An Afternoon in Charleston, South Carolina

The first time I went to Charleston (here), I immediately fell *in love* with this charming Southern city! While Charleston, South Carolina is heavily talked about and on my feed at least on the daily via the many amazing women that I follow on Instagram, I have also discovered the love and hype behind this incredible place. When my best friends Hannah, Alanna, and Bree and I all went to Isle of Palms, South Carolina for 5 days, we *just knew* that we needed to do an afternoon in Charleston, South Carolina.

To me, one of THE MOST magical parts of going to Charleston is the drive into Charleston via the iconic Ravenel Bridge which connects Charleston to its nearby suburb of Mount Pleasant over the Cooper River. My Aunt Frances told me feels as if she’s in her happy place when she drives on this iconic Charleston area bridge. And, well, driving into Charleston’s Historic District is such a treat, too. I feel just as if I were driving through Europe when I drive into historic downtown Charleston. The homes are SO colorful, detailed, and charming. Charleston’s Historic District reminds me of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and Washington, DC’s neighborhood of Georgetown with the colorful and charming historical homes, YET it has such a Southern charm to it AND is surrounded by *none other than* palm trees (!!!). Let’s just say that our *very interesting* Uber driver and ride (probably THE MOST interesting Uber ride in my entire life – haha!) left me with utter joy and excitement as we arrived in the charming streets of downtown Charleston.

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

What We Did:

We started our afternoon in Charleston, South Carolina with brunch at Toast! All Day – a popular New York Times-ranked brunch spot. We met up with Hannah’s and Bree’s high school friends Abbie and Taylor who are such sweet ladies. I had never met Abbie or Taylor before in-person and they are such incredible women that I am glad I got to know a bit more over some brunch delights. I enjoyed a mimosa, a veggie egg scramble, home fries, and *of course* a biscuit and jam – when in Charleston (!!!). Our brunch was delicious and I am now craving it ALL again and again as I write this post – LOL!

Our next stop after brunch was the Charleston City Market, which was established in 1807 and lives at 188 Meeting Street. Brunch was just a few blocks away from Charleston City Market, making it the PERFECT next stop for us. We parted ways with Abbie and Taylor at the Charleston City Market, but it was a blast to talk around here. I mentioned it more in my Charleston Shopping Guide (here), too. After our Charleston City Market adventures, we all walked around some of the nearby souvenir shops where Alanna and I got asked if we were from *none other than* Georgia dressed in our Lilly Pulitzer outfits – LOL! – by someone from *of course* Washington, DC – HOW FUNNY!! And, we went on the rest of our Charleston adventures with Bree’s good friend Maxwell who was interning in Charleston for the summer and happened to be in the area when we were there for the day.

The day that we were in Charleston was HOT and HUMID. If you know me, then you know that I am not a big fan of the heat – LOL! So, needless to say, after like 2 hours outside I was literally OVER IT. However, when we met up with Maxwell and his summer roommate, we had a blast getting to see Charleston from someone whose a local and loves the city like its his own. Maxwell took us the scenic route through the gorgeous French Quarter, to the Pineapple Fountain, and then to Rainbow Row. We got SO many photos at both the Pineapple Fountain and at Rainbow Row. My favorite part was getting to dip my toes into the iconic Pineapple Fountain and escape from the brutal heat of late June in South Carolina! And, afterwards, we went to King Street the iconic shopping street of Charleston.

Wrap-Up:

I feel SO lucky to have gotten to enjoy some friend time with Hannah, Bree, Alanna, Abbie, Taylor, and Maxwell in one of my favorite cities. My heart is filled with SO MUCH gratitude for the friendships, both old and new, and memories made during our 5 hours in Charleston. Charleston is such a charming and incredible city that I am pleased to say that I will be taking my first solo trip to this December! I have a HUGE list of places that I want to visit in Charleston and am SO excited to cross some items off of that list, too. Ever since my first (and second!) trip to Charleston, I know that many more trips to Charleston are in my future!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – June 2023

June 2023 was a whirlwind month that started with being super busy and productive to winding down with none other than a spontaneous week-long vacation to the Carolina’s after a long weekend away for Father’s Day with my Dad, Step Mom, and childhood best friend Amanda (who came to visit from New Jersey!) in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Lots of excitement has been happening both on a personal and professional front. On a personal level, I traveled to 5 different states this past month along with a day trip to Barboursville Vineyards (here) in Orange County, Virginia: North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, West Virginia, and Washington, DC. Meanwhile, on a professional level, I have been learning A TON within my career discipline and my passion for my work has only increased over this past month. Nonetheless, through it all, June 2023 was a pretty GREAT month!

Due to my rather spontaneous for me end of June 2023 trip, I have been *just a bit* behind on blog posts. Early each month, I post a round-up of ALL the Washington, DC area places that I dine at that previous month (DC Dining) and a monthly Life of Katie round-up as opposed to every week. I also have some travel content from my recent travels (including a Charleston, South Carolina shopping guide!!!!). At the same time, having some time away from writing content on the blog and not posting for much of the past week has allowed me to reset and *even* think more creatively about future content that I want to share (!!!).

The following summer months aka July and August have nothing but summer adventures to come both near and far! Some of my near summer adventures include seeing fireworks locally in the Washington, DC area, time with family and friends, more Washington, DC area dining outings, and a few trips to the theater (whether it be The Kennedy Center OR the local movie theater). My adventures far away include a long weekend away back to Bethany Beach, Delaware to visit my Dad and Step Mom along with my Aunts and cousins who are coming to town for a mini family reunion weekend, a lake weekend in Lake James, North Carolina with Hannah and some of my other college best friends to reunite, and a long weekend flying into Indianapolis, Indiana to visit my fellow influencer bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs who visited me back in March for the Cherry Blossoms and then driving up to Chicago, Illinois for the second leg of our long weekend. I have never been to Indiana and I am SUPER excited to add another state to my list (!!!), as I want to venture out to visit all 50 states (and Puerto Rico!) at some point in my life. As for Chicago, I went there once back in the death of winter and peak of the city’s nickname “the Windy City” and wasn’t able to fully enjoy this incredible city, SO I am really excited to visit again and see it in the light of summer!

Highs:

  • A weeklong vacation to the Carolina’s! I flew into Raleigh, North Carolina on a Friday morning where I visited with my friends Alanna and Shivani before heading down to Charlotte, North Carolina with Alanna for our friend Bree’s belated Birthday and Graduation Party where we got to meet ALL of Bree’s (and our friend Hannah’s) high school friends as well as a few of Bree’s college friends, too, which was SO MUCH FUN! There, I did my first-ever display of jell-o shots along with a lineup of alcohol. Bree’s high school friends are such incredible people that I am glad I got to meet during my quick 24 hours in Charlotte this time around (I would LOVE to come back to Charlotte for a weekend in the future to explore and catch up with friends there!!). Afterwards, me, Bree, Alanna, and Hannah all headed down to Isle of Palms, South Carolina for some incredible hospitality courtesy of Hannah and her Mom at their home down there. While in Isle of Palms, we stayed at the Wild Dunes community and explored the area A LOT along with a day trip into nearby Charleston and Mount Pleasant (more to come in a future blog post on my incredible time down in South Carolina!). Needless to say, I am uber-grateful for the kindness, hospitality, bonds, and charm of the final week of June 2023.

