Bites of My Life

AUUUGGGUUUSSSTTT HOW? July you speed demon! Anyway, I’m fine with it, I guess…Perks of adult life is not having the return of the school year looming over you.

This past week was a standard week. Just working in anticipation of the first annual BBR (big blue reunion) with my college besties at Lake LBJ! It was a perfect weekend of junk food, time on the lake, girl talk, catching up and just getting to all be back together now that we are strewn across Oklahoma and Texas. The weekend came and went wayyyy to soon.

-With a lake trip in sight, Perfect CCCs and Banana Bread were my contributions. TBH I forget how good my banana bread is until I make it. It seriously is the best! I love making two loaves and freezing one for a rainy day.
-A very Dallas night out at the swanky Park House deserved to be documented. However their no social media ruled, resulted in a shameless bathroom selfie.
-Easily my favorite easy week night meal.
-I loved opening my door and sharing my apartment tour last week. Thank you for the overwhelming response to my little oasis.
-Big ups to Marge for the custom visors. Sucker for a party favor!
-Love being with my health food freak Claire! She served us Siete chips, cashew queso and gluten free waffles all weekend!
-First and not last Big Blue Reunion! Got all of our college best friends together for a lake weekend to reunite.
-Sun setting on Lake LBJ!
-Got home from the lake and needed some serious greens after all the tortilla chips and White Claws consumed. I tried the Mint Chip smoothie from Brewed + Pressed and now I have to figure out how I can budget an $11 smoothie because that will not be the last time I order it.

Annie

Bite of toast: A bop for your first full week of August!

Bites of My Life

After being home in OKC for 5 days I was craving to get back on schedule and in the swing of things in Dallas. Last week consisted of catching up on shows (Big Little Lies, The Bachelorette, The Hills: New Beginnings (anyone else?) and Southern Charm), dinner with a good friend, happy hour, workouts at one of my favorite spots (including their pop-up at Hotel Zaza), a pool day and back to back weekend nights out with friends. TBH I’m exhausted, but here’s to another week and the last week of July (wahhhhhhh)!

-Back on eggs around here, but only if they are pasture raised. My friend Libby wrote this post a while ago where she goes over which eggs are best.
-Remade my 2 ingredient shakshuka and shot it to put into a recipe post! Stay tuned for the details this week!
-Obsessing over this healthy and easy week night meal. Posted the recipe for this Verde Chicken + Black Bean Cauliflower Rice Bowl!
-New RX Bar alert! Chocolate Banana Walnut is like banana bread in protein bar form. I found it at my local Sprouts and need to go back to stock up.
-Steered away from food for Thursday’s post and it got an overwhelming response! Are y’all telling me something??
-Happy Hour with two friends from two different walks of life at a neighborhood spot I’d been dying to try. The $6 HH cocktail special will bring me back soon.
-A slow start to Friday morning with a DIY matcha (I’m loving this kind right now), 1/2 avo, rainier cherries and the new issue of Bon App.
-Dinner Friday with old friends at a Dallas hole-in-the-wall pizza spot. Louie’s has been featured on Diner’s Drive-Ins and Dives (yes I searched for and watched the episode before we went to dinner) and known for their thin cracker crust pizza and martinis!
-A neon spotted at a new bar on Greenville that was too perfect not to get a picture of.

Annie

Bites of My Life

Monday of last week feels like ages ago and the 4th seems like at least a month ago. Does anyone else feel like that was the longest holiday weekend ever? Not that that is a bad thing by any means. After a few classes at a new workout studio (that I loved) and doubled up happy hours, I packed and got on a flight for the 4th in D.C. My oldest friend Anna and her bf Wade (also my very good friend), are officially permanent residents in the District. Anna and I lived together there 5 summers ago. We had such a great time exploring new places, visiting some of my old faves, eating all the things and running in to other D.C. friends. You can see everywhere we went saved in my “DC” highlight on instagram stories.

-I’ve been trying all the Dallas workouts. Pilates, spin, surf (yes) and now a workout inspired from skiing. TBH I’ve been a little underwhelmed with all the classes I’ve tried. Something is just off with each one. I tried Powder Heart last week and then went three days straight. It’s basically a HIIT workout, but with a twist, which keeps my attention. I’m signed up for class this morning and I can’t wait.
-When new friends text you to come over for piña coladas, you know they are good friends!
-Friend happy hour part 2 in true Dallas fashion with ranch waters and chips and guac!
-Patriotic in-flight outfit because when traveling on the 4th, what else are you supposed to wear?
-After arriving in The District, it was already mid-afternoon. We did late afternoon drinks and an early dinner at Lucky Buns before watching fireworks from Anna and Wade’s roof. Wade and I went halfsies on the Bun Mi burger and the El Jefe. Insanely good. This was just one of the great spots we went to in their Adam’s Morgan neighborhood.
-This picture is technically from our afternoon in Alexandria, but the patriotic colored row homes were too cute not to share.
-At home bagels and lox. 1. to avoid spending money on every meal. 2. because yum.
-Dolcezza gelato is a DC staple and when it felt like 100 degrees, ice cream was necessary. I went half coffee and cookies, half blueberry lavender (yum)!
-Woke up Saturday to walk of Friday’s pasta off and I and intentionally went in the direction of the cutest book store I used to love to go to. I went more for the brunch, but still.
-Le Diplomate is a favorite by so many. Since we had all been here a few times before, we decided to go off the grid, and go big and order the seafood platter. Worth every penny and stare we got.
-Had such a great long weekend in D.C, but was glad to get back early Sunday morning to have the day to get organized and to have one last indulgence before the weekend was over. Crossed Oishii sushi off my Dallas eats list! You have to get the cesar roll if you go.

