Bites of My Life

Week 1 down, week 2 commence. Last week was great. I got in my mojo with work, working out, cooking, eating out etc. Then trotted up to OKC for the night and then back for a weekend in Dallas. The transition has been easy, and considering I have the same job has made things that much easier. The biggest difference has just been the energy and rhythm of the city. It’s fast paced and there are so many more opportunities of things to do during the week. And I love that.

-Monday night bachelorette night that included the worst episode ever, but a delicious and easy meal that was on repeat all last week.
-Beverly’s: place I’d been dying to try since I decided to move. Lived up to my hype!
-Easy weekday lunch to throw together with fridge staples. Mix of salami and prosciutto, fruit of choice, hummus and veggies (I’m hooked jicama right now)
-I normally wear a solid color t-shirt and jeans to work everyday. For some reason I moved and haven’t put on a pair of pants yet. That sounded weird, but it’s been dresses and skirts all day everyday.
-Checked out a really really cute spot on Thursday that is a coffee shop and non-toxic nail salon hybrid. I met up with my friend Molly who inspired me to write this post.
-Quick trip back up to OKC Friday to celebrate one of my oldest and closest friends getting engaged!
-The visit lined up perfectly with dad’s 61st birthday. Loved getting to make him a birthday breakfast. On the menu - Texas Breakfast Tacos. Naturally. It is all Texas everything these days.
-It’s a toss up on who will get more use out of dad’s putting game.
-Back in Dallas Saturday night and crossed off a highly recommended tex-mex spot, E Bar.
-The Defined Dish reposted about this asian-inspired chicken salad the other day and I immediately saved it to make for future meals. I made the full recipe to prep for lunches this week.
-Christened the Dallas kitchen with it’s first batch of Perfect CCCs. I also updated the photos on the recipe post, so give them a look-see!
-New city, new blonder hair?? I have only professionally colored my hair once, but my blonde is getting duller and duller and I miss the brightness it used to have. I stumbled into finding an angel of a hairdresser who did my hair in her apartment Sunday evening. She ended up balayaging my hair and I love the way it turned out. This picture is obviously the before not the after.

Annie

Did you see the top 5 places I went my first week in Dallas?

The 5 Best Places I Went My First Week In Dallas

Hi from Dallas, TX. I’ve officially been here a week. It’s only been 7 days, but I have hit the ground hard on sights, restaurants, coffee shops, and my favorite, grocery stores. I will be working day-to-day from a co-working space starting next week, so I took advantage of my extra flexibility this week to bounce around from coffee shops. I also have a great little community already in place here, so I loved spending my first few days meeting up with different friends for dinner, workout classes, long walks and coffee dates.

Without further ado, here are the 5 best places I made it to my first week in Dallas (typing this reminded me of “the fast 5 stories that you need to hear…” The Morning Toast anyone??).

Beverly’s Bistro & Bar
Beverly’s opened in March, and it has been on my radar from the moment I decided to move. I did dinner with two friends here, and even on a Tuesday it was hustling and bustling. Oh wait maybe only in Oklahoma are restaurants dead on a Tuesday… It’s decor and branding hint at The Beverly Hills Hotel, but the food leans more french and jewish inspired.

Once in town, I caught wind of mixed reviews, however we loved every minute of it. Our order included an Aperol spritz and a spicy mezcal cocktail to start. The burrata with pea pesto and radish and lemony shishito peppers (a special) to start. The catch of the day (red snapper) and chicken schnitzel with fries for the entrees. And key lime pie to end.

Verbena Parlor + Social House
Vebena is toxin-free, fume-free, nail bar & cafe located in Uptown. They have a cafe/coffee shop in the front area with a nail salon in the back. It’s aesthetic and fumes are not like your average nail salon. I went for a matcha, but I can’t wait to go back for a manicure.

I met Molly of Molly on the Move here for coffee yesterday. Her blog has been my self proclaimed guide to Dallas! Molly and I met back in the fall and her energy is hard to not be friends with. She recently went full time with blogging so she gets the remote life. We met at Verbena to catch up and work a bit. The cafe space has a handful of tables and multiple outlets.

Katy Trail Ice House
This is a bit basic as it is a Dallas staple, but I had never been until this past weekend. It seemed fitting to kick off my first weekend in town with a Summer Beer (Blue Moon, Deep Eddy Lemon and lemonade) at one of the best patios in Dallas. Katy Trail Ice House is a beer garden and restaurant located right off the well-known Katy Trail. It was packed with 20-somethings having themselves a Saturday.

Central Market
I moved to the holy land of grocery stores. And I couldn’t be happier about it. I went to Central Market twice this past week purely for fun with no list in hand. I walked the aisles over and over sampling all the things (the bread!!). I walked out with simply a case of Waterloo and protein bars, but I can’t wait to stock up on specialty dips and cheeses and their homemade tortillas.

Honor Bar
Another “basic” choice, but a Dallas staple located in Highland Park Village. Honor Bar is a Hillstone concept so you know it’s going to be good and to the point food. They also have my favorite salad on the menu, so I will be back sooner rather than later. Especially since they gave me a gift card after having a small run in with peanut oil (Oops for them, worked out for me. Disclosure I was fine)!

Mom and dad and I had dinner here last Friday while they were still in town. We had just finished unpacking and getting me moved in. We enjoyed a really good meal and good conversation. I see more great nights at Honor Bar in my future.

Cheers to these honorable mentiones. SculptHouse, Class Studios, and The Katy Trail for working out, Javier’s, Little Katana, and The Porch for dining, Halcyon and La La Land Kind Cafe for coffee and Royal Blue Grocery for you guessed it, groceries.

I have a long list of Dallas spots to make it to, but I’m open to all suggestions. Drop your DFW recs in the comments!

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.