48 Hours in Boston, Massachusetts

To kick off November 2023, I took a weekend trip up to Boston, Massachusetts (!!!!). My cousin Sabrina and her girlfriend Nicole live in the nearby Boston suburbs and were amazing hostesses (which I am ALSO so grateful for them opening their home up to me, too!) and I got to also meet some Instagram besties of mine and have them become in real life friends (if you know, you know!). My trip to Boston was SUCH A BLESSING to me and I am OH SO GLAD that I was *finally* able to make this trip happen. The idea of me visiting Boston on my own has been in my head for … 9 years now, and I am very happy that I have been able to make it happen almost a decade later. While in Boston, I was able to see many of the sights that this New England hub has to offer, ranging from points of interest all along the Freedom Trail, Newbury Street, Beacon Hill (including the iconic Acorn Street), North End aka Little Italy, the waterfront, all the way to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. My first full day in Boston, I walked 18,000+ steps and found myself crashed on the air mattress that night – LOL! Overall, I am SO happy and blessed that I was able to visit my cousin Sabrina and Nicole and have an incredible time up in New England (see snippets from my trip to New England in 2022 here, here, here, and here!).

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Getting There:

Living in the Washington, DC area allows me to have MANY MANY MANY flight options for getting to and from Boston, given nearby airports and airlines. I ended up using Delta flight vouchers that I had from cancelled trips to the Carolina’s over the summer and paying $5 (!!!!!!!) out of pocket round trip out of Reagan National Airport (DCA) which is Metro-accessible for me and super close to Washington, DC. I chose to fly to Boston on a Friday evening and fly back to Washington, DC on a Monday morning, to allow for a bit of a vacation post-vacation. Over the years, I have decided to mainly stick with Delta and United Airlines (and their partner airlines) for flights, given that I have a rewards account with each and want to accumulate miles over time. The BEST PART?! Given my rewards account through Delta airlines, *somehow*, I got a free upgrade to Comfort+ heading home and found out when I went to gate check my bag which is the rows behind First Class and got to enjoy many many fun perks during my quick flight back home. I LOVED the incredible service that Delta provided on my flights both to and from Boston and look forward to flying Delta again in the future!

What I Did:

When in Boston, live as fellow Bostonians do! I REALLY enjoyed getting a taste of Boston over the weekend that I was there! The first day I was in Boston, I walked over 18,000 steps and then crashed when I got back to my cousin’s apartment – LOL! Anyhow, I LOVED getting to see SOOO many incredible sites to see here in Boston, including the many points of interest alongside the Freedom Trail, the stunning Beacon Hill neighborhood, Newbury Street, North End (including the waterfront!), and the iconic Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. I also enjoyed getting to meet up with not one but 3 (!!!!) Bostonian Instagram besties of mine – Griffin, Timmy, and Mikayla – while in town and getting to see their incredible city from their perspectives. Truly, I LOVED getting to see Boston for the first time as an adult and learn to love this stunning, charming, and historic New England city.

While there, I mostly used public transportation via their subway system known as the T. I purchased a 1 ride or 2 ride pass which was either $2.40 or $4.80, respectively. I will note that, over time, the T has become a bit more unreliable to local Bostonians, given that the trains can be super slow and delayed, which can be an issue for those with commitments and commuting to and from work. However, the T is GREAT for not having to drive in and out of the city and around the city as well as saving on Uber/Lyft fares. Compared to Washington, DC’s Metro’s fares, the T’s fares are *pretty close* to what I pay per ride on the weekends.

Boston Public Garden

The Boston Public Garden was probably my FAVORITE spot in all of Boston (!!!!!). Indeed, it felt *just* as if I was walking through a mini Central Park …. But I was in Boston! I truly loved getting to enjoy the vibes of locals, tourists, musicians, and everyone in between in this beautiful and central spot in the city. The city skyline of Boston was also a stunning aspect of the Boston Public Garden, too! I sat on a bench in the Boston Public Garden not once, but twice, and LOVED getting to literally cool my heels and take it all in, whether it be the people-watching, crisp Fall air, or city vibes.

Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill feels like Boston’s version of Washington, DC’s Georgetown neighborhood HOWEVER it has a much much much more colonial and historical feel to it. Just like Georgetown, Beacon Hill has several shops, both locally owned and bigger known names, restaurants, cafes, and several stunning windy cobblestone streets. I popped into the stunning Beacon Hill Books & Cafe, Benefit Cosmetics, Upstairs Downstairs Home, and *of course* Starbucks. I also walked down the iconic Acorn Street – which according to my cousin Sabrina is one of the most photographed streets in the United States. Acorn Street is a historical cobblestone alley essentially that still holds its colonial charm to this very day. The best part?! I ran into my friend Joelle on a whim while wondering the streets of Beacon Hill, and I was SOOOO glad I ran into Joelle and got to see her in Boston where she’s recently relocated while on this trip!

Upstairs Downstairs Home

Acorn Street

Freedom Trail

My fellow Instagram turned in-real life (!!!!) bestie Mikayla of @blissandbows gave me a walking tour of Boston’s Freedom Trail when we met up! We walked the Boston Common to the Old City Hall (which is a favorite of mine weirdly enough!) ALLL the way to Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. And, *of course* passing a prominent cemetery in between it all. I had a GREAT time getting to meet up with Mikayla in-person and see her incredible city from her perspective. Earlier in the day with my friends Griffin and Timmy, we walked by the Massachusetts State House, which was another super cool site to see. Boston’s Freedom Trail is spread out throughout the city yet it still somewhat centralized, too. I found it SO unique that Boston has sites from the colonial days still standing to this very day as well as tall buildings representing the big city vibe era of today.

Newbury Street

I *of course* did some shopping here on Newbury Street! Newbury Street feels like the shopping street of Boston. I popped into the stunning Lilly Pulitzer store which I had seen SO MANY photos of for many years. The ladies at the Lilly Pulitzer there were SO sweet, too! I enjoyed checking out some of the New Arrivals in-person and chatting with the Lilly ladies of Boston. Then, I headed to Kendra Scott which was such a STUNNING store and all decked out for Christmas, too, (just like Lilly Pulitzer was!!) and *of course* did a little bit of damage, getting the Emerald Elisa necklace. I truly LOVED the interiors of both Lilly Pulitzer’s and Kendra Scott’s storefronts. Like much of Boston, the storefronts of Newbury Street are in older buildings and possess such unique charm on both the interiors and exteriors.

Another neat aspect of Newbury Street was passing religious buildings of all kinds, whether a synagogue, church, or temple, that are still in use today. The biggest theme of all of these religious buildings was the fact that they all brought everyone together. Each place of worship had signs to show that they are a safe place for people of all walks of life, whether LGBTQ+, BIPOC, etc. It truly was a beautiful thing to see the love and acceptance and inclusivity in the air ALL around Boston.

North End

Mikayla and I walked ALL the way to North End from the Freedom Trail. Our first stop was the Boston Waterfront, which was STUNNING. We, then, strolled along the beautiful streets to dinner via Mikayla’s amazing recommendation of BenCotto (more on that below!). North End is known at Boston’s Little Italy neighborhood and is a very popular place for visitors and locals, alike to dine,

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is probably THE BEST museum that I have ever visited, alongside the Louvre in Paris and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence (!!!!!). The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is actually late 1800’s-early 1900’s Boston socialite Isabella Stewart Gardner’s mansion-turned-museum. Isabella Stewart Gardner was an avid world traveler and extremely educated and bright woman for her time. Stewart Gardner learned to read and had tens of thousands of books in her collection, alongside artworks from her international travels, including to Asia, Europe, and all across the United States. Honestly, her collection of artwork and books was STUNNING (!!!!). I was truly in awe of Stewart Gardner’s collection that still prevails to this day and attracts many many many visitors year after year. I went with my cousin Sabrina and her girlfriend Nicole who both have been to the museum in the past and LOVE it. We ended up chatting with a local Bostonian who is a fellow Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum member. He ended up telling us some really neat antidotes and facts about the iconic Isabella Stewart Gardner, who had several friends at Harvard University in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts where she was able to be inspired to pursue her lifelong passion for learning. What a woman Stewart Gardner was before her time. I left this museum feeling beyond empowered, inspired, and in awe!

Where I Ate:

Bistro du Midi

My Instagram turned in real life (!!!!) besties Griffin and Timmy suggested that we try Bistro du Midi – a delicious French spot right alongside the Boston Public Garden – for *none other than* brunch! It was SUCH AN HONOR to be able to meet both Griffin and Timmy in-person for the first time. We had an amazing time at Bistro du Midi, too. I tried raw clams for the first time ever and enjoyed a delicious omelette with some amazing pommes frites. I also have to mention that the atmosphere at Bistro du Midi is EVERYTHING, from the bar to the second story (where we ate!) to everything in between. I also had a great time with GREAT company, too!!

Bencotto

Mikayla suggested we try Bencotto and I am SO glad that we went! Bencotto is located in Boston’s North End where Italian cuisines reign, as previously mentioned, and was such a treat. One of my highlights of Bencotto was getting to spend time with Mikayla and learn more about a restaurant that she and her family LOVE to dine at and celebrate occasions together at, too. I *surprise* got an Aperol Spritz with *none other than* a specialty pizza for dinner. Needless to say, my pizza and Aperol Spritz and pizza were well-earned and deserved after walking 18,000+ steps around town that day!

Tous Les Jours

While it is a nationwide franchise, Tous Les Jours is a favorite spot of my cousin Sabrina’s alongside her girlfriend Nicole. And, both Sabrina and Nicole take loved ones to Tous Les Jours when they come to visit them! Before Boston, I had never dined at a Tous Les Jours location and was very impressed by its unique experience. Essentially, Tous Les Jours is a French-Japanese pastry shop and cafe fusion, offering a variety of both sweet and savory pastries. Guests upon entry grab a set of tongs and can select the pastries of their choosing AND order a coffee or tea at the register when they go to pay. I got a savory quiche and a sweet chocolate-filled croissant alongside a pumpkin spice latte!

