Gym Class Hero

Lockers are pretty much all the rage these days and there are some seriously swoon-worthy ones out there. Unfortunately, most of them pack a hefty price tag.


Like this beauty at $699 from Restoration Hardware. I mean, it's gorgeous but $699 for a child's desk?! Please, RH, be serious.

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Or this one, on Etsy. It'll set you back $675 + $150 shipping. Yes, that's in American dollars.

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Well, if you're lucky enough to have husband that hoards collects as a hobby, you may just be able to be graced with one of these bad boys for $100 (actually free. He got two for $100 and sold the other one for $100). He's the William Shatner of our household. 

The Hubs, ever so crafty and creative as he is (if he dressed better and I wasn't married to him, I'd really question his sexuality...) found some letters at our local home improvement store, painted them and 'roughed them up' a little bit. Then glued each one on. Not sure if you can tell down the right hand side, but it's got my little guy's name down the side.

He did this project a little over three years ago, so I'm pretty impressed with his ahead-of-the-curve taste. Now, if we can just do something about his wardrobe, we'll be in business :)

I really wish I had a photo editor to make this prettier and add a fun little graphic, but alas, I'm still searching. Any advice would be much appreciated!

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{Recipe} Salmon Salad

My. New. Jam.

This is seriously amazing. I was pleasantly surprised. I had some leftover salmon from last night's dinner and reheated, plain salmon is not my thing, but I definitely can't waste protein (uhm, have you seen the price of ground turkey lately?! Seriously? I'm in the wrong business). I searched around and found this (a site I'm loving, btw)...get ready to stock up on salmon.

Ok, not the most appealing picture, but I promise. What it lacks in gorgeousness, it makes up for in taste. This is the first time I've made it but it seems to be one of those forgiving recipes that you can tweak to your little hearts desire.

Here's my version:

1 4oz cooked salmon filet (you could also use 1 can of salmon)

1/2 c (or so) of black beans - rinsed and drained

Diced red onion (I'd say 1 T. or so)

Diced tomato 

Dollop of olive oil mayo or greek yogurt (I used mayo)

Squirt of dijon mustard

1 tsp. or so of balsamic vinegar

Salt and Pepper to taste

All of the ingredients were either cold (salmon from fridge) or room temp. Mix up and dig in! 

I scooped up with a serving size (15 crackers) of gluten-free multi-seed crackers. 

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 

Love to hear your tweaks if you make them :)

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{Recipe} Quick & Clean Chili

Happy Thursday, Everyone! It's a rainy day here - perfect for blogging...and chili (if you follow me on instagram (niki_hellostripes), you've already seen this). This has quickly become one of my favorite go to meals (apparently, much to the Golden Boy's dismay. He doesn't like beans? Crazy person.). It's quick, clean and you're more than likely to have all the ingredients already in your freezer, fridge or pantry. The original recipe can be found here, but I've tweaked it after several times of making it, until I found a way that I like best. Feel free to tweak to your tastes. It's a pretty forgiving recipe.

Quick & Clean Chili::Hello Stripes Style

Ingredients:

2 - 2.5 lbs. extra lean ground turkey (grass-fed beef or bison)

½ cup chopped onions (or 1 tbsp. onion powder)

1 tbsp. garlic powder

1 -- 15 oz. can dark red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)

1 – 15 oz. can pinto beans (drained and rinsed)

2 - 3 – 14.5 oz. cans Organic Diced Tomatoes (do not drain)

1 -- 14.5 oz. can yellow corn (drained)

1 -- 28 oz. can Rotel (do not drain)

1 -- 8 oz. can tomato sauce

1/2 tbsp. Splenda Brown Sugar blend

1 tbsp. chili powder

2 tbsp. white vinegar

3 tbsp. regular yellow mustard

2 tsp. cumin

1 - 2 tsp. salt

Directions:  

In a large pot add onions/onion powder and meat, sprinkled with garlic powder and cook until no longer

pink and drain.

Next add all the ingredients and stir

until combined.  

Simmer for about 10 minutes.  

May sprinkle veggie shreds or a light cheese on top. I also slice 1/2 of an avocado on top.  

Makes 10 servings (or 5, if you're like me...).

I usually make cornbread with this. It just seems to really make it into an actual meal. I will have a small, small piece. Just enough to get my fix :)

Enjoy!

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{Recipe} My favorite way to do chicken

This is my favorite way to do chicken. We had it a couple nights ago, but I forgot to take a picture so, lets just pretend I cooked this perfect looking meal. I cook this probably once a week.

Ok, first the marinade - the pièce de résistance. Back when I used to have time to watch TV, I loved me some Giada. This is her Mixed Grill Marinade and it. is. BALLIN'. I use it and love it so much, that it prompted me to buy a lemon tree. Seriously.

For marinade:

5 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup fresh lemon juice, from about 5 lemons

2 cups extra-virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons smoked salt, or kosher salt

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

I take 2 organic chicken breasts (this is usually the only time I use this brand because it's about $10/lb. but the flavor and quality really is noticeable) and marinate them in the above marinade in the fridge for at least an hour. Sometimes two. I'll put them out about 20 minutes and let the chill come off of them before I throw them in the grill pan.

Here's how it's done:

In a medium bowl, combine the marinade ingredients.

In a large bowl, combine the marinade with the chicken breasts. Toss to combine. Cover and let marinate for at least 1 hour. If marinating for longer than 1 hour, make sure to refrigerate.

Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Grill the chicken breasts to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 7 minutes a side.

