Month: June 2011

by Allison

What’s in your purse series week fifty three

This week’s What’s in Your Purse Series purse is from Katrina.  Thank you!

– If you want to submit your purse to the series take two photos of your purse {nice, clean non-blurry ones} one of the outside, one of the inside, along with a listing of the contents to allisonATpetitelefantDOTcom.  I’m almost out of purses so get moving, will you? –

coach purse

what's in your purse series

The top left corner to start:

  • This paisley book from Target has a magnetic hinge to keep a CD enclosed if I need, I use this book for any blogging ideas/crafts for blog that I may come up with.
  • My nude Rimmel fingernail polish that I blogged about recently. Love this stuff!
  • Emergency hair clip in clear (so that it will match any outfit)
  • Neutrogena hand lotion, seriously can not live without this stuff, it is the ONLY lotion that doesn’t feel gritty on my hands after a bit. It actually soaks into your skin.
  • Two lip glosses: top one is Victoria Secret for all the time use. Honestly I just love the smell/taste of Birthday Cake. I got it with my birthday money I get every year. Happy Birthday me, everyday!
  • Second one is Clinique, when

… >> 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

How to walk ten thousand steps a day

Some time ago, someone from on high recommended walking ten thousand steps a day for optimal health and wealth.  Minus the wealth part.  When it was recommended, I was probably taking well over ten thousand steps a day so I sort of ignored it, as one does to advice that doesn’t apply, and went on my merry way.

And then I started a blog.

watch

I’ve become so sedentary over the last few years, tap, tap, tapping away on my computer, that my average daily steps are around, hold your breath, 3,000.  I know.  Shocking.

Walking around Europe snapped me right out of that, but I’ve had a hard time maintaining my daily walks here at home.  I drive the car to the park, to the grocery store, to the pool.  It’s downright shameful.  The obvious solution to the problem is to exercise every day, you know, like you’re supposed to.

pedometer

Yesterday was my first day wearing my new pedometer and I’ll tell you what, 10,000 really isn’t much but it was hard to come by.  I hit 10,013 at 10:00 pm.

In order for me, in my relatively sedentary lifestyle, to walk 10,000 steps during the day … >> 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

Roll your clothes to pack a suitcase

I took your advice on what to pack for Europe.  For the most part anyway, you know I had to rebel a little and wear comfortable shoes for all the walking.  But the number one tip I took from all of you was to pack light.

We did.

suit case

Each child had a carry on and a backpack, {the awesome luggage we bought at Costco} and that was it.  The backpack was full of things for the 25 hours of travel each way: a Nintendo DSi for each kid, bubble gum, a coloring book and sketch pad, colored pencils, Skullcandy headphones, fruit leather and almonds, granola bars, and in Charming’s case a handful of Hot Wheels cars.

I was counting on the fact that each kid would have a T.V. with Nick Jr. at their disposal, and I was right.  Hallelujah.

suitcase

Anyway, the only way I was able to pack a month’s worth of clothing into a carry-on for each kid was to roll their clothes as I packed them.

I can’t even tell you what a difference it made.

So: roll your clothes as you pack them, hope for mini T.V.’s across the Atlantic, give your children … >> 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 I wore Wednesday red dress

I’ve decided I’m cool posting a What I Wore Wednesday every once in a while on Wednesday, but that I’m not going to be super strict about it.

Because I don’t like boundaries so much, and this is my blog, so I make the rules.

what I wore Wednesday

This outfit is actually What I Wore Sunday, but that doesn’t really matter.

Here’s what I have on:

Glasses: Costco

Dress: Nordstrom Rack {I had them take it off the mannequin because it was the only one in my size}

Belt: Thrift store in Warsaw

Clutch: T.J. Max, clearance

Nude Heels: Nordstrom, clearance

Side note: see how the nude heels elongate my legs?  Everyone should have a pair.  Truly.… >> 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

Unique jewelry storage solution

It’s no secret that I have a lot of jewelry.  Perhaps too much {is there such a thing?}.  I grab cheap baubles wherever I go and periodically add a nice piece or two along the way.  Basically, my jewelry cup runneth over.

collections

I’ve been storing most of my jewelry on top of my dresser in a cool wooden box I got thrifting a couple years ago, and it’s been great.  But I wanted something a little more organized.  Because I’m O.C.D. like that.

milk glass

After seeing my friend Kami’s milk glass collection, I thought it would be so pretty for storing jewelry.  It’s pretty and perfect for compartmentalizing.  Two things I love.

milk glass

We have an amazing antique store downtown in my little city, so I headed down and found a handful of amazing milk glass {and it was on sale! bonus!} and I’m thrilled with the result.

antique milk glass

The pretty little pieces sit on my dresser, coralling my treasures, looking effortlessly gorgeous.

