Category Archives: what’s ringin’ our belle

belles chime in…a trio of tidbits friend-1-1

15 Friday May 2015

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Belles love sharing…that’s just what we do.  When we find something fabulous, we pass it on; and we get giddy when our fellow-belles do the same for us!   Some of our favorite belles have jumped on the bandwagon lately, passing on their belle-worthy finds. Here’s the latest…

Eating is always on the schedule, and finding a delicious, already prepped gourmet delight is worth it’s weight in gold…especially one that could be dinner or cut up into bite-sized portions for a spontaneous gathering. Our sweet Izzie belle just shared a favorite from Trader Joe’s.  The Tarte aux Brie et Tomates is a gourmande’s (and a belle’s) delight.  She recommends cooking it a wee bit longer than the directions call for and we agree.  A little party in your mouth!   

And Brie just calls for a cocktail doesn’t it? With warm weather finally here and outdoor entertainin’ in the plans, a refreshing one is certainly in order!  Our gal pal, Kathy, recommends Deep Eddy Ruby Red Vodka (which can be found at Total Wines and Costco!!).

The cocktail Kathy suggests? A Southbound Greyhound, of course. (because heading south is always a good idea…just sayin’)

The Southbound Greyhound

For 10-12 belles (recipe courtesy of Uptown Magazine)

  • 2 bottles of deep Eddy Ruby Red vodka
  • 4 small bottles club soda (total of 16 ounces)

Mix the vodka and soda in a pitcher.  Serve over ice and arnish with lime.

via Pinterest

And now that you’ve had some apps and a few adult bevs, let’s balance out all the fun with some taste thrills that are good for you to boot!! We can always rely on our culinary pro, Cathy, to lead us in the right direction. Everything she makes is addictive, delicious, and on the healthy side. Guilt-free gourmet all the way! She recently shared the best broccoli salad that is easy and will keep…if you can keep your paws out of the bowl, that is…which we could not.  That’s just how we roll.
Raw Broccoli Salad with Cumin and Lemon 

(from Daily Unadventures in Cooking)

 

via Daily Unadventures in Cooking

We changed nothing in the above recipe (unheard of!), but for those of you who find cilantro to be the equivalent of eating soap…not one of our issues, mind you…fresh parsley can be used instead. You will still find it to be a refreshing dish to have in your larder!!

So there you have it…a delightful trio. Thank you, fellow belles…keep chimin’ in!!!

a&a

fitness is fashiona-belle…just sayin’

14 Thursday May 2015

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We belles love our fitbits.  We both use the Fitbit Flex, and you can get yours at Amazon.com. By the way, if you haven’t, you should, really…how many times do we have to tell you????

via Pinterest

And now for the fashionabelle part.  We found a little company by the name of Bezels and Bytes.  They have come up with most fashionable, stylish Fitbit accessories to have you stepping with style!  Now you can dance the night away, stroll through a garden tour, sashay on a date, etc…and get credit every step of the way. Can’t get better than that!! Chic, functional, and healthy!! This basketweave bracelet is our first choice, but we love them all. We are also waiting very impatiently for the gold bangle!! 

We can wear this one tres simply…  Or wear it a la race to the elbow….which of of course we belles are partial to…more is more and accessories galore…just sayin!  

 Now that’s fashionabelle!!!

Bezels and Bytes has some beautiful options…so don’t be shy, be fit.  Time to step with style!!

a&a

FlexOffers 

get creative with baublebar belles…just in time for summer

12 Tuesday May 2015

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Baublebar is letting us belles customize our own set of jewelry for summer!!

Look at what you can do !!!



And so much fun, we might just go for it twice!!  Baublebar is speakin’ our language.

So get your summer refresh of adornments here. Y’all will be thanking us and your pocketbooks will be thanking you!

Here’s to summah!!!!

a&a

what’s ringin’ our belle…round 2

12 Tuesday May 2015

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Sharing a few more things that are ringin’ our belle these days…

Fashion, books and decor…all in one …or a few…more is more!!

The spring lip.  Color me beautiful!

We can’t resist a spiked  cocktail. Or two!!

A great read . And another.

Secret restaurant menus?? Yes indeed….get them here .

Guess who is competing with Gwyneth and Blake?? We’ve got the answer here.

