Bites of My Life

A double bite recap to sum up the last two weeks of the year. It was a really great holiday being together with my whole family. We haven’t had Claire and Mike with us in years on Claire’s birthday and Christmas, so that was a treat. We even had Mike’s parents with us all the way from Australia. The more was definitely merrier.

Now it’s January, how did we get here?? I was struggling to say the least the past two days. The first of the month, first of the year, and first Monday after being gone for two weeks kind of crumbled on me to say the least. After a good therapeutic cry and shifting my calendar to allow for more downtime in January than was initially planned I’m feeling a bit better. I think I mention it every year in my bites post, but the January blues always seem to give me a dose of their medicine. I know a few weeks of calm and routine should help, so here’s to (hopefully) a relaxing start to the new year!

-Got a spat of sickness right before the holiday. There were a lot of tissues, tea and at-home covid tests used. Negativo thank goodness.
-While in OKC, I got to try the cute new Harvey Bakery for a co-worker Christmas lunch.
-So happy to have all of the girls together for cookie decorating. We haven’t all been together on Christmas in years!
-The largest and heaviest piece of lasagna for Claire’s birthday dinner. Mike used Anthony Bourdain’s recipe.
-Tiramisu, the Italian lasagna of desserts made by me!
-Christmas cheers!
-Christmas crescents, a family tradition.
-Traditional Christmas Pudding aka Figgy Pudding (purchased from Central Market 🙃) for Christmas dessert. It’s a dome shaped cake steamed, then set on fire with brandy and served with ice cream.
-All my babies in my arms!

-2022 reading challenge is 24 books! Verity by Colleen Hoover was the last book I read in 2021. If you haven’t yet I highly rec reading Verity. Twisty turns but so good.
-Thoughts are like stars in the firmament. A little message inside my new Aesop candle. An amazing gift from our Australian Christmas visitors!
-Headed to Rosemary Beach, FL for the last week of the year with Peter’s family. It was cuter than I could have imagined.
-Cutie pops of pink spotted in Alys Beach.
-Lots of Rummikub and lots of gin played on this Shaw family vacay. Luckily both are some of my specialties.
-Pete and I on the beach!
-Pete and I on New Year’s Eve!
-New Nap pjs making me feel chic while I sleep.
-A favorite lentil quinoa soup that felt first week of January appropriate.

Annie

New Wine/new worship for the new year.
A Gilmore Girl bite for my fellow obsessed GGs.

Bites of My Life

The first full week of the new year normally has me on top of being productive at work, eating right, sleeping good, and getting organized. I had my sights set on all of these things happening last week, but mentally and physically I guess other plans were in order. I shared this conversation with a handful of friends and it seems everyone was struggling to push through last week and “get back on track.” I think coming off of 2020 and knowing the beginning of 2021 was going to be similar pushed little to any motivation aside.

While I was lagging a bit at work, was craving junk food, and couldn’t get off my phone before bed, last week was still great. I share a picture below that says Fresh Energy. I think I came to realize that the fresh energy is out there, it just may take a little longer to sink in. Toward the end of last week the energy was being felt and 2021 is looking up!

-Mirepoix add mushrooms for the base of a pot of pinto beans I made last week. A pot of brothy beans over rice is so comforting.
-If you aren’t doing Obe workouts at home in your pj’s you’re doing it wrong.
-Last week I shared this killer Meditteranean bowl I had back in OKC and knew I’d be recreating. It went like this: cauliflower rice, roasted carrots, tomatoes, crispy chickpeas, avocado, olives, and hummus.
-Had Wednesday drinks with my friend Kate and special guest Hattie the golden! Just pulled up a chair at the bar with the humans.
-It’s hard to read, but a store window near my apartment has the message Fresh Energy Can you feel It? I have kept saying this, but the 2021 energy is real.
-January always gets me in some kind of mood to freshen up my space. Buying flowers and doing some rearranging can make a small but mighty change in a little space!
-When the host suggested we dress up for a little dinner party, I took that as a free pass to don this rainbow sequin skirt from Rent The Runway.
-One of my besties set the scene for the prettiest dinner party. The table was so pretty and the food was delish. On the menu: butternut squash soup, farro, delicate squash and kale salad, and a Sweet Laurel’s Chocolate Caramel Date cake.
-I’m on a kick of making what I call cacio e pepe scrambled eggs. It snowed yesterday and I was feeling fancy, so I scrambled them in a little truffle oil and added scallions on top!

Annie

Bites of My Life

I’ve had this conversation with a few friends and family members over the past couple of days, but with the new year there really comes a sense of new energy, a weight lifted off, a feeling of excitement, and a feeling of hope. While Instagram memes keep reminding us that January 2021 looks very similar to the rest of 2020 being that we are still in the coronavirus pandemic, there is still hope in the new year. Fingers crossed, prayers to the big man, and manifestation that our true normal will be felt again at some point in 2021.

After a wonderful two week stint at home with family for the holidays and some big work projects, I finally made it back to Dallas yesterday. I hit the road early to get back to my apartment and strip it of the Christmas decor, unpack, and get organized going into the first week of the new year. My enneagram 3 is thriving right now when it comes to checking things off my list.