The CUTEST wine shop – Taylor’s Wine Shop – in Raleigh, North Carolina

Bree’s Grad Party in Charlotte, North Carolina

Flight reads brought to your by Bethany Beach Books

  • Dining within the Washington, DC area is ALWAYS a high for me each month to month. This June 2023, I dined at some pretty incredible places, including Ada’s On The River in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia; Trattoria Villagio in Clifton, Virginia; and The Bazaar by Jose Andres in Washington, DC. At the same time, I enjoyed many meals (and wine!) at home with my Papa and our neighbors. Many memories were made with both friends and family via my Washington, DC area dining outings as always, too (more to come in a future blog post on DC Dining – June 2023)!
  • My weekend in Bethany Beach, Delaware was SO special. My childhood best friend Amanda drove to stay with us for the weekend which was SO SO SO nice. Amanda is practically like a sister to me and she truly fits in with my family, which was super sweet, as my Dad and Step Mom and even their Yorkie (my “Sissy”) Ginger joined us for practically everything. Our activities included: beach mornings/afternoons (where we *even* overheard the college-aged male lifeguards in the stand right by us talking about their girlfriends – my Dad called it “lifeguard love stories” – LOL!), dinners and drinks at some incredible Bethany Beach-area restaurants (I plan to write a dining guide soon-ish, too!), parasailing which was AMAZING for the first-time ever with Amanda, shopping on the boardwalk where I bought one wayyyy too many books at Bethany Beach Books and *of course* fudge at the local chain Candy Kitchen, mini golf, ice cream, and climbing a former World War 11 tower that is now free and open to the public and has amazing views, too. We all had such a special weekend together, too, as so so so many memories were made that will last a lifetime.
  • To kick off summer, just the day before I left for the Carolina’s, Papa and Rosie and I went for a day trip to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (read more about my experience last summer here). We ended up picking a day to go that was rather rainy and foggy which meant for gorgeous views of the fog amongst the Appalachian Mountains and the rivers that intersect there. I saw an exhibit on Louis and Clark’s expedition that partially took places in Harpers Ferry, grabbed a cup of coffee for $2.50 (aka a steal for living in the Washington, DC area and being addicted to Starbucks to some extent), and took in ALL the views within Harpers Ferry National Park and the town which only has a population of ~250 people. It was a STUNNING and literally perfect day – MORE to come in a future blog post!
  • I hosted my first-ever summer dinner party!!!! I decked out my deck in *none other than* a flamingo summer theme and had pizza, salad, and charcuterie for 3 of my good friends and dog Rosie who were able to show up and celebrate the kick off of summer with me. We had a BLAST catching up with one another and talking about our summer plans. Each of my friends that showed up had either went to my high school or college, which makes me feel SO beyond lucky that we are able to still remain friends to this very day. ALSO, I LOVE that each of my friends has become friends in a way with some of my other friends – it truly is special!
  • Work has become nothing short of exciting this past June 2023. Firstly, my work OOTD’s have become a highlight of my day-to-day 9-5 life. In summary, I used to feel a huge lift in my spirits when I wore a cute outfit to school in my high school days and am glad I reinstated wearing cute outfits while working from home and sharing them on my Instagram stories (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) on the daily. Second, my passion for healthcare policy has only grown this past month so much that others on my team have noticed and are wanting to pull my into more policy work. My excitement has grown for my 9-5 world in many different ways, so much so that when I signed off for my out of office week at the end of the month I knew that I would have something to look forward to in July (along with my word OOTD’s which will continue!).
  • One of my fellow Lilly Pulitzer lover friends Lorena and I met up at Barboursville Vineyards (here) in Barboursville, Virginia near downtown Orange, Virginia. I took a day trip to meet up with Lorena and explore this gorgeous well-known to the area vineyard (it was about 2 hours away from me!) and the drive was GORGEOUS *just* as if I was transported into a STUNNING painting of the rolling hills of Virginia’s countryside. Lorena and I kicked off our day with a 3-course lunch at their delicious on-site restaurant Palladio before exploring the nearby Barboursville Ruins and taking in ALL of the scenic views along the meadow-filled trail there. Last but not least, we went into the winery where I bought some wine bottles as gifts for my parents. Later that night, I made the trek back home to Northern Virginia and enjoyed family time via a cookout with ice cream cake for my Mom’s Birthday. All in all, a GREAT day with many loved one’s all around!
  • Early June 2023, I got to experience *even more* adventure in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia aka one of my FAVORITE spots in all of the Washington, DC area. This time around, my friend Brittany and I went to paint pottery at a local shop called Paint This (where I painted a cupcake) before parting ways where I got Mexican food and a cocktail and then walked around the streets and explored some of the many shops there. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and its beauty SO MUCH that I hope to live near there in the next few years.

Lows:

  • While in Charlotte, North Carolina, my friends and I sadly ran into some … car issues. Sometimes, I like to joke that it seems that *every single time* I drive down to the Carolina’s, my friends and I run into some car issues. It sucks A LOT especially when it comes to traveling which can be so exciting and fun when there aren’t any. However, on the bright side, everything worked out and we were all safe and healthy through it all.
  • I had a rough mental week a few weeks back. While I won’t get into the details of what all was occurring during that week, I will say that it involved LOTS of sleeping and couch resting to the Food Network in the background. Needless to say, it is SO important that we all take care of ourselves and listen to our bodies both on a physical and mental level.
  • When there wasn’t any car issues, there was it felt like LOTS of traffic on the highway. Personally, ever since my car accident back in February, I have had LOTS of anxiety when it comes to driving. And, well, traffic is NOT my favorite thing to drive in, but whose is it?! The traffic on the way to both Delaware (a holiday weekend) and Charlotte (a car wreck which closed down a portion of I-85) took a major toll on me mentally. However, through it all, I am very proud of myself for simply plowing through the stress of all of the summer traffic despite my driving fears.

June 2023 was such a bittersweet month, filled with ever-growing bonds, great hospitality, lots of generosity, and several memories made along the way. Here’s to an even MORE special July 2023!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie – May 2023

From celebrating my Birthday via the kick off of the month in the gorgeous little of town of Edenton, North Carolina to SOOOOO many fun celebratory dinner/brunch and social outings across Washington, DC and Northern Virginia to SOOO many exciting professional development opportunities, May 2023 has been nothing but filled with excitement and surprises. As with any month, there are many highs but of course a few lows, too. May 2023 has been nothing short of a blessing to me. It has historically been a celebratory month for me as May 1 is my Birthday and college/high school graduations along with others Birthday’s are to be, too. I feel beyond blessed to have a GREAT month of May this 2023 year and am looking towards the future for an exciting *and* ultra-busy June-August 2023 (which I have been in the process of planning!!!).

