The Foot Bridge in Pennsylvania and New Jersey

One of my favorite things that I LOVE about visiting my Aunt April in New Hope, Pennsylvania is enjoying the views of the nearby Delaware River and town of Lamberville, New Jersey on the other side of it. On my Instagram recently (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared some photos of the foot bridge, the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge, in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The only thing separating the two states is the Delaware River – a monumental river and historical landmark in George Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware on December 25-26, 1776. Its beauty and historical significance reigns true to this day.

Most people on my blogger side of things don’t know that I was born and raised in New Jersey for about 5 years of my life. I lived in New Jersey for a few months after I was born, moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas to live until I was 3, and then moved back to New Jersey until I was 8. The second time that I lived in New Jersey my family and I lived in Pennington, New Jersey – a small town located about 20 minutes from Princeton in one direction and 20 minutes from New Hope and Lamberville in the other. However, even when I lived in Pennington and the many many many years that followed, I never realized the historical significance of the places just minutes away from my pre-8 years of age childhood hometown.

The historical significance of the Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware River is that it was the first move in a surprise attack led by George Washington against the British during the American Revolutionary War. Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware River occurred on the night of December 25-26, 1776. The nearby-to-New Hope and Lamberville is the town of Washington’s Crossing, Pennsylvania which plays homage to a historical downtown village, Washington’s Crossing Inn (where my Aunt Sherri got married!!), and a historical park open to ALL visitors to enjoy the Delaware River, historical sites, and the beauty in between it all. Each year around Christmas time, Washington’s Crossing, Pennsylvania hosts a reenactment of George Washington’s revolutionary crossing of the Delaware River during the American Revolutionary War. The Delaware River in all of its glory and beauty plays a big role in the making of our country, today.

I grew up going to both New Hope and Lambertville as a kid. We would go to New Hope for ice cream. One cool thing is that New Hope has its own Bucks County Playhouse, which showcases several performances, including Kinky Boots which is on tour this summer! Meanwhile, Lambertville had a gorgeous train station that turned into a pizza shop with a nearby duck pond, which my Dad would always take my brother and I to back in the day! Each time we went, we would walk across the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge where there’s even a marker to mark the borders, where *YES* you can stand in both states at once!

Nowadays, I LOVE getting to go visit my family and friends who still live in and around Pennington, New Jersey and enjoy the gorgeous footbridge separating both New Hope, Pennsylvania and Lamberville, New Jersey from one another. Each town offers a plethora of small businesses, historical beauty, great restaurants and cafes, and *of course* drop dead gorgeous waterfront views. I feel extremely lucky to be able to enjoy the waterfront views along the Delaware River, especially knowing that this bridge that I love to admire connecting the two states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey was once not that AND that it played a major major major role in the eventual making of the United States of America.

Personally, I really really really LOVE going to visit New Hope and Lamberville and admiring that gorgeous bridge between the two states and will continue to for YEARS to come!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Few Hours in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Personally, I find West Virginia one of the most beautiful states that I have ever laid eyes on! Growing up, I would occasionally go on family reunions to Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia – a place rated a hidden gem in the United States on MANY pages listing them! – and fell in love with the state simply on our drives through it. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I recently posted about my day trip to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia with my best friend Bryn. Believe it or not, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia is located just an hour-90 minutes west of Washington, DC, making it an easy day trip from the nation’s capital, and it is a beauty!

When coming into the town, it is easiest to drive and simply park there. Harpers Ferry offers parking along its visitors centers and along the streets of the hilly town. The main attractions to visitors in the town are offered at the bottom of the hill, where the town is located. Bryn and I parked at the middle school for free located about 20-30 minutes from the main tourist attractions. Whatever you choose to do – hiking or not, be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothing and even bring a water bottle for walking as you WILL be walking quite a bit and getting a workout in.

