Month: March 2010

by Allison

what it’s like to have Lupus.


Friends, I’ve been missing for a few days. Not because I don’t love you, or blogging, but because I’m having a hard time functioning right now. One of the best things about blogging {for me} is that no one can see when I’m sick, well, tired, happy, in my pajamas, in bed, or at my desk sipping {another} cold Diet Dr. Pepper. I can conceal when I’m not feeling up to snuff, which I kind of love because that’s pretty often.

I have this crappy, rotten, stupid, frustrating disease called Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, a.k.a. Lupus. At my house we call it Stupid Lupus. Because, you know, it rhymes and I have to make things fun for my preschooler!

Anyway, here’s how I look with Lupus.

Here’s how I look when I’m in a ton of pain and can’t get out of bed. Are you ready for it?

This is the problem. If I were in a wheelchair {which has happened on occasion} people give me sympathetic looks and say, “well aren’t you brave!”. I don’t want sympathetic looks or comments about bravery. And the only thing wheelchairs are good for is getting to the front of every … >> 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

cheap & easy easter decoration.


If you’re celebrating Easter at your house this weekend like we are over here, this is the cheapest and easiest Easter decoration on the block.

Remember when I showed you my easy Thanksgiving decor using mini pumpkins inside a glass jar? This is the same thing, only with Easter eggs.


Get the cheapest plastic eggs you can find, layer them by color to maximize the visual effect, put on the lid, and you’re done!

If I had a kitchen table that wasn’t littered with the contents of my kitchen cabinets, this would be a perfect centerpiece. For now the jar will sit in my bedroom.

P.S. Hooray for Blogger being fixed!


… >> 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

blogger is broken today.

I have a few cool things to share with you, but I don’t really function well without photos. I’m a *visual* person and I can’t really explain what I want to without pretty pictures. Too bad because Blogger is sort of broken today. My photos won’t load, no matter how hard I try.

So, unless Blogger is up and running again by tonight, and I can sneak in a post in the 11th hour, I guess I’ll see you all here tomorrow!


… >> 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 new oven is made of pure awesome.

Let me tell you something awesome about my new Frigidaire oven. Aside from the fact that it’s made of pure fabulous, it can fit so much food inside it’s almost criminal.


You see the arrow in the photo? That rack of the oven comes apart so I can technically cook a Thanksgiving turkey while cooking a handful of pumpkin pies on the side. Made of awesome? Yes please.

I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive Campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Frigidaire and received a Frigidaire Refrigerator, Range/Microwave, Washer/Dryer set, and a Dishwasher to facilitate my review.


… >> 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

cambria cove toiletry bag.


Part of the speaker swag from Mom 2.0 included the most beautiful toiletry bag I’ve ever seen. It’s from Cambria Cove, of course it’s beautiful.


I’m almost afraid to take it anywhere and put actual, you know, toiletries in it for fear of spillage. I *cough, cough* tend to have things explode on me {not my fault!} when I travel. But Lapin Vilardi {the maker of the bag} is one step ahead of me; it’s lined with clear vinyl on the inside so my makeup/shampoo/soap can’t ruin this gorgeous work of art.

Heaven. Now all I need is the matching shoe & laundry bags and I’m good to go. And maybe this stunning luggage set too, since we’re playing the *I want* game.


… >> 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

campaign to end child hunger.

I’m participating in a blogger outreach program {sponsored by ConAgra Foods} over the next couple of months to bring awareness about child hunger in America. I’ll be sharing with you things I’m learning in the campaign to end child hunger, called ‘Child Hunger Ends Here’ {CHEH} Neighborhood Rally and giving you ways to get involved in your own neighborhood.

The first opportunity for you to get involved {seriously, what better way to teach your kids about service?} is to host a neighborhood rally. Click on the ‘Get Involved’ button on the CHEH website and it will tell you what to do. If you sign up early enough, you will be sent all the materials you need to host your own bake sale, yard sale, benefit concert, dinner party, or whatever else you can come up with, so you can donate all or a portion of the proceeds to Feeding America.

{This photo is from a Mom it Forward service project}

In getting familiar with the campaign, I came across the statistic that 1 out of every 4 children in America doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from. Can you imagine how these children are learning and figuring out

… >> 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: cookie monster and the cookie tree.

We love Golden Books at our house. I especially love the Sesame Street stories; they take me back to my halcyon days of childhood, when I watched old school Sesame Street, and everything seemed a little sweeter. Jim Hensen rocked, there’s no doubt about it.



This book, Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree, is a favorite at our house. Both my kids laugh the whole way through when I read it out loud. I mean Cookie Monster, the insatiable cookie thief, comes across a tree full of cookies? Great plot-line. The illustrations just make it better.


You want to find this one for story-time at your house, it’s a classic.


… >> 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

horatio hornblower series on A&E


Have you ever watched Horatio Hornblower? I may have. Once, or twice. It’s actually a whole series of DVD’s, so I have an excuse.


I didn’t understand all the hubbub a few years ago when my friends were swooning over the T.V. series on A&E; but. Well. I‘ve seen the light. Horatio is noble, honest, and full of integrity. Also? He’s not hard to look at while he’s swasbuckles and kills pirates.


I’ve also heard, via my many hours spent on IMdb, the actor who plays him, Ioan Gruffudd {pronounced yo-wahnn griffith – yes, I know too much} is actually a gentleman in real life. So, there’s that.


Do you watch anything, DVD or a series on TV, that gets you through the cold winter months? Seriously, do you?

I’m team: Captain Hornblower. All the way.


… >> 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

3 tips to finding the right trench coat.

There are few things better than a great trench coat on a woman. Seriously, it cinches on your waist to make you look pulled together and polished while keeping you warm from the frosty Springtime air. Heaven.


I’m a little shamefaced to admit I own three trench coats. And they aren’t even my Winter coats, they’re just meant for the warmish weather of March and April in Utah. I have one in green, red {of course}, and a standard khaki lined in plaid. One for every occasion; ridiculous, I know. But they’re so cute!

Marilyn Contrast Plaid Coat Forever 21,
Classic Trench Coat Banana Republic

Some things to keep in mind when buying a trench coat:

1. Proportion-

Are you tall? If so, you can get away with wearing a trench that goes past your knees. If you’re on the shortish side, pick something that hits you at mid-thigh or higher. If you go any longer than that, the coat will visually chop you off and make you look shorter than you already are. No one wants that.

2. Fit-

A trench coat is not a

… >> 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.