Category Archives: Uncategorized

extra, extra…here all about this event, belles

19 Monday Mar 2018

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Here’s a not-to-be-missed event, belles…at our fave antique emporium in Greenville…The Rock House Antiques. House of Landor out of Raleigh is bringing their vintage wares for a trunk show this weekend!! We encourage you to stop and shop for that special “find”!

Here are some examples of what you might find…

The Rock House Antiques . 415 Mauldin Road . Greenville

And while we are at it…here are some vintage shopping tips…

1.  For clothing, shop your size…and a size up…and a size down.

Sizes have changed over the years.  Those of us who might have worn a 4 in the 80’s now find ourselves a very slim size zero (while having lost not a single ounce!).  Don’t take the label at its word…use it as a suggestion.  Also, we have found that many ladies who pass on their clothing to these shops are very much like us…addicted to alterations.  Many…even most…of these items have been tailored to fit the original proud owner.  This often means that an 8 has become a 6 through the bust, or a 4 at the waist.  The only way to be sure is to…

2.  Be prepared to try on.

Wear something that’s easy-on, easy-off.  What you purchase is yours (no returns), so let’s make sure it’s do-able.

3.  Don’t ignore the shoes.

We have scored scarcely-worn Manolos, Louboutins, you name it, at vintage shops. Often the shoes find their way to these shops because they were a poor fit for the original owner…so she really didn’t wear them much at all! Don’t be afraid to give them a try.

4.  Don’t forget the fellas.

Hermes ties, Burberry wool scarves, belts, shoes, maybe even a classic old tuxedo…the options for the men can be just as numerous as those for women. Give the men’s section a quick run-through.

5.  Check out the stores in different cities and different neighborhoods

You will, of course, want to visit House of Landor in person, and go ahead and haunt the vintage clothiers in other cities you frequent. While stores on the Upper East Side might be filled with Chanel, those in Soho might be filled with Pucci, Gucci, or who knows what. Give them all a chance…the treasures are worth it!

a&a

belles are smokin’…with smoked paprika

09 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by in belle-icious, Uncategorized

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We are both in the kitchen a good bit, tweakin’ this and that, so even our old stand-by recipes are not immune to an adjustment or two.  Case in point…one belle’s desire to change up her go-to Moroccan Spiced Butternut Squash soup…we published here a couple of years ago.  Here’s what she came up with…

Smokey Butternut Squash Soup


2-3 butternut squash, cubed (or 3-4 bags frozen, pre-chopped)

1 onion, sliced or chopped

1 red bell pepper, halved and seeded

4-6 c chicken broth

4-5 cloves garlic

1 t smoked paprika

1 t Beautiful Briny Sea French Picnic salt 

(Hint…we’ve told you about the Beautiful Briny folks before)

1/2 t each cumin, coriander, and curry

1/2 t ground black pepper

Olive or coconut oil for roasting the pepper, onion and garlic


Heat oven to 425 degrees.  Toss pepper and onion in oil and season with a bit of salt.  Place on a baking sheet.  Form a foil pouch for the garlic, drizzle with oil, and place on sheet with pepper and onion.  Roast in oven for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, place squash and spices in a saucepan.  Pour about 4 c chicken broth over all and stir.  Bring to boil and then turn to a simmer for about 15-20 minutes.  

When pepper and onions are nicely browned, remove from oven and pull the peel off of the pepper.  Now, dump everything (pepper, onion, garlic, and cooked squash and liquid) into a blender, vitamix, food processor (choose your fave)…or grab your stick blender and go to town!

Place soup back in pot and allow to simmer until ready to serve.


Some garnish ideas:  bacon, goat cheese, toasted walnuts, toasted pecans, a swirl of cream…get creative!
Smokin’!!

a&a

what’s ringin’ our belle…round 87

03 Tuesday Jan 2017

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Ringin’ belles this week…ways to accomplish those 2017 goals…

Resolution #1…drink more water:


Try this genius water-guzzlin’ hack from StyleCaster
Resolution #2…workout more:


The “buddy system” is a winner every time! (From BDG Media)

Resolution #3…spend wisely:


Hit the sales!  Keep track with Racked

Resolution #4…eat better:


TheKitchn has some belleicious ideas!
Resolution #5…get more sleep


Check out these tips from LifeHack.org

HAPPY 2017. belles!!  And good luck with those resolutions!

a&a

duck, duck, duck fat!! an easy and delish dish…

07 Friday Oct 2016

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After a recent trip to Japan, landing back in the states to a homemade meal was most welcome and appreciated. Exhausted and tired of soybean paste, tofu and rice, a simple, tasty dinner was smile-making and tummy-tempting . 

