NIKSTAR was here...

Just another day at the park

2012-02-23T14:35:00.000-05:00

The high today is suppose to be 75 degrees. Yes, here in Atlanta...in February. So obviously, today was a "park day". We went to my favorite place in all of ATL--Piedmont Park. It's like Atlanta's "Central Park", just to give you an idea of how popular it is, and big, though I don't think it's quite as big (as Central Park). For once, I didn't forget to bring my camera. Took a few snaps just to show you this lovely green space where I can usually be found on a nice day. I can't wait until spring, when everything turns green again...

You can see the Midtown skyline in the distance.

Please disregard my bare (and tired) looking face. haha

In the summer, a lot of ppl usually lay out in this circle.

His first time in the swing.

I'll assume he's thrilled. :)

Enjoy your day!

Straight...No Chaser

2012-02-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

So, I flat ironed my hair the other day because I felt like I probably needed a trim. My last cut was the end of October, I believe. To my surprise, my ends were in great shape still. Must be the "no heat" regimen. I'm also relieved to see that my hair doesn't really look thinner, even though I lost a ton of hair from postpartum shedding. Anyway, here are pics...

Freshly straightened and trimmed hair.

And as you know, I'm always threatening to cut my hair. Decided to switch it up (with no scissors necessary). Say hello to my "temporary bob". All that was needed was a ponytail holder and a few large bobby pins. Viola!

I'm actually in love with my hair like this at the moment.

P.S. All of that "baby hair" you see, is actually just my edges growing back in. lol

Happy Monday!

Happy V Day Love Bugs!!!

2012-02-14T10:20:00.000-05:00

Valentine's Day is not a huge deal in my household, because hey, after being married for a few years, it's best to strive to make EVERY DAY feel like Valentine's, and that is no easy feat! It's always a work in progress. haha I still, however, am not one of those Debbie Downer's who hail it as some useless and evil day. Why would anyone be against celebrating love...on any day? Just remember--SOMEONE loves you today. Even if it may just be your momma, and that's all that matters.

Latest PINspiration...

2012-02-08T10:19:00.000-05:00

FASHION/STYLE

Source: flattery.ca via Nik' on Pinterest

Source: thepinkpeonies.com via Nik' on Pinterest

Source: lady-daylight.tumblr.com via Nik' on Pinterest

Source: musingsinfemininity.tumblr.com via Nik' on Pinterest

Source: kimberlypesch.tumblr.com via Nik' on Pinterest

FOOD

Source: realsimple.com via Nik' on Pinterest

Source: blog.seasonwithspice.com via Nik' on Pinterest

Source: simplebites.net via Nik' on Pinterest

Source: zoomyummy.com via Nik' on Pinterest

MOTIVATION

Source: my-life-your-entertainment.tumblr.com via Nik' on Pinterest

Source: healthy-is-the-way-to-go.tumblr.com via Nik' on Pinterest

Source: grindwithbones.tumblr.com via Nik' on Pinterest

Source: soon2befit.tumblr.com via Nik' on Pinterest

Source: susanruns.com via Nik' on Pinterest

Feel free to:

Have a happy hump day!

Eat+Play+Love: Happy Birthday to My Hubs

2012-02-02T08:48:00.001-05:00

So my hunk-of-burning-love a.k.a my hubs a.k.a. the hubster celebrated a birthday this week. Quick fact about us: I'm a whopping 3 years older than my husband. *insert cougar roar here* Anyway, we're low key kind of people these days and so I decided to take him out to a nice dinner at a popular resto here in Atlanta called Shout. Yes, the same Shout that happens to be on Scout Mob at the moment, because that's how I roll. Plus, hubs finds my fairly new money consciousness/bargain hunting ways quite sexy. To make a long story short, we had a nice dinner and here are some pics. By the way, if you're ever in Atlanta, you should check out Shout, it's a really cute spot. They also have this outdoor rooftop area that is set up cabana-ish and during the spring/summer, it could make you think you've been transported from ATL to Nikki Beach in Miami. Real nice.

