12 Tuesday Apr 2016
Tags
cocktails, dresses, fashion, Intermix, mimosa, refinery 29, Revolve, Shannon Kirsten, shoes, sunglasses, The Food Charlatan
Our favorite spring cocktail: 
Our favorite new artichoke recipe: 
Please avoid making these common kitchen mistakes…
Belles like to view the world through rose colored glasses…
With spring celebrations popping up, we could all use a new frock…
And a new pair of kicks…
Time to tip-toe through the tulips, belles!
a&a
28 Thursday Jan 2016
Posted in fashion forward, healthy belle
We know working out is a chore, but there are a few ways to make it more fun (and look good while you are at it).
Our biggest tip is to workout with a friend. If she can do it, so can you…and you have someone to talk to, whine with, and to hold you accountable. No excuses!!
So…back to “lookin’ good”…we’ve come up with some great fashion finds to motivate y’all.
From our new favorite website for all things fitness… Bandier.
A classic Banded sweatshirt
The Perfect performance long tight
A fresh take on a legging
Add a little color to your workout with the Camo support tank
For the more classically-inclined belle, the Central Park west tank
Next stop ..Nordstrom
For wintery outings…a parka that won’t make you puffy!
For windy outings…the perfect jacket
Love these running tights….
Love the back on this Camisole tank
When there’s just a chill in the air, we love a vest
Belles love a Racer back….
Sometimes you need a heads-up and an accurate scale is the key. This one is a great option and is Bluetooth capable.
From Amazon
And finally…for lookin’ good underneath it all…a pretty sports bra
No excuses not to look and feel good, belles…just sayin…
a&a
14 Thursday Jan 2016
Posted in belle maison, belle-icious, fashion forward, healthy belle
Tags
acrylic furniture, Aquatalia boots, barbecue sauce, Bezels and Bytes, blondies, budhagirl, favorite things, Fretwork Designs, kale, okra, Perennials, salted caramel, tenderloin, The French Poodle, the skimm, tomato pie, white jeans, Wisteria
To celebrate two years of this blogging business…and nearly 400 posts (yes, we have hit quite a milestone)…we thought it would be fun to list our favorite – and most talked about – posts (’cause we are really, really sweet, and we all need gentle reminders of stuff we need to do, buy, make, read…)
In the #belleicious category:
First up…The French Poodle Vinaigrette. This salad dressing is a constant in our homes. If you haven’t tried it, what are you waiting for?
Remember our foolproof Tenderloin recipe? You’re welcome 😉
Belles love barbecue…and grandmother’s BBQ sauce is the gold standard…
This roasted okra puts a tasty spin on a veggie favorite…
And in other “eat your veggies” news…you must try this tomato pie…
Seems to be all about the kale lately…this kale salad is a winner every time…
And if we are gonna splurge on dessert, it better be worth it. These salted caramel blondies do not disappoint!
Some #fashionabelle reminders:
White jeans…yes, you can wear them after Labor Day!
Aquatalia boots…you won’t believe the comfort, style and practicality! Every one is a real belle-ringer…
For the mindful belle…these BUDHAGIRL bangles totally make the cut…
For the belle-maison:
Remember when we suggested Perennials outdoor fabrics? Well, they are still our go-to for beautiful, durable upholstered pieces!
We are still all about acrylic pieces to bring a little light to a room…
And this fretwork from FretworkDesigns is still one of our favorites…
And, last…but not least…for the belle-on-the-go:
We still start every day with The Skimm (and some giggles)..we encourage you to do the same
And we keep track of our running around with our FitBit Flex, made über-stylish with our Bezels and Bytes bracelets…
And there you have ’em, belles…our faves so far!
a&a
23 Wednesday Dec 2015
Posted in belle-icious, healthy belle
One belle was recently assigned “dessert” for a large family dinner. Knowing that several loved-ones had recently celebrated great success with weight-loss and general feelin’ good on the Whole 30 plan, she figured a waistline-friendly dessert would be much appreciated (and better for those who might not have fully embraced the concept)! But coming up with a dessert sans dairy, sweeteners (not even the chemistry lab ones, aka artificial ones), grains, or alcohol might have stumped a less-determined belle.
Well…pears, ghee, cinnamon, and walnuts to the rescue!! Yum!!
Baked Cinnamon Pears
– 4 Pears, plan on one-half per person (we used Bosc) and adjust recipe as needed
– juice of one lemon
– 1/2 c Ghee, or clarified butter, melted
– 1 t. Cinnamon (plus more for sprinkling)
– 1 c. Toasted walnuts (we toast with olive oil and salt)
Wash and peel pears, then cut in half. Toss or rub fully with lemon juice to keep them from turning brown before they bake (the lemon also adds another dimension to the flavor).
Place pears in baking dish, cut side down. Combine cinnamon and ghee, then poor over pears, making sure to fully coat. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon
Toast walnuts. At this point, the dish can be stored countertop or in the fridge until dinner begins. About a half-hour before serving, place pears in the oven at 350 degrees. Let the aroma cause great anticipation.
