Bites of My Life

4th of July, please don't ever fall on a Wednesday again. I beg of you. Weirdest week ever. Not a bad week in hindsight, just weird. I know most of you can agree. The double two day week wasn't the worst either. 

Lot's of festive food, summer food, breakfast food and all around delicious food last week. As you can see more of below. This week is looking like a birthday celebration, taco tuesday, VIP movie screening and then off to the lake. Chat next Monday! 

-Eat the rainbow. My favorite way to eat. Ingredient details including a killer dressing recipe in my post here.
-Breakfast with mom at our favorite, EnCroute.
-All the office vibes in our new workspace. More pictures to come I'm sure, but for now, back to Kathy Lee and Hoda.
-Y'all know me and my love for festive food. So festive fruit to start the 4th was a must.
-4th of July, please don't ever fall on a Wednesday again. All smiles despite.
-Celebrating America and my girl Maddie's bday!
-Breakfast with dad, trying out Buttermilk. A biscuit breakfast spot but couldn't resist the smoothie bowl!
-Sunday spin with my girl. 
-Little fish is almost a year old!

Annie

Bites of My Life

July you came too soon! Summer is slipping by FAST. Last week was full of delicious eats, getting settled into my new office space and precious last moments with one of my best friends before her move. There was also a pool party, an A list party per-se, rounded out by a killer Sunday dinner at mom and dad's. 

Now for the awkward 2-day week, twice in one week...

-Loving my morning matcha. Look forward to it each day. Using the new Vital Proteins Matcha Collagen currently. 
-Becoming a pro at cleaning out my fridge meals. AKA ballin' on a budget and won't let myself go to the grocery store as much as I normally do. 
-Healthy snack hack/dessert for The Bachelorette viewing. 50 cal Lesser Evil popcorn back with a tablespoon of cookie butter for dipping and Arbonne detox tea. 
-Got to help with a catered dinner in the park through work last week. Despite the 95 degree temperatures it ended up being the dreamiest setting for a dinner.
-Hello, I work here. Loving my new cube at our recently finished headquarters!
-The most fun giveaway last week with Made by Maddie. AKA one of my besties new biz!
-Said bye to my bestie/roomie Lindz last Friday. We became quick friends and after 3 years under the same roof, and I suddenly had to say bye too quick as she headed west for her next adventure in LA.
-I dub these my prettiest batch of perfect CCCs. The diff; semi-sweet chocolate bar chopped instead of chopped chips. So many chocolate flakes. 
-Snacking on Lesser Evil's new Paleo Puffs with my little crew. Use code ANNIELE10 in check out at lesserevil.com for 10% off your order!
-EnR0ute to Russell Westbrook's hype house. #workperks
-Thanks for the party invite Russell Westbrook!
-Summer food = best food. 

Annie

Bites of My Life

Last week was great with several reasons leading to why, but the cherry on top was Stacia and Sage's wedding weekend. The two are some of my best friends and Stacia has been waiting for this day for forever. Seeing it all come together, and be perfect, was the best for her. Not to mention having all my best friends who live near and far all in one place made it the best best. Exhausted and hoarse, but well worth it for the best dance floor party and for the now Mr. and Mrs. Ranallo!

-Matcha is back in heavy rotation. It has been the best energy source to get me through the day after my early early morning bootcamp workouts.
-Healthy easy chicken burrito bowl situation over cauliflower rice I was able to throw together with things from my fridge! 
-#TargetDoesItAgain. and again, and again and again. 
-Obsessed with my new Who What Wear collection sandals. 
-Peep my insta highlights for the run down on this easy egg/avocado salad. Will work on getting the recipe up on TAB soon!
-Tuesday morning brewery tour for a special project The Jones Assembly + Prairie Artisan Ales are teaming up on! Pictured here: me learning the "grain out" techniques. 
-The SO team finally got to let the cat out of the bag. We are so excited to operate the cafe space in the new Scissortail Park coming to west downtown!
-Unexpected surprise goodie package from Arbonne for hitting my district manager status.
-Wedding weekend for Stacia and Sage finally kicking off!
-HP for the win!
-No doubt Stacia would make a gorgeous bride, but still got chills seeing her look come together on the big day. 
-Sunday sushi made healthier and so good courtesy of Whole Foods. 

