Bites of My Life

Back in OKC again last weekend for work and a wedding. I mentioned it last week, but work and weddings are dictating my life right now. No complaints just dropping facts. Praise be that I’m in Dallas for the foreseeable future. Travel on top of the W/W wheel has me pooped.

-Not one, but two bags of the Trader Joe’s Almond Butter pretzel nuggets. This is a peanut allergist’s dream!
-Molly’s book is out and everything from the recipes to the graphic design are supreme.
-I finished Prolon last Wednesday. While it is efficient at dropping a few lbs. I wouldn’t go suggesting friends do it. It comes at a high cost and you could just eat your own soups and drink your own herbal tea for a similar outcome.
-Back in OKC yet again to celebrate my bestie since 4th grade’s wedding. A big cheers at The Jones Assembly to kick off MaryKate and Connor’s weekend.
-Watermelon eye patches: cute and functional.
-Ranch waters with the bride post-pictures, pre-ceremony. MaryKate is as easygoing as they come.
-The prettiest set up for a rooftop reception.
-Posses outie!
-Peeked in mom and dad’s new digs before heading back to Dallas. I can’t wait to see it furnished.

Annie

Bites of My Life

After getting back into Dallas after starting the week still in OKC, it was a quick week before heading to Corpus Christi for a wedding weekend. The weekends have been full and continue to be the next few weeks. Which in turn makes the weeks short and busy. All for good reason! I’m coming off the most fun weekend and trying to get my head on straight. After indulging in shrimp tacos for about every meal, getting my cardio in on the dance floor (my feet are unwell), and drinking errrr too many ranch waters than I should those Sunday scaries turned into a manic Monday…

We are good, we are happy, we are ready for a new week. I have a recipe post containing…shrimp lol, and later this week is the 8th birthday for Take A Bite!

-Stuck around OKC last Monday to help set up for a work event. How cute did these custom Topo Chico labels come out that I did for the party?
-Got my vaccine!!! And treated myself after to my favorite matcha on my way out of Oklahoma City en route back to Dallas.
-You cannot beat S&D Oyster Company for a classic Dallas meal. One of my favorites!
-Showed up to a fun shopping event Thursday night fully twinning x2!
-Arrived in Corpus Christi Friday for a wedding weekend!
-Hotel breakfast buffets, truly what is better? Snagged a box of mini Cherrio’s for my purse.
-One last shrimp taco before leaving the ~ sparkling city by the sea ~.
-Congrats Jack and Kathleen. Thanks for a reason to be on a dance floor again!
-Sunday scaries cured with Mia’s brisket Tacos. They lived up to The Defined Dish’s hype!

Annie

Bites of My Life

What a JOY to think how far we’ve come in a year. Putting myself in my shoes at last year’s Easter, it was crazy to imagine that Covid would still be a part of our daily lives, but once that became a reality, it feels good to have had a relatively normal holiday this year. I’m getting my vaccine on Tuesday and I’m psyched. The light at the end of the tunnel is bright!! Thank you Jesus for science.

It was such a great weekend with all of my fam, friends, and multiple Easter egg hunts. Oh and soooo many delicious eats. Birthday cake, brandy ices, truffle potato jackets, cheese grits, smoked ham, and key lime pie to name a few. I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

-Had a hankering for the Indian Spiced Cauliflower from Flower Child, turns out it’s leaving the menu soon so the craving really set in. Opted for the Mother Earth Bowl, sub sweet potatoes for Indian Spiced cauli and much to my dismay I got home to realize they gave me plain old steamed cauli. Fumes!! But the FC angels credited my account, so you better believe ISC (Indian spiced cauliflower) is happening this week.
-Helen is a hoot! Got to grab coffee with the Blender Bomb founder herself!
-Exhibit A of 80x20. 80% croissant 20% blender bar ;).
-Got to OKC for Easter, and kicked off the weekend checking into the Bradford House to celebrate a very special 30th birthday. HBD Jillian!
-The Texas-based and coveted seltzers, Ranch Riders are offish in the Oklahoma market. Check here to see who is carrying them!
-Bradford House with the sneaky Brandy Ice flex. They were delicious and strong and made me hungover :)
-The whole family got to be in town to witness and endure back-to-back Easter egg hunts. Elle is a hunting professional and I’ve never been more proud.
-Brought veggies to Easter brunch…no one is surprised.
-Also brought my Key Lime Pie that continues to reign supreme!

