Month: June 2010

by Allison

Yummy 4th of July Dessert Recipe.

whip cream and jell-o

This dessert is my contribution to our family’s 4th of July BBQ.  Individual jello dessert with whipped cream on top; an easy and colorful recipe for the holiday.  Can I get a what-what?  This stuff is delicious.

dessert ingredients

This jello recipe takes three ingredients, including water.  You could do this in your sleep.  Practically.

Ingredients for Yummy 4th of July Dessert Recipe:

-1 box each red & blue Jell-O

-container of spray whip cream

Seriously, in. your. sleep.

jell-o

Follow the instructions on the back of the Jell-O box, {it involves dissolving the Jell-O with hot water, mixing cold water in, and letting it sit in the fridge while you’re otherwise occupied for several hours. I highly recommend napping while it sets.}

You’ll end up with one 9″ x 13″ pan of blue jello and one 9″ x 13″ pan of red jello.  Slice through the jello with a butter knife in straight lines until you have individual jello cubes.

jell-o desserts

Scoop the cubes out of the pans & carefully place them into your dessert glasses.  I had to use a spatula to get mine out all the way, and I had some casualties.  The good news is that you can … >> 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

Justin Hackworth 30 Strangers Exhibit.

portrait photographer

Remember a few months ago how I participated in a photography project by one of my favorite photographers, Justin Hackworth? Justin shoots an amazing series called 30 Strangers wherein he shoots 30 strangers in 30 days, and donates the proceeds from the shoots to a local women’s shelter.  It’s amazing, top to bottom, and I was so thrilled to have been a part.

Now Justin Hackworth is holding an exhibit to showcase the 30 Strangers photography.

Here’s the skinny:

Opening reception and fundraiser

July 2 6pm-9pm

Location

26 West Center Street. 1/2 block West of Justin Hackworth Photography

Additional gallery hours

July 3 & 5 12pm – 8pm
July 6-9 2pm – 5pm

I hope to see you there!… >> 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

SocialLuxe Lounge BlogLuxe Awards.

That’s a mouthful isn’t it?  I’m one of the hostesses of the annual SocialLuxe Lounge, a party on the eve of BlogHer which is a huuuuuuuuuge conference for blogging women across the country.  SocialLuxe is my baby, the most time consuming thing in my life aside from my actual children, and sometimes even a little more demanding than those.

blogluxe awards

As part of SocialLuxe Lounge, we hand out awards for blogging awesomeness called BlogLuxe Awards.  The nominees are by the people, for the people, voted on by the amazing VIPs who attend the party.  Think of it as the Oscars, only way more fun and with a lot more nail polish.  Holla.

blogluxe

I was nominated this year for an award!  And I didn’t rig it or bribe anyone to put me on the list.  Swearsies.  If you’re so inclined, you can go vote for me.  In fact, I’d encourage you to go vote for the blog you love the most in each category.  There are a lot of amazing women represented in the BlogLuxe categories this year and I can’t wait to see who wins.  You can vote once a day through July 12th.

What are … >> 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

On why I love my mom.

My mom makes wonder woman look like a slacker.  Like maybe she’s tired and taking a lunch break instead of saving the world.

mom

I’m one of eight children, yes eight, who are all 2 years apart. My mother didn’t sit down from approximately 1968-2007.  No, she’s still not sitting down if we’re going to be completely accurate.  Not only did she have eight children, she worked full time, was heavily involved in church responsibilities, taught Joy School for the younger kids, and had dinner on the table every night at 6:00 p.m.  I didn’t taste pizza until the 3rd grade, at a Friday night sleepover at a friend’s house. My mother didn’t order out; we didn’t have the money, and my mother was a firm believer in well 
rounded homemade meals. So she planned out meals, cut coupons, shopped sales, and made dollars stretch so we could have a healthy home cooked dinner on the table every night.

What really floors me though aren’t even the homemade dinners my mother made. Well, the dinners really do floor me, I have no earthly idea how she managed them year after year. What really kills me though, is the fact that she … >> 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

what’s in your purse series: week four.

This series, where we’re all dumping out our purses, and showing each other what’s inside?  I love this series.  I may have mentioned that a time or two, but I mean it.  I’m having so much fun seeing what you all carry around, and feeling so validated about the amount of stuff I take with me in my purse at any given time.

