The California Belle
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Boots Cold Cream
I bought the Boots cold cream from target yesterday to try the facial that I posted and even just trying it on for a minute instead of the nearly 30 minute facial and not only did it make my skin feel exfoliated and soft when I did it, but also still soft after nearly 24 hours! My skin never felt this good even when my grandmother and mom took me to the spa to get facials done. I highly recommend this product! It's a steal for what your getting! It apparently can help work as a makeup remover and a light moisturizer. This is better than any I have found as it soothes my dry skin without making it oily and prone to breakouts. This is a must have for your beauty supplies!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Facial
Old Southern Beauty
Cold Cream Facial
Begin with freshly-cleaned face, neck, and decollete. For the decollete, apply a quarter-size amount just above the breast-bone, and begin sweeping it upward and outward. Continue to work up and out until the cold cream is evenly distributed and absorbed. Then, apply a coating layer to entire decollete and allow to product to remain on skin as a softening mask for up to 30 minutes. Gently remove excess with a warm-water wash cloth.
For the neck, apply a nickel-size amount to the base of the throat, and begin sweeping it upward (toward the chin) and outward (toward the ears) with gentle, yet firm pressure. Continue to work up and out until most of the cold cream is absorbed.
For the face, place a quarter-size amount on the chin and immediately sweep out to the jawline and up the cheeks. Apply sweeping strokes and firm pressure from the chin, up and across the cheekbones, and up to the temples. Avoid applying any pressure to the delicate under-eye area. Continue this massaging motion until the product is well absorbed.
Next, apply a pea-size amount right between the eyes. Apply firm pressure and a vertical motion, massaging the cold cream into the frown lines. Massage outward and across the upper part of the brows applying very firm pressure. Then, begin sweeping excess cold cream upward and outward to the hairline. Continue this massaging motion until the cold cream is absorbed.
With fingers only slightly moistened, gently dab the under-eye areas with your ring-fingers. The gentle-pressure will act as a bit of acupressure to help relieve puffiness.
This massage may be performed daily. The benefits are cumulative and immediate.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Fall Lists
Old Southern Home
Fall Storage Sachets
1. star anise
whole cloves
black peppercorns
cinnamon sticks
fennel seeds
2. savory
sage
thyme
3. juniper berries
whole allspice
4. black peppercorns
dried bay leaves
5. rosemary
lavender
dried bay leaves
6. dried spearmint
lemon balm
thyme
7. dried sage
dried peppermint
8. cardamom
whole allspice
mace
cinnamon sticks
9. thyme
dried orange peel
10. fennel seed
lavender
cardamom
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Fall Guest Room List
Guest Rooms Flowers: Honorine Joubert Anemone.
Guest Baths Botanics: Herbal bouquets of Rosemary, Thyme, and Bay.
Guest Linens: Hand-made, we have been working on these for several weeks: Muslin sachets (lavender only), knitted cotton wash cloths, linen hand towels, Huckaback bath towels.
Hand-made items already on hand: Bureau scarves, linen sheets, wool blanket, cotton quilt, Boutis cover.
Bedside carafe.
Bath Soap: Pre de Provence Unscented Shea Butter soap.
Hand Soap: Caudalie “Fleur de Vigne” soap. It is wonderfully appropriate for fall.
Floral Water: Calendula toner.
Floral Liniment: Arnica oil.
Guest Baths Botanics: Herbal bouquets of Rosemary, Thyme, and Bay.
Guest Linens: Hand-made, we have been working on these for several weeks: Muslin sachets (lavender only), knitted cotton wash cloths, linen hand towels, Huckaback bath towels.
Hand-made items already on hand: Bureau scarves, linen sheets, wool blanket, cotton quilt, Boutis cover.
Bedside carafe.
Bath Soap: Pre de Provence Unscented Shea Butter soap.
Hand Soap: Caudalie “Fleur de Vigne” soap. It is wonderfully appropriate for fall.
Floral Water: Calendula toner.
Floral Liniment: Arnica oil.
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Old Southern Dress Rules for Fall
Replace Summer wearing-flowers: Mock orange, peonies, camellias, gardenias,
true lilies, daisies, baby's breath, sweet-peas, etc., with Fall wearing-flowers: Mums, cream asters, everlastings (what I wear).
Gentlemen no longer wear seersucker.
Gentlemen no longer wear linen.
Gentlemen replace spectator shoes with loafers, brogues, Oxfords, and Derby shoes.
Replace cotton lawn with twill.
Gentlemen replace their straw hats with felt hats.
Ladies no longer wear white leather accessories: shoes, hats, pocketbooks.
Ladies no longer wear straws: pocketbooks, espadrilles, belts, hats.
Ladies no longer wear sandals.
Ladies no longer wear open-toed shoes.
Ladies switch from cotton gloves to leather: white gloves remain appropriate and necessary.
Ladies no longer wear linen.
Children no longer wear: seersucker, white shoes.
Replace cotton handkerchiefs with linen.
Replace Summer perfumes with traditional Fall ones: orientals, tea roses, bay spices, pear.
Replace straw fans with brocades and silks.
Replace brights with heathers and jewel-tones.
