Perfect Fit, Supporting Starbucks and being very Fashionable!

I'm not going to lie, I pretty much am addicted to Starbucks, and for me it's local, you know Seattle and all. I not only greatly enjoy their coffee, but I like how they support the community and how they decided to help the economy/jobs with their $5 "Indivisible" bracelets.

What I didn't like about the bracelet is that it was too big, for my tiny wrist. I get it is supposed to be a double wrap, which I usually love, but it annoyed me that it didn't fit. So, as someone who can not leave well enough alone, I cut it in half, added a clasp and Tada awesomeness.

With bungee cord bracelets being so in right now, I'm not only supporting helping jobs, but also my bracelet fits better, and with other bracelets stacked with this I'm super in fashion.

Until next time....

DIY: Old Grocery Store Checkstand Lights made into a Side Table

I have a tendency to always have either a glass of water/cup of coffee while I am at home. I also have a tendency to place said beverages on the arm of the chair, thus leading to me usually knocking them over and spilling said beverage and breaking said glass, which as you can imagine angers Husband. Based on this chain reaction I realized a side table was what our living room was lacking.

Unfortunately, I am not someone who can just go out a buy a side table. No, I always feel I need to make it, sometimes much to Husband’s dismay.

So my youngest brother manages the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Beaverton, OR. Upon my last visit there he had just received a group of checkstand lights when New Seasons grocery stores decided to change their look. Good for me, I was able to pick up a set of four numbers. I figured stacked and topped these numbers would make fantastic side tables.

After a hint of paint, a few screws, some braces and one old Pottery Barn metal bulletin board…..table made, beverage/glass safe, Husband happy.

Until next time……  

 Before

I Know I'm not Hawaiian, but here is how I did Hawaiian Shrimp Scampi

As I mentioned last time I recently came back from my first time in Maui. When Husband and I are out of town we like to eat where the locals eat. So when we came across Geste Shrimp (Just Shrimp, get it? It's Hawaiian) and had their Hawaiian Shrimp Scampi I knew I had to figure out how to recreate this.

The Process for Recreating Hawaiian Shrimp Scampi in Seattle 

Step 1: Understand and remember that you am not Hawaiian

Step 2: Look up on the internet Hawaiian shrimp Scampi recipes and realize they all kind of suck

Step 3: You are not Hawaiian

After I came to terms with the above steps I took bits of a few internet recipes and came up with my own. I would like to preface with I do not really measure because I was taught to cook from my Italian great grandmother and she measured with a pinch, a handful and some, so please take that into advisement. 

Britt's Hawaiian Shrimp Truck Scampi 

1 1/2 pounds of shrimp still in shell 

3 full cloves of garlic (yeah you heard me 3) 

1/4 white wine (and some for drinking while you cook so get something good) 

1 tablespoon Paprika (sure that amount sounds good) 

1 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper

1 teaspoon Salt 

4 and some table spoons butter (yep and some, really that's up to you) 

1. Split, clean and devain the shrimp, but leave their legs and shells on, it will enhance the flavor and that's how it was served to me so that is how it will be served to you. 

2. Marinate shrimp in 1 clove of minced garlic, wine, bunch of shakes of paprika or the tablespoon if you need a measurement, pepper and salt. I let them sit for about an hour. Shrimp don't need a ton of time to gain flavor. 

3. When your shrimp have swam around in the wine, paprika mixture for about an hour. In a large frying type pan, I used my cast iron, melt butter on medium and mix with the other two minced garlic cloves. It's going to smell amazing and it's good for you to be around that much garlic...at least that's what my grandma always would say.  

4. When garlic is a bit translucent add the shrimp and their marinade to the butter and garlic. Mix those little guys into the butter. Yes, the garlic will get stuck in their shells you want that. Cook until pink, hey look at that you did it.

If you want to be really amazing add this Hawaiian macaroni salad and a scoop of white rice (don't ask me that's how they serve it) now eat with your hands and pretend you are in Maui.   

Until next time....