These Belles Can Sing

Two of my favorite musicians are Ashley Monroe (member of the fabulous Pistol Annies) and Kacey Musgraves. 

Both girls are incredibly talented and I can listen to their albums on repeat all day long. 

The weird thing is none if my friends have heard of them and I really don't ever hear them on the radio. What a crime! 

Seriously if you don't own these albums get then now! 

Ashley's is only $7 at Walmart and Kacey's is only $10 

Check it out! 

Tervis

I have had my share of travel mugs over the years but our relationships never lasted very long. 

But then one day my momma handed me the best tea I had ever tasted. I asked how she mad it so good and she said a sunkist lemon, organic sugar and good American plastic. 

She loves her tervis... All ten of them.

And now so do I. 

They are MADE IN AMERICA! I shouldn't have to say anything else but just incase y'all need more convincing: they come in all kinds of kinds. 

I have a fiesta one. I love love love fiesta ware so it had to be my first tervis. 

My latest addition was a lodge one: you know like those cast iron pans we all love so much.

But they also have Tommy Bahama, Real Tree, Margaritaville, Duck Dynasty and so many more! 

Y'all Gotta try one of these! 

Oh yeah there's a lifetime warranty!

Yes that is a diner booth in my kitchen and I love it! It's the best decision we ever made.

Road Trippers

Hey y'all 

Today I came across this pretty cool website for road trips. 

you create an account and put in your starting point and you destination and it helps you find things along the way: food, lodging, gas, attractions. 

I haven't tried it out yet but I will definitely be using it on my next trip.

Check it out 

https://roadtrippers.com/

Santee, South Carolina

Santee is a wonderful little town. I love to stop at the general store and browse the cast iron pans, fishing supplies and fireworks along with all the great snacks I can't get at home. 

Almost in Santee is Smith's 

Smith's is more of a tourist stop. It has great post cards and souvenirs. They also have their own line of canned goods and all different flavors of shelled fried peanuts. 

If you are in the market for peach wine, they've got it! 

But my favorite part is that they have lots of different brands of soda or pop (whatever you call it) in glass bottles.

---> including Cheerwine and RC 

If you're looking for a place to stop for the night (they have a nice Best western Plus)  or stop for gas check out Santee. 

Yummy Noodles

Yesterday was Saturday and every Saturday I make yummy noodles for lunch. These noodles are one of my dads childhood favorites. When he was young he just called them yummy noodles because they were so good so the actual name has been lost over the years. 

I thought I would share this wonder with y'all. It is so easy I can't even call it a recipe. 

Start out by boiling wide egg noodles or any other kind of noodle. When my sister and I were little we loved bow tie pasta and that tasted good too. (Salt the water)

Then drain the water and butter the noodles. 

Then add however much cottage cheese you like. We like a lot. :) 

I like to add a lot of black pepper to mine.

My dad adds sour cream. 

Belle in the Big City

I recently visited Tennessee so naturally I went to Nashville. It was like no city I had ever known. I usually dont like cites because whenever I go to one I feel like dirt is always flying in my eyes. 

However I will never forget walking down Broadway. Practically all of the honky tonks and restaurants have live music that can be heard as you walk down the street popping in and out of all the amazing boot stores. The city even smells good. The whole time I was walking down broadway the smell of fresh barbecue filled my senses. 

The Opry 

It wouldn't be a trip to Nashville if I didn't attend the opry. Everyone should go to the Grand Ole Opry at least once in their life and do the backstage tour! The tour teaches you about the history and takes you back to the dressing rooms and lounge areas that country's greatest musicians. The tour even takes you on stage and allows you to stand in the iconic circle. 

----> be sure to check out the opry's popcorn selection during the show the kettle corn is to die for! They also have cheddar, garlic, dill and more!

This Belle loves to Pick 

I love American Pickers on the history channel. I have seen just about every episode and when I visited the store in Nashville I recognized so many items from the show. It was fun seeing pieces of history that I had learned about by watching the show. It was a pretty cool place to stop. 

A Belle's Gotta Eat 

I Dream of Weenie is a VW bus that has been converted into perhaps the best weenery in America. I literally dream about these things and wake up willing to drive hours and hours to get one of their chili cheese dogs. 

Drive to it, walk to it, run to it, do whatever you have to to get there because it is worth it. 

And just a bonus they have Cheerwine (my favorite) and they also have Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale. 

