Bites of My Life

Whole30 is still kicking in per-usual Annie fashion. 90% Whole 30 10% weekend freebies. The highlight of last week was getting to hold my nephew Jack for the first time. He is such a little cuddle guy and after 7 weeks in the NICU it was so special being with him in person. I had a relatively relaxing weekend, but as I’m writing this on a Monday morning I can’t help but hold my eyes to keep them open. 😴

-Long story short when I first got the Starbucks app I set my birthday as the next day to get a free birthday drink, the day was September 7th. So now every year on September 7th I get a free drink and it’s truly the most fun mid-year non-birthday free treat.
-Did a riff on these bowls for lunches last week. I swapped the ranch for mustard. Team mustard for life.
-Pizza night in Austin, TX. We love the Ooni in my family, both of my BILs have one. We made three different Gjelina recipes and all were amazing. Also p.s. it’s called whole30ish ;)
-Finally got to meet and hold my sweet baby nephew Jack. It was the perfect quick trip to see this little peanut!
-Insaaaane Banana Bread Nutella stuffed cookie from Thoroughbread in Austin. My sis has challenged me to recreate!
-Had an errand to run in Fort Worth, so I treated myself to a smoothie bowl from the newly opened Mamaka Bowls, and shopped around some FW boutiques. I love Fort Worth!
-A new york minute visit from our big city girl was just the best Saturday happy hour.
-Since my “birthday” latte last week, I’ve been on a latte kick. I can’t get enough of a creamy almond milk decaf latte. Doesn’t matter where it is from. Anyway I mobile ordered one from Starbucks and they made it iced. They remade my order and sent me home with both. Good thing they were decaf.
-The Defined Dish Spicy Cilantro Wings and grilled pineapple for a Sunday Whole30 meal.

Annie

Bites of My Life

Long weekends are just the best. After coming off the most relaxing few days in Broken Bow, I’m thrilled to only have a four-day week. I headed up to BB to meet some of my best friends. We rented the cutest cabin, went horseback riding, and paddleboarding, and just relaxed around the house. It has Colorado vibes near the cabins, and then feels like a cute lake town in some areas. There are a handful of good restaurants. We did pizza out one night and then made most meals at home. I went off Whole30 for some buffalo chicken dip, s’mores, and animal cracker indulgences but held relatively strong most of the trip!

-The most yum lamb kofta and chimichurri thanks to Central Market’s prepped options :).
-One of my favorite coffee shops in Dallas just went through some interior updating, but they also added this adaptogen mushroom latte to the menu. If you go to Ascension you have to try it. Tasted like a better turmeric latte.
-Eating out on Whole30 is possible, but tricky. When it came to needing to eat out for a few meals last week, I relied heavily on Cava.
-Last Thursday was a work from the couch in my robe all day kind of day. These type of days happen sporadically and I welcome them with open arms.
-Have you tried gum drop grapes? They are in most stores right now and are deliciously sweet and sour.
-Escaped to Broken Bow for the most relaxing long girls weekend. It’s 3 hours from Dallas and Oklahoma City making it the perfect meeting spot with my best friends from home.
-We played hours of Mexican Train with football in the background all day Saturday. I came in dead last but I’m now obsessed! It is such a good group game.
-Made a riff on Kit Keenan’s egg bake for the girls in Broken Bow. Minus the cheese, it was W30!
-Labor Day flattop cooking of homemade crab cakes and grilled okra, both Whole30 approved! We may have spent an arm and leg on the crab meat but they were worth it!

Annie

Fall bites: did you catch last week’s fall recipe roundup? Read up on it here!

Bites of My Life

I started Whole30 last week and it’s off to a smashing start. Lots of Defined Dish meals are being made and one week in has me feeling great. My sweet little nephew finally got to go home from the NICU and my nieces came down to Dallas for a visit. Praise! I laid low over the weekend, binging Modern Love season 2 and My Unorthodox Life. I’m looking forward to rolling into Labor Day weekend, the start of football season, and a getaway with my best friends.

-Kicked off Whole30 last Monday! An oldie but goodie W30 approved lunch made its appearance.
-Fleurs! Technically from two weeks ago now, but still looking pretty a week later.
-This Korean Ground Beef and Kimchi meal came together in under 15 minutes and was so satisfying. God bless The Defined Dish while on Whole30.
-Paleo & Whole30 Carne Asada Bowl was excellent and full of protein and greens.
-My nephew is hoooooome! After 7 long weeks in the Nicu, Jack is home with his parents. I can’t wait to get to Austin to hold and squeeze him!!!
-A short visit from this cutie and her little sister.
-Crying pre-bawling at Season 2 Episode 1 of Modern Love. I loved season 1, but this particular episode hit home and absolutely rocked me. Yes I sobbed, but I still recommend it.
-The Defined Dish’s Salsa Verde Shredded Beef Bowls was a wonderful Sunday Whole30 meal that concluded one week down. I did a strip steak in the crock-pot on low all day and it fell apart. Highly rec this meal W30 or not.
-Sunday self-care = an evening foot massage at Dallas’ favorite, Yaya Foot Spa. $30 for a 40-minute incredible massage that then put me into the deepest Sunday night sleep.

