Bites of My Life

Entering a short week after a slow Monday for MLK service Day. After a slower week and enjoyable weekend I’m turning the corner with my thoughts of January. Less gloom, more enjoying the slowness. Here is to more slowness in 2022. Can i say slow one more time? Slow!

-I’m back on my smoothie game in the new year, and recently hooked on Weeknight Bites Snickerdoodle Smoothie.
-Crispy orange chicken a la Chef Pete for a fun Tuesday night din.
-Working on adding in more relaxing and reading to my morning routine. I’m trying to wake up earlier to read a chapter or two from my Kindle, do my devotional, and then walk/workout.
-I mentioned that I want to host more in 2022. My goal is to host in some capacity, once a month. Had some girls over for dinner last week and made a very January meal. Faux-lomas to drink, Kathleen’s Veggie Chili, and The Defined Dish’s Grain-Free Almond Butter Cookies from her new book.
-First timer at Lover’s Seafood and absolutely loved it. It’s Jordan’s favorite and she insisted on a dinner date with the boys and Vaughans. We had the best time.
-Quick down and back to OKC, because Taylor and Al got engaged. So excited for them and the festies that are to come as we celebrate.
-Breakfast date with these beanie babies before heading back to Dal.
-Perfect Sunday Mahjonging the afternoon away. Working on making this a standing activity.
-Peter and I were supposed to be in San Miguel for the long weekend but canceled due to multiple factors. Attempted a San Miguel night at home making this TDD Spicy Red Snapper platter from her first book and decorating my place with these and these to set the scene.

Annie

Bites of My Life

I somehow got lucky enough to have two friends cook delicious meals for Peter and I this week. Dinner is such an everyday thing, but to have someone cook for you is special. There were appetizers, drinks, delicious entrees and desserts at both. I was quickly inspired to set a new goal for 2022 to host more people this year. I’ve gotten away from having people over to my place, and I don’t love that. I think I started to feel like my apartment is too small, I don’t live in a house, or my kitchen isn’t big enough, etc. But I’ve had about 5 girls staying in my 800 square foot apartment over a weekend so I’m not sure why i think I can’t have a few friends over for dinner. So here’s to my goal of hosting in some capacity, once a month for the year!

-What says the first Monday of January than a deeply green smoothie.
-January means uggs jeans and shackets as many days in row as possible.
-First meal from The Defined Dish’s new book as her spiced lamb lettuce cups. I’m ready to cook through her book, all of the recipes are amazing.
-Peter and I were treated to a delicious mid-week din by my sweet Morgs.
-Mexican train may not be ideal with just two, but you can only play gin so many times.
-Not sure how I got so lucky to be cooked for by two friends in one week, but the vibes and food were immaculate at the future Wolfe’s place Friday night.
-Why is it that Chinese food is the most crave-able food? Frozen dumplings in my freezer are a must to curb the crave.
-I’ve always been jealous of not getting to have a classic peanut butter cookie, but I’m loving the grain-free almond butter version in Alex’s new book. So easy and good!
-Post church lunch at Loro! I haven’t been since right after they opened and I was quickly reminded how good it is. I got the Curry Chicken Bowl and Peter and I split the salmon dip.

Annie

Bites of My Life

A double bite recap to sum up the last two weeks of the year. It was a really great holiday being together with my whole family. We haven’t had Claire and Mike with us in years on Claire’s birthday and Christmas, so that was a treat. We even had Mike’s parents with us all the way from Australia. The more was definitely merrier.

Now it’s January, how did we get here?? I was struggling to say the least the past two days. The first of the month, first of the year, and first Monday after being gone for two weeks kind of crumbled on me to say the least. After a good therapeutic cry and shifting my calendar to allow for more downtime in January than was initially planned I’m feeling a bit better. I think I mention it every year in my bites post, but the January blues always seem to give me a dose of their medicine. I know a few weeks of calm and routine should help, so here’s to (hopefully) a relaxing start to the new year!

