What I'm Listening To

First off, thank you for all the support on the blog yesterday. I had various people comment and share how they feel the same way or just enjoyed reading my post. It's amazing how rambling your feelings can make you feel like a weight is lifted off your shoulders. Again I apologize if you aren't into the whole "feelings" thing and you had to sit through my rambling. It just has to happen sometimes.

Second off, today I’m sharing my recent song obsession. "What I'm Listening To" is one of my favorite themed posts. I'm not a music junkie but I randomly get obsessed with songs. I’ve always been an Eli Young Band fan and when a friend told me about their new album, 10,000 Towns, I immediately made a playlist on Spotify.

From their new album 10,000 Towns :) I do not own any rights to this song!

Download the new album because I know you’ll love it. Then you have to tell me what your favorite song is.

P.s. You can see what else I've listened to by clicking the "what I'm listening to" link at the end of this post or by searching "what I'm listening to" in the search bar on the left hand side.

Annie

Bloggertype

So like I mentioned yesterday, I've been thinking a little too much. I go through these spurts where my mind is rushed with all kinds of ideas. Sunday was one of those days. My thinking was going so deep that I was even thinking about my thinking. That sounded confusing, but basically I was overanalyzing everything. 

It's almost been a year since I started my blog. As much as I love it, sometimes I get frustrated. To be honest, I feel like I get judged for having a blog. I even judge myself for it. I'll catch myself tweeting or instagramming something that doesn't even sound like myself, but I saw another blogger do it so it seems like the cool thing to do. Blogs and bloggers have this stereotype that seems worthy to live up to. "Bloggertype" is what I like to call it. For some reason if you have a blog all of a sudden you have to start posting birds eye view shots of you holding your daily Starbucks, the "fresh blooms" on your desk, and your new "baubles." You have a gallery wall in your house, post your "favorites" from around the web, do nail DIY's and sign the end of your blog XO. The bloggertype causes a stereotype for having to post things on social media or your blog to express this lavish life you may actually live or just make others perceive you live. 

Although I truly like doing most of those things sometimes I just do it to withhold the blogger standard. First off, I don't know why I sign the end of my blog XO, I don't ever say that in real life. It seemed cute in the beginning but it's just not me. I think we all know I love food, so yes I may fall into the bloggertype of taking foodgrams, but I did that way before I had a blog. I guess what I'm saying is that as much as I love my blog and the way I can use it to express myself, I'm not always being true to myself. I'll do something just to categorize myself into the "blogger" stereotype. 

My weekly "Bites of My Life" post are my favorite posts to write. A few months ago I felt like they were starting to become to much of a yearbook of my life where I was just posting pictures of my friends and I from the past week. I though to myself, I need to start taking more "blogger" like pictures to post. Uhhh no. If I want to post pictures of my friends and I because that's what I spent most of my week doing than I should. I shouldn't let this pressure of the "bloggertype" overshadow what I really want to post. 

You may judge me for my blog or think some of the things I post about silly or don't make since, but the truth is I think that too sometimes. Blogging is kind of awkward so bear with me. I'm not saying I'm going to stop posting recipes or some of my favorite recent fashion trends or products I love. Just know when I post about something from now on it's because I really care about it. 

My re-evaluating has me wanting to be more honest with myself and others. I want to stop comparing myself to the bloggertype and be my own kind of blogger. Being truthful to what I want and care about. This post resulted to be a big sappy pity post, but lets just go with it.

Annie

Bites of My Life

It's the last day of March and we are starting to get in to the thick of spring. I love spring. I love the warm weather, the blooming flowers and the way it pulls you out of your winter blues. Although, spring is always a stressful time of year. A billion activities always come up, mostly fun, but time consuming. Then my motivation tends to go out the window right at the time every teacher decides to give a last minute test or make an assignment due. 

I'm forcing myself to do a spring spruce up this week. Not like cleaning out my closet or buying fresh flowers like all those Pinterest spring to-do lists tell you, but just to do a check-up. This is about the time New Years resolutions start slipping and I feel like I'm just letting things happen instead of being active about things. With spring in full swing, I'm checking up on myself and making sure I recommit to my goals I made at the beginning of the year. Am I focusing on only doing things I love? Am I seizing the day or insuring I turn my bad moods in to good moods? 

Like I said earlier, spring is always a busy time of year. Last week was show week. My sorority and I were paired up with a fraternity to create a 12 minute singing and dancing show. All last week we had final practices then shows 3 nights a week. It was busy, but such a blast. I also celebrated one of my best friends 21st birthday's and had mom in town for mom's weekend. A relaxing sunday and cookout with friends ended the week. Now let's get April started.