This week’s purse comes to us from Amelia Merritt, a very cool friend I met in real life a month ago.  Love her.

Here’s her purse.

what's in your purse

what do you have in your purse

  1. Big Novell planner from about 10 years ago I got as swag.  Functions as a massive wallet to help me lose everything important, all at once.
  2. Script for “Wes and Ella” the film I am currently working on as Production Designer.
  3. Gerber “Diesel” Multi-tool with holster.
  4. Camera and case with clip on prong.
  5. Garage door opener with clip on prong.
  6. Tiny bottle of Visine.
  7. Tiny bottle of Super Craft Glue. (Heaven help me if I ever get the two mixed up.)
  8. Key card from hotel stay at Disneyland.
  9. Lint roller.  (I have a pug.)
  10. C-47s (aka clothespins).
  11. Patricia Wexler eye cream.
  12. Wipe n’ Clear for

    13. … >> 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

shoes to pack when traveling.

This post couldn’t be more timely since I’ll be out of town when you read this.  I’m in the middle of the floor with a big pile of shoes around me as I type this, trying to figure out which shoes to take with me for my trip to Park City this weekend.  I’m speaking at a social media conference for women called EVO, and I want to take all my shoes.  Alas, I cannot.  So, I’m leaving you with a link to an old post about what shoes to pack when you travel.

Happy weekend!

shoes for travel… >> 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 sidewalk paint.

We made homemade sidewalk chalk paint at our house last week, and it was a big, fat hit.  It’s basically liquid sidewalk chalk you paint onto the sidewalk with a brush.  So much fun.  It only takes 3 ingredients, one of which is water.  Hallelujah.

Ingredients for Homemade Sidewalk Paint:

-1/4 cup cornstarch

-1/4 cup cold water

-food coloring

-paintbrush

Seriously, can it get any easier?

Measure your cornstarch into a bowl.

I chose to start off without doubling the recipe, but in the end I needed to double it to make enough for 4 colors.

Add water and start mixing.

It’s going to be a little tough, because you’re mixing cornstarch and water, but be persistent.  I know you can do it!  I believe in you!

Once it’s thoroughly mixed together, add a few drops of food coloring.  This is the best part.

Mix well.  Isn’t it pretty?  I think so.

I made the four basic colors in my food coloring kit, but you can mix and match and make whatever colors you want.

Now take it outside and start painting.

I only made enough sidewalk paint for onetime use but if I were you, I’d double it … >> 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

awesome toys for kids.

bead toys for kids

We took a trip to California a couple weeks ago, and aside from a TV in the car {best invention yet.  period.} our main source of entertainment for 12 hours {each way} was some toys from B. These toys are smart, well designed, pretty, durable, and totally created with kids in mind.

awesome toys

My kids went nuts for the beads.  They’re all shapes, sizes, and colors and you can make rings, bracelets, necklaces, whatever your heart desires.  We literally played with these beads all the way across the Mojave Desert and back again.

awesome toys to buy

I’m partial to the beads that look like sea urchins, they’re beautiful.

writing board for kids

Also super cool?  The water drawing board.  You fill the pens with water and draw to your hearts’ content.  The writing evaporates, the pens don’t make a mess, and the best part?

water writing board for kids

The four pens store easily on the top and bottom side of the board.  No getting lost in the car seats with this baby.

Check out B. toys.  I’m really impressed.… >> 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

fun summer drink recipe

This fun summer drink recipe is perfect for the sweltering hot dog-days of summer.  I originally found the recipe in Real Simple magazine and whipped it up with my kids last week.  It’s delicious and easy as pie.

I like pie.

Ingredients for Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Ale:

-12 oz ginger ale

-1 1/2 cups pineapple juice

-slices of fresh pineapple cut into wedges

Measure out your ginger ale and pour it into the pineapple juice,

like so.

Garnish with pineapple, and you’re done.

If I were you, I’d whip up a whole batch of this fun summer drink recipe, and have some friends over to barbecue.  They’ll never know this recipe was so easy to make.  And if you prefer a little something-something in your drink, Real Simple recommends adding 1/2 cup rum to the recipe.

Everyone wins.… >> 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.