Bang Bang Shrimp Deliciousness!

Hello all!  Sorry I have been really slacking lately.  Work has really been consuming me a lot more, and I have been put on several projects at this point.  Yesterday I actually was put on a a new project as the LEAD DESIGNER!  Which is kind of a big deal, and really exciting!  I am hoping that this really does mean that she is interested in hiring me as an actual designer.  We shall see...  Also I have been going from staying at Grant's place some nights, to staying at my parents house alone in Raytown some nights, to going down to Nevada some weekends.  Kind of busy/crazy right now, but I am happy to be busy.  I have been cooking most nights when I'm with Grant which he loves, and I like to do as well.  I finally made a recipe I had wanted to try for a loooong time.  I saw it on pinterest a while ago, and it looked delicious and different.

Thanks to Renee for this awesome recipe that I will be making many more times I'm sure!

Bang Bang Shrimp

The original poster's picture

Ingredients
  -  1 lb. medium sized shrimp  (I used this little bitty shrimp which was harder to fry, but was nice and bite sized)
  For the Sauce
  -  1/2 cup mayonnaise
  -  4-5 teaspoons of chili garlic sauce (we used Sriracha of course!  she also suggested it for the recipe)
  -  1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  -  1 teaspoon rice vinegar (we didn't have this and I forgot to pick it up at the store, so it didn't go in and it was fine)

  For the Egg Mixture

  -  1 egg, beaten

  -  1 cup milk (so we forgot to get milk at the store too, but I had some vanilla soy milk that I drink in the fridge so I used it.  couldn't even tell that I had used it)

  For the Breading Mixture

  -  1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  -  1/2 cup panko bread crumbs  (which we always have on hand...  so many things u can use it in)

  -  1 teaspoon salt

  -  1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 

  -  1/4 teaspoon onion powder

  -  1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

  -  1/4 teaspoon dried basil

  For Frying

                                                                                                                      -  8 - 12 cups of vegetable oil (so this time i 

                                                                                                                         did pan fry them, but I really want to try 

                                                                                                                         baking them next time, so they are a lot 

                                                                                                                         more healthy!) 

Instructions  (the real ones, not exactly what I did) 
1.  Combine all ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl; cover and set aside.
2.  Combine beaten egg with milk in shallow bowl; set aside.
3.  Combine flour, panko, salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and basil in another shallow bowl; set aside.
4.  Bread the shrimp by first coating each with the breading mixture.  Dip breaded shrimp into the egg and milk mixture, and then
      back into the breading.  Arrange the coated shrimp on a plate and pop them into the fridge for at least 20 minutes.  This step will
      help the breading to stick on the shrimp when they are frying.  (I guess I missed this step completely, because I just dipped them
      in the egg mixture, the breading mixture, then in the pan they went.  oh well, they were good none the less!)
5.  Heat oil in deep fryer to 350 degrees.  Use amount of oil required by your fryer.  (I fried them in the skillet because we don't have
     a deep fryer, nor do I ever want one)
6.  When oild is hot, fry shrimp 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.  Drain on rack or paper towels.
7.  When all shrimp has been fried, drop the shrimp into a large bowl.  Spoon about 1/4 cup of sauce over shrimp and gently coat.

Mine weren't near as pretty as those above, but they sure were delicious!  Next time I'm going to try baking them though, and have them with steamed rice and veggies.  Yum!  Well that's all for tonight.  Hope you guys get a chance to try this recipe!  Soo glad its the weekend!  I really want to try and go to the Titanic Exhibit at Union Station, but I don't think we'll go this weekend so not sure what we will be up to tomorrow.   Going to go watch some more Weeds with Grant, and get caught up with Season 6.  Until next time...

Best,
Megan

Beautiful Day on the Farm

What a beautiful Saturday!  Today we did some yard work out here on "the farm".  The grass needed to be cut, so my mom Lauren and I went out and picked up limbs to get ready for the lawn mower.  My mom and Lauren took turns mowing, while I helped my dad give Ginger a bath.  We also cleaned out her kennel for her.  After we were done, and we had some lunch, I went around took some photos of our land (well the 40 acres we live on anyway).  Not too many blooms out yet, but it still was pretty nice out.  Here are the pictures I took today....

