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

Oh Snap!

On Monday I had the most delicious gingersnap smoothie from Organic Squeeze. I love their smoothies, but passing over $8 for a drink is a little difficult for me. By the time I had slurped down the last drop I had already decided I was going to recreate this smoothie at home.

It was so smooth and spicy and tasted exactly like my Mom's ginger cookie dough. Breakfast that tastes like cookie dough gets an A+ in my book. 

This smoothie is all about the spices. There are a lot of them, but that's what gives it that signature gingersnap taste!

Gingersnap Smoothie
yields 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 frozen banana
1/2 glass of ice
1/2 cup almond milk
 2 Tbsp. almond butter
1 Tbsp. molasses
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. freshly grated ginger or ground ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. allspice

Directions:
Blend all ingredients in a blender, add more ice or almond milk depending on how thick you want it. Pour in a glass and top with extra nutmeg!

Happy healthy holidays!

Annie