Watch me

Tag Heuer Monaco (image from tagheuer.com)

I have recently become a watch freak.  I never donned a watch for 30 years and now I feel I must have one on before I leave the house.  Not only is it great because I always know what time it is, it is like a beautiful piece of bling and it can be quite a statement depending on the design, brand name and size.  I am really into wearing men's watches as the faces are always bigger and thus makes me feel slimmer in some way.  Plus to me for a watch bigger is better, but I make an exception for the Hermes and Cartier styles I show here.  These are just classics so they had to make the list.

Panerai Luminor (image from panerai.com)

Bell and Ross 03-92 Phantom (image from bellross.com)

Bell and Ross 03-92 Carbon (image from bellross.com)

Bell and Ross 03-92 Blue (image from bellross.com)

Bell and Ross Quartz White Ceramic Phantom (image from bellross.com)

Bell and Ross Mecanique Pink Gold (image from bellross.com)

So now that we have established I like Bell and Ross watches, you might wonder if I like anything else or any watches for women.  Well yes I do!

Classic Cartier Tank

Hermes Cape Cod (image from hermes.com)

And yes, I do like watches that are affordable and fun.  I don't show all the amazing colors and styles Nooka and Nixon offer but there are many, many more.  Nooka makes unisex watches, while Nixon makes styles for both sexes, but I don't really like any of the women's offerings, so I just stick with the mens.

Nixon "The Chronicle SS" (image from nixon.com)

Nooka Zirc (image from nooka.com)

Nooka Zub Zot (image from nooka.com)

One last note, every stereotype you have heard about designers and watches is true!

No meat chicken

Quorn un-chicken pieces

My husband is a vegetarian, I do not eat beef or pork, so I have learned to be creative so we are not always eating beans or pasta!  I really enjoy meatless products from Boca, Morning Star Farms and Quorn to name a few.  They are lower in fat then eating real meat and contain good things like soy.  So I don't feel guilty eating sausage patties for breakfast.  I still eat fish and chicken, but since I can't share these meals with my husband I have found this alternative from Quorn that is really, really good.  Seriously I can't tell the difference from real chicken.  I have adapted this quick stir fry from Martha Stewart's "Everyday Food."  It is quick, easy and tasty.  A lot of flavor with not a lot of effort.

Not-chicken before cooked through with two bell peppers, cook about 10 minutes to soften (I only cook with olive oil, even for asian inspired dishes)

Must have tool, garlic press in this dish I use it to mince the ginger also

Another must have tool, I don't know the exact name but if you chop a lot it is worth it

After cooking 10 minutes, see the not chicken looks and cooks just like the real thing

Ingredients for the stir fry sauce : 1/4 cup sugar, vinegar, soy sauce and 1 tablespoon cornstarch, whisk together

After sauce was added and cooked for 2-3 minutes

Finishing salt

No salt is called for in this recipe because the garlic, ginger, sauce and green onion (which I did not add) give flavor.  But I added Maldon sea salt flakes at the finish of the dish.  (This is a finishing salt not one to really add while cooking.)  You can put this on any dish in the end and in my opinion it makes everything more pronounced.  You can find this at Williams Sonoma or order it from Amazon.com.

Finished dish, serve over rice

Fast stir fry even picky Italians will eat!

Room Inspiration

Fun color and furniture

More furniture, living and color inspiration from Design Within Reach.  I love the furniture and products from here!  I wish my home could be filled with them.



Lamp is great and I love the dark colored wall



Clean and timeless furniture



The juxtaposition between sweet and masculine is great







Really dig the antler light fixture



Have coveted this table forever!

Salon international de l'auto

2011 postcard

I started collecting postcards from international auto shows.  I went to the Geneva auto show for the first time in 2008.  My husband seems to be sent for work more often then me, so he will always bring back new postcards for me.  The postcards are basically smaller versions of the posters created for the show that year.  Some of the graphic design is really unique.



2008, the year I went





Ultimate dessert

Day old bread

Another southern recipe is bread pudding.  It is very easy to make and very decadent.  Basically it has everything caloric you can think of in it: cream, chocolate, sugar, bread, alcohol, more chocolate and more cream for the topping!  I made mine sans the whipped cream this time.  This recipe is actually Emeril LaGasse's and you can find it here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/chocolate-bread-pudding-with-spiced-cream-recipe/index.html

Cream and chocolate mixture

Bread in pieces

Eggs and other goodies

Mix together

Let mixture sit for 30 minutes

Before baking

After baking

Slice and serve after cooling 5 minutes, if you have some left warm up before eating...but it is good cold too!

Nearly neons

Photo shoot I saw in the March issue of W magazine by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.  The juxtaposition between the clothing + makeup and the rawness of nature is stunning.