Stella's Roar. Hedonism: A devotion to the pleasures of the senses.

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While we were in San Antonio, The Main Man bought this hair spray for me in the gift shop at the hotel. It must be black magic! I swear, it made my hair look huge...almost too big...like 80's hair. Why didn't they have this stuff in the 80's? Anyway, if you would like your hair to look thicker and fuller...sounds like one of those horrible Sirius radio ads, doesn't it?!...this is the hair spray for you!

And unfortunately, I'm receiving nothing for recommending product...

Where we were...this past weekend we went to San Antonio...the city of my birth...to see my Amiga compete in the Mrs. Texas International pageant. Not only was the pageant fun, but eating at two fabulous restaurants and defrosting the spending freeze for a day were just frigging fantastic!

If I was going to be surrounded by Beauty Queens, I felt I needed new sandals...just for my fragile self esteem, of course!
My new sandals I've been greedily coveting!



The Main Man's new tie...ahem, please don't comment on the dollar comparison...please!

I'm wearing my new DVF dress that my lovely friend gave me for my birthday!



The pageant was held in the Scottish Rites Building...these interior pictures do not do it justice...it's really beautiful.


I'm originally from San Antonio. La Mansion is the only hotel I've ever visited...so it has a sentimental place in my heart.



The first night we arrived late...hungry and weary...another Amiga in town for the pageant suggested Bohannon's Prime Steaks and Seafoods for dinner...OMFG! The bar is beautiful, the food was spectacular and the service was old-school and charming. All we had to do is walk from the hotel, thru a parking garage, up a flight of stairs, cross the street and right next
to The Palm...which I had to bodily force The Main Man from entering...was Bohannon's!

Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras

Asian Braised Duck Leg, Walnut Brioche, Exotic Mushrooms, Cherry Brandy Sauce, Micro Greens, & White Truffle Oil

Chateau Stack

Sautéed Crimini Mushrooms, Spinach, Maine Lobster Tail & Tenderloin Medallions. Topped with Sauce Béarnaise

and

White Truffle Oil Steak Fries

One of the best steakhouse meals I've ever had...just pour truffle oil on EVERYTHING and I'm a happy woman!

The next day...San Antonio's Riverwalk.

That night, after the pageant, we had dinner at the hotel restaurant, Las Canarias. It was late...I'm having a hard time remembering what I had...I remember Lamb with Polenta for my entree, but the app eludes me. It was all fabulous...I'm just not a night owl. I do, of course, remember the E. Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape..aka...Snoop the Poop, or now affectionately called Shoot the Nuts Off the Pope thanks to beautiful blogger Hello Gorgeous!

While waiting for our flight home, The Main Man decided to have his shoes polished. I went ahead to the gate and immediately received this text from him.

I would change the shade...only because, I always change the shades...OCD, just a little bit. Click on image for more info

Last night we went to the grand opening event for Bedazzled...a fantastic jewelry exhibit put on by the El Paso Museum of Art. It will be in town for 4 months. If your an El Paso reader, you must see it. The jewelry is amazing and the exhibit rivals any of the "big city" exhibits around the country. I did a previous post here. It was fantastic. The jewelry was amazing. Unfortunately there were cameras and guards everywhere, so taking home my favorite case which housed a snake ring, snake bracelets and an amazing cuff with multi-colored gemstones, would have been an impossible feat!

I wore a Richard Ruiz dress with an amazing necklace by Anita Quansah that I purchased from Shrimpton Couture...the necklace garnered many comments. Check out the Shrimpton link...there are many more Quansah necklaces.

Statement necklace doesn't really do it justice. Anita is a talented designer...jewelry, textiles, clothing...all interesting and one of a kind pieces. Her necklaces have been featured in many mags...German Vogue being one.





I have too many metallic shoes...orrrrr doooo IIIII??? I see more in my future.

To me, they act as a neutral. I ended up wearing the gold Manolos.




