[Celebration] Valentine's Date 2014: Aura Brasserie

photo [via]

My dear one and I spent our post-Valentine's date at Aura Brasserie with 19 other friends.  Aura is owned by Chef Frederic Perrier who is "widely recognized for his creativity and inventive nature by introducing Southwestern, South American and Asian influences in his cooking."  The restaurant is described as "innovative American with an 'inch' of French" and was named one of Houston's Top Ten New restaurants.  

It was a cozy place with a long red seating area on one side and a wall featuring glass art on the other.  The menu was a tongue twister for us (lol) but we it turned out that we chose well.

(top Left to Right)  Tikal Locura, Lyonnaise, Filet Mignon, Filet Medallion,  Berkshire Pork Cheeks, Pan seared Striped Bass, Scallops and Lamb Chops

We got a bottle of Tikal Locura (locura = madness) from Sabores de Argentina.  It was a bold red wine made from a blend of Malbec, Bonarda and Torrontes which are three of Argentina's best variety of grapes.  It was really good - smooth and delicious!  For wine lovers, it is 94 points.  The bottle was encased within an authentic Aregentine pato which is a leather cradle designed to hold the ball in the game of Pato which is Argentina's national sport.  The game combines elements from polo and basketball.  Pato in Spanish is 'duck' and it started out as a violent game - I don't want to get so graphic here but I know you get the point.

photo [via]

These are some of what we ordered:

Salade de Chêvre, Endives et Betteraves $10 Baked Goat Cheese with Salt Roasted Beets, Endive & Walnuts 

Salade Lyonnaise $10 Curly Endive with Poached Egg, Pear, Bacon, Croutons & Mustard Vinaigrette 

Gratinée a l’Oignon $9 French Onion Soup 

Bisque de Homard $10 Lobster Bisque 

Joues de Porc “en Meurette”, et Ris de Veau $11 Berkshire Pork Cheeks Braised in Red Wine then Cooked with Pearl Onions, Bacon, Mushrooms, Crispy Sweet Breads and a Poached Farm Egg 

Le Pâté du Chef $10 Chicken Liver & Foie Gras Mousse with Port Wine & Onions Jam 

Foie Gras “Selon l’humeur du Chef” $16 Foie Gras following The Chef’s Mood!

Coquilles Saint-Jacques $28 Diver Scallops over Cauliflower Puree, Arugula Salad & Brown Butter Emulsion 

Saumon aux Asperges $21 Seared Salmon, Parmesan Crusted Asparagus and Citrus Butter 

Loup de Mer $25 Pan Seared Striped Bass with Crab Meat & Corn Risotto, Saffron ButterL’entrecôte Pommes Frites $30 Prime Ribeye with French Fries, Red Wine Reduction 

Filet au Poivre $29 Filet Mignon with Cognac Peppercorn Sauce 

Cotelettes d’Agneau $28 Lamb Chops with White Beans, Sundried Tomato, Garlic Stew & Fresh Mint Pistou 

Jarret de Porc $19 Crispy 12 Hour Pork Shank with Yukon Gold Mash, Caramelized Apples 

& Dijon Mustard Sauce 

Médaillons de Filet aux Champignons $26 Filet Medallions with Truffle Mushroom Risotto, Cognac Sauce

Whew!  That's a mouthful.  The food was unique and delicious.  

Good food + Good company = Perfect date.

Aura Brasserie
15977 City Walk, Sugar Land, TX 77479(281) 403-2872

We don't have children and while our friends had to pick up theirs from the sitters, we went straight home. That's when we realized that "husband and wife" alone time off from the children is very very precious and important to keep their marriage going.  

Love to you all!

♥ michelle  

[Earrings] Red Cloisonne

Here's a bouquet of flowers for you.

Happy Valentine's Day, my friend!

♥  Michelle  ♥

[Origami Heart Card] Valentine's Day 2013

It's Valentine's Day and I made this Origami Heart Card for my dear one.

Origami Heart

I layered it on a mat embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder. 

Origami Heart
Sizzix embossing folder

I stamped the sentiment and added a few hearts inside the card.