Should we all be so lucky.… >> 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 Solstice style 2011

You realize tomorrow is the  Summer Solstice, right?  The best day of the year because it’s all warm and sunshiny outside, the grass is green, the pools are filled, the drinks are cold.

Ahh Summer, how I love thee.

Regardless of your plans, you’ll need something summery to wear.  Something light, breezy, subtle and sexy.  Here’s what I think would be fabulous to put on for the longest day of the year:

summer solstice
shirtdress
tank top

checkered shirt, chambray shorts, wedges, tank top, shirt dress, skirt, boat shoes, braided belt, aviator sunglasses, straw hat

 … >> 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

flea market in Warsaw

flea market

Flea markets really don’t exist in Utah.  We have a plethora of enormous thrift stores {my favorites are Deseret Industries and Savers}, and we have crappy yard sales aplenty, but no flea markets.  So when we got to Warsaw and I read about this enormous flea market every Saturday and Sunday on the outskirts of the city, I was determined to go.

vintage typewriter

Viktor really hates stuff like this, so it took some, uh, convincing.  We even delayed our trip to Krakow by a day so I could go check out the goods.

On a sleepy Sunday we took the tram to a really sketchy area of Warsaw {the East side, which looked like the projects in N.Y.C.} and all of a sudden, there it was.  Striped tents, Gypsies, and accordion playing Russians.

russian

Viktor was astonished.

flea markets
fur hat

And 2.2 seconds in, we realized we should all stop speaking English immediately.  In all honesty, the only time Viktor spoke English was inside our apartment, and even then very grudgingly.  But between the Gypsies, the Russians, and the accordion playing Polskies, we figured it would be best for all English-speaking members of our family to close their mouths.  *Ahem*.… >> 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 fifty two

This week’s What’s in Your Purse Series purse is from Becca Wilcox.  She’s a case manager for foster kids, and yes, she rocks.  It was a gift from her husband for Christmas; Liz Claiborne from JcPenney.  Thanks Becca!

–If you want to submit your purse to the series take two photos of your purse {nice, clean non-blurry ones} one of the outside, one of the inside, along with a listing of the contents to allisonATpetitelefantDOTcom

what's in your pursepurse

  • Zombie wallet from Hot Topic
  • Physician’s Formula blush
  • Notepad
  • Thumb drive
  • Checks
  • Glasses cleaning cloth from ZenniOptical.com
  • Black Jack gum
  • Stickers for Izzy-Boy’s toy truck
  • Death Mints!
  • Re-usable shopping bag
  • Voluminous Million Lashes mascara
  • Lavera liquid eye liner
  • Assorted lip products
  • Jemma Kidd eye shadow and brush
  • Purple Urban Decay De-Slick powder
  • Collapsible face brush
  • Red hair spray
  • Bath and Body Works lotion
  • Green frequent buyer card from Googly Eyes (craft store in Irving, TX)
  • Burt’s Bees hand salve
  • 4 pens
  • Black jeweled purse hanger
  • Indian scroll love note from Mr. Wilcox
  • Green business card holder
  • Headphones wrapped around the robot
  • Purple Day of the Dead compact mirror
  • CVS disposable toothbrush
  • MORE lip products (Burt’s Bees, Victoria Secret, and Sally Hansen)
  • Red heart ear

    • … >> 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

European Summer fashion part 1

I had a really hard time asking people if I could take their photo in Europe.  It wasn’t just the language either.  I couldn’t read European body language!  And then I realized my superpower is reading people, but I was without my superpower in Europe, so the whole thing was off.

European Summer fashion

Anyway, this girl was adorable.  She was a student at the University of Warsaw, waiting at the tram stop and I thought her outfit was fantastic.  Totally easy to replicate.  She was so flattered I asked for her photo she did a little bow for me.  I wanted to take her home.

Here are the pieces, and how you can make it work for you:

  • Summer dress
  • Denim Jacket
  • Wedge platform shoes
  • Leather satchel
  • Cute sunglasses

That’s it.  She wasn’t wearing any jewelry, and her outfit was perfect.  You could substitute a light blazer or cardigan for the denim jacket, your everyday purse for the satchel, and gladiator sandals if you aren’t inclined to try shoes that tall.

Try it.  You look hot already.… >> 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.