covet-a-belle dresses…

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Every belle needs a few fashionabelle choices in her closet when it comes time to dress it up a bit!  Check out some of our picks…

From Elizabeth and James


From Tibi

From Lover

From Ali and Jay


From Bailey 44


From Likely


From Tanya Taylor


From MLM Label

Happy shopping, belles!

a&a

what’s ringin’ our belle…round 112

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Needing this guava margarita right about now…


Via Victoria McGinley

We do love a concrete counter


Via Design Sponge

Here’s a peek at our concrete counter tops…

They get even better with some wear-n-tear!

Tried and tested egg peeling tricks


Via Pinterest 
What your favorite color says about you …

Apologies are never easy …

More to come, belles!

a&a

what a belle bought…belles are blushing

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Blush is the color of the moment, slides aren’t going away anytime soon, and the knot/bow is very in style. So, of course, we had to purchase this lil trifecta! 

From Kenneth Cole…a blush slide with a knot/bow.  We think you might need them too…


Images via Kenneth Cole
Get them Here

Now, belles.  Now!

a&a

drinkin’ on the job…takin’ in the view at Jianna

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We’ve been hittin’ the bottle again!  Check out our latest TALK magazine cocktailin’ experience…out now in the July issue…


Table 301 seems to have done it again! They have another winner in downtown Greenville with Jianna, a “modern Italian Osteria” conveniently perched above Falls Park. Overlooking Liberty Bridge at the corner of Main Street and Falls Park Drive, Jianna has a window on the bustling world below. With a balcony reminiscent of The Big Easy, this corner oasis is perfect for dinner, drinks and whiling away a steamy summer evening. 

Why “Jianna”?…

Chef Michael Kramer once worked at a San Francisco restaurant owned by one of his culinary mentors, Marc Valiani. The restaurant was called Jianna, and Valiani’s wife often joked that Jianna was her husband’s “mistress”. Sadly, Valiani passed away in 2011. When Kramer was given the chance to help name this new establishment in Greenville, he immediately thought of Valiani’s lasting inspiration and requested permission to use “Jianna.” What a beautiful tribute to a worthy mentor!   

The Countess and her Counterpart…


Jianna’s beverage menu features Negroni-inspired cocktails, giving us a modern take on an old Italian classic. Two of these creations, in our opinion, go hand-in-hand…the Classic Negroni and the Countess (because every Countess needs a classic fella by her side). The Countess is light and refreshing, but might sneak up on you with her powerful punch. Crowned with prosecco, she is feminine, elegant and wholly deserving of her noble title. Meanwhile, the Classic Negroni deserves his own badge of honor. Not for the tender-palated, his slightly bitter edge is best for one who enjoys a stiff, bracing cocktail. …the perfect elixir to kick off an evening of fine dining. One of us has been called “the Contessa” since she was knee-high to a grasshopper…so of course she decided to claim as her own! Both will whet your palate and have you comin’ back for more. 

The Hinny… 


For those who might enjoy a touch of winter in July (‘cause who wouldn’t like at least a tiny escape from the sky-high temps?), the Hinny is the cocktail for you. An elevated take on the traditional mule, the frosty mug and mound of crushed ice combine to create an adult snow cone that will have you forgettin’ the steamy heat outside. The addition of fresh basil “frosted” with powdered sugar makes it just as pretty as it is refreshing. You’ve heard of herbal remedies right? Here’s the cure to all your hot weather hang-ups. Just cool your heels and enjoy the moment.

Indoor/outdoor…


Although it might be a bit toasty outside during the day, Jianna can take advantage of the cross-breeze as the sun sets…allowing patrons to enjoy some fresh air with indoor/outdoor bar seating and service. And what better place to try to catch the Fourth of July fireworks display?! Give ‘em a call…seats are bookin’ up fast!