Belles like balls…these and these will make y’all pro ballers too!

The guide to what y’all need to be watching on TV this summer.
Stay tuned !

a&a

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what’s ringin’ our belle…round 1

05 Tuesday May 2015

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Since belles are all about sharing, we thought we’d share a few things that are ticklin’ our fancy. 

We can’t wait to sip this . And with the leftovers make this .

Want these , this and this .

Going to collect these and use them everyday! 

Took this quiz…it actually got our ages right!! Let us know if it works for you.

A great page turner. Read it one rainy weekend.

And of course we can’t resist some major  arm candy !

If you can’t live without cheese…we can’t …then you absolutely must read this .

belles ringin’?…stay tuned for round 2
a&a

a belle always remembers momma

03 Sunday May 2015

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Mother’s Day is just a week away!  Time to make a plan if you haven’t (and we belles must admit…it’s crept up on us!). We thought we would share some swoon-worthy gift picks from some of our favorite area shops for you local belles in need of that perfect something for Mother Dear.  (and we have included some links for online shopping for those of you a bit more far-flung…can’t forget our friends from afar!)

Put these shops in your GPS and put it in drive…Cone and Coleman, Monkees of the Westend, Savvy, Paisley & Paper, Twill, and Muse.

First stop on our shopping spree…Cone and Coleman on Greenville’s Main Street – accessory heaven!  Our picks:

Perhaps a clutch?… 

cork…the perfect spring/summer neutral – $190 

or a sweet selection of sizes and colors – $325-375

These are beautiful deerskin leather, made in Italy

…and maybe a bauble or two…

so Dior – and only $89

Not your basic earring, these have an interesting edge….a must-see, and a must-buy!  The ladies at Cone and Coleman will not lead you astray.  Stop in for other suggestions!

Heading on down Main Street, we popped into Monkees…and found these excellent options:

the Tory Burch “Miller” sandal – $195

The ladies at Monkees might even know her size!!

for an accessory option: …they have a beautiful selection of Sylvia Benson necklaces…handmade in Cary, North Carolina (spreadin’ the local love)…just under the $100 mark

and for the mom who hydrates in style… 

a S’well water bottle is an excellent choice…and the large fits an entire bottle of wine! (just sayin’)

Farther down Augusta Road, we paid a visit to our friendly ladies at Savvy to pick their brains for ya.  Here are their suggestions…

How about these beautiful  Love Poppy necklaces?  And they don’t hurt the wallet!  Just $56-88

and you might have seen belles wearing some of these about town…Twine and Twig necklaces are all the rage!  ($120 – $280)

and these  Melvin tassles are just too much fun!!  The necklaces range from $95-116, but they also have bracelets from $25-45.

Moving on to our next stop….Muse Shoe Studio is our go-to shoe source, but Musette and Jenny have lots more to offer!

We belles are ALL ABOUT these rings!!!  They look far more expensive than they really are…always a good thing in our opinion!  Just $50-55

And for more bauble options, our dear friend Katherine’s Lady B Designs are always a hit…    

…beautifully creative necklaces and earrings range from $20 to $98.  Something for every budget!

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and how can you not find something on their scarf wall?  At just $28-$48, you might just grab 2 or 3!

 

Hopping a couple of doors down…the dear belles at Twill have lots to offer.

For a multi-purpose zippered pouch…

…these Gigi lovelies can’t be beat.  And BONUS…Twill is having a Gigi Trunk Show this week from Wednesday to Saturday!!  If you can’t find it there, it can’t be had.

Piko tops

Piko tops

Twill has every color of the rainbow…and stripes to boot…in the ever-so-comfortable yet put-together-looking Piko knit tops.  Moms of all ages could LIVE in these…and they are only $32!!!  An absolute steal!!

Suzanna Dai jewelry

Suzanna Dai jewelry

And for a more ornamental option…Twill has this very creative line of baubles from Suzanna Dai.  These range in price from around $200-350 and are quite the statement!  Another BONUS!  Twill will also be featuring a trunk show for this line as well!  (again…Wednesday – Saturday of this week).

One last stop just up the way…at Paisley & Paper.  Marty has options galore!!

How about linens (napkins, aprons…) from Hen House Linens?  The colors and patterns would brighten any mom’s day!  

or these Spartina lovelies (made in Daufuskie Island…spreadin’ the local love again) would be a great option for helping to keep mom organized.  (We can use all the help we can get with that!)