Pressed Cafe

After wondering and being in literal heaven at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Sabrina, Nicole, and I headed to Pressed Cafe located at Prudential Center. A New England/Northern-based breakfast and Mediterranean like cafe chain, Pressed Cafe was SO gorgeous on the inside and offered something literally for everyone! I definitely enjoyed the vibes at Pressed Cafe and the market-like array of goods such as hummus and freshly pressed juices for guests to purchase and take home with them. Pressed Cafe was definitely a unique spot that I would try again when in New England!

Wrap-Up:

Overall, I LOVED getting to *finally* visit Boston as an adult. The last time I went to Boston before this trip was when I was 15 and couldn’t really go off on my own and do my own thing. And, since that trip as a 15 year old, I had been wanting to go back to Boston and do *none other than* my own thing on a trip there. I am SO glad I got to do my own thing on this trip … a whopping 9 years later! This trip, I got to explore the stunning Beacon Hill neighborhood, shop and browse the gorgeous stores there at my own pace, explore the historic sites to see alongside the Freedom Trail, and visit a new-to-me museum that I fell IN LOVE with.

At the same time, I am SO SO SO grateful to have many loved ones in Boston, including my cousin Sabrina and her girlfriend Nicole who were incredible hosts during this trip. I LOVED getting to finally meet my Instagram friends Griffin, Timmy, and Mikayla and have them become in real life friends. Needless to say, I feel SOOO much gratitude for this trip and to be able to fall in love with another place in New England (growing up I spent summers up in Maine!). I ALSO am so so so excited for visiting Boston and other parts of New England in the future, as I have some friends in Boston and Newport, Rhode Island that I have yet to meet up with in their respective homes. New England is probably my favorite place in the world, given its charm and stunning coastlines to mountainous skylines. Moving forward, I aspire to visit New England at least once a year!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Pre-Thanksgiving Weekend in Washington, DC!

Typically the weekend before Thanksgiving, ALL of the Christmas fun has typically begun in the Washington, DC area! And, as a Christmas enthusiast, I see that there is literally nothing better to do than simply enjoy ALL the holly jolly fun right in my own backyard. Ranging from hosting my first-ever Friendsgiving to visiting a Popup Christmas bar to a Christmas tree lighting and everything in between, I have enjoyed this past pre-Thanksgiving weekend essentially kicking off the holidays here in my city.

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

My best friend and fellow influencer Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs on Instagram came to visit me over the weekend JUST IN TIME for Friendsgiving (!!!). We, then, did a bunch of activities around the city and went out to Bealton, Virginia for a winery day, too. I will note that although not everything is fully decorated and all things Christmas until around December 1, I am SO glad I got to show Lindsay a bit of Christmas in Washington, DC.

Friendsgiving

Friendsgiving was a bittersweet one, as I had to cancel my planned gathering last year due to burnout. SO, I am so so so thankful, grateful, and blessed to be able to not only host an incredible Friendsgiving this year but also have such incredible friendships here in the Washington, DC area. Many of my local friends were able to make it, too, which made it to be such an incredible and blessed gathering. Lindsay also got to meet all of my Washington, DC area friends and everyone there all became friends on social media and in real life (!!!!). One of the biggest gifts in my book is seeing my friends become friends with my other friends. I LOVE being a bridge to new and incredible friendships! Rosie my dog also joined in on the Friendsgiving fun, too, and brought us all SO MUCH JOY!

Downtown Holiday Market (Centered at 8th and F Streets NW, Washington DC)

Every year, Washington, DC’s Downtown Holiday Market brings Christmas cheer to the city pretty much daily now until December 23 from 12-8pm. Located just in front of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, the Downtown Holiday Market brings local Washington, DC area businesses to the forefront to showcase their goods and allow locals and visitors alike to support them. While I find the Downtown Holiday Market to be a bit overpriced (depending on the merchandise) at times, I do LOVE supporting 1-2 local small businesses each year and learning about many others in my city. Lindsay and I LOVED taking photos in front of the fun props such at candy canes and reindeer and stars for folks to pose in front of and enjoying *none other than* the holiday vibes at the Downtown Holiday Market. Live music is there, too! We were there right as the sun had set, which made for such a magical experience!

Urban Roast (916 G Street NW, Suite C-2, Washington DC)

Known as Washington, DC’s premier pop-up bar, Urban Roast has been ALLL decked out for Christmas since the beginning of November! I have LOVED dining at Urban Roast for the vibes and drinks but less for the food (which to be honest is subpar). However, the staff there are super kind and make it worthwhile to come back time and time again. The Christmas decorations at Urban Roast was probably my favorite that they’ve done, too! Being transparent, I reacted adversely to something in the environment at Urban Roast which will make me sit out going back there any time soon. BUT, I am ALL about enjoying the vibes at this incredible pop-up bar while you can!

Bull Run Festival of Lights (7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA)

I treated Papa and I to tickets at the Bull Run Festival of Lights and it was AMAZING. Every holiday season, the Bull Run Festival of Lights takes over Centreville’s Bull Run Regional Park with SO MUCH Christmas cheer. When I was a kid, my family and I used to pack the family van and all go and enjoy the lights at Bull Run, so it felt magical to be back! This time around, Papa and I ended up going on a rainy Tuesday night and took Rosie with us. The cutest thing is that Rosie was looking out the window at the lights, too! Needless to say, we all enjoyed ourselves and had a holly jolly time!!

Morais Vineyards & Winery (11409 Marsh Road, Bealton, VA)

My fellow best friend Stephanie posted about the Fall Festival that Morais Vineyards & Winery was having when Lindsay was coming to visit, SO, in typical Katie fashion, I made arrangements for us ALL to go! Morais Vineyards & Winery is located about an hour away from me and Stephanie both in Bealton, Virginia and about 90 minutes South of Washington, DC. Stephanie and I had checked out Morais Vineyards & Winery while at the Mount Vernon Wine Festival back in October (here) and knew we wanted to check out the gorgeous vineyard in-person at some point. Morais Vineyards & Winery also serves as a wedding venue playing homage to Portuguese architecture and wine with some tastes of its home in the Virginia Wine Country, too. It is a STUNNING place! We all enjoyed some wine and checking out the food trucks and small business booths at the Fall Festival.

Old Ebbitt Grill (675 15th Street NW, Washington DC)

Old Ebbitt Grill is probably one of my VERY favorite restaurants. I write more about this incredible restaurant and its historical significance in Washington, DC and the United States as a whole here. And, since the notable Nutcrackers appear outside the doors of the magical Old Ebbitt Grill EVERY holiday season, Lindsay and I *just knew* that it would be a must-go for us! While I go into much more details on Old Ebbitt Grill in my previously linked post, this well-known restaurant is a unique one in that it brings together tourists and locals, alike, and has a strong international presence with both its clientele and staff making it such a unique place to be!

Old Town Alexandria Christmas Tree Lighting (520 King Street, Alexandria, VA)

The Christmas tree lighting in Old Town Alexandria took place on Saturday November 17 with special guests such as Santa and his elves. The Christmas tree is located right in front of the gorgeously historic Alexandria Courthouse in the heart of Old Town Alexandria’s King Street. Lindsay and I shopped at local shops on King Street before admiring the gorgeously lit tree. I spend A LOT of time in Old Town Alexandria, as it is one of my happy happy happy places, so to see the Christmas tree there the night it was lit brought me SO MUCH JOY!

The Willard Intercontinental Hotel (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC)

While not decked out for Christmas *just yet* (or at least when we went), the Willard Intercontinental Hotel is ALWAYS such a magical place to be. I took Lindsay here late on a Sunday night right after our dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill, as it is a few blocks away. This notable and iconic Washington, DC hotel has an iconic holiday tea at their in-house Peacock Alley and nightly carolers (something I want to check out this year!). More details on the holiday fun here. It was a such and brief visit for us both before the halls are decked out!

I have already found SO MUCH joy and things to be thankful for this holiday season. I have SO MUCH holiday fun to look forward to this season, and I hope you do too.

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – October 2023

October 2023 started off on a BIG low and ended on a BIG high. WHAT A MONTH it was (!!!!!). From kicking off the month with extreme burnout to some super fun professional development events including speaking at a conference and going back to the classroom TWICE and exciting professional news to some local travel and adventures close to home to enjoying the Fall foliage and vibes to dressing Rosie up for Halloween and everything in between, October 2023 was truly one for the books. The older I get, the more I want to savor ALLL the memories and be grateful for what I have in the moment. And, the memories I had made this October 2023 were no different.

Highs:

