Happy Birthday, Granny!

Proverbs 31:28

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

Winston and Ruth Squyres

My sisters and I are very fortunate women.  Our mother is one of ten children, so much of our growing up was spent with aunts, uncles and numerous cousins. We were never short of food, fun and laughter. There was plenty of drama thrown in with that many cousins, but it just solidified our bonds even more.

I was the only one of my sisters and I who was able to know both grandparents for any length of time. Our grandfather went to heaven when I was 12, but not long after that our Granny came to live with us. Today marks her 98^th birthday and even though she is spending her birthday with Jesus, I felt it fitting that we celebrate her a little on the blog today. After all, she is the one who taught us about being a lady. 

Our Granny……… it is hard to know where to even begin with her. It is also hard not to miss her like crazy as I write this. I mentioned earlier about our Mama being one of ten, well my Granny was one of THIRTEEN! Can you imagine? She was used to kids everywhere her whole life so I am sure that is why she never minded my sisters and I piled up on the bed with her. That is where we spent most of our time, or huddled up in the bathroom with her! Pretty much wherever she was, we wanted to be. It is our Granny (and our mother) who taught us about dressing and acting like a lady. She was one in every sense of the word. Dainty, eloquent, perfectly dressed – even in her nightgowns and robes she looked completely pulled together. Her hair had to always be fixed, and she NEVER received company without her lipstick and “rouge”. But, she wasn’t overly done or “too much”. 

I used to always wonder how she managed to be so beautiful all the time. I would like to tell you I didn’t idolize her because I know we shouldn’t do that, but that would be a lie. I idolized her, worshiped her, and craved her company. I still do. J The older I get though I am beginning to realize how Granny managed all that beauty.

It started with how she clothed herself -Proverbs 31:25 - She is clothed with strength and dignity;  Granny began each morning with her Bible in her lap poring over scriptures that she already read many, many times, but never tiring of the fresh revelation from them.

Then it carried over into how she spoke to everyone – Proverbs 31:26 -She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Let me tell you something about the women in my family – we LOVE a good conversation. We are happiest with coffee cup in hand and hours of free time with each other! Granny was no exception. She would stay up and listen to us no matter how frivolous our subject matter. There was no problem you could have that she couldn’t help you fix, or at least tell you it was time to get over it. My Granny was wise. She passed that trait on to my mother. I am hoping I may catch a little of it as well, but I know that kind of wisdom only comes from seeking it from the One who is All-Knowing.

Then Proverbs 32:27 - She watches over the affairs of her household. Granny took care of things and of others. Having raised ten children she was well-versed in taking care of others. Ad she did it with so much love. It’s funny to hear all of her grandchildren when they get together and talk about her. She made everyone feel like they were her very favorite. Of course, everyone knows the favorite is me. J Granny was always looking at others. Interesting to me in a time when women seem to spend all their time in front of mirrors or cameras trying to look beautiful and get the approval of others. Granny’s brand of beauty says “look at others more than yourself.” That’s where true beauty lies.

Granny was a beautiful woman. She came from a family full of beautiful women. But her kind of beauty can’t be bought or manufactured. It comes from within. From a spirit that takes time and effort to cultivate. To dig deep in the riches of God’s Word, and then live it out.

This is why – Proverbs 29 - “Many women do noble things, but you Granny surpass them all.”

Happy Birthday Granny! Thank you for the example you set for all of us and we miss you like crazy!

~Michelle~

Coco and Daddy Make Irish Carbomb Cupcakes

 

 

My husband came home from work this past week raving about some cupcakes that one of his co-workers had brought in to share, and of course got the recipe. Our daughter, whom he lovingly calls Coco, has a dream of opening her own cupcake shop one day and for Christmas, received a ton of baking stuff that she has been excited to use. So, today was cupcake day and they spent the better part of the afternoon making these amazing cupcakes. These are not for the faint at heart, as they require 6 sticks of butter, Guinness stout, Bailey's Irish Crème, and Jameson whiskey. These cupcakes mean business.

