Year: 2010

by Allison

great new year’s eve playlist

new years eve

Have you got some hopping plans for New Year’s Eve?  I do.  Mine include: chamomile tea with honey, a book on my new Nook reader, a heating pad, and lots of painkillers.

I know, I know, I like it a little crazy.

If you’re in need of some tunes for a shindig you’re hosting tonight, here’s a New Year’s Eve playlist from last year:

Fly Me to the Moon–Frank Sinatra
The Best is Yet to Come–Frank Sinatra
Save the Last Dance–Michael Buble
Everything–Michael Buble
Come Fly With Me–MIchael Buble
Be Ok–Ingrid Michaelson
It Had to be You–Harry Connick, Jr.
We Are in Love–Harry Connick, Jr.
Better Together–Jack Johnson
Melody–Kate Earl
Moondance–Van Morrison
The Show–Lenka
Auld Lang Syne–Bare Naked Ladies
Auld Lang Syne–Straight No Chaser

all available at iTunes

Happy New Year!

{isn’t the photo of the New Year’s Eve fireworks beautiful?  I found it on Solar Navigator}… >> 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

my first black eye

I’ve done a lot of things in my life.  I’ve played a lot of different sports, camped a lot of random dangerous places, ripped a handful of ligaments, birthed two children, tolerated 9 months of a P.I.C.C. line, and endured more than my fair share of surgeries but until yesterday, I’ve never had a black eye.

It’s no walk in the park, this black eye business.  Mine hurts like the devil.

I took this photo of my kids skiing at the summit of Park City Mountain Resort just minutes before I crashed head over tail on my skis down the mountain.  It was beautiful at the top, and was our last run of the day.

skiing

I don’t actually remember what happened, but I’m fairly certain I have a mild concussion and perhaps a torn something-or-other in my shoulder.  I also have a splitting headache, violent nausea, and the stiffest body you can even imagine.

bruises

So yeah, I might look tough on the outside, but I’m trying not to cry.

bruise… >> 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

Santa was good to me

I was a good girl this year.  I behaved myself, paid my bills on time, dutifully took my turn at carpool, and apart from a periodically messy house, was a good mama.

Santa was good to me.

I’m not bragging about the makeup-centric booty he brought, but to tell you how much it will benefit you.

makeup

You see this makeup palette from Stila?  You can’t even imagine how many makeup tutorial videos I’m envisioning right now.

eye shadow

That deep blue is sparkly, and the midnight black is so sultry I did a whole smoky eye on my hand before I put it away.

That didn’t really make sense, did it?

I test out eyeshadow on the top of my hand before I ever put it on my eyes.

I don’t know why, I just do.

makeup

So if there’s a makeup look you’re really itching to see in the new year, shout it out in the comments and I’ll add it to the vlog list.

I’m not kidding here, this makeup palette from Stila is only the beginning of the makeup on my bathroom counter right now and I’m dying to start playing around.

–

Today is Viktor’s 34th birthday and … >> 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

homemade neighbor gift

homemade peppermint marshmallows

If you’re looking for a last minute homemade neighbor gift, I’ve got you covered.  I didn’t have time or energy to make my annual homemade toffee much to the chagrin of my children, but I made homemade peppermint marshmallows instead.

peppermint marshmallows

Before you go calling the Martha police on me, I swear this gift is easier than it looks.  Way easier. These are just skewers with marshmallows coated in peppermint.

Give them to your friends alongside packets of hot chocolate mix and you’ll be the toast of the neighborhood in no time.

Here’s what you need to make peppermint marshmallows:

peppermint marshmallow

  • candy canes or peppermint candies
  • marshmallows
  • bamboo skewers
  • powdered sugar
  • hot chocolate packets {for packaging as a gift}
  • waxed paper {I always forget at least one thing, forgive me}

candy canes

Step 1:

Put the peppermint candy canes in a zip-lock bag and hand over to your kids.  You’ll have smashed peppermint candy in no time.  {I wish I were kidding, but I’m totally not}  Failing that, use a mallet or something else heavy and smash up the candy until it’s a chunky consistency.

peppermint candy

Step 2:

Pour the broken up peppermint candy into a bowl and put aside.

peppermint cany canes

Step 3:… >> 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

flowered headband accessories

Would you like to start off the day with a giveaway?  I thought you might.

flower head bands

My friend Tiffany makes really adorable flowered headbands, in addition to a whole host of other things including  brooches, belts, & skirts for little girls.  Cute stuff.  She’s put together a huge selection of the goods from her online store for one lucky winner.  The whole lot is worth $80.  It won’t get to you by Christmas, but it will get to you in time to be foxy in the new year, so how’s that for great?

I think it’s great.

Here’s what’s up for grabs:

flowered headband

For Mom–
brown rosette belt — $17
mustard felt brooch — $4
zipper flower elastic headband — $7
satin wrapped headband — $3 (you can attach any hair pretty to the headband)
large orange pretty — $5
large dark teal and turquoise pretty — $5
medium dark pink and white pretty — $4

Total: $45

For baby–
zebra skirt — $15
pink elastic headband — $7 (0-3 mo size)
white nylon headband — $3 (0-18 mo size, can attach any hair pretty to the headband)
small turquoise pretty — $3
small white pretty — $3… >> 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

last minute gift ideas.

dishes

This is an old post, guest written by my friend Amy Turn Sharp with gift ideas for the whole family.  I’m off to get some last minute shopping in with the kiddos since they’re home on a snow day from school, bouncing off the walls, making me crazy.

Enjoy!… >> 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 Allison

high low lip gloss

I’m about to give you what you really come to Petit Elefant for: beauty advice.

high low

Don’t you?

Do you come for all my incoherent rambling and references to my Polish husband and his weird European habits?  Or is it my weird addiction to Diet Dr Pepper?

Well, anyway.  I’m here today to talk about lip gloss, because it’s what makes my world go round.

lip gloss high low

More specifically, I’m here to talk about high low lip gloss.  You know what I mean, right?  Like, high low fashion?  You mix and match the cheap stuff with the good stuff. I don’t actually mix up my lip gloss, but I do switch it out pretty often.  I won’t be exaggerating in any way, shape, or form when I tell you I own at least 30 tubes of the stuff.

High, low, inbetween.

stila makeup

Right now my purse has about 8 tubes inside, including these two: Stila Lip Glaze and e.l.f. Hypershine Gloss.

elf makeup

From what I can tell, in my seriously scientific research, {ahem} the two tubes are the same.  Aside from the color, I can’t tell any difference whatsoever when I wear the Stila Lip Glaze vs. the e.l.f. gloss.

Would you … >> 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

kid style

I love seeing what Precocious puts together for school outfits. It’s never boring, that’s for sure.

rain boots

She came home from school wearing this last week, and I loved it from head to toe.

  • striped polo shirt
  • patterned summer skirt
  • grey leggings
  • rain boots

striped shirt

Precocious is very bohemian with her style, always has been, which is a little funny since I’m so particular with my clothes.

Like mother like….well. 

Not so much.… >> 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

Double dream hands Friday

My friend just tweeted out this video of Double Dream Hands, and I learned all kinds of new dance phrases such as:

  • double dream hands
  • crank it
  • reach for the audience
  • burst
  • rain hands

I’m so happy right now, I don’t know what to do with myself.

… >> 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.