Bites of My Life

One of my favorite weekends of the fall has come and gone. I’ve been going to the OU/Texas game far before I even went to school there. I love living in Dallas now and having loved ones and old friends come to my city for the big game. Just as fun to share with new Dallas friends too. The big weekend the past couple years have been a mixture of Rise Roundup, a tour through the Kipps Bay showhouse, lunch at S&D, dinner at Campisi’s, a night out with college friends, early morning gameday, and copious amounts of corny dogs and beer. The weekend just can’t be matched, but somehow gets better and better ever year. I linked a few OU/Texas bites from years past below.

2020 / 2019 / 2018 / 2016 / 2015 / 2014 / 2013

-I’m not one for Monday night dinners out, but when a highly anticipated neighborhood spot sneakily opened, Peter and I jumped on a reservation.
-Said restaurant, is the little Sister to a fav Dallas spot, The Charles. One of the favorite things we ordered at Sister was the lobster burrata.
-Welcome oatmeal season, welcome.
-My restaurant Bic pen collection is coming right along. Matches are so 2019.
-Such a great night running into about every person I know in Dallas at Rise Roundup raising money for the Rise School of Dallas. Yellowstone fav, Ryan Bingham performed!
-They took about a month to arrive but my new slides finally came in. These Amazon copycats of the pricy Manolo Blahnik’s are just as good as I hoped. I did the brown kitten heels and the tan flats. A few blisters after the first wears, but they are worth it.
-Browsed around the Kipps Bay Showhouse with my mother on Friday morning. I love that they’ve brought this fundraiser to Dallas. It is still happening in the next couple of weeks if you are in the area!
-Nothing hits better than a 9:00 AM breakfast Fletcher’s corny dog and a wax beer at the Texas State Fair the morning of OU/Texas!
-2nd half team pulled through for an amazing win and day!!!

Annie

Bites of My Life

A great last week of Whole30, leading up to an indulgent game day weekend in Oklahoma. Spent the week make a few more delicious W30 meals, started a new bible study I’m very excited about, and played a few rounds of tennis. Got to Oklahoma City Friday for pickle ball with friends. and then game day in Norman onSaturday. Now its a speedy week before heading to the mountains for my oldest friends wedding! BRB, off to write my MOH speech.

-The Defined Dish Enchilada Stuffed Acorn Squash, a huge favorite of mine. Super satisfying for lunch and easy to reheat at work.
-Early mornings with Ina as opposed to the news. Best (most relaxing) way to wake up.
-Lamb kofta from Central Market, can’t.get.enough.
-GT’s Kombucha is always the booch brand I reach for but their Fall Edition is a must purchase.
-Still tailgating together 10 years later.
-Big BOOMER weekend!
-Not a trip to OKC without one ;)
-One last glutenous moment was stopping for fried pies on the way out of Oklahoma. I’ve driven past the notorious Arbuckle Fried Pies in Davis, OK maybe 200 times, and stopped for the first time yesterday.
-Peter pies first OKC trip!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Christmas season has been kicked into gear! After a somewhat unexpected busy week, I’m feeling the business of this time of year and trying real hard to enjoy each moment. A Christmas happy hour, coffee date, nd my first holiday party in the books this past week. Wild to think I’ll be heading home for the holiday in just two weeks. More holiday events on deck this week and two new recipe posts coming this week.

-I bought this rose quartz jade roller and gua sha kit on black Friday. My insta crush @melissawoodhealth uses a gua sha, so I bought a gua sha.
-Haven’t take off this headband off! Thanks to all who entered my giveaway with The Avenue last week!
-Tini date with my bff Jordan! I’m really trying to become a martini girl. This extra dirty vodka martini with blue cheese olives and blue cheese salt from Hudson House did the trick!
-Baking from Tucker Time. Can’t wait to share a family favorite recipe on TAB this week!
-Smashed avo on GG crackers for the easiest and satisfying lunch.
-I can’t get over this Christmas coffee shop pop-up at Fiction Coffee. Served as the best remote workspace for Friday afternoon.
-First Christmas party via my friend Jess! I met Jess through working at The Slate. She was welcoming even before day 1 at my workspace, and she’s one of my favorites in Dallas.
-When your big sister and pretend sister are in town for the Jonas Brother’s concert (yes I said big sister and Jonas Brothers in the same sentence), and you get to sneak in breakfast before they headed back to OKC!
-Just a bunch of really happy OU fans!!!!!!!! Big 12 champs!

Annie

Breakfast bite: Did you catch my updated post for the Best Breakfast Casserole last week??

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.

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