Gratitude has been the BIG word for May 2023. I am beyond blessed to have such incredible friends and family members that I get to spend time with, celebrate with, and go through both the highs and lows with. My friends and family truly are my rocks. I am truly grateful for them, their love, and their support through it all. Thank you all <3

Highs:

  • I got invited to a private VIP Coronation Party at the Scout Bags Flagship store in Washington, DC’s neighborhood of Georgetown. This was my first time-ever attending an event as an influencer like this. I got to shop for my Mom for Mother’s Day and pick out some cute summer staples for myself for my upcoming travels and adventures, too. At the same time, I met some of the incredible and ultra-sweet staff at Scout Bags, including their social media manager Sarah and the fashion brand’s iconic founder Deb! At the same time, this event gave me *another* opportunity to wear my fascinator which I wore when touring Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky back in March. This event was such a BLAST!!! I brought my best friend Laura with me as my plus one and the store was literal heaven on Earth for her as it is for me, too. Laura and I also got a swag bag and to decorate a custom flower bouquet from Washington, DC’s premier pop-up flower truck – Lily’s Flower Truck! Laura and I went to Clyde’s on M Street in Georgetown nearby afterwards and it was such a great morning/early afternoon out.
  • Birthday and celebratory dinners/brunches with friends and family. So so so so many memories were made, too. Restaurants include La Chaumiere, Farmers Fishers Bakers, Hometown Grill and Bar, Urban Roast, and Coastal Flats. Over Memorial Day Weekend, I also went to my cousin Benjamin’s college graduation and goodbye party as he moves to Michigan in the next few weeks for his new job. I am beyond proud of Benjamin and all of his accomplishments and REALLY enjoyed getting to catch up with him along with many of my fellow family members there too. Be on the lookout for a DC Dining – May 2023 blog post *very very very* soon!!
  • Enjoying the magic of Washington, DC in the summer months. Although it is technically still Spring here in the Washington, DC area and according to the calendar, it definitely feels like summer here in the Washington, DC area given the huge increase in humidity here and people out and about including the influx of tourists. Needless to say, I LOVE the magic of Washington, DC coming alive!!!! One of my favorite outings was taking my best friends Haley and Laura to the Glossier storefront in the neighborhood of Georgetown. In the Winter months, I find myself and I know others feel the same the sheer need to hibernate and just stay indoors. BUT, when the weather gets nice out, I want to be in the city and enjoy it, too. That energy from myself and others truly radiates throughout the entire city.
  • Professional development events, which includes my first-ever two conferences: the Leadership Summit via The Leadership Center for Excellence in Ballston, Arlington, Virginia and Med Tech via The Academy for Radiological & Biomedical Imaging Research in Washington, DC’s Capitol Hill, which I showcase some fun behind it all here. Both conferences taught me SOOOO much and and inspired me on many levels. I felt so much hope for the future and inspiration for where my career can take me. I feel *extremely* grateful to have an incredible employer that supports me in my endeavors, too.
  • At the end of May, I went into the office for a work Happy Hour that one of my teammates helped put together. The Happy Hour featured a guest that’s one of our company clients and it was SO inspiring to hear from this client of ours. Afterwards, I met my best friend and college “Big Sis” Stephanie for dinner at the nearby Tyson’s Corner Center (mall). We tried the brand-new Persian restaurant MamanJoon (will share more in my May 2023 DC Dining blog post coming soon!!) and the staff were SO sweet and the food was amazing. The Tyson’s Corner Center has a super fun exhibit of artworks done by artists at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center along with LOTS of fun graffiti demos, modern art displays, and murals both in and outside of the mall. Needless to say, the atmosphere was super great to close out the month of May.
  • I had a light week towards the end of May, so Papa and I took an evening outing to Nall’s Produce – a local garden and produce center in Alexandria, Virginia. We both bought some locally sourced produce and spent quality time together. One of my favorite parts was simply wondering the aisles and aisles and aisles of the garden center section at Nall’s Produce. Gardens centers are GORGEOUS, y’all!!! Needless to say, Papa and I had an amazing time together there and then went to Chili’s nearby for dinner and beers.
  • To kick off Memorial Day weekend, Papa and I went out to lunch with his sister and her husband aka my Great Aunt Darlene and Uncle Mike. We checked out a restaurant on the waterfront along the Occoquan River in Occoquan, Virginia. We had a super nice time catching up with Aunt Darlene and Uncle Mike and learned more about their upcoming exciting summer adventures to Europe. I am super blessed to have incredible family members such as Aunt Darlene and Uncle Mike in my life. Afterwards, Papa and I took Rosie on a gorgeous walk at Mason Neck State Park in Virginia that led to a stunning marsh on an inlet of the Potomac River. I unplugged the entire walk with the exception of taking some photos at the marsh on Papa’s phone and it was SO needed!

Lunch with Great Aunt Darlene and Uncle Mike – Occoquan, Virginia

Walk with Papa along Mason Neck State Park – Lorton, Virginia

  • Papa and I went for a long weekend to Edenton, North Carolina – an ultra-charming North Carolina town – for my 24th Birthday celebration. We brought Rosie our dog with us and had an amazing time. In Edenton, we took Rosie on several walks alongside the Edenton Waterfront Park, rode on the historic Trolley Tour to learn more about Edenton’s history, and dined at spots that local “Edentonians” frequent and love. Read more about my time with Papa and Rosie in Edenton here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2023/05/17/48-hours-in-edenton-north-carolina/
  • Many evenings in the yard with a glass of wine and sunshine! Rosie hangs out in the front yard for HOURS on HOURS on end in the sunshine during these warm, summer-like months. When I am done with work, I LOVE getting to sit outside, enjoy some sunshine and a glass of wine, and hang out with Rosie and Papa too. Sometimes I’ll go for a walk and bring Rosie, too. There are so many bonding moments that are special for me and Papa and Rosie.
  • Alongside attending the VIP Coronation party at the Scout Flagship Store, I also attended a Kentucky Derby Party at my Mom’s friend’s house. *Yes*, this Kentucky Derby Party gave me *yet another* opportunity to wear my fascinator which has been a blast (!!!) ever since I toured Churchill Downs. At the Kentucky Derby Party, I got to make my own Mint Julep which I LOVED trying when I was in Louisville, Kentucky and mingle with others in my Mom’s friend’s community. The Washington, DC area is very populated but also very small at the same time. Needless to say, it is always fun to get to know more people in my city while also seeing some familiar faces (and placing bets on which horse will win the 2023 Kentucky Derby!).

Lows:

  • Burnout, burnout, burnout! The name of the game this May 2023 has been burnout and the physical affects of it. I attended a webinar through Women in Technology coincidentally this May 2023 and I learned how to best identify when burnout starts and how it affects us via the cycle of burnout. That all being said, I realized from that webinar that burnout is one thing that I struggle with and sometimes I simply need to take it easy. One weekend this May 2023, I literally just did nothing except take Rosie for walks and one dinner with a friend. It was super nice just to simply rest and recharge and just sleep. And, sometimes, that is what we truly need.
  • Two words: awful allergies. My allergies have SUCKED throughout the month of May! Now that it is much nicer out and my dog Rosie wants to hang out outside for the majority of the now-sunny days, I find myself having *none other than* an allergic reaction all day everyday to the grass that Rosie sunbathes on. I have found myself dealing with fatigue and horrible allergy symptoms all month long. However, the memories that I have made with Rosie and will continue to make make it ALL that worth it.
  • Grocery planning changes have been happening on my front. In the past, I would use Instacart to preorder groceries and simply pick them up curbside or have them be delivered. To many people’s surprise, using Instacart has been much cheaper for me than getting groceries in-store. However, I have realized in recent times that the grocery planning process has been taking a mental toll on me via obsession over the planning process with my cart. Needless to say, I am switching to in-person grocery shopping 1-2 times a week based on what I need rather than through Instacart for the time being.

