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Words to live by, belles!
a&a
coco chanel was a belle…just sayin’
25 Sunday Jan 2015
Posted in just sayin'
another fab book find…a must-have friday friend-1-1
23 Friday Jan 2015
Posted in belle maison, friday friend 1-1, what's ringin' our belle
We have shared (belles are notoriously good at this) over the last few months several books that are beautiful both inside and out. Well, we’ve discovered yet another…eureka!!!!
We practically fell out when we happened upon this latest treasure. Another Jan Showers hit (see a previous post here), Glamourous Retreats is beautiful, attainable, and full of inspiration…
That’s the cake, now for the icing….
Woven raffia!!! My stars, shut the front door, and we’ll be a monkey’s uncle! We would have done a backflip right then and there if only we were limber enough!
Another terrifically decorative addition to punch up bookshelves, enhance a coffee table, or perk up a side table.
Belles are bookworms…just sayin’
a&a
one of a kindness…belles are glassy-eyed over these babies
22 Thursday Jan 2015
Posted in belle maison, what's ringin' our belle
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Over the holidays in San Francisco, a belle was sashaying down the street doing some window shopping (belles are professionals at window shopping) when a storefront positively stopped her in her tracks…glassybaby.
This belle just had to venture inside!!
The colors were mesmerizing…a color for every occasion, relationship or mood. When lit with a candle, they become even more beautiful…if that’s even possible! Here are some of our faves…for obvious reasons…
BFF…if the color doesn’t get ya, then surely the name will…and 10% of the proceeds go to Sloane Kettering for cancer research.
Princess…well this should require no explanation but we love their definition…”true, she gets to enjoy magic carpet rides and royal dances, but sometimes she must grow her hair three stories long, bite a poisoned apple or kiss a frog. We define a princess as one who can pass through great trials to find love.” We couldn’t have said it better!
Wingman…because every belle could use a good wingman now and then…and more importantly, every belle can be great wingman…all you gotta do is call.
The best part about glassybaby…beyond the beauty of their wares…is the beauty they pay forward by donating and partnering with multiple charities. Each piece purchased provides monies to countless needy charities. Don’t you want to start collecting them all?
They can also be used as small vases …
Swooning!!
And now they even make drinking glasses…the proceeds of which go to support veterans affairs, helping veterans in need all year round. This is a new belle collection in the making we don’t mind telling you…given that we’ve begun a new little endeavor (see “Two Drink Minimum”), we couldn’t help but fall for these as possible starter sets…
Splash….when just a splash (or two) will do
Happy Hour….enough said…
Last Call…’cause all good things must come to an end….so you can start again!!!
A mighty incredible way to give to yourself, to loved ones, and to those in need…all in one fell-swoop, wouldn’t you agree? Multitasking at its finest!
So belles, time to get your glow on…inside and out…
a&a
pardon our French…just sayin’
18 Sunday Jan 2015
Posted in just sayin'
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C’est la vie…
a&a
c’est chic…a french-y friday friend-1-1
16 Friday Jan 2015
Posted in friday friend 1-1, what's ringin' our belle
While we are both southern in our hearts, we we have also always been in awe and enamored with the seemingly effortless chic of the French belles.
For Christmas, Santa brought us a great book Forever Chic by Tish Jett
Now, fair warning, you may want to wait until you have a wee bit of free time on your hands before you begin reading…cause once you start, you won’t want to stop. Filled with realistic, practical, fun, motivating information about how those French women keep themselves lookin’ so good…inside and out. By the way, they do have to work at it, they just don’t talk about it. This book is a real insider’s guide to what those women are really up to, and they have a few tricks up their sleeves we’d like to try. These French philosophies will inspire you to take the European approach to health and beauty…avec attitude !
bonne chance belles!!
a&a
and that’s a wrap…belles take on the latest trend
15 Thursday Jan 2015
Posted in fashion forward
This trend…the cape/poncho…caused a wee bit of discussion between the two of us. We both love the idea of a cozy, comfortable, layered look; but we’re a lil concerned that this fashion moment could go terribly wrong, terribly quickly…we can’t possibly allow that sort of thing to happen to our belles!