The birthday boy! He feels some kind of way about being splashed across my blog...but I do what I want.

I started out with this really cute (and sweet) pear cocktail. I forgot the name but it was made up of Pear Grey Goose vodka, Pear Schnapps, topped off with moscato.

We started off with calamari. We love calamari it seems. This calamari was just oKAY. Nothing special about it which was quite surprising as Shout also serves sushi and other seafood. I've had tastier calamari from smaller less fabulous restaurants around town.

Hubs had the "special" of the day a duck breast with brussel sprouts and potatoes. I forgot the name of the dish or specifically how it was prepared, but those are the components. It was SPECTACULAR.

I had the blackened Mahi Mahi with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. The Mahi Mahi was topped with "crab butter", basically it was tasty, buttery lump crab meat thrown on top.....and it made made me want to slap my momma. Totally awesome this whole dish.

Hubs wasn't that interested in the dessert offerings, so we decided to have more drinks for "dessert". Here, I'm drinking the peach sangria. Quite tasty, I must say.

All in all, it was a nice time.

Getting Juicey...

2012-02-01T13:42:00.000-05:00

So I told you guys that I'd bought a juicer because I wanted to include juicing in my journey of eating healthier. So it's been a few weeks (months?) now and all I can say, is that I'm glad I jumped on this bandwagon. The juicer I bought was the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor. It cost me about 60 bucks on Amazon, but I've heard you can find them slightly cheaper in Walmart or Target stores on a good day. There are many, many juicers to choose from in all kinds of crazy price ranges. I chose this one because it was 800 watts (which seems to be the ideal wattage), it got good reviews overall on Amazon, and at 60 bucks--if it becomes another kitchen apparatus that ends up in a cupboard, I won't feel all that bad. I have to co-sign on the good reviews that I think this is a sufficient juicer for the price. The pulp doesn't feel too "wet" (a sign that you juicer is not extracting as much juice as possible), but I will see an occasional chunk of fruit/veggie that somehow made it through without being pulverized. But hey, I by no means am expecting perfection. Overall, I have to say that it is a good juicer.

Now, I haven't gone crazy creative with the different kinds of juices to make. I bought the book Complete Book of Juicing: Your Delicious Guide to Youthful Vitality. This book has a gazillion of recipes and it gives you the nutritional benefits of every fruit and vegetable known to man. An excerpt from the book on why juicing is beneficial:

FRESH JUICE VS. WHOLE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

You may ask, "Why juice? Aren't we suppose to eat whole fruits and vegetables to get the fiber?" The answer: Of course you are, but you should juice too. Juicing fresh fruits and vegetables does provide some fiber, particularly the soluble fiber. And it is the soluble fiber that has been shown to lower cholesterol levels. Think about it--fiber refers to indigestible material found in plants. While this is very important for proper bowel function, it is the juice that nourishes us. Our body actually converts the food we eat into juice so that it can be absorbed. Juicing helps the body's digestive process and allows for quick absorption of high-quality nutrition. The result is increased energy levels. Juicing quickly provides the most easily digestible and concentrated nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables.

I've tried a few different juices, carrot-apple-ginger being my favorite. I also tend to use carrot-apple as a base to throw in some other veggies that are full of nutrients like spinach, kale, beets, wheat grass, etc. I've even made my own "V-8". And I have to admit, I feel like I have lots more energy since incorporating fresh juice into my diet.

Pulp.

Yum.

Verdict: Get to Juicin'!

In the Kitch: Chicken Tikka Masala!!!