– and last, but most certainly not least…how about a practical yet snazzy clip board (for more options in the organization department?)  Let us tell you, dear Marty is just the best!!  We needed a couple of these at the last minute about a week or so ago…so she whipped them up and even delivered them to our door!  Now that’s service!

So, there you have it.  A little something for any mom, wife, grandmother…on your list.  You’re welcome!!

Happy Mother’s Day!

a&a
 

belles love to coordinate…a great gift for someone special

30 Thursday Apr 2015

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We must share a gift that is perfect for graduation, a special trip, to commemorate a special event or, in this case, an 18th birthday gift!!

This particular birthday-belle has terrific taste and an eye for finding just the right gift. She requested a “coordinates ring”(LINK!!) (which she introduced us to by the by) as it is stylish, unique, fashionable, sentimental and memorable. Just like her!! She wanted the coordinates of a special place in all of our hearts out on the west coast. Of course, we couldn’t possibly deny her and it turned out beautifully.

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The jewelry is customizable in several ways: material, finish, outside coordinates, interior engraving (we did her birthday) and even an option for a birthstone.

IMG_1550The ring is beautiful on its own or stacked with other rings. Belles love a race to the knuckle!!

We also love the bracelets…and wouldn’t it be fun to have a few of them representing places that mean the most? We could think of quite a few memorable places we’d like to have on our wrist.

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And the necklaces are just as awesome…

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Whatever style you choose…for whatever occasion, surely you’ll agree that this is a gift that any belle would adore receiving!  And, yes…that belle just might be you!

a&a

not your everyday farmer…a little spring inspiration

16 Thursday Apr 2015

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IMG_2781The South is all about entertaining, eating and garden clubs…that’s just how we roll down here. We both belong to a great garden club with monthly meetings and at least two great parties each year…holla! But we have several dear friends who are members of what we call “the serious one”. So, when we were invited by the “serious” garden club to hear a wonderful speaker and have a delectable lunch, we didn’t hesitate to accept!

On the the date of the luncheon, we donned our finery (sometimes it’s nice to get out of the yoga pants and throw on some heels) and headed over to the Poinsett Club. Tables were adorned with the most beautiful spring arrangements, put together by the über-green-thumbed members. Lordy, these ladies are talented with a capital T! They even had a little pop-up shop featuring wonderful gardening tools, entertaining ideas and clever gift items. There were also three books available, written by the guest of honor, James Farmer. We barely got our hands on them! There were a couple of moments when we thought the fur might fly with the high demand. (Not from these belles, mind you…just sayin…). Luckily, we emerged with everything intact and autographed books in-hand. Time for some sustenance! IMG_2309 We sat down to a beautiful lunch that included Farmer’s pimento cheese (we posted the recipe here), his famous biscuits (one bite and y’all won’t need to ask why they’re famous) and a healthy serving of Mr. Farmer’s wit. We have attended quite a few of these “belles who lunch” affairs and have heard a good many speakers. James Farmer is, by far, the most engaging, entertaining, humorous and – most of all – inspiring of them all! We couldn’t wait to get home and prune a little from our yards (and the neighbors’)! We wanted to throw a dinner party immediately; and we could hardly get in the kitchen fast enough to make that pimento cheese…and we hadn’t even cracked open the books yet! Speaking of the books…we each came away with these two…IMG_2335His gardening book, A Time to Plant, was already sold out when we got there (at 11:32 am) so we are ordering from Amazon. You must order as well so you can find out about the May rule….or do you know it?? It was a pleasure to remind ourselves to bring the outdoors in, even in the smallest way; to rethink the art of entertaining as an opportunity to share and engage, not a chore or burden; to know that taking time in the kitchen brings tradition and creativity together…which then brings friends and family together.  IMG_2337Simple tasks bring great rewards, and sharing is everything! James Farmer is a true southern gentleman, and we can’t possibly thank our serious garden club friends enough for sharing him with us. But we’ll try by inviting them over for some ham biscuits, a cocktail or two, and camellia from the yard in a beautiful vase…all displayed on motha’s silvah of course!!

a&a

la rose est belle…a belle beauty tip friday friend-1-1

10 Friday Apr 2015

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After reading our fave book of late, Forever Chic, we quickly adopted several habits of the French “women of a certain age”. Time was a-wastin’!

