24 Monday Sep 2018
Posted in belle maison
We just noticed that our all-time favorite candle is available as a 4-pack these days!!!
We’ve taken to burning them en-masse so that the aroma floods the home in no time flat…so the 4-at-a-time deal really rings our belle!!
Get the 4-pack here and the single here at Amazon
PS…this makes a great gift, too. Just sayin’
a&a
10 Friday Nov 2017
Posted in belle maison, belle of the ball
We were blown away at a recent dinner party given by an extremely sweet, creative, fun belle-friend! This party was so well-thought-out and executed, we just had to share some of the details!
As guests arrived, we were greeted with a tray of champagne cocktails with floating cranberries…setting the scene for the pre-holiday event.
Fun fact…in order to test the ripeness of a cranberry, it is bounced. If it bounces about 4 inches, it’s good to go!
But the libations didn’t stop there. Guests were free to pick their poison…
This is cocktailin’ heaven!
The focus of the event was Thanksgiving…our most favorite holiday! Prior to attending, we were given links to Thanksgiving trivia sites so that we could “study up”. Test your own knowledge here and here and here. At trivia time…it was game-on! Our hostess with the mostest had a belle-ringin “prize table”…
…with lottery tickets, candles, tequila (one of us came home with this!), sausages, a puzzle, and much, much more!!
While our hostess shifted gears from game referee to chef, guests had the chance to relax by the fire…
…which, by the way, was perfect as we FINALLY had an evening that felt like fall!! (80 degrees the day before made this all the more exciting!)
And now for the table and other belle-ringin’ decor…
Perfection!
And our hostess loves to downplay her talents…but this creation speaks for itself!
We are now duly inspired and ready for the weeks to come. Bring on the eggnog!!
a&a
12 Thursday Oct 2017
Posted in belle maison
One of us was blessed enough to attend Tulane University…actually belles went to Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University…Sophie Newcomb is no more, but the belles live on…
It was an amazing stroke of luck to get to spend those college years with a slew of fabulous girls…all with personality, charisma, mischief and creativity. We thought it was about time we shared the tremendous creations and gifts they have brought to the world.
There is a long list, and they each deserve their own spotlight…so we will share them one at a time.
Sara Ruffin Costello is our first belle star! From the first day she stepped on campus, she was vibrant, vivacious, exhuberant and magnetic! She was part of the dynamic team that started Domino Magazine…which is to this day one of our favorite mags…we only wish it was still a monthly.
Now we are proud to say that she has authored the most beautiful and extraordinary book…About Decorating. In it, she writes about the work of famed Richard Keith Langham
Via Amazon
Even the hard cover is scrumptious…
Courtesy of Sara Ruffin Costello
And inside…oh my! Yes, please!
Anyone who appreciates interiors, enjoys home design, seeks style with a touch of flair will adore this book…and it’s a great addition to any library or coffee table.
Y’all order it on Amazon!!
What a beautiful creation you’ve made, Sara…thank you for sharing!
a&a
11 Friday Aug 2017
Posted in belle maison
Tags
amazon, apartment, college, curtains, decorating, shoestring
Sending girls off to college can be pretty stressful…preparing for dorm living, rush and the rush wardrobe for freshmen…preparing for apartment living on a shoestring for the others. We have both experienced it all…and have lived to tell about it!
Bama-belle recently moved into a “vintage” house near campus in Tuscaloosa. Here are a couple of hacks we feel turned out pretty well…
Inexpensive bamboo shades from Home Depot can warm up a window and disguise the plastic blinds favored by college-town landlords.
And while you’re at Home Depot, grab several paint drop-cloths…the flax kind. They make excellent curtains!! Here, we added grommets (ordered on Amazon along with a grommet setter) to spruce them up a bit. And no hemming required! Just fold the top edge over to create the length needed (you need the thickness for the grommet anyway). Add an inexpensive drapery rod. Voila!
Mirrors expand the space…and can be found in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges
Talk to the other moms/parents. In this particular case, we all combined our neutral extra furniture, lamps and pillows. The girls decided they wanted several shades of blue as accent colors. We picked up pillows and other tchotchkes to add those pops.
Here are some other items that became life-savers in small spaces…
For extra bathroom storage:
Use that space over the toilet. Get one Here
To keep the tissue handy…
Hook it right on the tank. Get it here
For extra bedroom/closet storage…
We put this in a cubby in the room and disguised it with curtains. Get it Here
We would love to hear your tips for next year!!
a&a
27 Thursday Apr 2017
Posted in belle maison
Tags
barbara steele, decor, fabric, home, interior design, local, monogram, needlesandthread, outdoor, patio, porch, reupholstery, sunbrella
After a long winter and with spring upon us…we decided we needed to upgrade our outdoor seating. Our lovely Libby-belle was also a big contributor to this little endeavor!
This little troublemaker is lucky she’s so cute. If we could locate the pics, we’d show you what happened when she ate the stuffing right out of these cushions…but until then you’ll have to use your imagination. Just picture a sea of white cotton candy all over a bright green backdrop. Lovely no?
Anyhoo…time to do a lil refresh. We went to a fabulous local lady who just happens to be very good at what she does (beyond good actually). Her name is Barbara Steele, and her company is Needles and Thread (needlesandthread.barbara@gmail.com – 281-974-7317). She can do anything. Really, anything!
We picked a sunbrella outdoor fabric in a neutral, and then for a little fashion flair (and what any good southern belle would do)…a monogram !
The monogrammer did an incredible job don’t you think? We used Missy Underwood of Underwood Embroidery, 120 East Main Street, Walhalla (864-718-5414). And…of course…we always think bigger is better!
Love the idea of creating comfortable seating on the pillars!!
Time to relax and enjoy!!
a&a
17 Saturday Dec 2016
Posted in belle maison, belle of the ball, friday friend 1-1
Tags
A festive, fun do-it-yourself opportunity. This centerpiece will put everyone in the Christmas spirit.
Get the how-to here
Thank you, Oh Happy Day!
a&a
14 Wednesday Dec 2016
Posted in belle gifts, belle maison, what's ringin' our belle
Although we love living in “yeah THAT greenville“, sometimes we miss our home towns. Imagine our excitement when we ran across this awesome idea!! We MUST have Northern California and Georgia – pronto!! And we think these would be great gifts for just about anyone living afar…
Order by December 16 for Christmas delivery. Get on it, belles!
a&a
03 Saturday Dec 2016
Posted in belle maison, what's ringin' our belle
Lights aren’t only for the tree and the yard (which can be disastrous…hello, Clark Griswald)
We have found the perfect bit of sparkle for our wreaths this year – inside and out – and they are battery-operated, making them super easy (no pesky cords…score!)
For example…
On the door
In the kitchen
These little copper string lights are the-sparklin’-bomb!!
Get your Christmas lights here
Twinklin’ all the way
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
07 Thursday Jul 2016
Posted in belle adventures, belle maison, fashion forward
Thought we’d share some of our beachy favorites…
Ice ice baby, anchors away belles
We love a round towel…that’s a wrap!!
Totes. A must!!
Don’t forget to throw some shade
Sand, sun, fun, belles!
a&a
the RARE belle 
