Byte Bites 0.2

Byte bites volume two is here. You can read volume one here. These posts are a collection of web links, recipes, ideas, and inspirations of things I’m currently taking a bite of.

BYTE BITES 0.2

What does your Thanksgiving look like this year? Are you able to meet up with close family or staying home and going virtual? My fam is postponing Thanksgiving a week, so my Thursday plan is to eat pumpkin-themed food all day, still get dressed for the day (I rented this and these), and have a marathon viewing of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Thanksgiving episode of Gilmore Girls, You’ve Got Mail, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

Is this your first year cooking for various reasons? Gaby has a master guide you can sign up for on her site right now and Jessica has a great list of non-traditional Thanksgiving meal ideas (cacio e pepe pie).

If you are in charge of bringing a Thanksgiving dessert, my Pecan Pie Bars are always a hit. And it’s not Thanksgiving morning without the Best Breakfast Casserole and Pumpkin Bread.

In other pecan news, the new pecan flavor of RxBars is everything.

These holiday recipes have me drooling!! Brown Butter Stuffed Acorn Squash, Whipped Goat Cheese with Crispy Bacon and Dates, and this Spiced Apple Cider Cocktail or Mocktail.

How Does Ina Do It? I’m not entirely sure, I just know I want to be her more and more every day.

Have you started holiday shopping yet? I went from having no idea what I was getting anyone, to going online shop happy this week, checking a few people off my list. In addition, everyone in my circle is getting one of these this year.

Cup of Jo creates my favorite gift guides year after year. A few other gift ideas from my friends who are far more on top of it than me suggested the Pura Scent Diffuser, Our Place pan, Ember Mug, and a Whoop bracelet.

On my wish list this year: a Weezie robe, new silverware (any suggestions or recs?), and a weighted blanket!

Christmas pajamas are a big tradition in my world. I have my eyes on a few styles, but waiting to see if a Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal arises and pushes me to order a pair. Pjs I’m watching: Roller Rabbit, Lake, Honeydew Intimates, and Katie Kime’s Dallas Toile (she also has New Orleans, New York, Nashville, Fort Worth, Marfa, and Austin).

I know everyone is wigging out on The Crown and The Undoing, but I’m over here binging Dawson’s Creek living out my love for late 90s/early 2000s teenage TV dramas. I was too young when it first came out and I’m truly living for this binge 22 years later.

Happy weekend everyone! If you need me I’ll be testing a Thanksgiving dessert recipe and making friendship bracelets.

Annie

Bites of My Life

I got home last night from such an incredible trip to Pebble Beach and Carmel with my closest “gal pals” from OKC. California has really bit me with its bug lately, but I’ve really been on a Souther Cali tour. I haven’t been more northern since San Francisco when I was 5. Pebble Beach really showed off and I’m now planning my return.

We did it all from lounging at the house, wine tastings, shopping in the village of Carmel, a picnic at Carmel by the Sea, brunch at Pebble Beach Golf Links, and walk along the course after. However, my favorite part, was our mornings at the house, walking up and drinking coffee together. Y’all know I love my mornings, but having slow mornings with good friends to recap the previous day and just chill is simply the best!

-Some unexpected news here, there, and everywhere led the start of last week to be a wee bit stressful. Let’s just say a dose (or two) of CBD a day helped the stress stay at bay. You can use ANNIE10 for 10% off of my fave, Wild By Nature.
-Santa Claus officially came to town in the form of my favorite mug holding the new holiday Golden Ratio coffee.
-Worked from home a few days last week, which led to stalking the FedEx tracking link for my Rent the Runway package containing my whole weekends worth of clothes. My code RTRFAM40732E0 gets you 50% off the new 8 and 16 piece membership. Sharing all of my trip outfits on @confessionsofarentaholic.
-We arrived with eyes set on wine tasting. Carmel Valley is budding with wineries, so we got a little taste of Napa which I wasn’t expecting. I’ve pretty much sworn off wine after getting an instant headache and sleeping horribly after drinking it, but I wanted to milk the day for what it was worth and did a few glasses spread out and come out on top!
-When you take the girls from Texas and Oklahoma to California, you can still find us at none other than Cowgirl Winery.
-Life has brought a handful of friends full circle for me, and these two are a prime example.
-This weekend’s diet = apps + drinks.
-Spent out last afternoon in Carmel packing up a beach picnic to truly cross the last thing off our trip list!
-Finished His Only Wife on the plane, just in time for my first book club meeting tonight.

Annie

Bites of My Life

What a week in America. This was my first time voting as a Texas resident and my third presidential election to get to vote in. I got to the polls right at 7:00 am to cast my vote Tuesday morning. I left feeling so proud, regardless of the results, to live in this country. I watched church online yesterday morning, and the pastor closed his sermon saying we should all pray by name our new President-elect Joe Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, President Donald Trump, and Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Pray for their work ahead, for peace and healing, and for the future of our country.