One such habit…a spritz of rose water to the face as often as possible…has quickly become an obsession (as can happen when belles find a real belle-ringer…just sayin’). It smells delightful…slightly reminiscent of our grandmothers, yet classic and oh-so-today!! Our fave so far:

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Shea Terra Organics Facial Spritz with Ester C Morrocan Rose Water

This particular version has the added benefit of Ester C (we’ve been told that vitamin C helps with the production of collagen)…so OF COURSE we had to try!! We are thinking you might love it as much as we do.

Hydrated, sweet-smelling skin…check. Collagen oozing from our pores…not quite yet, but a belle is always optimistic!

a&a

bacon and booze…cocktailin’ with the brothers

02 Thursday Apr 2015

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IMG_2727We’ve been up to the cocktailing again, and this time we upped our game with a bit of bacon as a bonus! We headed out to Bacon Brothers Public House to sample their already legendary menu of creative cocktails…and they did not disappoint. This place is reeling with enthusiasm and a real passion for what they are doing behind that buzzing bar. These bartenders (they don’t like the pretentiousness of the term “mixologists”…big points there) all create, share, and have input on the fine details of the libations. They make their own bitters and shrubs (see our description below) daily, letting inspiration, spontaneity, and creativity guide them. We reap the rewards. Holla!

The Bacon Brothers cocktail menu...see what we're talkin' about?

The Bacon Brothers cocktail menu…see what we’re talkin’ about?

We tried the “Gin Shrub Fizz” and the “Fog Cutter” (perfect the San Francisco native), and we were quite happy with our choices!

Made with Damrak Gin, fruit shrub (spiced-apple in this case), and sparkling wine, the “Gin Shrub Fizz” kept us effervescing for a bit…a quality we love! It’s a nice balance of fruity and crisp…a cool, calm, collected sort of drink. This particular concoction will change as the shrub flavors change, so it might be worth a try every couple of weeks!

The “Fog Cutter”, made with rum, gin, brandy, byrrh (pronounced “beer”), allspice dram (again…we will explain this in a minute), and a touch of kumquat, is a strong, swarthy sort of cocktail. The citrus of the gin balances the bitterness found in the byrrh which is made with quinine, said to aid with digestion…a healthy bonus! Kumquat is apparently the next trend in cocktails. We are all aboard!

Now…to explain the “shrub”, which beats anything you’ll find in the yard! Used to flavor cocktails or sodas, this kind of shrub is a blend of fruit, sugar and vinegar. The recipe dates from 15th century England but is enjoying quite a revival. Gabriel, the brilliant Bacon Brothers beverage manager, uses in-season fruits to create a new shrub every couple of weeks.

And as for that “dram”…a dram can simply be a small portion of something to drink. However, the allspice dram used in the Fog Cutter is made with highly-spiced rum. We have discovered that allspice dram is apparently hard to come by, so Bacon Brothers is in the know!

"The Burger"...need we say more?

“The Burger”…need we say more?

And one should never cocktail-it-up without a nibble or two! We sampled the pimento cheese with bacon jam with house-made saltines…wow! We would have licked the bowl if our mamas hadn’t taught us right…(besides it was too crowded to get away with it!). And had we not filled up on the snack (mama lost the battle here…we ruined our dinner!), we would have sampled the heavenly burger the waiters so bravely brandished about! They need to watch their step…we might just decide to grab one and run next time!

On a follow-up visit, the belle with the son who’s pretty much all about bacon discovered that we are quite partial to the Bacon Caramel Popcorn…IMG_2728Lord, have mercy!
It’s a real winner…a must-try!

As far as what to expect of this fine establishment if you haven’t ventured over there just yet, Bacon Brothers is a relaxed, casual kind of place…so anything goes. The décor is rough-hewn with cozy lighting, exuding warmth and comfort…like your favorite pair of jeans. And the food is as creative and authentic as the cocktails!

So, belles…we suggest you make your reservations now! When (not if) you go, plan to step out of your box and experiment with options you won’t have just anywhere. Save the Pinot and suds orders for less creative establishments. Let these guys show you what they can do. You won’t regret it!

a&a