This is the front of the house

And the back of the house

I love these old planters!

The old fountain my grandmother had put in when
the house was built

This is our BBQ pit/smoker.  sooo good
when my dad makes his amazing ribs!

This is our shed/barn on this piece of land.  Down
the road on the rest of our property are several
barns and the house my grandmother and
father grew up in.

Here's Ginger after her bath.  She's such a pretty
girl.  I love her so much!

After lunch we kind of lounged around watching HGTV, and I was on pinterest (even thought the internet is terribly slow down here!) pinning my heart away.  We're going to start a movie here in a bit, so until next time...

Best,

Megan

Rain, Rain Go Away

Am I right?  Well at least here in KC it has rained EVERY SINGLE DAY!  But this week has kind of flown by, and it has been a pretty busy one!  Since I am lame, and haven't wrote since Sunday I will just briefly explain what all has been happening recently.  My dad is now in Nevada with my mom and sister while he recovers from his surgery.  So that means I have the whole house to myself.  Monday and Tuesday were a little slower at work, since I had been gone that week before and was trying to figure out what I needed to help out on and what not.  By Wednesday I was being put on 3 different project, so its really nice to be working with the other designers and doing actual design work!  We are also working on this special project as a company that only 17 design firms in the nation are working on so that has been pretty exciting as well!

Also at work I have been taking on more responsibility in walking people around the showroom, that come in to look at our kitchens.  I enjoy it most of the time.  Most people are really nice and want to hear all the information about each of the set ups, but sometimes there are some rude or strange people that come through. I guess you could say I'm making the best of it.

This weekend I am in Nevada (just got here about an hour ago) and everyone is here (my mom, dad, hannah, and lauren)!  My dad is looking really good!  I'm really glad he was able to take off a lot of time from work and be down here with my mom.  He was also able to schedule all of his rehabilitation stuff here at the Nevada Hospital, so he doesn't have to drive to Harrisonville or even Kansas City to be able to do what he needs to do these next 2 months.  Lauren is off of school this next week for Spring Break, so she just got here tonight like I did.  Its been a while since I've seen her (I think it was right before new years if I remember right), so it's nice to be able to catch up on what she's been doing.  I wish we could talk more, but she's busy with school, and I keep pretty busy myself with work and my organizations and the little bit of a social life I have (if you can even call it that lol).

I really wish my best girlfriends lived here in Kansas City.  I miss them all so much!  I know that going out with girl friends is something that has been lacking in my life really since last summer.  I wish I could go and visit them all soon, but I know that I won't be able to do that for a while.  The girls at work keep talking about doing happy hours every once and a while, so hopefully that starts happening.  I don't want to be a lame person who just goes to work and then goes home (at least while I'm still young!).  It's hard when I have no income right now though.  I guess things will change once I have a real job.  Just gotta stay positive and keep my eyes out for any openings.  I don't want to stoup low for something that is outside of my major, but sometimes I find myself thinking about it.  I dunno, good things will happen I'm sure of it.  I really am very lucky for what I have and I try to remember that each and every day.

Well, I am exhausted from work and the hour and a half drive down here to Nevada, sooo I'm going to hit the hay.  Until next time...

Best,
Megan

One Year Down... Many More To Go!

this lovely photo credits to Twiggs Photography on Etsy

First off I just want to say how wonderful the weather has been this past week!  Just gorgeous for March (especially here in the mid-west)!   Today is Grant and I's anniversary.  It is so wild to think that it has really been a year already.  Although we may not have spent a lot of time together in the beginning, between him traveling for work and me being in Columbia still finishing up my degree.  Since moving back to Kansas City we are able to see each other on a regular basis, which has been so great.  I know that their were challenges along the way, and there will be many more but I know that we will get through them together.  I love him very much!

We decided to celebrate last night, and went out to dinner and then watched a movie when we got home.  After this long stressful week it was great to spend this weekend with the one who keeps me going, and the one that makes me so very happy.  Today we finally cleaned Grant's house.  We had planned on doing it many times before, but something else came up or we weren't very motivated to get it done yet.  I can say that now his place looks even better!  Tonight I am going to make dinner for us, and we'll probably curl up on the sofa and watch something on tv.  Just a nice simple weekend; just the two of us.  It has been nice!

