Camera Apps are fun...

 

Oh you know, just snapping pictures!!! Smart phones make it so easy for all of us to look like real photographers! I love it! While trying to understand the new app I just downloaded, I experimented with these.

 

 

 

 

Come by the shop and see all these beautiful things in person!

xoxo,

Lena & Cose Belle

We're Celebrating 7 Wonderful Years!

Crazy to think we're celebrating our 7 year anniversary here at the store. It's been an amazing journey, and we've been blessed with the best customers ever! Which is why we want to celebrate this milestone with YOU!

Join us at Cose Belle on July 11th, 2013 from 5pm to 8pm. We want to spoil you rotten for your continued support throughout the years in helping us thrive in a business we love.

Of course there will be plenty of champagne, yummy treats, and yes- dancing music! At the end of the evening there will be three drawings where the winners will receive one of the following: a piece of Melinda Maria Jewelry, a gorgeous piece of clothing, or $50 gift certificate

We will also be offering special discounts just for the evening's celebration! 20% off All clothing & jewelry, as well as, 30% off all Home décor and furniture!

Now we hope your ready to celebrate, because we are!!!

Wednesday Inspiration

Just a little inspiration for your Wednesday! Hope you all are having a fabulous week, and don't forget to come see us while we continue the home décor sale!

xoxo

Beach Basics!

Lucy here again! Remember when I said people weren't kidding about the heat and humidity here in Charleston? Yeah no, they really weren't kidding. The past two days have been somewhat of a rude awakening for this Kentucky kid. However, the great thing about living in Charleston is when the heat and humidity strike you can find solace in the beach, and I'd be lying if I said I haven't become a frequent beach goer. Here are some of my essentials for the beach:

Obviously a great bikini is essential

A great pair of sun glasses, of course. These Ray Ban Club-Masters have been on my wish list for quite sometime, and with a birthday next week I'm hoping I can cross them off ;)

 A hat to protect your face from the sun. While I usually just wear my favorite baseball cap I'm loving this Panama Hat from JCrew. We also have some AMAZING hats in the store, you should stop by and check them out!

I love a simple cover-up and this white one will go with pretty much any swim suit which I love.

Someone gave me pretty much this exact beach bag when I graduated high school and out of all my high school graduation presents this one has received the most use! We also have some super cute beach bags in store!

 

In my beach bag you'll find a towel, sunscreen ranging from SPF 15 to 50 (you can't ever be too careful)! I always have a book or two- anything from a classic like the Great Gatsby, some sappy romantic novel or a thriller like John Grisham. Oh and I actually finished my most recent beach read Monday so send suggestions my way! I'm always sure to bring water and some snacks with me too!

 

What are your beach essentials?

 

 

-Lucy

 

Summer Spirits

If you've ever come by the store around 5:00 you know we like to have Happy Hour with a little champagne! As we get closer to the official first day of summer and the heat and humidity rise we thought we'd share a few of our favorite summer cocktails with y'all!

 

You can't go wrong with a classic margarita! Here's a simple recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 lime, halved
• Coarse salt
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, from about 4 limes
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 cup orange-flavored liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier)
• 1/4 cup Triple Sec
• 1 cup gold tequila
• Ice
• 1/2 can good quality lager-style beer
• Lime wheels, for garnish

Directions:

To salt the margarita glasses, rub the outside rims of 4 big glasses with a cut lime and press them lightly into a plate of kosher salt, to coat.

Combine the lime juice, sugar, orange liqueur, Triple Sec, tequila, and a big handful of ice in a cocktail shaker (or blender). Shake the margarita really well, for a good 20 seconds, add a splash of beer and strain into the salt rimmed glasses filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Blackberry Bourbon Iced Tea, a great twist on a fabulous fruit tea:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups fresh blackberries
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, plus mint sprigs for garnish
• 6 good-quality black tea bags
• Good-quality bourbon, to taste (Bobby likes Woodford Reserve)

Directions:

Combine the blackberries, sugar and chopped mint in a large bowl and mash with a potato masher or wooden spoon; let sit while making the tea.

While the blackberries are macerating, bring 1 1/2 quarts cold water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags and let steep for about 3 minutes. Remove the tea bags and pour the tea over the blackberry mixture. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld.

Pour the mixture through a strainer into a pitcher, pressing on the solids. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours. (You can also pour the mixture into a bowl set over an ice bath to cool it faster.)

Serve the blackberry tea over ice in tall glasses and float a shot of bourbon on top of each. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs

 

 

How amazing does this tropical sangria sound?

Ingredients

• 2 blood oranges, halved and thinly sliced
• 2 kiwis, peeled and cut into wedges
• 1 cup seedless red grapes, halved or whole
• 1 mango, cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 bottles sauvignon blanc wine, chilled
• 2 ounces orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
• 8 ounces fresh strawberries, hulled and halved                        

Directions

1. In a 1/2-gal. pitcher, combine the oranges, kiwis, grapes and mango. Stir in the wine and liqueur. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 6 hours.
2. Just before serving, stir in the strawberries.

What do y'all think? What are some of your favorite summer cocktails? Let us know!

Cheers,

Cose Belle

Are we going crazy!?

Okay, well maybe only a little crazy, but since we love all our customers so much over the next few days we'll be offering 25% off all home décor and furniture in store! So if there's a piece you've had your eye on over the past few months but never purchased it- now is your chance! Here are some of our favorite pieces of furniture that are on sale:

Don't let the gloomy weather in Charleston keep you from coming by and checking out these amazing pieces along with so many others during this fabulous sale!

XOXO