2012-01-28T08:00:00.002-05:00

Hey gals! It's been a little while since my last recipe post, so I thought I'd share this chicken tikka masala recipe that I stumbled upon about a week ago. I LOVE Indian food....or I guess I should say that I love chicken tikka masala as it's always what I order when me and hubs go to our favorite Indian restaurant. I'm sure this is a scaled-down, non-authentic way to make this dish, but hey, the end result to my non-Indian taste buds are pretty much the same. I am so excited that I can make one of my favorite dishes AT HOME. So I guess I can now try something NEW the next time I go Planet Bombay or Cafe Bombay (both really good Indian restaurants here in ATL), because I'm sure to OD off of this now that I can make it. haha Anyway, this was my first time attempting an Indian dish because the thought of it always intimidated me, but this recipe is pretty straight forward, AND........IT'S MADE IN THE CROCKPOT. Doesn't get much simpler than that. So I suggest that you try it--if you are a fan of Indian food or if you just want to try something new. Oh and I put mine over a "basmati rice medley" that I'd gotten from Trader Joe's, and also served it with a side of garlic naan that I'd gotten from my local Publix.

Slow-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

Ingredients

FOR THE CHICKEN:
9 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs
1 Tablespoon Ground Coriander
1 Tablespoon Ground Cumin
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 cup Yogurt
4 Tablespoons Butter
1 whole Jalapeno Pepper, Stem Removed, Pepper Pierced Several Times With A Sharp Knife
FOR THE SAUCE:
4 Tablespoons Butter
1 whole Large Onion, Peeled And Diced
6 cloves Garlic, Peeled And Minced
1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt
3 Tablespoons Garam Masala
1 piece Fresh Ginger, About 2-3 Inches, Peeled And Grated
4 cups Crushed Tomatoes
1 Tablespoon Raw Sugar (can Substitute White Granulated If Necessary)
2 teaspoons Cornstarch Or Cleargel
1-½ cup Heavy Cream
TO SERVE:
Hot Buttered Rice And Peas
Chopped Fresh Cilantro

Preparation Instructions

Cut the boneless, skinless chicken thighs into 1- 1 1/2 inch pieces. Sprinkle the coriander, cumin and salt over the chicken, then stir in the yogurt until all the pieces are evenly coated. Cover lightly and let sit for 10 minutes before proceeding.

Melt 1 tablespoon the butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. Raise the heat to medium high and quickly brown about 1/4 of the chicken. Transfer browned chicken to the slow cooker as it is finished, using 1 tablespoon of butter per batch, and repeat until the chicken is all in the slow-cooker. Throw the pierced jalapeno in on top of the chicken.

Prepare the sauce. Return the pan to the heat and melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the onions, garlic, and kosher salt, then stir. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions begin to lightly brown around the edges.

Stir in the garam masala and ginger and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute) before raising the heat to high and adding the crushed tomatoes and raw sugar. Stir well, scraping the caramelized bits from the bottom of the pan, and bring to a boil.

Pour over the chicken in the slow-cooker.
Cover and cook on LOW for 5 hours, or until the chicken is very tender.

Use a fork or whisk to stir the cornstarch or cleargel into the heavy cream until smooth. Pour into the slow-cooker and stir gently until the colour is even. Replace the lid and let cook for 10 minutes or until bubbly around the edges.

Serve over hot rice and peas, topped with a generous amount of chopped cilantro.


Tips & Mods:

I'd only bought one pack of chicken thighs, that ended up being 5 thighs and that's what I used.
The recipe calls for 1 TB of raw sugar--I used 2. I felt like 1 TB wouldn't be enough to give that slight sweetness that I know chicken tikka masala to have. I was right.

I'd started on this dinner late and didn't have the 5 hours cooking time the recipe called for. So I cooked it on HIGH for 2.5 hours instead. It turned out just fine.

I'd also forgotten to buy the jalapeno pepper, so instead I topped the chicken with about a tablespoon of hot pepper flakes. It gave the dish a nice little "kick"

As you can see in the pics--I forgot to top the dish with a little bit of chopped cilantro, even though I actually bought some for this dish. haha Anyway, it's unnecessary anyway. I've never seen it topped with cilantro at restaurant. I'm sure it would have looked nice in pics tho!

Oh, and I have seen garam masala in my regular grocery store in the "international" section. If yours doesn't have it, you should probably look for it at your local farmers markets or health food stores. I actually bought mine from Amazon. (see link below)

Enjoy!!

