National Southern Belle Day-

Yesterday was National Southern Belle Day. I can't believe I forgot it. I knew it was this week but got my days mixed up. I'm starting to scrapbook the beginning of the year which included: graduation, induction to my Sorority, birthdays and the fun filled moments with my line sisters. Yesterday I traveled across the world to get a gift for a Southern Belle of mine. Her Birthday is coming up and we all know Southern Belle is everything Monogrammed. I will share pictures with you after she receives her gift. :)

What is a Southern Belle you may ask? In my opinion a Southern Belle is a well mannered young woman who loves her family, treats her elders with the utmost respect, a Church going, choir singing, baking beauty, grits eating, debutante, monogrammed everything, thank you note writing, blogging, lemonade drinking, bad mamajamma. 

Until Next Time
-Southern Inspired Belle

Proverbs 29:18

Proverbs 29:18 states "Where there is no vision, the people perish". This post I will focus on Visions. Last year, I created a vision board that showed long term and short term goals of mine. Some of my long term goals would be marriage, opening up a bakery and starting a fashion blog. Some of my short term goals included: graduating from College, becoming a mentor to high school students, etc. Below is my first vision board ever created.

The top left explains the "fashionista" in me. Staying up to date with fashion. The bottom left is my dream to travel around the world. I have "road trip" (my t.v is in the way). On the left of Road Trip it's Dallas, New Orleans, New York and Denver. Mid way you see "recipes", "sweet somethings" and pictures of whoopee pies, peach cobbler and cherry pie. Baking is my specialty, hence the beignet post. In my dreams I will open a bakery. I would love to have timeless beauty, all the celebrities pictured look younger than there age (Meagan Good is 33 years Old, Tia and Tamera Mowry are 36 years old- they look Gawgeous, Vanessa Williams is 51 years old). So you get my point!! The top right of my vision board explains how strong I want my faith to become. I want to live stress free with no worries trusting that God will make a way out of no way. Above the timeless beauties is Gabrielle Union- D.Wade and Lala-Carmelo Anthony. I love their love if that makes sense. Bottom Right is my goal to become and stay Healthy, starting with eating healthy.

Do you have a vision board? I suggest you make one. In Joel Osteen's new book "You Can You Will" he speaks on always keeping your vision in front of you. Below I have some excerpts from his book.

"I’ve found that whatever your vision is, God will supersize it. He will do more than you can ask or think. "  

"Every time he sees it, he’s moving toward his goal. It reminds him of what he’s dreaming about. If 

you’re single and you want to get married, put an empty photo album on your table. That’s where you’re 

going to put your wedding photos. When you see it, you’re moving toward it."

"Are you believing for a child? Go buy a baby’s outfit and hang it in your closet where you can see it every 

day. Keep your vision in front of you. A friend of mine who wanted a child decorated her whole baby’s 

room, bought the bed and the stroller, spent all this time, money, and energy.

Her friends thought she was a little far out, preparing a baby’s room with no." 

"Keep your vision in front of you"

Until next time

- Southern Inspired Belle

My Weekend!

THE WEEKEND :)

This weekend was quit fun and exciting. On Saturday I went to church to help bake for the Bake Sale. Cupcakes, Caramel Apples, Pecan Candy and Mini Bunt Cakes were all on the menu. I enjoyed decorating the cupcakes, here are a few I did.

(The green icing is Key Lime flavored. The purple icing is Vanilla Flavored. The orange icing is Orange Flavored.) Yummy!!!

The next thing on the agenda was Family Reunion Meeting which was a success. I love hanging out with Family, it really brings me joy. My family doesn't get together often (unless it's a Funeral, unfortunately). However when we do it's like we didn't miss a beat. This year we have a twist to our reunion. Usually the family gets together in our hometown in Louisiana but this year we decided to move around and actually rent out a Lodge. I'm very excited and can't wait. 

On Sunday, I went to church with my mom. Afterward we ate with a relative visiting from out of town. I got a call from my party planner who did my graduation party. He needed some help with a wedding later that evening, and because I was already in the area it worked out just fine. I wish I had pictures to show but I didn't take any.

On the menu for Sunday dinner was Street Tacos;

Here's the recipe.

Ingredients

Cilantro

Charro Beans

Corn Tortillas

Feta Cheese

Corn on the Cob

Avocado

Rotisserie Chicken Strips

Red Onion

1. Take the chicken out of the bag and place in a skillet on the stove. The chicken is already cooked so warm it until you think it's ready. In the same pot, Slice the red onion and grill it.

