ankle “cuffs”…more summer foot candy

15 Thursday May 2014

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As y’all might have gathered by now, we adore shoes. We covet, desire, crave and collect them as much as possible. It’s an addiction we both fully intend to continue and embrace wholeheartedly. Now you know where we stand…firmly on our stilettos. And wedges. And platforms. And kitten heels..

Our latest obsession is over the ankle cuff shoe, a real trend for spring. It’s a great option for both your boyfriend jeans and the white denim that we are all sporting. Cropped jeans, obvi. City shorts, shirt dresses, sundresses…all benefit from a little ankle candy. And, truly, the ankle is one of the sexiest parts of the body at any age. Show. Them. Off!

Drum roll please….
DVF kinder sandal

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No words. Absolute perfection. At shopbop.

And then..
Louise et Cie
Kaliope sandal

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This has a great heel height and the details are amazing. Get it at Nordstrom. Also in an awesome tobacco color.

Let’s not forget to mention that these look an awful lot like a Givenchy sandal we have salivated over…at a fraction of the price. Here’s a pic of the Givenchy.
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Stop the madness right?!?!

As for you petite belles who feel an ankle straps cut you off, here’s a daintier option that comes in a great blue if you want to add a little zing to your step. It also comes in black which we think is most elegant. And the scalloping?!?! Shut the front door!!

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These beauties are available at Shopbop. They are by Loeffler Randall and the style is Lillit.

There are so many styles, surely one will fit the bill for you. Do y’all have a favorite? Please share…we are always on the hunt!

a&a

Happy Mother’s Day!!!!…just sayin’

11 Sunday May 2014

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love thy mother…she loves you and has made sacrifices you can’t even imagine…well, unless you’re a mom yourself 😉

Happy Mother’s Day to our moms and to all of the beautiful belle moms out there!

a&a

for the graduates…belles give the best gifts…your friday friend-1-1

09 Friday May 2014

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

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You may be asking yourself…as are we…how on earth did graduation time get here already?! Didn’t we just stress over the perfect gifts for Christmas?? Now we are faced with yet another dilemma…the perfect gift for the graduate.

Well, belles to the rescue! We have some impressive ideas (and they won’t break the bank…a belle bonus!)

First…with total disclosure…we happen to have an industrious friend who has some of the cutest organizational products! Visit her on Etsy – The store is called Paper Petals (paperpetalsshop). Imagine one of these cute desk pads in a dorm room…

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These come in 50-page pads, sell for $38, and come in so many patterns and colors your head will spin! You can create just the right one for that special girl…and while you’re at it, maybe you need one too (just sayin’).
Check out Paper Petals for more ideas than you can shake a stick at!

Next up…how about luggage/bag tags? As those graduates strike out on their own, they need all the help they can get keeping up with their stuff. Backpacks, totes, and suitcases can all look alike, so why not give them something that makes a stylish, yet identifiable, statement?

For a somewhat “grown-up” look…try this from Orvis

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There is plenty of space for name, address and phone…but for the sake of privacy (and the fact that those kids will change addresses who knows how many times) maybe just a name and phone number will suffice. Totally your call, belles…we are just here to make the suggestions.

Now, for a more stylish, playful option, your female graduates will love this bag tag (which comes with a bonus…can also double as a large key ring so the sweet little belle doesn’t lose her dorm key)…

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These come as a set of two for $29…not too bad, huh? And there are almost more patterns, colors and other options than a belle can imagine! Might take a while to choose, but the junior belles will be swooning when they see your creation! Find them at Rouge and Co.

And speaking of keeping up with stuff…monograms are a big help in that department. Sarah Belle Smith (SBS) just can’t wear her roommate, Mary Anne Miller’s, (MAM) monogrammed shoes, hat, belt, necklace, etc. why, that would just be w.r.o.n.g! So consider the options at a friend’s shop here in Greenville…The Pink Monogram. A favorite of ours is the sun hat…we need to make these belles start early to protect that perfect, collagen-filled, skin of their youth!

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Click here for the full selection of colors and such

Taking us in a different direction…think more nose-candy as opposed to eye-candy…check out these collegiate fragrances from Masik!

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What a great way to boost school spirit! Check them out here to see if they have the school you need…and the site has a handy store-finder so that you can find a location near you to take a whiff. We happen to own the Alabama for men (Roll Tide) and it is quite nice…smells like a winner! Just sayin’…and again, Roll Tide 😉

Now, you know we could go on forever…but we will just suggest two more items…

For the preppy, slightly modest belle…

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A monogrammed towel-wrap from Preppy Monogrammed Gifts. Perfect for those who might have to shuffle down the hall for a shower…just sayin’.