 

Rachel is getting ready to pipe the icing....

These cupcakes have a chocolate ganache filling...

The finished product! Can't wait to have one tonight for dessert. Here's the recipe below:

 

Guinness, Whiskey & Irish Cream Cupcakes
Yield: 24 cupcakes

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Cook Time: 17 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Guinness cupcakes with a Jameson whiskey ganache center and topped with a
Baileys Irish Cream frosting.


Ingredients:


For the Cupcakes:
1 cup Guinness stout
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature ¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons baking soda
¾ teaspoons salt
2 eggs
2/3 cup sour cream

For the Whiskey Ganache Filling:
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons Irish whiskey

For the Baileys Frosting:
2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons Bailey's Irish Cream


Directions:


1. To Make the Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 24 cupcake cups
with liners. Bring the Guinness and butter to a simmer in a heavy, medium
saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until the mixture
is smooth. Cool slightly.

2. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl to combine.
Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sour cream on medium speed until
combined. Add the Guinness-chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and beat
just to combine. Reduce the speed to low, add the flour mixture and beat
briefly. Using a rubber spatula, fold the batter until completely combined.
Divide the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake until a thin knife inserted
into the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Cool the cupcakes on a
rack.

3. To Make the Whiskey Ganache Filling: Finely chop the chocolate and
transfer it to a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream until simmering and pour it
over the chocolate. Let it sit for one minute and then, using a rubber
spatula, stir it from the center outward until smooth. Add the butter and
whiskey and stir until combined. Let the ganache cool until thick but still
soft enough to be piped.

4. To Fill the Cupcakes: Using a 1-inch round cookie cutter (or the bottom
of a large decorating tip), cut the centers out of the cooled cupcakes,
going about two-thirds of the way down. Transfer the ganache to a piping
back with a wide tip and fill the holes in each cupcake to the top.

5. To Make the Baileys Frosting: Using the whisk attachment of a stand
mixer, whip the butter on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, scraping the
sides of the bowl occasionally. Reduce the speed to medium-low and gradually
add the powdered sugar until all of it is incorporated. Add the Baileys,
increase the speed to medium-high and whip for another 2 to 3 minutes, until
it is light and fluffy.

6. Using your favorite decorating tip, or an offset spatula, frost the
cupcakes and decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Store the cupcakes in an
airtight container.

(Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen
<http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/01/car-bomb-cupcakes/> )

Now, you might ask what I was doing while all this was going on...I was changing out my closet from fall/winter clothes to spring/summer clothes!! I love the seasonal change of a closet! It's like going on a huge shopping trip pulling out my tubs of clothes from storage and changing them all out. I tend to use this time to get rid of things that no longer fit or aren't stylish, or that I haven't worn in a while. I did a pretty good clean out last year, as I had recently lost weight and went down a few sizes and didn't want the opportunity or excuse to let myself get back in those clothes! So when I switched out today, I didn't have too much to get rid of, and really just took an inventory of what I have and what I would like to build on. Things on my must buy list:

1) a fitted denim shirt

2) some great wedge sandals

3) some fitted colored chinos (I want navy, coral, and yellow)

4) a neutral colored blazer

 

What's on your must buy list for the spring? What are you looking forward to repurposing for the new season?

~Melissa~

What's Under There? (Or Not Under There!)

 

Hey y'all! Melissa here today. This photo above captures one of my favorite scenes from one of the best movies ever, Steel Magnolias. It also captures one of the most basic rules of Southern women, and our topic of the day:

Always, no matter what, make sure you have on the proper undergarments.