Annie

Bites of My Life

A few travel delays, but made it home late last night after celebrating my oldest friend on her bachelorette party. It’s so wild living out moments that you only imagined as a kid. Getting old is w e i r d, but I wouldn’t change it! I got to spend about 24 hours in D.C (!!!!!) before heading down to Charlottesville for the scene of the crime (party)! I loved getting to explore this Virginia town that means so much to Anna.

-Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Brownie mix is unmatched compared to most grocery store brownie mixes. My friend Reid brought a batch to our Bach finale watch party last week. And thank goodness she did because sustenance was necessary during that episode…
-Flower Child chicken plate w/ yuzu brussels and currently the green goddess asparagus is my go-to pick-up order when I have a short week and don’t want to buy a bunch of groceries.
-Made it to D.C. to kick off Anna’s bachelorette party and got the party started with homemade Jungle Birds made by her fiance, who doubles as my old high school friend!
-Followed by dinner at one of all of our D.C. favorites, Lapis. It is an authentic family-owned afghan restaurant that I highly recommend.
-Drove down to Charlottesville to really get the party started. A walk around campus and a morning run for the infamous Bodo’s bagels was necessary.
-My Bodo’s order - whole wheat bagel, feta spread, tomato, and sprouts. Excellent!
-We spent Saturday doing a wine tour, making stops at Pippin Hill, King Family and Veritas Vineyards. I’m not a huge wine drinker, but I loved have sips at each stop and indulging in the bread and cheese :)
-Anna reigned in such a good crew to be a part of her bridal party, and I had the best time with them all weekend.
-#SeeYaSearcey! Time for Martins in the Mountains next month!

Annie

Bites of My Life

I’ve had this discussion with a few friends, and myself, over the past week, but when I’m back home in Oklahoma City, I’m hoooome. And when I’m in Dallas, I present and focused on my life in Dallas. It’s hard for me to combine the two. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing, but if a friend in Dallas messages me about something going on there while I’m in Oklahoma City, it’s hard me for to even respond and visa versa.

I’m not actively trying to block one or the other out while I’m in a certain location, it just is what it is. When I’m home I want to be hanging at home with my parents, cooking dinner, enjoying time in the OKC office, going on walks with friends there. I love love love Dallas, but it was hard coming back this time for some reason.

This lengthy intros purpose was to disclose why there wasn’t a bites post last week. I got home from California late Sunday night and woke up super early to get to Oklahoma for the week. Most personal to-dos fell to the wayside while I was there.

-I love my desk and space at The Slate, but I started off the week (two weeks ago) at an old favorite spot. It felt good to change up the work environment and get creative juices flowing in different surroundings.
-Up bright and early to watch women’s gymnastics live!
-My favorite Obe 10-minute class is this bedtime stretch. I do it right in my bed which is about the most relaxing thing ever.
-Checked in to the cutest Coachman’s Inn in the heart of Carmel. Last fall when I was here, we stayed in a fabulous house in the Pebble Beach area, but I really enjoyed being in Carmel this time. Being able to wake up and walk to get coffee and then to the beach was unmatched. The complimentary breakfast and 4 pm wine and cheese hour at our little inn was also a big seller!
-First night of the Cody wedding festivities was the welcome party at Spanish Bay!
-Scoping out my future Carmel cottage…
-Finally made it to Mission Ranch after not making the cut last fall. They don’t take reservations so you have to get in line early to grab a seat at Clint Eastwood’s restaurant. The food isn’t groundbreaking but it’s a fun experience!
-The most fun weekend with really great friends, all for The Codys!

-After travel delays, I got home from California late Sunday, but arrived to my new Lake PJs! I haven’t taken them off since… I have these from Lake too. I wear a medium but do an extra long in the pant set. I wash them and then stretch and hang them dry to keep the length.
-Mom and dads, where the salted, seasoned, and variety of cocktail nuts never run dry. I posted this on IG and laughed at how many people said the same thing about their parents.
-No Whole Foods compares to the OKC Whole Foods. I will barely step foot in the Dallas WFs.
-Came in town earlier than planned for a funeral :( and stayed the week for work. I quickly got roped into doing press for the new restaurant our group is opening 😂.
-Chef Annie in the house. Check out my recent Instagram for all the eats and dishes I made last week.
-I attempted to recreate a cocktail we had in Austin at Cafe No Se for an early birthday celebration for Kathleen. The Salty Bee: gin, lemon, soda, salted honey.
-Fry Day on steroids at Spark. We had a photoshoot Friday and I ate double my body weight in our addicting crinkly cut fries. Opening sooooo soon.
-Happy hour with some of my besties in mom and dad’s dreamy new backyard.
-Happy 32nd to my sis!

Annie

Podcast bite: I was on Action City OKC last week. Catch my episode about growing up baking, the start of Take A Bite, my career in marketing for restaurants and more!