Looking forward to the future, I have some very exciting plans for June and July 2023! Ranging from beach weekends to summer activities to graduation parties to everything in between, Summer is usually the time that is a BIG travel season for me and many others, too. I have a total of 5 weekends away in the next 8 weeks with opportunities to rest in between it all. I am very excited for what is to come but hoping to protect my soul and self from too much burnout as well. Here’s to an exciting and busy and *of course* fun next 2 months!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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2023 Reader Survey Results & Upcoming Blogger Goals!

Just a few months ago, I sent out a reader survey (look NO further than here) to survey y’all on my blogging platform here via The Pink Chickadee, what y’all LOVE seeing, and what y’all want to see moving forward. Every single year, I strive to host a reader survey along with a $25 Target gift card giveaway (the winner will be announced at the end of this posting!!!) to one lucky participant and this year is my 3rd year ever doing one. I used to work primarily in data analytics, so doing these Reader Surveys are a bit of a fun passion project for me. And, at the same time, I LOVE getting inspiration from *none other than* y’all – my readers – on content to share moving forward.

To be frankly honest, this 2023 year, I have been prioritizing taking rest and time for myself. And, with doing so, I am writing a bit less here on the blog and sharing bigger postings that are more meaningful to me in terms of memories to look back on in the future, such as my monthly DC Dining posts where I write a round-up of different restaurants that I dine at in the Washington, DC area each month (read my most recent DC Dining’s blog postings here and here). And, in the midst of ALL my time resting and being busy busy busy, I simply missed getting to write and share my 2023 Reader Survey results from the survey I shared with y’all earlier this year. I will say that this year’s Reader Survey had the highest volume of responses that I have EVER received in the past and that is all thanks to YOU. THANK YOU <3

Survey Results

Before digging into my survey results, it’s important to note that this survey includes my followers on social media, readers of the blog, and those who may do both. This survey was also voluntary and all responses are anonymous upon submission and will remain anonymous.

Demographics:

The majority of my readers are within the 25-34% age range (64.7%) and 35-44 (17.8%) and 18-24 (14.5%) follows as the second and third largest age range populations. Most of my readers are women (approximately 85%). The majority of my readers live in the East Coast or Southern regions of the United States, with Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina as the most popular states. The Midwest and California (a surprise to me!!) is another popular area in which my readers live, as well. More specifically speaking, the Washington, DC, New York City, and Raleigh-Durham metro areas are the most popular cities in which my readers and followers and viewers on social media reside. On the other hand, not many of my readers live outside of the United States.

As for who YOU love to read and follow on social media, y’all’s favorite bloggers and influencers are a variety of different people. I was super super super pleased to see some of my favorite accounts pop up, such as: my fellow Virginia residing friends and influencers Kystle of @thevirginiahypegirl and Annaliese of @miss_alk on Instagram and my favorite influencers Courtney of @abyersguide on Instagram, Angela of The Thrifty Pineapple (now @angelamdarnell on Instagram), and Amy of @amylittleson on Instagram. One of the few accounts that came up that I had not heard of except for in passing was Artistic Director Clare Waight Keller (@clarewaightkeller) on Instagram. I *had* to follow her and am obsessed with her feed (!!!) so thanks y’all!! At the same time, many of y’all don’t have a favorite or favorites influencers/bloggers and that is OKAY.

Where Y’all Follow Along & Favorite Content:

I was surprised to see that Facebook was slightly the most popular site for my fellow readers to follow along! Instagram and simple visits and even a subscription to get updates on ALL my blog posts via my website were the second-most popular ways for y’all to follow along. Over 97% of y’all have read a blog post as well. I also noticed that a smaller yet mighty percent of my readers follow me on both Shop LTK and Pinterest. And, as for content, y’all LOVE Instagram Reels and Facebook posts, hence, y’all’s love for Facebook which I LOVE, too. Y’all also *of course* love static Instagram posts (meaning NO reels/video content in a posting) along with Instagram/Facebook stories. At the same time, I was ecstatic to see someone post that they LOVE seeing posts of my Papa and dog Rosie – SO SO SO sweet!

As for content, y’all love seeing things pertaining to fashion (specifically preppy fashion and secondhand/thrifted fashion), travel, the authentic life of Katie (including the good and the bad and more specifically with a focus on mental health), home decor, and Washington, DC area life and things to do. Y’all’s favorite topic to read up on is travel along with adventures in the Washington, DC area and more specifically on starting out in a brand-new city. At the same time, y’all LOVE reading and seeing photos pertaining to preppy fashion and learning more about different small businesses. The second-most popular topic areas were: secondhand fashion/thrifting, Dog Mom adventures with my dog Rosie, my daily outfits of the day, and home decor. Needless to say, I LOVE that y’all love reading what I have strived to show and coincidentally LOVE sharing the most.

Overall, y’all aka my fellow readers seem to LOVE following along on my social media, whether it be Facebook or Instagram. I LOVE that y’all find my content authentic and fun and just love watching me simply be me.

And, as always, I LOVE hearing what YOU have to say as y’all are THE BEST:

  • Thanks for being you!
  • I admire all you do on your blog and you are the best sister ever! Keep being you my friend and never change! <3
  • Thank you for sharing your personality and style! & taking readers along for the journey

2023 Blogger Goals

  • Continue exploring the Washington, DC area more and share local favorites. I feel so so so beyond lucky to live in an incredible city with SO MUCH to do both inside and outside of the city. The Washington, DC area has A LOT of great things to do and I LOVE taking advantage of it all. I have been following and continue to follow a lot of other fellow Washington, DC area and Virginia bloggers who provide me with so much inspiration for places to go, content, and things to do. SO, as always, I plan to continue to share more Washington, DC area content!
  • Share more authentic content. Whether it be content pertaining to self growth, self empowerment, mental health, career, or all of the above, authenticity is key in my eyes. I find it SO important to be authentic, especially as an influencer. While it can be a challenge at times, I love seeing that my content resonates with others aka YOU and I want to continue to do just that.
  • More fashion. I want to share more preppy fashion finds, whether it be in my stories via an outfit of the day (OOTD), while on an adventure, or just a simple Instagram post. I always get excited before any day to put on a cute outfit, whether it be to lounge or work from home or to go into Washington, DC for the day for a brunch or dinner. I intend to continue to do just that!

Thank you all for all of your love and support here on my platform. Your support means THE WORLD to me. And, as promised, the lucky 2023 Reader Survey participant and winner of the $25 Target gift card is ….. Amber Dengler!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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48 Hours in Edenton, North Carolina

Ever since I was 11, I have always wanted to take a trip for my birthday. So, when I read about the gorgeous charming town of Edenton, North Carolina from Annaliese of Southern Belle In Training‘s Instagram and blog, I knew I had to make a visit to Edenton as I am a major sucker for small, historic, and charming towns! To be honest, Edenton was not on my radar until I saw Annaliese’s content on the town and I’m glad it is now. I have visited Asheville (here) and a few other cities in North Carolina, including my college town of Raleigh, but am glad I have now visited Edenton! My Papa and dog Rosie came along with me to celebrate my Birthday for 48 hours in Edenton, North Carolina and we had an incredible and special time together in this sweet and charming town.