Top each pear with walnuts. Serve…and bask in the accolades. You’ve pulled off a skinny (and incredibly delicious) dessert!
PS…vanilla or cinnamon ice cream would be da bomb with this…for those wishing to throw caution to the wind, of course. Shut the front door!!
a&a
27 Friday Nov 2015
Posted in belle-icious, healthy belle
We admit it…sometimes we have a carb craving that won’t quit…the kind that makes us want to mow through a whole loaf of French bread, or inhale a bowl of pasta. And when that craving hits, very few substitutes will suffice.
Well…one belle recently had a hankerin’ for spaghetti with meat sauce. In fact, she craved it for a couple of weeks before she was able to attempt a “fix” (she was a very busy belle…not much time for cookin’). Luckily, this gave her the chance to make a plan that might not be so detrimental to the ole waistline. This twice-baked spaghetti squash from American Heritage Cooking was the perfect way to get that spaghetti fix! (Whew…crisis avoided!)
Their recipe:
Our process:
Cut squash in half, scoop out the “yuck”, drizzle with oil, sprinkle with salt & pepper, turn cut-side-down, and roast
While the squash roasts, get your meat sauce goin’
When the roasting is done, scrape the spaghetti-like strings of squash out of the shells
Place the squash in a bowl and prepare to add meat sauce and seasonings
Fill the squash “shells” with your sauce and top with grated mozzarella, then toss it back in the oven for a bit
Our finished product…served up with a salad…
And for another option, try the Roasted Garlic Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats from Half Baked Harvest…
Another winner!!
a&a
18 Thursday Jun 2015
Posted in fashion forward, healthy belle
As we were trolling the blogs and internet the other day…something we do on the reg…we came upon the most inspiring and delightful website.
Belles believe in balance…but we aren’t perfect (hard to believe, we know). We can get caught up in ourselves and forget about the big picture at times.
So breathe, belle…a deep breath in and a long, slow breath out…because BuDhaGirl is here to guide us calmly (and very fashionably) back to a balanced point of view. We all need gentle reminders in life, and BuDhaGirl has several solutions to help us achieve a better appreciation, consideration and focus on the here and now.
We are trying these remembrance bangles and they have quickly become an important part of our morning and evening ritual…a ritual of intention in the morning as we thoughtfully put each bangle on; and, in the evening, a ritual of gratitude as we take each off.
Let’s talk practical matters for a moment shall we? We know, you don’t want to jingle jangle all over town like a cow with her bell. Not to worry… BuDhaGirl has taken care of that…of course! Not only are these bracelets all-weather…(swimming in bangles?…count us in for a lap or two) there is no fear of tarnish or noise either, belles! Polycarbonate steel anyone?!?! So feel free to toast to your new rituals without sounding like you want to be tambourine player in the band.
And as for comfort, these gold or silver circles of chicness have a hint of flexibility so they can fit comfortably over the hand. Most belles will take size medium but small and large are available as well…so there is no excuse not to be mindfully glamorous! And as a special perk… if you are a frequent flyer, they are TSA approved so you can actually keep these on as you sashay through security. Best way to chic up your travel togs!!
But Budhagirl doesn’t stop there, belles…oh no, no, no!!
Not a bracelet girl?? Hard for us to imagine, but whatever….JUST KIDDING!! (Sort of) How about a choker, pendant, or – hold on to your chakra belles – a lariat with a shout out to Coco!?
Speechless yet?? A lariat signifies holding things together, binding and holding. This one can be worn a myriad of ways…as a lariat, long with tassels looped or as a choker. Talk about multi-tasking!!
And then our hearts stopped…perhaps they paused in appreciation and gratitude…for budha boy …
Don’t all belles need their own budha boy?? We certainly think so!! This charming fella can be added to your bangles, a necklace or a wrist wrap. We are kind of completely in love with the temple chain…..
No two links are the same…just as each moment (and each belle) evolves in its own special way. We are weak in the knees! We think we need a lot of reminders and objects of glamour to help us do, be and inspire.
We can’t help but add one more beautiful piece because we are just so enamored…especially since this one is about remembering the things you love…the Tibetan toggle cord necklace … 
Be present, be grateful, inspire, love, celebrate, share, and as budhagirl says, “Pause. Be aware. Be it.”
And to encourage and inspire you in this journey, BuDhaGirl has graciously offered a special discount to our belles!! 15% off your order with the code BDGRARE. (don’t y’all know every belle is a rare and unique belle!!) You will need to be signed into the website (create an account ) to use the code.
So, belles…be mindful…be glamorous…be budha belles …
a&a
24 Friday Apr 2015
Posted in belle-icious, healthy belle
We found this “yummy” from GP at Goop…our go-to source for über-cool ideas in the fashion and food worlds (as well as a good dose of inferiority…just sayin’). So, when we find a real winner, we like to share it with you…’cause that’s what we do!
This soup is healthy, easy, clean-eating certified, and tasty to boot!!
