Bites of My Life

There is nothing better than a good fall weekend. The temperatures are still warm during the day, but it’s cooling off in the mornings in evenings in Dallas. Perfect for a walk in the neighborhood to get a decaf almond milk latte and scope out everyone’s pumpkin loot on their porches. Followed by an afternoon of college football and food to match. Last week and weekend were some of those really great fall-filled days.

Upcoming this weekend is one of my favorite fall weekends of the year, OU vs. Texas! Wishing everyone good fall days ahead and boomer sooner.

-Last week’s Weekday Rice Bowl made its way to TAB, did you see it?
-Kiwis and pears are my “it” fruits rn.
-Fresh off my trip to Vail and more importantly Mountain Standard, their insane pimento cheese with bacon jam was still high on my mind. Credit to Peter for opting we try making our own when I suggested buying some. We halved this recipe.
-Packed our bacon jam with Kuby’s pimento cheese and picnicked at the Dallas Arboretum for one of their Cool Thursday concerts.
-After talking about it for months, I finally made it to Il Bracco thanks to my trusty eating partner. Easily slid into my top 5 favorite restaurants in Dallas.
-Skip the last drink, order dessert instead. A trusty new motto that included some delish Italian cheesecake.
-Pigs in a blanket, never not a crowd favorite.
-Smash burgers on the flat top and a revolving door of friends watching football on Saturday, was a Saturday well spent.
-There is no pumpkin bread better than my family’s pumpkin bread, but I had high hopes for The Defined Dish’s grain-free recipe. I was surprisingly able to salvage it from this burnt top, but it was not my fave.

Annie

Bites of My Life

I started Whole30 last week and it’s off to a smashing start. Lots of Defined Dish meals are being made and one week in has me feeling great. My sweet little nephew finally got to go home from the NICU and my nieces came down to Dallas for a visit. Praise! I laid low over the weekend, binging Modern Love season 2 and My Unorthodox Life. I’m looking forward to rolling into Labor Day weekend, the start of football season, and a getaway with my best friends.

-Kicked off Whole30 last Monday! An oldie but goodie W30 approved lunch made its appearance.
-Fleurs! Technically from two weeks ago now, but still looking pretty a week later.
-This Korean Ground Beef and Kimchi meal came together in under 15 minutes and was so satisfying. God bless The Defined Dish while on Whole30.
-Paleo & Whole30 Carne Asada Bowl was excellent and full of protein and greens.
-My nephew is hoooooome! After 7 long weeks in the Nicu, Jack is home with his parents. I can’t wait to get to Austin to hold and squeeze him!!!
-A short visit from this cutie and her little sister.
-Crying pre-bawling at Season 2 Episode 1 of Modern Love. I loved season 1, but this particular episode hit home and absolutely rocked me. Yes I sobbed, but I still recommend it.
-The Defined Dish’s Salsa Verde Shredded Beef Bowls was a wonderful Sunday Whole30 meal that concluded one week down. I did a strip steak in the crock-pot on low all day and it fell apart. Highly rec this meal W30 or not.
-Sunday self-care = an evening foot massage at Dallas’ favorite, Yaya Foot Spa. $30 for a 40-minute incredible massage that then put me into the deepest Sunday night sleep.

Annie

Bites of My Life

In the midst of crazy plans and travel and feeling a bit all over the place, I’m starting Whole30 today. September is a randomly big month for Whole30. I have a post about it here. I’m starting a week early because I really just can’t wait to get started. It’s a personal preference, but I never feel better than when I commit to Whole30. My schedule is calming down a bit the next few weeks, and no time like the present to try and reign it in and get a little healthier. Does anyone else feel a little bleh after the summer? I’m loving the back to school back to schedules and routine energy, so I’m channeling that.

Outside of Whole30, last week looked like this: celebrating a best friend about to leave us in Dallas, getting back to cooking, very sad news of a friend from college passing after a long battle with cancer, busy work days, a quiiiiick trip back to OKC, more weekend celebrations, and sleeping like a darn rock last night after it all.

-Jazz night and martinis to kick off Olivia’s Dallas Farewell Tour.
-NYT Cooking never fails. This Ginger and Dill Salmon with Citrus Salad really turned a bad day around.
-Love getting to see my friend and hairdresser Nick. He brings good conversation and good hair. I got a toner this time in between highlights. I can luckily get away with only highlighting my hair 2 times a year.
-Pulled into OKC for a short stay, and pregamed dinner with cocktails by dad and a 10-minute Obé abs class. Chaotic energy at its finest.
-The abs class was washed away with this amazing peach tart from Frida.
-Back to back weekends for Anna! Her big day is officially a month away!
-Can’t wait to wear these Zara semi-flare jeans all fall. I wore them out Saturday, but oh buddy, I cannot with jeans until it’s at least 75 degrees outside.
-This little one kept me out so late, but worth every hour to celebrate some of her “lasts” in Dallas before she moves to Austin.
-A perfect Dallas Sunday is spent at Katy Trail Ice House in the afternoon.

