Bites of My Life

Post-vacation depression, quickly got subbed out by post-holiday weekend depression. Two back to back all-star weekends. I can't complain too much. My days have been full recently making the weeks fly by. I still welcomed the long weekend with open arms though! When I think back, I really jammed a lot in from Friday to Monday. Happy hour, dinner and show, day trip to Dallas, dinner with parents, pool time, drinks with friends, more pool time, 4th of July barbecue and more. All reason why I'm exhausted. Best part of a long weekend though, is the short week that follows!

-Last week was devoted to recreating some favorite D.C. eats. First the colorful mezze bowls from Cava Grill. I did turkey meatballs, a grain mixture of brown rice, barley and quinoa, cucumber, olives, tomatoes, picked onion, feta, tzatziki and tahini. 
-Attempt number two was with fancy mushroom tacos like at Chaia.
-Fell into the Sprout's salesperson's trap, but at least I'm getting in extra greens! 
-Acai bowl made better topped with HIppie Crack brought back from D.C.
-A delicious meal and even better cocktail had with the fam at OKC's new Mary Eddy's on Friday night before seeing Dreamgirls. 
-Took a quicky day trip to Dallas with mom and sis. The highlight was a stop at one of my favorite places.
-Cause a little frito chili pie and a cheese ball never hurt anyone.
-Thank goodness the swan had our backs!
-I get a kick out of being overly festive. A patriotic yogurt bowl was a must.
-Almost too cute to eat, but we all know I ate it anyway.
-Cause every barbecue needs a good salad. I did a combo of arugula, watermelon, feta and chopped pistachios. Salt, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic. Got real festive with my star shaped watermelon.
-Red just really isn't in our color wheel. 

Annie

Bites of My Life

Post vacation depression. Why must all good things come to an end? After 72 hours, it has me craving more. Cheers to you D.C. you really know how to put on a show! Besides the weekend in my favorite city, there was the bachelorette, work meetings, a fair effort at cleaning out the fridge and a birthday celebration for big daddy T.

-Quinoa Fried Rice: my ultimate clean out the fridge/haven't gone grocery shopping in weeks kind of meal. 
-This matcha obsession is getting a little out of hand. Evoke knows how to serve it up.
-Happy Birthday dad! I love celebrating you.
-Finally made it back to my favorite city with my favorite D.C. loving bestie!
-I loved taking Barre3 when I lived in D.C, but it was the perfect start to my Saturday getting to take a class at the new 14th St. location!
-Back in Georgetown for the afternoon, back to my old stomping grounds.
-Chaia took tacos to the next level. I've been stalking them on insta since they opened and they didn't disappoint.
-Amazing dinner, better company. Marsha, Virginia, Heidi and Charlie roll out.
-Oh Roses's. I went into this dinner knowing you'd be good, but I didn't know you'd be that good.
-Cappuccino and mushroom tart please! Le Dip still cranks out a delicious brunch!
-Sunday night ramen night. After so many Milk Bar treats, I can finally say I tried their big brother restaurant Momofuku. And I didn't even have to go to New York to get it!
-Cheersing to the best weekend with Milk Bar cereal milk ice cream.

Annie

Bites of My Life

I'm writing this as I drift off into a NyQuil induced slumber, so please ignore any run-ons or grammar errors. A little cold decided to come hang out with me this week, it was uninvited. It's time it leave the party because I want to be on my A-game for a very anticipated trip this coming weekend. I am headed back to D.C!!!! A full D.C. Diary post to be expected next week recapping the week.

-Snuck half the batch of these turkey meatballs I made a few weeks back in the freezer. I love having them to pull out for an unexpected satisfying dinner.
-Pulled out this recipe from the TAB archives. I'm working on remaking old recipes to give them some 2016 life!
-Last weeks work was fueled by Elemental Coffee's chai tea latte. 
-Have you tried the new siggi's seasonal flavor? Strawberry basil!!
-My OKC guide is revamped and up to do date.
-Lunch with mom typically means at least one of us is ordering a taco salad. We both pulled the plug this time. 
-Breakfast with dad on Saturday morning like the old days! We used to get up real early on Saturdays and go try different spots, just the two of us while the rest of the family was still sleeping.
-If I'm not going to drink my calories on the weekend, I fully plan on indulging, by eating them instead.
-Father's Day pie was a huge success. The crust, the filling, the flavor; an all around win!

Annie

Bites of My Life

A busy week, but well worth it. When I was younger, I used to kind of like to be bored. I would spend hours on end watching TV wasting away summer days (My mom is probably dying that I'm admitting this). Now I can't sit still for more than 30 minutes. Even if I'm watching TV, I'm usually also blogging, online shopping, instagramming or something else to multitask my time. When I'm on a walk I have to listen to music or a podcast, when I'm cooking I usually have the TV on or a Netflix show playing on my computer. I blame part of this on my generation of always having to be stimulated, but I also blame myself. 

I can't stand to be bored now. I think this is more a good thing though. All of this is coming back to how I had a busy week last week. It was full of family dinners, work events and parties, but ended with a weekend at the lake with some of my best friends. As I've gotten older I've realized I'll take being busy over being bored any day. Are you a bored or busy person?

-Barre3 in the Park is easily one of my favorite summer activities and a perfect start to the week!
-The week was full of work events, but when food is involved I find it hard to call it work. 
-Seeing this pic again from last week's recipe for Vanilla Bean Ice Cream has me seriously drooling.
-Crafted up lavender oatmeal and can't stop thinking about it. 
-Welcome to OKC 21C! Loved getting a peek at my city's swanky new hotel and restaurant. 
-I'm a sucker for party hors d'oeuvres. I made a few too many trips to the charcuterie board... 
-5 years later and we are all back at the lake together!
-High school lives on.
-Turmeric and cumin roasted cauliflower. Flavor game strong. Recipe on my insta.

Annie

Bites of My Life

Yesterday evening after finishing up Sunday dinner at my parents, I had such a feel good moment come over me. I blasted Van Morrison, put the sunroof down, and took the extra long way back to my house as I watched the sun set. It truly feels like summer now. The mornings and evenings are warm and sunny. The days seem longer and summer food/activities/vibes are all streaming in. Gosh summer is good. I wrote a few times about my winter slump. I love me some cold weather, but there is nothing like the arrival of summer to lift your spirits. Summer spirits for the win!

-Has anyone tried Rocksbox? I've been doing it for the past month and I'm loving it! Read more about it here, and use my code annietuckerxoxo to get your first box free (normally a $19 value).
-My week usually always starts green as a way to recuperate from the weekend. Mornings are even more fun with my new nutri ninja I was gifted for my birthday! Kicks my 7 year old magic bullet's butt.
-On a podcast grind. Here are my faves, what are yours?
-Dinner this week looked like this: turkey meatballs with zucchini noodles and ramp pesto that mom and dad made.
-A massive London Fog and a change of scenery helped get through a rainy Wednesday. 
-Spent my Thursday evening getting schooled in hand lettering. I've been doodling ever since.
-#NationalDonutDay.
-My roommate is an engaged lady! 
-So so special having all my best friends in town to celebrate our Mads girl's engagement! We even got our Londoner to jump the pond for the weekend! 
-Successfully finished The Hills all the way through for about the 10th time. 
-Give me all the navy home decor. Dreaming of the day I have a pocket book that can afford this style.
-Looks like/tastes like summer! Peach cobbler and homemade vanilla bean ice cream.

Annie