Don't miss last week's lite bite posts: mayo-less tuna salad and watermelon & heirloom tomato salad.
Current songs on repeat: Tequila by Dan + Shay and Finest Hour by Cash Cash.

Annie

Lite Bite: Watermelon & Heirloom Tomato Salad

Summer BBQ, party or potluck? Look no further than this recipe. I have a thing for watermelon feta salads because I actually already have two (here and here) recipes on my site, but this one. THIS ONE!!

Watermelon & Heirloom Tomato Salad

Ingredients:
1/2 medium seedless watermelon, cut into small cubes
16 oz mini heirloom tomatoes (found at Trader Joe's), sliced in half
8 oz feta cheese block, cut into small cubes
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
flakey salt and fresh crackd pepper
small bunch of fresh basil

Directions:
In a large bowl gently toss cubed watermelon, cubed feta and sliced mini tomatoes. Drizzle over olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Not too much, you can always add more later. Sprinkle with fresh cracked black pepper and maldon salt if you have it. Any flakey salt will do. Tear the basil over the top. Tear instead of cut. Tearing will lend to better overall flavor and not brown the basil! Toss gently again and sprinkle a bit more salt, pepper and basil over the top to serve!

P.S. this makes great leftovers and is wonderful paired with grilled chicken (seen below).

Bites of My Life

I love the cold, but the summer. Oh, the summer. You kill me. You are too good. My energy level skyrockets this time of year. I want to do all the things in the summer as opposed to winter where I could hibernate for 3 straight months and be happy as a clam. 

I want to eat all the summer food, go on a walk EVERY evening, be more social during the week, spend as much time outside as I can, clean out my closet, deep clean my room, be extra active, and maximize my workday so I have more free time in the morning and evenings. Summer motivation is in full swing!

-I don't have marble countertops. Here is proof-ha! Just a contact paper covered foam board!
-Y'ALL! I posted something besides just a bites post. Catch my mayo-less tuna salad recipe here. Word on the street is that you will be getting a second recipe post tomorrow too!
-Post-bootcamp recovery shake before the rest of my breakfast. I've been waking up at the crack of dawn (4:30AM) to train with Align Performance. Bootcamp is from 5:30-6:30, so when I get home I do an Arbonne recovery shake (1 scoop protein, water, cinnamon and ice in a shaker bottle) then follow it with scrambled eggs later in the morning. If I ate a full breakfast at 6:30 I'd want lunch by 10AM. P.S. if you are local and interested in bootcamp, join me, your first class is free!
-Morning coffee/work date with my Lindz before she leaves me for LA. I can't talk about it anymore otherwise I'll get tears on my keyboard.
-Leftover watermelon tomato salad topped with grilled chicken. Is there a better summer dinner?
-Back to Cali Al goes, but first dinner with the whole crew!
-When in Stillwater, OK, must eat at Red Rock Bakery and Deli. Or so I'm told...and so I now agree. SO GOOD!
-Smashed avo on 2 GG crackers. Who else loves GG crackers? Who doesn't know what I'm talking about? Read here to get the gist and then order on Amazon ASAP.
-When curly fries are an option, you always go curly. Despite the fact the fact that I was poolside in a bikini while eating them...
-You all know I love my Super Coffee, but here is just another photo to remind you. And just so you know the maple hazelnut flavor is everything.
-Treasures from the Asian supermarket include ginger chews, gochujang, mini boxes of fruity gum and an excuse to show off my new shoes ;)
-Father's day feast was full-fledged Korean BBQ themed and I think we nailed it!

Annie

p.s. I listened to this song 54 times last night, you should too.