A bit of background about Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: this town is located at the location wherewith the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet, also known as The Point, and provides views of both Maryland and Virginia. Harpers Ferry is located just outside of Loudon County, Virginia – a well-known county that is not far from Washington, DC that is legitimately heaven on Earth with its beauty, too. The town even has a train station, which goes into Washington, DC on the daily for commuters. Harpers Ferry is also located along the Appalachian Trail, offering hikes at all levels for visitors, including to the scenic Jefferson Rock which former President Thomas Jefferson found to have such stunning views of the rivers from. This town’s notability comes from being a key site in the 1859 raid of Abolitionist John Brown and a well-known battle during the Civil War. One of the things that I LOVE about Harpers Ferry is the fact that both hiking and sightseeing is offered. So, you can easily come to Harpers Ferry dressed all cute for photos OR dressed all cute for hiking OR a dressed for a little bit of both!

Harpers Ferry has a plethora of small businesses in the town, both for dining and shopping. At the same time, it offers A LOT of historic charm and scenic views at every turn. Bryn and I simply explored many of the shops in town including a candy shop that had candy from decades including the 1920’s, took in the scenic views, and walked across the footbridge over the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. Everything both Bryn and I did was for free, too – something EASY to do here in Harpers Ferry.

Honestly, my visit to Harpers Ferry was great. The town’s close proximity to Washington, DC and plethora of scenic views make it an easy not even half day trip from the city and allows me to feel as if I am in heaven on Earth. I loved that it was easy to simply spend $0 while here and to just enjoy the moments, history, and gorgeous views while visiting. This was my second time here in Harpers Ferry, as the first time I went with my Mom during lockdown in 2020 to hike. And, if I were to go back again (which I want to!), I would hike a bit, walk through the town, park MUCH MUCH MUCH closer to the town, and go to a vineyard in nearby Loudon County, Virginia. Either way, there is something for everybody in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Why You Should Play Tourist in Your Own City!

The other day, I was hanging out with my high school friends Haley and Violet. When, Haley stated “let’s all go into DC one of these days and play tourist!” Well, on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), then you probably already know that I live in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. Well, just a week before Haley and Violet and I hung out, my best friend Amanda who lives in New Jersey came to town and we did just that: play tourist in my own city!

Life can get crazy and make us want to simply just rest close to home, but sometimes a breath of fresh air can make it all worth it. Especially when that breath of fresh air is close to home, we can really truly feel refreshed. Ever since I moved to the Washington, DC area right after graduating from college in North Carolina, I have loved being able to have a plethora of new, exciting, and fun things to do in my own backyard. As compared to North Carolina, Washington, DC has several more things to do on the weekends and every weekend at that, as compared to once in a blue moon back in North Carolina. Living here in the Washington, DC as a whole has been a breath of fresh air for me! I have friends from North Carolina, New Jersey, and beyond visiting me from time to time. And, each time a new friend comes, we usually go visit the typical touristy areas of Washington, DC, which ALWAYS gives me new light and more and more love for the city that I live in.

Each and every single time I come to the Washington, DC area and play tourist, I start at The National Mall. The National Mall is home to the Smithsonian Museums and gardens, including the Smithsonian Castle, Smithsonian Gardens, the National Gallery of Art, the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History, the Air and Space Museum, and many many many more. At the same time, the National Mall has lines of fields perfect for picnics and admiring the United States Capitol (with the Supreme Court Building and Library of Congress behind it) on one side and the National Monument (with the Lincoln Memorial, World War 11 Memorial, and Korean War Memorial behind it) on the other. Food trucks also line the National Mall with a plethora of types of cuisines to choose from, whether it be your typical hot dogs and soft pretzels, to ice cream, Boba tea, and even Mexican, Mediterranean, and Asian delights. So, that being said, it is EASY to spend a full day including lunch and dinner on the National Mall. And, I usually do to some extent when friends come to town!!

