Monday, November 29, 2010

Culinary Craving's : The Cat and The Custard Cup

Ever find yourself eating out at the same places?
Bored and ready for something different?
I know I do, all the time. For some reason though I'm scared to venture out and try something new. But today I was summoned by myself to get out and go somewhere different than Olive Garden or Panera Bread. Today I was in Whittier/La Habra just driving along and I saw a sign for a restruant " The Cat and The Custard Cup" and instantly knew I had heard of this place before. I quickly did a "legal" U-turn asap. I parked in the lot and walked right up and fell in love.
First of all I was intrigued because of the whole "cat" concept, secondly there is a nicely set up courtyard, third the buildings architecture fourth the decor inside was really warm and rustic, and fifth I saw food on the menu I can afford to savor.
Butternut squash pumpkin ravioli
French onion soup
banana coconut creme pie
a glass of wine
and an Autumn Maple from the bruery
WOW
Definitely going to take a special someone here to eat one of these days, maybe after I get my bonus from work.

Dont you just love when life steers you into something tasty, new and exciting!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving from Me and Momo(my black cat).
A big thank you to all of my followers, readers and even people who have accidentally stumbled up Deco Aurora.
I began blogging a few years ago to document interior design inspirations, but over time it has changed into a lifestyle blog. I love sharing with you all the fun places in Socal and great products and stores. Blogging has opened up a world a whole new world for me. It has been a way for me to communicate with people all across the world and see how life is like in other countries.

Thank you to all of the bloggers who have inspired me to share my life and passions with others alike.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Celebrity Engagement Rings and their Knock-offs

Tis the season for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Celebrity Engagements!

Seems like every other day a couple in the celebrity sphere is either getting engaged, married, separated and or divorced. Is marriage just becoming a publicity stunt now?
Whatever happened to to Al Green's anthem "whether time's or good or bad, happy or sad.Let's stay together" ???

Just the other day I did one of my favorite creeper things, listening in on someones conversation. The topic was marriage...and how can you base a 3 year relationship on a lifetime together? I don't know. Do you know? I was talking to one of my friends about how our parents sleep in other rooms, and I'm coming to realize that maybe this is a normal thing? I heard that Katie Holmes has a whole wing of the house just for her, and her clothes. Haha. I wouldn't mind having my own room. Especially since I'm so used to it. I grew up with just one other sibling, who is always gone so I kind of feel like an only child sometimes. I'm an introvert at heart. I spend alot of my free time alone, and even when there are others around I still feel alone, lost in my own thoughts.

So back to engagement rings, if you haven't already left me. My friend showed me what her dream ring would be and it's kinda manly, she says its sexy. The ring I like well there are two, I cut out pics from a magazine. I figure that maybe if I leave them on my desk that one day someone will catch my drift...Maybe I should just buy the damn ring for myself...Its like the price of a big screen TV!
This is the 14ct Gold & Opal ring by emily amey and if I ever were to get engaged this would be my ring! Why? I prefer gold to silver and I have always loved Opals because Diamonds are my birthstone they are overkill for me. Plus the ring is simple, and organic looking. Something I could see myself wearing and not want to take off. So maybe one of these days (years) I will get my hands on this beauty.

Oh yeah weren't we originally talking about celebrity rings? Well here is the link to all the lovely overpriced jewels! Check it out the knock-offs aren't too far off in comparison.




4 women one Jcrew inspired look


I noticed a few days ago that Dina from My Superfluities posted about her outfits inspired by old Jcrew catalogs, before they went wacko. Then I saw that Slastena from About All and Nothing At All did her take on the same look. Then today while getting dressed I thought hmm I wanna try this look out too. So here we all are in the same look. Isnt it kinda funny? It's like adult uniforms. I felt soo preppy wearing this today.
From left to right
Jcrew model, Dina, Slastena and myself, Maggy.

What do you think did we get it right? BTW the only Jcrew item Im wearing is the tank and its form like 3 years ago possibly 4. Im looking forward to another look alike outfit. Makes getting dressed easy. And since I live in CA I feel like I stand out against all of the ugg boots, hoodies and yoga pants.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Cuban Collective

I figure if I cant go to Cuba I will just have to take my imagination there. Im looking for a new Cuban based book and have been thinking about "Dancing with Cuba". Featuring a woman who travels to Cuba to teach dancing, but later finds her calling as a journalist.

As far as movies go I came across "The Lost City" An artsy film about a privileged family and their life in Havana. Thriving night life, music, and love all taking place in the glamorous days of Cuba's past.