And last, but not least, a true classic from LL Bean…

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The open-top boat and tote bag…in all the old classic colors as well as a creat-your-own option that makes the possibilities practically endless!

So…you have some decisions to make! Good luck to you…and to all of those excited graduates out there!

a&a

Espadrilles = summer thrills…foot candy for belles

08 Thursday May 2014

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We love shoes…all shoes…can’t have too many…and we are thrilled to pieces about this season’s espadrille trend! They come in all shapes and price points, and color and pattern choices are vast. While we love the flat version for the comfy casual chic factor, we swoon for the dressier versions because they appeal to our passion for contrast and a touch of whimsy.

Here’s a sampling …which one catches your eyes??

These animal print ‘drilles are a neutral (animal print is our favorite neutral!). They go with just about everything.

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These can be found at Shopbop. They are by Steven . ‘Nuff said.

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We actually own a pair of these darlings…love the lace-up factor…and you can get them at Soludos.

We love a feminine touch…belles are girls after all…and lace is another trend that we can fully embrace! Why not sport these with your boyfriend jeans? A touch of tomboy and a dash of girly-girl adds up to the perfect summer look.

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These Tory Burch are available at Shopbop but they are running out of sizes so you better get crackin’ !

And of course to take it up another notch we have a dreamy pair…but be forewarned they might break the piggy bank…but worth it…maybe…just sayin’….

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Scrumptious . By Valentino at Nordstrom .

Sometimes an LBE (lil’ black espadrille) is what we are pining for and these are just what the doctor ordered.

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From Topshop and available at Nordstrom . Love the leather, canvas and raffia textures!!

And where would we be without J.Crew? We belles often get a hankering for a J. Crew fix and these absolutely satisfied the craving.

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Wear them with pants, jeans, shorts, skirts, sundresses. Can’t. Not. Wear. So there. Get them here J. Crew.

Belles love adornment…aka em”belle”ishments … And these fit the bill….and our feet!

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From Kate Spade and you can get yourself a pair at Saks.

And lest you think we’d forget…you can always just put a bow on it! These will bowl you over….tee hee…

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These beauties are from Gucci and you can get them at Nordstrom .

So there you have it…a selection that is beyond….

a&a

derby and cinco de mayo…just sayin’

04 Sunday May 2014

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a belle’s gotta do what a belle’s goths do! Mint juleps and derby hats yesterday, margaritas and sombreros tomorrow 😉

a&a

Word to your mother…gifts that keep on giving…your friday friend-1-1

02 Friday May 2014

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

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Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and finding an appropriate and worthy-enough gift can be quite a trial. To make this undertaking infinitely less taxing we came up with the ultimate gift idea……

Monthly Gift Boxes!!!!!

They come in all price points, a limitless variety to suit any mother’s taste, and best of all, your momma will remember how thoughtful you are each time she gets a special delivery!

So without further ado ….

 

For the mom on the go:

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“Delivering boxes of fun to the travel-obsessed…and busy people on-the-go”…this might just be the perfect choice for the mom who always has a bag packed, passport in hand!  Examples of items she can expect:  foreign language tools, portable phone chargers, sleep masks, portable sunscreen, and snacks from around the world.  From GoTravelBox.com

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For the mom who loves to “escape” even when she is forced to unpack that bag and stay home for a while, try escapemonthly.  They will send destination-inspired luxury products to help mom relax, renew, and escape.  So order, and leave her alone already!

 

For the gourmet mom:

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From Gourmet Spotting, mom can expect to receive 4-6 full-size gourmet products each month.  Bonus…for each box they ship, they donate one meal to charity.  Showing love to mom and those in need…beautiful!

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Help mom discover brands she will love with personalized boxes from the folks at tastetrunk.com.  You will be sure to find the perfect match for mom with their smart categories…gourmet, sweet, BBQ, and health.

 

For the gourmande mom:

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The “World Chocolate Club” from mysubscriptionaddiction.com…um, need we say more?!  We hope the junior belles are paying attention to this one, hint, hint!

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Starting at just $10 per month, the boxes from lovewithfood.com are packed with natural or organic snacks.  And the dears at Love with Food donate a meal to feed a hungry child in the U.S. for every box they ship.  Now that’s love!

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Choose a box from a variety of categories (New England, Cocktails, Sweets…) or subscribe to the “Small Batch by Season” plan to help mom maintain her “tastemaker” status among her friends.  Go to shop.eatboutique.com.

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For cocktail recipes, curated by world-class mixologists, and all of the required spirits and mixers delivered right to mom’s door, check out julibox.com.  Maybe mom will invite you over for a taste…cocktails anyone?

