. Let me just say, I am HERE for it all!!!
• Gilmore Girls – The other day, I started watching Gilmore Girls. So many of my fellow influencer friends have been recommending that I watch it. I *finally* hopped on the bandwagon and started watching, and I am HOOKED. Lorelai and Rory have the most adorable, ever-evolving, and fun to watch mother-daughter bond. It, indeed, reminds me a bit of me and my Mom’s bond too. It’s such a sweet and funny show and all of the more awkward moments truly demonstrate how it is OKAY to not be perfect but to simply be YOU and live in the moment. Also, clutter is human and a house needs to look lived in!
• Visit to Philadelphia and Haddonfield, New Jersey – Two weekends ago, I visited Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Haddonfield, New Jersey for the weekend. Not going to lie, I am still on an all-time high from this trip. Fellow influencer and good friend of mine Casey and I preach on how girl time and simply friend time is good for the soul, and it is! My friend Amanda lives in Haddonfield and my friend Violet goes to school in Philadelphia. I was lucky enough to get to see them both on this wonderful trip – I spent a day in Philadelphia with Violet and then the remainder of the weekend in Haddonfield with Amanda. Both experiences were quite amazing and I cannot wait to go back closer to the holidays!
• Jojo Siwa Making History on Dancing with the Stars – About 8 days ago, Jojo Siwa, an openly LGBTQ+ pop star, made history by being the first-ever celebrity to go onto Dancing with the Stars with a same-sex partner. Let me just tell y’all – I am so so so amazed by Jojo Siwa and all that she has done in her short 18-19 years of life. I mean, this girl came out, has a girlfriend and an adorable relationship with her too, and breaks barriers everyday of what it means to be a super well-known LGBTQ+ celebrity in Hollywood. It’s incredible what this young woman has done for the LGBTQ+ community and others not apart of it. I have been cheering her on along with former Bachelor Matt James this season. Seeing her perform a killer dance on Dancing with the Stars was literally just the icing on the cake to all that she has accomplished so far!

These are a Few of my Favorite Things!

• Nall’s Produce – This past weekend, Papa and I visited a local pumpkin patch, farm, and market known as Nall’s Produce. Nall’s Produce has been around since Papa moved to the Washington, DC area in the 1960’s. Their pumpkin wall, pumpkin row, and pumpkins EVERYWHERE was an influencer’s dream! I had a blast getting to stroll the aisles of this absolutely stunning marketplace, and I cannot wait to go again as the seasons evolve.
• Movie Nights! – The other night, I met up virtually with two of my fellow influencer friends Holly of Glitter and Daisies & Lindsay of Sunshine and Stair Climbs and we enjoyed a movie together. We watched Home Again on Netflix featuring the iconic Reese Witherspooon. This was my first-ever hangout with fellow influencer friends, and it was amazing! We definitely plan to have movie nights again very soon. Needless to say, influencer friends are some of the best friends, and I have intentions to meet up with other influencers along with Lindsay and Holly in the near future, too, whether it be virtual or in-person.
• Paradise Springs Winery – Last weekend, Papa and I visited a local vineyard about 15 minutes from our house – Paradise Spring Winery. Let me tell y’all, Papa and I fell in LOVE with this vineyard! Paradise Springs Winery is super down-to-earth and stunning. People of all ages – kids and dogs alike – were enjoying the place with their rolling hills and hills of fields and benches to enjoy live music and fun times together. The facilities were extraordinarily beautiful and so was the exterior. Not to mention, the flights provided each guest with 6 cups of wine for $15!!! Aka a steal! Needless to say, Papa and I were remarkably impressed with this vineyard, and we cannot wait to visit again soon, especially with friends and family and *of course* our dog Rosie!
• Lilly Pulitzer’s Paws for a Cause Print – Each year, Lilly Pulitzer comes out with a Paws for a Cause print in honor of Breast Cancer awareness. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the brand donates a portion of the proceeds to Susan G. Komen. This year’s print name is Purposefully Pink, and, y’all it is GORGEOUS! Breast Cancer runs in my family to some extent and I know several women who have been affected by this disease in their lifetime (whether themselves or a family member), so I always find it important to support where I can. I am so excited at how pretty this year’s print is (they all are!) and even purchased a throw in the print! You can shop it below!

Recent Purchases & My Wish List Items!

