Bites of My Life

Coming off a few days in Dallas last week, a few days in OKC, then off to Grand Lake to celebrate my best friend Maddie’s bachelorette aka Camp Cloud. A nod to her future last name (Cloud) and I just love a good theme so we took the camp thing and ran hard with it. Ending a busy week while simultaneously preparing for another one. My mom and sister are coming to Dallas later this week before I head back to OKC for Labor Day and the return of OU football!

-Really really trying to read before bed. This incredible book helps!
-Fresh chop…finally.
-Checked into the Tucker Hotel (my parents) last Tuesday for work in OKC before heading off on Maddie’s bachelorette. How amazing is this bed frame? Here’s the link if you love it too.
-Is it really a party unless there is a balloon garland these days? Actually much easier to make than you may think with the help of these kits.
-Perks of bachelorette trips is getting all your best friends together.
-Camper gifts thanks to Liquid IV, Etsy and Kate and Co. And if you order Liquid IV, use code _ANNIETUCKER for 20% off your order).
-Camper and counselor aka bride and maid of honor!
-Build-your-own breakfast sandwiches per the bride-to-be’s request and “Maddie’s Mimosa Bar” thanks to her cute future Mother-in-Law!
-Absolutely tooting my own horn with this scrappy Sunday dinner that turned out to be enough for lunches this week too. Posted step-by-step stories on how I made it over on instagram.

Annie

p.s. Did you see last week’s recipe post? This 3-Bean Salad is vegan friendly and perfect for lunches.
p.s.s. I’m doing September Whole 30 starting next Tuesday. Anyone else? I’m working on a post rounding up Whole 30 recipes I already have, but can sense more coming to the blog this upcoming month.

Bites of My Life

I had the realization that I’m going to be away from Dallas the next four weekends. After a sheer panic I calmed down knowing it’s all for good reasons. This weekend is Maddie’s bachelorette, followed by Labor Day/first OU game, a wedding and a work event. I honestly just love my time in Dallas and don’t like the idea of being gone so much. Just when I thought summer was the busy season and ready for the structure of fall, the new season hit me with it’s craziness.

-First visit to Flower Child and I’m hooked. Mother Earth bowl because it’s what you do.
-Cheers to two full months in Dallas and having these friends to eat my way through the city with. We went to the hot new Te Deseo on Tuesday. We loved it, but pro-tip: sit in the bar or courtyard if you can.
-3-Bean salad packed with vegan protein was prepped for lunches last week and is coming to the blog tomorrow!
-Pressed Juicery had it’s grand opening last week and I shamelessly waited in line at 7AM to claim my free item. I have bought their juices before (which are great), but had never tried a “freeze” until now. Being that the ingredients are so minimal I didn’t even feel weird eating it for breakfast. It 100% lives up to the hype.
-I had big plans to make this for dinners last week. After busy work days I had zero energy to even boil water so a big salad using the pasta’s ingredients did the job.
-Working on my matcha guide for Dallas. I’ve heard great things about Drip, but there matcha didn’t stand up…
-I was co-maid of honor for both of my sisters, but being maid of honor for one of my best friends is really special. Maddie was in Dallas this weekend to wedding dress shop and invited me along. I feel incredibly honored to have been part of the process. Seeing her firsthand in the dress (she said yes!!!) is something I’ll never forget. It’s a stunner. Celebratory sparklers at lunch to honor the day!
-Followed by rounds and rounds of ranch waters with her dress shopping squad.
-My contribution to Hatch Chili “fam” dinner. A group of some new friends here in Dallas got together Sunday night to cook up as many Central Market Hatch Chili items as we could. There were hatch chili tortilla chips with hatch chili guac and hatch chili sausage for appetizers, hatch chili burgers with hatch chili pepper jack, hatch chili marinated beer can chicken, my hatch chili corn succotash and broccolini grilled with hatch chilis. Finished off with cheesecake…no hatch chilis involved there.

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

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!

Bites of My Life

October get outta here! Pinch me, but was it not just April? I’m confused. Not mad, but confused. October is set to be fast and furious, so I’m sure in a blink it will already be November. Ended September starting the Fall Reset (which I’m loooooving), working a lot (ugh), and then off to east Texas for my bestie’s bachelorette. Another hustling week then crossing the border again for the infamous OU/Texas weekend!

-I spoke about the Fall Reset I’m doing a bit in last week’s post, but it officially kicked off last Monday. Woke up for a great workout coached by Kandyce and followed it with a delicious Reset Smoothie recipe by Blakely. Packed with pumpkin, spinach and turmeric!
-Another Fall Reset meal were these Veggie Fajita Tacos on siete tortillas I ate for dinner each night.
-And one more —> this Reset Avocado Toast was 2 pieces of Trader Joe’s Gluten Free bread with 1/2 an smashed avocado, turmeric, black pepper and a little cayenne (so satisfying).
-Big night for The Social Order crew, named 25 out of 50 Fastest Growing Private Companies in OKC!
-The prettiest house and sunset to host Camp Marge!
-Mornings at the lake >
-My very first college friend and bestie is getting married!
-Always taking pictures of food even at the lake. But this avocado chicken salad had to be documented. Just avocado, a little greek yogurt, cilantro, red onion, s&p and shredded chicken! Kudos to margaret’s MOH for planning the best bach weekend eats!
-Camp Marge campers all in for our girl!

Annie