Bites of My Life

Oh hello June, how did we get here so fast? A short week that felt like a long one, a new month, 3 concerts in one week, new books, new hobby, old friends, old habits. Happy second week of June!

-Can't quit this breakfast and have no intentions of doing so anytime soon. Brown rice cakes, one with smashed avo and Everything But The Bagel seasoning, the other with almond butter, coconut, chia seeds and cinnamon. Detox tea on the side!
-100% fangirling over LANY during their performance at The Jones. Work perks getting us so close to the stage!
-Happy mail day including new food inspiration, a belated b-day present and a promotion recognition with Arbonne!
-Bowl on repeat this week. Protein, healthy carbs, healthy fats and fresh veggies and herbs. 
-Organized, hydrated and caffeinated. 
-Greek feast with my mamma mia!
-2 of 3 concerts I went to this week.  
-I've read 5 books to far in 2018, like what????? I believe I have mentioned before that I don't read. I'm not sure what has come over me. Can't wait for these next 3 books. 
-Investing in a new hobby, tennis! Any players out there?
-Behind the scenes shooting for my besties new side hustle, Made by Maddie.
-The prettiest Made by Maddie earrings. Check out her insta for more and how to order!
-Been coveting Joanna Gaines banana bread recipe since my roommate came home with her new cookbook. I just weirdly love how she makes it in a square pan. It was good, but I like my banana bread better. So here's the recipe if you want the best nana bread eva.

Annie

p.s. I snuck in a Bites post last week but didn't tell you, sry. But, read here!

Bites of My Life

Such a good week and kick off to summer. Two straight days of food photoshoots means a very happy Annie. I love when I get to pause from answer emails to help style food to show off to our guests. Quick/long story...

Then I celebrated my birthday a few days early. Pro tip: don't have your birthday at the restaurant you work at unless you want to be highly embarrassed. Or do..cause it was totally with it. My birthday falls at a busy time of year, growing up it was often the last day of school and now it always falls on Memorial Weekend. No complaints really, but my mom was feeling guilty and had some ideas up her sleeve to make it special. To note, I also hate surprises and no one typically tries to surprise me. Upon arriving to dinner there were extremely large 2-5 mylar balloons attached to my chair. Then instead of a simple dessert, our pastry chefs at The Jones completely outdid themselves creating the most gorgeous three layer cake adorned with flowers and berries. All to be delivered by just about every hostess and server and manager singing happy birthday for the whole restaurant to hear. I was 50 shades of red, but felt extremely loved and celebrate. 

Then it was lake bound for "LAKE RATZ PART II." My friends and I started this tradition last year of renting a big house on Grand Lake for a whole crew of us to stay in. I left the weekend never wanting to eat another potato chip, but realizing how many great friends I have to spend a whole weekend with 15 of still love them all by the end. 

Okay this is literally the longest bites recap ever, but I guess being 25 is making me feel old and sentimental. 

-Food photoshoot days are my favorite!! The summer menu at The Jones Assembly is officially here!
-New favorite drink aka the Fire Emoji (yes that is the name and couldn't be more accurate)
-Best birthday c/o my real fam and my Jones fam. 
-Last week's recipe post: 3-Ingredient Individual Strawberry Trifles. 
-baby backs on the dock. 
-OG Lake Ratz. Been doing Memorial Day at the lake with them since freshman year of college. 
-it's not summer until...
-pretties birthday flowers to come home to from my roommates. 
-Bowl for the week: grilled chicken, sauerkraut, roasted sweet potatoes, vine ripened tomatoes, avocado, fresh basil, green onions on a bed of spinach topped with Malden salt, pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. 

Annie

Bites of My Life

Ya so Bites happening on Monday morning is becoming harder and harder. But let's take a bite on this fine Tuesday evening and pretend like it's Monday morning - ya? Ya! 

While I'm also feeling lazy and have a migraine from staring at my screen all day we are going to keep it short and sweet and let the pictures do the talking!