• Fall Groceries – My favorite purchases have been from Target and Trader Joe’s. I have a running list in my mind of some of the many things that Trader Joe’s carries that I just *have* to get every year during this Fall season! Not to mention, TJ Maxx and Home Goods have the most adorable Fall finds, too, including Fall-themed coffee grounds and fat free coffee syrup. My favorites have been: Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Soup, Trader Joe’s Zucchette Pasta, Delight’s fat free Pumpkin coffee creamer, and Pumpkin-flavored yogurt.
• Sweater and Winter Jacket for Rosie – Recently, I purchased my dog Rosie a rain jacket from Chewy. This was my first-ever jacket bought for Rosie, and I was a bit nervous about how she would react to it and whether or not she would simply rip it off upon me putting it on her. Thank goodness and to my surprise, she did not! So, since it will be getting cooler in the coming weeks/months, I am now on the lookout for a sweater and winter jacket for Rosie, as she is a Shepherd-Chihuahua mix. The stores that I will be searching at during this time frame will be Chewy, Target, TJ Maxx/Home Goods/Marshall’s, and Lands End.
• Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale – As a Lilly Pulitzer lover, I shopped until I dropped at the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale (formerly known as the After Party Sale) these past few weeks. Some of my purchases include: a Sophie shift, a Trista shift, a Kristen Flounce dress, a romper, a Midi sleeveless wrap dress, the Tosha shift dress, handprinted wine glasses, a water bottle, and a mug. To me, Lilly Pulitzer sales are my Super Bowl, since I do not watch the Super Bowl beyond the commercials!
• Philadelphia Aids Thrift Store $1 Bucket Sale – When I was in Philadelphia, my friend Violet and I visited the Philadelphia Aids Thrift Store, which donates a portion of its proceeds to AIDS research. Philadelphia Aids Thrift is notorious for its $1 bucket sales, where you can purchase items out of a bucket for $1/each. I was able to score: a Michael Kors black puffer jacket, Gal Meets Glam white pearl jumpsuit, LOFT tank, Banana Republic navy blazer, LOFT navy pants, and much more! Needless to say, I want to go back for sure.

What’s on the Docket?!

• Trips to Raleigh Planning – With October coming up, so do my two trips in October to Raleigh, North Carolina! I went to college at Meredith College down in Raleigh, North Carolina and I loved every minute of it. I will be visiting friends for a college reunion and weekend, respectively on each trip. The planning has started, since I have booked my flight for the first weekend and am still working out the kinks for the next trip. Altogether, I cannot wait to go back to my college town!
• Visiting Arlington – My good friend from Meredith College will be in Arlington soon and I cannot wait to meet up with her and explore the area. Surprisingly so, I have not seen much of Arlington beyond Pentagon City and most specifically the mall there, so I cannot wait to explore as there’s so much to see there!

Now that I shared ALL about what’s going on in my life, I want to hear about YOURS! Comment down below something that you’re looking forward to!

XOXO – Katie <3

Hey y’all! Today, I will be sharing my third-ever The Life of Katie! Fortunately, these have become quite a hit here on this platform, so I will continue to do them for weeks to come. As always stated in these posts, before I get into sharing a peek into my life and the inner workings of my life and how I spread my own confetti, I want to hear a bit about yours. So, at the end of this post, comment below one or two things that you’re looking forward to this week – I would LOVE to know!

What’s Been on my Mind?!

• Chicago Med, cont. – Recently, I have been watching a LOT of Chicago Med. Y’all I LOVE THIS SHOW! While I do love Grey’s Anatomy too and the patients that they bring into the hospital, I have found that I prefer the patients and their cases that Chicago Med has brought on a bit more. Not to mention, I really love that this show has a psychiatric program that is regularly seen on the show – it is something different that I think is so so vital to today’s society and especially with hospital patients and their cases. At the same time, they have a regular doctor on the show who is on the autism spectrum, which brings about a ton of diversity even more than what the show’s cast has to offer. Needless to say, this show is a hit and has oddly enough, helped me to be more productive with my work.
• Pumpkin Spice, am I right?! – Creamer, syrup, and coffee grounds, oh my! I have been LOVING the pumpkin spice season, especially with it now being September! Recently, I purchased Mr. Coffee’s Iced Coffee Machine and have been enjoying every minute of owning it. I have been brewing up ALL the iced pumpkin spice lattes in the comfort of my own home since. Through it all, I have been embracing this pumpkin spice season, and enjoying every minute of it!
• Addison Montgomery coming back to Grey’s Anatomy! – If you know me, then you know I LOVE Addison Montgomery from both Grey’s Anatomy and its spin-off Private Practice. This past week, actress Kate Walsh who plays this favorite character of mine announced in the form of a super fun Tik Tok that she would be coming back onto Grey’s Anatomy for its upcoming Season 18. Let me just say that I am SO SO excited that Addison Montgomery is making her first appearance back on the screen after around 10 years. It’ll be super fun to see her back at it again and as a regular within the ever-evolving show cast and of course with causing drama for the series lead Meredith Grey!
• Fall recipes! – The other day, I saw a meme about how, since it is September, it is officially soup season! My mind has been wrapped around the idea of all of the adorable Fall recipes that I can be doing this season, from Butternut squash soup, to spaghetti squash pasta, to candy corn cookies. At the same time, I am super excited to be able to hit the aisles of Trader Joe’s and local Farmer’s Markets in the coming weeks for Fall goodies to try in my own kitchen, too. I have been doing a lot of meal planning and searching the web and Pinterest to admire some of the many Fall recipes that I plan to try this season.