 

For the fit mom:

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The “KLUTCHclub Women” boxes are filled with items sure to delight the fitness-and-health-type mom.  Products range from fitness DVD’s to healthy snacks and beauty products.  Find it at mysubscriptionaddiction

 

For the mom who loves her non-human babies:

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Help mom spoil her sweetest, most obedient, and adoring “child” with spoiledrottenbox.com.  They have 3, 6, and 12-month plans as well as a pay-as-you-go option with boxes filled with toys, treats and more…and no worries, all treats are manufactured here in the U.S.

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BarkBox is another excellent choice for mom’s sweet, furry baby.  Every month she will receive four or more products, carefully selected by dog-size…from toys and bones to hygiene products and gadgets…that will be sure to please Fido (and the cardboard box is a bonus!) Oh, and mom will love this…10% of the proceeds are donated to dogs in need.  From barkbox.com.

 

For the fashionista mom:

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The Style Box from socialbliss.com is perfect for the on-trend mom!  Each box contains a selection of one-size-fits-all fashion accessories, hand-picked by stylists who are “in the know”.

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The stylists at wantable.com navigate the world of fashion and beauty to bring mom the latest trends.  Select a category (makeup, accessories, or intimates), and wait for the adoration to begin!

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For fashion-oriented items, another excellent choice is the Coco Rocha Fancy Box from mysubscriptionaddiction. Past boxes have included magazines, jewelry, sunglasses…wow!!

 

For the beauty-pro mom:

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The “Must Have Box” from popsugar.com will treat mom to hand-selected items in beauty, fashion, home, fitness, and food…and they are all full-size products from premium brands.  Go for it!

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And last, but far from least, mom will practically tackle the delivery-man each month (don’t tell dad) to tear into her latest shipment from BirchBox.  Boxes contain high-end beauty, grooming, and lifestyle samples, customized just for her.  Make her ever-so-happy…click birch box.com.

Whew!!! As y’all can see, the options are endless, but we think this is a great variety to get you inspired. So treat mom and be her favorite…every month.

a&a

White jeans…a belle’s must-have basic…

01 Thursday May 2014

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White jeans, as we have insisted before, are a great year-round basic. Now, seeing as it’s spring and all, what better time to refresh your wardrobe with a spanking new pair?

After much research (read shopping) these two belles have come up with a few that delight us the most. And, believe you me, we are quite particular :

We abhor front pocket linings that are visible.

We can’t abide fabric that is so thin it turns “flesh-colored” when you sport them.

We won’t stand for the white jeans that show off our less than perfectly toned parts by magnifying thigh “dimples”…sorry, but we have to be painfully honest.

And, let’s be very clear here: belles need to be able to lean, kneel, and reach without cause for alarm. That means a reasonable rise is an absolute must…so we can throw caution to the wind and move without fear that we are gonna get caught with our drawers showing! (and, yes, a post about underpinnings is upon us and y’all are going to learn a thing or two about keeping those panty lines at bay…once and for all.)

Jbrand has been around for awhile and they certainly know what they are doing with denim. Their 811s are a great classic skinny fit. At neiman marcus.

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Number two in our stable of white jean contenders is a pair from Rag and Bone. A great fit, crisp color and can be rolled under if you want show off a bit of ankle and a great shoe. In case you just missed that, yes we turn a lot of our jeans under…shows off the shoe collection, cools the ankles, and saves on alterations… Back to the task at hand…. The skinny is a slim fit but not as tight as the legging. Get yourself a pair atshopbop.

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Another go-to denim line is Paige. These skyline ankle crop (no need to turn under) are figure-flattering and a great weight. We love a crop jean and think it is universally flattering and can fit into a variety of occasions. These can be purchased at saks fifth avenue.

One more tip, we find that we generally will order up in a white jean as, well, white just isn’t always forgiving, and we don’t like to look like we are stuffed into a sausage casing. Usually there isn’t much difference in the sizing and it just boosts the old self confidence ….just sayin’…

Let us know what your go-to white jeans are, we might like to give them a shot!!

a&a

off to the races with bourbon salted caramel

29 Tuesday Apr 2014

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Talk about winning the trifecta!! Bourbon, sea salt and caramel! In preparation for the Kentucky Derby this weekend, we thought we would share this winning recipe…a true triple crown winner courtesy of shutterbean and Bon Appetit magazine.

We were perusing the magazine and came across these caramels and just knew we had to make them! Especially since one of our manly belles was having a birthday and he is quite partial to bourbon. A perfect addition to the birthday menu! shutterbean gave it rave reviews and some great tips. Of course, our favorite tip was the addition of extra bourbon.

We plan on making these again soon….sooner if we can…and since the Derby is all about bourbon…well with a little horse racing thrown in for good measure…let’s just say it’s an opportune time to have your way with bourbon in the kitchen.

