Farewell Twenty Fourteen

In 2014, I started the new year in New Orleans watching OU defeat Alabama in the Sugar bowl

I learned a new skill

I channeled my inner cowgirl at the Fort Worth Rodeo

I met my new best friend

I experienced the charm of Charleston

OU Kappa turned 100

Take A Bite turned 1!

I was published for the first time 

Take A Bite did it's first giveaway

I made some of my favorite bites, like these Sea Salt and Lavender White Chocolate Chip cookies

and Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies

and corn cakes

and Verde Turkey Chili

and Lucky Pecan Pie Bars

and Quina Salad Acorn Squash 

and finally, Christmas Crack. 

The Tuckers moved from my childhood home in the suburbs to the big city

I turned 21

Then did my first big girl thing by moving to Washington D.C. for the summer

I moved in with these roommates who quickly became some of my dearest friends

I had one of the finest summer internships that sometimes led to standing on chairs to get the perfect shot

I discovered all the amazing bites D.C. had to offer, like the mediterranean goodness of Cava Grill

 Good Stuff Eatery turned me into a burger person

Ted's Bulletin took pop tarts to a whole new level

and Farmers Fishers Brunch left me in a food coma for hours.

I took a side trip to New York City

spent the 4th with these crazies

mom and dad came to the district

and then I had to say goodbye.

I moved into my first little college house which is now my happy place

I started my last sorority recruitment

and after two weeks of hard work, it ended.

I welcomed senior year with multiple gamedays

I went back to D.C. for a weekend

went to my first music festival

finally met up with my blogger bestie

we beat Texas 

Barre3 came to OU

I dressed up like a circus freak and came out a winner

played fake bridesmaid

then sis got engaged and now I'm going to be a real bridesmaid!

She said yes to the dress

I ended first semester with the best roommates

and also with my best friends

months of hard work with this group led to a Capstone success

realized how much has changed in just a few short years

but also, how much has changed from this...

to this.

And finally closed out the year with a winter wonderland. A sign of peace from the past year and hope for the new year.

Annie

Bites of my Life

The months and weeks and days that lead up to Christmas are all gone. Christmas is a bittersweet holiday. All the joys it brings are so quickly over after just one day. 

Catching up with friends new and old, scarfing down multiple scrumptious eats and treats, putting the finishing touches on holiday traditions, then rounding it out with Jesus' birthday!

The countdown to 2015 is short and it's mind blowing to recap my year, sifting through the ups and downs, the joys the triumphs, the success the failures and the ends and beginnings. Here's to the last bite of 2014!

-A much needed catching up dinner with the people I've known since elementary school!

-Breakfast at one of my favorite spots.

-Ready to dive into this perfect gift from my boss. 

-Christmas morning bliss!

-My signature sugar cookies in their best Christmas form!

-Holidays are about the food right?

-Oklahoma got a dusting of white. This made saying goodbye to Christmas a little easier.

-An afternoon sip with dad trying out a new spot.

-A beautiful winter wedding with one of the sweetest of sweet families.

Annie

A Merry Little Christmas

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Let your heart be light

Next year all our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Make the yule-tide gay

Next year all our troubles will be miles away 

Once again as in olden days (Happy Birthday Claire!)

Happy golden days of yore

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Will be near to us once more

Someday soon, we all will be together

If the fates allow

Until then, well have to muddle through somehow

So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Annie

Bites of My Life

Can you believe we are only three days away from Christmas? I love this time of year and all the joy and excitement it brings, but it's also bittersweet knowing in just a few days it will be over and we have to wait a whole year until the next holiday season. 

Since getting out of school I've done a lot of sleeping, eating and working. It's been fabulous. I like to lay low during breaks. I enjoy just hanging around with my parents and being calm during such a busy time of year. It's the most wonderful time of the year, but it can be quickly rushed through without really enjoying everything the season brings. 

This holiday is a little different than years past. It's the first time oldest sis Claire won't be here for a Christmas or her birthday (Christmas Eve), it will just be mom, dad and I on Christmas Eve, as Kathleen spends the day with her fiancé, and we also won't have my dear grandmother. She passed just before Christmas last year. I think it was so sudden last year I didn't think about it, but this year feels different without her.  There are a lot of changes around here, but I'm somehow easily at peace with it all. That says a lot coming from a person who doesn't like to mess with tradition. No matter the changes it is still a season of hope, love, joy and peace! Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas! 

-Gingersnap smoothie goodness to start the week off right.

-Awesome hearty mushroom soup from Nourished Food Co.

-Homemade lo mein for a sister dinner.

-After dinner dessert was homemade fig newtons.

-My happy place followed me to OKC. Welcome to Midtown Chirps and Cheers.

-Stuffed acorn squash via this recipe. 

-Warm vermicelli bowl for a cold December night.

-Gingersnap smoothie recreated for a 1/4 of the price. Recipe posted last week!

-It's all about the presentation.

-An afternoon delight while working at the pop-up shops!

-A taste of Germany now that Fassler Hall opened in the city.

-Foodie Christmas gift exchange from my blogger bestie. 

-Spent my weekend working at the Holiday Pop-Up shops! I have a special place in my heart for these little shops!

-My Cookie Butter Rice Krispies got a touch of holiday spirt added to them!

-Happy to be in the same place with two of my favorite people!

Annie

Wrap It Up

It's almost here, it's almost here, Christmas day is almost here! "I absolutely loooove Christmastime!" Eloise anyone? If you know me well, you know I like checking things off my to-do list and being as productive as possible. 

This year I was a little down to the wire, which let's be honest stressed me out a bit, but all the shopping and wrapping is finally done.

I'll be honest again, I judge a book by it's cover. So when it comes to wrapping up my gifts, it's all about presentation. Last year I went all out with yarn pom pom balls and Christmas trees adorning my gifts. This year, I kept things more simple by using custom giftwrap from Tiny Prints!

I added a little personal touch to some of their wrapping paper designs by changing the colors and adding my name to the paper. Like I said before, it's all about presentation! Yarn, ribbon, candy canes and bows helped spice them up a bit too!

I mean how cute do these look under the tree? Only 6 sleeps till Christmas!

Annie