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

Buckle up, there are 3 weeks of bites in one post. The holidays were great, I want to go back. I’m not quite ready to give back into routine. I mean I am, but I’m not. I’d be lying if I said coming back to Dallas wasn’t hard. I got so comfortable being home and with my family, and best friends. But we are here, I’m back in Dallas, and working to get my mindset wrapped around the new year and decade. It feels good don’t get me wrong. So fingers crossed, prayers being said, and sights set on a great 2020.

-This green juice from Trader Joe’s is my new secret weapon to add something healthy to my diet every day. I stocked up on a bunch during my last week in Dallas as prep before going home to all of the Christmas cookies, popcorn, drinks and treats.
-Cleaned out the freezer with one of my go-to’s, quinoa fried rice.
-If you missed my Brandy Ice recipe, head here now. I loved loved loved seeing how many people made them over the holidays!
-I ditched my car for a few days and challenged myself to walk more even with the weather being colder. I’ve become a recluse since it turned to winter and I loved pretending like I was in New York walking to work, to work out, the grocery store, etc.
-Christmas ice cream and hot cocoa and a Nancy Meyer’s movie to really lean into the season.
-The Amazon headband quad-fecta!! I have, I kid you not, worn one of these headbands every single day since I bought them. Did I mention they are 4 for $14?
-Had a huge group dinner with everyone back in OKC for the holiday. There were over 20 of us and it was so fun to all be back together.
-My parent’s tree (despite it being fake) is unreal! Full of gorgeous new ornaments intertwined with old popsicle stick ornaments we made as kids. The best!
-The Hall’s annual family friend Christmas party is one of all of our’s favorite holiday traditions.

-My little elves decorating cookies for Santa!
-Christmas morning cranberry orange bread and coffee. Not pictured sausage crescent rolls and mimosas.
-Cranberry mules to go with Christmas dinner. We just added cranberry juice and fresh cranberries.
-Meat, potatoes and mom’s Christmas salad. Always a win!
-Christmas night brandy ices, the whole family loved them!
-Headed to Memphis between xmas and NYE for Price and Kenzie’s wedding. Kenzie and I lived together my past two years in OKC. It was a really great weekend being back with two close friends for their wedding!
-Brandy Ice at The Jones only for NYE. I quickly grabbed a glass just to make sure it was up to par. It was :)
-Another Jones NYE party success has me feeling #blessed for this marketing team that developed in 2019!
-I finished out the night with some of my very best friends. AKA no one else I’d rather end one year and enter the next with.

-Greens, salad, vegetables!!! It seemed like so long since I had all of these in one meal. #holidaysgotmelike…
-Gotta get that luck in for 2020, so Hoppin’ John for New Year’s Day lunch.
-Popcorn is the best snack Y or N?
-Some ball pit snuggles and belly laughs with my favorite girls before I headed back to Dallas.
-Avocado toast on Ezekiel bread with tomato, just like my girl Melissa Wood.
-Easy peasy filling meal: sweet potato with almond butter and cinnamon.
-Trying to not eat all the almond butter straight from the container, as well as trying to be more eco and wallet-friendly by creating my own almond butter packs. I pre-portioned out 2 tablespoons in my little salad dressing containers.
-Not doing Whole30 this January and not trying to obsessively diet. I had lots of pizza and this amazing ice cream Saturday and loved every bite.
-Half Baked Harvest’s Indian Coconut Butter Cauliflower for Golden Globe watching and dinner this week!

Here’s to the new decade, new year, new month, new week!

Annie

Bites of My Life

One of my favorite weekends of the year…check! I grew up heading to Dallas for OU/Texas weekend, obviously attended in college and now love the reunion with friends year after year. But, getting to host this year took the cake. Now I’m finishing up this post from my parents house for a quick trip back to OKC for work, then a chill weekend ahead.