And, perhaps, when you play tourist in your own city, you’ll find something new to you, too! Every time I play tourist in Washington, DC, I see it all again from a new perspective. Whether with a fellow Washingtonian or not, I always strive to keep a bright, open-minded mindset, as I see the same exact sights for the 100th+ time (luckily for me, it doesn’t get old, though!!!). For example, when Amanda was in town a few weeks back, we tried a new-to-me and her restaurant that I have always wanted to try: The Hamilton. The Hamilton is a well-known restaurant in Washington, DC apart of Clyde’s Restaurant Group (which also houses the iconic and historic Old Ebbitt Grill, too!) and has sweet Americana charm and cuisine. People from ALL over the world eat at The Hamilton and all of the other Clyde’s Restaurant Group restaurants when they visit the nation’s capital. Amanda and I were BLOWN AWAY by The Hamilton in Washington, DC. The food (she ordered gnocchi and I ordered a crab cake sandwich and we each got a charcuterie board to start!!), drinks (she ordered a boozy milkshake and I ordered my typical drink order – a glass of Cabernet), and the service was all to die for! Not to mention, the environment was charming, yet timeless Americana. It was such a great experience to be able to visit The Hamilton and add another place been to off of my Washington, DC things that I did mental list!

Amanda and I had a GREAT time while she visited Washington, DC. Obviously, we visited the National Mall (!!!!) amongst a few other sites and ate at The Hamilton. I cannot wait to see her again and explore Washington, DC as a tourist in my own city with Haley and Violet, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Washington, DC Temple Limited-Time Open House

Earlier this weekend, I shared on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!) about my family’s and I’s adventures to the Washington, DC Mormon Temple. I have personally been interested by the Mormon religious faith and have met many friendly people who are Mormon throughout my life. So, when the Washington, DC Mormon Temple had its first-ever open house in almost 50 years, we couldn’t not take the chance to visit it!

Built in 1974, the Washington, DC Temple is the biggest Mormon faith-based temple in the United States, located in Kensington, Maryland just outside of the nation’s capital. Its purpose is to serve as a temple basis for those who identify as Mormon religiously East of the Mississippi River. There are several Mormon faith-based temples across Utah such as in Salt Lake City and beyond and in Los Angeles, California. Yet, these Mormon-based temples are a lot smaller than the Washington, DC Temple that serves a much larger population of people. These smaller temples across Utah and even in Los Angeles serve their population’s needs well, too. Fun fact: over 80% of all people who religiously identify as Mormon live within 50 miles of a Mormon-based temple. It’s super cool to think that the largest Mormon-based temple in the United States is right in my own city.

Visiting the Washington, DC temple was a super neat experience. When we arrived and parked, we were immediately greeted by friendly faces all around, both volunteers of the Mormon faith from all across the country and visitors alike. We walked throughout all 6 floors of the temple with options to take both the stairs and the elevators. The stained glass along the stairwell were extremely stunning, too, and it was super cool to look down and see the Baptism tub at the very bottom of the stairwell. We also saw the Sealing Room where wedding ceremonies take place in the presence of both family and friends, with the Bride and Groom facing one another surrounded by mirrors to represent “eternity” together, and uniting their family and friends together as one. To me, it is a beautiful thing and concept.

At the same time, we saw absolutely STUNNING paintings that embody many aspects of the Mormon religious faith. Not to mention, the temple’s interior designs were recently renovated for the first time since its 1974 construction and was BREATHTAKING! Although you cannot take pictures of the interiors while visiting, which makes for a true immersion into the visitation of the temple and learning about the Mormon faith without distractions of cell phones and technology, you can view photos of it all and learn more about the Washington, DC Temple and Mormon religious faith here: https://dctemple.org/galleries/temple-interior/

Luckily for y’all, there’s STILL time to go and visit! The Washington, DC Temple is open to visitors now until June 11. ALL tickets are FREE and they are reserved by a parking or shuttle ticket, which means that yes, you can bring as many people in a car as you like. Tickets are to be reserved online in advance, though. You can reserve your tickets here: https://dctemple.org/open-house/

