Twenty One

After confusing everyone with all of my early birthday celebrations, today is finally my birthday! Birthdays should be celebrated more than just one day right? ;)

Today I start my big girl internship, in my new big city, as a big 21 year old. I think 21 is going to be good to me. 

Take a bite for 21 years!

Annie

Bites of My Life

I'm sharing a BIG bites post today! This is officially the first post from my new summer home. I officially landed in DC yesterday and will be here until the end of July. I am already enthralled with the city. Everything is new and different, but exciting and adventurous. 

Last week was full of cooking up some last meals before I left, multiple birthday celebrations, a Barre3 class in the park, intense packing and then ending with jumping on a plane and attempting to get settled. 

-A basic berry smoothie served in a bowl and topped with granola, chia seeds and coconut. Smoothie bowls are basically a smoothie, they are just thicker and you can eat them with a spoon. I find that I stay more full when I eat with a spoon instead of slurping rapidly up a straw. 

-Sadie Lincoln, the founder of Barre 3, flew in from Portland last week to teach an incredible class to over 200 people in the Myriad Gardens. 

-Smoothie bowl #2 of the week. (Blueberry, Oat and Banana) 

-Finally finished the last bit of my spaghetti squash. I added in some garlic butter, red chili flakes and shrimp for a take on shrimp scampi. 

-The absolute cutest 21st birthday cookies my sister got me for my birthday celebration with my friends. Gingersnaps makes the cutest cookies, check out her Facebook page here.

-A "cheese cake" has become a staple at my friends and I's birthday celebrations. Last week it was finally my turn. My birthday actually isn't until tomorrow, but since I was leaving I had to get all of my celebrating in before! I told you I love a good celebration!

-The coolest wall of vintage letters I stumbled upon at a antique store in OKC. 

-My traditional birthday breakfast since I was about 5 has always been Belgium waffles with strawberries and homemade whipped cream. Of course I insisted on having my breakfast before I left!

-Say hello to my newest second cousin! Henry Arthur is the cutest!

-The "last" meal. I cooked Apricot Almond Pan-Seared Scallops and Vegetable Ribbon Salad for my parents as our last dinner together at home!

-My dreams came true! I finally got my very own Momofuku Milk Bar cake. If you know me well you know my Milk Bar obsession, so this cake was pretty much was the cherry on top of my 21st birthday!

-I made it!  We landed in DC around 2 p.m. yesterday. After getting calluses from hauling three huge suitcases down the streets of Foggy Bottom, my roommates and I relaxed with our first meal at SweetGreen. We have a SweetGreen and Whole Foods right across from our dorm. Things are about to get dangerous. 

-We tried our best to not look like newbies in the city, but taking the Metro for the first time and discovering the cart escalator in two story Targets leads to minimal freak outs.

-First night out, Thundering Up of course. 

-My view this morning. Whole Foods coffee, Washingtonian Mag and blogging in my new city!

Here's to a summer full of new adventures and TONS of DC bites!

Annie

Snack Attack

Here goes a quick little random recipe post. 

Pretzel Crisps, Justin's Vanilla Almond Butter and white chocolate chips. Out of those three ingredients, you can tell this is going to be good. I get bored and my boredness leads to getting creative in the kitchen. The other day I was wanting a little sweet treat and this is what I came up with. 

Using Pretzel Crisps and Vanilla Justin's Almond Butter, I created little sandwich. I then dipped them in white chocolate to amp them up a bit. 

After you make your desired amount of sandwiches, put them on a plate and stick in the freezer for a bit so the almond butter can harden slightly. While they are firming up melt your white chocolate. I placed about a 1/4 cup of chips in a microwavable bowl and melted them in two :20 second intervals. Make sure you stir between because white chocolate can burn very easily. 

Dip your AB sandwiches in the white chocolate half way using a knife to assist. Put them back in the freezer for the white chocolate to harden. After a few minutes your little salty sweet treat is ready!

I love a good snack!

Annie

Re-Districting

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I've vaguely mentioned, but this Sunday I'll be getting on a plane to spend my summer interning in the wonderful Washington D.C!

I first visited D.C. in 2011 on a family vacation. I fell in love with the city and knew I had to find a way to get back. Now a few years older, and with professors breathing down my neck to get real world experience, I landed an amazing internship in one of my favorite cities!

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I have been consistently day dreaming about what's ahead. I can't wait for numerous Baked and Wired cupcakes, brunch at Founding Farmers, days spent working in quaint little Georgetown, spending weekends at the National Mall, exploring the monuments and seeing all the city has to offer.

I have already been scouring Instagram for D.C. related profiles and stalking D.C. based bloggers. I want to be well informed and know how to get the most out of this opportunity. 

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I'll have a few "wing-girls" heading to the district with me so I won't be wandering around a big city completely by myself. I'm giddy at the idea of having to take the Metro, bike or use my own two feet to get around.  There is something so refreshing about being totally out of your comfort zone and living in a place completely different then your roots. 

The thing I'm most excited about is getting to spend everyday working in Georgetown. This neighborhood is little, busy, bursting with color, and has my name written all over it. It was my absolute favorite area we visited when I was in D.C. on vacation. 

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Do you recognize this little pup? He is about to be the ring leader of my summer. 

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I'm so so so excited to be a social media summer intern for Scout by Bungalow. This Georgetown based company has been producing bright and colorful, bags and boxes for the past 10 years. I can't wait to be surrounded by great people, a great product and learn all about the ins and outs of an esteemed business. 

#tbt to me in D.C. three years ago. Here's to a summer full of learning, experiences, cupcakes and red, white and blue! It's time to re-district and get to Washington. See you in three days D.C!!

Annie

Celebrate Good Times

I love a good celebration. Whether it's a simple life pleasure, getting a good grade on a test or a big birthday blowout, I think most things deserve to be celebrated. So many things are happening in my little world I'm trying to focus on taking time to celebrate and make notice of everything going on. With a big move and a big birthday coming up, my mind has been in celebration mode. 

Here my tips for celebrating in style! 

1. Wear a party hat or celebration crown. Be cheesy and embrace your celebration. 

2. Eat something sweet because sugar just makes you happy. 

3. Surround yourself with pretty scenery. A great environment makes for a great celebration.

4. Reward yourself! A little retail award is sure to make you feel good, and heck you deserve it! (Maybe don't go as crazy as Blair Waldorf in the picture, but a little something is always fun!)

5. Celebrate with with friends because celebrations are always better when they are shared!

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I love my birthday and I love other people's birthdays. Any excuse to celebrate is fine by me! Ceeeeelleebraate good times, come on!

Annie