Month: August 2011

by Allison

what you should be buying at the $1 store part II

Last week I shared with you What You Should Be Buying at the $1 Store Part I, which was all about crafts and crafting supplies.  Today’s post is all about dollar store beauty.  Alternately titled:

Gettin’ purdy on the cheap.

You had to know it had to happen at some point, right?

nail polish

rubber bands
inexpensive make-up
eyelash glue

Beauty supplies to buy at the $1 store:

  • rubber hair elastics
  • bobby-pins
  • headbands
  • toddler barrettes
  • packages of combs
  • nail polish
  • nail polish remover
  • makeup {if it’s a trusted brand like L’Oreal, LA Colors, N.Y.C., Maybelline}
  • eyeshadow {see above about brands}
  • cotton balls
  • eyeliner {see the note on eyeshadow}
  • lipstick {look for expiration date and brand}
  • lip-gloss
  • fake eyelashes {these would only last for one application}
  • eyelash adhesive
  • eyelash curler {again, watch for quality}
  • foam curlers for little girls
  • hairspray
  • hair gel
  • mousse
  • shampoo and conditioner {I’ve purchased really expensive shampoo at the dollar store from time to time.  Like $20 bottles of shampoo for $1}
  • baby powder
  • baby oil
  • nail buffer
  • package of emery boards
  • cosmetic wedges

Have I missed anything?  What’s on your list of beauty supplies at the Dollar Store?  … >> 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 preserve sweet summer corn

If you’re anything like me I live for August, just so I can taste the once-a-year, out of this world flavor of corn on the cob.

There’s really nothing else like it.

corn on the cob

My BFF Martha Stewart has a great little trick for preserving the fresh taste of corn on the cob, well into the cold fall.

I love that Martha.  She’s got all the good tricks.

boiling corn

To prepare the corn, boil it just like you would regularly.  Fill a pot with lukewarm water and add the corn; bring the water to a boil and cook for about 12 minutes.  Remove corn from the pot.

corn on the cob

Let the corn cool down, and start cutting the kernels off the cob.

sweet summer cornOnce the corn is completely sliced off the cob, put it all into a Ziploc freezer bag.

ziplock freezer bags

When all the corn is at the bottom of the plastic bag, squeeze all the air out of the bag and seal it.

ziplock freezer bags

Keep the corn in the freezer for up to 3 months, and reconstitute back to delicious, fresh corn on the cob by boiling for a few minutes.

I can’t wait to taste delicious, fresh corn in November, I really can’t.… >> 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 sixty one

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

–You guys are total rock stars.  You’re sending in your purses like gangbusters, and I love you for it.  But still, I’ve gotta beat the drum.–

If you love this series and want more of it, submit your purse.  If you want to submit your purse to the series take two photos of your purse {nice, clear, non-blurry ones} one of the outside, one of the inside, along with a listing of the contents to allisonATpetitelefantDOTcom

brown leather purse
brown buckle purse

This is a purse that I’ve had for years…YEARS…  It pretty much goes with everything, so I don’t have to change purses unless I really want to.  I think I got it at Kohls…

  • Receipts & store coupons – time to clean…
  • Several lip balms, glosses (didn’t even know i still had two of them).
  • Excedrin Migraine & Benadryl – allergy season is ongoing…
  • Wallet.
  • Cash – I never have cash, today was rare, I was just holding it for my daughter.
  • Loose change – always have in the bottom of my purse.
  • Orbit gum.
  • Sticker and card from places I’ve visited lately.
  • Pictures, in & 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

pinterest how to use it & how to love it

I’ve mentioned before how much I love Pinterest.  My fancy new trick on how to clean hard water stains came from Pinterest.

pinterest

It’s honestly a site I spend a lot of time using to find ideas for everything from cleaning tips to fashion trends.  It’s basically a visual bookmarking of everything awesome on the internet, and I’m completely addicted.

So, how do you navigate Pinterest?  Well, it’s super easy and I’m here to help.

how to use pinterest

You guys totally overwhelmed me with your interest. I thought I’d have like 2 dozen comments.  I’m trying to catch up on invitations now, and when I get caught up, I’ll re-open the comments.  Thank you!

