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

A few travel delays, but made it home late last night after celebrating my oldest friend on her bachelorette party. It’s so wild living out moments that you only imagined as a kid. Getting old is w e i r d, but I wouldn’t change it! I got to spend about 24 hours in D.C (!!!!!) before heading down to Charlottesville for the scene of the crime (party)! I loved getting to explore this Virginia town that means so much to Anna.

-Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Brownie mix is unmatched compared to most grocery store brownie mixes. My friend Reid brought a batch to our Bach finale watch party last week. And thank goodness she did because sustenance was necessary during that episode…
-Flower Child chicken plate w/ yuzu brussels and currently the green goddess asparagus is my go-to pick-up order when I have a short week and don’t want to buy a bunch of groceries.
-Made it to D.C. to kick off Anna’s bachelorette party and got the party started with homemade Jungle Birds made by her fiance, who doubles as my old high school friend!
-Followed by dinner at one of all of our D.C. favorites, Lapis. It is an authentic family-owned afghan restaurant that I highly recommend.
-Drove down to Charlottesville to really get the party started. A walk around campus and a morning run for the infamous Bodo’s bagels was necessary.
-My Bodo’s order - whole wheat bagel, feta spread, tomato, and sprouts. Excellent!
-We spent Saturday doing a wine tour, making stops at Pippin Hill, King Family and Veritas Vineyards. I’m not a huge wine drinker, but I loved have sips at each stop and indulging in the bread and cheese :)
-Anna reigned in such a good crew to be a part of her bridal party, and I had the best time with them all weekend.
-#SeeYaSearcey! Time for Martins in the Mountains next month!

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!