Month: August 2012

by Allison

Bean salad with tomatoes and vinaigrette

tomato salad

This salad is like a summer party in your mouth.  So many great flavors and textures going on.  I made this with garden fresh veggies from my CSA.  Cook the beans until they are as tender as you like them, toss in some cooked white beans (I like to cook my own, but canned are just fine), and add some juicy, red cherry tomatoes on top.  The tomatoes warm just a little and when you get a bite of one, it pleasantly pops in your mouth.  The vinaigrette is kind of optional, but I like it.  I think the sharpness of the mustard works well with everything else.  And don’t forget some fresh parsley, though I’m sure a little basil wouldn’t be a bad substitution if you have some growing in your herb garden.

That’s that.  A perfectly healthy, vegan and gluten-free lunch for you and a friend.

bean and tomato vinaigrette salad
bean and tomato salad

Warm Two Bean Salad with Cherry Tomatoes and Mustard Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

For Salad:

  • 1 Tbsp. canola or olive oil
  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup cooked white beans
  • 1 cup fresh green beans, thinly sliced on the diagonal in 1″ pieces
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes (or quartered small tomatoes, I used

    • … >> 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

First day back to school fashion

first day of school fashion

I think by now we’ve established the fact that my kids, much like myself, do what they want when it comes to style.  In life too, actually.  Rules are meant to be broken, you’re-not-the-boss-of-me, and all that business.  First day back to school fashion is no exception, and I’ve learned to roll with it.

Precocious started Junior High this year (sob, wail) and decided to kick her fashion up a notch.  The night before the first day of school I asked her if she wanted any help putting outfits together for the week (I’ll never learn) to which she choked on her drink and responded, ‘Uh, no thanks mom, I’ve got it covered.’

curly hair
blazer and skinny jeans

I love what she put together:

  • newsboy cap: fashion district NYC
  • white tank top: Old Navy
  • blue 3/4 sleeve blazer: Salvation Army
  • matryoshka doll pendant: Claire’s Boutique
  • skinny jeans: Target
  • mismatched socks: unknown origin
  • two-tone ballet flats: Target
  • messenger bag: hand-me-down from neighbor

first day fashion

Charming took a page from his sister’s book for his first day of second grade.  He put together a special combination of stripes and plaid in Fall colors, explaining to me very patiently how they match perfectly.  I think 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

Bold bright casual look for Fall

Labor Day is this weekend which means it’s officially (practically) Fall, and that means it’s time to start talking about Fall fashion, yippee!  There’s nothing I love more than Fall fashion unless it’s Summer fashion, which is to say swimsuits and a cover up and flip flops for days.

But I digress.  Let’s talk about a bold bright casual look for Fall.

Fall casual

Bright pops of color are all the rage this Fall, tempered with the muted tones of burgundy, forest green, and navy blue.  Nothing is more of a throwback to my prep school horror days like those East Coast uniform colors, so I don’t own much in any of those shades, but they’re all back with a vengeance this Fall.

Too bad I burned my kilt or I could totally wear it to P.T.A. back-to-school night.

What do you think, are you down with all this bold color, casually thrown into the mix?


Forever New collarless shirt, $52 / Blazer / Uniqlo corduroy pants, $47 / Ann Taylor flat shoes / Reed Krakoff leather handbag / Reiss chunky necklace / Nickel free earrings / House of Harlow 1960 round sunglasses / MAC Cosmetics lip stick… >> 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 ninety

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

In other news, can you believe this What’s in Your Purse Series business is on week NINETY?  Dude.  That’s a lot of purses.  You should be proud of yourselves.  *virtual pats on the back* and whatnot.

–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 week 90
what's in your purse week ninety

  • wallet
  • mascara
  • lip-gloss
  • blue bag with crayons for my daughter
  • quarters for rides at the mall
  • raisins
  • gluten free protein bar
  • Annie’s gummy bunnies
  • half eaten crispy bar of my 3-year-old
  • emergency chocolate
  • socks
  • my daughter’s potty watch

    • … >> 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

Sour cream peach ice cream

Are you loving summer peaches?!  I can’t get enough of them.  Also–raspberries.  I think those are my two very favorite fruits and I love them together.  So it seemed natural to make this Sour Cream Peach Ice Cream to eat with fresh raspberries.  Match made in summer heaven.

peach sour cream ice cream

So let’s talk about ice cream.  Do you make it at home?  Have you jumped on the bandwagon and bought an ice cream maker?  If not, it’s totally fine.  You can still make this without one.  (You should totally get one though.  Tip #1 for summer desserts.)