These are a Few of my Favorite Things!

• Downtown Fairfax, Virginia – The other day, I took a day trip to downtown Fairfax, Virginia. Located in the heart of Northern Virginia’s Fairfax County, Fairfax, Virginia has an ADORABLE tiny downtown that has lots to do. I made a visit to go get dinner with my friend Haley at the local Coyote Grill and we had a great time! Not only was the food good, but the restaurant’s atmosphere was even better. Haley also lives right near the downtown, so it’s fun to know that I have someone I can see who calls this adorable place home. Needless to say, many of the other restaurants in downtown Fairfax gave me that same appeal. Luckily for myself, downtown Fairfax is an easy 20-30 minute day trip from my own home, and I will be back very soon.
• Glitter & Daisies – One of my good fellow influencer friends, Holly, of Glitter & Daisies created her own shop selling Disney ears with the same namesake! Holly has worked countless hours, days, weeks, and months to get this shop up and running and she is so deserving of all the glory that has come to her since. Her Disney ears are oh so adorable and provide several ounces of glam, especially if you’re going on a Disney trip or doing a Disney run (virtual or at the parks). This past weekend, Holly’s shop went live and she is doing so so so well since it did, and I could not be any prouder. Above all else, I cannot wait to place my order after Lilly Pulitzer’s After Party Sale! You can shop her site here: https://www.glitteranddaisies.com.
• Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Machine – Last week, I unboxed my Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee machine. Let me tell y’all, it is amazing! I am so excited that I was able to purchase this easy-to-use iced coffee machine and how much money I will be saving, too. I will be publishing a review on this iced coffee machine later this week, so be on the lookout for that. In the meantime, the other day on Facebook, I spotted that this exact iced coffee machine is being sold for $15 at Walmart. So, run!!!!
• The Dollar Tree’s Fall Decor – I have been oh so excited, whenever I walk through the doors of my local Dollar Tree, to admire ALL of the Fall decorations. From wooden silhouettes in the shapes of pumpkins and witches, to block decals even in the form of a monogram, to outdoor scarecrows, to pumpkins, The Dollar Tree has it all. The Dollar Tree has truly stepped up their game in the recent months/years. In fact, my friends Kaylee and Julia go there for holiday decorations and decorations in general and I can see why! I have similarly started doing the same, myself, too. Needless to say, I am excited to go back and make a visit this week for even more Fall decorations.
• My new do! – Last week, I *finally* got rid of my long, COVID-19 locks and opted for a shorter AND blonder hair do! I have been going to the same hairdresser for almost 10 years now and my mother much longer than me and I could not not go to her yet again. I had a great time getting my hair done and am excited about my new look. Y’all, it WAS about time!

Recent Purchases & My Wishlist Items!

• Fall Decor – This past week, I went to both Hobby Lobby and The Dollar Tree, in order to purchase Fall decorations. Soon enough, I will be revealing my Fall decorations for this year on my social media and here on the blog. Let me just say that there are SO many adorable decorations on the shelves this Fall y’all!
• Ipsy – Back in June, I finally took the plunge and got an Ipsy Makeup Bag monthly subscription. I have to say that I LOVE getting new and exciting makeup finds that I would not have found elsewhere each month. August, I got an eyeshadow duo palette and a blush that I LOVE and have been wearing since I unzipped my pouch!
• J Crew Factory Fall Items – I’m a sucker for J Crew! J Crew Factory has continuously been one of my favorite fashion brands. Their new Fall arrivals are oh so adorable, and I cannot wait to shop them in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I am having the hardest time being able to decide which item(s) to take the plunge on and purchase. Though, I will say that I LOVE their scalloped tanks, paper skirts, patent wedges, and top knot headbands.

What’s on the Docket?!

• Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale – Rumor has it, the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale will be occurring within the next week or two. Let’s just say that this girl will be shopping until she drops. I always use the September After Party Sales to stock up on Lilly Pulitzer products that I can style someway for the Fall months. I am also a sucker for Fall, y’all, and cannot wait to wear some Lilly even if it is cooler outside!
• Sunday Football Day – Sunday is a big football day, especially in my family’s house! This upcoming weekend, my Dad is coming into town to watch the football game with my brother, so I will be baking them some Italian football snacks and lunch. I am super excited to be able to provide my Dad and brother with some fun snacks to enjoy their football fun on the couch!

Now, as stated up above, I would LOVE to hear what you’re up to this week! Comment down below something that you’re looking forward to!

XOXO – Katie <3