  1. First of all, you need an invitation.  No problem.  If you don’t have one and you want in on the love, let me know and I’ll invite you. 
  2. Create a board.  Or seven.  I happen to have 26.  No, I don’t have a problem, why do you ask?
  3. Follow people.  You can follow people using your Twitter or Facebook account, or just follow random people who seem to have really good taste.  I’ve actually found a handful of really awesome blogs I didn’t know existed

    4. … >> 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

Organizing my books by color

Some time ago I saw photos online of home libraries organized by color.

Naturally, I assumed people who organize their books by color have an abundance of free time in which to accomplish such a task.

books

I was wrong.

It’s okay to be wrong once in a while, as long as you own up to your mistakes.

organizing my books by color

In the space of a very short afternoon I was able to organize all my bookshelves by color.

I mean, I organize my closet by color, and I organize my shoes with photographs.

Why did I think my bookshelves should be exempt?

organizing my books by color

For someone like me, who’s just the teensiest bit O.C.D., having my books organized by color is Shangri-La.  Absolute happiness.

It makes my bookshelves look like they really have their act together, which I appreciate.  A good bookshelf is hard to find.

It adds a certain element of decor, and it makes my eyes feel happy when I rest on whole blocks of color at a time.

Have you done anything lately in your home that made your heart sing?  Perhaps your dishes are stacked in a spectacular fashion, or your keys are always in the same place.  … >> 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 sixty

This week’s What’s in Your Purse Series purse is from Alice.  Thanks Alice!

–You guys, are total rock stars.  You’re sending in your purses like gangbusters, and I love you for it.  But still, I’ve gotta beat the drum.–

If you love this series and want more of it, submit your purse.  It’s time to get a move on.  If you want to submit your purse to the series take two photos of your purse {nice, clear, non-blurry ones} one of the outside, one of the inside, along with a listing of the contents to allisonATpetitelefantDOTcom

 

knock off valentino
what's in your purse

My purse is a knock off of a Valentina my hubby brought back from a business trip to Milan a few years ago. I love  the purse so much, even though it’s starting to fall apart a bit I can’t give it up because of how awesome it is. I think my hubby needs to go back to Milan soon!

Items from top – left to right

  • candy wrapper
  • my house key
  • receipts (with notes about our deck railing measurements on the back)
  • baggie of coupons
  • arby’s menu with packets of sauce (not quite sure how long those

    • … >> 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

what you should be buying at the $1 store part I

I shop at the Dollar Store as often as I shop at the grocery store.  I really do.  And I regularly have friends ask me what on earth it is I continue to buy in there.  So I thought it would be fun to do a series sharing with you exactly what it is I’m shoveling into my cart at the Dollar Store.

First of all, the trick in shopping the Dollar Store is knowing what stuff costs elsewhere.  There’s plenty of stuff in there you can buy at the grocery store for .50 cents, so don’t get duped.  And there’s plenty of junk you shouldn’t even bother with, even for a dollar.

I’m here to tell you what’s what.

modeling clay

This edition of What You Should Be Buying at the $1 Store is all about crafts and crafting supplies.  Obviously.

My bestie Marie LeBaron, queen of kid crafts, swears by the Dollar Store.  She gets most of her crafting supplies there, and I’ve become a believer.

Not to be confused with a Beleiber.

craft supplies

My friend Heather has an entire blog devoted to Dollar Store Crafts.  There’s an entire world of crafting in those crowded … >> 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

Land’s End Giveaway Winner

 

AND THE WINNER IS: -

-kim August 10, 2011 at 1:34 pm

lands end has some classy pieces that just don’t go out of style… love them!

Congrats! Be sure to contact us via email assistant@petitelefant.com  by Thursday morning! 

 

… >> 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

Encouraging kids for back-to-school

My kids both start school a week from today.  Big kid style.  Precocious has been in school for years and years now, but Charming is about to enter first grade, which means he’s going to school with the big kids all day long.  I’ve been really excited for this milestone forever, but now that it’s only a week away, I have to catch the sob in my chest every time I look at my baby boy.

son

We’ve had the summer of a lifetime.  We went to Europe and spent all day long every day together.  We’ve been to the pool at least twice a week since June.  We’ve ridden our horse, slept out on our trampoline, played on a slip and slide, and blown bubbles.

But I’m still not quite ready to let go.

reading to kids

Charming can’t wait to go be with “his kids” all day long, and eat pizza in the lunchroom with his big sister, but he’s a little bit terrified too.  He’s not reading yet, and he feels pretty nervous about that.  He feels like he’s behind already and he hasn’t even started 1st grade yet.  So we had a little talk the other night … >> 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.