Time to Unplug: A 7-Day Smartphone Detox

Not your normal juice cleanse or a whole foods detox, but a relevant detox none-the-less. I'm way to attached to my smartphone and other technological devices. I check instagram, Facebook, snapchat, email and even Yelp far too many times during the day. First thing when I wake up, again while I eat breakfast, on my way to class, during class, last thing before I fall asleep...you get the idea. I can't even put my phone down to watch a TV show these days, I'm in a constant state of multi-tasking and it's time I get a grip. 

I think everyone can relate to this addiction. Join me this week in a little smartphone detox. If you are one of the lucky ones getting the new iPhone 6 this may be hard for you, but let's take on the challenge. POPSUGAR created a 7-day detox giving you a small step each day to help weed you off being on your phone so much. I started yesterday, but jump in with me today and let's give it a whirl. 

Monday:

Unfollow people who aren't your real friends, unsubscribe from unwanted email lists, and delete apps you don't use.

Tuesday:

Turn off push notifications.

Wednesday

Resist the urge to look at your phone first thing in the morning.

Thursday:

Set up a charging station outside of your bedroom, and don't look at your phone an hour before bed.

Friday:

Go out to dinner, and leave your phone at home.

Saturday:

Spend the day not looking at or posting to social media.

Sunday:

Turn off your smartphone for the entire day.

Think you can do it? I'll check back in a week and we can both see how we did! 1-2-3 detox!

Annie

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Bites of My Life

A great post-DC week. Some cooking, some studying, and a sneak peek at fall weather. It was a wonderful week, but a more wonderful weekend.  OU playing Tennessee brought a lot of people back in town.  A weekend well spent with new friends, old friends and family.

-Baked from the book for Monday night dinner. Did you catch my Blogging for Books post? More on this great cookbook and recipe! -@dcdining still regramming my pictures even though I'm back in OK! My 5 second claim to fame. So what if I obnoxiously tag them in my DC foodgrams, they seem to like it. -Something blue showed up in my mailbox last week. Sara Kate Studios is expanding from online to a brick and mortar shoppe and it opens  this weekend! If you live around OKC make sure to visit the opening of Sara Kate's shoppe. She is my cousin's cousin so we are practically related. -My take on pad thai. Shirataki noodles, almond butter sriracha sauce, tofu and cashews! -My first try at an egg baked in an avocado. YUM. 450 degrees, 15 minutes. Scrape a little of the avocado out, crack your egg inside then top  with salt, pepper, sriracha and basil out of the oven. Perfect lunch.  -Tailgate success at MAMAS house. Love living under the same roof with these hoodlums. -A barbecue feast made for a fabulous game day. Not pictured are the abundance of sweets and chips and dips. It's not a party without food.  -There's only one Oklahoma.  Annie

Blogging for (Cook)Books

So I got this email. An email about a company that lets bloggers have access to a range of books as long as they review and post about their book. I'm not a reader but thought this might be a good opportunity to get into reading again. That was until I discovered they had cookbooks to choose from. Say hello to Blogging for Books. 

B4B has an array of fiction, non-fiction, business, craft, faith, healthy living and cookbooks etc. to choose from. I selected Vibrant Food by Kimberly Hasselbrink. This book is filled with beautiful images of seasonal produce, and the recipes inspired by them. I kept the book on my night stand for a few days, browsing through it each night before bed. 

Monday night was the night to cook from the book. I was feeling adventurous and wanted to test my cooking skills. I used Kimberly's recipe for Millet Stuffed Peppers with Tomatillo Sauce. Per usual, I adapted it a bit. Millet is a grain, but I found it hard to come by in my little Norman grocery stores, so I subbed it with red quinoa. Below is my version of the recipe, but do yourself a favor and pick up Kimberly's beautiful book to find the exact recipe along with other wonderful ones like Turkey Burgers with Balsamic Figs, Summer Squash Pasta with Green Goddess Dressing and a Salmon Banh Mi.

Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers with Avocado Sauce
serves 2

Ingredients:
16 ounces small sweet peppers (about 6 per person)
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 red onion, diced
1/2 cup of red quinoa, cooked,
1 small tomato, diced
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. chili powder
black pepper
feta, for serving

For the avocado sauce:
1/2 cup verde salsa
1/2 avocado
3 green onions, chopped
1/2 a jalapeño, seeds removed
1/4 cup chopped cilantro, extra for garnish
juice of 1 lime
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Cook your quinoa to the package directions. Once cooked, heat 1 tbsp. of oil in a sauce pan. Add the onion and saute until soft, about 3-5 minutes. Add the tomato and corn, and cook until the corn is heated through. 

Add your quinoa, cheese and spices to the veggies and let them all hang out together. Prep you peppers by cutting a slit from the stem to the end. Scrape out some of the membrane if needed. Using a small spoon, stuff a little bit of filling in each pepper (It's likely you will have leftover filling). Place them on a baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. 

While the peppers are baking, combine all of your sauce ingredients in a food processor until combined. 

Serve your peppers laid out on a plate, pour sauce over your line of peppers then garnish with feta and cilantro! 

I am already a junky for good cookbooks but Blogging For Books just amped it up, I can't wait to request my next book! Check out their site to see how you can blog for books and see my full review on Vibrant Food here.

Annie

I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.

A New Approach to Graphic Tees

Graphic t-shirts are back and not in the way we wore them in 6th grade. I used to get the Delia's catalog in the mail and open straight to the center fold where the double page spread of graphic tees were located. My favorite usually had Hello Kitty on them. I think I've mentioned my past Hello Kitty obsession, if not, it was a thing, I was obsessed. Annnnyway...you knew you were cool if you walked down the middle school halls with your Abercrombie boot cut jeans, Junk Food graphic tee, lace cami hanging out the bottom and either Uggs or Seychelles ballet flats!

The whole graphic tee thing has re-emerged in a chic way.  To veer away from the lace cami, Hello Kitty shirt look, I'd style my graphic tees today with cutoffs, patterned pants or under a jacket or vest. 

1) J.Crew Tout Va Bien 2) Zara Eyeliner 3) Old Navy Cest La Vie 4) Sincerely Jules Donut 5) Wildfox Tea Time 6) Old Navy Audrey Hepburn 7) Zara Printed V-Back 8) Old Navy You, Me, Oui! 

I kid you not, I tried a graphic T on in every store on M St. this weekend and came home with two (#1 and #2) in my suitcase. Thoughts on the reemergence of graphic tees? Hate it, love it or make you think too much of the awkward middle school years?

Annie

So Easy a Ramen-Grilled Cheese-Microwave Popcorn-Only Skilled Chef Could Make

Simple, easy, gourmet and delicious. These are the words I like to use when describing anything I'm cooking or eating. This recipe is just that. A gourmet tilapia dish so easy a ramen-grilled cheese-microwave popcorn-only skilled chef could make! You essentially place veggies, tilapia, and seasonings together in a package of foil then bake it up in the oven!

This is the ultimate "college-level" recipe that blows your average college meal away!

Before the oven.  

After the oven.

Tilapia Foil Packet
serves one

Ingredients:
1-fresh or frozen fillet of tilapia. (If using frozen make sure it is thawed).
Veggies of your choice, I used shaved brussels sprouts, frozen corn (it will thaw and cook in the oven) and sliced cherry tomatoes.
Dijon mustard
salt and pepper
butter or olive oil
aluminum foil 

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Cut a piece of foil and place a dab of olive oil or a pat of butter in the center. Place your tilapia over it in the center of the foil. Spread mustard over the top of your fish. Arrange chopped veggies around your fish on the foil. Sprinkle everything with fresh cracked black perpper and sea salt. Pull the sides up of your foil and fold down creating a packet with your fish inside. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Your fish should be cooked perfectly after 20. Take out of the oven and enjoy the easiest gourmet meal ever! 

I haven't experiment but I'm sure chicken or any other kind of fish would work as well! 

Try it, let me know how it goes, and I promise anyone can do it! 

Annie