I would give anything (well not anything) to photograph better. Our pic was taken for the newspaper last night. If it turns out without me looking like I'm drunk...which I wasn't at the point...I'll post it. I also wore a Turkish Military cuff that The Main Man bought me while he was still wooing me at the HADA show in Houston.

Lushlee is a cool blog that I just discovered. You can read more about Anita Quansah's work there.

Afterwards, we went to a new restaurant called NoFish...weird name, right? I don't really get it...a friend told me it meant nothing...nothing like "nada" nothing, or it has no meaning? Too intellectual for me, apparently. We have a dining blog here in El Paso called Bite Me...she did a post about NoFish. They have an amazing wine cellar, tapas type small bites, flights of wine and beer, and great sandwiches. I'm not a sandwich kind of girl for dinner...
but my Croque Madame was amazing.

Soon...we are off again to see my chica crowned Queen of the Universe!

Texas, that is!

Where we've been...the parents rented a house for a week in Santa Fe...we drove up for a two night visit.

Casa de Santa Fe Vacation Rentals...fantastic site to find a home to rent. We were right off of Canyon road, smack dab in the middle of the arts district. We walked to both restaurants each night...it was a great location. Two comparable bedrooms, both with a king sized bed and two separate baths with a full kitchen. I released control...which is rare and let my mother book the house...Mi Mamacita did a great job!

We are off to the races...running up and down Canyon Road, that is. I hate what I'm wearing...It's a Nanette Lepore vest I bought from Gilt.com. I feel like a Klingon in it. It won't be worn again. If any of my chica's want it...it's yours.

Now for some grandchild pics...Dolce went from biker chic to Lux Princess...thanks to
Emilia Poochie

And I bought her a Navajo Poncho...click on photo for more info and don't mock me.
No one said my Dolce has to be on a spending freeze!

I thought this Madonna t-shirt was cool, but two new ensems were enough. While we were hoofing it up and down Canyon, The Main Man went fishing in the Pecos River...I didn't go, for two reasons. One...it was too fucking cold...two, it gave me some alone time with my parent's. This is the second time we've used High Desert Angler...we've been happy with them both times.

First Night...

Dinner the first night at El Farol...now that middle age has struck, my short-term memory has fled...I'm writing down the 8 tapas we want to try...when I say "we", I mean "me".

Second Night...

Geronimo Restaurant...Second night, dinner at our favorite restaurant at "our" table. I don't have delusions of grandeur that no one else sits there when we aren't in town...but, I'd like to think no one does. I'm territorial like that...New waiter, didn't know us, cringed when my Dad asked for a glass of water and proceeded to dump cherry Crystal Lite into it...no telling what this waiter thought he was in for...two bottles of Luca Malbec later...I don't think he cared that my Dad then poured Splenda onto his risotto. It's a Tennessee thing...or that's what I've been told. I had the vegetarian tasting...which is so unlike me, but the risotto sounded fabulous and lived up to expectation:

Charles’ Roasted Corn Soup Asparagus, Scallion & Thai Chile
Butter Lettuce Salad Fresh Tomatoes, Hot House Cucumbers & Caramelized Shallot Mustard Vinaigrette
Roasted Shiitake Mushroom Risotto Italian Arborio Rice, French Brie Cheese, Reggianno Parmesan & Dijon

Jennie Cooley art show advertisement...this is kind of an inside joke which is now...Not. The Main Man and I almost always excuse ourselves early so we can have what we call, "Hot Monkey Sex". We've actually told friends that the party is over, please leave so we can get to business. I had to laugh when I saw this ad in a local newspaper...
even with a redhead no less!

Hung Liu...my favorite artist of our walks down Canyon...Her Remote Portrait IV was my favorite...although I can't find it online and my scanned image does not do it justice....See more images at the link below.

Turner Carroll Gallery in Santa Fe

The day we left...it snowed 6 inches overnight...it was a Last Gasp of Winter into Spring Wonderland...