tie one on…a new shoe fetish friend-1-1

18 Friday Sep 2015

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Believe it or not flats are back in!  The pointed-toe lace up is the trend du hour, but it’s a bit of a challenge to find a faltering pair..  Well, we have found several for y’all to consider.   These are wearable, attractive, and  affordable…because, let us be clear…while fun, we see this as more trendy than timeless.

Without further ado:

The Atrium from Jeffery Campbell.


The next option is an adorable version from Top shop.


These next ones makes us giddy… Loeffler Randall from Nordstrom


And we adore this new line of shoes…soo chic..from m.gemi

Okay belles…which is your fave? Time to get tied up!!!!
a&a

a ridiculously belle-icious dish…

17 Thursday Sep 2015

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We are always looking for a a fresh take on sides and salads …ones that are delicious but beautiful to look at and even better to eat.

This Asparagus with Burrata fits the bill!

We found the burrata (a couture level of mozzarella…creamy, ooey, gooey, light and fresh) at Whole Foods. If you can’t find it, sub in a good quality mozzarella.

And, speaking of quality…the ingredients here are few and simple, so get the freshest and best quality you can locate. You will be glad you did…and craving this dish over and over.

The ingredients:


2 T fresh lemon juice

1 medium shallot , finely chopped

1T coarsley chopped parsley

1/2 t kosher salt

1/4 t cracked black pepper

3 T good quality olive oil

1 large bunch asparagus, trimmed

1 container Burrata or good quality mozzarella

In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, shallots, parsley, salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil.

  
    
    

In a skillet of boiling water, blanch the asparagus and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until just cooked through.

  

Transfer immediately to iced colander to stop the cooking. 

Either divide the asparagus among individual plates or place on serving platter. This can be prepared through step 2 in advance. Let all stand seperatly at room temp until ready to serve.

So beautiful, so easy, so scrumptious!!

For the original recipe (untweaked) go here.

This could be the perfect side to you Labor Day fare. Enjoy!!

a&a

what’s ringin our belle round 21…

15 Tuesday Sep 2015

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The latest belle-ringers…

belles like Jello…grown up jello that is…

but if jello ain’t your thang…how about these?

In case you didn’t have enough reasons…

sometimes we all need a little help with restraint…just sayin..

our secret to being so effective!

the trick for a Better b.l.t.

and a fun, fast read…

plenty more where these came from…

a&a

old school beauty hacks…a throwback friend-1-1

11 Friday Sep 2015

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We belles love a beauty hack…who doesn’t like to look and feel better on a shoestring?!  Well, seems our mothers and grandmothers knew a thing or two about lookin’ good with these popular hacks from way back when (found on glamici.com)…

   
         

Marilyn was sooo a belle;)

a&a

can y’all please console us?? …. belles need belles (needs photos)

10 Thursday Sep 2015

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Okay, so here’s the deal…we have a foyer/front hall situation.   We have needed to replace a console table in the aforementioned front hall for some time now.  We have patiently…okay, okay, we have been tapping the toes some time. Going on 6 months now.

We can’t look at this empty space any longer…simply cannot…soo ….

We went to One King’s Lane to see what they had to offer. Well, we are here to tell you that the bevy of choices will knock your socks off.   We aren’t quite ready to pull the trigger on a high-dollar item that we can’t touch or feel, and we are going to be redecorating an office, so a classic piece that could transition over is what we are looking for.

We picked two so far..but can’t seem to decide.  We would love some feedback and to hear your vote, opinion and/ or thoughts.  Ans if you have a console find that you love, we’d really like to see it!  (We are a bit partial to parsons consoles…but need to know its going to look high end on arrival…need to go in a different direction this time)

This acrylic console has us all a flutter ….  We like the idea that it is contemporary, high design , yet would fit with the existing decor  

This beauty is timeless and elegant and we could see it fitting a number of places if we decided it was time for a little change. The black and gold is so chic! 
 
Decisions decisions…we need all the help we can get… Here is a pic of the spot where we want to place the console.   

 
That poor little table just can’t handle the space. It needs a more intimate spot.
So help us out belles….please chime in!

a&a

what’s ringin’ our belle…round 20

08 Tuesday Sep 2015

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The latest belle-ringers just for you…

The upside of always running a bit behind (fashiona-belle-y late)

The wisdom of Coco Chanel …a belle’s inspiration (Coco’s quotes from Town and Country)

Speaking of inspiration…how about Paying it forward?… Great ways !

We are feelin’ peachy.

A peachy libation….

A fun read.

Time to step into fall…  Love this new bootie!  And the grey…stop the madness!

Ring a ding ding !!

a&a

it would be a sin not to eat this dip…a belle-icious friend-1-1

04 Friday Sep 2015

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We have made this dip for years, but had forgotten about it with all the new dips we kept needing to try. But now that one teen-belle is whooping it up at Ole Miss (hotty toddy!), and The Grove is callin’ our name…Mississippi Sin Dip keeps tempting us. Frankly, we all need a li’l sin in our lives…keeps things interesting!

 MISSISSIPPI SIN DIP

1 large round loaf of bread, hollowed out (optional)
1 block of cream cheese, softened
1 small container sour cream
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 can of chopped green chilies
1/2-1 can chopped jalapeños
6 ounces ham, thinly sliced and chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2-3 splashes of worcestershire

Preheat oven to 350 .

In the days of yore, we always served this in a bread bowl…we usually don’t bother anymore and just use a trusty Pyrex dish. Keep in mind though, tailgate parties and potluck fetes would benefit greatly from ye olde bread bowl as you don’t have to keep track of your property!

Combine the cream cheese and the sour cream until well blended. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Transfer mixture into Pyrex or aluminum-wrapped bread, put top of bread back on bowl and finish wrapping in foil.

Bake for about an hour. Serve hot.

We like to serve this with Fritos scoops and celery for our carb fearin’ belles.

Sinful, but we love it!!!

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