Hi, friends! I am back from a wonderful week in Los Angeles, and I can’t wait to share everything about my trip here on the blog soon. (I saved all my stories as a highlight over on Instagram if you want a teaser of what I did and where I stayed!) I really enjoyed my time in LA, and especially loved the weather—it was super warm, but there was no humidity, so you don’t sweat profusely like you do here in DC. I’m also jealous of how close so many neighborhoods in the city are to the beach! If it wasn’t so car dependent or all the way across the country from everyone I love, I would totally love to live there. I came back Saturday so that I would have a day at home to recover before the work week, and I am so glad I did—it was nice to have a whole day to do laundry, grocery shop, and generally get my life in order.

This summer is flying by, and I think it’s partially because I’ve been traveling so much. Tomorrow, I head to New York for a quick 24-hour trip, and I will likely be back in the Big Apple for work next week, too. After that, I’m hoping work travel slows down a little bit so I can enjoy the dog days of summer at home here in DC! I’m sharing all my upcoming personal travel below, and I’ve got some fun trips coming down the pike. Work travel is just different (as those of you who travel for work know!) because the work doesn’t stop when you’re on the road, and you often have less time and conveniences—like your normal desk setup—to get the job done.

Before I dive in, I wanted to call out that the photo above was taken at Walsh Family Wine—if you’re in the DC area and looking for a new Loudoun County vineyard to add to your list, I can’t recommend Walsh  enough. They have great wine, amazing branding, and a cute tasting room and patio space. My best friend Hilary took us there a few weeks ago since she’s a member, and we stayed all afternoon. Definitely one of my favorites now, too!

NORDSTROM SALE /

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve definitely heard about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale by now! I’ve posted about the sale in years past (here and here), but am not going to do a dedicated post this year. Though I’m a Nordstrom cardholder and can shop the sale now—it opens to the general public this Friday, July 19—I personally am skipping the sale this year. There aren’t any holes in my closet I desperately need to fill, and truthfully, I’m choosing to save up for a few trips during the second half of the year instead of shopping.

That being said, some of my best buys from Nordstrom are on sale now, so I wanted to share a few of those items below in case you are shopping the sale this year. I also want to highlight that part of the reason you hear so much about this sale is because it is one of the highest-grossing times for affiliate-link sales for bloggers. Essentially, if you click on one of my Nordstrom links below and then buy something from the sale, I make a small commission off your purchase. Last year, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale post I put together was one of the highest-grossing posts I wrote all year, which helps me pay for things like hosting, site security, the domain name, paid plugins to enhance your time on my site, etc. I so appreciate all your support—and trust me when I say though, my day job pays my rent!

• Barefoot Dreams Circle Cardigan [On Sale for $77, Regularly $116]—I’m not even a huge sweater/cardigan person, but this one is amazing. It is so soft, and I keep it at my desk at work for the days when the AC really gets going. I gave one to my sister as a gift for her birthday one year, and she loves it just as much as I do. I ordered a Medium, and the sleeves are a bit long, but overall, it fits great.
• Nordstrom Lingerie Moonlight Short Pajamas [On Sale for $36, Regularly $55]—these are the pajamas I wear to bed every night and I am obsessed with them. They are so soft and also make me feel like I have my life together vs. when I wear a random t-shirt and shorts.
• Natori Rose Dream Underwire Bra [On Sale for $48, Regularly $72]—this is my everyday bra and I probably at least six of them. They hold up in the wash really well and are comfortable.
• Wacoal Convertible Strapless Bra [On Sale for $45, Regularly $68]—hands down, this is the best strapless bra I’ve ever owned. It stays in place, doesn’t create awkward lines that show through your shirt, and is comfortable.
• Zella High Waist Leggings [On Sale for $39, Regularly $59]—I live in these leggings all winter long—I don’t workout in these because I don’t think they work as well as others for that purpose, but you can bet I run pretty much any weekend errand in these.
• Urban Decay All Nighter Set [On Sale for $48, Regularly $94]—I do not travel without packing up All Nighter, and this is an amazing set because you get a full size version and the travel size, plus a sponge. Seriously the best makeup setting spray EVER.

If you have any questions about how affiliate links work or about the items I’ve highlighted above, don’t hesitate to reach out: katie@atouchofteal.com.

