Bites of My Life

Only a week and a half left of being a permanent Oklahoma resident. I’m cleaning out the fridge, training our new employee, selling all my unnecessary junk, packed half my house, celebrated turning 26 again, danced my booty off at good friend’s wedding, and trying to get every last minute with everyone I can’t live without before I cross the state line. This 😱emoji so accurate to many aspects of my life right now.

-Clean out the fridge meals have commenced. I’m refusing to buy groceries except for some lettuce and a few apples until I move. This turkey burger salad situation wasn’t too weird, but I’m looking forward to seeing how I can combine frozen party meatballs and canned chickpeas into a meal…
-PSA I’m keeping my job (and got a promotion!!!), but still moving to Dallas. To make it all feasible, we hired a marketing coordinator to work with me and be my boots on the ground in OKC while I’m remote. Bailey started last week and she is already killing the game.
-Marie Kondo meets loosing 1,000 square feet of living space meets family members who equally want to lighten their load equals one big ole garage sale. And a successful one at that.
-A belated birthday dinner with family on Friday ended my favorite way. Brandy ices have my heart.
-Pink is our color and pink is our other color (if you know what I’m referring too, double points to you).
-Lady gang celebrating the Mlady’s!
-Up close of this incredible pancake from Sunday brunch here.
-OKC’s baby skyline always has a way of showing off.
-True life: I’m a lighter hoarder. Things i found out while moving. Anyone need a long neck lighter??

Annie

Bites of My Life

Coming back from such a fun weekend in LA was an adjustment, mentally and physically. Physically I was exhausted and sick on Monday, and mentally I was still in La La Land. The week however went by surprisingly fast. Come Friday I got to celebrate my sweet roommate’s engagement. If you need me to keep your engagement to your fiancé a secret, I’m up for hire! Pat on my back for keeping this huge secret while simultaneously psyching them out for two of the people closest to me. Maddie and Kenzie got engaged two weeks apart and I’m relieved that the cats are out of the bags.

-Brought a little bit of Beverly Hills home!
-Recent Brandless haul full of pantry staples and all the non-toxic cleaning products. Have you made the switch to non-toxic? I’ve read tons on how this simple switch can make a difference on your health and well-being. Brandless has great options for cheap!
-Lunch has looked a lot like this lately. I’ve had zero motivation to follow a recipe lately, so I’ll go to the store and buy all the veggies that a speaking to me. Roast some, keep some raw, throw it all over greens with avocado and call it good.
-Went to DryBar for their OKC grand opening on Friday and my stylist told me, “beware, you’re going to get hooked.” I’m not one to spend too much money on personal beauty. I get my hair cut once a year, rarely spend money on my nails, but one good blowout later and I signed up for the monthly DryBar membership!
-And just like that my sweet roommate Kenzie is off the market! So so happy for these two besties of mine and their recent engagements!
-Saturday morning baking feat: disgusting pajamas, bed head, this playlist and my favorite apron.
-If you follow me on instagram, you know what all these sprinkles led to. The “fun” recipe will be coming this week!
-Omelette for dinner and this combo is a win! Two eggs, golden tomatoes, roasted zucchini, green onions, almond milk mozzarella and sprouts!
-Celebrating six years of Take A Bite today!

Annie

Bites of My Life

I was talking with two friends this morning about how I always get “in my feelings” after traveling. Something about seeing another part of the country, how other people live, being inspired by new scenery, and have long flights on either end with little to do but just think. Well, it always gets me thinking. Coming off being in LA for one of my best friend’s (and twin in KKG) wedding, has me thinking do I move? When do I go back? I posted this image on instagram today with the caption “plotting my return.” Kind of kidding kind of serious. The feeling typically passes after I’ve gotten back into my routine and realize how great my life in Oklahoma City is, but still. Does anyone else feel like this after traveling? Looking back at one of my past bites posts after I was in SoCal last fall, shows I clearly had the same thoughts..

Not pictured below, but a huge part of last week was last minute scoring cheap tickets to see Hozier. I’ve been a fan since his beginning, but I’m wildly obsessed with his new album. I had looked up the set list prior and was excited by the list, but sad to see he wasn’t singing one of my favorites. To my surprise, in the encore, he mentioned that they were going to sing a song they had never sung live before. Low and behold they sung “To Make Noise,” and I squealed. Proof is saved in my music story highlight on instagram.

Then it was off to Los Angeles for a wedding weekend for the books. Kick off cocktails Thursday, followed by dinner at SUR (Vanderpump Rules anyone?). Brunch and exploring Venice on Friday and a welcome party at Catch LA. Then lunch at The Ivy Saturday and shopping in West Hollywood before the main event at the Beverly Hills Hotel. We were slumming it in an AirBnB with 14 people, yet still felt like a celebrity driving up and down Sunset Blvd. all weekend.