I may have used this quote before, but it is one of my favorites of all time and something that I firmly believe in.

Saturday we went to the Kansas City's St. Patrick's Day Parade.  It was nice to go, since neither of us had been before, but I can't say that I would die if I didn't go again.  Maybe it was just because we were at the end of the parade route, but it wasn't all that I thought it was cracked up to being.  Saturday my dad was released from the hospital as well!  Which is GREAT!  He did so well in his recovery that he was released fairly early compared to others having the same surgery.  Today my mom, my sister, and him are making their way back down to Nevada.  Hopefully his recovery in these next few months will be just as great as well!  

Well it's about time to get dinner started, so until next time...

Best,

Megan

Makin' Our Way Through the Week

I can't believe this week is almost over.  We went to the hospital again today to see my dad and he got moved back to the Cardiology rooms instead of being in Intensive Care.  He is still really tired, and even things like taking a shower really takes a lot out of him, but we're all so proud of all the progress he's made so far.  Last night was a bit of a scare, when he called and said he had a fever.  Luckily it was nothing serious and he got back to sleep just fine.  I only wish I could go to the hospital more for him, because I know that it can be so lonely.  Sure my times in the hospital haven't been anything like his, but I know that being alone for any amount of time in that situation is rough.  My mom always leaves early in the morning to go see him, but I have to wait for my sister to get up and get ready every day.  If it were up to me I would be going right with my mom early in the morning.  O well, I think tomorrow we will be able to be there earlier.  

This weekend Grant and I are planning on going to the KC St. Patrick's Day Parade.  Neither of us have ever been, so it should be really fun!  Sunday is our anniversary so hopefully we'll get to do something nice together.  We shall see!  I am just glad I will get to spend some time with Grant.  He keeps me grounded and puts me at ease.  Maybe we'll even go and visit my dad together this weekend.  

Well, I better get some sleep cause I'm sure tomorrow will be an early morning and then most of the day will be spent at the hospital.  Thanks for reading (hope its not too boring, I'm not great at this...), and hope you all have a great Friday!

Best,

Megan

What a Whirlwind of a Day! So Glad it's OVER!

Now that today is (pretty much) over, I can have a huge sigh of relief.  I knew that he was going to be okay, but I always had that other situation in the back of my head.  It's hard not to think of all the possibilities (or maybe that's just me, I dunno).  Tomorrow I am going with my mom and my sister in the morning to go see him.  When he got out of surgery he still had his breathing tube in, and wasn't able to take it out yet.  I would think that by the time we get there tomorrow he will be off the breathing tube and will be able to talk to us.  We knew that he could hear us, because he would nod his head and open his eyes every once and a while.  The doctor just kept telling him to relax and get some rest.  I'm sure he will be able to do more tomorrow, like they said sitting up, and eating some light food, etc.  I am so glad that my boss was willing to give me the week off to be with my family.  I can only imagine how Lauren feels not being able to be here, but everything went just fine and she will be able to come home soon for her Spring Break.

I don't really know what else to talk about right now, because that's really all that's been on my mind for sure the past 3 days.  It's been a long day, and I am pretty exhausted.  Until next time...

Best,
Megan

A Bit of a Misunderstanding

Hello everyone!  What a gorgeous Saturday it is (here in KC anyway); it almost feels like summer its sooo good!  I haven't been outside a ton today, but I did go outside right after lunch to play with ginger.  I took a little bit of a nap, which felt sooo good!  There isn't much to do here at home, and now that my mom and Hannah are here its even more cramped.  lol  I love that we're all here together though this weekend and the next week.  I am anxious to get Tuesday over with, and I know everyone else here is too.

While on pinterest today I stumbled upon a few good writing prompts/lists to write about.  So I'm going to try and use these every once and a while to write about who I am and what I am all about.  I think it will be nice for me to do this and get things down on "paper".  I have lots of hopes and aspirations for this blog, but it seems like lately everything else in life has been so consuming.  Just gotta keep pushing through!

So today's question is: What do you think people misunderstand most about you?


