28 Thursday Jul 2016
Posted in fashion forward
Here’s something to add to the wardrobe pronto!!
Les BonBons from Rebecca de Ravenel are a to-die-for accessory!
Seen on some of the most fashionabelle ears this summer, these bobs will be making headlines this fall as well. Super-fun, super-fashionabelle. You need.
a&a
26 Tuesday Jul 2016
Posted in what's ringin' our belle
Tags
appetizers, baking, bruschetta, cheese board, cocktail, Desserts, halfbakedharvest, hungrygirlporvida, peach blackberry crisp, revolveclothing, rhubarb, romper, sallysbakingaddiction, skin tightening, strawberry mint bourbob smash, thecoveteur
The latest belle-ringers…
Yikes!!! Skin tightening tips
Via Half Baked harvest
A simple summer cheese board
Via Sallysbakingaddiction…A crisp we are dying to try
A strawberry mint bourbon smash…cheers
Via revolve clothing
Belles just want to romp!
Ring-a-ling!
a&a
25 Monday Jul 2016
Posted in belle perks
24 Sunday Jul 2016
Posted in just sayin'
Tags
just sayin’
a&a
22 Friday Jul 2016
Posted in belle-icious
Tags
barbeque, chicken, Family Fresh Meals, FoodNetwork, sliders, succotash, summer, supper
With lots of travel and a complete lack of schedule in the summer…we struggle to find the time to prepare an entire meal! Sound familiar? Thought so.
But with all that travel, sometimes we just crave home-cooked, simple comfort food. After one belle returned from a recent adventure, she pulled out a couple of old, easy standbys. Thought we would share for a bit of inspiration…
BBQ Chicken Sliders and Summer Succotash (with a little kick)
The chicken, prepared in the slow-cooker, is just about the easiest thing imaginable:
Belleicious Crockpot Chicken Barbecue
(similar to this version from Family Fresh Meals)
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups of your favorite barbecue sauce (or try our homemade sauce)
2 T worcestershire
Place chicken in crockpot and season well with salt and pepper. Pour bbq sauce and worcestershire over chicken and toss to coat. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours. Remove chicken from pot and shred with two forks. Return chicken to sauce, stir to coat, and allow to warm in the crockpot until ready to serve.
Done!!
Serve alone or as a slider or full sandwich with extra sauce…and if you want to do it up right, add some coleslaw. Belleicious!!
Summer Succotash with a kick
(Loosely adapted from this FoodNetwork recipe and inspired by our friend, Cathy, ages ago!!)
2 cups corn kernels
2 cups baby lima beans
2 cups cut okra
2-3 tomatoes, chopped
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 T butter
1 T olive oil
1 T kosher salt
1 t sugar
Fresh ground black pepper
Heat oil and butter in heavy saucepan or large skillet. Add jalapeño, onion and garlic, sprinkle with salt, and sauté until soft. Add corn, stir and cover. Allow to simmer/steam 5-10 minutes until slightly tender. Add lima beans, okra, sugar and a couple tablespoons water. Stir well and cover again. Allow to simmer another 20-30 minutes until all veggies are tender. Adjust salt if needed and add tomato. Grind pepper on top. Stir. Serve!
Easy, peasy belleiciousness!
a&a
21 Thursday Jul 2016
Posted in belle maison
Tags
As we all know it is better to give than it is to receive. But let’s be honest, receiving a present is pretty darn great. Especially when it’s unexpected!
We had the pleasure of being on the receiving end of things recently…and it’s such a treat just knowing someone was thinking of you.
It’s even better when it’s a gift that you’ve never even heard of before and realize that you can’t live without. When we opened a Lampe Berger oil diffuser, we couldn’t believe our eyes.
These are the beautiful Lampe Berger we received – and love!!
Practical, useful, great looking…what more could a belle want?
We decided we needed to research this find a bit further…and lo and behold there is a color, style, look that will be the perfect addition to anyone’s home decor.
One for you, one as a gift…one for you, one as a …you get it!
a&a
19 Tuesday Jul 2016
Posted in what's ringin' our belle
Tags
A Cup of Jo, amazon, boozy ice cream, brass trim, Cherry, dry shampoo, dustjacketattic, Halloumi, ice cream, kitchen inspiration, Liquor.com, living proof, Peach, recipe, salad
Ringin’ belles now…
from verywell.com
Ring-a-ling!!
a&a
18 Monday Jul 2016
Posted in belle perks
Tags
Block heels are on-trend, stylish, and comfortable. A nice change in the fashion trend department!
These from Nordstrom are too die for! We are obsessed…and the color is amazing…
Via Nordstrom
Thank you Kenneth Cole!!
a&a
17 Sunday Jul 2016
Posted in just sayin'
Tags
a belle never learns…just sayin’
a&a
15 Friday Jul 2016
Posted in belle-icious
Tags
antipasto, Bon Appétit, epicurious, garlic, Italy, Martha Stewart, pasta, pomodoro, salad, veal, Vinaigrette
While traveling in Italy this week, we realized that it was much more fun to gather ingredients (fresh pastas, tomatoes, bread…) and wine (LOTS of wine) throughout the day for our evening meals at our villa than to sit in restaurants at the mercy of the server, chef, and fellow patrons. (Twelve southerners can get a bit rowdy…just sayin’). We had our own “chef” among us…and plenty of “help”- (a person in charge of music, someone watching the wine, a salad tosser…you get the picture).
Our “event-planner in residenza” (from The Party Girl Events…with us by coincidence) would set the scene…
And each evening, we would start with an antipasto platter, filled with local fare…
…then our gastronome would work his magic in the kitchen!
This particular evening, “Chef John” decided a bit of veal scallopini with pasta al pomodoro and ensalada verde would hit the spot. And did it ever!!
Check out the finished product:
the entire spread…pasta, veal, salad, bread
if only this were “scratch-n-sniff” so you could get a whiff of the garlic! (Check out this pomodoro sauce from Bon Appetit)
the veal…lightly breaded, pan sautéed and oh-so- tender…loaded with capers, mushrooms and lemon (very similar to this recipe from Epicurious)
the salad with arugula and maché, dressed with a garlic vinaigrette (try this one from Martha Stewart if you aren’t comfortable “wingin’ it”)
a very happy belle’s plate!
But just remember…this fun can be had any old Saturday night after a visit to your local farmers market and a quick phone call to ten of your closest friends. When guests show up, give them a job, pour the wine, and see where the evening takes you!
Buona apetite!!
a&a
the RARE belle 
