What I Think is a Legit Gift Guide

I love a good gift guide, I think I've mentioned this before. Emily, Liz, Julia, Meg and Katie, all have some great ones, but honestly, I don't think I've ever actually bought something I saw on a gift guide. They are all so cute, but usually filled with your run of the mill standard gift ideas. 

I've put together a few of my favorite things, some goodies I've found around the web, and a few things I'm actually gifting this year. Hopefully this gift guide is worth your time and helps spark some ideas for your own gift giving needs! 

1. Scout 3-Way Bag ($22). I have this bag and it is fabulous. It fits all of my toiletries and makeup when I travel. I love how the separate compartments keep my lotion from spilling all over my blush brush etc. 

2. Blue Eye Brown Eye calligraphy set ($60).  Lauren from BEBE calligraphy is my girl! I've taken her class twice and she taught me so much. You can now buy her beginner set and do on online class via Brit+Co.

3. Slouchy pom pom beanie ($9).  The perfect gift for friends or roommates! 

4. Yeah...ImmaEatThat black bean brownie mix ($9). I already bought a few of these mixes. I saved one for myself and sent two to my foodie friends Molly and Savannah. I made the brownies yesterday and they are incredibly fudgy and delicious (and healthy!) 

5. Gold ear buds ($9). For all those people getting the new iPhone 6 for Christmas, 1. I'm jealous 2. these would be perfect for them. 

  

6. Moscow Mule mugs ($17). A hot item this Christmas, but these hammered copper ones are my favorite!

7. Fujifilm instant camera ($100). In our generation of having to take a picture of everything, I'm all about this instant/polaroid camera. 

  

8. Beaded by W tassel necklaces ($30). You've heard me gush about my girl Whitney, but her necklaces make the perfect gift! Email her at beadedbyw@gmail.com to get your order in before Christmas. 

  

9. Olivia Pope wine glasses ($15). Perfect for your wino/Scandal obsessed friend or family member. 

10. Evelyn Henson iPhone cases ($34). I've posted about her prints, but I'm kind of squealing over her phone cases. 

Happy gift giving! 

Annie

Snap, Crackle, Cookie Butter

Rice Krispies are an all-American treat. But Cookie Butter Rice Krispies are a wowie wow party in your mouth take a trip to Flavortown treat. Pardon me, I've been watching too much Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives recently. 

Cookie Butter is a Trader Joe's original. When I lived in DC I became a Trader Joe's junkie. I did all of my grocery shopping there and on occasion made visits just to see what the daily sample was or to pick up a bottle of two buck chuck. Cookie Butter is made from Speculoos cookies which are ground into the texture of peanut butter. I had a jar haunting me in my cabinet that I needed to get rid of. If I didn't bake it into something I would soon find myself late night binging on spoonfuls of this addictive spread. 

I made these for a tailgate last Saturday and they were quickly eaten. I went back later hoping there would be leftovers I could take home, but all that were left was a few sprinkles on the platter. 

Cookie Butter Rice Krispies
yields 18 bars

Ingredients:
4 Tbsps. butter
6 cups mini marshmallows
3/4 cup Cookie Butter (Biscoff Spread will also work)*
1 tsp. vanilla extract
6 cups Rice Krispies
rainbow sprinkles if you wish!

Directions:
Grease a 9x13 pan and set aside. 

Pour the Rice Krispies in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Melt the butter and cookie butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Once melted add the marshmallows. Stir until they are mostly all melted and stir in the vanilla. 

Once fully melted, take the marshmallow mixture off the heat and pour over the Rice Krispies. Stir to combine then dump into your prepared pan. Using greased hands press into the pan. If you're feeling festive, decorate with rainbow sprinkles then let cool for 30 minutes before cutting into bars!

*If you don't have a Trader Joe's near you, you can sub Cookie Butter for Biscoff spread. Biscoff spread has a really similar flavor and is now sold at most grocery stores. 

Annie

Bites of My Life

Today marks 80  "bites" post y'all. Eighty Mondays have gone by since I started writing Take A Bite. Despite whatever I should be doing that's usually more important, like studying for finals right now, I'd always rather choose putting time into my blog. 

Take A Bite is like a like a best friend to me. I love having a place to express my weird thoughts, or sharing things I love, or posting what I cooked for dinner the night before, but most of all I love hearing when y'all love it too. When someone tells me they read TAB I usually first, blush, then second, get embarrassed, then last, realize how cool it is that someone actually takes the time to read my grammar-error filled posts. 

