Month: May 2012

by Kimberly

William Riera

All dressed up with nowhere to go! Not yet, anyway.  I spent yesterday pulling weeds and chasing little monsters around the neighborhood and probably didn’t shave my legs or comb my hair, but then a package from William Riera arrived. I forgot about the dirt under my nails, tore open the package and tried on the dress immediately. Guess what?  I actually do love it! For starters, it’s soft and comfortable. For finishers, it’s forgiving, ahem. And in between, there are flirty ruffles to love. Finally, a little black dress that isn’t too little.

If you haven’t entered the dress giveaway yet, hurry! Today is the last day to enter!… >> 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

Cucumber lime spritzer drink

Summer is hot, right?  Hot and sticky and sometimes a little bit humid.  Which is why you need some go-to drink recipes at your disposal.

It’s cool, I’ve got your summer drinks. (your mom likes summer drinks)

cucumber and lime spritzer

Here’s the most ridiculously simple cucumber lime spritzer drink you’ll ever make.

You might already have everything you need for this drink sitting in your kitchen (or garden) right this very second.  Because you’re just that kind of person, I have a feeling.

cucumber lime spritzer drink

  • 24 oz club soda
  • 3 limes (about 1/4 – 1/2 cup fresh juice)
  • 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
  • 1 – 2 cups ice

cucumber lime spritzer

Mix the club soda, cucumbers and lime juice in a pitcher.  Serve cold.  If you’d like to spice the drink up a bit add 1/2 cup gin to pitcher.

Serve to myriad guests who will be astonished at your cleverness and general hostess-y skills.

Bask in your own greatness.  Repeat.

-recipe via Real Simple… >> 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

William Riera Dress Giveaway

*** WINNERS! ***

#78 Brenda 

I “Liked” William Riera on Facebook (and I really liked it too)

and

#49 Heidi F.

And I subscribed to their newsletter!

Congratulations, gals. Please send us an email right away to claim your gift card. Thanks to all who entered, and thanks to William Riera for all the prettiness!


Summer hasn’t even really started yet and already my calendar is filling up with special events. So much for the “lazy days.”  Weddings, graduations, and all other manner of warm weather soirees require careful dressing. Just formal enough, but also comfy and flattering and, of course, gorgeous. William Riera USA wants to make sure you are dressed to thrill, so they are giving away two $50 gift cards this week to help you put together the perfect summer ensemble. Two winners! The hard part will be choosing from their beautiful dresses and fab accessories.

Maybe you’ll choose the Jane, as shown on the model above. It’s probably my favorite out of the entire collection. I’d add a chunky colorful necklace and a pair of wedge sandals. Perfection.


Or perhaps the Anne? That color is gorgeous. Put on some sparkly earrings and saucy heels, and turn … >> 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

What’s in your purse series week 85

This week’s What’s in Your Purse Series is from Andi.  This is actually Andi’s beach + pool bag for the Summer.  Thanks Andi!

–If you love this series and want more of it, submit your purse. Take two photos of your purse {NICE, CLEAR, NOT-BLURRY ONES} one of the outside, one of the inside, along with a listing of the contents to:

allison AT petitelefant DOT com

what's in your purse series pool bag

Contents of big beach bag:

  • hats for all
  • sunglasses
  • snacks (that are not in the tiny cooler we take)
  • Neosporin foaming spray for beach boo boos
  • bag of diapers, wipes, little swimmers
  • rash guard
  • sometimes suits
  • Ziploc for diapers + wipes

Bobbie Brown baby tote (serves as my sort of purse):

  • a face stick
  • various lip balms with SPF
  • my wallet
  • point and shoot camera (in it’s adorable red case)
  • cell phone (there is a zipper pouch inside)
  • wet ones

what's in your purse series sunscreen

Small apple bag:

  • sunscreen
  • various sunblocks for everyone.
  • Bobbie Brown Beach SPF 15
  • bug spray (horseflies)

Toss two or three beach towels on the top, and we are off!  Not pictured…water bottles I snag as we’re out the door, and a Diet Pepsi for mamma.… >> 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

The secret to amazing looking skin

I don’t need to tell you I’m obsessed with facial care.  I whip up homemade beauty recipes at least once a week: yogurt face masks, carrot facials, you name it I’ve tried it.  I’ve also tried practically every product on the market promising to make me 17 again. 

Hint: I’m not going to be 17 again. Ever.

For a few years now I’ve had the Clarisonic in my sights thinking it’s exactly what I need, the secret to amazing looking skin of women everywhere!  I’ve been coveting one of those whirring face brushes which is, I know, #10 on the list of no-no’s from on high, but it’s true.  I covet.  A lot.  Sometimes.