XOXO – Katie <3

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How I Packed for Study Abroad

I got a few questions asked on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) in the past few months about how I packed for my summers studying abroad back in college. So, for context, I studied abroad when I was in college for a month in Sansepolcro, Italy (a small town in Tuscany about 90 minutes from Florence), London, England (AND stayed in Kensington Square right by the home of Prince William and Kate Middleton of Kensington Palace!!!), and San Ignacio, Belize (a small town located in the rainforest region of Belize AND just steps away from the Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins). I spent a month in both Italy and London and approximately 3 weeks in Belize. That all being said, I learned A LOT about packing and how to pack for being away from home for two months at a time (Italy and London was a back to back month-by-month program) AND living out of one suitcase for it all, too.

Luggage – when it came to luggage, my Dad bought me a set of Caribbean Blue Travel Pro suitcases (a carry on and larger bag to check) when I graduated from high school. That summer after I graduated from high school, I travelled to Bulgaria and Greece for two weeks and my Dad wanted me to have a set of high-quality suitcases for my upcoming travels, as he knew that Bulgaria and Greece would be the first of many trips for me. Indeed, he was NOT wrong – haha! So, that being said, definitely INVEST in high-quality luggage before studying abroad and traveling a ton. I would suggest for study abroad bringing a large enough suitcase under 50 pounds (the challenge for sure) to check and put a smaller duffel bag in that checked bag for weekend trips which you WILL take as well as to HAUL all of the souvenirs that you buy, too – if you’re me then this is necessary. At the same time, definitely get luggage tags, too, so you can easily identify your luggage at ALL times. The same goes for passport covers since every United States passport looks the same on the outside.

Clothing – Research the climate of the place(s) that you are going to be studying abroad in and/or KNOW that you will be visiting while abroad. Study the climate for the approximate dates that you are going to be there (a basic Google search can give you information!). If you are going to London, for example, you may want to bring a pair of rain boots or buy a pair there to save luggage space. Yes, Hunter Boots and Doc Martins ARE cheaper in England than they are here. The same concept goes for leather goods in Tuscany and Longchamp bags across all of Europe. At the same time, be sure to think of some of the outfits that you may want to pack, given the sites that you will be seeing. I know for me, that I like to wear certain things to certain places (such as an elegant dress for a river cruise in Paris) or a shawl and maxi dress to cover my shoulders and knees in an Italian cathedral (as per the dress code there). You also want to bring as many pieces that can be interchangeably styled/worn multiple times and with different things (think along the lines of a capsule wardrobe). For me, that meant a lot of solid tops with printed skirts and both solid and printed dresses. Accessories can ALSO make an outfit unique and are super light, too. Luckily, most home bases for study abroad have laundry facilities which are worthwhile using while there at least on a weekly basis. The following are tips for packing clothing wisely:

  • Roll all garments – that way, you can fit more things in your suitcase
  • Use packing squares – trust me, they are my best friend when I travel and SO convenient and portable for when packing, too
  • Use zippered pouches for non-clothing items, such as jewelry – that way, they are sealed and not visible to the common eye. I usually use my Ipsy pouches, bright The Dollar Tree pouches, and Stoney Clover Lane pouches
  • Organize clothing by color, type of garment (e.g. dresses, pants, tops, etc.) – it’ll be MUCH easier to find everything when you unpack everything upon arrival
  • Pack anti-wrinkle spray and Tide To Go – so, clothing items that are prone to wrinkling during the trip abroad will be LESS wrinkly when you unpack and hang them up AND all of those wine stains can come out before laundry day approaches

Shoes – In case you didn’t hear it from me, PACK A PAIR OF COMFORTABLE SHOES!!! You will be walking a ton. Whatever those shoes may be for you, make sure they are comfortable BEFORE you leave the country. I bought a pair of Crocs flip flops that I thought would be comfortable, only to wear them throughout two Italian towns and suffering from PLENTY of blisters throughout the day. So, to my surprise, I ended up wearing my already broken in Classic Jacks Jack Rogers sandals. I also regularly wore an adorable classic pair of Elie Tahari flats – sadly, I ripped those to their inner core, but they were beautiful and already broken into while abroad.