Before I left for LA, my friend Heather invited me to the Nats game—I am obsessed with this new mural in the park by No Kings DC! Definitely check it out if you’re in the Park for a ballgame or concert, and, if you’re local, I’m sure you’ve seen their work elsewhere around the city. 

TWO YEARS OF LIVING ALONE /

I was going to write a full post about celebrating nearly two years (!) of living alone, but I don’t think I have enough to say that justifies a full post. I moved into my solo Arlington apartment in August 2017 and then moved into the Dupont Circle studio where I live now last September. I love living alone and am so glad I made the leap. I loved my old roommate, but it’s always nice to have your own space where you’re in charge of the decor, remote, and cleanliness—so if you live the dishes in the sink or the laundry in the machine, it really only impacts you. Since my life is so busy, it’s also nice to come home to quiet apartment each night and unwind without anyone else around. Though I am an extrovert, I need a certain amount of recharge time to be my best self, and living alone gives me the space in my life I need to do just that!

Though during the week I am always glad to be flying solo after work, there are sometimes on a Friday or Saturday night where I’d love to stay in and watch a movie with a roommate on the couch—especially in the colder months! That’s probably the time when I miss having a built-in friend the most. Of course, I also miss having someone to split all the bills with—living alone is expensive and I am definitely not able to save as much money as those that split rent or a mortgage. But, this period of living solo has given me a confidence in my independence I don’t think I can put a price tag on, and I think everyone should live alone if they have the opportunity and means to do so. You learn so much about yourself when you’re forced to be with your own quiet company!

RECENT TV SHOW BINGES /

At the start of the summer, since all of my normal shows are on hiatus, I started looking for a new show to binge. Though I’m obsessed with the Sex and the City movies, I’d never sat down and watched the show from start to finish. Since it’s included with Amazon Prime, I decided now was the perfect time to start, and since then, have made my way through most of the six seasons! Though the show is definitely dated in many regards, it’s been a really enjoyable, mindless, and quick show (episodes are only 22 minutes!) to sit down and watch each night after work.

I also really enjoyed the most recent season of The Bold Type and am so happy it was renewed for another season! If you’re looking for a great feel-good show that actually covers a ton of real issues, I can’t recommend it enough. I also have been loving the new season of Younger and am bummed this is the last one! Since new episodes aren’t on Hulu, I just sucked it up and paid for the season on Amazon—but a few helpful followers told me on Instagram DM that you can watch it for free on TVLand.com, you just have to sit through a few ads to do so!

Next up, I’m excited to watch the Netflix show The Last Czars—y’all know I am interested in all things Romanov!

The photo above was not taken in the Caribbean, but on Lake Lanier, right outside of Atlanta, Georgia! While we were in town for my cousin’s wedding, my family went to the LandShark Bar & Grill on Lake Lanier and it was one of the highlights of our trip. If you’re close by, I can’t recommend it enough—there’s also a waterpark if you have a spare day to enjoy the sun!

UPCOMING TRAVEL /

Next up on my personal travel agenda is a trip to Durham, North Carolina at the end of the month—fun fact, that’s where I was born!—to celebrate my Grandma’s 90th birthday. We are doing a big family dinner for her and I took a day off work to enjoy some extra time in town with family. We also just had my cousin’s wedding last month, so seeing everyone twice in one summer is a real treat and something we probably haven’t done since before all us “kids” went off to college!

Then, in the middle of August, I’m heading to Nashville, Tennessee to throw one of my best friends a bachelorette with the best co-maid of honor ever! We’ve been doing a lot of planning for the trip and I think it’s going to be a great girls’ weekend. I’ve been to Nashville a handful of times, but its been several years since I’ve been back, so I’m excited to explore some new-to-me neighborhoods and, of course, enjoy some awesome country music while celebrating my favorite bride-to-be.

Over LDW, Emma and I are in the process of planning a road trip throughout the south. We haven’t booked our flights yet, but we’re aiming to start in Jackson, Mississippi and fly home out of Atlanta. I’ve never been to Mississippi or Alabama, so I am excited that I can check some new states of my list and explore some really charming towns with one of my best friends!

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That’s what’s been going on my world lately—drop me a note to let me know what’s going on in your world or if there are any posts you’d love for me to write: katie@atouchofteal.com.