I was lucky to pair the heavy week with good food and better friends. Chili night to watch election results, mid-week ramen from my favorite place, lunches with friends, and one of my best friends birthdays. Big week, good week!

-Monday morning matcha ritual. Always tired and always need something good in my body.
-Power blazer for election day. I kept calling this my Annie for VP outfit.
-First time voting in Texas!
-My “co-worker/work bestie” Ellie at my co-working space made homemade hot chocolate and her sister made homemade marshmallows for the election. I was happy to be treated to leftovers on Wednesday!
-Stopped in Flower Child last week for a social media post I’m doing with them and became hooked with this order: grilled chicken, Indian spiced cauliflower, and yuzu Brussels sprouts.
-Leftover Wabi House ramen upgraded with an added soft boiled egg at home.
-I’ve been dressing up as food or drink since forever. It wasn’t Halloween, but in honor of my bestie Margaret’s “M” themed birthday party, I showed up as a Mambo Taxi.
-East Hampton lettuce wraps are all kinds of good. Their November sandwich the Augusta in honor of The Masters is equally good.
-Trader Joe’s did it again. Cauli crisps are my new must buy. They just need to increase the bag size…

Annie

Netflix bite: I was always too young to watch Dawson’s Creek when it first aired, but now that it is on Netflix I spent my low key weekend binging season one. And for a tiny dose of Christmas and a happy-go-lucky movie, Holidate checked both boxes!

Are you joining me in No Spend November this month? It was so interesting and felt rewarding to be extra conscious of my spending last week. Here are the details if you are interested.

Bites of My Life

A busy last week of October, but a great one leading up to an even better weekend. My dad and sisters and I had been working behind the scenes to plan a surprise brunch for my mom’s 60th. She was shocked and had the best day. Bonus that I got to be home for Halloween with my nieces. Missed dressing up, but adult Halloween isn’t so bad. Oklahoma City got hit with a wild ice storm, so my visit came with a power-less stay at my parents, but still great being with fam. Countdown to Thanksgiving with my whole fam including oldest sis and brother-in-law is officially on.

-First Verde Turkey Chili of the season!
-Bar by night Old Monk has pivoted due to Covid and is now open in the mornings as a coffee shop. If you are in the Knox-Henderson Dallas area, stop by for a seriously good latte.
-Pumpkin Green Smoothie on repeat for Halloween week.
-Live music made its return by way of a drive-in concert. Bundled up to see my faves Mt. Joy at an outdoor drive-in concert.
-Tables set at Bradford House for the perfect birthday brunch.
-Successful surprise brunch for mom’s 60th!
-Home for Hallie-ween.
-New Liquid IV delivery just in time for the season where it is so hard to drink water. The colder months have me on a coffee and tea binge and my water input depletes.
-When you impulse buy a ton of stuff from H&M expecting to return some and it all ends up working out…

Annie

Saving bite: I’m doing a round 2 of No Spend November this year. Who’s joining?

Bites of My Life

I scooted home last Monday for a week to work from OKC. We had a week-long event, a new menu launch and various meetings and planning to do. What I intended just to be a Monday and Tuesday trip had me not leaving until Friday. I hadn’t been in Oklahoma City in two months. I know that is not long at all, but for someone who essentially splits her time between there and Dallas, it was the longest I had gone since I moved. A busy week led into a fun weekend watching football and enjoying the cool fall weather all day Saturday with friends. It’s now officially freezing in Dallas and I have chili on deck for all future meals.

-Balloon artist for hire!! Kidding, but my boss and I felt the need to start our own balloon biz after whipping up several displays. It’s not party these days without balloons.
-Love being home and having co-workers IRL. Met up for coffee before work with my work besties Ash and Bailey!
-Goes to a real office for the first time in months, and wears a blazer to really lean into it.
-My work’s annual Jonestoberfest kicked off last week and I was so glad I was home to see it in action, and to model a bratwurst, and then get to eat it…
-I saw Serena make this Smokey Chicken Stew on her IG about a week ago and new it was on the list to make. I made it for my mom and dad while staying with them and it was a hit all around.
-Found a perfect replacement for my favorite slippers that are $24.
-Friday night after a busy week meant staying on the couch all night and watching my people on the Laguna Beach reunion. Do yourself a favor and tune in to see your faves back together.
-Football Saturday with fall temps called for a round of Katy Trail Ice House chili for the table. Legit all 6 of us ordered a cup. With an order of their famous cheese fries too of course!
-Made a batch of my favorite Halloween Candy Compost Cookies on Sunday and just had to take a moment to give Almond Joys the attention they don’t get but deserve.

Annie