We made this twice and the second time was better because we decided to add that extra touch of bourbon (you couldn’t taste it the first time…what a waste!!)

So off to the races:

Nonstick vegetable spray

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup (1stick) unsalted butter ( we used salted and it was fine)
3 Tbsp. Bourbon
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
Flaky sea salt ( such as Maldon )

You will also need a candy thermometer

Lightly coat an 8×8 baking pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper,leaving a 2″ overhang on 2 sides. Spray parchment!!!

Bring sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water to boil in a medium saucepan over medium- high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cook swirling pan occasionally ,until mixture turns a deep amber color, 8-10 minutes.

Remove pan from heat, and whisk in sweetened condensed milk and butter( mixture will bubble vigorously) until smooth. Fit pan with thermometer and return to medium- low heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until thermometer registers 240 degrees . Remove from heat and whisk in bourbon and kosher salt. Pour into prepared pan..let cool. Sprinkle with sea salt.

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Cut into 3/4 inch pieces.

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Wrap individually in parchment pieces. We tried but ours didn’t last that long!!

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Everybody will be betting on you!!

a&a

boyfriends for belles

25 Friday Apr 2014

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One of the top fashion trends right now is the slim boyfriend jean.  Cut to be comfortable but not absurdly baggy, they show off the feminine figure yet provide ease of wear…a great uniform pant that can be worn über casually chic or upgraded to a sexy on-the-go look. You can get them in just about any wash from super-distressed to clean and dark. One of the best features to us shoe obsessed belles is the cuffed or rolled leg that shows off your fashion forward footwear of the moment.

Frankly what’s not to like y’all? Well, nothing…except that you might want to invest in a pair and a spare! Because, dear belles, these babies will become such an important staple in your wardrobe that you will want to wear them every day! With two, one can be in the wash and the other on your ever-so-grateful body. (as much as we still love our skinnies, it sure is nice to breathe a little…)

So, following our own sound advice, we have purchased two great pair and are linking them below for your perusal. But you better be quick and pull the trigger before they are all gone. We don’t want you to miss the boat .

First up is a new brand to us that we found at our local boutique of choice, Savvy. What belle isn’t savvy inside and out right?!?! Savvy has a website, so you can purchase them here. Made by Mia and Moss, the style is Bennett.

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Not only is this boyfriend a great price point ($99.00 !! Holla!!), they are super-stylish with just a hint of edge. The bit of pin-striping makes them fun while remaining neutral enough to wear with anything. Bonus…pocket placement is most flattering, belles. We suggest sizing down for the perfect skinny boyfriend fit as they will relax quite a bit.

 
Next up…a great pair from Anthropologie. These are the “relaxed knee” Hyphens from Pilcro and the Letterpress. Boy, oh, boyfriend are they awesome! Size-down a bit this time, too, belles, as these will relax with wear. Get them here

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And another bonus…the Cloth and Stone shirt is from Anthropologie as well!  Get  it here

Now for the shoes…the options are almost endless!!  In the photo above, is an open-toe bootie that won’t break the bank!  We found these by Michael Shannon at our local Off Broadway for just around $70.  For some online options, we thought these or these would do just the trick. Both are from Nordstrom .

Sole Society Mandee

Sole Society Mandee

Steve Madden Nonstop

Steve Madden Nonstop

We thought we’d go ahead and show y’all a few more cute options to wear with the boyfriends – to further prove that these are the jeans to have in your repertoire. But first, as a little side story, let us share with you what happens when you don’t pay attention to the four-legged belles. (In particular, the naughty baby one!)

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We can thank our lucky stars that we caught her in the act before she completely took advantage of that delectable shoe!

Now on to the good stuff:

For a casual outing, try these Converse slip ons. image
Available at Nordstrom these chic casuals are perfect weekend wear. Comfortable and slip-on…and they won’t make your feet look too large as they have 4 lace holes as opposed to 6. And yes, one of us belles happens to be blessed with double-digit-size feet.

Next up for a casual dinner, cocktails at the corner pub, or a little dash of city chic these animal print pumps are from J. Crew and they are 30% off!! image
So take a walk on the wild side…sport an animal print shoe.

Our third look is a classic. Errands, lengthy promenades, lunch with the ladies, traveling and touring…a ballet flat is always a great go to option. These are older Tory Burch ones. They wear like iron and really are a value in the price-per-wear department.
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Nordstrom has these on sale and we are awfully partial to these beauties.

Last, but certainly not least, is a shoe that is another spring trend: the kitten heel. Finally a shoe that can be worn all day, dressed up or down, and still remain feminine.
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The ones in the photo are by Vince Camuto and are available online.

So, there you have it belles… And by the way, we can talk a blue streak too!

a&a