Being transparent over here, January 2024 was a month filled with more trials than triumphs. Indeed, I have called January the “trial month of 2024” more often than not *whoops*! January 2024 was the month that I got COVID, after having ended the *very* end of December 2024 via a stressful and rather traumatic event that I needed to process too. As a result of getting COVID and a few looonggg weeks of recovery, I have LITERALLY had to move mountains within my own personal and even work calendar to account for it all. Through it all, I have remained proud of myself for navigating through some tough moments and finding the silver lining amongst it all. Going into February 2024, I feel more than ready to kick off 2024 the fabulous Katie way!!!
*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.*
During the month of January, I revamped my Shop.LTK page after about a year-long hiatus. I am MORE THAN excited (!!!!!) for my Shop.LTK revamp and am excited to share some of my many favorite finds with y’all in 2024 and beyond! That all being said, I am going to each month share 3 of my favorite purchases, whether it be something ordered via carry out (as in the case of January’s), a clothing/home/beauty item, grocery item or travel-related item! In the meantime, you can follow along my Shop.LTK shop here!
A Few of My Favorite Purchases
- The Tuckernuck Sample Sale went LIVE during the month of January and I am more than pleased to say that my entire Spring/Summer 2024 wardrobe is ready to go. One of my favorite purchases was a restock of my absolute favorite tortoise heart-shaped sunglasses. I share ALL of my sale purchases and favorite picks from the sale here!
- ALLLLL while I had COVID, I was craving *none other than* … Chipotle! SO, once I was feeling up to it, I got a Chipotle steak and fajita veggie bowl and it has definitely been one of my favorite purchases in January 2024!
- Across my Instagram feeds, I have been seeing Poppi soda becoming a fan favorite. SO, I *FINALLY* popped open a can of Poppi soda to see what the hype was for myself (!!!!!). And, yes, I completely understand the hype now. I WILL be buying another can again in the future ANNDDD perhaps a pack from Amazon, too!
- Bonus: I found a 2024 calendar year Lilly Pulitzer agenda at … Home Goods (!!!!) for $15. I snagged that beauty up within SECONDS!
Highs
- Tradition-wise, I usually spend New Year’s with my Dad. AND, ringing in 2024 was NO different! I rang in 2024 with my Dad and Step Mom and their Yorkie Ginger by spending the first week of January AND New Years with them in their home base of Bethany Beach, Delaware. We had an incredible New Year’s Eve dinner at the gorgeous Restaurant at Lighthouse Sound (here) on the Ocean City, Maryland sound. Dad and I enjoyed MANY evenings after work from home watching movies and drinking champagne out of the circa 1900 Thompson family Christmas china and *of course* Ginger snuggles (!!!!!). And, I got to dine at Ocean View Brewing Company where I had some of THE BEST mahi mahi I’ve ever had and enjoy the vibes and atmosphere at Libation Room, a lounge inside of Rehoboth Beach’s Summer House. All in all, it was SUCH A special time with my family (and quite peaceful, too!!).
- While in the midst of my recovery from COVID, when I became no longer contagious, I was able to *finally* go see Frozen on tour at The Kennedy Center after two failed attempts (thanks to COVID boo) with my friends Briana and Brittany. We ended up dining at the Roof Terrace Restaurant (onsite at The Kennedy Center on *surprise* the terrace!!!). The vibes and views and company were immaculate AND I got to live out my BESTTTT Frozen life, as Olaf IS my spirit animal (!!!!!). Needless to say, seeing Frozen (and Olaf!!!) was THE BEST way to officially kick off 2024!!!!
- Papa and I *finally* made it to Restaurant Week thanks to its extension and had an AMAZING time trying Trummer’s Restaurant in Clifton’s Historic District in Northern Virginia. Trummer’s serves up New American cuisine and delicious cocktails, including their signature cocktail (which I tried and LOVED) The Titanic! At the same time, Papa and I LOVED getting to try some of the delicious cuisines that Trummer’s has to offer, including crab dip, Weiner schnitzel, and scallops. HOWEVER, I cannot finish raving about my incredible experience at Trummer’s without mentioning their GORGEOUS atmosphere and vibes both at the bar and in the upstairs dining area (!!!!).
- My best friend Liz and I had a much-needed outing post-COVID where I *finally* got to check out a much, in-fact, years-along anticipated visit of mine to a local thrift store that I somehow haven’t visited until this month … Unique! Liz and I spent HOURS sifting through the racks and racks and racks of incredible finds. Let’s just say that I did some damage (whoops!). HOWEVER, I am more than excited to say that I have just about everything that I could ever want and need for my Spring/Summer 2024 wardrobe (!!!!). And, I of course LOVED some much-needed time chatting with Liz as we admired ALLLL the merchandise on the floor at Unique. I am SO grateful to have Liz as one of my best friends!
- As apart of my Ignite Young Professionals program, I have been volunteering with the Museum of Contemporary Art in Arlington (aka the ONLY art museum in Arlington, Virginia AND it is definitely worth visiting and free to do so!!!) with a group of classmates from my cohort. As apart of our groups’ volunteering efforts, we have been helping to stock the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington’s Amazon HQ2 Innovation Studio storefront that they have for the next year+. It was SUCH A COOL and AMAZING opportunity to watch the ribbon cutting ceremony for the storefront and see some of my network through Ignite Young Professionals at the event. I also got to meet one of the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington’s artists and his son that will be onsite at the storefront selling artwork and mingling with customers and guests, alike, for the next 6 weeks. It was such a full circle moment for the staff at the museum and my group within my cohort!
Lows
- ANDDD, it happened …. I got COVID. My first time with COVID came about this January 2024 and it was NOT FUN. I feel thankful to say that somehow I was marked safe from COVID for a whopping 4 years and that I had a pretty mild case (however COVID is COVID and it’s NO fun). At the same time, I am also lucky that I got COVID when the weather was snowing and storming outside, so there really wasn’t anything that I would be missing out on, despite missing my January Ignite Young Professionals class and planning another happy hour afterwards and having to reschedule my friend Bree coming to visit (sigh!). AND, well, I ended up with a lingering cough and a few failed attempts at getting medications to work to relieve the cough, too. As a result, I had to reschedule many events with friends, coworkers, and family, including a much-anticipated Outreach trip to Raleigh, North Carolina at my Alma mater Meredith College (however, I luckily have a new date for this at the end of March AND reservation at a restaurant that I have been so psyched to try!!!). Needless to say, I do not wish COVID on anybody, but I am grateful for COVID truly forcing me to do something I legit never do unless I am literally on vacation: slow down.
- Rescheduling plans due to COVID and inclement weather seemed to be THE THEME of January 2024. Whelp! It kind of got annoying having to CONSTANTLY reschedule plans again and again and again. HOWEVER, if January 2024 taught me ANYTHING, it is that plans can and will change and we have to adapt from time to time.
Here’s to an INCREDIBLE February 2024 and beyond, given all of the self growth, trials, and triumphs of January 2024!
XOXO – Katie <3
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