Peaches are so luscious that you don’t really need to turn them into ice cream, but in case I haven’t convinced you yet, you kinda need to make a batch of this because it’s just so good.  On second thought, you are going to want to make a double or triple batch.  To share.  (Or eat all by yourself after the kiddies go to bed and you’re watching trashy TV.  Shh.  I won’t tell.)

Be sure to add the almond extract or amaretto.  Either one is fantastic.  They help boost the flavor up a little notch, even though you might think you don’t need 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

This fall it’s all about the burgundy

Burrrrrrgundy

 

I have a confession to make: if it didn’t make me look like a total vampire, I’d wear deep burgundy lipstick every day of the week.  In fact right this minute I’m wearing OPI’s super foxy Honk if you love OPI on my digits, a deep sultry burgundy if there ever was one.  I save the burgundy lips for serious rock and roll or a truly dark restaurant, but it’s time to bend the rules because

this fall it’s all about the burgundy. 

Burgundy lips, burgundy nails, burgundy eyes (I’m just not that brave, I’ll be honest), and deep purple cheeks (that one should stay on the runways).

Here’s how to wear it:

  1. Put the lipstick on straight out of the tube.  Blot, reapply, and use a lipstick brush or q-tip to clean up the edges.
  2. In order to NOT be mistaken for a member of the undead, keep the rest of your makeup minimal.  By which I mean almost nonexistent.  It’s a little streetwalker to have crazy eye makeup and super dark lips all on the same face.
  3. Once you’re out and about during your day, check the mirror every so often to make sure your lipstick

    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

Get your animal print on

You know, it’s time for you to break out a little.  Be a little nuts.   Get your animal print on. Wear some zebra, python, leopard, giraffe, lemur.

I’m kidding about the lemur.  It doesn’t really go with my skin tone.

ANIMAL!

Seriously though, there’s something a little sexy and sophisticated about animal print, as long as you do it right.  This week on Babycenter I wrote a post called 7 sexy ways to rock animal print and I want you to read it.  And then I want you to do a little online shopping because girlfriend, you can do this.… >> 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

Restaurant style fresh salsa

My name is Lindsey and I am addicted to chips and salsa.  I don’t know why I even order an entree when we go to Mexican restaurants.  The only thing I really go for is the chips and restaurant style fresh salsa.  And if a restaurant has lame salsa, I’m probably never going back.

restaurant salsa

I started making salsa at home once I realized it was possible.  I was 18.  So a bit of a dunce, I guess.  But it was a huge hit and I haven’t stopped making it since then.  Chances are you are smarter than I was and have already been making fresh salsa at home for years and years.  Chances are you don’t really need a recipe.  But if you do?  I’ve got you covered.

fresh salsa

When it comes to the actual ingredients, you’ve got a little leeway.  You could pretty much use any tomato growing in your (or your neighbor’s) garden.  Heirlooms are my favorite kind to use because they are so sweet and flavorful.  A fun variation might be to use green heirlooms or even tomatillos, which look like green tomatoes, but aren’t.

You could use whatever chiles you like best.  For hotter salsa, add 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

Healthy snacks back to school

I’m a leader in the Udi’s gluten free community and my most recent question is about healthy snacks back to school.  What healthy foods did you eat when you went back to school as a kid?  What were your favorite school lunch snacks?

I’m super bitter about my sack lunches as a kid.  My mom made homemade bread once a week for sandwich bread, (cry me a river) and we canned peach and apricot jam all summer long from our orchard bounty (I thought it was terrible at the time).  The sweetest snack I got was a banana for dessert and for some reason, in the 80′s at my elementary school, bananas were considered a throwaway food.  Top that all off with the huge brown grocery bags we used once in a while as lunch sacks (no, the really big ones.  folded over 7 times) and I’ve got some therapy to do.

healthy back to school snacks

Now that the tables are turned, I sound like my mother.  I’m always harping about healthy snacks for back to school.  Ding dongs weren’t on the menu at my house when I was little and they aren’t on the menu for my kids. Wonder Bread? 

Fugghetaboutit.

Talk … >> 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.