Begin wearing lockets or brooches.
No patent-leather in the Fall.
Little boys may begin wearing oxblood loafers.
Little girls may begin wearing headbands of horn or shell.
Replace Summer wearing-flowers: Mock orange, peonies, camellias, gardenias,
true lilies, daisies, baby's breath, sweet-peas, etc., with Fall wearing-flowers: Mums, cream asters, everlastings (what I wear).
Gentlemen no longer wear seersucker.
Gentlemen no longer wear linen.
Gentlemen replace spectator shoes with loafers, brogues, Oxfords, and Derby shoes.
Replace cotton lawn with twill.
Gentlemen replace their straw hats with felt hats.
Ladies no longer wear white leather accessories: shoes, hats, pocketbooks.
Ladies no longer wear straws: pocketbooks, espadrilles, belts, hats.
Ladies no longer wear sandals.
Ladies no longer wear open-toed shoes.
Ladies switch from cotton gloves to leather: white gloves remain appropriate and necessary.
Ladies no longer wear linen.
Children no longer wear: seersucker, white shoes.
Replace cotton handkerchiefs with linen.
Replace Summer perfumes with traditional Fall ones: orientals, tea roses, bay spices, pear.
Replace straw fans with brocades and silks.
Replace brights with heathers and jewel-tones.
Begin wearing lockets or brooches.
No patent-leather in the Fall.
Little boys may begin wearing oxblood loafers.
Little girls may begin wearing headbands of horn or shell.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Southern Formal Dinner
Old Southern Home
The Formal Dinner
Use a simple white table cloth (tradition dictates damask), a flower centerpiece, and candlesticks in candelabras.
Meat is served from the carving pantry or the sideboard, along with the other dishes.
Bread is only passed at the start of the soup course and is placed on the tablecloth above the fork setting. No butter is served at a formal dinner.
The fish knife and fork will be omitted if they are not served. The salad knife may be omitted if the salad is easily eaten without a knife.
Setting From left to right:
fish fork, meat fork, *salad fork, plate, *salad knife, meat knife, fish knife, soup spoon
Glasses The glasses are always set above the knives (I am omitting all but the most commonly used today):
water glass- to the right of the plate
sherry glass- the front and right-most glass
white wine glass- to the right and a bit forward of the water glass
burgundy glass- to the right and a bit behind the white wine glass
Place Setting and Course Order
Initial Place Setting: is the setting family and guests see when they first sit down.
Pepper shaker and saltcellar above forks.
Three forks, service plate with napkin folded and placed on top, three knives and soup spoon, glasses above knives.
Soup Course: Rimmed soup plate placed on service plate, sherry is served. Bread placed directly on table cloth.
Fish Course (if served): Service plate, sherry glass, soup bowl, and soup spoon removed. Fish plate is placed, white wine is served.
Meat Course: Fish plate, white wine glass, fish fork, and fish knife removed, meat plate is placed, burgundy is served.
Salad Course: Meat plate, burgundy glass, meat fork, and meat knife removed, salad plate is placed.
*While I have listed the salad fork and knife in the initial place setting, it is a bit less formal. If you wish to serve in traditional formality (and my family always did). The salad fork and knife arrive with the salad course.
Dessert Course: Pepper shaker and salt cellar, salad plate, salad fork, salad knife are all removed. Dessert plate is placed and dessert fork and spoon are placed on dessert plate.
Coffee Service: It is never served at the formal dinner. Rather, it is served in the library, drawing room, or living room.
Southern Recipes
Here are some more old southern recipes that I've found online that have been passed down through the generations of old southern families, I hope you enjoy!
Old Southern Kitchen
Lavender Soda
1 c water
1 c water
2 c sugar
3 tbsp dried culinary lavender flowers
Bring water and sugar to a boil, allowing sugar to full dissolve. Bruise lavender buds with a mortar and pestle and add lavender to boiling mixture. Remove from heat, cover pot, and allow to steep for at least 30 minutes. Refrigerate entire mixture in a sealed glass jar for three days, allowing it to steep even further. Strain before use.
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Bring water and sugar to a boil, allowing sugar to full dissolve. Bruise lavender buds with a mortar and pestle and add lavender to boiling mixture. Remove from heat, cover pot, and allow to steep for at least 30 minutes. Refrigerate entire mixture in a sealed glass jar for three days, allowing it to steep even further. Strain before use.
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Old Southern Kitchen
Rice Muffins
1 cup flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbls sugar
4 tbls melted butter
2 large eggs, beaten
1cup slightly lukewarm milk
1 cup cooked rice, any variety
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Line standard-sized muffin tin with greased (on the inside) muffin cups.
In a large bowl, sift dry ingredients and set aside.
In another bowl, mix melted butter eggs, milk and rice.
Combine wet and dry ingredients.
Fill muffin cups 3/4 full.
Bake for 25-30 minutes.
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Cream Puff
Pate a Choux
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
4 eggs
1 cup water
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bring water to a boil in a pot, then add butter. Stir until melted. Add flour and stir until the dough leaves the sides of the pot. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Once cool, stir in the eggs, one at a time. Beat mixture to a smooth consistency. Drop by the spoonful onto a cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, then turn temperature down to 370 degrees and bake for 20 minutes o
r until golden and thoroughly dry. Allow to cool.