Annie

Dinner bite for the week!

Bites of My Life

Different. Probably a word we all used a million times this past week and especially when referring to Easter. It was different to not be in church on Sunday morning. It was different to not have family over for a big brunch. It was different to not have the sounds of The Masters streaming in the background all weekend. It was different, but it was still great. Great for the invention of technology and getting to watch and hear a beautiful sermon from the comfort of the couch. Great to get to watch my nieces hunt eggs, even if it was from a distance and from inside the car. Great to support a local restaurant I love by opting out of cooking and purchasing our Easter meal from them instead. Great having the reminder that even though this time period is “different,” it is out of my control, it’s not to be feared, it’s being taken care of by the greatest of them all.

-Easter has now passed but my Easter Recipe Roundup post is still fun of 25 recipes perfect for spring!
-Loaded baked potato. Something I would never make for myself, but indulging with a smile on my face since I haven’t had to pay for groceries since the middle of March!!!
-Spring is looking extra cute on the houses spotted on my 1 of 3 daily walks.
-My all-time favorite salad in Dallas, at home! We’ve made this a few times and surprisingly had most all of the ingredients without having to go to the store. Saved the recipe in highlights.
-Reality but rockin’ in.
-A lot of Defined Dish recipes have been going down for dinner around here. A lot of coconut aminos have also been used. Mom and dad love the meals but are less than enthused about coconut aminos replacing soy sauce…
-Started Friday morning with a group zoom workout with some of my best friends, with another best friend leading the class. Something we would really never do if it wasn’t for quarantine. #perk
-Grapefruit, lemon, rosemary, tequila and topo chico. Writing this makes me want to make another. Really winning in the spring quarantini category.
-Just mom, dad and I and a store-bought meal. Different but delicious.

Annie

Bites of My Life

As we enter week 4 of social distancing, it’s feeing more and more normal. However I think this upcoming weekend is going to be hard and one of the hardest for a lot of people. With Easter this coming Sunday, but everyone still having to shelter in place, it’s going to look different. Some traditions will have to be set to the side. This is something I hate to see, but have grown to adapt to and accept change better as I’ve gotten older. There is so much change happening right now, and I hope and pray you are all hanging in there!

I’m working on an Easter baking blog post that I hope to get up tomorrow. If you can’t be with loved ones, maybe you plan a facetime baking date? Lemon loaf baked with your family or friends with the help of technology? That’s a new tradition I can get behind!

-Finally made #thestew. I loved it, but this recipe already had my name written all over it before I even cooked it. Turmeric, coconut milk, chickpeas, sold.
-The worst part of quarantining in OKC is that my little nieces are down the street and I can’t play with them. Got to say hi from 6 feet away though!
-Finally tried my hand at Dalgona/Whipped coffee! Have you seen this social media sensation? I’m still tweaking my recipe but shared my tips on IG highlights.
-Best friend zoom turned murder mystery. Oh and I was the one who got murdered….
-Did you see my April Fool’s post?
-Not that we are snobs, but we are kind of food snobs. We felt out of character eating frozen pizza, but not for one second did we think it wasn’t delicious. Props to my dad for stocking the freezer with TJ’s finest.
-Experimenting with a little something that involves these butterfly prints!
-Since everyone is breaking bread during quarantine, I couldn’t be left out! Used this recipe and it turned out great!
-Started my Friday baking bread, ended my Friday baking Perfect CCCs on Facebook Live!
-And then really topped off the day with this broccoli bolognese which I highly recommend.
-Just me, Gabe and my ankle weights for a Saturday stroll.
-Week 3 of quarantine IG Live’s, this week making my Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars! Full video is saved on instagram.

Annie