Bites of My Life

Last week was full of fun dinners, catching up with friends, and keeping cozy with all of the gray and rainy weather Dallas had. The weekend was bookmarked with a college friend reunion that still has me on a high. I don’t know what I did to get so lucky to have amazing friends in multiple sectors of my life, but there is something about the bond with your college friends that just takes the cake. Dallas is a central meeting spot for our crew, so we came together for a spontaneous weekend that was full of telling old stories, staying up later than any of us had in the past year, and drinking too many ranch waters to count. Hoping you all have a great week and use this as a reminder to phone a friend if you are feeling down. It always helps.

-Pantry pasta for Monday dinner since I hadn’t made it to the store yet. Cooked up the last bits of some red lentil pasta, then tossed with ghee, garlic, brussels sprouts, and a combo of parmesan and nutritional yeast for an extra cheesy flavor.
-I’m late to the game on this spot, but I was treated to dinner at Las Palmas, a vibey tex-mex spot in Uptown Dallas last week and I can confirm it is everything of the sort. The decor, mood, menu, and post-meal food baby are all worth you scheduling a visit immediately if you are in the area. Pictured is the drool-worthy Sopapilla Cheesecake.
-On that kale salad kind of a kick. Massaged the greens with TJ’s Carrot Ginger Miso dressing, added cooked lentils and quinoa for filling protein, sliced tomatoes, pickled red onions, sliced almonds, avocado, and lots of salt and pepper.
-My foodiest friend Ellie turned me on to Nounos yogurt and I can confirm it is as tasty as it is cute. Stirred a spoonful of almond butter, sliced almonds, and cinnamon into the original flavor. Found at Central Market.
-Starbucks announced their seasonal pistachio latte a couple of weeks ago. I’m a sucker for pistachio flavored things and had it on my list to try. I opted for just a decaf almond milk latter + a pump of pistachio syrup and I was a very sad at the outcome. Tasted like an overly sweet cinnamon dolce latte which transplanted me to overdoing it on them my freshman year of college. A taste I didn’t need to be reminded of.
-My house guests for the weekend arrived Friday late afternoon so my go-to snack board got whipped up quick for pre-dinner snacks. My snack setup of late: popcorn, Trader Joe’s Truffle Potato chips (iykyk), Trader Joe’s gluten-free pretzels (better than regular), and some kind of candy or chocolate.
-Not all pictured, but smiles ear to ear with my college besties.
-This pickle loving gal was in heaven at Dallas’ Pickletopia. Yes, a store dedicated to pickles. Left with bread & butters, pickled mushrooms, and giardiniera.
-Ended the weekend playing sous chef cooking burgers for friends with pickles from the Pickletopia loot, Elk meat, frozen french fries (honestly you cannot beat sometimes), and Perfect CCCs of course!

Annie

Pod bite: A friend turned me on to the Sunday Scaries podcast last week and I simply cannot get enough. It’s perfect for listening to while piddling around your house, working, or toting around town tuned into. Will DeFries the host, touches on three wildly relatable (IMO) topics in each ~30-minute episode. Give it a listen if you are looking for a new pod to add to your rotation.

Bites of My Life

January you are surprising me! For a month I normally hate, my Jan days have been flying by. Hope you too are having a great start to the year!

-Roasted veggie tacos are my new favorite WFH lunch. I roasted carrots, baby cauliflower, and made some pickled red onions. Stuffed them in tortillas with shredded brussles sprouts and topped with cilantro and verde hot sauce!
-New sneaks! I’ve been stalking this style of On Running shoes and they finally came back in stock. Scooped them up the second I saw them.
-One of my favorite bakeries and coffee shops just opened walking distance from my apartment. Welcome to the hood Village Baking Co.
-Headed out slightly west of DFW for a spontaneous ranch weekend with one of my best friends. Ranch Waters were a given upon arrival. upgraded with chili lime salted rims and LALO tequila!
-This little cutie came with us for the weekend.
-Megan did our meal planning for the weekend and it couldn’t have been more delish. Friday night was The Defined Dish’s Chicken No-Parm.
-Saturday lunch was all me. I was determined to make the #tortillatrend that has swept over Tik Tok.
-Saturday night was another Defined Dish meal, her One-Pot Mexican Chicken and Rice with all of the fixings. (Both recipes from her cookbook).
-Back in Dallas and was craving some steps (especially in my new shoes). There is a little sketch in the cement on the path I often take where a little girl carved her name, Annie. Makes me smile every time I walk by.