Jianna’s bustling open kitchen cranks out modern Italian dishes using pastas made daily and seasonal, local ingredients. Add to that freshly-shucked oysters and “a refreshing selection of wines and spirits” and you have yourself a winning combination ”best celebrated with family and friends”. Open Tuesday through Sunday for dinner and lunch on weekends, there’s plenty of time to pay Jianna a visit. As they say, “vi diamo il benvenuti”, we welcome you!

Jianna . 600 South Main Street . 2nd Floor . Greenville . 864-720-2200 . jiannagreenville.com

that’s a wrap…some Friday belleiciousness 

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Although our kitchens aren’t getting much use lately (summer, travel, renovations…), we do occasionally crank it up to produce a home-cooked meal.  On a recent, rare, at-home evening, one of us decided to put together a “nutritionist-approved” feast…(yes, we have both been seeing a nutritionist for a while now, and we are trying our very best to avoid grains and sugar – among other delightful morsels!) 

Here’s what we came up with on this particular night…


Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

2 lb assorted mushrooms, chopped

1 red onion, chopped

1 lb ground chicken breasts

3 cloves garlic, chopped

2 t minced ginger

2 t Thai Kitchen red curry paste (the ingredients are super-simple in this brand)

1 t salt

1/2 c cashews, chopped

1/2 c cilantro, chopped

1 package lettuce leaves or one head romaine (or your preferred lettuce), washed and separated 

The step-by-step:

Chop mushrooms and onion…


Sauté in coconut oil…


Remove mushroom mixture and add chicken, garlic and ginger to pan.  Chop and stir chicken until thoroughly cooked.

Stir in red curry paste…


Season with salt and keep warm.

Crush cashews and chop cilantro to be served as garnish…


Assemble and enjoy!!


#belleicious…and healthy to boot!

a&a

 

totes galore…schlep like a belle

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We are HUGE fans of the tote…and we both have quite the collection!  We use our “serious” ones year-round, but sometimes a sizzlin’ summer day calls for a bit of whimsy.  Here are our picks…

Carmen Sel SebaAntonello Tedde, Sun and Sand, and Draper James

Sophie AndersonMercado GlobalAntik Batik, and Shiraleah Mirabel

RajSun n’ SandGiselle, and Melissa Odabash

White House Black MarketHeidi KleinSoeur de Maroc and another Soeur de Maroc

Loeffler RandallKayuJADEtribe and Straw Studios

No excuse not to tote along the sunscreen, belles!!! 
a&a

what’s ringin’ our belle…round 111

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Craving this salad


Via whatsgabycooking

Our phones get gross in the summer…here’s how to clean them

Via Refinery 29 (photo from Pinterest)

Ever wonder what those funny noises on the plane mean??  Here’s the answer


Via Refinery 29 (photo from Travel & Leisure)
Belles love a sursy.  Here’s how it came about.  Thank you, Camellias and Copper!


Via Pinterest 

We love a good hat

Via Net a Porter 

How to keep those off-the-shoulder tops in place


Via Pure Wow (photo via Pinterest)

Belles-a-ringin’!

a&a

beauty bounty…the eyes have it…

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For quite a few years, a traveling band of belles would descend upon northern California.  (We need to start up that trek again, by the way!). For years, one of our compulsory stops was the Shu Uemera store in San Francisco. We would often frequent that fabulous store two or three times before we headed out of town! When Shu Uemura closed its doors stateside, we wore black for months. 

So when we discovered their website we were delighted, but struggled a bit because we couldn’t really see, touch, and try the shadows.  By the way, their shadows are beautifully pigmented, are gorgeous wet or dry, and there is no “fall out”.

And then a wonderful thing happened….they started created palettes…full sixteen-strong palettes!!! And all the colors are magnificent!! 

These are the two they have right now…

The blushing beige palette


And the fresh nudes palette


Buying these shadows separately would set you back substantially, so this is quite a bargain!

And – bonus – they last forever…one belle has had this one for two years! 


Excuse zee messiness of it, but notice how much remains…and it is used constantly!! 

The beige palette is on order – because every belle likes to create a collection! 
You won’t regret this purchase! Pinkie promise!
a&a