Happy {X Bench} Friday!

After taking an intro evening class at New York School of Interior Design last winter I have started to take more of an interest in the interior design space. Lately when flipping through home magazines or design blogs I have been drawn to X benches. I love them alone or together and they come in so many patterns and styles. I have yet to find the perfect ones for my apartment but here are some great uses of X benches in bedrooms, living rooms and even bathrooms. Happy last Friday in March, spring is almost here!

{images via Pinterest}

Wise Words

Actions speak louder than words is one of my favorite sayings thanks to my Mom. I found this illustration of the saying on Pinterest and thought it was a great representation. I also found this quote which is very similar to the one above.

Both phrases are very true and I constantly try to remind myself of both! Do you have any favorite sayings?

Homemade Dairy Free Ice Cream

You probably won't believe me that you can make banana ice cream with 1 ingredient and that it will be dairy free, yet still creamy. I was in doubt of this being possible as well until I finally tried to make it myself. I had read in multiple health food magazines and blogs that you can make ice cream without any additional sugars or dairy products.

The one magical ingredient? Frozen ripe bananas.

Simply peel the frozen bananas {the more ripe they are when you freeze them the better} and add to a food processor in pieces. Add more bananas depending on the amount of ice cream you want to make. I used 3 bananas to make 2 servings.

Be patient with the food processor. It will take a few minutes to get the desired texture and you will have to use a spoon to loosen the mixture at some points. The result is extremely delicious and you feel like you are actually eating ice cream.

What an easy and delicious dessert with no refined sugar or dairy. This is perfect for your friends that have dairy and gluten allergies or for those that are eating healthy.  I have heard this works well with other frozen fruits but you get more of a sorbet texture. Adding a bit of cinnamon to the banana ice cream also gives it additional flavor or even a handful of berries. Enjoy this guilt-free dessert!

Dempsey & Carroll Collaborations

I absolutely adore all stationary and correspondence cards from Dempsey & Carroll. Their custom stationary with my name on it is my go to for writing notes. It is such a classic brand and you cannot go wrong with any of their choices {they even did my Mom's wedding invitations almost 30 years ago!}. Recently Dempsey & Carroll has started to collaborate with many designers including two of my favorites, Madeline Weinrib and Trina Turk.

Isabelle by Madeline Weinrib in Pink

Allemande by Madeline Weinrib

The two designs by Madeline Weinrib are just like her prints {I LOVE her carpets} and are perfect for a last minute thank you note or letter. Part of the proceeds from the collection will go to benefit Project Mala, a non-profit organization working to eliminate child labor in the carpet industry in India. 

Trina Turk Blue Ogee

Trina Turk Coachella

Trina Turk Yellow Ogee

The Trina Turk line for Dempsey & Carroll reflects the bright and sunny California prints that the line is know for and are perfect for a fun and cheerful note. Part of the sales from the Trina Turk line benefit PS Arts, a non-profit organization that benefits children through art education. Each set is $60 and comes with 10 cards and 10 envelopes. These cards are classic with a twist and also help support two great charities. Time to start writing those overdue thank you notes!

Bergdorf Braid Bar

Recently my friend Ali and I wanted to get our hair done for an event and we weren't sure where to go for the perfect look. We called multiple salons and to get your hair done {even in a simple bun} was 150 dollars plus. Ali remembered that she had seen that the John Barrett Salon at Bergdorf Goodman offered what was called the Braid Bar. We called and booked appointments and were told it would $45 dollars each and to arrive with dry hair.

When we arrived we were each given a look book of various types of braids that the salon offered. This gave us both a general idea of what we were looking for but both of the women who helped us tested out some ideas as well.

Ali worked with Halli {see her on the Martha Stewart show here!} and I worked with Taka and we both ended up with hairstyles we loved. Halli and Taka made sure our hair was secure and that we both left with exactly what we wanted.

I couldn't even imagine attempting to do what Taka did to my hair on my own and it was such an easy hairstyle with no fuss. I highly recommend going to the braid bar at John Barrett and will definitely be back. For $45 I ended up with a fantastic look that lasted beyond just the night of the event. I was able to wear my hair in the braids for another day and a half.

If you are looking for an elegant hairstyle the John Barrett Braid Bar is definitely the place to go in NYC. I can't wait to try a new style the next time I return.

Happy {Hunger Games} Friday!

{image via Etsy store}

Today is the release of the first Hunger Games movie! I too have been bit by the Hunger Games bug and have read all of the books and loved them. If you have not read the series I highly recommend all 3 books for an entertaining and addicting read. I pre-purchased tickets to see the movie in an IMAX theater tomorrow evening and cannot wait. I hope it is as good as the book!

Will anyone else be watching? Happy Weekend!

Barbour Goes Floral

I absolutely love my Barbour jacket and have worn it for many seasons but I am starting to contemplate an update after seeing a friend sporting the latest collaboration of Barbour with Liberty of London. Liberty is known for their iconic floral prints {since 1885} and this year the duo is back with more items showcasing the floral prints on bags, scarves, collars and cuffs.

The hint of floral on each piece is so feminine and unexpected. I love the combination of two great classic designs in one item. Some of my favorites are pictured above but be sure to check out all of the items with the Liberty prints and see the floral side of Barbour!