Recipe courtesy of Tasty Kitchen

While riding...

2012-01-25T09:35:00.001-05:00

...in the car this morning taking Max to school, this song came on. I was listening to an "oldies" station. By the way, I can't believe that music I grew up to is now considered "oldies", but that's a whole other topic. Anyway, I had a moment of nostalgic bliss! You know, the lyrics of old 80's and 90's music just can't be touched by the music of today. Enjoy!

Enjoying the weather while "under the weather"...

2012-01-24T15:33:00.000-05:00

I'm a little bit under the weather today, thanks to my loveable almost-3-year-old, Max. He seems to bring the most potent of germs home from his school. Even the baby is sick. When Max sneezes, the whole house catches a cold. Makes me question who is really running things in this here abode. :) So, while the kids nap, I decided to enjoy a solitary moment outside on my porch enjoying this beautiful day we've been blessed with (63 degrees and sunny!). I instantly felt better. I'm convinced, there is nothing a little sunshine can't fix.

Hope all of you are enjoying the sunshine wherever you may be!

Insta-me...

2012-01-23T11:02:00.000-05:00

I've been bad with the posting, so just thought I'd make a quick post showing some of my latest Instagram pics. Hope your Monday is going great!

Keeping it Tight on the elliptical.

Having a spa day at home.


One of my favorite things: My ebay cat-eye sunglasses.

Me and my smallest munchkin.


One of my favorite things: Green Tea Frapp

I'm not THAT much of a dessert person, so this is the only red velvet cupcake I'm really interested in. ;^)

Currently reading.

...

2012-01-14T15:42:00.000-05:00

“A sharp knife never proclaims it’s sharpness to the world…but the first to fall against it becomes it’s advocate.”

Stop forcing it...

2012-01-13T15:17:00.003-05:00

Hey ya'll! I've got some posts to draft (like my post on juicing), but just thought I'd throw this one up real quick, since it's been a few days since my last post.

Well, one of my resolutions this year is to not straighten my hair anymore. No more flat iron. Well no, not forever. I will allow myself to go straight when I trim, but that's it. I've decided to stop giving into this feeling of wanting straight hair, only to not really be into it after it's done. I don't really like my hair straight, yet force it upon myself from time to time, like I'm suppose to like it that way. I don't know what the psychology is in that--maybe it's just the urge to change things up. Either way, I'm done with it. I tend to want to straighten after seeing someone on TV or online or a magazine, etc. with nice looking sleek hair, but once I have that hair? I'm never really happy and I end up putting it a bun or french braids, etc. So I will from now on, see that nice sleek hair on other gals and be able to acknowledge to myself that although it looks great on THEM, it's not for ME.

So now I'm back to a regimen of bunning during the week, and braidout/twistout on the weekends. I've gotten back into yoga recently and it's just best for me to have all this hair out of my way.

Sometimes after looking at pictures of my hair, I wonder why I'd ever want it straight anyway??

Anyway, have a great weekend!!

Bottoms up!

2012-01-06T08:00:00.003-05:00

Yea, so I l know I told you guys that I would do a "resolutions" post, but unfortunately I waited too long to draft said post and.....I really just don't feel like it anymore. SO...you will more than likely just see my resolutions mentioned in future posts. 'kay?

Anyway, I just got a new juicer in the mail and I am stoked. One of my resolutions is to have a healthier diet, and I specifically wanted to incorporate juicing into it. This year, I'm on a quest not to just LOOK better (does that quest ever end?), but to FEEL better as well. As you know, I've already jumped on the green smoothie bandwagon and juicing will be the perfect little sidekick to that. I ordered my nice AFFORDABLE juicer (with good reviews) from Amazon. Affordable meaning less than 100 bucks. I decided to throw in a book on the subject as well. I will do a review on the juicer and book, as well as my favorite concoctions, in the near future after I've had a chance to take both for a spin. Stay tuned!

We've Heard of Xmas in July...