Annie

p.s. I snuck in two recipe posts last week! Don’t miss my Mayo-Less Salmon Salad and Quick Pickled Red Onions.

Bites of My Life

Wahhhh May how did this happen??? The end of April ended swiftly with lots of April showers. OKC was flooded last week with all of the rain. May came in full force with a ton of exciting news and happenings. Most exciting being I’m officially an aunt x2! Sister and John welcomed sweet baby Hallie to our fam on Friday! The same day I got the news that I got a job in Dallas (more details to come)!! It was an emotional day to say the least. Last week also included trying a new spot, a home tour, happy hour with mom and dad, drinks with girl friends, and a high school friends graduation party!

-New TJs product alert! Huge thumbs up for the jerk flavored plantain chips. Average consensus on the watermelon jerky. A+ on the packaging, B+ on the actual taste.
-This after dinner snack is on serious repeat. I’ve been craving a dessert element after a meal a lot lately. I’m trying to combat that by doing a spoonful of almond butter, chia seeds, coconut flakes, gogi berries and cacao nibs. I fill up a little soy sauce bowl I have with a sprinkle of each and it helps trick me into thinking I’m getting a sweet treat.
-New food and drink menu is officially out at The Jones! Let me highly recommend the saturn cocktail!
-Ate this incredibly easy stir fry for dinners all last week. Just shaved brussels, red onion, mushrooms and kale, sautéed in ghee with coconut aminos and sesame seeds.
-Orange skies at 9pm means nader season in Oklahoma. We didn’t have an actual tornado, but some crazy storms left the sky looking like it!
-Eclectic new spot in town, which will hands down be my go to until I move. Tried Red Rooster with mom and dad Thursday night.
-We added another baby girl to our family on Friday. Big sis Elle is proud to announce her baby sister, Hallie Margaret Krenger.
-Brandy ice’s with Aunt Chloe to celebrate being aunts x2!
-Woke up at 5:45 on Saturday. These very early weekend mornings are starting to become a thing…anyway I took advantage of the time and overripe bananas to make a vegan banana bread. I winged it and the bread turned out alright. Still enjoyed it with a thick layer of almond butter on the top.
-Bootie call at the Quail Creek Home Tour.
-Back to Red Rooster for their cheeseboard I was coveting, but couldn’t sell mom and dad on. Thank goodness I invested in friends who invest in cheeseboards with me.
-Home with Hallie!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Wowza. Last week was mmm emotional? Exhausting? Amazing? Emotional because I decided I am moving. Exhausting because crying a lot is exhausting and realizing I have to find a job, find an apartment, and find someone to take my current job is stressful. Amazing because despite the emotion and the exhaustion, I felt liberated all week by my decision and the support around it. And because it was a truly great Easter weekend with friends and family in town.

-Funfetti Cake recipe on the blog last week! Perfect for any celebration!
-New favorite restaurant/coffee shop/place to work is now open! Stitch opened right down from my office and next door to The Jones two weeks ago and I’m going to soak up as much time there as I can!
-Gal Pal Book Club #2! We just finished Girl, Stop Apologizing. We all did not like it…I would still recommend Girl, Wash Your Face, but take a pass on GSA.
-Super easy and nutritious sheet pan week night meal made a “lite bite” appearance. Recipe here.
-Hi! I’m moving to Dallas in June! Deciding if I’m going to write a post on the why… If you are in OKC and looking for a creative job in hospitality marketing, apply here.
-The go-to when I have nothing to eat. Check out my recipe for healthy fried rice. This time I used cauliflower rice and kimchi!
-The whole Social Order crew in one place for our Vol. 4 shoot with The Scout Guide!
-Orange, was I glad I got to go the the first Thunder playoff game, because our future in the series is not looking so bright.
-Spent Saturday morning judging a cake baking competition with the dream team. All to benefit the local charity SixTwelve. A group I wish I would have gotten involved in sooner. If you are in OKC, check them out!
-Really hoping mom’s table setting genes rub off on me when it comes time to host holidays for family in the future. She kills it every time!
-Ready for sister’s little peep to join our girl squad! She is due in a week and a half!
-Aunt Chloe came through with Easter dessert this year! Kathleen and I usually always make dessert (sometimes two), but we loved passing this torch to Chlo if it meant Lemon Cloud Pie!

Annie