  • Papa and I enjoyed a nice meal in downtown Clifton, Virginia together at Trattoria Villagio (which was recently ranked as a Top 50 Restaurant by Northern Virginia Magazine!). It was a great time for both me and Papa to simply enjoy one another’s company, some delicious pasta and appetizers (I was craving calamari and Papa was craving bruschetta!), and some excellent restaurant ambience.
  • This Fall has been a BEAUTIFUL one (!!!!). Personally, I have found this time of year to be one of THE MOST stunning times with the Fall foliage. I have taken EVERY moment to enjoy the stunning environment around me, through walks at local ponds near me to taking in alll the crisp Fall air when I step foot outside, to views of the foliage when I drive on Fairfax County Parkway. I have truly taken a moment this October to take a step back and practice mindfulness via simply being in the moment of Fall 2023 … we will never see Fall 2023 again, so why not enjoy it?!
  • Early this month, I got a surprise email in my inbox that I had been … PROMOTED (!!!!). My promotion was well-earned and a result of A LOT of hard work that I put in on the job. I have grown SO SO SO passionate about my work since starting at my current employer since graduating from college in 2021. I am extremely blessed to be able to work for my incredible employer and am SO excited to have been promoted this Fall season. I feel A LOT of confidence that others are seeing the hard work that I am putting in with tons of passion and am extremely proud of myself for earning it, too. To celebrate, I went to my favorite spot: Old Town Alexandria where I got a bottle of Italian women-owned bubbly at Virginia’s Darling, stopped by the Lilly Pulitzer store on King Street, strolled alongside the iconic Captain’s Row (more on that below!), and purchased a new dress at The Lucky Knot on King Street. I, then, went to my Mom’s house to enjoy some takeout Afghan cuisine from her favorite spot Afghan Bistro with a bottle of wine I picked up from Virginia’s Darling’s market and it was DELICIOUS. My Mom (and Dad, too) has been one of my biggest cheerleaders in life, so it was special to be able to celebrate with her.
  • Back to the classroom for me this October 2023! I started my monthly program – Ignite Young Professionals via the Leadership Center for Excellence – and have LOVED getting to be a student again and network with likeminded professionals all across different industries in the Washington, DC and more specifically Arlington, Virginia area. The Ignite Young Professionals program focuses on empowering the next generation of leaders with the skills to succeed professionally and personally alongside an incredible civic engagement component with a local Arlington, Virginia-based nonprofit. I LOVE LOVE LOVE and am so blown away by my classmates, how much I learned from them, and what incredible people they are. I am *VERY* excited for what is to come over the next 8 months as a student via the Leadership Center for Excellence!
  • This month, I had the HUGE honor to represent my employer where I moderated a panel at Women in Data, Washington, DC’s Making Sense of Data 2023 conference at the National Children’s Museum (which is SUCH A COOL museum!!). My panel was focused on 7th grader students and featured other working data professionals in government and the public sector. The students were extremely interactive asking several great questions AND loving learning the fact that data helps power TikTok and Instagram – LOL! Also, I LOVED getting to network with some incredible fellow women (and men!) in data who both volunteered at the conference whether with a booth or through the event as a whole. One of my biggest passions is empowering the next generation of girls and women in STEM-based careers, which Making Sense of Data 2023 allowed me to do! The BEST part?!?! I got to strike a few poses at the Barbie booth (!!!!!!).
  • I got a new PINK iPad!! In case you haven’t been following along on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) stories, I accidentally spilled water on my 2017 MacBook Pro. Fortunately for myself, I had insurance to cover the replacement of my laptop, which allowed me to replace it with … a PINK iPad and a Magic Keyboard to go with it. Needless to say, my excitement is definitely an understatement and the iPad is PERFECT for what I need for regular personal use. I actually picked up my iPad after the Making Sense of Data conference in Georgetown where I dined at Martin’s Tavern for a splendid solo date filled with espresso martinis, burgers, and fries (!!!).
  • Papa, Rosie, and I made a visit to Burke Nursey & Garden Centre‘s Fall Market on a weeknight and it was so fun! We went there last year and brought Rosie then, too, and had such a blast. There are two parts to the Fall Market: the the market filled with aisles of locally made goods ranging from their homemade Apple Cider Donuts, curated jams and sodas, and produce and the pumpkin patch and playground with Spooky-themed murals, hay bails, and *of course* pumpkins. This time around, we enjoyed browsing, walking around and admiring both the market and the patch, and watching Rosie enjoy it all, too.
  • One of the BEST parts of October in the Washington, DC area is making a visit to Old Town Alexandria’s iconic cobblestone streets of Captain’s Row to see the well-known Halloween decorations. Confession: I hadn’t have made a visit to Captain’s Row since I moved back to the Washington, DC area after college. SO, I LOVED getting to make a visit to Captain’s Row after enjoying some bubbly at Virginia’s Darling (!!!!) to celebrate my promotion. The Halloween decorations were so so so fun to see, especially since I recently learned that the Halloween decorations change within the community year after year!
  • At the Jonas Brothers concert back in September (here), I met a new friend Liz while getting lost on the way to Metro. Liz and I have met up again since the Jonas Brothers concert right by our Tysons-based offices at Coastal Flats in Tysons Corner Center where she brought Joe Jonas in the form of a pop-up! Needless to say, I am SO blessed that Liz and I met while getting lost going to Metro after the Jonas Brothers concert and have bonded ever since. Liz truly is a blessing!
  • My Dad came to visit for a weekend and we had an amazing time together! Our first stop was to Washington, DC to dig into our family genealogy research at the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library which is a STUNNING library (!!!!). We met with some genealogists and had a great time meeting with them and exploring the gorgeous library, museum, and state rooms which showcase historical representations of rooms from different states in different time periods. While we have literally hit a brick wall with a bit of our family genealogy, we did enjoy our time there and the several impressive resources at this incredible free library. After our time digging back in time, Dad and I headed to Thompson Italian aka one of my favorite local restaurants (!!!) in Old Town Alexandria to enjoy some amazing wine, short rib ravioli, and dessert before walking down King Street to stop into The Lucky Knot (who have the sweetest ladies there!!!!), enjoy some live music, and take in all of the spooky vibes. The next day, we got brunch in Occoquan, Virginia’s historic district at our favorite spot: The Secret Garden Cafe. We also strolled through the town, which is DECKED OUT for Halloween and so so so charming, and admired the adjacent Occoquan River, window shopping, and the crisp Fall air. I had an amazing time with my Dad and I truly cherish our time together.

DAR Library

Old Town Alexandria

Occoquan Historic District

  • Every October, Papa and Rosie and I take a day trip to Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive to enjoy the foliage. This year, I took a Thursday off of work and we got a peak at the leaves a bit pre-peak and pre-mega crowds, too. The day we went was a BEAUTIFUL sunny day and literally THE PERFECT day to go! We enjoyed taking in ALLLL of the stunning and cloud-free scenic views, crisp Fall air, and time together. Afterwards, we got lunch in Old Town Warrenton, Virginia at Denim & Pearls which was dog-friendly and had amazing daily deals on both beers and burgers aka the golden ticket (!!!!). The staff at Denim & Pearls were SOOO friendly and hospitable, too. Afterwards, I took a brief stroll through Old Town Warrenton before heading back home. Papa and Rosie and I definitely had a very special day for YEAR …. 3 of our Shenandoah National Park Fall day trip!

Shenandoah National Park

Warrenton

  • Just HOURS after I got back from Shenandoah National Park, my friend Liz and I met up at Panera Bread for dinner and then off to Tyson’s Showplace Icon Theatre and Kitchen to see … Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie. I *of course* got the bucket and cup and some popcorn, too. Liz and I dressed up in PINK and enjoyed time together just simply bonding and enjoying one another’s company while LITERALLY sobbing over our mutual love for Taylor Swift (and the Jonas Brothers, too!). I enjoyed Liz’s and I’s time together AND the amazing reclining chairs at the theatre!
  • The last week of October, it felt *just as if* ALL of the happy hours were manifesting (!!!). My back-to-back happy hours kicked off with Causes & Cocktails at The Commentary in Arlington’s Ballston neighborhood. Causes & Cocktails is an event hosted by Volunteer Arlington to highlight different charities focused on different causes in the Arlington, Virginia area, with this month’s being focused on Food Insecurity. I got to network with those at the local nonprofits alongside others in the amazing Leadership Center for Excellence network that I recently became apart of via Ignite Young Professionals (INCLUDING some of my classmates!!) and *of course* my best friend Stephanie who completed a high school program through the Leadership Center for Excellence. The next happy hour was the 2023 Achieving After-school Celebration to fundraiser for Aspire After-school Learning: an Arlington-based nonprofit focused on providing additional After-school programming for students. I got to network with others from my Leadership Center for Excellence network AND enjoy the incredible skyline views at the venue: Army Navy Country Club! Because I was tired from a busy week the past week, I’m proud of myself for declining additional happy hour invites to simply rest.

Causes & Cocktails

Achieving After-School Celebration

  • Halloweekend was filled with LOTS of rest and LOTS of fun! Friday, I enjoyed the night in with carry out Chinese food and some tea on my back porch with my best friend Haley in the early evening. Saturday, I ran some errands including a stop by Home Goods (!!!!) and to a Trunk or Treat that Papa was volunteering at during setup. The Trunk or Treat had *none other than* a Fall-themed balloon arch, SO I *of course* snapped a few photos in front of it! Sunday, Papa, Aunt Amy, and I enjoyed a brunch at Ada’s on the River at the Old Town Alexandria waterfront. Our brunch was amazing (as per usual!) and I had one of the best Aperol Spritz’s I’ve had! Afterwards, I took Papa and Aunt Amy to Captain’s Row to see ALLL the spooky Halloween decorations (!!!). Captain’s Row brought GREAT joy to all three of us. Sunday evening, I organized, did some home decor projects, and meal prepped for the week ahead. The entire weekend included LOTS of the Hallmark Channel’s Christmas movies, too.

Trunk or Treat

Ada’s on the River

Captain’s Row

Lows:

  • 2 weeks without a personal laptop SUCKED at the beginning of the month. I ended up using my work laptop for personal use including writing blog content where I encountered … a BUG with WordPress. The WordPress bug delayed ALLL my blog content for the first few weeks of October. HOWEVER, I am SO grateful for my new iPad and excited to have it to easily carry and take with me everywhere I go!
  • Early this October, I had horrible burnout. And, my burnout made me feel sick, as a result. Since then and luckily with the support of friends, family and my coworkers, I have made some adjustments to my day-to-day life, including scaling back on some of the work I am committing to both professionally and personally. One of the BIGGEST changes that I am making is avoiding (for the most part) signing onto my work laptop after 5pm on weekdays and on the weekends. I since deciding to do some scaling back, I have felt SO MUCH BETTER both mentally and physically.
  • NOT to be dramatic, BUT I had my lovely car Daisy towed without realizing that she was 1000% fine this month – BIG WHOOPS!!! SO, I drove to Starbucks after my vaccines and on the way home a warning light came on telling me to stop driving my car. While I got home safely, I was SOOO nervous that something bigger was going on with poor Daisy. I talked to my local body shop and had her towed (free thanks to insurance!) only to discover that she just needed a programmatic reboot. WHELP! In the end, I am grateful that I brought my car in to be extra sure and that everything is good and that I didn’t have to spend a ton on repairs, either.
  • I got my COVID and Flu vaccine at the same time towards the middle of the month. My experience to say the least was quick and easy, but left me with a horrible fever that night and out all weekend. I had to reschedule plans with friends that I planned that weekend thinking that I would be *TOTALLY* fine with just a sore arm (or two!). HOWEVER, the universe had other plans and I ended up barely leaving the couch ALL WEEKEND LONG. BUT, I am grateful for the opportunity to simply rest, be still, and in the moment for one weekend before they all get super busy with the upcoming holiday season. I am also extremely grateful for science and the scientific advancements that have come to allow us to get vaccinated, in order to stay safe and healthy and protected against COVID-19.
  • My seasonal allergies have been THE WORST this past October. The exact Friday I was supposed to host a Halloween Happy Hour at my house, I ended up having an awful bit of allergies get sprung upon me. I had a bunch of work calls in the morning that required me to have myself in my typical work from home attire (here and here) while dying on the inside. Ultimately, I ended up sadly cancelling my Halloween Happy Hour for 2023. And, while a disappointment, I am glad that I was able to prioritize rest and that I was able to get one-on-one time with my friends soon after who intended to attend.