-This bowl on repeat last week, AND this week. Inspired by The Define Dish's Greek Grilled Chicken Bowl.
-Perks of living with a teacher are getting to take advantage of her "Teacher Appreciation Week" gifts. Every recipe in Joanna Gains book is perfection.
-Apple + Coconut fruit bar from TJs. Like a Larabar but no nuts. Under $1 too! Been stashing these in my car and work bag per Kathleen's suggestion. 
-Super basic dinner, super satisfying, and super delicious. Just chicken sausage, steamed broccoli and vine ripened tomatoes! 
-Friends since high school and now celebrating med school graduation for Kristen! To Duke she goes for residency!
-Prepped a bunch of Perfect CCCs to take to the lake this weekend. When I prep ahead I go ahead and roll into balls, then freeze on cookie trays, then transfer frozen balls to a big ziplock. Then when it's time to bake you aren't having to thaw out a whole tupperware of dough. Just set the balls of dough out on sheet trays while your over preheats to let come to temp a bit!
-Bootcamp in 90 degree heat is no joke, but v worth it.
-Grill out numero dos of the weekend. Not mad about it!

Annie

Bites of My Life

May, my favorite month! May means April is over (a commonly busy/stressful month for me), summer is on the horizon, temperatures finally start acting like the time of year it is, and it's my birthday month!

Two very busy back to back weeks and weekends are over. They were fun and rewarding, but I'm glad to have those two stressful, busy, and tiring weeks behind me. Now I'm just looking forward to enjoying the summer-like temperatures, the relaxed vibe this time of year brings and especially looking forward to a bachelorette party in Austin this weekend for my Staysh girl and then some celebrating of my favorite momma for Mother's Day!

-New "Lite Bite" post! Thai Chicken Lettuce Boats. 
-On an avocado toast KICK! Current version is smashed avocado with Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel seasoning on a piece of Dave's Killer Bread Cinnamon Raisin. The sweetness of the bread totally works and compliments the avocado. 
-All kinds of new dishes coming to The Jones Assembly menu. Somehow getting to taste, photograph and give my feedback on the dishes is included in my job title. Not sure how I got so lucky. On that note, I also just celebrated my 2 year anniversary with the best company around!
-Current protein shake crush: frozen pineapple, frozen cauliflower, ginger, avocado (for creaminess), vanilla protein powder and coconut water.
-5 o'clock at the oasis (name that show) aka mom and dad's backyard.
-Winning combo for weekend mornings. Arbonne detox tea and NEW gold gel eye masks. 
-Can't do wedding dance floors without these two. 
-#FiestaDeFranklin.
-Love getting to be this chick's aunt!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Consistently my favorite weekend in OKC. The last week/weekend of April is home to the Festival of the Arts and the Memorial Marathon. I've been going to the arts festival for as long as I can remember. I'm partial to the "culinary arts" aspect of the festival, but it is all great none the less. See past visits here, here and here. And a ghetto archived post here.

The Memorial Marathon is always a favorite event too. My knees won't allow me to run it, but I love waking up at the crack of dawn to watch friends and co-workers over the years. Helps that the marathon runs right through my parents neighborhood. 

To add to the weekend, there was a baseball game, a basketball game (RIP the Thunder's playoff season), a charity event and the most fun couples shower. You know you helped throw a good party when it transitions from barbecue, to flip cup tourney to all-guest dance party lasting until 1AM. 

April, you were exhausting but a good one.

-Death by BBG. Kathleen and I are now on week of BBG. While it's terrible, it helps to have a buddy and works. 
-Working through dinner aint so bad with an açaí bowl on the back patio. 
-Cauliflower fried rice recipe aka a freezer clean-out. Recipe is highlighted on my instagram!
-Got it from my momma // 1 scoop vanilla, 1 scoop chocolate Arbonne protein, 1/2 frozen banana, some ice, 1 tsp. almond butter and almond milk!
-I typically branch out more at the arts festival, but you can't beat a classic Indian taco.
-Loved the little details for our "I Do BBQ"
-Showered our Staysh!
-All eyes to Gabe in the corner of this picture. Cheering on the marathon runners at Gorilla Hill. 
-After a v long weekend and all the eats and drinks this was necessary. An all green veggie salad eaten in bed, then promptly to bed right after (at 6:30PM).

Annie