With Christmas right around the corner why not listen to latin Jazz tunes. I listened to this cd on amazon and its not bad. It's kinda jazzy lots of guitar.
To top it all off I gotta go to Habana to have some plantain crusted chicken.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Coffee Break: Share The Holiday Spirit With Starbucks

All you Sbux fans are gonna love this :)

At Starbucks, the holidays are all about sharing memories and stories with the people in our lives, drawing each other closer and sparking that connection of the holiday spirit.

Spend time at home with friends reliving stories over a cup of Starbucks®Christmas Blend, or take a spirited afternoon jaunt with a colleague for a Caramel Brulée Latte, Peppermint Mocha, or Gingerbread Latte. Remembering to make connections with the people around us helps bring the holiday spirit to life.

Now you can ignite the holiday spirit everywhere you go — whether you're on the slopes or at the rink, new Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew Christmas Blend will warm hands to match the spirit.

From Nov. 18-21, 2-5 p.m., buy one holiday drink and get one free to share!Click Here

Monday, November 15, 2010

Coffee Break: Jonathan Adler For Starbucks (RED)

I suggest getting this cute mug and gift card NOW!
These items will sell out.

~Starbucks (RED) Coffee Mug designed by Jonathan Adler~

A portion of the proceeds will go to the (RED) foundation, and every time you use it it means one less paper cup is being thrown out. Cost $10.95

I caught a glimpse of this mug last night, so cute and here is a matching Starbucks Gift Card!

Both will be available on Tuesday November 16th 2010.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Gwen Stefani - Rad In Plaid

It's fall
It's getting cold
And darker earlier
Time to break out the Plaid!

Over the years Gwen Stefani has worn a wide variety of plaid infused outfits. I picked out a few photos that really make plaid look rad. Maybe you will find some plaid-spiration!













All photos from Justnodoubt

Monday, November 8, 2010

Sheridan French Spring 2011

Spring cant come quick enough for me, not with all the bright, eclectic, candy colored pieces from Sheridan French's new line. Just when I was starting to get used to California' so called cold weather I'm beginning to think it's going to be a long winter. At least a girl can dream a.k.a. browse Sheridan's fun website and blog and count down the months, days, hours and seconds till March 20th also known as the first day of spring!

A few fav's from the Spring 2011 Collection

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Natalie Portman Website Feature

My photo was featured yesterday on Natalie Portman . com for myBlack Swan halloween costume. Check it out here . So exciting to have been asked to be on their website. Thanks to Dazza of NP.com

Culinary Cravings: Pumpkin Stuffed with Everything Good

I have a special recipe that has captured my heart since I first heard it on the radio yesterday afternoon. I'm soo intrigued by it that I had to share it with everyone I know. I'm not much of a cook or cooking show person, however when I listen to KCRW's Good Food hosted by Evan Klieman she makes food seem so interesting. There is something more magical about listening to recipes on the radio, it really gets me wondering about what they're cooking and talking about. So the latest recipe that has caught my attention will most likely be made this weekend by my foodie bf.
Without further ado I present to you the pumpkin stuffed with everything good!

It looks very similar to what I imagined it to be, and looking at it makes me very very hungry. Before reading through the recipe I invite you to listen to the short radio interview with the creator of the "Stuffed with everything Pumpkin, Dorie Greenspan.

Dorie Greenspan is best known for her cookbooks on baking. Her latest book is Around My French Table. In this week's sideDish, she shares a recipe for a stuffed pumpkin dish.

Pumpkin Stuffed with Everything Good
Makes 2 very generous or 4 more genteel servings

1 pumpkin, 2½–3 lbs
Salt and freshly ground pepper
¼ lb stale bread, thinly sliced and cut into ½-inch chunks
¼ lb cheese, such as Gruyère, Emmenthal, cheddar, or a combination, cut into ½-inch chunks
2–4 garlic cloves (to taste), split, germ removed, and coarsely chopped
4 slices bacon, cooked until crisp, drained, and chopped (my addition)
About ¼ cup snipped fresh chives or sliced scallions (my addition)
1 Tablespoon minced fresh thyme (my addition)
About 1/3 cup heavy cream
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment, or find a Dutch oven with a diameter that’s just a tiny bit larger than your pumpkin. If you bake the pumpkin in a casserole, it will keep its shape, but it might stick to the casserole, so you’ll have to serve it from the pot — which is an appealingly homey way to serve it. If you bake it on a baking sheet, you can present it freestanding, but maneuvering a heavy stuffed pumpkin with a softened shell isn’t so easy. However, since I love the way the unencumbered pumpkin looks in the center of the table, I’ve always taken my chances with the baked-on-a-sheet method, and so far, I’ve been lucky.

