Bites of My Life

AUUUGGGUUUSSSTTT HOW? July you speed demon! Anyway, I’m fine with it, I guess…Perks of adult life is not having the return of the school year looming over you.

This past week was a standard week. Just working in anticipation of the first annual BBR (big blue reunion) with my college besties at Lake LBJ! It was a perfect weekend of junk food, time on the lake, girl talk, catching up and just getting to all be back together now that we are strewn across Oklahoma and Texas. The weekend came and went wayyyy to soon.

-With a lake trip in sight, Perfect CCCs and Banana Bread were my contributions. TBH I forget how good my banana bread is until I make it. It seriously is the best! I love making two loaves and freezing one for a rainy day.
-A very Dallas night out at the swanky Park House deserved to be documented. However their no social media ruled, resulted in a shameless bathroom selfie.
-Easily my favorite easy week night meal.
-I loved opening my door and sharing my apartment tour last week. Thank you for the overwhelming response to my little oasis.
-Big ups to Marge for the custom visors. Sucker for a party favor!
-Love being with my health food freak Claire! She served us Siete chips, cashew queso and gluten free waffles all weekend!
-First and not last Big Blue Reunion! Got all of our college best friends together for a lake weekend to reunite.
-Sun setting on Lake LBJ!
-Got home from the lake and needed some serious greens after all the tortilla chips and White Claws consumed. I tried the Mint Chip smoothie from Brewed + Pressed and now I have to figure out how I can budget an $11 smoothie because that will not be the last time I order it.

Annie

Bite of toast: A bop for your first full week of August!

Bites of My Life

I always write the photo descriptions first when I sit down to write my bites post. I didn’t even realize until I was typing out all of lasts weeks happenings based on the photos I shared, but man, last week was full of so many connections. With two friends from home in town at two different times, one of my best college friends who lives in London home, coffee with an internet friend, dinner with newish friends, drinks with good friends and more. Even in a new city, my roots are feeling strong and connected.

-New workout and a new job! I’m now working two early mornings a week at Pilates/Tread Barre in Dallas. Praise be to extra cash and free classes!
-After years of connecting on instagram, I loved getting to meet my friend Maegan aka The Baker Mama in real life!
-I’ve wanted to do this since I first read Bread & Wine, but finally found the group to host a dinner party inspired by my favorite book.
-On the menu was Shauna Niequist’s watermelon feta salad, sweet potato fries and mar-a-lago turkey burgers all from her book Bread and Wine.
-Sleepover with MK at The Joule! She was here for work and I gladly took her up on the invite for a GNO in a fancy hotel room.
-Downtown Dallas was quiet and so pretty early Friday morning when I checked out.
-Early drive to Fort Worth to make a visit with my Londoner Meg work with our schedules.
-Pineapple on your pizza. For or against? I’m for it and for a second trip to Louie’s! Quickly becoming my favorite place in Dallas.
-After a slow start to Monday, a few girl friends and I did ranch waters and Mexican food in Deep Ellum then came up north for live music and rounds and rounds of kings on the corner at Henry’s Majestic Saturday night.
-Posted my Trader Joe’s grocery haul on instagram stories yesterday and got a wildly positive response. I love that people love groceries as much as me.
-Explored the Bishop Arts district for the first time this week and I’m anxious to go back. It’s southwest of downtown Dallas and off the beaten path, but full of the quaintest shops and restaurants.
-Loved having Trinian in from OKC! She said yes to the dress with her mom in Dallas and we said yes to meeting up for happy hour and shopping the next day!

Annie

Bites of My Life

After being home in OKC for 5 days I was craving to get back on schedule and in the swing of things in Dallas. Last week consisted of catching up on shows (Big Little Lies, The Bachelorette, The Hills: New Beginnings (anyone else?) and Southern Charm), dinner with a good friend, happy hour, workouts at one of my favorite spots (including their pop-up at Hotel Zaza), a pool day and back to back weekend nights out with friends. TBH I’m exhausted, but here’s to another week and the last week of July (wahhhhhhh)!

-Back on eggs around here, but only if they are pasture raised. My friend Libby wrote this post a while ago where she goes over which eggs are best.
-Remade my 2 ingredient shakshuka and shot it to put into a recipe post! Stay tuned for the details this week!
-Obsessing over this healthy and easy week night meal. Posted the recipe for this Verde Chicken + Black Bean Cauliflower Rice Bowl!
-New RX Bar alert! Chocolate Banana Walnut is like banana bread in protein bar form. I found it at my local Sprouts and need to go back to stock up.
-Steered away from food for Thursday’s post and it got an overwhelming response! Are y’all telling me something??
-Happy Hour with two friends from two different walks of life at a neighborhood spot I’d been dying to try. The $6 HH cocktail special will bring me back soon.
-A slow start to Friday morning with a DIY matcha (I’m loving this kind right now), 1/2 avo, rainier cherries and the new issue of Bon App.
-Dinner Friday with old friends at a Dallas hole-in-the-wall pizza spot. Louie’s has been featured on Diner’s Drive-Ins and Dives (yes I searched for and watched the episode before we went to dinner) and known for their thin cracker crust pizza and martinis!
-A neon spotted at a new bar on Greenville that was too perfect not to get a picture of.

