Bites of My Life

We were snow covered two weeks ago, had temperatures almost in the 80s last week, and today marks the first day of March. What??

Like most, I think I’m having an extended version of the “Sunday scaries,” when I think about us coming up on the year anniversary of the start of covid lockdown. A year. How has it been a year since this mess began? I remember every fine detail of the the week leading up to lockdown. I think I always will.

-My friend Lauren was gushing about how she had bought cereal at the store and couldn’t wait to have cereal for dinner. Being an adult is fun, how the smallest thing like cereal for dinner can sometimes seem so comforting and simple. I copied, obviously. Lauren made fun of me that my cereal looked like bird food. But I guess that’s the difference between cereal as a kid and cereal as an adult. I opt for Nature’s Path Smart Bran, almond milk, and blueberries.
-Dinner date at my favorite neighborhood restaurant, Alamo Club.
-Two basic blogger items made their way into my closet last week. This Amazon replica of the coveted Free People sweater and these Levi high-waisted skinnies make me feel far from original, but equally happy to own two basics I know I’ll wear the heck out of.
-A scrappy mini charcuterie board to kick off the weekend.
-Friday night was for ME! Post-mini cheeseboard and leftovers for dinner was a bubble bath and an early bedtime!
-Got hired to create this epic cheeseboard for a friend who was hosting a baby shower. I had way too much fun gathering ingredients and photos for inspiration. It turned out perfect and has me wanting to make more. Does anyone need to hire a charcuterie chef?
-Carly + Sam!! Congrats to two friends on the most special engagement.
-Too much fun, trouble, and karaoke when this OU crew is together. We can now officially thank the soon-to-be Cody’s for getting us all together and for the Sunday scaries.
-Sunday morning backing Perfect CCCs obviously. I always (and you should too) save a few balls of dough for the freezer. This way I’m never without cookies on a rainy day!

Annie

Bites of My Life

If you’ve watched the news in the past week, you’ve seen the crazy snowstorm that came through Texas and surrounding states. The problem with Texas is that the state is not set up for the weather that hit. Massive power outages, wiped clean grocery stores, boil water notices, and below zero temperatures took over the week. I was lucky to ride the storm with electricity, heat, and water the entire time, but I felt extreme guilt sitting in my warm apartment as I watched water pour from the third floor of a townhome behind me, as they suffered no electricity and a frozen pipe bursting. The peak of the week was watching a lot of movies, game night, seeing Texans come together to help each other, and the city covered in white snow for 5+ days!

-A peek at Dallaska. The craziest snow-covered negative degree temperature week that no one in the state of Texas was ready for. She was cute but she was cold!
-I rented this jacket from Rent the Runway, to then find out I think I subconsciously rented it realizing it looked like it was made from my favorite old blanket. Pictured here: one big purple blob.
-Last week felt like we were all in college again. Yes work got done, but a White Russian on a Monday seemed like an excellent late afternoon idea.
-Royal China, to-go. The best Chinese food in Dallas IMO! So good on a snowy night.
-I go on and off the “I want to get a dog” train, but Donut the cream dachshund has me ON THE TRAIN!
-When you can finally leave the house…a round of spicy margs PLZ!
-Hooked on this sundried-tomato, green onion, and smoked turkey omelet. How do you take your eggs?
-The perfect sunny Sunday after a crazy week, full of friends, pimento cheese, and baby back ribs :)
-Have you seen these little “sleep” candies in the checkout lines at grocery stores? I’ve bought them a few times, and they are really working for me. 1-2 before bed and I’m out.

Annie

Bites of My Life

Valentine’s Day is back on my list of favorite holidays! It’s sweet whether single or in a relationship. I’ve always loved it. While I tried to sound like I wasn’t hating it, last year I was feeling rather cynical toward this particular holiday. It can be hard, but it can also be really fun, sweet, and special if you have the right attitude. The cherry on top of the holiday this year was waking up to SNOW in Dallas! And more is on the way!