I am so glad that he is my valentine today and always.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO YOU, MY DEAR FRIEND!

YOU ARE LOVED!

♥  Michelle  ♥

[Jewelry] Twisted Pearl and Crystal Bracelet

Welcome back!

Two years ago, I wrote a tutorial using these curved metal spacers, pearls, and crystal bicones. 

 Here is a new "twist" to that tutorial.

Materials to make one 7.5 inch bracelet:

1.  Flexible beading wire - you may need 12 to 15 inches depending on how much extra wire you can spare for the project ☺.

2.  Fifteen (15) curved metal spacers.  You can find it HERE.

3.   Fifteen (15) 8mm Swarowski pearls

4.  Thirty (30) 4x3 mm Red rondelle crystals

5.  Two (2) crimp beads

6.  Clasp

Procedure:

1.  Insert the flexible beading wire to one end of a crimp tube, clasp and back to the crimp tube.  Crimp.

2.  With the curved spacer bead in the "C" position, insert wire to the top part from the back.  Add a rondelle, pearl and rondelle and insert to the bottom.  Please refer to the photo below.  Make sure it is snug but not too tight.

3.  Repeat the same order 15 times.  If the flexible wire twists on itself, you can hold the piece lengthwise in order for it to untwist (such as in the large photo below).  I figured that it eases any tension on the wire brought about by excessive pulling and makes the bracelet flow smooth.

4.To finish the bracelet, insert wire to a crimp tube, clasp and back to the crimp tube. 

5.  Trim the excess flexible beading wire.

Try combining pearls with other beads or use a different clasp.

 Now, it's time to iron my white or maybe red dress.

See you again soon!

Blessings!

Michelle 

Chained Heart [P3 Valentine Challenge]

The Philippine Polymer Clay Guild's Valentine 2012 Challenge was to create a heart with a steampunk theme.

What is Steampunk?  Google the word and Wikipedia will give you this description:

  "Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s.  Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United States—that incorporates elements of either science fiction or fantasy."

There are many artists who make beautiful steampunk accessories.  They make use of those oh so tiny watch gears and other metal products in their works.  It is very fascinating.

This was my P3 Steampunk submission:
 "CHAINED HEART."

There were 2 different colors of Premo polymer clay:  Burnt umber and Alizarin Crimson. 

The tip of the heart was twisted and wrapped with a small-gauged chain.

I added a brass metal gear and secured it with wire.  The background texture was stamped and colored with mica powders and paint.  The blue and white petal is from a millefiori cane.

The back was textured as well.

The concept of the piece is very timely for lent but essentially, it's a message that is fit for any season.

I am a Christian and allow me to share this with you:

The key to being free from the chains and bondage of sin is to put our complete trust in God.

Only then can we have a heart that is pure and white as snow.

Have a blessed day, my friend!

♥  Michelle  ♥

Valentine's Day 2012

It's that time of year when we celebrate Valentine's Day.

For most people, it's just another ordinary day but to others, it's a special day to be with someone you love.  It's that time of year when men flock to the card section to buy their wife or lovedone a nice card to accompany their boquet of flowers.  My husband was one of them... and I truly appreciate him for all his effort.

I had a hunch that he bought me flowers last night and kept it somewhere.  I teased him about it and he didn't seem to react differently.   He leaves for work at 5 am and when I woke up to bid him goodbye, caramba! - there was a pink card and a boquet of flowers on my craft table.

The card reads:

"To my wife on Valentine's Day...

I think we're kind of llike the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle

We belong together...

And putting our different pieces together is a lot of fun." 

Oh, I had a good laugh and I have to give credit to him for always choosing the right card.

I made him this handmade card. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder to emboss the background, rubber stamps, distress inks and paper.

The heart wreath was embossed with clear detail though it doesn't show it's beauty in the photo.

There were no special expensive dinner dates for us but we are happy just to be together.

Cheesy.. I know.

I hope your day was filled with the warmth and love of family and friends.

Happy Valentine's Day to you!

♥  Michelle  ♥