Bites of My Life

What a week in America. This was my first time voting as a Texas resident and my third presidential election to get to vote in. I got to the polls right at 7:00 am to cast my vote Tuesday morning. I left feeling so proud, regardless of the results, to live in this country. I watched church online yesterday morning, and the pastor closed his sermon saying we should all pray by name our new President-elect Joe Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, President Donald Trump, and Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Pray for their work ahead, for peace and healing, and for the future of our country.

I was lucky to pair the heavy week with good food and better friends. Chili night to watch election results, mid-week ramen from my favorite place, lunches with friends, and one of my best friends birthdays. Big week, good week!

-Monday morning matcha ritual. Always tired and always need something good in my body.
-Power blazer for election day. I kept calling this my Annie for VP outfit.
-First time voting in Texas!
-My “co-worker/work bestie” Ellie at my co-working space made homemade hot chocolate and her sister made homemade marshmallows for the election. I was happy to be treated to leftovers on Wednesday!
-Stopped in Flower Child last week for a social media post I’m doing with them and became hooked with this order: grilled chicken, Indian spiced cauliflower, and yuzu Brussels sprouts.
-Leftover Wabi House ramen upgraded with an added soft boiled egg at home.
-I’ve been dressing up as food or drink since forever. It wasn’t Halloween, but in honor of my bestie Margaret’s “M” themed birthday party, I showed up as a Mambo Taxi.
-East Hampton lettuce wraps are all kinds of good. Their November sandwich the Augusta in honor of The Masters is equally good.
-Trader Joe’s did it again. Cauli crisps are my new must buy. They just need to increase the bag size…

Annie

Netflix bite: I was always too young to watch Dawson’s Creek when it first aired, but now that it is on Netflix I spent my low key weekend binging season one. And for a tiny dose of Christmas and a happy-go-lucky movie, Holidate checked both boxes!

Are you joining me in No Spend November this month? It was so interesting and felt rewarding to be extra conscious of my spending last week. Here are the details if you are interested.

Bites of My Life

A busy last week of October, but a great one leading up to an even better weekend. My dad and sisters and I had been working behind the scenes to plan a surprise brunch for my mom’s 60th. She was shocked and had the best day. Bonus that I got to be home for Halloween with my nieces. Missed dressing up, but adult Halloween isn’t so bad. Oklahoma City got hit with a wild ice storm, so my visit came with a power-less stay at my parents, but still great being with fam. Countdown to Thanksgiving with my whole fam including oldest sis and brother-in-law is officially on.

-First Verde Turkey Chili of the season!
-Bar by night Old Monk has pivoted due to Covid and is now open in the mornings as a coffee shop. If you are in the Knox-Henderson Dallas area, stop by for a seriously good latte.
-Pumpkin Green Smoothie on repeat for Halloween week.
-Live music made its return by way of a drive-in concert. Bundled up to see my faves Mt. Joy at an outdoor drive-in concert.
-Tables set at Bradford House for the perfect birthday brunch.
-Successful surprise brunch for mom’s 60th!
-Home for Hallie-ween.
-New Liquid IV delivery just in time for the season where it is so hard to drink water. The colder months have me on a coffee and tea binge and my water input depletes.
-When you impulse buy a ton of stuff from H&M expecting to return some and it all ends up working out…

Annie

Saving bite: I’m doing a round 2 of No Spend November this year. Who’s joining?

Bites of My Life

Thankful, grateful, blessed. << my feelings coming off Thanksgiving mega week. I mentioned this to friends and family a couple of times in the past few days, but I was slightly dreading my extra long week at home. Dreading may not be the right word, but I was weary of being out of my routine and living out of a suitcase for 9 days. When it came down to my last couple days at home I didn’t want to leave. Having my whole family under one roof (mom, dad, sisters, brother-in-laws, nieces, even Gabe) made for the best time at home. I’m happy to be back in Dallas and to make fun holiday plans, but I’m also eagerly counting down to being back in OKC for Christmas! This time of year just craves time with family and oldest friends!