Another new year cliche topic is eating healthy and getting back on track after the holidays. While it’s something I’m conscious of, honestly just being out of my parent’s house where toffee and ice cream appears at every corner, is setting me up for success without little effort - ha! Anywho, I wanted to say this is the first year I really don’t feel the pressure to be grinding the healthy eating train. Should I eat some more veggies this week ya, but I’m not pressuring myself. To be honest, I’ve been feeling good lately. I’ve been trying to ride that intuitive eating train, been on an Obé pilates kick (cannot get enough), daily walks, and talking nice to myself. And what do you know, it’s working!! Here’s to more feeling good in 2021!

-The new Med Bowl at Cafe 501 is everything of the sort. Already planning to recreate!
-Crispy salmon Ina Garten style is staple when I’m home (and needing to detox the Christmas goods.
-The week between Christmas and New Year’s is sad, confusing, and weird. French Onion soup with crispy gruyere covered crostini makes the week make sense. I used New York Time’s recipe.
-Shackets have me sold, anyone else? Rented this Madewell one from RTR and luved it.
-My marketing job is quickly turning into a balloon installation job. Not mad.
-Sweats, uggs, and a festive headband was a 2020 NYE mood.
-Woke up to 5 inches of snow on New Year’s Day. GOOD JUJU for 2021!!
-Black Eyed Pea Hoppin’ John for good luck and New Year’s Day traditions!
-Leaving OKC at the end of the holiday break 50% brandy ice, 50% Annie.

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

BIG Bites of My Life

I blame the holidays for this, but I’m combing three bites posts in one. Lot’s to read, so I won’t bore you here. If you are willing to take an extra big bite, carry on, if you give up before the end I understand.

Week leading up to Christmas…

-Easily one of my favorite recipes, and I love that it is many of y’alls too. This Crock-Pot Verde Turkey Chili is best in the winter and can be made Whole 30.
-Trying ashwaganda for the first time. I’ve been hearing of it’s many benefits to combat stress, but hadn’t tried it until recently. It tastes pretty earthy and I am still looking for the best way to mask that, but I will let you know when I do. Picked up this golden milk mix before the holidays too. The perfect drink to wind down with during the chaotic season.
-Worked/ing on eating more veggie friendly breakfasts instead of oatmeal and smoothies during the sugar filled holidays. Hooked on a version of this sweet potato hash inspired by my friend Lauren.
-Collagen hot cocoa swept insta before Christmas and I happily jumped on the train. Posted my recipe here.
-2nd Annual Cookie Decorating Party! A fun new tradition my best girls and I started last year.
-Sucker for a good snack spread. Hummus and cucumbers, salami and olives and baked brie for my girlfriends to counteract all the icing and cookies we ate…
-If you know you know. And if you’re night ends here, you know it was a good one.
-Here we go a wassailinggggg! Mom’s wassail is a staple at the holidays!
-Christmas Eve Eve traditions run deep with this group!

Christmas Week…

-More cookie decorating because that’s what you do at the holidays. Used my Signature Sugar Cookie recipe which is the OG recipe Santa asks for every year.
-Dad and I always on the puzzle grind come the holiday season.
-As our family grows, it also get’s small in some instances. Just me, mom and dad this Christmas Eve, but celebrated the night with church, spaghetti and meatballs (we used this recipe for the sauce and it was perfect) and a late night walk through the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights, just the three of us!
-Tucker tradition of OJ/mimosas with raspberries on Christmas morning. Served along side our traditional sausage crescents and new tradition of this cranberry orange bread.
-Our littlest family member was so sick, but powered through Christmas. And loved her kitchen gadgets gift from Aunt Annie :) Toast and coffee anyone?
-It’s a GRIL!! We found out back in September that Kathleen and John were pregnant with their second baby. We anxiously had to wait until Christmas to find out the sex. Best news ever that Elle is getting a little sister.
-CopperBoom! Never taking this sweatshirt off. Thank you Kathleen!
-I love for Tucker holiday meals. Beef tenderloin, twice bakes, glazed carrots and our family Christmas salad.
-Remember that golden milk mix I mentioned earlier? I used it to flavor this smoothie bowl and I highly recommend. Frozen cauliflower, some ice, vanilla Arbonne protein powder, oat milk, little almond butter, topped with chia seeds, cacao nibs and pecans.
-2018 was the year of reading. And I blogged about it.
-My London girl is back in the USA, better yet Fort Worth (for now, but hopefully for longer coming soon)!!
-We’ve been coming to Fort Worth for OU weekends since our freshman year of college thanks to The Felton’s! Glad that some things never change!

First week of 2019…

-Balloons ready to DROP for NYE at The Jones.
-Who else has to eat black eyes on New Year’s Day? BEP or no luck for the year!
-All the groceries to get back in the swing of things post holidays.
-Celery juice trend ain't stopping anytime soon. Clear skin, smooth skin, look and feel of hair, reduced eczema, less bloat it helps it all!
-S N O W. We got about 3 inches unexpectedly this week. And funny thing about this picture is I took it at about 10pm, but it looks so bright from all the white!
-Snow day lunch at home consisting of my Spicy Red Pepper and Tomato soup, gala apple and rosemary Flackers (my new obsession).
-The Defined Dish’s Hibachi Chicken with Magic Mustard sauce lived up to the hype~~
-My favorite part of my job is when I get to taste all the fun concoctions our bartenders and chefs come up with. Exhibit A, this Oreo inspired beer cocktail.
-Always love a quick Dallas trip.

Annie