-Got a spat of sickness right before the holiday. There were a lot of tissues, tea and at-home covid tests used. Negativo thank goodness.
-While in OKC, I got to try the cute new Harvey Bakery for a co-worker Christmas lunch.
-So happy to have all of the girls together for cookie decorating. We haven’t all been together on Christmas in years!
-The largest and heaviest piece of lasagna for Claire’s birthday dinner. Mike used Anthony Bourdain’s recipe.
-Tiramisu, the Italian lasagna of desserts made by me!
-Christmas cheers!
-Christmas crescents, a family tradition.
-Traditional Christmas Pudding aka Figgy Pudding (purchased from Central Market 🙃) for Christmas dessert. It’s a dome shaped cake steamed, then set on fire with brandy and served with ice cream.
-All my babies in my arms!

-2022 reading challenge is 24 books! Verity by Colleen Hoover was the last book I read in 2021. If you haven’t yet I highly rec reading Verity. Twisty turns but so good.
-Thoughts are like stars in the firmament. A little message inside my new Aesop candle. An amazing gift from our Australian Christmas visitors!
-Headed to Rosemary Beach, FL for the last week of the year with Peter’s family. It was cuter than I could have imagined.
-Cutie pops of pink spotted in Alys Beach.
-Lots of Rummikub and lots of gin played on this Shaw family vacay. Luckily both are some of my specialties.
-Pete and I on the beach!
-Pete and I on New Year’s Eve!
-New Nap pjs making me feel chic while I sleep.
-A favorite lentil quinoa soup that felt first week of January appropriate.

Annie

New Wine/new worship for the new year.
A Gilmore Girl bite for my fellow obsessed GGs.

Bites of My Life

Christmas week is here! I went out with a bang last week with nights full of fun events capped off with the most beautiful wedding. I’m home for the holiday now and can’t wait to get through the work week and slide into Christmas family traditions. Decorating cookies, a viewing of Eloise at Christmastime, church service, breakfast crescents and Christmas salad are on the docket. Merry Christmas everyone!

-Can’t even with this Christmas spread! Low twins outdid themselves with an over-the-top table and seriously fun White Elephant party.
-Number 7 seeing REK! His Christmas show never disappoints!
-So proud of my little cookie Christmas tags. Do you recognize the cookie from my blog logo?!
-Hot cocoa bar at The Slate. I may or may not have gone overboard on the mint chocolate chips, but….
-Alcohol removed wine, have you tried it? If you know me well you know I said goodbye to wine about two years ago. It makes me feel terrible, but I miss the joy of a good glass of wine. I came to know about Starla wines from foodie extraordinaire @chekmarkeats. It’s a Dallas women-owned brand and I loved it. Purchased at Central Market!
-Special sushi lunch with one of my best friends, her mom, and godmother, all who I LOVE!
-Cute pic of us and a reason to show off one of my favorite purchases of the year :)
-The absolute cutest welcome party post-rehearsal dinner where the family turned the space into a Christmas bar serving beer out of Santa boot mugs and peppermint tinis!!
-Last wedding of 2021. It’s been a packed year, but each wedding couldn’t have been more fun.

Annie

Bites of My Life

Another busy pre-Christmas week before heading home for the holiday - I can’t wait! December is flying per usual but only because the days are full of festive festivities. I’m craving a slow down, but I know the time will come.

-Christmas concert with Jordan and Wills.
-Annual Christmas ornament exchange was a success. The theme was food this year and I lucked into this little take-out box that now proudly hangs on my tree.
-Pretty new holiday studs thanks to Made by Maddie!
-This Flower Child menu item leaves their menu tomorrow and I’m so sad. You’ve got to try the Singapore spaghetti squash noodles today!
-Tried the hot new spot Friday. Another lemon drop, please!
-What started as a walk around the hood turned into a pit stop for brunch at one of my favorite spots!
-Ginger cookies were finally made this season and all is right in the world.
-Up early Sunday morning to cheer on our Dallas marathoners.
-Sunday night hibachi turned polaroid photoshoot!

Annie