I am going into November 2023 filled with SO MUCH gratitude. I turned 24 in May of this year and it’s CRAZY to think that in just 6 months I will be turning 25! I have really enjoyed Chapter 24 so far in my book of life and am more than excited for what is to come for the second half of this magnificent chapter! NOW, onto November!

XOXO – Katie <3

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4 Hours in Winchester, Virginia

On Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I have always seen content pertaining to the stunning town of Winchester, Virginia, yet I hadn’t been. HOWEVER, others’ content on Winchester only made my desires to visit this stunning Northern Virginia town grow and grow. Luckily, when my college friend Carlin started graduate school in Winchester, I was given the opportunity to take a day and visit her there! Carlin and I had a GREAT time catching up and enjoying the gorgeous downtown 4 hours in Winchester, Virginia together on a sunny September Saturday afternoon.

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

About Winchester:

Winchester is a Northern Virginia town in Jefferson County, located not too far from the West Virginia border. It is also in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley and boosts a rich history, specifically focused on the Civil War playing home to Stonewall Jackson’s Headquarters Museum, and lots of nature and charm, too. Winchester has a lot a rich amount of unique culture with a small town charm. With its location in the Shenandoah Valley, mountains are plentiful and so are vineyards and breweries. For my fellow friends living/have lived in the South, it is important to note that Winchester DOES have a Cookout (!!!!).

Getting There:

Winchester is located about 90 minutes from Washington, DC and 2 hours from Charlottesville, Virginia. It is easiest to drive to Winchester from its closest airport Dulles International Airport located an hour east or its second closest airport Ronald Reagan National Airport located 90 minutes east. The town is located right off of highway I-81. That all being said, Winchester makes for the PERFECT small town day trip getaway, given its location in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley and proximity to several local vineyards and breweries.

What We Did:

Old Town Winchester – Carlin and I spent most of our time at Old Town Winchester’s open air walking mall, taking in the live music, enjoying the sunshine, and catching up. We started with lunch at Union Jack Pub & Restaurant which was delicious and had a gorgeous bar, before checking out some of the many shops on the same street, including the ultra-adorable Winchester Book Gallery. There was also A TON of super fun live music in downtown Winchester, too, and what I found to be unique is the diverse age range and genders of people playing the music making it so much more charming and wholesome.

 

Kimberly’s – Just a couple of blocks away from the open air walking mall in Old Town Winchester is the ultra-adorable and VERYYY much a Katie store – LOL! – Kimberly’s. Kimberly’s has two buildings: one which has all-things seasonal, home decor, and Virginia made goods, whether it be plates, magnets, jams, or wine and another with clothing including … Lilly Pulitzer and Barefoot Dreams (!!!). Carlin and I got to meet Kimberly the store owner and buy some Lilly Pulitzer, too. It was just a week after the September 2023 Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale, which Kimberly’s still had TONS of merchandise marked down from. We also got to shop the 2023 Print with Purpose to support Breast Cancer awareness before it hit the Lilly Pulitzer website. Kimberly’s was definitely a favorite of mine, as I LOVED its super fun Fall decorations, merchandise, and *of course* all-things Lilly Pulitzer!

Handley Regional Library – Looking as if it is a European Opera House, the Handley Regional Library also located in Old Town Winchester is a site to be seen. With free access to all visitors, the Handley Regional Library is absolutely STUNNING. It has a uniquely painted dome which guests can climb stairs to to the top of, alongside functioning as a library to those within the Winchester and greater Shenandoah Valley communities. The Handley Regional Library is TRULY a site to see and definitely worth a visit!

Apples – All across town, there are some super fun painted apple structures representing different aspects of Winchester, including its history and charm. Carlin and I LOVED getting to spot *just a few of them* during our time here in Old Town Winchester.

Wrap-Up:

I truly had an amazing time and a blast here for 4 hours in Winchester, Virginia. I am so blessed to have connected with Carlin during my undergraduate years at Meredith College and to have another friend from Meredith up here in the Northern Virginia area. Carlin is truly a blessing! At the same time, I LOVED getting to explore a bit of Winchester with Carlin and learn more about this beautiful little town located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. And, I definitely want to come back, too, and spend another 4 hours in Winchester, Virginia!

XOXO – Katie <3

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24 Hours in Chicago, Illinois

Ever since I went to Chicago on a Spring Break trip in high school, I had wanted to visit again as an adult. Luckily, that opportunity to visit Chicago again came up when I went to visit my best friend Lindsay in Indianapolis, Indiana (here) and we decided to do a night in the Windy City before I headed back to the East Coast in August 2023! While in Chicago, we did alllll-things Barbie-themed, from going to the Malibu Barbie Popup Cafe to drinks at Hampton Social to the literal best ever espresso martinis that I’ve ever had at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and a few things in between. During my time in Chicago, I truly fell in love with the city all over again and I cannot wait to go back and visit Chi Chi in the future!

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Getting There:

Lindsay and I drove from Indianapolis to Chicago, since it is under 4 hours each way and I totally give props to Lindsay for driving us the entire way as I am NOT a city driver (confession!). I ended up flying home out of Chicago O’Hare airport on a United Airlines (my preferred airline!) flight back to Washington, DC. I was able to somehow get a flight into Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) from O’Hare which is RARE for United given that Washington, DC’s Dulles International Airport is a United Airlines hub. BIG WIN! Overall, I found navigating O’Hare to be pretty easy, as the airport is extremely nice and pretty fun with all of its displays, too.

Where We Stayed:

I am a big Hilton fan and a Hilton Honors (rewards) member! SO, we stayed at a Hilton with close proximity to the Magnificent Mile and the iconic Chicago Riverwalk. Our room had a beautiful view of the Chicago skyline, which was amazing especially after sundown. Personally, I LOVED where we stayed, as it was super close to everything in Chicago, allowing us to walk pretty much everywhere (with the exception of the Malibu Barbie Popup Cafe in a different part of town!). And, well, I LOVE a nice Hilton hotel, too!

What We Did:

Being transparent here, A LOT of our activities during our brief Chicago stay revolved around *none other than* … food and cocktails. Initially, we had planned to take an Architecture River Tour, however, due to the rainy weather, we decided against it – next time though! However, we did have a few fun activities during our time that didn’t involve food.

One of my favorite activities while we were in Chicago was getting to walk around after our night cap at Hampton Social alongside the Chicago Riverwalk, as the rain started to subside. Lindsay knows Chicago pretty well, so she was able to give me a free and fun nighttime skyline walking tour of the city. I LOVED getting to see Chicago’s skyline at night (there is something simply SOOOO magical about city skylines at night – am I right?!) and truly see the stunning city’s flair on a peaceful and partially drizzly Monday night. We walked across the bridges alongside the Riverwalk and admired all aspects of the city skyline. We also saw one of Chicago’s well-known theaters allll lit up and stepped foot in the Kimpton Hotel Monaco lobby which I stayed at the last time I was in Chicago with my Dad. The best part?! Finding a super fun set of gold ANGEL WINGS (!!!!) to strike *just a few* poses in front of. My college mascot is the Avenging Angel, so I ALWAYS will take an opportunity to pose in front of angel wings. That Monday night, I had a happy happy happy heart and SO MUCH love for the Windy City.

The other activity that we did was go to *none other than* the Target right next to the Malibu Barbie Popup Cafe after our time in Barbie Land to buy … Barbie dolls (!!!). The CUTEST thing?!?! SO many mothers, grandmothers, and daughters that we saw at the Malibu Barbie Cafe happened to stop by that exact Target, too. It was sooo fun to see Barbies manifested at Target afterwards! After Target, we took an Uber back to our hotel and ended up stopping by the iconic Intercontinental Hotel which was decked out in butterflies for summer time. We *of course* snapped a few photos with our Barbies at the hotel, too!

Where We Ate:

Starbucks Reserve Roastery – our first stop in Chicago was *none other than* … Starbucks Reserve! Starbucks Reserve is essentially a HUGE Starbucks offering cocktails, coffee, merchandise, food, and everything in between. It was such a neat experience! There isn’t a Starbucks Reserve in Washington, DC and I hadn’t been to the New York City Starbucks Reserve, so, when in Chicago, we HAD to make a visit (!!!). Lindsay and I went up to the 4th or 5th floor (I cannot remember – LOL!) bar and got some espresso martinis which were LITERALLY THE BEST EVER and simply enjoyed one another’s company. The vibes at the Starbucks Reserve were impeccable, too, and I will definitely be back for another espresso martini at the bar next time I am in the Windy City!

RL Ralph Lauren Restaurant – After seeing my friends Michelle and Divya dine at the RL Ralph Lauren Restaurant on their Chicago trip earlier in Summer 2023, I *just knew* that it was a must-dine when Lindsay and I went to Chicago! The restaurant is attached to Chicago’s Ralph Lauren boutique and the vibes were super elegant, classy, and very very very Ralph Lauren. The interior gave me a bit of that historic Washington, DC charm, but thinking more on the lines of Ralph Lauren in a restaurant! I tried their Lobster Bisque which was AMAZING and a Caesar salad. I have to mention that the staff at RL Ralph Lauren Restaurant are extremely kind, hospitable, and caring. While this wouldn’t be my first place on my list to dine at again in Chicago, I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to come back when the opportunity presents itself!