I love ginger ale so when I came across a brand I had never had before I was all for it am when I found out it was spicy I thought that's even better. However DRINK WITH CAUTION. That stuff it hot!

But I think I would drink it again anyway because I love the story behind it. This spicy ginger ale got its start on the battlefields of the civil war! 

Graceland 

 After I left Nashville I headed to Memphis to visit Graceland. Everyone always says that it is small and disappointing in a way but it was incredible for its time. I don't want to spoil anything for you so let me just say each room is better than the last and definitely check out the plane.  

I probably don't need to tell you this but Graceland is well worth your time. Seeing all of Elvis' awards and success in one room is unreal. It is amazing that one person could do so much.

While in Memphis make sure you check out Sun Studio where Elvis recorded his hits. You get to go in and stand where Elvis did while he recorded. 

The Night Life 

Beale Street seems to be the place to go in Memphis. While I was on my trip I had people texting me to see if I had gone to Beale Street yet. 

As I walked down the street I could hear music but it was from radios although the bars do have live music I couldn't hear it from the street. Also I passed a voodoo shop rather than a boot shop. 

Beale Street was more like the cities I know and don't love. I am glad I went but it was just not my cup of sweet tea. 

---> I did go back during the day and it wasn't so scary. 

Some Shopping Tips for Y'all 

I loved browsing the boot shops on Broadway in Nashville but being the Belle that I am I know my boot prices and I found them to be mark up pretty high. If you have your heart set on a pair on Brpadway splurg and get them. It is all part of the experience but if you don't have a particular pair in mind go check out Boot Barn at the local mall. They don't have a huge selection but they do have a lot and they are all the great brands you find on Broadway but nearly half the price! 

As for souvenirs, they are cheaper at the actual place than somewhere else. Sun Studio shirts, hats and guitar picks are cheaper at the studio than at Graceland.  

Graceland souvinirs are cheaper at Graceland than on Beale Street so buy it when you see it! 

My Favorite Book

Black Heels to Tractor Wheels may be my favorite book of all time. It is the love story of Ree Drummond aka The Pioneer Woman and her ranching cowboy husband. The book spans from the day they met to her experience of having a first child. 

Black Heels to Tractor Wheel is so good that I slowly rationed out the chapters not wanting it to end. 

When I finished this book I wanted to flip right back to the first page and start over again. I had never laughed out loud while reading a book before and I was not ready for it to end.

If you like love stories, cowboys and cooking (recipes included in the back of the book) this book is for you. If you are being faced with a tough decision in your life or you already have, this is the book for you. Or if you just like to laugh this is the book for you. I cannot imagine anyone not liking this book.

I believe you can read the first few pages on barnesandnoble.com so go check it out. :D 

---> the book is beautiful too! When I took it on a weekend getaway I left the dust jacket at home and when my friends saw the cover of the book they assumed it was my journal. When I found this out I had to open it up and show them the flowered pages inside. They had never seen anything like it.

Visit Pioneer Woman's Blog 

http://thepioneerwoman.com/

Frampton Plantation

The Frampton Plantation is the Low Country visitors' center and museum. It is located in Low Country aka southern South Carolina. It is a beautiful place to stop when passing through South Carolina. It's a plantation and a gift shop... What more can a girl ask for? 

And the prices in the gift shop are the lowest in Low Country. They have the cheapest Peach cider I have been able to find AND they have free samples.

And just a bonus---> y'all won't find cleaner bathrooms anywhere else.

You really can't miss it. There are signs on I-95 and it is well worth the stop.

St Augustine, Florida

St George's Row in St Augustine, Florida is my favorite little shopping area. The stores range from one selling alligator jerky to one selling beautiful jewelry made with Mel Fisher's silver to used book stores.

My sister and I came across one little jewelry store that carried beautifully ingraved sterling silver Hawaiian rings. They were just $25 and the shop owner sized my ring for me on the spot for free. 

The ingraved flower pattern is beautiful on its own but they also selling rings ingraved with any Hawaiian saying or name. I believe the store is called Aloha Jewelry Specialist 

The restaurants are great too. The Taco Shop has their own creation called the UFO it it's a cross between a burrito and a quesodilla. I order a shrimp UFO baja style and it is amazing. 

There are two options baja and the works. The only difference is baja has white sauce with cabbage while the works has salsa and lettuce. Either way they are to die for.