  Okay, I am a designer, an Interior Designer.  Many people I feel give that a bad connotation, or a less than worthy/not so smart profession.  It is something that I have so much passion for, and also with that passion I have some fight in me to maintain the true meaning and importance of Interior Design.  We are NOT decorators.  Decorators arrange things and decorate, Designers DESIGN.  We are licensed in our profession, and are legally responsible for our work (I am working towards getting my license!).  Interior Designers have to know codes and legal aspects of the built environment.  We work closely with Contractors, Architects, Construction Workers, Manufacturers, etc.  We are not all on HGTV, we don't all WANT to be on HGTV.  lol  So please don't ask me if I want to have some show on HGTV.  Actually most of the people who have shows are NOT real designers.  They are in the entertainment industry first, then have a "flair" for design.  I hate that America is now skewed from what they think of when it comes to Interior Design.  I think maybe that is another reason why I am so adamant about being more commercial than residential; I want to do things that matter to a lot of people.  I wish I was amazing at something in nursing or science to help people, but I'm not.  But I have that desire to help people, and with my passion in design I hope to do so.  

Now that I have that rant out of the way.  lol  I really didn't mean for it to be hateful or anything; I'm just very passionate about what I do and people need to know that its not easy or not a lot of work.  Going to try and enjoy the rest of my Saturday outside, try...  I think we're all going to go for a walk this afternoon.  So until next time folks.


Best,
Megan

The story of how it all began....

What a week!  So glad that it is Friday, and I can relax over the weekend.  (hopefully)  Things have been stressful, and I haven't been getting a ton of sleep lately.  I will be glad once this next week is over with too.  I am being positive and I know everything will be okay.  Just can't wait to not have to have that worrying in the back of my head.

I feel like Monday's post was written just yesterday.  So I guess that its good that the week seemed to kind of fly by.  I wanted to write more, but I just can't seem to be inspired to write anything this week.  The lack of sleep is catching up to me, and I really hope this weekend/week I have off will allow me to catch up a little.

Okay, so next Sunday is our first year anniversary.  It's crazy to think that its actually been a year.  What's even more crazy is how we met, and that we have so many quirky little things in common.  So my side of the story anyway starts out like this...  I saw an ad on tv that eHarmony was doing a free membership for the month of February (because of Valentine's Day and all), so I said what the heck I'll just see what it's all about.  I had been on Match.com before but didn't really get into it.  After a few days (either I contacted him or he contacted me, can't quite remember that) Grant and I were exchanging messages through their system, and it was getting close to the end of the month so I gave him my email address so we could continue getting to know each other.  We emailed back and forth for a few weeks, and I found out that he grew up in Nevada, MO which is where my parents are in the process of moving to (not to mention my dad grew up there, my grandmother grew up there and so on).  At that moment, I knew something was right.  As the weeks went on we talked more and found out even more things that we had in common.  Since I was still in Columbia finishing school, and he was in Kansas City but also traveling a ton for work we tried to figure out when we could finally meet each other.  We decided to try and plan on my spring break week, which was still another 2 and a half weeks away at that point.  That semester I had taken an art history course in which we took a 'field trip' to the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City.  So I drove home Wednesday, March 8th and let him know I was in town.  Luckily he didn't leave for his next work trip till the next morning.  So I drove over to his apartment, and we went out for dinner, then went back to his apartment to watch a movie.  It wasn't anything special necessarily in the activities that we did that night, but I just had that gut feeling that this guy was special and I wanted to keep seeing him.  I left with such a grin on my face all the way back home.  The next day I was just gushing at the museum with joy; I hadn't felt this way in a VERY LONG time!  I couldn't wait to see him again.  We continued to talk every night online, and that weekend I spent with my sister in Rolla for St. Pat's festivities.  I couldn't even keep myself from practically texting him  all night both nights I was there.  The next weekend I was able to go to Kansas City again, and that's when he asked me to be his girlfriend.  And the rest is history!  lol  I don't know if you all enjoyed any of that, but it just makes me smile every time I tell the story.  :)

Well, I'm getting a bit tired, so I think I'm going to hit the hay.  Night night everyone!  Have a great weekend!

Best,
Megan

Spring, Here I Come!

