Bites of My Life

Last week was full of fun dinners, catching up with friends, and keeping cozy with all of the gray and rainy weather Dallas had. The weekend was bookmarked with a college friend reunion that still has me on a high. I don’t know what I did to get so lucky to have amazing friends in multiple sectors of my life, but there is something about the bond with your college friends that just takes the cake. Dallas is a central meeting spot for our crew, so we came together for a spontaneous weekend that was full of telling old stories, staying up later than any of us had in the past year, and drinking too many ranch waters to count. Hoping you all have a great week and use this as a reminder to phone a friend if you are feeling down. It always helps.

Bites 388.png

-Pantry pasta for Monday dinner since I hadn’t made it to the store yet. Cooked up the last bits of some red lentil pasta, then tossed with ghee, garlic, brussels sprouts, and a combo of parmesan and nutritional yeast for an extra cheesy flavor.
-I’m late to the game on this spot, but I was treated to dinner at Las Palmas, a vibey tex-mex spot in Uptown Dallas last week and I can confirm it is everything of the sort. The decor, mood, menu, and post-meal food baby are all worth you scheduling a visit immediately if you are in the area. Pictured is the drool-worthy Sopapilla Cheesecake.
-On that kale salad kind of a kick. Massaged the greens with TJ’s Carrot Ginger Miso dressing, added cooked lentils and quinoa for filling protein, sliced tomatoes, pickled red onions, sliced almonds, avocado, and lots of salt and pepper.
-My foodiest friend Ellie turned me on to Nounos yogurt and I can confirm it is as tasty as it is cute. Stirred a spoonful of almond butter, sliced almonds, and cinnamon into the original flavor. Found at Central Market.
-Starbucks announced their seasonal pistachio latte a couple of weeks ago. I’m a sucker for pistachio flavored things and had it on my list to try. I opted for just a decaf almond milk latter + a pump of pistachio syrup and I was a very sad at the outcome. Tasted like an overly sweet cinnamon dolce latte which transplanted me to overdoing it on them my freshman year of college. A taste I didn’t need to be reminded of.
-My house guests for the weekend arrived Friday late afternoon so my go-to snack board got whipped up quick for pre-dinner snacks. My snack setup of late: popcorn, Trader Joe’s Truffle Potato chips (iykyk), Trader Joe’s gluten-free pretzels (better than regular), and some kind of candy or chocolate.
-Not all pictured, but smiles ear to ear with my college besties.
-This pickle loving gal was in heaven at Dallas’ Pickletopia. Yes, a store dedicated to pickles. Left with bread & butters, pickled mushrooms, and giardiniera.
-Ended the weekend playing sous chef cooking burgers for friends with pickles from the Pickletopia loot, Elk meat, frozen french fries (honestly you cannot beat sometimes), and Perfect CCCs of course!

Annie

Pod bite: A friend turned me on to the Sunday Scaries podcast last week and I simply cannot get enough. It’s perfect for listening to while piddling around your house, working, or toting around town tuned into. Will DeFries the host, touches on three wildly relatable (IMO) topics in each ~30-minute episode. Give it a listen if you are looking for a new pod to add to your rotation.

Bites of My Life

AUUUGGGUUUSSSTTT HOW? July you speed demon! Anyway, I’m fine with it, I guess…Perks of adult life is not having the return of the school year looming over you.

This past week was a standard week. Just working in anticipation of the first annual BBR (big blue reunion) with my college besties at Lake LBJ! It was a perfect weekend of junk food, time on the lake, girl talk, catching up and just getting to all be back together now that we are strewn across Oklahoma and Texas. The weekend came and went wayyyy to soon.

bites+312.jpg

-With a lake trip in sight, Perfect CCCs and Banana Bread were my contributions. TBH I forget how good my banana bread is until I make it. It seriously is the best! I love making two loaves and freezing one for a rainy day.
-A very Dallas night out at the swanky Park House deserved to be documented. However their no social media ruled, resulted in a shameless bathroom selfie.
-Easily my favorite easy week night meal.
-I loved opening my door and sharing my apartment tour last week. Thank you for the overwhelming response to my little oasis.
-Big ups to Marge for the custom visors. Sucker for a party favor!
-Love being with my health food freak Claire! She served us Siete chips, cashew queso and gluten free waffles all weekend!
-First and not last Big Blue Reunion! Got all of our college best friends together for a lake weekend to reunite.
-Sun setting on Lake LBJ!
-Got home from the lake and needed some serious greens after all the tortilla chips and White Claws consumed. I tried the Mint Chip smoothie from Brewed + Pressed and now I have to figure out how I can budget an $11 smoothie because that will not be the last time I order it.

Annie

Bite of toast: A bop for your first full week of August!

Bites of My Life

This time of year, and especially this past week, had me thinking back to college and school in general. My roommate is a teacher and has her "first day of school" on Wednesday. I've been out of school for three years now (mind-blowing), but I still feel a sense of back-to-school, come early fall. 