Hampton Social – Streeterville – Lindsay and I came to Hampton Social’s Streeterville Chicago location for a night cap on a rainy Monday night just a few blocks away from our hotel. We got Barbie-themed pink and glittery cocktails and I also got some delicious fried oysters. There aren’t any Hampton Social locations near me and I had heard of it as a popular spot in Nashville, SO I was psyched to hear that there were not one but TWO locations in Chi Chi! I am SO glad we came here, especially on a rainy Monday night as not many people were around and we got practically the entire second floor of the restaurant to admire its vibes and *of course* take photos.

Malibu Barbie Cafe – While the Popup cafe is unfortunately closed, Lindsay and I had an amazing time here. Upon purchase of our tickets, we selected complimentary food items (we both chose the veggie and grain bowl!) and ordered cocktails for an additional charge at the bar. The cocktails were ALSO glittery, pink, and VERYYY Barbie (!!!!). I’ll save the rest of my incredible experience at the Malibu Barbie Cafe for another post, but for now I will say that the food and drinks were pretty good.

Dollop Coffee Company – Lindsay and I got our morning coffees at Dollop Coffee just a block away from our hotel on Tuesday morning. One of the super fun things about Dollop is the fact that they have photos of many of the Real Housewives lining the walls of the shop. I don’t keep too much tabs at the moment on the Real Housewives, but I did watch the franchise a lot more during my high school years, so it was fun to see some familiar faces and enjoy a new-to-me cafe!

Wrap-Up:

I had an incredible time in Chicago and am SO grateful for our brief time in the Windy City. I LOVED the hotel that we stayed at and its location in proximity to many of Chicago’s incredible sites to see. I also LOVED having such a fun Barbie-themed time here, too. It was fun to practically plan a 24 hours revolving around all-things pink and Barbie! At the same time, I am so so so grateful for Lindsay’s and I’s friendship and the fact that she drove us into the city and then drove me to the airport out of the city, too. All in all, I have so much gratitude for our 24 hours in Chi Chi!

I definitely would LOVE to make a visit back to Chicago someday, too. And, hopefully, it won’t rain as much either! I would LOVE to experience the city’s incredible architecture via a tour, dine at some new-to-me spots, and spend time with Lindsay and others that I love. People in Chicago are extremely friendly and I would LOVE to go back again. Til next time the Windy City!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – September 2023

September 2023 started off with a bang and ended with the need to get a new laptop (more on that to come!). The month of September is also a very unique one in that it begins with summer and ends with autumn. The changes in seasons, this year for me, was both exciting but also a bit sad as I was super lucky to have had an amazing summer 2023. This September, I decorated for Fall, which has brought me SO MUCH JOY and has since made may say that I am super excited for what is to come this Fall season, too.

As I was writing this blog post, I ran into *none other than* a WordPress bug – UGH! I have to say that I am SO happy that WordPress has worked with me and been great in letting me know about the bug. I am also relieved that I was able to get some guidance on sharing content to avoid this bug moving forward alongside the fact that it wasn’t an error on my end – PHEW! Needless to say, I am frustrated that it took a while for me to publish all of my blog content, but am REALLY excited to be able to finally share some more fun things here *even* if it’s a bit later than usual.

Highs:

  • To kick off the month of September, I spent most of Labor Day Weekend with my Dad, Step Mom, and my “sissy” their Yorkie Ginger at their home base in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Delaware is definitely my happy place, especially during the warmer months. And, I am SO glad I got to spend some quality time with my Dad, Step Mom, and *of course* Ginger. Dad and I took a day to explore and do some family genealogy research in the charming Lewes, Delaware. We, then, went out for dinner near Ocean City, Maryland and of course a night on the Bethany Beach boardwalk. BUT, last but not least, we enjoyed a beach day, too!

Lewis, Delaware

Dinner, Beach Mornings, & Ginger Snuggles

  • The September 2023 Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale was on September 12-14 online! If you know me, then you know that this is one of the few times each year that I simply stock up on *none other than* my favorite fashion brand Lilly Pulitzer (!!!!). I ended up shopping the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale in-person over the weekend prior to it launching online at the Old Town Alexandria’s King Street location. The ladies at the King Street location are SO KIND and made the shopping process such an enjoying experience. I, then, headed over to Current Boutique – a consignment store also on King Street where the ladies there are ALSO so sweet – where I grabbed another gorgeous Lilly Pulitzer dress before shopping the sale online 3 days later. The online Sunshine Sale was SUCH A JOY to shop – I somehow got into the sale (along with many others in my network) WITHOUT any wait which is a rarity given that there is always a virtual queue to it AND found so many incredible pieces on each day. Needless to say, despite feeling so tired from allergies at the same time, I felt so much bright and happy feels when I shopped the Sunshine Sale!
  • The first weekend of September, Papa went off to Wisconsin for a family reunion, SO me and my dog Rosie had the house ALLL to ourselves for the weekend. I had a REALLY nice time getting to give Rosie ALLL the extra attention and get that special one-on-one time with my sweet dog. That Friday night, my best friend Haley and I went out to dinner at Jackson’s Mighty Fine Food & Lucky Lounge which was magnificent and just what both of us needed. That Saturday, I went to Old Town Alexandria to shop Lilly Pulitzer’s Sunshine Sale and then spritz at Hanks Oyster Bar to wait out the storms. And then, that Sunday, I went to the gorgeous Occoquan, Virginia’s Historic District where I had a delicious (AND CHEAP!!!) brunch at The Secret Garden Cafe. To end the weekend, I went to *none other than* Trader Joe’s for groceries and then meal prepped (here). Rosie and I LOVED our time together, even though I went out quite a bit locally.

Restaurant/Cafe Visits!

Visit to Occoquan, Virginia

  • Over the summer, I got accepted into the Leadership Center for Excellence’s Ignite Young Professionals Class of 2024 cohort (here). As apart of the Ignite Young Professionals Program, I will get to network with peers all across different industries in the Northern Virginia region, learn and grow as a leader, and engage with a local Arlington, Virginia-based nonprofit. Towards the end of the month, the Leadership Center for Excellence hosted a Homecoming 2023 reception where new members of their incoming Classes of 2024 and alumna could connect and network with one another. There, I got to meet 3 other members of my cohort, which was REALLY exciting to me (!!!). I am SO excited to be able to be apart of the incredible network of people who all have a passion to lead with purpose via the Leadership Center for Excellence.
  • WELL, *just in case* you didn’t hear, Barbie the movie is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video (!!!!). I saw Barbie in theatres with my best friend Sarah at the end of July and was SO excited when I saw that it was streaming so so so soon. SO, in typical Katie fashion, I bought Barbie on Prime Video and have been watching it on REPEAT ever since!
  • My friends from high school, Haley and Violet, and I got brunch together at a popular local-to-us brunch spot called Chloez Cafe. Violet is currently living in Philadelphia and doesn’t come home as often as she used to, so Haley and I LOVED the opportunity to catch up with her! Over coffee and Apple Cider Mimosas, Haley, Violet, and I enjoyed catching up and connecting. Such a perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday!
  • One of Papa’s and I’s FAVORITE pumpkin patches/garden centers is Nall’s Produce. A Northern Virginia staple for decades, Nall’s Produce sells everything from locally-sourced plants to gardening things to produce to seasonal goods which *of course* includes pumpkins (!!!!). There are also chickens and a resident pig named Penny. Another cute staple that Nall’s Produce has is a community library. Every Fall, Nall’s Produce has a gorgeous and *very* Instagrammable pumpkin wall and a pumpkin hill (which opened a week after Papa and I went!). I got my annual photos in front of Nall’s Produce’s pumpkin wall AND I plan to come back for the pumpkin hill, too! Papa regularly goes to Nall’s Produce to get produce and gardening things and I LOVE tagging along on occasion, as it’s a fun (and always Instagrammable!) outing. Later on in the month of September, we stopped by Burke Nursery & Garden Centre where I grabbed my favorite Fall treat: Apple Cider Donuts!
  • Earlier on a September Sunday, I had a major major major gut feeling telling me to go to Trader Joe’s to get groceries. As tired as I felt in the moment, I got in the car and hopped on over to Trader Joe’s. And, well, I am SO SO SO glad that I went! I felt SOOO much joy when I shopped in-person at Trader Joe’s and admired ALLLL the goodies laid out in front of me. On that first run, I grabbed what I needed for the week alongside a few candles and some wine and spent a bit under my weekly grocery budget (win, win!) and then headed home to meal prep. I made a salmon salad the first week and the second I made *yet another* salmon salad and then some baked ziti. My Trader Joe’s weekly runs have brought me SO MUCH JOY and have allowed me to add structure, stay within budget, and practice mindfulness. I share more about my meal prep journey here!
  • I took a day trip to Winchester, Virginia to visit my college friend Carlin who happens to be getting her Masters at Shenandoah University. Carlin gave me a tour of her gorgeous campus and then we headed to downtown Winchester to enjoy some lunch, shopping, and simply catching up. I had never been to Winchester before yet have ALWAYS wanted to go and am glad I *finally* got the chance to! More on my time in Winchester to come in a future blog post!
  • My best friend Amanda came to visit me towards the end of the month to go see *none other than* the Jonas Brothers at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. Currently, Amanda is student teaching near her hometown in New Jersey, and I am SO SO SO proud of her and all of her hard work. I LOVED getting to catch up with Amanda and see one of our favorite boy bands (!!!!). Before the concert, we went to one of my favorite pop-up bars – Urban Roast – for Fall vibes pre-concert. And, then, off to the concert where we heard some of our favorite songs and relived our childhood dreams. After the concert while searching for the nearest Metro station, we ended up connecting with the super sweet Elizabeth and posed with her Joe Jonas pop-up which was SO fun. I hope to meet up with Elizabeth again soon, too! And, on Metro, we ended up running into some of my high school classmates who are a few years older than me, which was so fun as well! I had such a GREAT weekend spending time with Amanda and catching up with others.
  • In the midst of all of my laptop troubles, I took a debrief and visited one of my favorite local Washington, DC area cafes: Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters. Commonwealth Joe does an INCREDIBLE job with their curated coffees (both seasonal and regular menu staples!) and their atmosphere which changes with the seasons. I went back in April for their cherry blossom-themed decorations for Spring (here) and plan to share more on it in my Fall 2023 DC Dining blog post.
  • September 2023 was *none other than* a fun-filled professional development month! Right after Labor Day Weekend, I attended an in-person Generative AI workshop at my company’s headquarters in September (which BLEW ME AWAY!!!!) where I left on such a high. And, about 10 days later, I tuned into Women in Data Science International’s (WIDS) virtual summit which was AMAZING to listen into and take notes on while working from home. Lastly, I listened to a webinar by the National Institute for Statistical Sciences on professionals societies. All in all, professional development truly fills my cup and allows me to ignite passions into my own work on a daily basis.

