Hair Inspiration

I am terrible at fixing hair.  The last time I had to fix my hair beyond the daily 'do was when I was in college and attended the Air Force Academy ring dance.  I flew out to Colorado with my J. Crew gown in tow and spent the next afternoon getting ready for the dance.  I remember walking into the bathroom, closing the door, and then just standing there looking in the mirror.  I was in such a panic!  I remember thinking, get a grip!  I can't go to this dance with my hair down and frizzy!  After who knows how long, I finally started curling and pinning.  My hair ended up fine, and we had a great night.  Since then I've stuck to a simple hair routine, or have opted for others to fix my hair for special occasions.  My new goal is to spice up my hair a little, and these photos are inspiring me. (Click on the link above each picture for the how-to.) 

Side Braid + Pony

via refinery 29

Chestnut Bun

via a cup of jo

Cascade Braid

via a beautiful mess

Messy Side Pony

via a cup of jo

Messy Rope Braids

via love maegan

Knotted Pony

via the beauty department

Messy French Bun

via a cup of jo

Nape Twist & Pin

via hair romance

Pretty Plait

via wedding style guide

Side Chignon

via citified

Which is your favorite?  Do you have any (simple) hair ideas you recommend I try?  I need all the help I can get!

One Ingredient Ice Cream

It's still summer.  And there has been a crazy heat wave across this country.  If you are in need a cold treat, say no to that pint of Ben & Jerry's Half Baked.  Try this much healthier-for-you treat instead!

Yes, it looks like ice cream.  It is creamy ice cream.  But it's made with a banana!  That's it!  This is seriously the most ridiculous thing ever.  Here's what you do:

1. Slice a banana and place slices on a plate.

2. Freeze for 1-2 hours.

3. Place frozen banana slices in a food processor.

4. Blend on high.  Watch as a miraculous transformation takes place.

5. It starts as crumbs of frozen banana.  You'll probably have to scrape down the sides as you go.

6. Suddenly, the texture will become creamy.  Make sure you cream out all those banana crumbs. 

7. If you like, add in some mix-ins.  I used a spoonful of all-natural peanut butter.  I also think chopped nuts or flaked coconut would be good.

A banana into ice cream.  Who knew?!  Happy Monday!

source:  instructions from the kitchn

A Timeless Pursuit

I am smitten with this collection of photographs; they are truly timeless.  And that vintage Oscar de la Renta dress - gorgeous!

All images by Gray Malin, from Maison Gray: The House of Gray Malin Photography in his collection A Timeless Pursuit in New York, Paris, and Los Angeles.  These photographs were taken from 2008-2011, and the series is now a book.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I've made a number of banana breads in my life, but never had I tried a chocolate banana bread.  Not until this week.  I wondered if the chocolate would overpower the bananas, but it didn't.  This bread is moist and perfectly blends the chocolate and banana together.  A new favorite banana bread for sure!

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
2 cups flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 stick (8 Tbsp) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 ripe bananas, mashed
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.

Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or hand mixer in large bowl), beat the butter at medium speed until soft, about 1 minute.  Add the sugar and brown sugar and beat another 2 minutes.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating a minute after each addition.  Reduce the mixer speed to low and mix in the mashed bananas.  Add the dry ingredients in three additions, mixing only until they disappear into the batter.  Still on low, add the buttermilk, mixing until incorporated.  Stir in the chocolate chips.

Pour batter into buttered 9x5 loaf pan and place on insulated baking sheet or two regular baking sheets on top of each other.  This will keep the bottom of the bread from over-baking.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Cover the bread loosely with a foil tent and bake another 40-50 minutes (total baking time is 70-80 minutes), or until knife inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.  Cool pan on cooling rack for at least 20 minutes before running a knife around the edges of the bread and unmolding it.  Invert and cool to room temperature right side up.

source:  recipe from joy the baker, from Baking: From My Home to Yours


Other favorite banana breads:
Banana Zucchini Bread
Best Banana Bread
Caramel Pecan Banana Bread

linking up with this chick cooks, delectable tuesday, tasty tuesday party, full plate thursday

Kate Spade Holiday 2011

via oh joy

Is anyone else oohing and aahing over this sneak peak of Kate Spade's holiday collection?!   The collection will be available October through December.  I just love all the polka dots and sparkles! Goes perfectly with my current confetti obsession (seen here & here), don't you think?

New Games

One of the things on my summer bucket list was to find a new game for Caleb and me to play.  We like to play games in the evenings, but I think it's hard to find fun games for just two people.  In the winter we played an insane amount of Monopoly Deal (Caleb is winning with 47 wins to my 46).  We also play a lot of Scrabble.  My very thoughtful mom remembered that I wanted a new game, so she got me one for my birthday!  She actually bought two games; I picked one and she kept the other.  I recommend both of the games.


I had played Ticket to Ride twice before but had kind of forgotten about it.  It's a strategy game where you collect and play matching train cards to claim railway routes across Europe, scoring points for long routes.  There's a bunch of other twists and rules that make the game really fun.  This game kind of reminds of me of Settlers of Catan, but it's way better because I don't actually like Settlers.  This is the game I ended up picking.  We're still figuring out our different strategies but we're really enjoying it.

amazon

Qwirkle was the other game my mom bought, and we ended up playing it several times when we visited.  It looks really weird, but it's really fun.  You use blocks to score points by building lines that share a common attribute - either the color the shape.  It is fairly simple to play, but if you want to score a lot of points and win, you really have to strategize.  Qwirkle also just won the 2011 Spiel des Jahres award, which is the most prestigious game award.  Caleb was really good at this game (I think it's the engineer in him), so I'm sure we'll be adding this game to our collection at some point as well.

board game geek

Are you a game person?  What games do you and your family like to play?

Confetti Dipped Present

I saw this idea some time back and needed to try it.  As you know, I like when things look like they've been dipped in confetti.  I decided I would try this on our present for our new little nephew, who was born August 1, two days past his due date.  He is SO cute!  I've visited him twice but I can't wait to see him again!

Here's what you do:

Wrap a present in plain paper, like tissue paper or brown packing paper

Grab a 1-inch circle craft punch, like this one

Make the confetti using lots of colored paper and your craft puncher

To achieve the dipped confetti look, either spray one end of your present with adhesive spray glue (I used this), or wrap a wide double-sided tape around one end of the present.  Then dip the glue (or tape) side of present into the confetti.  So easy!

Finished product

linking up with skip to my lou made by you monday