-The little things in life really just get me sometimes and the new pink La Boulange coffee sleeves Starbucks is using just makes me so happy. I'm a girl, I like pink, so be it. 

-Took the audience back to 1789 as we performed our show based during the French Revolution. "DU and KKG, long live the king!"

-21st birthdays are too fun. HBD Megs!

-Love celebrating momma on Mom's Weekend in Norman!

-The components of Sunday night's cookout. We tried to be fancy with our shell mac and cheese and brie and guacamole burgers. 

Sorry for the lengthy text. When I get to thinking I feel the need to tell y'all everything on my mind. 

xo annie

Niiiiiiii Swaaaaaaaah Salad

Funny name, serious salad. Niçoise salad (pronounced ni-swah) is a french salad typically full of tuna, tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, niçoise olives, artichokes and vinaigrette. You may find green beans, onions and potatoes added. Niçoise olives originate in an area near the Alps called Nice, giving the salad its name. 

I can't remember the first time I had this salad all I know is a few years ago I would have been repulsed by most of the ingredients. Olives? no, hard boiled egg? ew, canned tuna? absolutely not. Now I'll pretty much eat anything.

Niçoise Salad
serves one

Ingredients:
2 cups of baby spinach
1/2 can of canned tuna
1/4 cup grape tomatoes, sliced in half
1/4 cup kalamta olives
2 Tbsp. chopped red onion
1 egg, hard or soft-boiled
any light vinaigrette
optional toppings-capers, chopped parsley

Directions:
Boil your egg in a small sauce pan filled with enough water to cover your pan. I made a soft-boiled egg instead of the traditional hard-boiled egg. This was by accident because I didn't cook it long enough, but I ended up loving it. Bring your water to a boil then reduce to a simmer and let your egg cook for 15 minutes for a hard-boiled egg and about 10 minutes for a soft-boil.

While your egg is cooking, gather your other ingredients and chop your veggies. Assemble your salad then top with your egg. If it is hard boiled, chop it up. If it is soft you can get the dramatic result of breaking the yolk and watching it run through your salad (I find way to much pleasure from this). Drizzle with a little vinaigrette and sprinkle with parsley and capers. 

Look at that runny egg perfection.

Bon appetit!

Annie

See, Eat, Do Charleston

As you probably know, last weekend I was in Charleston with mom, dad and middle sis. The town was a little different then I expected. That's the first thing, it's a town not a city, it's tiny. Although, it is the most charming little place with cobblestone roads, colorful houses and the streets filled with horse drawn carriages. The town seemed to be full of older couples vacationing there or college kids roaming the streets in oversized t's and nikes or Lily Pulitzer dresses. It was funny to see the mix, but it made it unique. 

Per usual Tucker vay cay, it was all about the food. We made it to Charleston with only dinner reservations and didn't have plans for anything else. It was nice being able to just make up our plans as we went. We shopped on the infamous King Street, took a carriage tour, walked the palm tree lined streets, and ate a lot. Mom and sis and I wondered through the College of Charleston campus on our last afternoon. It was so preppy and we all agreed we felt like we were in an episode of Gilmore Girls. Below is more of what we saw, ate and did in charming Charleston.

See:
-The houses in Charleston run perpendicular to the street with two or three story porches called piazzas. These porches allow for the winds to run through them and cool down the houses in the heat of the summer. 
-The houses look like they are out of a coloring book. They are all pink or yellow or blue etc. with wrought iron fences and painted shutters. Even the buildings on the campus look this way.

Eat:
-Excuse the overload of pictures. I felt the need to show you almost every meal I had. 
-My favorite dinner was at Peninsula Grill. I had the grouper with the shaved brussels sprout salad and almond brown butter sauce. We finished the meal with their famous 12-layer coconut cake. Apparently it is Bobby Flay's favorite dessert.
-Other dishes included the duck confit salad at Cru, ricotta gnocchi at FIG, chicken and waffles, biscuits with whipped honey butter and the southern traditional dish of she crab soup at Poogan's Porch and brioche french toast at Hall's gospel Sunday brunch. 

Do:
-While dad caught up on some March Madness, I may have led mom and Kathleen on a hike through Charleston to find Sugar Bakeshop. I had read so much about it and wasn't leaving till we found it. The tiny bakery crammed people in, but I patiently waited for my pistachio cupcake.
-We also stumbled apon the cutest specialty market right off King Street. I had read about Caviar and Bananas but it was even better in person. I have a week spot for specialty food stores. 
-Mom is apparently an Instagram queen but we introduced her to Snapchat on the trip...don't kill me for posting this Kathleen.
-We were also able to walk every where which made eating carb heavy dishes at every meal seem somewhat okay. 

It was the best little long weekend trip and I highly recommend the city! It was fun playing southern belle for a few days!

Annie