Month: July 2008

by Allison

NICOLE carman PHOTOGRAPHY.


I’ve wanted to post about NICOLE carman PHOTOGRAPHY for a long time but shelved it because she’s local. I can’t take it anymore, I have to share her with the rest of you. She’s that great. And, she’ll fly to your desired location {for a fee, of course} to do your shots. What more can you ask?





Nicole is really artistic with a great eye for detail. She’s got the uncanny ability to capture snappy photojournalist shots, portraits, and amazing family photos. She’s SO fun to work with {which speaks volumes when trying to photograph children} and has taken the best photos of my family we’ve ever had. I’ll never go anywhere else.


{All photos used with permission from NICOLE carman PHOTOGRAPHY}.

Contact Nicole:
nicolecalleen@gmail.com
801-787-2577


… >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

by Kimberly

No-Go Days

Play dates, movies, swim lessons, family reunions, camping trips, little league, vacations, barbecues, whew! Sometimes the lazy days of summer aren’t.  Hectic days, hectic weeks can take a toll on toddlers.  As a result, I’ve instituted what I call No-Go Days.  On these days we don’t go anywhere, but rather enjoy special activities at home and in the yard. My little M, seems to be a happier, more mellow kid after a No-Go Day.   I love the following  activities because they are enjoyed outdoors, inspire creativity, are easy on the budget, and can be enjoyed into early fall when the older kids are skipping off to school…

Build-Your-Own Sandbox
I had contemplated getting M a sandbox for the yard but worried about the inevitable sand in the eyes, sand in the nose problems. And neighborhood pets. I also wanted something I could move around easily & store in the garage during winter. My friend Brit shared her solution to this dilemma. You will need:
  • 1 clear plastic storage bin with a lid, deep enough to hold the sand & shallow enough for little ones to reach in
  • 10-12 bags of dried lentils or split peas 
  • A few inexpensive

… >> find out more…

Kimberly

...by day, making a home where the buffalo roam. By night, pretty much the same thing, punctuated by the occasional fantasies of sunny beaches, italian movies and sparkling lemonade.

by Allison

maternity shirts.

Peek-a-Boo Tee.
$44.
{via 2 Chix}.

Maternity clothes have come a loooong way since I was pregnant with P 9 years ago. I was resigned to wearing things like flowered print blousy tops and leggings {eek!} throughout my pregnancy. And with C I wore nothing but a hospital gown and an I.V. pole, so that doesn’t count.

2 Chix Maternity has some pretty cute {figure flattering} tops to choose from for your 40 weeks of misery {bliss, I mean bliss}. I really like the Peek-a-Boo tee; I think the current trend of belly hugging tops is flattering and stylish and the Peek-a-Boo is the epitome of both.

My Boys Can Swim.
$38.

And if the daddy-to-be feels a little left out, 2 Chix carries shirts for the daddy-to-be. I don’t think I could ever persuade my husband to wear the ‘swimmer’ tee, but I think it’s funny nonetheless.


… >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

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by Alma

Review: Old Navy Maternity Online

Last week when I posted about maternity clothes, a commenter recommended shopping Old Navy Maternity online. So I spent a bit of time on the Old Navy website and found some things that I thought looked worth trying out. They have free shipping on returns, after all. And even better, right now I’m still not huge, but I will be much larger in the fall and winter, and Old Navy Maternity had a lot of long-sleeved clothing on sale. In fact, they had a lot of clothing on sale period. I only ended up paying full price for one item.

I am sure that many of you have had interesting online shopping experiences. When you shop online, you can only see the item of clothing on the model or mannequin. You have to pay for it, wait for it, and then try it on. After receiving my clothing shipment and trying on the pieces with varying results, I decided to document my experience for all of you because I’m sure that most of you can relate.

Luckily, my husband works at a professional studio so we had access to a white studio and great camera equipment. And so, here is … >> find out more…

Alma

by Allison

co-editors alma & kimberly.


Alma Loveland is a freelance graphic designer based in Springville, Utah. She and her husband Mike are expecting their first baby right in the middle of Holiday Season 2008. Her house, though never immaculate, sometimes approaches an acceptable level of cleanliness. More often than not, however, there are traces of a DIY project that she is working on or an art project that her husband is in the middle of and dishes in the kitchen sink. Her best motivator for cleaning is surprise visits from friends and family. In fifteen minutes, she can clean the house top to bottom. (Without the threat of an impending visit, that same amount of cleaning would take days.) Currently Alma has a lot to say about preparing for a baby, and soon she’ll become very familiar with the goings on in the life of a new mom.


A forever-in-blue jeans kind of gal that abandoned the corporate world for Baby Number 1 and hasn’t looked back since. Loves clean, happy, comfortable spaces and combines good-old-fashioned parenting with fresh ideas and modern opportunities. Yes to pedicures, no to acrylic nails. Yes to story books, no to video games. Yes to the great outdoors, no to … >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

by Allison

lil’ rinser.

Lil’ Rinser Shampoo Shield.
$9.99

Check out this clever little bath aid by Lil’ Rinser. It’s an updated version of the juice pitcher used by my mother when I was a child. Pop it on the head of your little one after you shampoo so the suds don’t run in their eyes and make both of you cry. Clever, clever.


… >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

by Allison

book pick: when you are engulfed in flames.


To say I love David Sedaris is putting it mildly. The man is a wildly talented writer and storyteller. Not only has he written several books he’s a regular contributor to This American Life, one of my absolute favorite shows on N.P.R. There have been times listening to him where I’ve literally had to pull the car to the side of the road so as not to endanger the lives of my children. He’s that funny.

When You Are Engulfed In Flames.
by: David Sedaris.
{via Amazon.com}
$14.29

Sedaris’ most recent collection of stories ‘When You Are Engulfed In Flames‘ does not disappoint. I enjoyed it thoroughly from beginning to end, especially the chapter detailing his time spent living with an eccentric antique collector and her slew of boarders. Classic. Sedaris isn’t for the faint-of-heart; he has a comfortable relationship with profanity and vulgarity. Disclaimer aside he’s one of my top 10 favorite authors, never failing to impress.


… >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

by Allison

book pick: jamberry.

One of our favorite books is Jamberry by Bruce Degan. C wants to crawl into the pages of the book and live there forever. Berries as far as the eye can see. It’s an absolute classic children’s book and if you haven’t read it, go check it out from the library right now. Simple, sweet, great illustrations.

$7.99
Jamberry.
by: Bruce Degen
{via Amazon.com}.

And speaking of Jamberry, I’m up to my neck in strawberry jam right now. Harvesting for the winter like a little squirrel. Homemade strawberry jam on a grey Winter day is one of the happiest simple pleasures in my life.


Here’s my recipe for really really easy strawberry freezer jam:

2 cups mashed strawberries
2 cups sugar
1 pkg. pectin
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Step 1: Use a potato masher to smash strawberries. You can use a blender, but I like chunks of strawberries in my jam. It’s about a pound of strawberries per recipe, but when I’m making big batches like I’m doing right now I always double it.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, measure out your sugar.

Step 3: Mix pectin and lemon juice together in a {separate} bowl & mix well. … >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

by Allison

summer love.

I absolutely love this shot. Makes me want to dive right in and go for a swim.

Via Black*Eiffel & Flickr.


… >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.