It is the juciest, most awesome chicken ever. I will usually serve it with a green of some sort (usually zuchinni, asparagus, or fresh green beans, sometimes broccoli for me) and a complex carb (wild rice, quinoa, and if I'm feeling especially nice, I make cornbread for the Golden Boy) I'll slice the pan into 12's and I'll usually eat 1 serving. No clue on how much that is, but it's a small portion. Just enough to have it, but not enough to completely derail my clean eating. 

Sidenote:
Giada's Mixed Grill is incredible, if you're feeling like going all out. Back in my gluten-loving days, I did the saffron orzo with it. Insane. I'd probably try saffron quinoa now, if I had time to do the whole shebang. I'll keep you posted if I try that one out and how it goes.

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A Few of My Favorite Things

I am so ready for warmer Spring weather. Cold makes me grumpy so, I like to remind myself of the countless reasons I have to be happy. In that spirit, here a few things that I'm totally into right now :)

1. This stage

I love that he looks like "Elf" crammed in that little ride

The happiest little boy I know

This is what I get when I say "smile!"

2. Mally Makeup

Particularly her Volumizing Mascara and Evercolor Starlight Eyeliner. They stay on all day long - even through really tough workouts.

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3. Naptime

Need I say more...

4. CrossFit

Seriously. If you haven't tried it. Please. Find your local box and go try it. It will change your life - or at least your body. 

5. Yoga

Yoga is such a necessity for me. You can do it anywhere (thank you Yoga Paws). It brings me back to center and calms my soul. It gives me a stronger mind and body.

6. Viva La Lovely

Josie is the most ah-maaaazing designer. Her style is impeccable. I recommend her for any design work you need (invitations, printables, etc.) Here is her Etsy shop. She's done several things for me but, here are just a couple of examples:

7. The Color Navy 

Period. Anyone else totally crushing on this color? I have always loved navy. It's so preppy and 'American'. A little tidbit of trivia about me:: I had an accent wall that was a Tommy Hilfiger logo when I was in high school. Yes, and ENTIRE wall. I'm sure the people that bought our house just loved painting over that.

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8. Black Front Doors

So classic.

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9. The Clymb

A fitness gear sale site that has a great yoga and shoe department. All kinds of great deals to be found. I just bought a pair of Inov-8 shoes for $32...super pumped about that buy.

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Those are just a handful of mine. What are some of your favorite things?

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{Recipe} Knock-off Super Food Salad

Schnuck's (on First Avenue, if you're an Evansville native) has this delightful little "Super Food" salad at their deli - I'm pretty sure they knocked it off from Trader Joes. Apparently 'knocking off' is the new thing. Any ways, as much as I eat it and at $4.99 a pound (on sale), I knew I could do better. Plus, I can almost 100% guarantee they don't use organic kale. In bad blogger fashion, I have no clue how much this thing costs but, I'm pretty sure it's cheaper than $4.99/lb and quite frankly, as much as I eat it, I don't really care - I just want the organic kale. I'm also pretty sure this isn't totally kosher-paleo (that's a new term I just made up) because of the edamame, but I guess if you left it out it would be...I'm sure someone will let me know if that's an incorrect assumption. Anyways, tweak as necessary and enjoy.

Ingredients: again, in bad blogger fashion, I just eyeball stuff and throw it in. Don't really know exact amounts.

Salad:

1 bunch or so organic kale (found mine at Fresh Market) (chiffonade)
Organic blueberries
Dried cranberries or cherries (I slightly rehydrated by throwing in some boiling water)
Shredded carrots
Shelled, thawed edamame
Sunflower seeds
Slivered almonds
Cherry tomatoes (halved)
Red onion
Basil (chiffonade)

Dressing:

Lemon juice (I just squeeze 2 or 3)
EVOO
Kosher Salt
Fresh ground black pepper
I feel like I put a little parsley in there too, but can't remember. I'm sure it would be totally yum.

Note: I gave it all a good massage after I threw the dressing on. I think that softens the kale a little bit and gives it a better flavor.

I have this in the fridge at all times. It's an awesome snack or side dish to just about anything.

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A Heavy Heart...

Well, I had every intention of sharing how I managed to finally organize 5 years of paperwork in 3 hours last week, but I just can't. I have no words. My heart hurts and I don't feel merry or ecstatic like I was when I completed my project last Thursday.

I'm not sure why this photo, but seeing it somehow made me realize how real this unspeakable tragedy is.

Even posting it is making me cry. I just don't understand. How could there be that kind of evil? I think that the scariest thing is is that you promise to protect your children with the fierceness of tiger and then something like this happens and you realize that maybe you can't. It makes me want to cling to them and never let them out of my sight. I know that's not healthy, but what's a mom to do? 

I pray so hard for all the families affected. Now, and in the future. I want our world to not be this kind of a place, but the reality is...that it is. 

I know that there's good in the world too and I'm trying to focus on that and teach my children that there's always good guys and to be the change you want to see in the world - it's just so hard when I don't even want to let them out of the house. 

I'm sorry, I'm a rambling mess, I just can't seem to write the words that are in my heart.

I make a conscious effort each morning and night to spend time thanking God for the things I'm most thankful for (my health, family, so so many things) and this tragedy has just flooded me with so many emotions, thankfulness, sorrow, utter disbelief and so many more that I can't even express.

No matter what your life is like right now, I assure you it's better than the families in CT and what they're going through right now. Be thankful for every second you have with the ones you love. Never take them for granted. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

Your in my prayers, Sandy Hook.

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