If one doesn’t take care, one might just resemble a homeless person on the corner, so don’t attempt this look with day-3 hair…or clogs. Or if you over-layer or are a little too casual with the wrapping aspect, you might look like you’re still recovering from a week-long bout of the flu.
So, with full knowledge that it must be done carefully, we still want to give this trend a fair shot. Fret not belles, we’ve got solutions! We won’t let you wander the wrong path (heaven forbid). With the links below, you will be kept firmly floating on avenue chic. Tell us what you think!!
From Zara…on sale for just $119.99…
From Nordstrom…this Topshop cape, only $68…
From Nordstrom…another choice from Topshop (also $68)…
Another from Nordstrom…and a steal at $38!…
Found this one on Amazon…
And one more…this one is from Asos and on sale for $58…
Time to wrap it up, belles. We’ ll take one….or two
a&a
curl up and stay toasty, belles…just sayin’
11 Sunday Jan 2015
Posted in just sayin'
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Belles, it’s cold outside!
a&a
“chanel”-ing our inner sun goddess…a glowy friday friend-1-1
09 Friday Jan 2015
Posted in Beauty belle, friday friend 1-1, what's ringin' our belle
We love a good beauty product, but there are only a few that keep us coming back time after time…racing to replace. Well belles, this one is a keeper!!
Chanel Soleil Tan. It is the reason for our healthy glow…our daily dose of sunshine without fearing age spots and sunburns.
Now, we will put out a little disclaimer. It should be applied with a foundation brush and one should just start out with a tee tiny bit. Otherwise, you will feel like Cher in the 70’s! Even so, you might panic at first swipe, but stay steady and trust us. Start right below the cheekbones and keep blending out with the brush…blend, blend, blend (seriously…it doesn’t take long) and then brush over your forehead, nose and chin (just a touch). It blends like a dream and has staying power, and (most importantly) the ability to make you look luminous, healthy, and flawless.
It’s a wee bit pricey at $48.00, but well worth it…and it lasts forever (well at least 9-12 months). Another perk…this bronzer is a creme-powder version so it gives us a glow that straight powder just can’t deliver…no matter how hard the poor dear tries. Some of us are old enough to need a lil dewy glow…not shine…glow…just sayin’. It’s available at Nordstrom, so get clickin’.
In this instance, y’all have our permission to get a little “spendy”. We can all pretend we have been to the islands, basking in the warm sunshine…ahhhhh!
Go on and get your glow on!!
a&a
mmm…mmm…good! soup the whole gang will love
08 Thursday Jan 2015
Posted in belle-icious
Our dear friend, Kathryn, is quite the belle-chef. If she shares a recipe, which she is most gracious about, you can be assured that it will be to. die. for.
Her latest share in the gourmet department is a soup that is easy, delicious, and super-family-friendly. It is also football and guest-friendly. Perfect for the cooler days we are facing this time of year…and perhaps a Super Bowl party? We shall see…
The fact that it’s a dump-and-pour sort of soup only enhances it’s belle-worthiness.
Buffalo Chicken Soup
Zee ingredients:
1 whole rotisserie chicken, remove meat and shred
1 onion, chopped
1 T butter
32 oz can chicken broth (you may find you need a tad more , especially the next day as the beans absorb a lot of the liquid)
2 14.5 oz cans navy beans, drained
2 14.5 oz cans fire roasted tomatoes
1/2 pkg frozen white corn
1/4-1/2 cup wing sauce (we used Franks and ended up putting closer to 3/4 cup…belles are saucy)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp celery salt
1 pkg ranch dressing mix
1/4 tsp salt
8 oz cream cheese
Chopped cilantro
Sauté onion in butter for 5 minutes. Add other ingredients EXCEPT cream cheese and cilantro. Simmer for ’bout 30 minutes. Add cream cheese and cilantro and cook until cheese melts.
Another belle-friend made a similar version and she put blue cheese crumbles on the top as a garnish. Brilliant belle addition in our ever-so-humble opinion….just sayin’
Buffalo, blue cheese and belles. A magical concoction!
a&a
all in a day’s work…just sayin’
04 Sunday Jan 2015
Posted in just sayin'
Somebody’s gotta do it, belles!
a&a
the RARE belle 