2012-01-03T11:16:00.002-05:00

...but I much prefer it to feel like July on Christmas! Here are just a few snaps. I didn't get very many pics of myself--I took more pics of "stuff". :) Hope you all had a nice holiday!

Wore this Xmas day. Discovered this in the back of my closet. Haven't worn it it almost 3 years!

Backyard posing.

A persistent little visitor at the Green Parrot on Paradise Island.

Whatever your flavor...

The new building for the straw market.

Handmade wood carvings.

A stall at the Straw Market

Shots! Shots! Shots! (at Sharkeez)

Junkanoo Beach sunset

His little piece of heaven. (at Goodman's Bay)

View of the sunrise from the house.

Street food.

My little man adores the beach.

Montegu dock. We were here buying fish and conch.

Taking on the Nassau roads...

Me and Cruz. He's over 5 months now. Time goes so fast!

We had a wonderful time. More pics to come of Junkanoo...

Back Home...

2011-12-31T21:02:00.000-05:00

I literally just got back into Atlanta a couple of hours ago. I'm going to be spending a quiet evening at home bringing in the New Year with my boys, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I plan to write a post tomorrow of some of the things I resolve to do/be/accomplish in 2012. It's going to be a great year, I just feel it.

And on another note--there is absolutely nothing wrong with New Years resolutions. I've noticed on some social networking sites that saying one doesn't do resolutions seems to be the "in" thing right now. Resolutions can be many things, they can be things that you are ALREADY working towards, or it can be something new. The first of the year is a great time to actually write it down/say it outloud/share it with someone. It's a lot easier remembering to do a self-check on those goals on the first of the year, than on another random (forgettable) day of the year. Even if you accomplish none of it within the year, if there is something that you thought to make a resolution about then it must be some kind of positive change. The biggest step in change, is being able to ACKNOWLEDGE a change is needed. So whether it gets done this year, next year, whenever, you've already made the first step. Don't let anyone make you feel like it's stupid or foolish to do so. Happy New Year!! And be safe tonight!!

Merry Xmas...

2011-12-25T10:36:00.002-05:00

...from The Bahamas!!

Hat & Pigtails kinda day...

2011-12-21T17:10:00.000-05:00

It's another rainy day in the "A".

Keep It Tight Update

2011-12-16T12:30:00.001-05:00

5 months post preg / 133 lbs. / 5'9

I am the mother of 2 kiddos. I workout about 3 times a week. I don't do anything insane. I eat what I want in moderation, but try to eat healthy. I like my wine & spirits and I eat dessert once or twice a week. I attribute some of this to genes--but I'm a firm believer in no matter if you've had children or not...you can "get back" with a little determination!

Have a great weekend lovies.

Lumberjack Chic

2011-12-15T10:00:00.002-05:00

Plaid shirt - Target

Vest - Old Navy

Jeggings - F21

Boots - DSW

Hair - Fresh Braidout

In the Kitch: Skinny Chicken & Tomato Pasta

2011-12-12T12:18:00.000-05:00

Today's recipe I'm sharing with you lovely readers is a pasta dish I made last week. I found this recipe on Pinterest because I fell in love with the photo. It looked so delicious and SIMPLE. Let me tell you, it was all that I'd hoped it would be. My husband and I, in a word....SMASHED it. I'd made enough to have leftovers for dinner the next day, and I think we may have scraped some non-stick coating off of the pan that next day even. lol Anyway, I watch a lot of cooking shows and travel/food shows, and one thing I've learned when watching them make Italian dishes or at Italian restaurants IN Italy, is that some of the pasta dishes that are popular don't involve any "sauce". I think we Americans automatically assume that all pasta dishes require a sauce. Not so! In Italy, they make yummy pasta dishes with just pasta, fresh ingredients and just a really good extra-virgin olive oil. You'll be surprised at how something so simple can be so flavorful. So here you go for this newfound staple in my dinner line- up. Oh, it's pretty healthy too. Thanks Skinny Taste for the great recipe!