With three trips to Norman, OK in the past week and a trip to Dallas to celebrate my first college friend, those four wild years seem to be heavy on my brain recently. Something I wouldn't want to go back to, but and crazy thankful for all the memories, lessons and friendships made. Anyone else reminisce this time of year?

bites 265.jpg

-Back at Commonplace for a lunch with my oldest friend while she's in town post- Bar exam and pre- DC living! 
-Read this one in 3 days. If you went through recruitment, this book is a hilarious dramaticized, yet accurate depiction of what goes on in the greek system.
-Lunch board is B A C K! couldn't find figs in the store yet, so opted for these cherry plums from TJ's. Taste like a plum but have the pit and similar size of a cherry.
-KKG till we DIE. Back at our favorite house for Alumni Night!
-Okie Southern Salad recipe got posted last week. Loved how this summer salad turned out.
-Popped up and ready to shop! Check out these two entrepreneur friends of mine! Earrings and orchids, take your pick.
-Detox tea, sleep well spray and my book of the week. Sleeping gooood these days.
-Always thankful when we get the group back together! Especially when we get to celebrate our Marge!
-Cutest two, soon to say I Do!

Annie

P.S. In the midst of my reading frenzy, I created a Goodreads account, follow me!

Bites of My Life

As I'm writing this post, it is currently pouring down rain. I'm obsessed. The perfect sleep aid for me is a rain storm. After a weekend in Dallas reuniting with my best gals from college, I'm more than exhausted. I slept the majority of the afternoon and now I'm climbing in to bed hoping I didn't ruin it by napping.

The week started with lots of pink, red and treats in the form of candy, pop tarts and cheese boards. I worked it off by using my StudioHop membership trying out new yoga and bootcamp classes. A CycleBar just opened up in OKC and I am already hooked. If you are local they have free rides all this week for you to try! Aside from eating and working out it was a busy week with work, so I was more than excited to skip out of town to enjoy the weekend. 

-Homemade pop tarts for my galentines! One of my favorite TAB recipes!
-A little galentine's spread in addition to our usual Monday Bachelor nights!
-Real life captured.
-Themed breakfasts are a must on holidays. Sliced bananas in the shape of a heart drizzled with 88 Acres Chocolate Sunflower Seed Butter (I'm obsessed) and cashew butter, topped with cinnamon and crushed freeze-dried raspberries.
-I love making bulletproof coffee in the morning and golden milk at night after dinner. I'm a sucker for a good food trend. That being said I combined the two by adding turmeric to my usual bulletproof recipe and it was way great. 
-Give me all the liquids in the morning. I love a good drink and find myself often walking out the door for the day with a water, a smoothie, a coffee or tea, sometimes a Le Croix too! The more the merrier I suppose. Friday morning post hot yoga was water, Jade Citrus Mint tea and a Spicy Thai smoothie from Organic Squeeze.
-It had been a hot minute since all of my best friends were in one place, luckily most of us are in driving distance of each other. Getting to be together and celebrate Katie and Matt's engagement made for the best weekend!
-Finally got to take one of my friend Shelby's Pilates Barre class. It was so hard, but I was obsessed. Anyone in Dallas take at The Pilates Barre? If so, I'm jealous!
-Gucci fresh ;)

Annie

Bites of My Life

Today's bites post is stacked with photo bites of last week. A full camera roll of weekly images, typically means it was a great week. I suppose I was trying to squeeze as many memories possible into the last week of summer. I wore white everyday, bought a car (!!!!), finished Whole30, visited a city I've never been to, reunited with college friends, welcomed the start of college football, and sat poolside for probably the last time in 2016.

I breezed through the week quick as quick in anticipation of my trip to Houston for OU's first game of the season. Game outcome aside, the weekend was too good. Molly opened her doors for me to stay at "AirbMB" for the weekend. Unfortunately MB was Austin bound for the weekend, but we got a quick 30 minute catch up sesh to make it count! The weekend also included multiple catch up sesh's with college friends near and far who all came together for the game. Lots of memories made and too much fun had. I'm still exhausted and caught up on a high from the weekend. I'm letting it end graciously though as we say farewell summer/hello fall. Let the best season begin.  

-All white everyday last week before the fashion police say I can't. 
-Shared a few ways I knock pesky morning headaches
-Spaghetti squash primavera for the last bites of Whole30.
-Golden Milk. You have to try it if you haven't, perfect way to end the day.
-A somewhat celebratory lunch at Mexican Sugar after purchasing my first car!!! My car accident a few weeks back ended up being a blessing in disguise.
-CCC dough rolled into balls and frozen to save for a rainy day, unexpected guests, or those strong sweet tooth cravings.
-A matcha a week keeps the doctor away...
-A trip to Houston meant a quickie meet up with MB before she headed out of town and finally a visit to her place of work at Biscuit.
-Lunch at Local Foods was suggested on more than one account. It lived up to all the hype!
-All smiles pre OU upset. 
-If only all college football games came equipped with a bloody mary bar. Hello feta stuffed olives. 
-A diner breakfast to round out the Houston bites and to soak up Saturday night. 
-Some rude (smart) person thought it would be a good idea to put a mini Dylan's Candy Bar right next to my Southwest gate. I arrived and left Houston with a big bag of candy store candy. Sour gummies and chocolate covered everything.
-One last dip!
-Labor day steaks and veggies to send off summer!

Annie