revisit those resolutions, belles…

30 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by in healthy belle

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Ok…time for a mid-year check-in. Yes, believe it or not, as of midnight tonight, 2014 will be 6 months down, six months to go. Heavens to Betsy! Remember those resolutions you made back in January? How’s that workin’ out for ya?

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Now, we must admit…each year, by about January 31 (or before), we usually can’t remember whatever it was that we resolved to do in the heat of the moment as the ball dropped in Times Square just a few short weeks earlier. (Sound familiar? We thought so!). Well, we have discovered yet another “perk” of blogging…we now have a published record of all that we have shared with our fellow belles…including any advice that we might have given about diet and fitness (two MAJOR themes of the typical New Year’s resolutions, duh)

One such post had to do with the Fitbit fitness bands we started wearing at the beginning of the year.

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We were loving the friendly competition the bands had inspired in us and we were intrigued by the information we were suddenly able to gather about our bodies and fitness routines. And, guess what? We are still going strong! Our goal was to become AWARE…we wanted to know how many steps we got in a typical day, how far we could push ourselves (at the end of a 20,000 + step day, we are dragging!), how efficient our bodies are at burning calories, how restful (or not) our sleep is each night…

For example:
– It takes petite belle about 15 minutes to fall asleep…and once she’s out, she’s out!
– sadly, even on a very active day, we don’t burn as many calories as we thought…we now know that little treats are wonderful…we just can’t go overboard (good to know!)
– we have walked around 2 million steps and covered over 800 miles on foot since January

We now know all of this and more! Armed with all of this information…and being accountable to our Fitbit friends, we are ready to tackle the body changes that seem to come as we age (yes…belles DO age…they just try to do it as gracefully as possible).

So…you still have half of 2014 ahead, belles. It’s not too late to revisit that resolution and accomplish that goal!

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Go for it, belles!
a&a

 

belles bubble over with pride on the 4th…just sayin’

29 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by in just sayin', what's ringin' our belle

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Every occasion is an occasion to have a little champagne…but why not take it up a notch or two for the 4th???

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Chandon has come out with a limited edition design to celebrate all things American. Darling, right? So pick up a bottle…or a few…we don’t judge…much. At Chandon.com, shopuncorked…or you can pick it at your local liquor store of choice.

It would be a fantastic hostess gift if you’re heading out on Independence Day as well…just sayin’.

Cheers!

a&a

quick substitutes…your friday friend-1-1

27 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by in friday friend 1-1

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On a recent weekend, we did a quick lake house overnight with a third couple…yes, husbands were happily in tow for this getaway.

We had a fun evening with a cocktail cruise, delicious dinner, excellent wine and great conversation. We all turned in early, guiltily excited that no dogs or teens would be potentially interrupting our sleep!

The next morning, we awoke to the smell of bacon and coffee…heaven! We quickly made our way to the kitchen, only to find a shocking sight. Our friend was sipping coffee, happily watching her husband prepare our breakfast, seeming not to mind the raccoon eyes she was sporting!!

After some questioning, we learned that all of her toiletry products had been misplaced, so she had skipped washing her face the night before. Horrors! This got us thinking…had our friend – and others – not heard of some of the simplest substitutes for the products we need, but sometimes find ourselves without?

We decided it was practically an emergency to get this information out there. The thought of one of our sweet belles suffering through a night with yesterday’s makeup still intact was just too much to bear!

So, here you go…our list of the easiest household substitutes for a belle in a pinch…

FreeGreatPicture.com-7353-olive-oil

Olive oil – a superstar!
– removes makeup (eyes too) and moisturizes all in one step!
– great sub for shaving cream
– softens feet and hands for a quick faux mani/pedi
– mix with sugar or salt for a top-notch exfoliator

Vaseline – eye cream, lip balm, use on lashes instead of mascara!

Baking soda – a great whitening toothpaste (although not entirely pleasant)

Hair conditioner – great for shaving legs (the cheaper the better!)

Cinnamon – a handy blusher or bronzer!

Hand cream – moisturizes the ends of hair to de-frizz

Hairspray – puts an end to static when you spray it on your brush

Flat iron – use it to get out the creases from packing clothes in the overnight bag

Moisturizer + concealer = foundation

Foundation + moisturizer = tinted moisturizer

Toothpaste or Visine – great drying paste/ointment for bump/blemish

…and there are SO many more!  We will be sure to share any others we think you MUST know…

a&a

Smitten for kittens…kitten heels that is…feline foot candy

26 Thursday Jun 2014

Posted by in fashion forward

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The latest kitten heel trend has us belles positively giddy. This low, dainty heel is such a wonderful feminine option and a nice change from the sky high stilts that have been in the forefront recently. While we love a good stiletto, a kitten heel works so easily with almost every outfit imaginable, is practical but pretty, and is the perfect option for long-term wear. These heels are flattering to the ankle and lengthen the calf. We have selected a few that piqued our interest and caused us to make a little extra room in the closet.