This weekend I had a friend come up to me and say she reads TAB everyday. She gets to work, signs into her computer, first checks Cupcakes and Cashmere (respectably) then checks Take A Bite. To hear that someone reads Take A Bite as part of their morning routine, or uses my recipes to make dinner or a fun treat is kind of awing. It's just one of those things that I don't really believe people take the time to read, I just do it cause I love it. So thanks Meredith you pretty much made the rest of my year!

-Santa's Workshop already started wrapping presents! Santa also buys his cute wrapping goods at Chirps and Cheers in their new Midtown location.

-Santa has also been making his own Christmas cards to give to those on the nice list!

-I stretched leftover Thanksgiving turkey all the way until last Thursday. A throw-whatever-you-have in-the-pot soup! Turkey veggie and chickpea soup it is!

-Mission: clean out the fridge before I go home for a month has begun. A tomato, spinach, and a little curry powder omelet for dinner!

-Molly knows me well and knew I'd love her mom's Christmas (Crack)er recipe! She sent over the recipe and I made up this Christmas crack for gameday. It was a hit and I'll definitely be making it again before the holidays. 

-My other game day treat was Cookie Butter Rice Krispies! Both recipes will be posted later this week!

-My sweet señorita is about to leave me for a whole semester of studying abroad in Spain. I know she's going to be amazing, but is it selfish to say I need you to stay? Like actually need. 

-Last OU game day as student...check!

Two tests and one presentation until Christmas break freedom!

Annie

Time to Get Distracted

For most college kids, we are all in the midst of studying for the dreaded "f" word. Finals. I'm sure you can agree that you are better at getting distracted from studying than actually studying, so let me help you out and give you a few more distractions. Whether you're at the library studying, if your bored at work or if you are lucky enough to not have anything to do and are just simply bored, here you go. 

Finals week, as told by Buddy the Elf. 

Ariana Grande does Christmas.

The ultimate gift guide I posted about last year is back for 2014!

I know I mention them in almost every link post but my heart goes out to LBHS Class of 2004!

2014 in one song.

2014 in one song, the covers version (incredible).

Check out more of Us the Duo's covers here, seriously my new obsession. 

Wanting to host a Christmas party? The Everygirl already has it planned for you.

Co-worker, client or the the one who has it all? Here's a gift guide for each person in your life. 

Senior year had me like...

Nick and the gospel choir perform 'Jealous' on The Voice.

2014: the year of kale.

Healthy (and my favorite) study snacks.

Now that I completely distracted you and you are starting to freak out about all you have to get done, download the self control app on your computer and say bye to social media.

Annie

Bites While You Watch: Christmas Edition

Since it's officially Christmas season I wanted to shake things up and revamp my Bites While You Watch post. This time I'm doing food and movie pairings with my favorite Christmas movies.  I'm a sucker for a good Christmas movie and shamelessly watch them in the dead of summer sometimes. I've picked a dish from each movie or a recipe that reminds me of them. I spy an ultimate movie watch party in my future full of lots of bites and Christmas cheer!

Eloise at Christmastime--whimsical sugar cookies

Eloise is one of my favorite fictional characters, so you can bet Eloise at Christmastime ranks high on my list of favorite Christmas movies. I was always jealous of her big pink Christmas tree that decorated her Plaza hotel penthouse. Bake up some of my signature sugar cookies in Christmas shapes, but break outside the norm and decorate your trees and candy canes with pink and purple icing! Eloise would sure love these!

Elf--spaghetti

Hold the syrup, pop tarts and sprinkles, but whip up a big bowl of spaghetti and jump on the couch to spread some Christmas cheer. 

The Holiday--fettuccine

Christmas fettuccine anyone? Miles apart, Iris and Amanda both enjoy fettuccine on Christmas Eve in the movie.  I don't know if you've ever recognized it, but my mouth always waters at this scene because it looks so good. Random I know, but next to you watch it you'll know what I mean. 

White Christmas--hot chocolate

"Snow, snow, snow, snow!" This classic Christmas movie deserves nothing but classic hot chocolate paired with it! Fun fact, White Christmas is my all time favorite Christmas movie!

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York--ice cream sundae

Better than the first Home Alone if you ask me. Kevin must have known about Eloise's Plaza Hotel penthouse because he too checks-in to the luxurious hotel. Right after he checks-in, Kevin treats himself to a rather large room service ice cream sundae. Pull out all the toppings and treat yourself, it's Christmas after all. 

While You Were Sleeping--mashed potatoes

"These mashed potatoes are so creamy, very mashed" Kind of an inside joke between my sisters and I, but there is a part in this Sandra Bullock flick where she is at her "future in-laws" house and the mom repeats how creamy and mashed the potatoes are. For some reason it caught on with us and it's one of our favorite movie quotes. 

Okay so now my question is what's your favorite Christmas movie and favorite Christmas dish? Do any of my pairings match up for you?

Annie