Annie

Bites of My Life

Monday of last week feels like ages ago and the 4th seems like at least a month ago. Does anyone else feel like that was the longest holiday weekend ever? Not that that is a bad thing by any means. After a few classes at a new workout studio (that I loved) and doubled up happy hours, I packed and got on a flight for the 4th in D.C. My oldest friend Anna and her bf Wade (also my very good friend), are officially permanent residents in the District. Anna and I lived together there 5 summers ago. We had such a great time exploring new places, visiting some of my old faves, eating all the things and running in to other D.C. friends. You can see everywhere we went saved in my “DC” highlight on instagram stories.

-I’ve been trying all the Dallas workouts. Pilates, spin, surf (yes) and now a workout inspired from skiing. TBH I’ve been a little underwhelmed with all the classes I’ve tried. Something is just off with each one. I tried Powder Heart last week and then went three days straight. It’s basically a HIIT workout, but with a twist, which keeps my attention. I’m signed up for class this morning and I can’t wait.
-When new friends text you to come over for piña coladas, you know they are good friends!
-Friend happy hour part 2 in true Dallas fashion with ranch waters and chips and guac!
-Patriotic in-flight outfit because when traveling on the 4th, what else are you supposed to wear?
-After arriving in The District, it was already mid-afternoon. We did late afternoon drinks and an early dinner at Lucky Buns before watching fireworks from Anna and Wade’s roof. Wade and I went halfsies on the Bun Mi burger and the El Jefe. Insanely good. This was just one of the great spots we went to in their Adam’s Morgan neighborhood.
-This picture is technically from our afternoon in Alexandria, but the patriotic colored row homes were too cute not to share.
-At home bagels and lox. 1. to avoid spending money on every meal. 2. because yum.
-Dolcezza gelato is a DC staple and when it felt like 100 degrees, ice cream was necessary. I went half coffee and cookies, half blueberry lavender (yum)!
-Woke up Saturday to walk of Friday’s pasta off and I and intentionally went in the direction of the cutest book store I used to love to go to. I went more for the brunch, but still.
-Le Diplomate is a favorite by so many. Since we had all been here a few times before, we decided to go off the grid, and go big and order the seafood platter. Worth every penny and stare we got.
-Had such a great long weekend in D.C, but was glad to get back early Sunday morning to have the day to get organized and to have one last indulgence before the weekend was over. Crossed Oishii sushi off my Dallas eats list! You have to get the cesar roll if you go.

Annie

p.s. I snuck in two recipe posts last week! Don’t miss my Mayo-Less Salmon Salad and Quick Pickled Red Onions.

Bites of My Life

I keep joking that since I’ve moved to Dallas I’m just getting fat and poor! I wish i was kidding. I’ve been on a high since I moved, but I think after 4th of July weekend I need to shift out of my “vacation” mentality when it comes to how I’m eating and spending money. All to be said, zero regrets for all the delicious food eaten, memories made, and people I’ve met because of it.

Here’s to a new month, and a short week. I’m headed back to my favorite, Washington D.C. to spend the 4th in the most patriotic place possible!

-I caved and finally made Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi! I kept it simple with tomato sauce, spinach, red pepper flakes and some nutritional yeast.
-Foxtrot: an adorable market and cafe opened down the street from me last week. Loved catching up with my good friend Shelby during their opening day celebrations.
-Spritz at Sassetta, a place high on my list. You can see my review of it and more in last week’s Top 5 places I went my second week in Dallas post.
-BFF in town for the night and she comes bearing snacks from our favorite! Maddie was in town for Dallas market to scope out new products for her jewelry line Made By Maddie. It was a quick 18ish hour visit but we made the most of it!
-God bless Texas and America! Stumbled upon the cutest patriotic house on my walk.
-LOOK at that quiche! Had such a fun brunch with a group of new friends Saturday at Mercat Bistro.
-Saturday night pizza night at Pizzaria Testa. Post-day at the pool, pre-bowling and karaoke.
-Verde Chicken Cauliflower Rice bowl for Sunday dinner. I’m finishing testing this out and then hope to post the recipe soon!
-Finally made Rachael’s Good Eats Cookie Skillet Individuals. They actually are so delicious. They aren’t a Perfect CCC by any means, but for a healthier sweet treat, these do the trick.

Annie

Need a 4th of July bite? These are a must and this is a favorite salad that is perfect for a cookout!