For our 48 hours in Edenton, North Carolina, we ended up going on a Sunday-Tuesday and spent most of Sunday and all of Monday exploring. The Sunday we arrived it was super stormy in the evening, but we luckily had arrived in Edenton and were in awe via *none other than* the calm before the storm. One of the most beautiful things that Papa and I learned about Edenton was how the community always comes together and has for centuries during tough times, whether it be to save a community home, repair someone’s home, maintain a historic landmark, or simply lend someone a helping hand. I think that is why the town’s population has remained stable for over a century. The community of Edenton is such a beautiful and remarkable community that has stood the test of time.

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

About Edenton:

 Edenton, North Carolina is located on the Albemarle Sound just about 2 hours East of the state capital of Raleigh and about 90 minutes south of Virginia Beach, Virginia and is the county seat of Chowan County, North Carolina. It is a part of North Carolina’s Inner Banks region which the locals proudly call “God’s Country”. I went to Meredith College – an all-women’s college in Raleigh, North Carolina and quite a bit of Meredith College alumnae are proud Edentonians. As of 2021, Edenton’s population was around 4,400 which has remained stable for over a century. Edenton used to be the North Carolina state capital specifically in the colonial days. To this very day, Edenton’s history and charm remains in tact along with a rich community that has stood the test of time.

What We Did:

Even though many of the historic sights in Edenton were closed when we were visiting since our sightseeing days were a Sunday and Monday, Papa and I still got to get a great taste of the town of Edenton (and didn’t do our wallets too much damage either!). Hence, we must spend another 48 hours in Edenton, North Carolina to check them out!! Through it all, Edenton is such a picturesque town that has become well-known by Forbes and Visit North Carolina to name a few! I have listed all of the places that we visited in this blog post. Needless to say, Edenton was a *very* impressive little town filled with several kind and welcoming souls!

Penelope Barker House Welcome Center

This iconic welcome center is such a beautiful asset to the town of Edenton! I felt SO welcomed to Edenton when I saw this gorgeous welcome center. I walked in and was in awe with the gorgeous antiques that have been local to the Edenton community for years along with books on Edenton’s rich history. Guests are welcome to hang in the living areas of the welcome center and even on the gorgeous back a porch for a picnic (which we would’ve done if it weren’t for the strong winds while visiting!). While there, I met the former First Lady of Edenton who happened to pop in for a visit and she was such a delight to chat with! The best part?! The Penelope Barker House Welcome Center is named for Penelope Barker – the leader of what is said to be the first-ever women-lead political activity in the United States. Penelope Barker lead the Edenton Tea Party, on October 25, 1774 where she organized a petition for the British to stop “taxation without representation” on tea and other goods in when North Carolina was one of the 13 colonies in response to the Tea Act passed by the British parliament in 1773. Barker sent the petition off to England where it was shut down by the British, but its legacy remains true to its day. What’s super impressive about the Edenton Tea Party is that Barker found 40+ women who knew how to read and write (which was rare in 1774 for women) to read and sign it. To this very day, the Penelope Barker House Welcome Center stands in its gorgeous glory to honor Barker and welcome in guests to Edenton from all walks of life.

The Herringbone

Also known as Edenton’s waterfront dining destination, The Herringbone is a popular place that attracts locals and visitors alike. The bar at The Herringbone is STUNNING along with the outside seating looking over Edenton’s gorgeous waterfront. The Herringbone is housed in a remarkable buiding – which has served as both the Edenton Ice Company and the Edenton Police Headquarters over the years. Papa and I (Rosie too!) had burgers and fries for lunch when we arrived on Sunday via the calm right before the storm. We, then, came back to The Herringbone for dinner on my Birthday for beer and pizza and live music. The menu of The Herringbone involves A LOT of unique Eastern North Carolinian delights and classic American fare! The Herringbone is a PERFECT place to wind down, take in the scenic views, and enjoy some Eastern North Carolinian delights.

Cupola House and Gardens

The Cupola House was owned by the same family for generations for 141 years, after being built in 1758 on land gifted by King Charles for Frances Corbin who was an agent for Lord Granville – one of eight Lords Proprietors. After the last of the generations of family members who had owned the Cupola House couldn’t afford to maintain and care for it anymore, the people of Edenton also proudly known as “Edentonians” came together to make this historic home into The Cupola House Association. Edentonians also gave that final generation of the home’s owners assistance to move into a home that they could afford. To this day, the community effort of Edentonians remains true to the town’s legacy and love for one another. Today, the Cupola House Gardens is open between 9:00am-4:30pm and is free to visit. Whereas, the Cupola House is open for tours and visits on certain days of the week and tickets for those guided tours can be purchased at the Edenton Historic Sites Visitor Center (which was closed when I was visiting). The craftsmanship of the Cupola House to this *very* day serves as an example of craftsmanship and styles that were architecturally popular in the mid-1700s.

Edenton Bay Trading Company

This wine bar was THE CUTEST! I was also blown away at how Papa and I only spent $8.50 on a bottle of beer and glass of wine, coming from the Washington, DC area where cocktails can cost upwards of $25 or more (JUST WOW!!!!!!). Guests can also buy bottles of wine and cases of beer from North Carolina and beyond. I LOVED the atmosphere of the Edenton Bay Trading Company, as it was so eclectic and relaxing. Papa and I came here before lunch for a pre-Birthday drink, because what better way to celebrate a Birthday?!?! It also serves as a favorite spot for the local Edentonians to come together. Although we didn’t spend much time here, I really enjoyed the time that I did spend there.

Trolley Tours

As a history buff, Edenton’s iconic Trolly Tour was a MUST DO (!!!) and a highlight of Edenton for both Papa and I. It is run by two Edentonians who have been sharing the passion and history of the town for quite a while now. I learned and saw SO MUCH of Edenton that I would not have learned about otherwise. Papa and I saw several different iconic historic sites to be seen all across Edenton, including: the historically African American neighborhood, Edenton Cotton Mill Historic District, Waterfront Park, Iredell House Homesite, Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, and so much more. One of the most touching parts was learning about the life of Harriet Jacobs – an Edenton resident who escaped slavery to move up North, write about her own experiences, and become an Abolitionist. Harriet Jacobs is one of a few written accounts of the Maritime Underground Railroad. Another majorly touching part of the Trolley Tour was to learn how much the people of Edenton come together to help another town member in need (case in point: The Cupola House and Gardens!). Edentonians truly love one another and their gorgeous town! Tickets for the Trolley Tour can be purchased in the Penelope Barker House Welcome Center the day-of.

1767 Chowan County Courthouse

Known as the most intact Colonial courthouse in the United States according to researchers, the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse still beautifully gleams just in front of the waterfront. Declaration of Independence signer Joseph Hewes was one of the commissioners who was appointed to raise money for the courthouse’s construction. And, well-known Revolutionary patriots Judges James Iredell and Samuel Johnston have heard cases in this *very* exact courthouse. How cool?! Papa and I learned a lot about the Chowan County Courthouse from the historians on the Edenton Trolley Tour and took Rosie here later on in the evening and it was SO NICE!