-Reunited with my favorite Trader Joe’s green juice after the queso-brigade over Super Bowl weekend.
-I polled my Instagram followers if they were leftover fans or not. About 75% said they were and I’m in that camp. Mainly because I’m cheap and I really hate wasting food, but I can stretch leftovers for days. Turned Sunday night’s fajitas into 2 nights of dinner and one lunch for me. Quesadilla’s for him, salad for me!
-Cute little Valentine week crew neck sweatshirts embroidered by my friend Kate! One for me and one to give!
-A very successful Galentine’s party with a great group of gals and enough candy, champagne, and heart-shaped pizza to go around!
-What was supposed to be lunch with a best friend Friday turned into crashing her mom’s Galentine lunch! They had the same idea as us the night before and did pizza, champagne, and gossip. Such a fun way to spend a Friday!
-Saturday morning marked the start of Dallas’ incoming snowstorm. Temps droooooped, so Mom’s Chili was a must!
-Did a February 13th Valentine’s Day dinner and it was equally as cute as it was delicious. I won a hot pink pair of stemless Estelle Colored Glasses at Thursday’s Galentine party gift exchange and I couldn’t wait to use them at dinner.
-Homemade blueberry scones for Valentine’s Day breakfast! Hope to make it again so I can confirm the recipe is 100%!
-He did good (great)!!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Raise your hand if you overdosed on Velveeta queso this weekend? Hand raised! I had such a fun night (not) watching the Super Bowl yesterday, enjoying all of the calories and camaraderie that the big game brings. A really fun dinner with friends Friday kicked off the weekend and then did a lake day Saturday. I’ve been so energized by my weekends lately with unexpected fun plans, they have helped me get through the longer more boring workdays that this time of year seems to always bring.

Wishing everyone a great week and a cozy Valentine’s weekend. It seems that the whole country is dealing with cold weather this weekend so I know I plan on staying mostly in and relaxing. Keep scrolling for some Val or Galentine’s recipes and my favorite heart day playlist!

-Fancy Monday dinner with redfish over linguine with a lemon butter sauce. Cooked for me, not by me - a treat!
-I can’t get enough of my new frother. I’ve been making my Dandy Blend with frothed Nutpods twice a day since I got my frother.
-I’ve been a biscuit-making machine. These flaky homemade biscuits went live on Take A Bite last week. Make them for a special Valentine’s breakfast this weekend!
-A big a$$ salad with the leftovers after making this meal the night before. Pecans, apple, cabbage, shallot, apple cider vinegar, the works!
-Flowers and baguettes at my favorite neighborhood coffee shop made for a happy Friday morning.
-Fruit flavored Mentos immediately transport me back to the snack shack while swimming at the country club pool we grew up going to.
-Spent Saturday with a spritz on Eagle Mountain Lake! The best hour escape outside of Dallas.
-Bought this gluten-free mix to cut corners on price and prep for the Super Bowl. It will now be a more regular purchase. I used olive oil instead of vegetable oil, added 1 tsp. of ground coffee to the mix, and then put more chocolate chips and Maldon salt on top!
-My favorite Super Bowl contribution is always the pigs in a blanket! I use this very easy recipe but then brush with melted butter, sprinkle with Everything But the Bagel seasoning, and serve with spicy brown mustard.

Annie

Love bites: Made this playlist in 2013 and have been adding to it every year.
Love bites pt. 2: Heart-shaped homemade Oreos are sure to win over anyone special in your life!

Bites of My Life

February you came quick! Goodnight! January is usually the slowest (and most boring month IMO), but it went zooming by this year. 2021 you rock compared to 2020 did you know that? Happy to have January behind and get into the year a little more. For me lately, it’s been about really enjoying time in Dallas. I feel like I’ve haphazardly been here since the start of the pandemic and it’s nice to feel like I actually live here again?! Keep scrolling for some bites of last week. I have two recipe posts I hope to share this week and next to switch up all of the bites posts. I purposely just shared that to hold me accountable!

-The pleeniest book arrived early last week! I haven’t had that much time to sit down and read it, but hoping to finish this week.
-Kale salads are still carrying me through launches and this salad to-go with an aesthetically pleasing water bottle was just giving me the mid-day vibes I needed.
-I bought this milk frother and I’ve been frothing everything up in site.
-Breakfast for dinner was the move for the week. Egg and avo taco, maple chicken sausage from TJ’s, and berries!
-Copycat Uchi brussels sprouts with sous vide salmon and a side of Jet the friendly golden retriever.
-These new Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Drizzled Plantain Chips are so good. I bought two bags but finished the first bag in two sittings I had to put the second bag in the freezer to attempt to slow my roll!
-On a Take A Bite approved homemade biscuit recipe quest and I may have nailed it. Remaking these flaky layers this week to hopefully share the recipe soon!
-Said biscuits turned into maple sausage and runny egg b-fast sandwiches.
-Was planning an active long walk down the Katy Trail Sunday. The walk did happen, but so did a pit stop at Katy Trail Ice House for a few beers and loaded cheese fries…

Annie