A dear belle-boy found this recipe, grocery shopped, prepared, cooked and cleaned up . Now that’s a welcome home! Lots of belle points were earned …just sayin…

A simple salad was the perfect side to these perfect pan seared pork chops by Idratherbeachef.com 

With just a few ingredients (hello, duck fat) you can have a clean, gourmet meal with little to no effort. Especially if you let someone else do all the work!

This recipe calls for roasted garlic and belle-boy forgot that one item. So we just substituted sweet onions that were roasted in oven with a little olive oil, salt and pepper for about 45 minutes at 425 


A little fresh rosemary, salt and pepper, and a hot pan start the process

And then a lil flip 


Now add the roasted garlic (or onion in our case) 


Now plate! 

Simply belle-icious !! 

Full recipe Here

Also , since you’ll have some duck fat leftover, why not try These, These, or This ? 

what’s ringin our belle…round 24

30 Wednesday Sep 2015

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We are in the thick of football season…here’s a Fantasy football guide.

Belles believe in naps and break time…anytime…

Time to  stoke the fires belles….

Have you ever had a Boo Radley? We haven’t either, but we are willing to try it…

Just a few belle-ringers for ha

a&a

sippin’ on a roof…drinkin’ on the job

03 Thursday Sep 2015

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“Up on the roof” – songs have been written about it, a fiddler has been on it. We thought it was about time we headed up there for some cocktailin’. SIP Tasting Room and Rooftop Lounge on Piazza Bergamo was the perfect place. While they call themselves a wine bar, we are here to tell you…they are that and much, much more! With a full bar and hand-crafted, infused vodka, bourbon, tequila, and moonshine at the ready, Brad and his team of friendly, knowledgeable bar-mates are prepared to cure what ails ya.

Wine En Motion – photo by Cindy Hosea

Wine en Motion…SIP’s “Tasting Room”

If it’s the wine you’re after…this is a nifty gadget. With 40 bottles corked and loaded, you can sip-n-sample all night (responsibly, please). The machine dispenses 2, 4 and 6 ounce portions of a full range of wines…from cab to reisling…whatever tickles your fancy!

The Spicy Ginger – photo by Cindy Hosea

Our first cocktail – The “Spicy Ginger” (affectionately named after our ginger-haired Sip mix-master). A strong, bracing combination that ignites an explosion of flavor with the first sip, this libation is not for the faint of heart. Our fiery bartender feels this is a more feminine cocktail because of the title, but we beg to differ. This is an equal opportunity concoction! Ladies, brace yourselves…fellas, give it a chance.

The Spanish Sangria – photo by Cindy Hosea

Our next choice – the Spanish Sangria. Sip features three Sangrias – the New Zealand (white-n-fruity), the French (sweet), and the Spanish (citrusy). We used to scoff at the idea of sangria. Remember the days our parents made it with a box of Gallo (yes, box) and a few lowly slices of fruit? Well, this ain’t mama’s sangria! With crisp wines and fresh, seasonal fruit, this is a cool new trend in hot weather cocktails.

highstreethospitality.com

We loved sippin’ while lounging comfortably, enjoying the downtown view amongst the after-work crowd. City-chic white jeans, a breezy top, and a sexy pair of sandals work for the ladies. The gents can don loafers sans socks (maybe the ankles will catch a breeze). This is the perfect spot for a round or two with good friends or that special someone to while away a lazy summer evening.

the infusions

Of course, sippin’ requires some nibblin’. From cheeses and cured meats to the Panini of the week, SIP has a little something for everyone. And for a sweet nibble, they offer the most delectable selection of locally-made truffles using Belgian and Valrhona chocolates. Lucky they got us off the roof when they did…next time, we just might stay where the world below can’t bother us!

Alex Ryan and Angi Einstein – www.therarebelle.com