Now, because we’ve hit the warmer months, finally(!!), we are leaning toward sandals (the tootsies need a little vitamin D too!!), and we have been mighty partial to Vince Camuto lately. The selection of styles has been really on-trend and they are actually comfortable to boot!

The Hilarie is a darling strappy kitten that is subtle enough to wear day or night. Flattering, feminine, flirty…fabulous!
Find it here, here and our favorite local shoe boutique, Muse Shoe Studio.

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The next is also a Vince Camuto . This pair is frisky, fresh and just a touch edgy. Adore the snake skin heel. And the metallic strap seems to change from silver to gold based on what you are wearing. Available at Nordstrom, and they are 40% off so scurry along and get a pair!!! We also think they can be day-to-night and the suede front strap makes them cross over into cooler weather with ease.

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Now we know some of you are timid about your tootsies and prefer a covered toe option. Not to fear, we are here to please all of our belles!

Sole Society is a great site for shoes, and we have had great luck with fashionable options at awesome price points! The Jenn is one such shoe. Available in a wide array of colors including a divine gunmetal grey. For now, though we decided our wardrobes just need a lil’ pop and the coral was just calling our names. Our tootsies did a happy dance when they slipped into the soft suede and couldn’t wait to prance around town.

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Couldn’t you just eat ’em up?!?!

The next pump is a basic in our ever-so-humble opinion. We firmly believe that animal print is neutral and these kittens are ready to roar. Thank you Diane Von Furstenberg. These are timeless and every belle needs at least one pair of animal print pumps in her wardrobe. Get these wild critters here.

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And we would be remiss if we didn’t show you this last pair by Michael Michael Kors. A t-strap (we are quite fond of t-strap) adds interest and style…and keeps your feet from looking gargantuan.  Dare we say that they also VERY much resemble a certain shoe that is made by Valentino??? Classy, chic, and elegant, these would be a great addition to any of our closets. Order them from Nordstrom .

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So go on now, treat your tootsies…they’ve earned it!

a&a

the belles give curls a whirl…your friday friend-1-1

20 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by in Beauty belle, what's ringin' our belle

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Frankly my dears, we belles give a damn…about our hair…a lot! We are never quite satisfied with our tresses au naturel, so the hair salon is a shrine. Appointments with our hairdressers are not to be missed….ever.

Good hair day: we see everything through rose colored glasses
Bad hair day: look out, the glass is half empty, Eeyore is our best friend and the world is just plain out to get us.

Over the years, we have tried it all and embraced any brush, comb, flatiron, curling iron and product that will tame our tresses.

We have highlighted, low lighted, permed, Japanese straightened, relaxed and Brazilian blowouted (don’t care if that’s not a word…and, by the way, still love the Brazilian blowout and their hair care products are by far the best we have tried to date…just sayin’)

Until recently we have been fans of having smooth, soft, straight hair. Actually, we are still fans of the look and thanks to the Brazilian blowout and the flat iron we achieve this look with a fair amount of ease. But sometimes we feel a little flat and our locks fall forward into our faces…good for hiding wrinkles, but not so good for say…walking?!

Enter curlers….yes we mean hot rollers!! Back to the days of old…who would’ve thought? Might seem a bit retro, but we have found that a really good set of curlers can tame the frizz, add a touch of volume, keep your hair out of your face, give you a nice side swoosh and a soft bend on the ends…all in a snap! We’ve been experimenting and like the results.

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These pics are taken right after removing the curlers, and this head of hair can be quite frizzy and unmanageable. As y’all can see, we achieved almost a beachy look. After a bit, it falls a little but still has nice bend and looks even more natural.

Now to the specific equipment. Since we are only hair experts in our own minds, we reached out and had another belle try out our chosen hot rollers. This belle’s hair also has some frizz issues and she wanted to get some volume without getting “big” hair. So how did it go? She loved them so much that she already has her own set purchased and in hand!

We found THE hot rollers beyond all others to be the T3 Voluminous Hot Roller Set. Available here and here.

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And, of course, we belles love that quilted black case it comes in!!! Très chic….

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And one more very important thing…while those curlers are in you can be doing something else! (Do your makeup, shave your legs, check your email, eat a bon bon or two…). Multitasking and efficiency…gotta love it!!

So let’s go retro! A little bounce in your hair might just put a little bounce in your step!!

See ya…these belles gotta bounce!!

a&a

cool as a cucumber…the summer fruit that beats the heat

19 Thursday Jun 2014

Posted by in belle-icious, healthy belle

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The cucumber is one cool fruit…and, yes, we belles did some research on this whole “fruit” label. Although we have lived most of our lives referring to the cucumber as a vegetable, turns out, because it is the part of the plant that forms from the flower (and contains seeds), it fits the definition of a fruit. Who knew blogging could be so educational?!