Toiletries – This is something that you can easily purchase when you’re actually abroad. Many countries sell the same toiletries or at minimum similar toiletry products to what you can find in the United States. These toiletries include – shampoo, conditioner, makeup remover, soap, body wash, lotion, and much more. Italy has a Lush store that I bought a lot of shower essentials from as well as the grocery store in Sansepolcro and the local convenience store in London known as Boots. I did bring my own makeup products and skincare products, as my skin is sensitive. BUT, I did only bring one versatile eyeshadow palette which was an accomplishment for me for two months. I also brought my own haircare products, too. TRUST ME, all of those toiletries take up a ton of weight in your luggage, so it’s definitely worth just getting what you need while abroad instead and throwing out before you leave (definitely buy what you need for the time you’re there, too).

Technology – Make sure to bring your phone, laptop, headphones, cameras, Air Pods, chargers, cords, plugs, and all other necessary devices while abroad. As for chargers, make sure you buy at least 2 adaptable plugs to the outlets within the country that you’re going to be studying in. EVERY country is different and most outlets differ by continent. My Mom bought me two plugs off of Amazon that I use to this day. Amazon is definitely the way to go to buy, but be sure to look up reviews, too. Definitely pack all technology-related items in your carry on when you board the plane, too.

Medicine – Make sure that you have at least a 90 day supply of all needed medications before you go abroad. Trust me, you never know what could happen and you want to be prepared. I always like to keep my medications in a sealed pouch that is not clear that way nobody knows the medications that I take. At the same time, it’s important to carry a doctor’s note for all prescribed drugs that you are taking, too, because you literally never know when you’ll need it. Put these medications in your carry on when you board the plane as well. ALL 90 days. Trust me.

To read about my study abroad experiences, look no further than the following posts:

Now that you’re packed, it is the time to go live out your study abroad dreams!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The $10 Pool Float that You Need this Summer

When in doubt, kiss a flamingo! If you know me, then you know I LOVE flamingos. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I shared A BUNCH of photos from my trip to Raleigh, North Carolina to celebrate my best friend Hannah’s Graduation from Meredith College. Hannah and her family hosted a Graduation Party at her gorgeous townhome in nearby-to-Raleigh Cary, North Carolina and invited a bunch of our mutual friends from college. And, after celebrating with cake, prosecco, and wayyyyy too much food, we all headed for Hannah’s gorgeous neighborhood pool for some fun in the sun! The weekend before I headed off to celebrate down in North Carolina, I went to Target where I found THE pool float that I think everyone needs this summer!!

*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.*

Over the years, I have ALWAYS wanted to purchase a flamingo pool float. Bloggers such as Kate from Lonestar Southern and her super fun photos over the years at the pool only inspired my desires for one. However, y’all – flamingo pool floats are NOT cheap and I rarely go to the pool, so there wasn’t a purpose for me to make the investment on one if it wouldn’t get its use in during the summer months. So, when I went to Target, I was pleasantly surprised to see a HUGE array of pool floats for $10 and under, including a flamingo float.

My $10 flamingo float was the PERFECT way to celebrate Hannah with all of our friends. Hannah was kind enough to blow up my $10 flamingo float for me and we all got plenty of use out of it, too. It was the PERFECT addition to make memories in, whether it be for photos, floating around in the pool, or for Hannah’s Dad to strike a pose in as he walked back to her townhome when we all made the trek aka walk back to her house. Overall, it was the PERFECT way to enjoy a pool day with great friends!

I have linked my flamingo float and MORE adorable floats each for $15 and under from Target to kick start your own Summer fun in the sun!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The FREE Smithsonian After Hours Parties You Don’t Want to Miss!