-The makings of my banana cream pie included a pie crust rolled out on crushed graham crackers. My contribution to our work Thanksgiving! I used Cook’s Illustrated recipe.
-Best Breakfast Casserole got a little photo update!
-It’s not Thanksgiving morning without a slice of our Pumpkin Bread while watching the Macy’s parade.
-Thankful for my momma, sisters and Hallie (and dad and brother-inn-laws and Elle)!
-Picture of the big meal or the hours in the kitchen wasn’t worth it.
-Are you a one slice of pie person or a sampler plate? We had 8 pies and I sampled 4 :)
-No Spend November came to an end on Black Friday with an impulse buy of 1/2 off OPI nail polish and restock of my favorite lip color.
-Wrote our letter to Santa with the cutest kit from All Good Things.
-One last, but important event of the holiday weekend included Hallie’s baptism!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Happy Thanksgiving week! I’m SO excited it’s here. I’m lucky to get to be home for a whole week leading up to the big day. After a great weekend just hanging with my mom and dad, going to Norman for gameday and starting to prep and shop for Thanksgiving dishes yesterday, I’m ready for it to get here. These few days leading up will be just as fun. We have a work Thanksgiving today and a day of meetings tomorrow, so the days are sure to go by fast. Oldest sis Claire and her husband Mike get here Tuesday and then the holiday can officially begin!

-Swapped pumpkin for peppermint mocha in my bulletproof and it was everything!
-Decked the halls a little early! Love how my little apartment looks at Christmas.
-Best time of the year, is when this is back on the shelves. Best dairy-free egg nog IMO!
-Makeshift shakshuka in a saucepan lol. I had to throw away my 8in frying pan and was craving this dish. Improvise, improvise, improvise!
-Has anyone else had an opal apple? I couldn’t resist the yellow color! I sliced mine and ate with pumpkin pie spice on top.
-Kappa roots run deep, and I loved getting to spend lunch with KKG Dallas Alum including the star of the show, my friend Maegan from The Baker Mama! She was OU KKG!
-Home just in time to help put up Elle’s Christmas tree!
-Saturday’s in Norman >
-http://www.takeabiteblog.com/blog/2016/6/20/cherry-peach-pie kicked off the holiday baking. I swear by my recipe!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Literally only have food to show for last week. Are we surprised, no? But I promise I did more than eat. Seem appropriate since November is the eating month of all months. T-8 days until my favorite holiday!

-Shared my Mother Earth bowl at-home hack on Instagram last week!
-Has anyone else bought the corn on the cob popcorn from Trader Joe’s? It’s just popcorn, but the fact that it pops off the cob is just too fun.
-It has been coooold in Dallas. Once the weather changes my tastebuds instantly crave oatmeal. I legit only eat it in the winter.
-Mom came down for a quick two-day trip! We had THE most amazing meal at Gemma. Highly recommend. The dried fig and gouda biscuits and baked oysters were unreal.
-Eggs, coffee and the Today Show with mom at my apartment, followed by a walk on the Katy Trail was the best little morning.
-We got zero pictures together while she was here, but I give you yet another photo of the food we ate. We split the California Turkey sandwich at Bird Bakery and I requested some of their GF crackers. I don’t know why but they are so good!
-Drove to Fort Worth Saturday morning to see two of my best friends who were in town for a wedding. We ended up at Austin City Taco and the Migas taco was phenom.
-New art to brighten up my little white apartment.
-Wabi House is the best ramen in town! I went Friday and had a little bit of broth and noodles leftover. I beefed up the leftovers with a soft boiled egg, mushrooms and corn!

Annie

Thanksgiving bites: If you are planning your menu this week let me point out my Homemade Pie Crust I swear by! If pie isn’t your thing or too daunting to make, these Pecan Pie Bars are perfect! And it’s not Thanksgiving morning at our house without a piece of Breakfast Casserole and Pumpkin Bread while the Macy’s parade is on!