Regardless of what we call it, the cucumber is one of our favorite and most belle-icious parts of summer! We have been known to enjoy it simply sliced with a touch of salt…or used as a sandwich filling with super-soft bread and a touch of mayo…but we have some other ideas for you belles that are almost as quick and easy with no need to heat up the kitchen! Do we hear summer supper belles ringing?

First, how about a cold, yet savory soup to get the evening started?

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Cucumber and Buttermilk Soup

– 2 medium cucumbers
– 1 cup buttermilk
– Handful of fresh herbs (we love cilantro, but mint is excellent as well)
– Juice of 1/2 lime
– Salt and pepper

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We use a VitaMix…so you might need to adjust depending on your appliance of choice. Simply wash and slice cucumbers, wash and slightly chop herbs. Place cucumber and herbs in VitaMix container. Pour buttermilk over top. Squeeze lime, and grind salt & pepper over all. Purée until smooth, chill, garnish with fresh herbs, enjoy! How easy is that?!

 

Next, one of our favorite salads…great with grilled chicken or lamb for dinner…excellent as a fresh, cold, leftover lunch the next day…

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Cucumber, Tomato and Feta Salad

2 cucumbers, thinly sliced

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2 c grape tomatoes, halved (or use your favorite summer-fresh tomato)
1/2 med small red onion

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4 oz crumbled feta

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Red wine vinegar
Salt
Pepper

Combine all and drizzle with red wine vinegar…salt and pepper to taste.  Enjoy now…and later!

And…how about a breakfast smoothie with cucumber as the base? 
Cucumber Breakfast Juice

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Simply pulse until smooth a cucumber, a peach, a dollop of Greek yogurt…and perhaps some fresh mint…and you have one cool start to your day!

Another juice option…
Cucumber, Tomato, and Mint

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Tastes like summer in a glass! Fresh!

Stay cool, belles!
a&a

we know a secret about Victoria…a belle-worthy friday friend-1-1

13 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by in fashion forward, friday friend 1-1, what's ringin' our belle

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Well, y’all have probably figured out by now that one of our favorite things to do is shop…til we drop. Of course, we love all the high falutin’ brands and certainly appreciate good quality and high style. But there is no greater joy then when we find a real bargain…a great piece that knocks our socks off and doesn’t leave us dirt-poor in the process.

So let’s just say we aren’t shy, and when one of us was at the hairdresser before leaving town that day, our adorable stylist was wearing THE cutest tee ever. Well…a belle’ s got to do what a belle’s got to do…

“Wherever did you get that to-die-for tee??? That’s exactly what I need to take on my trip this afternoon! Do tell…pretty please..”

And the reply was a delightful yet maddening shocker. The price was delightful – only $29.50 . The maddening part was that it was from the Victoria’s Secret catalog! Can’t buy on the spot…or can we???

Yes, that’s exactly what this belle was willing to do for the sake of the perfect tee…slightly off the shoulder, fitted at the hip, long enough in the torso to be ruched and flattering.

“Please, oh greatest hair-stylist of all time. Won’t you let me buy yours and you just order a new one?? I must have it for this trip!! ”

And wouldn’t you know, because hair-stylists are belles too, she let this belle buy the shirt right off her back!!

Not to mention that as soon as humanly possible, we proceeded to order said tee in black and grey and an additional white!  They come in a slew of colors and are now on sale for 2 for $30.00 !!

So run, run like the wind, to your nearest internet connection and order our not-so-secret-anymore tee from Victoria.

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One more thing…we usually sport ours with a cami underneath. We are obsessed with this one. Have them in every color.

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You can get them at Amazon and RepeatPossessions.

Be forewarned…if you have daughters, they will steal them. Sneaky little things! Go ahead and get a few extra.

a&a

let’s be clear…ways to lighten up our home décor

12 Thursday Jun 2014

Posted by in belle maison, what's ringin' our belle

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We are partial to acrylic furniture and both of us have a piece or two in our homes. They are great to float anywhere, create surface area, and avoid the crowding effect. A great way to add without adding clutter.

Here are some of our favorites…

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Crisp, clean…and clear!

One source we have found for stylish, sensibly-priced lucite pieces is Wisteria. We have been stalking them for some time now…as belles occasionally do. They are a purveyor of stylish, on-trend home furnishings and decor…and we love their home styling…makes us want to purchase absolutely everything!!

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So…while doing some Wisteria “stalking” recently, we found these acrylic wall brackets and just had to share! Great for any decor…modern, traditional, beachy, country, eclectic…whatever your home’s mood, a pair of these can only amp up the style.

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The perfect way to display a pair of urns, porcelain, coral, artwork, silver or whatever your lil’ heart desires.

Right now Wisteria is having a sale. $50.00 off a purchase of $200.00

These brackets are priced at $129.00 each so may we strongly suggest you invest in a pair. Otherwise, you’ll regret it and we will have to say we told you so.  Snap ’em up, belles!

a&a