Annie

Bites of My Life

I’ve had this discussion with a few friends, and myself, over the past week, but when I’m back home in Oklahoma City, I’m hoooome. And when I’m in Dallas, I present and focused on my life in Dallas. It’s hard for me to combine the two. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing, but if a friend in Dallas messages me about something going on there while I’m in Oklahoma City, it’s hard me for to even respond and visa versa.

I’m not actively trying to block one or the other out while I’m in a certain location, it just is what it is. When I’m home I want to be hanging at home with my parents, cooking dinner, enjoying time in the OKC office, going on walks with friends there. I love love love Dallas, but it was hard coming back this time for some reason.

This lengthy intros purpose was to disclose why there wasn’t a bites post last week. I got home from California late Sunday night and woke up super early to get to Oklahoma for the week. Most personal to-dos fell to the wayside while I was there.

-I love my desk and space at The Slate, but I started off the week (two weeks ago) at an old favorite spot. It felt good to change up the work environment and get creative juices flowing in different surroundings.
-Up bright and early to watch women’s gymnastics live!
-My favorite Obe 10-minute class is this bedtime stretch. I do it right in my bed which is about the most relaxing thing ever.
-Checked in to the cutest Coachman’s Inn in the heart of Carmel. Last fall when I was here, we stayed in a fabulous house in the Pebble Beach area, but I really enjoyed being in Carmel this time. Being able to wake up and walk to get coffee and then to the beach was unmatched. The complimentary breakfast and 4 pm wine and cheese hour at our little inn was also a big seller!
-First night of the Cody wedding festivities was the welcome party at Spanish Bay!
-Scoping out my future Carmel cottage…
-Finally made it to Mission Ranch after not making the cut last fall. They don’t take reservations so you have to get in line early to grab a seat at Clint Eastwood’s restaurant. The food isn’t groundbreaking but it’s a fun experience!
-The most fun weekend with really great friends, all for The Codys!

-After travel delays, I got home from California late Sunday, but arrived to my new Lake PJs! I haven’t taken them off since… I have these from Lake too. I wear a medium but do an extra long in the pant set. I wash them and then stretch and hang them dry to keep the length.
-Mom and dads, where the salted, seasoned, and variety of cocktail nuts never run dry. I posted this on IG and laughed at how many people said the same thing about their parents.
-No Whole Foods compares to the OKC Whole Foods. I will barely step foot in the Dallas WFs.
-Came in town earlier than planned for a funeral :( and stayed the week for work. I quickly got roped into doing press for the new restaurant our group is opening 😂.
-Chef Annie in the house. Check out my recent Instagram for all the eats and dishes I made last week.
-I attempted to recreate a cocktail we had in Austin at Cafe No Se for an early birthday celebration for Kathleen. The Salty Bee: gin, lemon, soda, salted honey.
-Fry Day on steroids at Spark. We had a photoshoot Friday and I ate double my body weight in our addicting crinkly cut fries. Opening sooooo soon.
-Happy hour with some of my besties in mom and dad’s dreamy new backyard.
-Happy 32nd to my sis!

Annie

Podcast bite: I was on Action City OKC last week. Catch my episode about growing up baking, the start of Take A Bite, my career in marketing for restaurants and more!

Bites of My Life

Coming off such a great week with family and friends. Claire had her sweet baby boy Jack Morgan prematurely two and half weeks ago. It was a shock and a very scary few days. While he’s growing and getting stronger in the nicu, Kathleen and I spent a few days in Austin last week, getting to hang with the new parents! I won’t get to meet my nephew for a couple of months, but what a day it will be when I finally get to! Unpacked from Austin to re-pack for the lake with my college besties. We’re on year 3 of our annual lake trip, and I’m so thankful for the dedicated time outside of weddings and bachelorette parties that we choose to spend together.

-What a week for television. Millionaires are going to space and the start of the summer Olympics. I’m a Today Show and NBC loyal fan and have always been. Catch me more excited about diving and gymnastics than The Bachelorette the next two weeks 🤣! Pictured here is me multi-tasking an Obé pilates class and watching Jeff Bezos go to space.
-Arrived in Austin on Wednesday and picked up lunch with Claire from Tiny Grocer to eat at home while working and waiting for Kathleen to get in.
-While Claire and Mike visited Jack in the NICU I got to meet up with Mads and baby Ralph for a walk near Lake Austin.
-I’ve coveted Elizabeth St. Cafe for years for their dishes and design. I flipped through their cookbook after spotting it at ByGeorge on South Congress last week
-We then decided to order in from Elizabeth Street that night. It is insanely good Vietnamese-style street food by the always good MML Hospitality.
-Besties unite!
-We rented the cutest lake house on Cedar Creek lake. Dallas is a central meeting spot for our crew, and Cedar Creek is only about an hour outside of DTX!
-I love this trip and these friends so much!

Annie