Broccoli and Arugula Soup
1 T olive oil
1 clove garlic thinly sliced
1/2 yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 head broccoli, cut into small florets
2 1/2 cups water (can use chicken broth…we did)
1/4 t coarse salt
1/4 t freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup arugula
1/2 lemon
Directions :
1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion, and sauté for just a minute or until fragrant.
2. Add the broccoli and cook for 4 minutes, or until bright green
3. Add the water and/or broth to pot with salt and pepper; bring to a boil, lower to a simmer and cover. Cook for 8 minutes or until broccoli is just tender.
4. Pour the soup into a blender, add arugula, and purée until smooth. Note: If using a blender, let soup cool briefly prior to blending. Or…if you want to go the belle route, add the arugula to the pot and use your handy-dandy stick blender (an essential in every kitchen…just sayin’).
Serve the soup with a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Green never tasted so good!!
a&a
09 Thursday Apr 2015
Posted in belle-icious, healthy belle
Tags
From the blog, how sweet it is, this Spring Green Salad with Candied Meyer Lemons and Fried Goat Cheese is to…die…for!
We’ve made this countless times, always to rave reviews! (Any leftover lemons make a sweet, crunchy, refreshing snack…bonus!)
Photo and recipe from http://www.howsweeteats.com
Perfect for the spring dinner table, don’tcha think, belles??
a&a
13 Thursday Nov 2014
Posted in belle-icious, healthy belle, what's ringin' our belle
Tags
Now, we are all about being healthy, eating right, exercising and blah, blah, blah. We also believe in bacon, champagne and lazing around on a rainy afternoon. It’s called balance. Everything in moderation…except for shoes…and jewelry…and pocketbooks…but back to the business at hand.
We are going a bit healthy today (don’t fret now, somethin’ sinful will be along soon enough). This recipe is good for you nutritionally, financially and tastefully…and comes just in time to help the belles out there who might be entertaining house guests over the next few weeks! Aren’t we thoughtful??
A clever, culinary belle-friend of ours made this for our girls’ varsity tennis team a few weeks ago, and the parents were as intent on digging in greedily as the players. It has become one the most requested recipes in her repertoire and we are so thankful she is a proper belle who is happy to share.
This makes a generous amount…but don’t bother reducing it as you will go through it before you can whistle Dixie.
Debi’s Irresistible Granola
4 tablespoons walnut oil, divided
3/4 c brown sugar (we’ve tried Splenda blend brown sugar with good results)
1/4 cup egg whites (from about two large eggs)
1/2 teaspoon (scant) coarse kosher salt
3 cups organic old fashioned oats (we use Quaker Oats)
1/2 cup steel cut oats (we added this for extra crunch)
I/2 cup pecan pieces
1/2 cup almond slices
1/4 cup honey
Optional additions and suggestions:
– any combination of nuts you like (almonds, pecans , walnuts etc)
– 1/2 cup flax seed or Qia seeds
– 1/2 cup coconut, shredded
We prefer the plain version, but feel free to experiment!
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush heavy, large, rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons oil. Whisk 2 tablespoons oil, sugar, egg whites, and salt in large bowl. Add oats, nuts, and flax seed if using; toss well.
Spread mixture evenly onto prepared pan. Bake 10 minutes. Using metal spatula, stir granola. Bake 10 minutes longer. Stir again. Drizzle with honey. Bake until golden brown about 8-10 minutes longer. Stir to loosen. Transfer to clean baking sheet to cool completely. Store in airtight container.
Debi adapted and tweaked the recipe from Bon Appétit…with great success we must say!
Great to have on-hand for Holiday guests as a quick breakfast…but you will want to keep it around even after the holidays for busy mornings, lunch on-the-go, or an after-school snack you don’t mind them eating!
Time to get your granola on!!!
a & a
05 Friday Sep 2014
Posted in belle-icious, friday friend 1-1, healthy belle, Uncategorized
We are going to fess up…we have a Nonie-belle (aka: just about the hippest mom/grand-mom we’ve ever known…not that we are biased or anything). She is the queen originator of a lot of our most favorite recipes and this curry dip is one of them. We have never made this dip when it wasn’t met with RAVE REVIEWS! Now, we have to thank our lucky stars that Nonie-belle is always happy to share her kitchen secrets…clearly the mark of a true belle. (She is also quite partial to accolades and compliments…so we always give her props…keeps us all happy…just sayin’).
This is super-easy to make, but really is best if made the day before…you know, so the flavors can marry. Try to plan ahead just this once, belles. You’ll be glad you did!
CURRY DIP
1 cup mayonnaise
1 small onion grated
2 tsp curry powder (feel free to make them generous teaspoons)
2 tsp tarragon vinegar
1 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp each salt, pepper, paprika and dried parsley
2 tsp chili sauce (Heinz, not oriental or spicy)
Combine above ingredients and refrigerate overnight (remember, so they can marry-up)
We like to serve blanched asparagus alongside.
Thank you, Nonie, for being such a wealth of divine belle-iciousness!!
a&a
the RARE belle 