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.

Rom Com Valentine Playlist

My Rom Com Holiday playlist was such a hit (thank you to all who liked, downloaded and listened), it only seemed right to follow it up with a Rom Com Valentine playlist. Full of loveable songs and scores from my personal favorite romantic comedies.

February 1st kicks off the lead-up to Valentine’s Day. So, I give you a 30 song playlist to set the mood.

It’s Complicated, Because I Said So, One Fine Day, My Best Friend’s Wedding, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and of course Valentine’s Day are just a few rom coms featured on the playlist.

Just like my holiday playlist, I encourage you to listen in its already curated order instead of shuffling. Press play while on a walk or driving around town to become quickly transported.

Favorite, save, listen, download my Rom Com Valentine playlist here. Let me know if you recognize which songs are from which movie.

L-O-V-E!

“I love that when I breathe you in you smell like cake batter. And I love that you have this insane way of talking in circles that makes perfect sense.”

Annie

Bites of My Life

Valentine’s Day is a holiday I’ve always loved. I have a playlist to prove it, and a handful of ancient posts on the holiday. Well, this year I wasn’t looking forward to it. With a little force, I switched my mindset, made some little Valentine’s to pass out to co-workers and friends, baked twice (always makes me feel better), listened to previously mentioned playlist over and over, invited some girls over for a little Galentine dinner and wine-drinking night, then spent the weekend bopping around Dallas with the OG valentine’s, mom and dad! Valentine’s day, you can stay.

-One of my oldest posts got a facelift! This Homemade Oreo recipe can be found here.
-My favorite leggings that are borderline obnoxious. Especially since I wear them every other day.
-Valentine crafting helping get me in the spirit!
-We had a friendly little chocolate chip cookie competition at my co-working space on Thursday. I wasn’t nervous until I tried everyone else's cookies. Some seriously good contenders, but my Perfect CCCs prevailed and won the popular vote!
-I’ve posted about these CALM gummies before, but I’ve been having some seriously good sleep taking 2 before bed. I can legit feel my body go into a relaxed state about 5 minutes after taking them. I also keep a few in my purse and pop 1 during the day when I get stressed or anxious.
-Spotted: Vday flowers at Foxtrot by local mom and daughter floral shop, Flower Gals Co.
-A last-minute Galentine dinner meant one thing, heart. shaped. cheese.
-Parents arrived in town Saturday with my cutie new end tables in tow. More on these this week!
-Ditched the original lunch plan and headed to my (our) favorite place. It’s never not amazing.
-Mid-day stop at the new Virgin Hotel. The style, the vibe, the furniture, it is all everything.
-Not a Dallas food tour without a stop at my #1. We will forgive them for being out of meatballs and crab claws because, well, just look at that pizza.
-After church brunch at Hudson House before sending them north on I-35. Love you mom and dad!

Annie

Work from home bite: Read this for tips on how to get out there!