So, if you’re living in the Washington, DC area, then you don’t want to miss this FREE opportunity! The Washington, DC’s Smithsonian is notorious for its free museums that boast of variety of historical and cultural exhibits, including paintings by Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh, portraits of all of the United States Presidents, the Hope Diamond, and a collection of all of the Inaugural gowns worn by almost every United States First Lady. The Smithsonian’s museums are also ALL free to the general public. BUT, what you may not know is that the Smithsonian offers FREE events to the general public after hours, too. A few weeks ago, my good high school friend Wyatt and I went to the Smithsonian’s National Gallery of Art’s FREE Flowers After Hours After Party.

For the National Gallery of Art’s After Hours events, look no further than here: https://www.nga.gov/calendar/community-events/nights.html

On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I posted a few weeks back about the National Gallery of Art’s Flowers After Hours event. The National Gallery of Art is one of my favorite Smithsonian museums, as it is the home to paintings by both Vincent Van Gogh and my favorite artist Claude Monet (whose historic home I visited in Giverny, France while studying abroad in London). The museum was DECKED out in a beautiful array of floral arrangements from head to toe. There was a bar with drinks and snacks at a price for attendees to enjoy a sip as they admire ALLL the gorgeous art work. Essentially, all attendees could admire the beautiful artworks while enjoying a drink or a snack (or two!).

The Smithsonian’s After Parties are usually free for all, but you do have to sign up first tickets online in advance. Admission to get in is offered all throughout the duration of the event, with lots of people arriving right at its event start time. I usually check the Smithsonian’s website for all of their many FREE events: https://www.si.edu/events

As for me and Wyatt, we ended up arriving on the early end (right when the doors opened at 6pm) and leaving about an hour later. We, then, got beer and burgers nearby at MatchBox in Metro Center and caught up on life.

Personally, I most definitely want to check out even more of the Smithsonian’s FREE After Hours Parties, especially as they reopen after COVID-19 put literally everything to a halt. I, especially, want to check out events at other Smithsonian museums, too.

XOXO – Katie <3

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I Went to The Bachelor Live in Washington, DC!

If you know me, then you know I am a major major fan of ABC’s The Bachelor franchise. The Bachelor franchise presents shows related to The Bachelor, including its spinoffs The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise that each air on ABC each year. My Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!) also double as a The Bachelor franchise superfine account in my Instagram Stories on occasion – haha! So, you can most definitely say I am a HUGE The Bachelor Franchise fan!!! Needless to say, when I saw that The Bachelor Live sponsored by Kendra Scott was going on tour with former The Bachelorette lead Becca Kufrin and a rotation of Bachelor leads (Justin Glaze from Katie Thurston’s season of The Bachelorette being The Bachelor lead for the Washington, DC show) and coming to Washington, DC’s Warner Theatre, I KNEW I needed to attend!

*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.*

I was scrolling on Facebook on one magnificent day which is VERY typical for me – LOL! – and happened to see that The Bachelor Live tickets were being sold. So, I went onto the website and happened to find a ticket for under $60 in the center of the Orchestra section at the end of an aisle. I also bought a VIP Lounge add-on to avoid the LOOONGGG bar lines for $30 and of course ticket insurance. I posted about it on my Instagram Stories, intending to go solo, and to my surprise my coworker and friend Katherine booked the seat right next to mine so away we went!

The Bachelor Live was such a blast! Essentially, this show is a mini accelerated season of The Bachelor with roses and ALL with contestants being women from the crowd who also purchased tickets themselves. Very entertaining is an understatement of describing the night. There was a lot of photo opportunities, fun merchandise, and LOTS of entertainment all throughout the night. Not to mention, the fact that I got to see former The Bachelorette Becca Kufrin host it all live with a surprise cameo from her boyfriend and Bachelor Nation alum Thomas who surprised her with a sweet Birthday treat (it was her Birthday the night we went, too!!). All in all, very romantic, entertaining, and a blast!