Ingredients:

* 2 skinless chicken breast halves, diced in 1 inch cubes

* cooking spray

* 1/2 tsp each of dried oregano and dries basil

* kosher salt and fresh pepper

* 8 oz spaghetti (high fiber or low carb) I used Ronzoni Smart Taste

* 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved

* 6 cloves garlic, smashed and coarsely chopped

* 4 tsp extra virgin olive oil

* 4 tbsp chopped fresh basil

Directions:

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.

Season chicken generously with salt, pepper, oregano and basil. Heat a large skillet on high heat. When hot, spray with oil and add chicken. Cook about 3-4 minutes, until no longer pink. Remove chicken and set aside.

Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Reserve about 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.

While pasta cooks, add olive oil to skillet on high heat. Add garlic and sauté until golden brown (do not burn). Add tomatoes, salt and pepper and reduce heat to medium-low. Sauté about 4-5 minutes. When pasta is drained, add pasta to tomatoes and toss well. If pasta seems too dry, add some of the reserved pasta water. Add fresh basil and chicken and toss well. Serve and top with good grated cheese.

Tips & Mods

- I was out of dried oregano, and basil for that matter, but I DID have Italian seasoning (which has both of those as ingredients, along with some other herbs). So, I just seasoned the chicken with the Italian seasoning and salt.

- As you can see from the pics, I also added one chopped zucchini to the dish. I just thought it would add some color and another healthy veg couldn't hurt.

-I again used whole grain pasta

- Make sure to use a GOOD grated parmesian or romano cheese. NOT the powder kind ppl put on pizza, etc. haha

Enjoy!

Oh No She Didn't!

2011-12-09T07:25:00.000-05:00

....Nik made a video! Just saying hi...

Because I have nothing else to post...

2011-12-05T15:26:00.005-05:00

...just thought I'd share a couple snaps of me out with my friends this past Saturday. We were celebrating a birthday at this "international party" (lots of reggae, Haitian and African music), and boy was it fun. And yea, I'm like the only American-born person out of all my girls here in Atlanta. haha This was my first time wearing my hair curly (twistout done with 6 large twists) since my cut. All I can say is---I'm never letting it get any longer than this ever again!!! Okay, never is a strong word, but you know what I mean. Anyway, if you're ever in Atlanta on a Saturday night and are in an "international" mood, check out Cream Ultra Lounge. The music was awesome.

Cyber Friday!!

2011-12-02T08:49:00.002-05:00

So I decided to have a Cyber Friday sale. Once again, I'm cleaning out the closet. I have a few things listed on eBay, and I plan to put more stuff up over the weekend. I have some clothing to unload, as well as baby stuff! Here's what's listed now...

Nine West Mary Janes listing HERE.

BCBGirls copper/bronze pumps listing is HERE.

Snakeskin print Steve Madden heels listing is HERE.

Happy bidding!!

It's a Celebration

2011-11-29T09:06:00.002-05:00

Today, me and the hubs are celebrating 3 years of marriage. The years are going by so fast! Happy Anniversary to us!

Chicken Piccata

2011-11-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today's recipe is an Italian chicken dish that I made a couple days ago. I've had chicken piccata at restaurants, but this was my first time making it here at home. It turned out DEE-lish. First off, ANY dish that uses fried chicken as a base can't be all that bad and combined with lemon, buttery flavors--it can't help but be a winner.

Ingredients

2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, butterflied and then cut in half
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
All-purpose flour, for dredging
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup brined capers, rinsed
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.

In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.
Into the pan add the lemon juice, stock and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.

Tips & Mods

-I actually didn't alter this recipe in any way. I will say though, if you're not a person who is big on lemon-y flavors--you may want to reduce the quantity of lemon juice by just a tad.

-This is an Italian dish, so whenever I've been served this in a restaurants, it was always over pasta or another pasta dish was with it as a side. I wasn't wanting pasta this particular day, so I had it with oven-roasted broccoli and Parmesan mashed potatoes.

Hope you guys enjoy!

Recipe courtesy of Giada de Laurentis of The Food Network