Lows:

  • For a good chunk of the month, I felt *extremely* tired. My extreme fatigue was bothering me SOOOOO MUCH that I thought and feared that it could be, perhaps, something more. Yet, to my surprise, it ended up that since I switched to pumpkin-flavored K-Cups because ITS FALL Y’ALL (!!!!!), I ended up drinking my usual larger size of coffee which had A LOT less caffeine in it. And, thus, I was super tired as a result of LESS-than-usual caffeine in my system. Kind of funny in the scheme of things and such a relief. PHEW!
  • While shaving my legs, I accidentally cut myself REALLY BAD. This is a rarity for me, yet the side effects have been awful and extremely painful. However, it made me realize the importance of taking it easy from time to time.
  • Unfortunately, my anxiety has been high during the month of September. I have definitely become *more than* a bit of a homebody during the pandemic and it hasn’t worn off on me ever since. And, with the start of the Back to School season and the essentially corresponding Back to Work season filled with networking and happy hours, I have definitely felt more anxious getting back into the swing of things. Although I am SO excited for the upcoming events in work and in my personal life, I am also more anxious about getting out more.
  • Earlier in September, I felt REALLY sad that Summer was coming to an end. Summer 2023, as I’ve mentioned before on this platform, was one of THE BEST Summers in a few years for me. So many blessings came to fruition this Summer, including: reaching a big milestone at work, visiting a new-to-me state, attending many happy hours, going to the Delaware beaches not one not two but 3 times, and going on a weeklong trip to South Carolina with my best college friends. As September hit and I saw several Fall-related posts on my social media feeds, I felt nothing but sad. It took me a few weeks to get into the groove and feel rather excited as opposed to sad at the change of seasons.
  • The *very* last day of the month, I spilled water on my personal laptop. I had a fun day planned, but had to postpone to scramble to try and get a diagnostic report for my laptop as to whether or not I need a replacement. Sadly, the best I could do is get an appointment next week, given my schedule. I was REALLY bummed as I had to postpone some fun Fall things, including dinner in Old Town Alexandria. But, good things come to those who wait!

Here’s to an exciting Fall season to come beyond September 2023!

XOXO – Katie <3

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5 Days in Isle of Palms, South Carolina

It has been a hot minute since I shared a bit about my time in Isle of Palms, South Carolina with y’all since over the Summer on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) yet I always look at my time there with such a big smile. My best friend Hannah hosted me and my best friends Bree and Alanna for a week at her family’s home there at Wild Dunes. There, we had a girl’s week with Hannah’s mom and some of Hannah’s mom’s friends and their dogs (which made me MAJORLY rejoice as a fellow Dog Lover!). Our 5 days in Isle of Palms was filled with so many memories, from the four of us bunking together in the same tiny bedroom, kayaking on the ocean (which terrified me LOL!) to look for sand dollars on the sand bar, and catching up with one another without any looming deadlines or outside things going on.

Isle of Palms, South Carolina is one of a few islands neighboring the charming Southern city of Charleston. Other neighboring islands include Folly Beach and Sullivan’s Island. More specifically speaking, we stayed alongside the private gate-controlled Wild Dunes Resort/community on Isle of Palms. Confession: I am *terrified* of alligators and have been since I was a kid and knowing that South Carolina has many native alligators nerved me SOOOOO MUCH – LOL! Luckily, I saw NO alligators on this trip, but Hannah’s mom did and saved us that grace. From where we were in Wild Dunes, we were about 45 minutes from downtown Charleston which we did a day to (here) that included LOTS of shopping (here). I had actually been to Isle of Palms and Charleston back in September 2019 for a brief 72 hours (here) for a college trip and LOVED it. Needless to say, I am SO glad that I got to spend a lot more time this time around in Isle of Palms!

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Reflections:

For the most part, we spend our time in Isle of Palms simply enjoying the moments that we had together. There are 3 different cities and 2 different states that Alanna, Hannah, Bree, and I live in, which makes it THAT much more challenging to get time together especially for almost a week. We enjoyed several walks on the beach and golf course, plenty of moments doing nothing other than snacking and sipping some wine, and a ton of valuable conversations in between it all. We did enjoy an afternoon in Mount Pleasant, including a trip to the local Goodwill (aka my idea) and the Mount Pleasant Shopping Center where I got to enjoy walking into a Belk for the first time in practically *forever* (!!!!) as well as indulging in Cookout. On another occasion, we enjoyed a nice dinner in Mount Pleasant with Hannah’s mom and her friends, where on the way we coincidentally found ourselves right in front of the iconic Isle of Palms pink flamingo house that I later found out is available for rent (!!!!!). On this trip, I am SOOO glad that we were not in a hustle once, given how I usually am in my 9-5 life.

Funny story: as me, Hannah, Alanna, and Bree were all riding into Isle of Palms around midnight, I couldn’t help but fall *in love* with the stunning palm trees whose shape I could vaguely see via the highway’s lights. Then, I *knew* that we were close to the beach and I got SOOO excited! Once we got up the next morning, Hannah and I took her amazing and ultra-adorable boxer mix Pixie for a walk on the beach. What I LOVE about Hannah’s family’s home is that it is right on the beach and is SOOOO peaceful given its proximity to the Wild Dunes Resort. We took many many many walks on the beach and at the nearby golf course and enjoyed many sunsets together, too. One of my favorite activities was reading a beach read while looking out over the beach. We also enjoyed a time afternoon on the beach, too, and an evening at the community access pool and hot tub. One of my *very very very* favorite activities was getting to enjoy dinners with Hannah, Alanna, Bree, Hannah’s mom, and her friends. It was SO nice to all simply catch up, share our thoughts, and get inspired be one another given our different life journeys and seasons of life.

I got extremely inspired by the incredible women around me on this trip of 5 days in Isle of Palms. Every afternoon, Hannah made delicious smoothies which only kickstarted my own healthy eating journey to include smoothies (!!!!). Not only were Hannah’s smoothies SOOOO refreshing in this humid and hot South Carolina heat, but they were also so fueling, too. Smoothies inspired me SO much on this trip to start my own healthy eating and lifestyle journey, alongside Hannah’s mom and her friends who all strive to live and healthy lifestyle. When I got back to Northern Virginia, I implemented and continue to implement my own version of a healthy lifestyle. Another way that I got inspired in Isle of Palms was through hearing Hannah’s mom and her friends discuss dating today versus when they were dating before my friends’ and I’s time. I LOVED hearing their perspectives on dating and the lack of a need to rush things when it comes to dating, too. As someone in her early twenty’s who has many college and even high school classmates getting married and engaged and starting families of their own, it can be extremely daunting or worrisome to think that I am not on a similar timeline and life stage as them. However, at the same time, I have come to learn that it’s REALLY important in fact even vital to be married to the right person to start a life with (whatever that may look like!) as opposed to getting married at a young age to someone who you may think in the moment is the right one. I ALSO learned the value of meeting others in-person via through friends and family and perhaps in the real world as opposed to on an online dating platform. Needless to say, I left 5 days in Isle of Palms, South Carolina so much more inspired than when I came!

Wrap-Up:

From inspiration both via the stunning Wild Dunes views and beyond and conversations that were had, I left my 5 days in Isle of Palms, South Carolina with such a recharged and happy heart. I find myself SOOO lucky that I was able to take some time away from work to spend with Hannah, Alanna, and Bree. I also want to thank Hannah and her mom for hosting us and an incredible week here at Isle of Palms. Isle of Palms is truly one of the prettiest places that I have ever been to!

XOXO – Katie <3

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48 Hours in Indianapolis, Indiana

If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), you likely have seen photos from my AMAZING August trip to Indianapolis, Indiana & Chicago, Illinois with my influencer best friend Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs on Instagram (GO FOLLOW HER!!!). Lindsay currently lives in Indianapolis and has also lived in Chicago, and I had such a GREAT TIME getting to see both cities from Lindsay’s perspective. I am SO SO SO grateful that my fellow influencer best friend and I have formed such a close bond and have NOW both visited each of our hometowns. Lindsay is such a BLESSING! In this post, I am going to be sharing specifically about my lovely 48 hours Indianapolis, Indiana where I ALSO got to add state 24/50 to my bucket list of visiting all 50 states (with a post on Chicago to come soon, too!!!).

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Getting There:

First things first, I am going to share about how I got to Indianapolis. “It is SOOOO green here” – me to Lindsay when she graciously picked me up at the airport – LOL! I flew into Indianapolis International Airport (IND) via a direct flight on United Airlines (aka my airlines of choice and for points!) out of Washington, DC’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) (the airport I personally prefer as people are SOOO friendly there despite it being much farther from me and not the best for Metro travel from my house). Initially, I was going to fly on a connecting flight out of Washington, DC’s other airport Reagan National Airport (the airport I also love for its Metro-accessible and much closer to home proximity) and on a different airline, but decided to pay a few extra bucks for the convenience and less of a hassle of not having a connecting flight. Personally, I prefer to not have a connecting flight and value paying those extra dollars to worry less when traveling. My flight had the most kind flight attendants who happened to all be Indianapolis-based and gave me such a sweet taste of Indianapolis (which residents proudly call Indy!). I gate-checked my carryon and it got mixed up with the other bags going to baggage claim upon landing and the flight attendants and airport crew were SO kind and brought my bag to me just a few minutes later. Needless to say, the greener space of Indiana and the kind souls helping ensure me and my flight made it there safely and with all of our belongings provided me with THE BEST welcoming to my 48 hours in Indianapolis, Indiana and where Indiana proudly calls themselves as “the crossroads of America”!