-Easiest go-to meal = spaghetti squash, marinara with wilted spinach and call it a day. Serve your kombucha out of a wine glass and suddenly Monday isn’t so hard!
-When your juice matches your skirt >
-Kicked off the big weekend with my guy Robert Earl Keen Thursday night benefiting the Rise School of Dallas. This marks #6 seeing REK!
-Mom and dad in town for OU/Texas so we indulged in fried shrimp and gumbo at S&D to celebrate.
-Really love getting to play hostess. My little 1 bedroom became a 5 bed bunkhouse for the weekend and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
-THE best part of OU/Texas weekend is the reunion. One weekend we can always count on to get everyone in the same place.
-Retweet the sentiments from above.
-Hotel Annie had an early morning check-out. After cleaning up the place, I had breakfast on my couch and proceeded to stay there for the following 3 hours.
-Had no choice but to be outside Sunday afternoon. Dallas welcomes you fall with open arms.

Annie

Verde Turkey Chili (updated) and Pumpkin Pecan White Chocolate Cookies hit the blog last week. Two recipes about to fall into serious rotation this season.

Bites of My Life

Home from the most amazing bachelorette party in Vail, CO. Unfortunately I brought a cold home with me. Here’s a quick recap of my last full week of Whole 30, mountain time and the start of October!

-Tahini Chicken Salad hit the blog and my lunch last week. This no-mayo Whole 30 chicken salad recipe was a hit with more than just me. Y’all were loving it, and I love that.
-Currently still eating this Thai Pumpkin Soup because it made so much. Not mad about coming home from my trip with a meal already made for the week. I froze half this batch and thawed it over low heat.
-Going on a bachelorette trip while on Whole30 isn’t ideal, but the trip > w30. My plan of attack was to order best I could while out to eat, pack plenty of approved snacks, and indulge where I wanted. Here is a glimpse of my travel snack pack (which are all things I take even off W30): RXbars, pre-portioned bags of mixed nuts and plantain chips, Chomp sticks, almond butter packs, loose packets of tea and a few apples.
-Perks of accidentally booking your flight a day early, equals more time in Vail and a seriously good dinner at La Bottega.
-Followed by the famous hot chocolate at the Four Seasons. It was incredible, but so rich and TMI sent my weak stomach straight to the bathroom…This was not necessarily the first thing to dive into off Whole 30.
-The trees changing in Colorado this time of year was insane.
-Après naps (lol) cheeseboard time.
-Hiking aka trail walking in gorgeous Vail.
-Homemade za by moi for Saturday night in, in Vail. With tips I know from What’s Gaby Cooking, these supreme pizzas turned our perfect in the oven.

Annie

Bites of My Life

BRB currently taking a bite out of Dallas. Y’all (seemed appropriate) I MOVED! I officially live in Texas! I’m definitely on a high from the move and a great first weekend in my new city, but so far so great. There’s a new energy inside me I was desperately seeking. Here’s to never staying comfortable.

-I’ve known Addie for a while, but our friendship really bloomed the past few months. She helped me know Jesus in a way I didn’t before and is the biggest ray of sunshine every time I see her. One last OKC coffee date at Stitch before off to Dallas.
-A big hug sesh and only a couple of tears with my best friends before heading south of the border. They sent me off with a few gifts I’ll keep forever.
-Bye to my sweet home and incredible roommate of the past two years. ILY Belleview!
-A little tex mex upon arrival to fuel the unpacking.
-Say hello to my new sanctuary. Home tour post to come! I’m 99% unpacked (I know this is psycho considering it’s only been a couple of days, but that’s how I roll), just need to replace some glass on a broken picture and buy a plant then pics and post will happen.
-Can’t thank my mom and dad enough for driving my uhaul, helping me unpack, getting me organized, hanging all the things, styling my coffee table and making multiple trips to Target. My every day superheroes.
-Checked off Javier’s, Honor Bar and Katy Trail Ice House all in a matter of hours. Three Dallas staples and more to visit! You best believe a new city guide is brewing.
-The transition aint so bad when I was surrounded by some of my best friends (from Dallas and OKC) the first weekend I was here. Congrats to the Connors!
-When Trader Joe’s is walking distance from your new place. Big mood RN are these dehydrated rainbow carrots (140 cals for the whole bag), jicama sticks and organic buffalo hummus. Bought on Saturday and already polished them all off.

Annie

p.s. I’m still trying to formulate my words on a “why I moved” post, so stay tuned. Maybe.