Edenton Tea Pot

The Edenton Tea Pot was constructed to honor Penelope Barker’s fight and drive via the Edenton Tea Party that she organized (read more about that above!). It is said to weigh several tons, too. Needless to say, Edenton is beyond proud of its heritage as the first-ever North Carolina State Capitol and for being put on the historic radar via the Edenton Tea Party. As previously mentioned, the Edenton Tea Party is said to be the first-ever women-run political activity in the United States – something that Edentonians are very proud of.

1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse

On commission from 1887-1941, the Ronaoke River Lighthouse is the only surviving of 3 lighthouses in Edenton over the centuries. Its permanent location is overlooking the Edenton Bay with excellent views from the Edenton Waterfront Park. It moved offshore to its current location in 2012, as reported by WRAL’s Tar Heel Traveler series. At one point, the Roanoke River Lighthouse housed a family with kids before its move in 2012! It is said that the lighthouse is the last surviving example in the United States of a “squarer frame building built for a screw-pile base” (“Visit Edenton”). Papa and I LOVED walking up to the lighthouse and admiring it via the waterfront park. It is such a gorgeous asset to Edenton. Currently, the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse is being continuously restored, in order to keep its glory running sky-high for centuries and visitors to come!

Wrap-Up:

48 hours in Edenton, North Carolina was such an incredible visit! Edentonians have shown so much grit and love for their little town for centuries and will for centuries to come. I loved getting to visit Edenton, as to be honest, it was never on my travel radar until recently. The passion and love that I now have for Edenton is something I am very grateful to now have. Maybe another 48 hours in Edenton, North Carolina soon?!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie!

Long time, NO life of Katie! It, indeed, feels like centuries (well, January 25 to be exact) since I last wrote a life of Katie blog post! A lot has happened in my life since January 25, 2023 which is ALMOST 3 months ago both personally and professionally, including: experiencing an evening hit and run by a bus after a dinner with a friend and grocery shopping, taking trips to Raleigh, North Carolina and Carlisle, Pennsylvania and Louisville, Kentucky, having two visits from friends visit me for my second-ever National Cherry Blossom Festival as a Washington, DC area professional, commemorating first-time and 100th+ time reunions with several friends and family members, chopping off my hair into a lob, helping to coordinate an International Women’s Day panel event at my company with others in my company, starting to work in the health market full-time at my company (as opposed to defense and health markets), and continuing to work on myself and grow personally in a multitude of different ways. Needless to say, the life of Katie has been a whirlwind of both highs and lows, yet, through it all, I have become stronger and more self-aware.

***Photos on a day trip to City Center, Washington DC

As always, I view life as an everlasting cycle of one working on themselves. I didn’t view life this way up until within the past year, and I see this newly developed perspective of mine as such a gift. And *of course* as promised, here are some updates into the Life of Katie:

  • Thrifting – In the past 3 months, I have gone thrifting more than I ever have in the past! While in April I am thrifting less than I did in both February and March and well shopping in general beyond things I need, I did have a blast finding some extraordinary name-brand items that I would have paid hundreds for otherwise. Most items I get at the thrift store I get for under $15! The name brand items I have found since January 25 include a Coach logo handbag, Gretchen Scott dress, Vineyard Vines shorts, Maeve dress, Kate Spade crossbody handbag, Vera Bradley scarf, Lilly Pulitzer mug, Tory Burch blouse, North Carolina (my college state!) hand-painted tin plate, Jack Rogers sandals, Lilly Pulitzer scarf, and Talbots cardigan. I have bought wayyyy too much (hence why I am cutting back on shopping a bit!), but I am really happy with what I have scored and am enjoying what I have now.
  • Overcoming Trauma – Last Spring and Summer, I had a few *very* strange interactions that made me super uncomfortable from those that it should not have come from. It took me a LONG time to process these interactions as they made me feel scared, traumatized, and overly anxious. I didn’t even want to do things locally as a result of fear of more of these interactions. But, as I worked a lot more on myself, the more I realized that these people who were the source of these interactions were 1/1,000,000+ people in my area and even the world and that there is SO MUCH good around me. I’ve started to focus on the good more and learn more and grow as a person. That self-growth allowed me to both process and overcome this trauma that I had from those uncomfortable interactions and be able to better set limits for myself moving forward.
  • Old Lady Spring/Summer – I am truly striving to enjoy the sunshine more so this year! On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared a bit about how this year Hot Girl Spring/Summer is now Old Lady Spring/Summer!! With Old Lady Spring/Summer, I am home by 8pm every night, enjoying my wine on the back porch, staying at home and binge watching my favorite shows, and breaking out allll the florals and chunky knit cardigans (heat permitting!). My friend a few weeks back asked me if I was wanting to couple up or enjoy Hot Girl Summer, and, well, she inspired me to respond with the fact that I am parttaking in Old Lady Spring/Summer!!
  • Travel – Since January 25, I have traveled to North Carolina, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and done a few day trips close to home in Virginia and Washington, DC. Needless to say, all this travel both near and far has been such a highlight for me!!! It has been so special to spend time with friends who come to visit me and I come to visit them and to hang with those who live close to me too and aren’t a 4 hour+ car ride or plane ride away. Travel has always been a special thing for me and having those I love be apart of it and the cultural learning and awareness that has come too makes it even more special. I have a few maybe a lot of trips planned for this Summer and even Fall and some in 2024 and I couldn’t be happier to do them with those that I love. I feel extremely blessed to be able to have such incredible friends and family members who hype me up and vice versa. It truly is a gift.
  • Healthy Lifestyle – Recently, I have started eating healthier. It has been a whirlwind of fear and emotions that have gone into my decision to start diving into a healthier lifestyle, but it has been worth it in the end. Before I made the choice of healthy living, I was always tired and it was making me feel sick and negatively affecting my mental health. I cut out sugar from all of my drinks (including coffee), refuse to eat much sugar, strive to use painkillers a lot less and choose more natural pain relievers, and avoid fried foods more often than not. Needless to say, I feel A LOT better physically and mentally. Feeling better helps us to be our best selves!!

Life has been a whirlwind since my last life of Katie blog post, but everything since then has helped shape me into who I’m meant to become.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Louisville, Kentucky Dining: March 2023

To both me and my Mom’s surprise, Louisville, Kentucky is a HUGE foodie city! Pretty much every place we ate (our favorites I am sharing in this blog post) was really incredible. The people of Louisville are SO beyond friendly and the food there is incredible – a melting pot of cuisines, too. On my Instagram about a month ago (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I shared on my stories about ALL of the places that my Mom and I dined at while in Louisville, Kentucky (read my experience at Churchill Downs here!) dining out AND today I am talking about our favorite spots!

I am a BIG fan of getting reservations at restaurants as I am a HUGE planner. When in Louisville, Kentucky dining especially on the weekends, the locals and visitors alike love to dine at many of these spots listed as they are popular. Mom and I made reservations at each of these spots with the exception of the bourbon-heavy places aka The Old Seelbach Bar and Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co which were both easy walk-in’s. Luckily, many of the restaurants mentioned do take reservations and offer some pretty great Kentucky charm while you dine there, too!

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

Where We Ate:

The Old Seelbach Bar (500 South 4th Street)

The Old Seelbach Bar is located in the iconic Old Seelbach Hilton Hotel AND was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s favorite bar when he was in Louisville! The Old Seelbach Bar is an early 1900’s bar which features an expansive bourbon collection and bar snacks. People from all across the world flock to this bar when they come to Louisville. Mom and I enjoyed bourbon cocktails with a window-side table to admire downtown Louisville. At the same time, we checked out the Old Seelbach Hilton Hotel, which attracted some of the most well-known gangsters including Al Capone who came to parttake in poker games. The Old Seelbach Hilton Hotel is STUNNING and offers so much 1900’s charm.

