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
 

tips to the tipper…a service-friendly friday friend-1-1

01 Friday May 2015

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While traveling recently, a belle-friend remarked that her dear, late mother was convinced that rolling luggage had ruined our society. “Hmmm…how so?”, we inquired. She reminded us of the times when porters whisked our baggage from carousel to curb…or vice-versa…with speed and authority. They would hail our taxi, help load us up, and make sure the driver had us safely from there. We needed these masters of the service industry…and they needed us. Our tips were their livelihood, and we traveled well-prepared with coins and small bills at the ready.

IMG_2298Photo from http://www.travelforboomers.com

These days, we find ourselves rolling our bags to the taxi line, rolling into hotels, into elevators…rolling, rolling, rolling. Efficient, yes…but in this do-it-yourself world of 2015, have we forgotten the value of those who make our lives a bit easier and provide a little human touch? We might not be tipping the porter quite as often these days, but tipping is still a very belle-thing to do.  We must show those who provide a service that we value their efforts!

Check out this CNN Money article which outlines most tipping situations. Their source: The Emily Post Institute (a belle always trusts Emily Post!)

And here are some of our own rules-of-thumb:

Take-out from our favorite full-service dining establishment…we do 10%

The pet groomer…we do 10% plus a nice little Christmas bonus

The mani/pedi tech…we do 20%…especially if they give us a little extra rubbin’ time

Pizza delivery…consider him your waiter…15-20%

The hairdresser…20% unless she’s the salon owner…and a couple of dollars for the shampoo-er

The movers…full house…$100 per macho man (less for whiners…just sayin’)

Let us know some of your own…and if you think we are way off on any of our standards. A belle is always open for suggestions…

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

belles are always on the go…just sayin’

26 Sunday Apr 2015

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 word of the day… 

we were raised to do this…it’s just how a belle rolls!  Next place we will be gallivanting to…Charleston. The Southern Coterie…here we come!

a&a

it ain’t easy being green…unless you are this soup!!

24 Friday Apr 2015

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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!!IMG_2574

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.IMG_2568

2. Add the broccoli and cook for 4 minutes, or until bright greenIMG_2570

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’).IMG_2573

Serve the soup with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Green never tasted so good!!

a&a

block this way…for the well-heeled belle

23 Thursday Apr 2015

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While we belles are quite partial to our heels of all sorts, there is one that seems so of-the-moment, we felt it our duty to make sure our fellow-belles took notice! 

We spent a little time with our local go-to shoe guru at Muse and hit the jackpot with options galore. Check out the latest block heels making their way onto stylish feet this spring…

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From Dolce Vita, the “Foxie” is quite appropriately named!

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From Sam Edelman, the “Voselin” adds a bit of height to the experience

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From Calvin Klein, the “Weslia” makes the best of a “hairy” situation

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and the “Mashor” from Vaneli is a great neutral which reminds us of one of our favorite beverages!

These little pretties are practically leaping from the shelves, so times-a-wastin’ belles. Be the new belle on the block!

a&a

never rush a belle…just sayin’

18 Saturday Apr 2015

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something we have had to endure this prom season…

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Seems the teen-belles haven’t fallen far from the mama-belle tree…

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belles of the ball…just sayin’
a&a

a recipe to swim upstream for…a nothin’-fishy-about-it friend-1-1

17 Friday Apr 2015

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We cannot abide a smelly kitchen (unless it smells like bacon of course), and one of us is particularly reticent to cook anything resembling fish for that very reason.

Soooo, it was with great caution that we tried this recipe for honey-glazed salmon….really…serious trepidation. But because one junior belle really wanted to try it…and because her sweet pleases and pleas were irresistible, we gave it a shot. Well, here’s to you, junior belle! You get a gold star for this flavorful, easy entree that DOESN’T stink up the whole darn house!

We also have to give kudos to damndelicoius.net. This belle clearly knows her way around some salmon; and, in true belle-fashion, shared it on her website. So we are continuing the art of sharing and strongly encourage you to give this salmon a try.

Other than the salmon, y’all probably have everything you need in the pantry.

Honey-glazed Salmon – Serves 4

What you’ll need:

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4 salmon filets
Salt and pepper to taste
4 T flour
4 T honey
2 T olive oil
Zest of 1 lime

For the scrumptious butter-lime sauce:

6 T butter
2 cloves garlic , pressed
1 T honey
Juice of 1 lime
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

To make the sauce, melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Cook, whisking constantly, til foam subsides and butter begins to turn a light golden color. About 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic, honey, lime juice, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Season the salmon with salt and pepper, then dredge each filet in flour and drizzle with honey…

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Heat olive oil in large, oven-proof skillet (that means no plastic handle, belles!) over medium-high heat. Working in batches, sear on both sides til golden brown. Around 1-2 minutes per side.

Place in oven and bake 8-10 minutes until cooked through.

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Serve immediately with sauce and lime zest. (We made the sauce ahead of time and just reheated before serving.)

A dish y’all will feel swimmingly about!!

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