Organizing....

Organizing can be so boring....unless you have a cute project to go along with it........But I didn't!  I have one those corner cabinets in my kitchen....that a child could disappear into.  The kind that there is stuff back there that you don't EVEN remember you own, because you are not going to dig for it!  I was a little grumpy one day this week and it felt like it was good time to see what was long forgotten in the dark corner of that shelf....I have no idea how those two go together. LOL!

I can't BELIEVE all the Stuff that was in there.  This is Boring, but it took several pictures to show everything!

Here is the cabinet in question! and some of the stuff...

Cake Pans, haven't decorated a cake in years!

Don't need that Pan, the Ice Crusher is going to the other  house for the Bar.

A Nice Silver Bowl, that was way back in there.

Party Bowls and Platters

There was a Dining room table full of STUFF to.....that pink bag, full of cake decorating stuff, punch bowls, crystal platters, insulated casserole carrier.

You know one thing leads to another.....It Always does!  I put those Christmas Platters and Bowls back into the dark corner.  Those are a once of year thing.  Then, I put the small appliances that use on a Regular basis right there in easy reach.

But...What about all those cake pans, silver bowl, punch bowl and lord I don't remember what else...

I have this pantry under the stairs in a Closet.  We had custom Drawers made for it way back when we had the kitchen done.  You know how drawers are...They are notorious for just opening up and collecting stuff, that you really don't need.  YIKES! Since, I still had stuff all over the counters, it was time to see where else I could get some room.

All is good until you open those drawers.

Lunch boxes...How many do I need, not even One now.

Koozies, candy molds, cake decorating books

Ice Cream buckets, never know when you need a bucket.

 Let the organizing begin, everything went into the floor....I will NOT show you a picture..

All those Cake Pans, Decorating Books, Cooling Plates, tips went into one drawer.

 I was thinking,,,I don't have to do the full blown cake decorating to USE the different shaped pans.  I have been hoarding this stuff for Years. Now they easy to get to.  If I don't use then in the next year, I will get rid of it.  Everything that I don't use. It is taking up a whole drawer. 

 More Cake stuff, Punch bowl, nice crystal platters, Platters, Silver bowl.....I am excited to be able to open a drawer, reach in and get them, instead of climbing into Dark Places.

I hope that I didn't bore you! I felt like I had accomplished something for the day.  And Yes, I did throw some stuff out!

Bang Bang Shrimp

My youngest daughter was coming home from college this past weekend.  She said, "Mom, I want something really good for dinner. Can you have it ready when I get there?  I will be starving!"  This was her first trip home, since moving off to college and we were really excited for her to be coming home.  And, a little scared of her driving all the way, by herself.  I asked her what she was wanting and her response was Bang Bang Shrimp or Steak.  Well, my grill is gone......I need a new one.  So, off to the store in the pouring rain to get some shrimp to cook.

Now, that I have started this blog thing, EVERYTHING is Blog material. I know that there are many recipes for Bang Bang Shrimp on the internet, but not with Pictures!

What you need:
2lbs Raw Shrimp, I bought the Large ones- Most recipes call for 1lb, but we love shrimp!
Corn Starch

 Since, I always buy the frozen, I put my shrimp in a colander and run warm water over the shrimp to thaw and to let the extra water drain off. 

     Dredge or cover your shrimp in the Corn starch.

 

Fry in hot cooking oil, (I use Vegetable oil) till lightly brown.  It doesn't take long. Don't overcook! Drain on paper towels.

Now, for your sauce.  I actually mixed up two different ones, simply because I couldn't remember which sauce, that I used last time.

 With Fusia Chili & Garlic dipping sauce

 With Panda Express Beijing Sauce

I like the color of the one on the right with the Beijing, but they both tasted almost the same.  I am telling you this, because I couldn't find the sauce that was called for in the recipe.  You will find these in the Chinese food section in your grocery store.

What you need:

1/2 Cup Mayo

1/4 cup of Beijing Sauce

4-5 drops Hot Sauce

Mix well!

The traditional recipe says to mix shrimp and sauce in a bowl.  Then to serve over lettuce greens.  Personally, I serve my shrimp on a plate with the dip on the side.  And I serve a nice Garden salad with the works!

Things to do in Hot Springs, AR

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth....but....I have been extremely busy!  I thought after June that things would slow down...until I looked at my calender.  Which included four days in Iowa with my oldest and the looming deadline to get everything ready for the big college move in day.  So, I thought, things will slow down AFTER we get the youngest moved to college.  Well, nothing has slowed down yet, BUT we went over to our home in Hot Springs last week and I did...NOTHING, not one project.  I just watered and Relaxed.  Bob, cut some grass, but not much, since we haven't had any rain.

Two of the mornings, we rode our horses and went out to dinner Friday with some friends.

But, Saturday is what I want to talk about.  I have been wanting to visit one of the bath houses.  Since, we weren't up to our elbows in a project, this weekend was a great time to do it.  Hot Springs, AR was called the Valley of the Vapors, because of the effect all the hot pools with steam coming off of them had on the valley.  All or most of them have been capped off, so to enjoy the benefits of the Hot Mineral water, you have to go to one the bath houses.  Although..... I have seen a man in the park with his legs over in that pool.  There are also many water fountains in the bath row area, that people use to fill water jugs.  I mean they come in their car with large containers and fill them up with the water.  While, we were walking around, I saw a couple doing just that.  I warned Bob, I am about to stop and talk to these people.  LOL!  They said it was the best water ever.  I guess, I really need to take some jugs next time.