I wore my floral one-shoulder ruffled dress that I got on clearance while in college from Altar’d State. I, then, paired it with my black sparkly Kate Spade crossbody, black Kendra Scott dangling drop earrings, black with gold chain Kendra Scott necklace, and my black rock stud Valentino Rock Stud dupe flats from the Mix No6 brand sold at DSW (however, I got these for $1 at the Philly Aids Thrift Shop when in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this past September). Since The Bachelor Live was sponsored by Kendra Scott, I HAD to wear my favorite Kendra Scott jewelry pieces! Last but not least, I pulled off a classic Taylor Swift and did a cat eyeliner look and paired it with red lipstick. Needless to say, my outfit was ALL from my closet and I didn’t shop for any of it before the performance.

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Now, I am very very very excited to be able to hopefully go to The Bachelor Live again next year. But, in the meantime, I will link some pieces from my outfit for your shopping pleasure!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Historic Hidden Northern Virginia Gem

The other week, Papa and I went back in time to the 18th century to visit George Mason’s Gunston Hall, located in Lorton, Virginia along the Potomac River just outside of Washington, DC. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!), I have shared a bit about my adventures at Gunston Hall already. A few months ago, I found a Groupon for two tickets/$8.00 to tour a historic Virginia mansion. Best part?! It was located about 15 minutes from my house! It turned out to be the home of George Mason – a Founding Father. BUT, today, I am here to share a bit more about this magnificent historical experience of mine and Papa’s.

So, George Mason was an influential player in the creation of the Bill of Rights. He was also at the Constitutional Convention and fought in the American Revolutionary War. Although he may not be as notable as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Madison, or James Monroe to us all today, he made a major impact on our country and with providing equal rights to ALL humans. In fact, within the museum at Gunston Hall, there’s an exhibit placing an emphasis on ALL of the rights that George Mason helped grant fellow Americans, including women, BIPOC Americans, Americans with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ Americans. George Mason may just have been the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of his time. Indeed, George Mason paved the way for Ruth Bader Ginsburg to pave the way, herself. That exhibit within Gunston Hall’s museum, to me, showcased the importance of the impact that he made and helped create on all Americans, despite his name not being as prominent as others’ within our history textbooks.

Gunston Hall is located about a 25 minute drive from George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Both mansions are located along the Potomac River, which runs through Washington, DC. Historically speaking, ships could come directly to both George Mason’s and George Washington’s homes, bringing in goods from abroad after most likely arriving from abroad in Alexandria, Virginia. Fun fact: Alexandria, Virginia is a Northern Virginia suburb of Washington, DC with the CUTEST Old Town Alexandria in its heart and also located along the Potomac River. Alexandria, Virginia ALSO used to be the United States capital way way way back in the day aka centuries ago! Mount Vernon is located in Mount Vernon, Virginia just South of and around Alexandria, Virginia while Lorton, Virginia is South of Alexandria, Virginia. Lorton, Virginia is right by where I grew up and reside so it’s crazy to think that such a historic gem is nearby!

Unlike George Washington’s Mount Vernon, George Mason’s Gunston Hall is not as well-known. Y’all, I am from the Lorton, Virginia area and hadn’t had been to Gunston Hall in the decades that I have lived here. CRAZY!! Gunston Hall is definitely not as big of a property as Mount Vernon, but it does have some beautiful trails to explore along the Potomac River nearby and a complimentary tour offered every hour or half hour – I forget which since we signed up when we arrived for a tour – HAHA! The mansion was definitely a Grand Millienial like myself’s paradise!!! Not to mention, Gunston Hall has a museum featuring historical significances of George Mason’s time period and emphasizing his pioneering of providing all humans with equal rights here in the United States.

For $8.00 total, I got two tickets to tour a historic mansion, walk its gorgeous grounds overlooking the Potomac River, and visit a museum. While a lot smaller than other historic mansions, George Mason’s Gunston Hall is definitely worth the $8.00 for you and a guest to enjoy a historic afternoon along the Potomac River, admire the gorgeous historical mansion, and learn a few fun facts. It’s a hidden gem for sure that I wish I knew about sooner. My biggest piece of advice is to check Groupon for tickets and get a 3 month voucher, so you can pick a date that works for you or plan ahead on their website. Do whatever suits you fancy, but be sure to have a great time!