The secret to amazing skin

So a few months ago while wandering around Costco, as one does, loading up on 6-packs of deodorant and ginormous bottles of vitamin C, I ran across the more budget friendly version of the Clarisonic: a face brush by Olay.  Since I’m such a huge, huge fan of Olay I snatched one up for under $30 and took it home for a test drive.

This thing is a game changer. 

Seriously my skin is amazing when I use the … >> 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

Teachers make a difference in kids lives

I was a shy kid.  I still am really.  I’d rather sit in a quiet corner of a restaurant with 3 or 4 people I know than go to a huge party with hundreds of people – those make me hyperventilate.  I’m pretty shy at heart.  When I started preschool at B.Y.U. at the age of 3 it was a super hard for me to make eye contact with my teachers, even though they were perfectly lovely.

notebooks

By Kindergarten I was fairly comfortable with a handful of close friends at my side, 20 of which remained with me all the way through the 7th grade.  Still, school was tricky.  I’m one of 8 kids and I got lost in the mix a lot, especially when it came to schoolwork.  My parents were just busy, period.  They both worked full-time jobs while managing a houseful of kids, and I never had help with homework.

My parents signed me up for Spanish immersion in the 1st grade and a lot of the kids had been with me in Kindergarten, so at the very least I had kids who made eye contact with me.

school photo

What I didn’t know until a handful of … >> 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

For the Utahns water park tickets giveaway

**WINNERS**

Cathy who said “I subscribe.”
Stacey M. who said  ”Like Petit Elefant on FB.”

 

I’m kind of dying for Summer to get here already, aren’t you?  Maybe not, some people even hate Summer.  Whaaaak?  Weird, I know.

waterpark pass
But that’s not important, this is: I have in my possession for the Utahns, water park pass giveaway tickets to Cowabunga Bay.  Do you know the place?  It’s the one in Draper right off the freeway.  The one the kids beg and plead and cry about while you’re stuck in traffic on I-15 on your way home from IKEA, because all you want in life is a functioning bedside lamp and some cute napkins.

 

waterslide
Here’s the deal:  Cowabunga Bay (aka the-one-off-the-freeway-in-Draper-the-kids-beg-and-cry-about) is kicking off the start of Summer vacation in Utah by hosting two preview night parties for only $6.99 a person.  Serious.  NEXT WEEK Monday May 21st and Friday May 25th tickets are under $7/person from 5:00 – 8:00 P.M.  Tickets are normally $16.95 yo.  And if you’re like me you might want to slap two slices of pizza and a drink on top of that for only $4.  Word.  Also cool, … >> 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 84

This week’s What’s in Your Purse Series purse is from Gorett, thank you!

If you love this series and want more of it, submit your purse. Take two photos of your purse {NICE, CLEAR, NOT-BLURRY ONES} one of the outside, one of the inside, along with a listing of the contents to:
allison AT petitelefant DOT com

What's in your purse series

Purse: Guess – got in on sale for $50!

Contents:

  • - Guess wallet
  • - Danier change purse
  • - Bath and Body Works spray hand sanitizer
  • - waterproof Fuji camera
  • - Excel gum
  • - life brand tissue
  • - pen
  • - fold up shopping bag
  • - prescription sunglasses (handy tip: buy cheap sunglasses, take them to your eye-guy and ask him to put your prescription in – cheap!)

what's in your purse series

Make-up bag (made from recycled seat-belts)

  • - Revlon nail file
  • - Sephora lip gloss
  • - five MAC lip glosses
  • - Nars lip gloss
  • - Bobbi Brown lip tick
  • - Covergirl lip gloss
  • - Laura Mercier tinted lip balm
  • - lip brush
  • - Bath and Body Works lip shine
  • - container of my favourite and discontinued Smashbox lip gloss
  • - Neutrogena moisturizer
  • - band-aids
  • - toothpaste
  • - travel toothbrush
  • - Trucco compact
  • - nail clippers

    • … >> 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

Stuff you and every other mom should know

Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook.  Not really anyway, and you should trust me because I’ve totally looked. (High and low)

The car seat comes with a manual rivaling most graduate school textbooks and assembling the stroller takes NASA’s best, but the actual baby?  Nope, no manual for that little human.

You’re kind of, well, it.

Stuff you + every mom should know

Which is why you really should snatch up this palm sized how-to parenting book written by two of the smartest women I know, Rookie Moms Heather and Whitney.  These two rocket-smart rookie mamas assembled the basics any mom needs to know to make it out alive through the first few years of motherhood.

stuff you and every mom should know

Stuff Every Mom Should Know is smart, funny, relatable, and true.  Grab a few; stash one in your purse and give the rest to all the new mamas you want to see on the other side of the crazy.… >> 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.