So, we visited the Quapaw Bath House.  They offer a variety of spa treatments, massages, and a community pool.  It is $18 to visit the pool and you can stay as long as you want.  You HAVE to wear a bathing suit and have non slip flip flops. ($3 if you need some)  They provide you with towels, a key to a locker and point you to the appropriate locker room.  They also ask that you run through the shower before entering the pool.  When you enter into the pool area, they give you a glass of water and explain the temperatures of the different pools.  Two are really hot and they recommend you stay in them for only 15-20 mins. (don't need anyone passing out) and then either get out to cool off or go into a cooler pool. After, you cool down, you can go back into the hotter pool.

We really enjoyed it.  These waters are suppose to offer healing entities. We meet a couple from Atlanta, GA that came to the states in 1980 from Romania.  She said that her husband suffers bad arthritis and this was their second trip to Hot Springs, to see if the waters would help.  She told me that in the European countries, that doctors often send you to an area with Hot Springs for treatment.  She went on to talk about the pools being huge. That one would be as big as the building that we were in and there would be many.  She said, that all doctors here wanted to do, was to give you a pill.  LOL! I told her, yes, she was right!  

I will be going back!  They also offer a 3 month membership with unlimited visits.  The Quapaw house also offers Wellness classes and a Music Venue.  Check out their web site.

 Bathhouse Row

Hot Springs, AR 71901

501-609-9822

http://www.quapawbaths.com/
info@quapawbaths.com

After our soak, we wandered around downtown town a bit.  We decided we were hungry, but just strolled around looking at the menus posted outside of the restaurants.  Trying to decide what we were hungry for. We came upon The Porterhouse.  My cousin had told me that they had eaten there, pretty pricey, but great atmosphere, and wonderful service.  WELL, they had two Chefs specials listed on the menu...outside.  One was a Prime Rib for $12.95.  Lordy, I don't think you can beat that with a stick, so in we went.  The atmosphere is nice, the service was wonderful, *****, and the food was good!  Their mashed potatoes are to die for!  If, your downtown, check them out!

Look at those mirrors!  I starred in amazement.  They are beautiful!

****Check out their private area upstairs for groups!  Love the lounge and martini bar!

The Porterhouse. Steaks & Seafood
707 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901
Phone: 501 321-8282

http://www.porterhousehs.com/

Check out all of my Hot Springs post under PAGES and LABELS..

Have you enjoyed doing something there that I haven't written about?  I am always on the hunt for the best kept secrets.

OLD Drawers Repurposed!

My parents bought another home, so my mom has been getting rid of stuff she has been hoarding.  Lucky me!  She gave me what was a wood base on a sewing machine, not intact, but the column of drawers that went on each side.  She said, "I know you will do something with them."

Some were missing pieces, but there were some loose ones in a drawer..

This what the drawers came out of.

Here they are......I painted the inside bottom white and then distressed it with sandpaper and I just kinda dry brushed the white all over the outside.  Then I took a damp paper towel and rubbed it.  Several of them I added lettering too.  I used the Vinyl stick on letters, painted over them and then pulled them off.  Then I just dabbed some blue into the letters.

I must say.....I LOVE how they turned out!

The SEW is for my mom :) I am sure she can find something to put in it.

The decorative pieces were loose and I glued them onto the drawers.

 NOW, that I had them cleaned up and painted, I still really didn't know Where ....I would use them.  So, this is where they have landed for now.  And, of course I shared with my mom.  This project started with her giving them to me.

I found the little fish...at a junk store.  Might not be the best place for him, but he fits and it is where he has landed for now.

Of course, the bath one went into the Bath to hold some misc stuff that has been sitting on the counter...Hand Lotion & Instant Hand Manicure (of course those are BeautiControl), perfume, cologne.

Have you repurposed old drawers for something else?

Mini Bar

Our Dining Room (AR house) has Four, yes Four built-in bookcases and a Fireplace mantle.  I really struggled as to what to put in them.  I have had stuff in three of them for ages, but have continued to struggle with the last one.  Let me show you my problem.  It is really deep, but has narrow shelves....I just could not for life of me, figure out what to put in there. The home was a foreclosure, so no idea as to what previous owners used the space for.  The last trip over, it hit me....Make it a Bar!

I have been wanting to add something to back of all the bookcases, like fabric or wallpaper and just haven't found what I want.  BUT, the bar would have to have something.  I had in mind a wallpaper that looked like glass tiles, but the only thing that I could find was on the internet and sometimes the color is not accurate, so I settled for a paintable wallpaper from Lowes that looks like tile.

 I have added a few things to the mantle...I am still working on that as well.  A near future project will be to vamp up the mantle.  Maybe next trip.

Now, to wait....for 24 hours before painting.
 

I chose Red.  One of my favorite colors and if you have looked at my blog than you know it is. I brought home a piece to play with.  I thought about going over it with a bronze or silver glaze.  We will see.  We put a LED strip light in the top of the cabinet.  There is a plug underneath the cabinet, so we hid the the wire in the front corner, drilled a hole, and dropped the cord down to plug in.  I also put down Black shelf paper.  Don't want sticky liquor on the wood.

 ***Update, I played with highlighting the paper with a Bronze paint and it is a no go....staying RED.

I still have to do some shopping.

Oct 2013 - We just returned home from spending a week at our Home in Hot Springs, AR.  While there I added some things to the bar. Waterford crystal is not in the budget at this time, but FUN is!  So, FUN cocktail glasses were added and a mirror on the bottom shelf.

 The mirror reflects some light...it still seems a little dark in there.

Also, added a small mirror under the glasses.

I still need a shaker for making a Martini