Bar Vetti (727 East Market Street)

Mom and I met up with some of her friends here before they headed back to the Washington, DC area for brunch. Bar Vetti’s brunch was AMAZING! We enjoyed unlimited coffee and to die for food – I got a sandwich with prosciutto and arugula and home fries on the side. The staff was super friendly and the atmosphere was GREAT and gorgeous, too. In addition to brunch, Bar Vetti has a delicious Italian dinner menu AND is located on East Market Street right by some incredible small Kentucky-owned businesses.

Holy Grale (1034 Bardstown Road)

Holy Grale was Mom’s and I’s FAVORITE place that we dined while in Louisville!!! Holy Grale is located in an old church-turned restaurant. Inside the restaurant, you can see A TON of the unique touches and charm of the building’s history as a church. While the building was restored into what it is now aka Holy Grale, you can still see so much of what it was back in the day. Mom and I split cauliflower gnocchi and a kale salad and each got the house beer. The staff are super friendly and told us A TON about Louisville and the history of Holy Grale! I have always wanted to dine in an old church building so getting to dine at Holy Grale was a dream come true.

Agave & Rye (426 Baxter Ave)

Agave & Rye offers traditional Mexican street favorites along with some pretty unique tacos (such as lobster tacos!!). While a chain with locations across Kentucky and Ohio, I felt as if Agave & Rye were just a one-location place. I got a mac & cheese taco while Mom got the lobster taco. Each taco is filled to the rim and super filling on its own. At the same time, I CANNOT forget to mention how gorgeous the bar at Agave & Rye was and the murals on ALL the walls of the restaurant. Our waiter was super friendly, too!

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. (120 North 10th Street)

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. is a family generations-owned distillery in Louisville. The staff were super friendly and they have two rescue cats who live there and are spoiled full-time! Their bourbon is authentically made in-house in much smaller batches than some of the other nearby Kentucky bourbon distilleries. However, their quality is bourbon is hard to beat. Mom and I did a guided tasting where we each got to try a flight of different bourbons of our choosing AND learn how bourbon is made and came to be along with the history of the family that still owns Kentucky Peerless Distillery!

Jack Fry’s (1007 Bardstown Road)

Jack Fry’s is one of the most well-known restaurants for fine dining in Louisville! Opened in 1933 by Jack and Flossie Fry, the restaurant has become a Louisville icon offering a high-end historic feel with Southern fare and cocktails. You truly feel as if you went back in time! I got a Mint Julep and their burger and Mom and I split the shrimp and grits which were some of the best that I’ve had! The bar, atmosphere, staff, and all around vibes were amazing!!! The best part?! Mom and I met the sweetest couple who had been married for 60+ years who spoke so highly of Jack Fry’s and are a true testament to true love as we were leaving – so beautiful!!

Wrap-Up:

I LOVE Louisville is an understatement! The people there were so friendly and their food was seriously so incredible. If I ever go back, I would literally just go to eat and chat with the locals while doing so as Louisville, Kentucky dining is wonderful!

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Unique Perspective at Churchill Downs!

Ever since I was in high school, I had always wanted to visit Churchill Downs! Coincidentally, on the same token, I had wanted to visit Kentucky since I was in elementary school singing the lyrics “I’m going to Kentucky and I’m going to the fair” on repeat on the playground. SO, when my Mom and I made it to Louisville, Kentucky where I visited her to explore the city after her conference there, we both KNEW that we had to go to Churchill Downs! While I had expected a very formal showy showy tour of Churchill Downs, my Mom who booked the tickets opted for the stables tour, where we got the more authentic tour of Churchill Downs and truly got a unique perspective of the place and the people who work countless hours to make it happen.

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

Churchill Downs is apart of the Kentucky Derby Museum – the place that plays homage to the historic significance of the Kentucky Derby and horse races at Churchill Downs. Along with our Barn and Backside Tour tickets, we got museum admission – all for $45/person. Click the link to book your ticket, too: https://www.derbymuseum.org/plan-a-visit/tours/winter-season-barn-and-backside-tour

My Mom and I are ALWAYS big fans of learning about the unique cultural aspects of different places AND the Churchill Downs Barn and Backside Tour (we did the Winter season one since we went in early March). Our tour guide was a staffer at Churchill Downs who works in the stables herself with the horses. On the tour, we learned that many of those who work at Churchill Downs live at the stables, to be close to and tend to the horses before and during racing season. We saw the stables where winning horses have lived during their time at Churchill Downs (there are plaques to honor each Kentucky Derby winning horse at their stable!!), including the stall that Secretariat called home! We also saw some of the apartments, dormitory-style homes, church, and academic building that the community of Churchill Downs staff live and work at. One of my favorite things learned on the tour is that all employees get access in the academic building to free certifications, United States citizenship assessments/test prep, and tutoring for their kids. The employees go to church on Monday (I think!) to mesh well with their work schedule at the stables. Mom and I both learned SO much and truly got an authentic taste into the life and culture on the Backside of Churchill Downs.

Our tour guide, being a Churchill Downs staffer, provided my group and I with a unique lens into life at Churchill Downs. Our tour guide grew up with parents working at Churchill Downs before she, herself, decided to follow in their footsteps. She is super passionate about the work that she does, despite the long and countless and sleepless hours that she has put into make iconic horse races like the Kentucky Derby and MANY others during horse race season at Churchill Downs and it truly showed. On top of horse race season, our tour guide ALSO does tours to show the place that she loves and calls her home. What our tour guide gave me and Mom and the rest of our group was the weight of how much work is put into making horse races like the Kentucky Derby and many others happen every year. There are SO many people who put in countless hours doing the “less glamorous” work to make horse races appear as magical as they look. It’s much more than just wealthy people putting down their money on which of their horses will win the race – it is passion, a love for horses, and countless hours of hard work. I hope more people can see and learn this, too.

Along with a touring the stables at the Backside of Churchill Downs, Mom and I also got to see the horse racing tracks which was SO cool (!!!) and check out the Kentucky Derby Museum that we had admission included for. The Kentucky Derby Museum had some beautiful horse portraits and stories on the history of the Kentucky Derby. My favorite part of the Kentucky Derby Museum was watching the film “The Greatest Race” – which is 18 minutes full of being at the center of the epic Kentucky Derby. You see ALL the hard work that goes into making the Kentucky Derby happen and the emotions that go into it all. Having done the Backside Barn and Stables tour beforehand, I loved the tribute that this film gave to the people who worked in the backside stables and all the work that they put in year after year into making this event occur.

I am SO glad that I was able to go to Kentucky and see where the Kentucky Derby happened at Churchill Downs! My Mom and I had both always wanted to go and it was such a special time with so many unique perspectives learned.