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Cream Puff
Filling
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar (or per taste)
Powdered sugar
Mix heavy whipping cream with sugar, whip until fluffy. Cut through side of cream puff and add whipped cream. Sprinkle top with powdered sugar.
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Old Southern Kitchen
Ambrosia Salad
9 Large Navel Oranges, Supremed
3 Large Valencia Oranges, Supremed
12 oz Finely Shredded Unsweetened Coconut
Supreme the oranges by carefully removing the skin, pith, and seeds from the membranes ensuring that the membranes remain intact. Transfer the supremed oranges to a mixing bowl. Add coconut to the oranges and mix carefully. Shortly beforing serving, transfer Ambrosia to compote dishes. Serves 10 to 12 guests.
College Packing List
Here's a cute little southern fall semester packing list that I found and would like to share you you all. Apparently except for the style of clothing, this list hasn't changed through three generations of Southern Women.
Fall Semester Packing List
kidskin pumps
kidskin flats
riding boots
tennis shoes for tennis
dress shoes
church shoes
hostess slippers
kilts
pencil skirts
pleated skirts
wrap-around skirts
day dresses
church dresses
garden dresses
lawn dresses
formal dresses
wool sweater
cotton twin sets
cashmere twin sets
cashmere turtlenecks
oxford blouses
silk blouses
white cotton tennis sweaters
tennis skirts
long sleeve white cotton tee shirts
blazers
camel hair coat
bureau clothing
silver accessories tray
Fall Semester Packing List
kidskin pumps
kidskin flats
riding boots
tennis shoes for tennis
dress shoes
church shoes
hostess slippers
kilts
pencil skirts
pleated skirts
wrap-around skirts
day dresses
church dresses
garden dresses
lawn dresses
formal dresses
wool sweater
cotton twin sets
cashmere twin sets
cashmere turtlenecks
oxford blouses
silk blouses
white cotton tennis sweaters
tennis skirts
long sleeve white cotton tee shirts
blazers
camel hair coat
bureau clothing
silver accessories tray
silk scarves
hair ribbons
horn clip
horn head band
handkerchiefs
driving gloves
day gloves
pocketbook day
pocketbook formal
pocketbook church
book bag
market tote
straw hats
umbrella
parasol
sea grass fan
pearl studs
pearl strand
brooch
carriage clock
library lamp
cable knit throw
jewelry box
pants press
vases
candles
candle holders
table setting
flatware
drink service
coffee service
tea service
linen service
bureau scarves
sachets
linen dusting powders
wool blanket
quilt
bed linens
bath linens
wicker hamper
linen waters
cleaning kit/trug
wooden hangers
wooden shoe keeps
shoe bags
sewing/embroidery kit
curtains
carpets
hanging mirror
books
book ends
framed art
stationery
day book
pens/inkwells
chicory coffee
drinking chocolate
tea
tea strainer
sugar cubes
bread box
fruit service
cheese service
bread linens
bread service-full
honey
fruit preserves
Grandmother’s pecans
trunk
books
mahogany console
tea trolley
train case
bath trug
hair ribbons
horn clip
horn head band
handkerchiefs
driving gloves
day gloves
pocketbook day
pocketbook formal
pocketbook church
book bag
market tote
straw hats
umbrella
parasol
sea grass fan
pearl studs
pearl strand
brooch
carriage clock
library lamp
cable knit throw
jewelry box
pants press
vases
candles
candle holders
table setting
flatware
drink service
coffee service
tea service
linen service
bureau scarves
sachets
linen dusting powders
wool blanket
quilt
bed linens
bath linens
wicker hamper
linen waters
cleaning kit/trug
wooden hangers
wooden shoe keeps
shoe bags
sewing/embroidery kit
curtains
carpets
hanging mirror
books
book ends
framed art
stationery
day book
pens/inkwells
chicory coffee
drinking chocolate
tea
tea strainer
sugar cubes
bread box
fruit service
cheese service
bread linens
bread service-full
honey
fruit preserves
Grandmother’s pecans
trunk
books
mahogany console
tea trolley
train case
bath trug
porcelain toiletries set
toiletries
floral waters
dusting powders
rose salve
beauty treatments
first aid satchel
vanity set: hand mirror, brush, comb
silver lipstick case
toiletries
floral waters
dusting powders
rose salve
beauty treatments
first aid satchel
vanity set: hand mirror, brush, comb
silver lipstick case
silver compact
nail buff
potted English ivies
potted ferns/marble fern stands
Tea Bread
I found this recipe on a wonderful blog called Old Southern Garden, I haven't tried it as I will have to have my mother go buy some beer for the recipe but once she does I will make this and some Sun Tea and try the two together.
Old Southern Kitchen
Old Virginia Tea Bread
12 oz beer
3 1/4 c flour
3 tsp sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp melted butter
Mix all ingredients except butter. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with cloth, and let rise for one hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour dough into a greased loaf pan. Bake for 60 minutes. Pour butter over the loaf in the last 10 minutes of baking.
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