Annie

Bites of My Life

The first full week of the new year normally has me on top of being productive at work, eating right, sleeping good, and getting organized. I had my sights set on all of these things happening last week, but mentally and physically I guess other plans were in order. I shared this conversation with a handful of friends and it seems everyone was struggling to push through last week and “get back on track.” I think coming off of 2020 and knowing the beginning of 2021 was going to be similar pushed little to any motivation aside.

While I was lagging a bit at work, was craving junk food, and couldn’t get off my phone before bed, last week was still great. I share a picture below that says Fresh Energy. I think I came to realize that the fresh energy is out there, it just may take a little longer to sink in. Toward the end of last week the energy was being felt and 2021 is looking up!

-Mirepoix add mushrooms for the base of a pot of pinto beans I made last week. A pot of brothy beans over rice is so comforting.
-If you aren’t doing Obe workouts at home in your pj’s you’re doing it wrong.
-Last week I shared this killer Meditteranean bowl I had back in OKC and knew I’d be recreating. It went like this: cauliflower rice, roasted carrots, tomatoes, crispy chickpeas, avocado, olives, and hummus.
-Had Wednesday drinks with my friend Kate and special guest Hattie the golden! Just pulled up a chair at the bar with the humans.
-It’s hard to read, but a store window near my apartment has the message Fresh Energy Can you feel It? I have kept saying this, but the 2021 energy is real.
-January always gets me in some kind of mood to freshen up my space. Buying flowers and doing some rearranging can make a small but mighty change in a little space!
-When the host suggested we dress up for a little dinner party, I took that as a free pass to don this rainbow sequin skirt from Rent The Runway.
-One of my besties set the scene for the prettiest dinner party. The table was so pretty and the food was delish. On the menu: butternut squash soup, farro, delicate squash and kale salad, and a Sweet Laurel’s Chocolate Caramel Date cake.
-I’m on a kick of making what I call cacio e pepe scrambled eggs. It snowed yesterday and I was feeling fancy, so I scrambled them in a little truffle oil and added scallions on top!

Annie

Bites of My Life

I’ve had this conversation with a few friends and family members over the past couple of days, but with the new year there really comes a sense of new energy, a weight lifted off, a feeling of excitement, and a feeling of hope. While Instagram memes keep reminding us that January 2021 looks very similar to the rest of 2020 being that we are still in the coronavirus pandemic, there is still hope in the new year. Fingers crossed, prayers to the big man, and manifestation that our true normal will be felt again at some point in 2021.

After a wonderful two week stint at home with family for the holidays and some big work projects, I finally made it back to Dallas yesterday. I hit the road early to get back to my apartment and strip it of the Christmas decor, unpack, and get organized going into the first week of the new year. My enneagram 3 is thriving right now when it comes to checking things off my list.

Another new year cliche topic is eating healthy and getting back on track after the holidays. While it’s something I’m conscious of, honestly just being out of my parent’s house where toffee and ice cream appears at every corner, is setting me up for success without little effort - ha! Anywho, I wanted to say this is the first year I really don’t feel the pressure to be grinding the healthy eating train. Should I eat some more veggies this week ya, but I’m not pressuring myself. To be honest, I’ve been feeling good lately. I’ve been trying to ride that intuitive eating train, been on an Obé pilates kick (cannot get enough), daily walks, and talking nice to myself. And what do you know, it’s working!! Here’s to more feeling good in 2021!

-The new Med Bowl at Cafe 501 is everything of the sort. Already planning to recreate!
-Crispy salmon Ina Garten style is staple when I’m home (and needing to detox the Christmas goods.
-The week between Christmas and New Year’s is sad, confusing, and weird. French Onion soup with crispy gruyere covered crostini makes the week make sense. I used New York Time’s recipe.
-Shackets have me sold, anyone else? Rented this Madewell one from RTR and luved it.
-My marketing job is quickly turning into a balloon installation job. Not mad.
-Sweats, uggs, and a festive headband was a 2020 NYE mood.
-Woke up to 5 inches of snow on New Year’s Day. GOOD JUJU for 2021!!
-Black Eyed Pea Hoppin’ John for good luck and New Year’s Day traditions!
-Leaving OKC at the end of the holiday break 50% brandy ice, 50% Annie.

Annie