XOXO – Katie <3

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An Early Bloom

I am a sucker for Spring! A fun fact about me is that I am a Spring Baby – born in May. One of the biggest highlights of Spring since moving back to the Washington, DC area is that there is *none other than* the iconic cherry blossom festival with places ALL around the city and beyond to see these gorgeous blossoms bloom. The Cherry Blossom Festival is a BIG deal for myself and my fellow Washingtonians, alike, along with many who come to visit from around the world. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared a bit on my stories about the early peak bloom of Washington, DC’s cherry blossoms this Spring.

This morning, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that the cherry blossoms are expected to peak on March 22-25 on March 1 and The Washington Post reports that they are expected to peak March 23-29 on February 28. While both of these announcements from NPS and The Washington Post have overlapping dates yet aren’t exactly the same, their predictions are ONLY predictions that one person can go off of. What most people (including myself!) like to do is use the estimated peak bloom dates as a blueprint for planning our adventures to see the cherry blossoms. This year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is planned for March 20-April 16, 2023. These National Cherry Blossom Festival dates are planned with a wide enough range of dates to both attract visitors from out of town and to ensure that peak bloom is within those scheduled dates. Read more about the National Cherry Blossom Festival and ALL of their events here: https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/

What is SO monumental about this year is that we are expecting an early bloom. The other weekend, I was in Raleigh, North Carolina visiting my friends in honor of my best friend Alanna’s Birthday Weekend. Alanna and I went on a walk nearby her house in North Raleigh to see some trees and flowers starting to bloom. It was BEAUTIFUL and I got to take some photos while on our gorgeous walk on that overcast Sunday afternoon. Winter can be a tough time for many of us. The weather is super cold which makes it harder for me to want to do literally anything including going for a walk as the sun also sets before I finish work on a typical day. At the same time, after Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years, Winter just feels boring, too, as there’s isn’t much to do and it’s a tougher season for businesses and people, alike. Not to mention, as a fellow single lady, Valentine’s Day can sometimes just SUCK and the hype around it isn’t so much fun for me either. However, I do like Galentine’s Day and love all things self love and empowerment. So, that all being said, I am SUPER happy to have an early bloom this year, just like many other people that I know!

Now that the weather is starting to get warmer, I am starting to feel revitalized. I always feel so much refresher and ready for new beginnings when Spring comes, as odd as it sounds. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, to me, is an opening to warmer weather, new beginnings, and a happy warmer season ahead of us. Last year was my first year truly getting to experience the National Cherry Blossom Festival (well, besides going a few times as a kid and once on a Sunday morning with my best friend Haley in high school!) that I can remember as an adult. I truly had an amazing time getting to go to the National Cherry Blossom Festival and see what ALL the hype was about. Many special memories were made on solo adventures and with my best friend Shivani. I am SO excited to be able to spend it this year with my blogger bestie Lindsay of Sunshine and Stair Climbs, college besties Cassie and Caroline and Shivani, my family members aka Papa and dog Rosie, and high school classmates Haley and Laura and James. Much fun is to be planned and already planned and I am SO excited to see the cherry blossoms sooner than expected this year!! Read more about my experience at the National Cherry Blossom Festival last year here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/04/02/my-experience-at-the-national-cherry-blossom-festival-2022/

February was a ROUGH month for me. I got into an accident around 8pm that was a bit traumatic for me. The accident was not my fault either. Luckily, I was not injured and my car wasn’t totaled but it took a major mental toll on me and still is to some extent. What sucks is that during that time, I was gaining a lot of confidence when it came to driving, so it was horrible to feel that it was robbed from me via that accident. I ended up taking 3 days off of work to communicate with insurance and process it all. It sucked. So, long story short, an early bloom to me is like a breath of fresh air and hope for new beginnings and more happy memories to come.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Washington, DC Spots: National Air & Space Museum

When I was 7, my Mom took me to the National Air & Space Museum’s iconic planetarium. At the time, I had a major fascination with astronomy, and my Mom wanted to allow me to explore that then-passion of mine more. While I do not have as much of a HUGE passion for astronomy nowadays, I do still have a fascination and interest in it. SO, when one of my best guy friends James and I were thinking of a place to go in Washington, DC to catch up, I *just knew* that the National Air & Space Museum would be THE ticket!!

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.

Getting there: The National Air & Space Museum is located on the National Mall, just alongside several other iconic Smithsonian Institution museums AND the National Monument, United States Capitol Building, and Lincoln Memorial – just to name a few. Its address is 600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560. If taking public transportation, it is easiest to access via the L’Enfant Plaza Metro station, located along the Blue, Green, Orange, Silver, and Yellow lines or the Smithsonian Metro station (which is what James and I did!) in the case that you want to take the more scenic route. You can also drive to the National Mall, too, but it can be more challenging and pricey to find parking there. Along with visiting the National Air & Space Museum, it is also very easy to visit the monuments, grab a bite at a food truck alongside the National Mall, and check out another Smithsonian Institution museum!

About: The National Air & Space Museum is one of the many FREE to visit & ICONIC museums located along the National Mall that are apart of the Smithsonian Institution. It is also well-known as the Air & Space Museum. This museum was established in 1946 as the National Air Museum and it displays aircraft, missiles, rockets, spacecraft, and other flight-related artifacts. They also have an iconic planetarium to this very day, just like they did when I was a kid with my Mom! The Smithsonian museum was recently updated after undergoing renovations during the bulk of the COVID-19 pandemic and re-opened to the public in October 2022. To learn more about the National Air & Space Museum, look no further than here: https://airandspace.si.edu/

Planning Your Visit: In order to visit the National Air & Space Museum, you must reserve a free timed-entry pass. The purpose is free timed-entry passes is for crowd control. I highly suggest reserving your passes at least a few days in advance or seeing if there any available the day of that morning at 8:30 or that afternoon at 12:30 via the front desk. I didn’t have a problem reserving tickets for James and I just a few days before. It’s important to mention that many items, including knives, pepper sprays, scissors, and wallet tools, etc. are banned from all Smithsonian Institution Museums and Washington, DC sites, alike. To reserve your timed-entry pass, look no further than here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1029945/timed-entry-washington-the-smithsonian-national-air-and-space-museum-general-public

James and I were IN AWE at the National Air & Space Museum!! Its remodeling has made it look absolutely STUNNING! We both started off by visiting an exhibit on the Wright Brothers and their invention of the aircraft/airplane and how aviation has evolved ever since they first took off in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. As someone who went to college and has many close friends who are either from or still live in North Carolina, I LOVED getting to see an exhibit that had roots in North Carolina. It was also fascinating to be able to learn about the hard work that the Wright Brothers put into developing the aircraft and the legacy that they’ve left behind to this very day. The remainder of the exhibits that James and I saw were more focused on *none other than* astronomy (!!!). I LOVED getting to see an exhibit on the planets, space crafts that visited our galaxy – in REAL life!!!! – and learn more about how our world is connected via technology. James and I both had an amazing time.

Unfortunately, the planetarium that I knew and loved and still do was not open at the very precise moment which James and I arrived to try and take a peek inside. However, if we had thought more ahead of time, then we would have. Seeing the planetarium is definitely something on James’s and I’s bucket list for the future.

James has been a close friend of mine since high school. He has always been someone that I can count on in life and to have a GREAT TIME with. I am so so so glad that we got to spend time together at the National Air & Space Museum. As someone who frequents the National Mall and Washington, DC in general A LOT from Northern Virginia, I got James hooked on the city, too, and was very proud to have done so.

XOXO – Katie <3

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