For more information on George Mason’s Gunston Hall, check out their website: https://gunstonhall.org

XOXO – Katie <3

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My First Washington DC National Cherry Blossom Festival as a Local

If you live in Washington, DC or perhaps the United States, then you know that late March-late April is the 3 week long National Cherry Blossom in the nation’s capital. On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!!), I have been sharing ALLL the cherry blossom content on my page, whether it be in my Northern Virginia neighborhood or in Washington, DC on my several weekend day trips there. This year (2022), the National Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 22-April 17 (website linked here), and I am going to share my experiences with my best friend Shivani at this almost-month long festival so far (hence why this is Part 1 of 2!) in this post!

Part 1 – The Opening Ceremony at Warner Theatre

Every year, the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off with an opening ceremony, which this year was held at the historic and drop dead gorgeous Warner Theatre. Shivani and I arrived at Warner Theatre early and *of course* stocked up on ALL of the merchandise that the Cherry Blossom Festival sells each year. This event is FREE and features performers and prominent figures in making the National Cherry Blossom Festival happen from both the United States and Japan. Fun fact: Japan is the home base of the cherry blossom trees, as they were planted by First Lady Helen Taft and prominent Japanese figures, in order to represent and honor the United States’ and Japan’s friendship back in the 1910’s-1920’s. First Lady Helen Taft also founded my favorite-ever museum exhibit – the First Lady Exhibit at the Smithsonian’s American History Museum. We got to see Japanese performers, the United States Ambassador to Japan, a video message from United States First Lady Jill Biden, an Amazon Executive (Amazon is a MAJOR sponsor in the makings of the National Cherry Blossom Festival), and even Washington, DC-based meteorologist Veronica Johnson who was a co-host. It was such a cool and historic experience and very very very special!

Before heading over to Warner Theatre for the National Cherry Blossom Opening Ceremony, Shivani and I met at the National Mall. We walked over to explore the gorgeous cherry blossoms along the National Mall, right by the Washington National Monument. The cherry blossoms were just gorgeous and we were able to get some great photo opportunities in as well. Despite the weather being freezing for this time of year, it was still a pretty great time!

Part 2 – The Tidal Basin

The second part of my National Cherry Blossom Festival Experience was visiting the Tidal Basin aka the BEST place to go to view the cherry blossoms at their peak. In ALL its glory, even on an extremely cloudy and gloomy day, the cherry blossom trees were still quite gorgeous to see. Shivani and I got off at the Smithsonian Metro Station (the closest station to the Tidal Basin), where we walked to the Tidal Basin via passing by the Washington National Monument yet again. The walk to the Tidal Basin from the Washington National Monument is lined with gorgeous cherry blossom trees and is a scenic route in its self with many many many photo opportunities. Once we reached the Tidal Basin, we lucked out to be able to get a spot to enjoy the scenery without crowds interrupting our photos (a normalcy during this time of year at the Tidal Basin!!). People were leaving the Tidal Basin for lunch when we arrived, which made our time there a bit less crowded yet still crowded. BUT, it did sleet and rain quite a bit on and off but luckily we didn’t get too pampered by it as it was on and off. I always like to say that it’s all about the journey and not the destination and that rings true to Shivani and I’s memories made at the Tidal Basin!

I am in love with Washington, DC in full bloom. There’s so much free things to do, even when it’s crowded with tourists and locals alike. I am oh so blessed to be able to live in the nation’s capital and enjoy this extraordinary city too AND with my best friend Shivani! In the meantime, I will be admiring the cherry blossoms locally until I go back into Washington, DC for the Hello Kitty Truck’s visit to the Tidal Basin in just a short week.

XOXO – Katie <3

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