Bites of My Life

Life is busy, but full of only fun things. Something I’ve struggled with the past year. Something I complain about, but feel silly when I do. As someone who thrives and absolutely recharges by having down time, this stage of life has exhausted me a bit. Weddings, parties, happy hours, etc. All things I absolutely love doing, but still… I’m not sure there is a fix, besides doing my best to carve out more ‘me’ time. I’m ranting and don’t really know the point of all this besides to say, life is busy, but life is fun. A double edge sword, that I think I’m okay with…

-i’m officially a paraphernalia junky. Thanks sis for my shop girl mug! My movie and tv show coffee mug and crewneck sweatshirt collection is near but not yet out of control.
-Valentine’s Day dinner at ‘Annie’s Express.’ Much thanks to The Defined Dish and her Paleo Lemon Chicken (from her new book)!
-Vday tulips in my new vase I’m obsesssssed with!
-Ladies night with my special Sladies! TY to our host for the cozy vibes and soup topped with potato chips.
-Was reminded by a friend this week that I need to be drinking more poppi. This stuff is good, and good for you.
-Friday foot massage turn up!
-Back on the Blender Bombs smoothie train this past week. This chocolate raspberry concoction was top notch. ANNIE10 for 10% off your BB purchase!
-Tiny tacos and tinis with some of my best!
-Sunday mahjong lives on no matter who or where!

Annie

Bites of My Life

A full week of fun friend time, a weekend with family, capped with a Sunday night spent with more bffs has me ~feeling the love~ for Valentine’s Day. You can bet I’m in a pink sweater at work today, Rom Com Valentine is on in my airpods, and Defined Dish healthy Chinese food is on the menu tonight. I’m happy to report February is trumping those dreadful January blues. Proof in the pud here.

-First time making tofu for myself. The recipe was on point, but I didn’t use extra firm tofu and that was my first mistake.
-Another successful galentine’s in the books. PJ-themed and not without heart-shaped pizza.
-When the movie scene inspo meets the result.
-Early spring pieces thanks to The Avenue.
-Pulled into Austin right around happy hour on Friday.
-We always get *blessed* with yucky weather when visiting Austin. Friday was gorgeous and Saturday was rainy and cold. My brother-in-law and I made Alison Roman’s One Pot Chicken with Caramelized Lemons and Dates and it was superb for a chilly night.
-Attempted my first run of a copy-cat to Honor Bar’s Trout Dip. It’s one of my favorite things and my first go was close. Hoping to perfect and post soon.
-Biggest sis and littlest nephew!
-North on I-35 just in time for the Super Bowl with this crazy crew.

Annie

Bites of My Life

Letting the pictures do the talking today. Keep scrolling and reading. K thanks bye!

-Have you ever made Sheet-Pan curry? Pretty genius. I used this recipe.
-Cutie pre-valentine nails with a neon pink tip.
-Drinks on a Monday, who is she? But when it’s with one of your best friends and you girl talk for an hour, it’s worth it. Highly rec the bar at DL Macks.
-I bought ingredients for veggie tacos, but quickly realized they weren’t cutting it, so I added some cheese and turned my meal prep into black bean and mushroom quesadillas.
-Woke up Thursday to snow and ice! I didn’t really believe the weatherman that this would happen, but it was a fun surprise.
-A snow day needed cookies, but I didn’t have everything I needed for perfect CCCs, so I came up with this vegan riff.
-When my weekend reunion with my college friends fell through, I had to make some plans to get out of the house after being cooped up from the snow. Tequila, tex mex, and the best tres leches cake did the trick.
-Unexpected and unplanned weekends are my FAVORITE. A leisurely Saturday afternoon day drinking, dinner, and games with my OU crew filled my cup to the top.
-Mahjong Sundays are going strong and the best way to cap the weekend! How cute is this Amazon set?

Annie

Less than a week until Valentine’s day, have you listened to Rom Com Valentine yet? And let’s give some attention to my OG Val playlist.

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