Using a very sturdy knife — and caution — cut a cap out of the top of the pumpkin (think Halloween Jack-o-Lantern). It’s easiest to work your knife around the top of the pumpkin at a 45-degree angle. You want to cut off enough of the top to make it easy for you to work inside the pumpkin. Clear away the seeds and strings from the cap and from inside the pumpkin. Season the inside of the pumpkin generously with salt and pepper, and put it on the baking sheet or in the pot.

Toss the bread, cheese, garlic, bacon, and herbs together in a bowl. Season with pepper — you probably have enough salt from the bacon and cheese, but taste to be sure — and pack the mix into the pumpkin. The pumpkin should be well filled — you might have a little too much filling, or you might need to add to it. Stir the cream with the nutmeg and some salt and pepper and pour it into the pumpkin. Again, you might have too much or too little — you don’t want the ingredients to swim in cream, but you do want them nicely moistened. (It’s hard to go wrong here.)

Put the cap in place and bake the pumpkin for about 2 hours — check after 90 minutes — or until everything inside the pumpkin is bubbling and the flesh of the pumpkin is tender enough to be pierced easily with the tip of a knife. Because the pumpkin will have exuded liquid, I like to remove the cap during the last 20 minutes or so, so that the liquid can bake away and the top of the stuffing can brown a little.

When the pumpkin is ready, carefully, very carefully — it’s heavy, hot, and wobbly — bring it to the table or transfer it to a platter that you’ll bring to the table.

Serving

You have a choice — you can either spoon out portions of the filling, making sure to get a generous amount of pumpkin into the spoonful, or you can dig into the pumpkin with a big spoon, pull the pumpkin meat into the filling, and then mix everything up. I’m a fan of the pull-and-mix option. Served in hearty portions followed by a salad, the pumpkin is a perfect cold-weather main course; served in generous spoonfuls, it’s just right alongside the Thanksgiving turkey.

Storing
It’s really best to eat this as soon as it’s ready. However, if you’ve got leftovers, you can scoop them out of the pumpkin, mix them up, cover, and chill them; reheat them the next day.

Bonne idée
There are many ways to vary this arts-and-crafts project. Instead of bread, I’ve filled the pumpkin with cooked rice — when it’s baked, it’s almost risotto-like. And, with either bread or rice, on different occasions I’ve added cooked spinach, kale, chard, or peas (the peas came straight from the freezer). I’ve made it without bacon (a wonderful vegetarian dish), and I’ve also made it and loved, loved, loved it with cooked sausage meat; cubes of ham are also a good idea. Nuts are a great addition, as are chunks of apple or pear or pieces of chestnut.

Friday, November 5, 2010

OBJCT GALLERY




OBJCT Gallery
548 West First Street
Claremont, CA 91711
Tues - Sat 11 - 6
Sun 12 - 5

DESIGN/PROCESS is an exhibition about the DNA of design and how inspiration travels the chain from mentor to protégé, from concept to execution. Featured are the objects/products of professional artists/designers who have mentored students in the design process displayed alongside the products of the next generation of young designers. This generational “passing of the torch” demonstrates that the flame of inspiration can spark new ideas and innovations in design that continually respond to the ever-changing currents of contemporary culture.
Included in the exhibition are selected works by esteemed educators who represent a consortium of schools and prestigious art/design programs including Otis College of Art and Design, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Pilchuck Glass School, USC, UCLA, LMU (Loyola Marymount University), Cal Poly Pomona, and CSU San Bernardino. Central to this theme is the demonstration of how these educators communicate their core aesthetics through the design process and create products that exemplify honed design principles put into practice.
The Protégés are represented by works that illustrate their grasp of design fundamentals conflated with their ability to elevate, adapt, and channel the ordinary into the realm of the unexpected, the evocative, and the sensory. Drawing inspiration from art historical, botanical, architectural, and anatomical references young designers such as Tyler Hagstrom and Sara Aguliera transcend conventional chair and wall shelving design (see Quantum-Biosis Chair and Key Pattern Shelf) to create new hybrid products that incorporate functionality with technology, use new materials with those reclaimed or repurposed, and mash modern cultural symbols with inherited patterns of design.

Monday, November 1, 2010

90 degrees in November

This week in California temps will be in the mid 90s! Can you believe it? Its November people, not July! How ever will I manage? Well I actually like warm weather, so I will be keeping cool by looking at the new Trina Turk Spring collection. It has my favorite colors and vintage cuts that make me wish it was summer again.