-Back on the smoothie game in a strong way. Last week’s recipe was tart cherries, frozen cauliflower, vanilla protein, water, then cinnamon, maca, ashwagandha, and ground flax for hormonal health.
-She’s twelve now I swear! JK she’s not even two yet, but seeing Elle moved into her “big girl” room made her instantly age 10 years on me!
-Since I was leaving Thursday of last week, I didn’t buy new groceries and was scraping out the last bits of groceries. I’ve been trying to stay stocked on staples like chickpeas, brown rice, and sweet potatoes which in turn resulted in a delicious clean out the fridge meal before leaving town.
-Made it to Beverly Hills for #ShesAlwaysBennett and headed straight for the Pink Palace on Sunset Blvd.
-Skipped the notable McCarthy salad (sorry Molly!!) for a classic club sandwich, poolside, to kick off the California eats! Needed carbs after hours without eating from traveling!
-Spent Friday bopping around Venice and Santa Monica. I’d spent about an hour in Venice last fall and was excited to go back. We did brunch at The Butcher’s Daughter which did not disappoint. Santa Monica however kind if did. Too busy and commercialized for what I had envisioned.
-Saturday brunch at The Ivy. An absolute must if you are going to LA. I ordered the grilled vegetable salad, but heard the burger is unbeatable.
-Maybe it was just because we were in Los Angeles, but felt boarder line celebrity getting my hair done and all dressed up! All the feels seeing one of my best friends get married in one of the best locations.
-Finished book #4 and #5 of 2019 over the weekend. Save your time on Girl, Stop Apologizing. I bought into Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis and would still recommend it, but GSA was not my cup of tea, turns out followers on instagram agreed after I shared my thoughts.

Annie

Salad bite: While researching the McCarthy’s salad to link it above, I found this article about Hollywood’s 5 Favorite Salads. Looks like I really do need to go back to LA to cross a few more off my list.

Bites of My Life

Let’s rewind to last Monday about 4:30pm when I was setting up for a work happy hour at our office. By 4:40pm I was in my car on the way to the emergency room. Short story a heavy glass plaque fell off a shelf onto my face slicing right above my lip open. Two emergency rooms and three stitches later and I was back in business. Why do things like this happen to me? Who remembers the mandoline slicer accident fall 2k16?

The week started interesting, but ended on a high with one of my best friend’s engagements! Such a fun night celebrating with friends from in and out of town. Now it’s a busy short week before I’m California bound for #ShesAlwaysBennett!

-Nothing like a Monday night trip to the ER…3 stitches later and we are back in business.
-This combo!!! Roasted cauliflower, chickpeas, spinach, cilantro, mint topped with tahini and dukkah.
-Lunch last week was another win! Slow roasted sweet potatoes, brown rice, Trader Joe’s cruciferous crunch with again, tahini and dukkah.
-#MaddieonCloud9
-Our sweetie Maddie is finally engaged and we loved getting to be a small part of the day!
-Sunday turned into a massive spring cleaning day that involved me pulling everything out of my closet, 4 bags of giveaway items, a trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond and Target and then back to Target, and the result of a very organized closet and under bed situation.

Annie

No April Fool’s joke will ever beat last year’s.

Bites of My Life

Point blank last week was an unexpected whirlwind of sadness, busyness, then heading straight to the airport to hop on a plane for an equally busy (but extremely fun) wedding weekend.

-Really savoring my new morning routine. It goes something like this: a super early workout, hot tea, breakfast, time with the big man and taking at least 30 minutes to get my mind right before the madness of the day. Sometimes I only get 5 minutes, but I’m trying to make this routine a habit.
-My beautiful, always polished, and put together Gaga. I don’t even know who these two babies are, but I love this photo of her!
-Christmas time at my favorite place!
-Going going gone for #GoingGoingVaughan.
-Loving on my London gal this weekend!
-Another addition to my friends and I’s collection of matching pajamas from all these weddings!
-My first college friend is now a married woman!
-Fun fact: one of my mom’s besties, introduced me to my bestie, Margaret, before we even got to college. 7 years later and here we are at her wedding!
-Sunday night weekend detox = bone broth with leftover shredded chicken, clove of garlic, squeeze of lemon, turmeric, black pepper, red pepper flakes and pinch of salt. Read more about bone broth and it’s benefits here.

Annie

Cookie bite: In honor of #NationalCookieDay today, I’m dreaming of these Christmas Cookies from last year!