 

All dresses and skirts require a slip, sheer blouses require a camisole, and always make sure your undergarments are the proper color (i.e. no hot pink bra under a white shirt!)!! The proper undergarments can make an ok fitting dress into a great fitting dress, and the wrong ones (or none at all) can make it a horrible dress. With spring and summer upon us, the fabrics in our clothing will be lighter weight, which also means they will allow light to filter through. If you are standing just right, your silhouette can show just about everything under what you are wearing. However, if you have on the proper slip, you can prevent that from happening. Below are some of my basic rules for undergarments:

 

1. Make sure they fit correctly. You want them to be appropriate for the garment you will be wearing over them. If you are wearing a full skirt, you can wear a looser slip, but if you are wearing a body conscious dress, you will need a slim fitting slip. If you are wearing a halter neck or strapless dress, wear a strapless bra, or one that has straps that modify to be a halter neck, one shoulder, etc.

 

2. Have them in 3 basic colors: white, nude, and black. You can even get away with just nude and black, but make sure you have one of each. You can wear nude under just about anything, except black! If you are wearing a black outfit, your undergarments should also be black so they don't show through .

 

3. Make sure they are the right length. I hate when I realize my slip is showing! Check  yourself in the mirror to make sure it isn't hanging lower than your hemline. The trick is to wear undergarments without anyone being able to tell you have them on.

 

4. Don't be afraid to wear Spanx. We love Spanx. Spanx are our friend. They smooth, shape, and slim. Say it together, "Spanx are our friend." Here's a link with tons of options that they provide:

http://www.dillards.com/shop/Spanx/Lingerie/_/N-174bsZlfz4/Rpp-2?cm_sp=lingerie-_-dd+brands-_-spanx+3+012214

 

5. Make sure your underwear doesn't give you lines. I know this seems silly, but no one likes taking a look at their backside in the mirror and seeing those unsightly panty lines through their slim fitting pants.  Choose some that don't have tight elastic at the leg. There are many seamless options available.

 

6. Make sure your underwear doesn't show above the waistline of your pants/skirt. Tuck in a cami or tank to prevent "panty-peek", or worse, your rear end from showing. (Anyone else have a small child that seems to love loudly pointing out when someone's rear is showing when they sit down?)

 

7. Make sure your bra is the proper fit. You don't want to have a bra that is too-tight, and gives you back rolls that you really don't have, or spillage in the front. If you think you may have the wrong bra size, here's a great link for tips on how to ensure you have the proper bra size on:  http://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Your-Bra-Size 

 

 

These are just a few of the basic rules to go by. If you have any tips to add or products you love, we'd love to hear about them! Comment here or email us at 2sistersclothedwithdignity@gmail.com.

~Melissa~ 



Let's get started!

Allow us to introduce ourselves! I am Melissa (on the left), a 30-something Christian wife, mother of two, and a self-employed military spouse. Michelle (on the right) is my oldest sister, 40-something Christian wife, mother of four and a high school English teacher (that will be sure that we cross all our t's and dot our i's!). We are Southern women, brought up in North Louisiana. I currently live in Alabama, where my husband is stationed, and Michelle still lives in North Louisiana. Our Southern roots show strongly in our accents, fashion,and big hair! What's the saying, the higher the hair, the closer to God? If that's the case, Michelle is winning the race. My hair never can get quite as big as hers....but I keep on trying! 

We both love the Lord first and foremost. We strive to represent ourselves as the Christian women that we were reared to be, and are constantly growing in our faith and knowledge of the Lord. We also share a love of fashion, and as we've (ahem) matured, we have realized the challenges that come with dressing stylishly and age-appropriately, yet modest at the same time. 

In the past several months, Michelle and I have started texting each other a picture of our outfit of the day (commonly referred to in our texts as OOTD) to get approval from the other or suggestions on what to add or take away from the ensemble. Sisters gotta look out for each other,y'all! We'd like to use this avenue to share with others how we present ourselves to others while still remaining modest and lady-like. We've decided to use this forum to talk about what we wear, what we shouldn't wear, and sometimes we'll talk about other things like God, food, family, wine, and life in general! We hope you enjoy our ideas and topics, please let us know if you have any suggestions! Look for us on Instagram @2sistersclothedwithdignity, or email us at 2sistersclothedwithdignity@gmail.com.
~Melissa and Michelle~