We also stopped at PizzaAlley. The Pizza Shop has all the pizza half cooked and ready for you to pick your toppings then they put the slice in the oven and finish cooking it. The pizza was delicious and they offered very interesting combinations. My sister ordered the chicken tropical pizza and it came topped with chicken, pineapple, feta and ALMONDS! 

I could spend everyday on St George's Row. I highly recommend it but don't forget your sunglasses I heard several people complaining about the bright sun yesterday and scrambling to buy sunglasses :) 

Pretty Party Salads

So this week I am in Palm Valley, Florida for a photography convention and last night at dinner the salad was served in these cute little glasses. It was pretty and a lot easier than trying to juggle a salad plate and a dinner plate at the packed tables. I thought it was perfect for a party and had to take a picture. 

-----> it's the not best picture because I didn't want to hold up the line :) 

The BEST cake ever!

Last night we finally got around to celebrating my aunt's birthday and I decided to make Pioneer Woman's Italian Cream Cake. It was amazing. I was so sad when I finished my piece. I can't imagine ever making another cake again. This is definitely my new go-to cake recipe. I can't wait to make it again.

RECIPE FROM: www.thepioneerwoman.com

Ingredients

• FOR THE CAKE:
• 1 stick Butter
• 1 cup Vegetable Oil
• 1 cup Sugar
• 5 whole Eggs, Separated
• 3 teaspoons Vanilla
• 1 cup Coconut (from PW: If You Think You Hate Coconut, Trust Me: I Do Too, And I Love It In This Recipe)
• 2 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1 cup Buttermilk
• _____
• FOR FROSTING:
• 2 packages (8 Oz) Cream Cheese
• 1 stick Butter
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla
• 1 package 2 Lb Powdered Sugar
• 1 cup Chopped Pecans 
• 1 cup Sweetened, Flaked Coconut

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans.

Beat egg whites until stiff. Set aside.

Cake:

In a large bowl, cream together butter, oil, and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg yolks, vanilla, and coconut.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and baking powder.

Alternate adding buttermilk and dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix until just combined, then fold in egg whites.

Pour evenly into the three prepared pans, then sprinkle the top of each pan with 1 (at least) tablespoon sugar.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto cooling racks and allow to cool completely.

Frosting:

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Stir in chopped walnuts and sugared coconut. Spread between layers and serve.

Note: cream cheese frosting will soften at room temperature, so refrigerate if you won’t use it right away.

Cowgirl Comfort Zone: Tips for Picking Boots

Cowboy Boots are the most comfortable things you could ever put on your feet.  They come in all kinds of styles and colors. Sometimes it is hard to choose just one pair. 

These Justin Boots were made for walking and they can take just about anything. They are amazingly comfortable and easy to clean up. My Justin Boots have survived dusty flea markets and even a blizzard. When I traveled to Boston, MA I only packed boots and it turned out to be a snowy, icy mess. These Justin Boots were the only thing that got me through. and they cleaned up just find in the end. They come in all kinds of styles and colors. Sometimes it is hard to choose just one pair.

If you are shopping for your first pair of boots, don't be blinded by the pretty colors. Choose something practical- a color that will match everything. The right pair of boots can look great with anything from overalls to Lilly dresses. I have a pair of Lucchese Boots that never fail to look perfect whether I am just going to school or getting dressed up for a wedding.
-----> BOOT BLING- that red, white and blue thing around my boot is called boot bling. They come in all colors and they are SPARKLY! I picked two up when I was in Nashville. I got this one and a plain white one that Sparkles lots of pretty colors. It a great way to dress up your practical boots.    


                         

If this is not your first rodeo, I suggest Corral Boots. They are super comfortable and very stylish. You get the fashion boot look with the working boot feel. What more can a girl ask for?

"The best boot are always the ones you're wearin." -Ree Drummond PW

The Perfect Pink

You can never go wrong with pink nail polish. Every summer I set out in search of the perfect shade of pink nail polish. This year I came across "Preppy Pink" by NYC.

NYC targets teens so their colors are always fun and perfect for summer.

This bottle was only 99 cents but don't let the price fool you into thinking it is not good nail polish. every time I wear NYC nail polish someone asks me what kind it is because they either love the color or have trouble finding such a glossy polish and I am always surprised at how long it holds up. 

(It looks so much prettier in person!)