What We Did:

Friday: I arrived to Indianapolis around 6pm (I think?) Indianapolis time (which is Eastern time despite being in the Midwest) and headed with Lindsay to her apartment to get settled in. Lindsay has a GORGEOUS and super adorable and veryyy Lindsay apartment near her workplace outside of downtown Indianapolis. Her apartment looks out over a STUNNING lake, which was SOOO nice to watch the sunset and much more peaceful than back at home in the Washington, DC area. We, then, went out to dinner at a restaurant near her house (more on dining in the next section!!!) before heading back to her apartment to catch up *even more* after doing so a bit over margaritas.

Saturday: In the morning, we hung out at Lindsay’s gorgeous apartment and enjoyed some Starbucks while taking in the lakeside view via her deck. It was SUCH A NICE way to restfully enjoy the morning! Early that afternoon, we went to Carmel City Center in the gorgeous and well-known in America suburb of Carmel, Indiana to have brunch at The Cake Bake Shop By Gwendolyn Rogers (more on that here in my review!), window shop at some of the many shops there, and check out the gorgeous and very historic (rather, Washington, DC-like) Hotel Carmichael. And then, that evening, we checked out Indianapolis’s Broad Ripple Cultural District which was such a fun area. We got wine flights and popcorn at a spot there, before admiring ALLL that Broad Ripple has to offer – the rainbow bridge, a canal full of geese, the Indianapolis Arts Center, and many stunning (and VERYYYY green) walking trails.

Hotel Carmichael

Broad Ripple Cultural District

Indianapolis Arts Center

Sunday: Our last full day in Indianapolis!! We started our day on the early side with a trip to the Indianapolis Zoo – an award-winning zoo known for its conservation and extensive research and care of the animals. We grabbed lattes at a cafe along the way, before hitting the Indianapolis Zoo’s Sunday morning special known as Flamingo Mingle and then hitting up the Dolphin Show (both are open and complimentary with admission to ALL visitors!). Lindsay’s amazing friend Elias met up with us after the Dolphin Show and we continued to admire the lions, elephants, birds, and kangaroos. We also took a safari train around the zoo and then checked out the conservatory and gardens (AND met an adorable turtle!!) ALSO at the zoo. I LOVED getting to know Elias a bit more and look forward to getting to know him better more so over time! After the zoo, Lindsay gave me a driving tour of downtown Indianapolis, before we headed home for LOOONG afternoon naps. That evening, we headed back to downtown Indianapolis to have dinner and cocktails before walking a bit alongside the charming Massachusetts Ave downtown. We ALSO found one of many ‘Indy” signs that are all throughout the city (!!!) and danced with this automated “dancing woman” that brightens many people’s days.

Indianapolis Zoo

Mass Ave in downtown Indianapolis

Where We Ate:

Verde, Flavors of Mexico – Lindsay and I kicked off Friday night here and it was A BLAST. Both of us LOVE a good bar seat, so we took the two seats at the end of the bar. We got margaritas and chips and guacamole and simply took the time to catch up. Needless to say, I LOVED our time just catching up and reuniting after ~6 months since Lindsay came to visit me in Washington, DC for the cherry blossoms. It felt like brunch but Mexican edition!

The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers – a magical magical magical experience!!! The Cake Bake Shop is ALSO coming to Disney Springs at some point, too. To be honest, Lindsay and I truly felt *just as if* we were at Walt Disney World within the magic of it all.

Just Pop In! – Just Pop In! is an award-winning gourmet popcorn company that ALSO does popcorn and wine flight pairings in the evening (!!!) via their gorgeous shop with a bar. SO, Lindsay and I *of course* got the popcorn and wine flight pairing which was SO MUCH FUN to try. A fun fact is that Lindsay got me a bag of Just Pop In!’s popcorn as a housewarming gift for me back in March – they are AMAZING. And, the bar/popcorn shop is SO SO SO cute. We had the bar to ourselves which was such a great way to wind down.

Foundry Provisions – A locally-owned Indianapolis cafe, Foundry Provisions strives to bring the Indianapolis community together. Lindsay and I grabbed iced lattes here on our way to the Indianapolis Zoo. While we didn’t spend much time here, Foundry Provisions comes HIGHLY suggested by the locals and had such a cute environment.

The Oakmont – Known as Massachusetts Avenue’s “favorite bar”, The Oakmont is a highly Instagrammable spot serving up brunch, bar snacks, and a highly distinguished list of cocktails. Lindsay and I *yet again* sat at the bar here and had a great time. I LOVED trying their delicious brisket nachos with a gorgeous cocktail. Here at The Oakmont is where I learned that truffle fries are THE thing in the Midwest – LOL! Lindsay ordered truffle fries and they were amazing, too. As I’m writing this post, I am CRAVING those brisket nachos (!!!!). Til next time!

Wrap-Up:

I had an incredible 48 hours in Indianapolis, Indiana and would LOVE to come back to visit again someday, too (perhaps another 48 hours in Indianapolis, Indiana?!?!). A few weeks before I jetted off to the Midwest, my coworkers and I shared on a team call where we were going for the summer. When I said Indianapolis, many of them, to my surprise, were SO SO SO excited for me. My coworkers LOVE Indianapolis and now I can see why. Indianapolis (just like many Midwest cities/states) is a highly-underrated city. Many people call the Midwest states the “fly over” states, but they are WAY more than that. There is a rich history, culture, and several kind souls there to meet and learn from.

I cannot wait to come back to Indianapolis sometime in the near-term future. As someone who wants to visit all 50 states in her lifetime, Indiana is definitely on my fly back to list, as there’s a lot to do, see, and learn about. I highly recommend that everyone spends 48 hours in Indianapolis, Indiana, especially if visiting all 50 states is on their radar! Until next time, Indy (and Lindsay!!)!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – August 2023

August truly sipped away like a bottle of wine *cues Taylor Swift*. It may be September as I write this, YET August by Taylor Swift is still playing on repeat! This year was the year that I think I realized how special of a gem of a month August is. I used to resent summer months and think that August was the rather “boring” month of them all, given the fact that there’s no Federal Holiday. However, as an adult with no going back to school anymore for the time being, I am savoring ALL of the special and slower August months. August truly is a gem and has since become one of my favorite months of the year.

August 2023 taught me to appreciate the smaller and simpler things in life (as a cheesy as it may sound!). I regularly get caught up in the more elaborate moments in life, but there is always something so great about true simplicity and simply being in the moment. I think getting sick a few times throughout the month helped me to really wind down, too (a blessing in disguise). One of my biggest goals established in August is to be more present and in the moment and strive to be more mindful, which I thank an EXCELLENT talk at my company for helping with this. Practicing mindfulness has allowed me to achieve this goal of living in the moment, as opposed to running to what is next – something that is SO easy for us all to get caught up in. Overall, August has brought me so much joy and I’m already ready for August 2024.

Highs:

  • To kick off the first weekend of August, I went for an afternoon to one of my favorite places in the Washington, DC area: Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. I checked out some shops on King Street, including Penny Post, Lilly Pulitzer, Current Boutique, and Shop Made in VA. Being a local stationary business, Penny Post had a celebration the day I went for National Stationary Day, SO I was happily able to snag a The Rifle Paper Company 2024 wall calendar: something that I use daily! I also enjoyed a nice solo brunch at The Majestic – a restaurant with a *magical and retro* interior on King Street that I’ve been wanting to try for awhile now. I tried their seasonal sangria, which happened to be made with strawberry and mint and was delicious, along with a fennel sausage and spinach and feta omelette and a side of potatoes which were all AMAZING. I, then, came back to Old Town Alexandria a few weeks later for drinks and pasta at the gorgeous Virginia’s Darling on Washington Street (here) and managed to take a mini stroll around town. I would’ve walked around Old Town Alexandria a bit more, but it had been SO HOT out this August, so it’ll have to wait until next time!
  • My best friend Shivani came to visit early on in the month and we met up on a Tuesday evening for dinner and drinks at The Wharf. I rarely visit The Wharf in Washington, DC let alone in the summer time, BUT I will be back! We went for dinner at Del Mar – an upscale Spanish restaurant right on the waterfront. Since we were celebrating Shivani graduating her Masters and my professional development achievements, the restaurant staff was SO SWEET and treated us to a starter, champagne, dessert, and a dessert wine. I also ordered my go-to summer drink – a Aperol spritz – and some octopus for dinner. Not to mention, the atmosphere within Del Mar is so beautifully done! Shivani and I will most definitely be back. And, after our glorious celebratory meal, we hung out a bit during what happened to be golden hour at The Wharf alongside the marinas and waterfront. It was STUNNING to say the least. I WILL be back to The Wharf *very soon*!
  • August is the month that I am *FINALLY* watching Sweet Magnolia’s Season 3, finishing up Sex and the City‘s reboot And Just Like That Season 2, and starting to watch my late grandmother’s favorite show Ugly Betty. July was definitely a the month where I re-watched A TON of Grey’s Anatomy and started Suits and August was a new season month for me! I have really enjoyed And Just Like That, as it gives me ALLL the feels (if you know, you know!). I have LOVED watching the characters from Sex and the City grow and develop into who they are meant to be. As someone who really wants to become a Mom someday, a highlight for me is watching Charlotte and Harry raise their two children into their teenage years. Needless to say, I am MOST DEFINITELY a Charlotte (!!!!) and proud of it. As a matter of fact, my Mom said that I am the most Charlotte-like human she knows – such a compliment if you ask me! On the same token, I have also LOVED watching Ugly Betty, as it is such a cute show. It’s fun to watch America Ferrara play Betty ~18 years before she takes the stage as Gloria in Barbie. Through it all, August has been such a fun binge-watching month!
  • It’s *officially* Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) season (!!!!). Starbucks released their PSL’s for the Fall 2023 season on August 24, and, I got up bright and early and headed to Starbucks to commemorate the day. I am SO SO SO excited for this upcoming Fall season, as it is getting closer and closer and closer to beginning to Fall like it, too. As I headed off to Starbucks for my PSL, the weather felt crisp and a bit like Fall aka LITERAL PERFECTION.
  • I attended my *first-ever* book club meeting to kick off the month of August. My friend Marielle who I met through my best friend Bree set up the book club (which Bree is apart of, too!) and it has been SUCH A BLAST. We have virtual meetings, even though most of us are Washington, DC area-based and it has been really fun to bond with everyone beyond our meetings as well (which some of us hope to do in-person, too!). Going into September, I am enjoying reading Summer Darlings by Brooke Lea Foster for Book Club, which takes place in gorgeous Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. I have ALWAYS wanted to visit Martha’s Vineyard and am hoping to next year! In the meantime, I look forward to further connecting with my fellow Book Club members.
  • The second weekend of August, I visited my influencer best friend Lindsay in Indianapolis and a night in Chicago. On this trip, I crossed off a brand-new state off of my bucket list: Indiana (I’d LOVE to visit all 50 states in my lifetime). In Indianapolis, Lindsay showed me around her town, including The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers in Carmel (here), Broad Ripple Village, downtown Indianapolis, and the Indianapolis Zoo. While in Chicago, Lindsay and I went to the Malibu Barbie Pop-Up Cafe, walked around the downtown river walk at night time, dined at The Hampton Social and the Ralph Lauren RL Restaurant, and visited the Starbucks Reserve Roastery aka the world’s largest Starbucks. I LOVED Indianapolis and Chicago. Both cities were incredible and I always love time with Lindsay, as I am SO blessed to call her one of my best friends.
  • The weekend after I got back from visiting Lindsay in Indianapolis and Chicago was a special one. On Saturday, I met up with my best friend Stephanie and her Mom and adorable toy poodle Teddy with Papa and my dog Rosie at the gorgeous Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery in Delaplane, Virginia. We enjoyed wine flights, charcuterie, and time together. Stephanie and her Mom recently went on some fun summer trips both near and far, so it was fun to hear about their adventures! Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery is a Greek family-owned winery that has been awarded several Virginia-based awards over the years and also is a wedding venue. With its location on the top of a mountain practically, an array of STUNNING mountain views and skylines circle all guests at every turn. It was truly a treat to visit Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery! And, as for Sunday of that weekend, my high school best friend Haley and I got lunch at Uncle Julio’s in Woodbridge, Virginia’s adorable Stonebridge Potomac Town Center. It was SO nice to catch up with Haley who had also gone to the Midwest recently after both of our trips there. Afterwards, I went to the adjacent Wegman’s for some grocery shopping for the week (which to me is ALWAYS a treat!).
  • My Big Sis from college and best friend Stephanie and I checked out a new-to-us Italian restaurant called Bellissimo located in Old Town Fairfax, Virginia for Washington, DC Restaurant Week which took place the last week of August. The interior of Bellissimo is tiny yet spacious and elegant. Paintings of different notable Italian cities – Venice and Florence of the likes – lined the restaurant walls. The food was delicious, too! Bellissimo’s Restaurant Week menu included 3 courses (starter, entree, and dessert) with a glass of wine add-on for $10 which we both *of course* did via a limited-edition menu. The food was DELICIOUS and the staff and owner were super kind and excited to have all their guests there. I was really proud of myself for navigating the drive and tight parking there (as city-like driving such as in Old Town Fairfax) is not my preference at ALL and is rather very nerve-wracking for me. And, when Stephanie and I left Bellissimo, we were presented with a gorgeous sunset as the *perfect* way to wrap up a *perfect* night.
  • I closed out August by getting a brand-new hair do via some much-needed pampering at the hair salon! Hair appointments are EXPENSIVE especially when you color your hair too, y’all. However, I see it as such a great treat yourself moment for myself and to simply take part of an afternoon off for me and to get away from work for a bit. I am not someone who regularly gets her nails done or goes to the spa or gets facials (however, I do want to get massages on a semi-regular basis at some point in the near-term future!), so I am willing to spend a bit more on my hair about 3-4 times a year as an investment in myself. I cut off INCHES of my hair this time around and am feeling much more confident going into September and this upcoming Fall season. Afterwards, I got *none other than* Starbucks’s new Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte for the road and headed off to my Dad’s house in Bethany Beach, Delaware to commemorate the final weekend of summer where I experienced a beautiful sunset and gorgeous full moon on the way there.

Lows:

  • In early August, we had inclement weather via some severe storms. I initially took off the first Monday of the month to enjoy the day in Washington, DC as my best friend Shivani was coming to visit. However, due to the incoming storms, Shivani’s flight got extremely delayed and we had to cancel our Monday plans. Since I live on a 30 minute+ Metro ride into downtown Washington, DC, I decided to not go into the city and, thus, I made the decision to clock in some hours at work instead. Although disappointing, I am glad I was able to catch up on some work and and stay safe (and see her the next day after work!).
  • Our next door neighbors that Papa and I became close with moved to Ohio in early August. A highlight of the warmer months this Spring/Summer season was enjoying bonfires and cookouts with them in the afternoons/evenings after work. Argh – I miss talking to them on a regular basis while typing this! Our neighbor Angela became super close and LOVED Rosie, too. Papa and I miss Angela and her husband SO MUCH and we know that we are excited to visit them sometime soon!
  • I unfortunately got a sinus infection right after my trip to Indianapolis and Chicago. It left me under the weather for a few days after the trip and into the next week. It left me only able to go out of the house for a few hours each day before feeling the major need to crash and put on my pajamas. NOT FUN! Sadly, I had to miss seeing Moulin Rouge at The Kennedy Center due to this infection, miss a work desserts social with my team, and reschedule a weekend with my bestie Lorena – sad sad sad 🙁

Summer 2023 was a GREAT one! I have made so many specials memories across 9 different states, celebrated so many monumental occasions for myself and others, spent time with loved one’s both friends and family and pets, and came home with one too many sunburns to commemorate the great times had. August 2023 was the cherry on top of the whipped cream of an ice cream sundae of an AMAZING Summer. After COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 and a super exhausting yet fun and travel-filled 2022, Summer 2023 was the most refreshing and perfect Summer needed to follow. I will miss Summer 2023, yet I look forward to the up and coming Fall 2023 season and the holidays that follow (!!!).

XOXO – Katie <3

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Review: The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers

Ever since I saw my influencer bestie Lindsay share about The Cake Bake Shop on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I knew that I needed to check this magical brunch spot when I visited Lindsay in Indiana (see our full experience here). As of late 2024, The Cake Bake Shop is open at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida! And you may be wondering is The Cake Bake Shop really worth the hype?!?! Well, in today’s Cake Bake Shop review, I’ll show you why it is! Nevertheless, The Cake Bake Shop feels as if you are visiting Walt Disney World with the magic, the sparkle, and the generous hospitality. I did NOT want to leave this magnificent spot!!

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

About:

With locations in both Carmel City, Indiana and Broad Ripple Village, Indiana, The Cake Bake Shop has won Diners’ Choice Triple Awards for being the ‘Most Booked’, ‘Special Occasions’, and ‘Ambience’ in 2023. The Cake Bake Shop has also won a Travelers’ Choice Award by TripAdvisor in 2022, along with features of the likes of Oprah Winfrey, The Rachael Ray Show, and a Williams Sonoma partner. And, to top it ALLL off, The Cake Bake Shop is opening its newest location at Walt Disney World’s Boardwalk *coming soon* in Orlando, Florida and its owner Gwendolyn Rogers whose Indianapolis-based is striving to bring other Indianapolis-based small business owners into the spotlight like herself, too. Whether it be in the media locally in Indiana or to Walt Disney World, Rogers strives to support and bring awareness to other entrepreneurs’ dreams. As for The Cake Bake Shop, guests can dine there for brunch, afternoon tea, champagne, dessert, parties, and even dinner. The Cake Bake Shop is well-known for their delicious arrays of cakes that is one of Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Things (!!!) and bubbly, along with their gift shop filled with cookbooks, ornaments, desserts, tea cups, and an array of many more *magical* goodies. Learn more: https://thecakebakeshop.com/

My Experience:

Lindsay and I went to The Cake Bake Shop location in Carmel, Indiana, decked out in its HUNDREDS of whimsical Swarovski crystals, and it was such an AMAZING experience! The moment we walked through The Cake Bake Shop’s magical doors, I started screaming just as if I was a five-year old again in a candy store. The vibes, ambience, service, and magic at every turn makes this dining spot such an impeccable place to be. The best part?! Our waitress Lupe made my experience such a magnificent one for the books. Once we got seated, Lupe was extremely empowering and kind and made our visit such a wonderful one. Lindsay and I enjoyed lattes with The Cake Bake’s signature edible glitter in their gorgeous signature teacups, lemony Caesar salad’s, truffle fries (who know that they were a Midwest specialty?!), and lemon blueberry cake. At the end of our dining experience, Lupe allowed us to channel our inner little girl and make a wish amongst ALLL of the fairy dust. Lupe truly helped make our experience (and my first one ever!!!) such a special one!

The Cake Bake Shop also has a stunning bar, events spaces, and a gift shop where guests can order cakes and other pastries along with pastries a la carte. Not to mention, The Cake Bake Shop has STUNNING Swarovski crystal-decked out chandeliers and floral-covered trees to make you feel *just* as if you’re in a magical fairy land. Personally, I am not a Disney vacationer *confession*, yet I felt as if I was in my very own version of Disney World. The entire time I was there, I felt as if I was in a magical land – just like I was 5 and at Disney again for the first time-ever!

Wrap-Up:

Personally, I felt SO inspired to have an event of my own at The Cake Bake Shop, whether it be an Afternoon Tea with my best gals clad in our fascinators, a celebration of sorts, or to simply to enjoy bubbly at the opulent bar. While I don’t live near a Cake Bake location, I definitely plan to come back to Indianapolis and Indiana for that matter and go back *yet again*. The Cake Bake Shop looks SOOO magical at Christmas time, too, and for a little girl’s Birthday celebration (like the group of girls and their Mom’s at the table next to us!). I hope this Cake Bake Shop review inspired YOU to put a visit on your bucket list, too!! Whatever the occasion may be for me, I KNOW that The Cake Bake Shop will see me again!

XOXO – Katie <3

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