2. In a pot, warm up your charro beans.

3. Slice the Corn on the cob and place in a mini skillet, add about a hand full of feta cheese and warm for about 7 minutes.

4. Fry the Tortilla on each side for 2 minutes. ( Place a teaspoon of olive oil in the skillet for each tortilla).

5. On the side in a paper plate, slice up the avacado, cilantro and feta cheese. 

Make your taco and ENJOY!!!!

Until Next Time

-Southern Inspired Belle :)

Beignet Please??

I fell in love with Beignets after watching the Disney movie "The Princess and the Frog" They just looked so good. After watching, I bought the Recipe book that include Beignets, PoBoys, Fruit Salad and much more. Now this isn't a easy thing to make. You have your flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, canned milk and much more that has to be stirred, rolled and fried to the best of your ability. Below is the recipe and pictures from my favorite scenes of the movie.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. WEAR PURPLE when you can. :)

Until next time

-Southern Inspired Belle

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup water
1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Vegetable oil, for frying
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a medium bowl, combine 23/4 cups of the f lour with the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. Whisk everything together.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, water, egg, and vanilla extract. Stir in the flour mixture from Step 1.

3. Use some of the remaining flour to dust your work surface. Place the dough on it and pat it into a large 1/2 -inch-thick square. Dust the top with more flour if it gets sticky. Next, slice the dough into 21/2 -inch squares.

4. Now it’s time to fry the beignets—be sure to ask an adult to help you! Heat 2 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy saucepan on the stovetop until the temperature reaches 325° on a deep-fat thermometer. Check the temperature every so often while cooking. If it gets too hot, temporarily turn the heat down, or off.

5. Carefully drop 3 dough squares at a time into the hot oil. Fry them for 3 minutes, turn them over, and continue frying for 3 more minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the beignets to a wire rack set atop paper towels to drain. Dust the beignets with confectioners’ sugar, and enjoy!

Saturday FunDay

SATURDAY FUNDAY

Yesterday was such a beautiful day in Houston. It began with a mini photo shoot with my cousin (will post her info later in the post). I love love love taking pictures, it's something that comes natural to me. Little Fact about me: I won the Miss Photogenic Award in my University's Pageant 2 years back. We took the pictures in Vintage Park where the cutest shops, restaurants and boutiques are. The shoot lasted about an hour and was soooooo much fun. Fountains, Stores, and Butterflies were included in the shoot. (Sneak Peek Below). After the shoot was over I changed into something more comfortable and stopped at a small bakery I saw while taking the pictures. The name of the bakery is "TREAT". The bakery was decorated for the fall season and I fell in love. (Did I mention that TREAT is dog friendly). The owner has two of the most precious dogs who are pictured in the bakery. I didn't get much (ONLY 2 CUPCAKES) Italian Cream Cake and Pecan Pie. The cupcakes were lovely and I mean lovely. As the weather is cooling down I cant help but want to be outside all day.

Today is national "DO SOMETHING NICE DAY", did you know? As I left Michael's Craft store I saw they were backed up because of there 50% OFF Halloween sale and decided to move all of their baskets to help them out. It made me feel awesome!! Will you do something nice today?

Until Next Time

- Southern Inspired Belle

How cute are these decorations inside "Treat"?

Left: Italian Cream Cupcake

Right: Pecan Pie Cupcake

Be sure to stop by... YummY!!!

As promised here is my cousin's info:   IG: anikamaya_photography

"Southern Belles always count their blessings, but we should always make our blessings count"

MY INNER FASHIONISTA

During the summer I started thrifting and came across some very nice pieces. With help from Pinterest, I put these pieces together (some previously owned) for work outfits and surprisingly I fell in love. Although to some they might be very basic they are comfortable from head to toe. Hope you enjoy!

Blazer: Thrift Store Find

Dress: Cotton On

Sweater: Thrift Store

Shirt: Burlington Coat Factory

Pants: Target

Purse: Michael Kohrs

Blazer: Thrift Store

Shirt: Thrift Store (Banana Republic)

Pants: Found in Back of Closet :)

Blazer: Thrift Store

Cami: Forever 21

Skirt: Thrift Store (Target Brand)

Denim Shirt: Oldie

Skirt: Target

"GOD MADE ALL CREATURES BEAUTIFUL, HE JUST SPENT A LITTLE MORE TIME ON SOUTHERN BELLES."

The things that make me happy the most.!!!