Ugh...  so remember when I had all these ambitions of refinishing my vanity and other little things for my room.  Well I haven't gotten very far on any of those projects.  I really really hope that I can be more motivated to get things done when I get home from work now.  Since I will be off all next week from work, even though I know I will be spending a lot of time at the hospital, I want to try and get that vanity FINISHED!!!

So as many of you who know me, know that I love making lists.  I just love anything to do with planning in general.  I'm going to try and make some sort of list that will inspire me or create a more positive attitude in me for the rest of the week.  I think it will be a great way to kick off my Mondays!  So this Monday I wanted to make a list of things that I would love to do this Spring/Summer.


  1.  Go to a Royals Game!

It has been soooo long since I've been to a game.  Honestly I think the last time I went to a Royals game was when Janelle was turning 21.  That's CRAZY!!!  I love going to Royals games, but living in Columbia, and working/going to school over the summers didn't leave time to come home for any games.  I HAVE to go to at least one game this year!  And maybe when my bestest friend comes to town we can indulge together!  :-D


  2.  Go to the Zoo

Just like number one, I have not been to here in a loooong time!  I'm pretty sure it's been much longer for this one though.  It's just a fun thing to do here in KC when the weather is nice.


  3.  Go to more Concerts!

Since going to my first real concert not too long ago, I have got the bug!  lol  I want to definitely take advantage of the Power & Light District's free concert series this summer since I am back here in the city!  I would love to go to a few other concerts coming to The Granada, and I would really love to go to the Buzz's Beach Ball.


  4.  Go camping!

I absolutely love to camp!  Now, I'm not one to sleep right on the ground or catch my own food and go all out.  I like my blow-up air mattress to sleep on, and bring canned food to cook.  I even really need to have a restroom facility and definitely showers if I'm there for more than a few days.  I like my creature comforts, but I love being out in the woods for a little while.  I really hope Grant and I get a chance to go camping sometime when the weather gets nice.


  5.  Take a Road Trip somewhere!

It's been since right after my senior year of high school since I've taken a road trip, and I don't know if that even really counts all that much since we just drove from KC to St. Louis.  But it was fun!!  Maybe not this spring/summer, but some summer I want to just take off west with Grant and explore.  I know we both love a lot of the national parks out west, and would like to go back one of these days (together this time).




  6.  DIY More!

I absolutely love anything Do-It-Yourself.  Well, I take that back...  There are A LOT of BAAAD Diyers, but there are a lot of  projects like this one above that I would like to try for myself and even for gifts to others.

Well I am going to try and get to bed, so I'm not so tired at work tomorrow.  It's probably going to be a long week, but at least I have next week off!  Have a nice night everyone!

Best,
Megan

Saturday in Nevada

So glad it is the weekend!  But I can't hardly believe that Saturday is almost over.  I am down in Nevada right now.  We went to dinner with Grant's parents and it was so great to have our parents meet each other.  We decided on going to the Country Club restaurant here in town, which I had never been to, and it was really good!  It was a really great night!  

Today once Grant dropped me off at my parents place around 10am, my mom took me to get my hair cut.  I mentioned in my last post that I had been really eager to get it cut, so my mom offered to take me.  We got there and had to wait a little while for the stylist since there were a few ladies ahead of me, but we were out of there by lunch time.  Since I wanted so much taken off, she measured to see if I would be able to donate it.  So she put it in a pony tail, and chopped it off.  Low and behold when I got home and measured it, it was about 15 inches in length!  lol  I knew my hair was long, but I didn't think I had THAT much.  I really love my new length though.  I couldn't stop touching it today.  Here's a picture my mom took once I got home...

Tomorrow evening I'll go back to Kansas City and get ready for the work week.  This next week I will work straight through 9-5 Monday through Friday.  The week after I have completely off.  It's my little sister's spring break and her and my mom will be in Kansas City.  The real reason why I am taking that week off though is something that I've known for a little while now and has been wearing on me since I found out.  My dad is having open heart surgery that week, and so I will be going with my family to be in the hospital for him.  Its been stressful and something that is always on my mind now.  I know that things will be okay, but I can't help but worry.  I'm sure if you have been in a similar situation you know how I feel.  Keep us in your thoughts!  

Well, it's about time for SNL so I'm going get situated on the couch and probably get to bed pretty soon.  Hope you guys have a good end to your weekend.  

Best, 

Megan