Month: October 2012

by Allison 10 • 30 • 2012

Easy how to tote from a towel

// Today we have another easy how to post from Steph, this one is how-to sew a tote out of a towel. Prepare to be amazed because this is an amazing DIY you can totally do in an hour! //

Steph: I bought these tea towels from Target weeks ago and thought they were just too cute not to be transformed into something. This easy tutorial will teach you how to tote bag was a perfect, versatile solution to make into an easy DIY.

Here are the supplies you need to make your own:

Supplies:

1 Tea towel (or a piece of fabric 28”x18”)
48” Cotton Webbing (1” wide)
Thread

Equipment:

Sewing Machine (the sewing is simple, so you could do it by hand if you want)
Scissors
Pen
Safety Pin

I used the cotton webbing from the packaging as the drawstring, so the only other supplies I needed for the project was some thread for the very simple sewing.

Turn down a long edge 1 ¾” and sew along the bottom. This will be the casing for the drawstring, so make sure you have enough space inside for your webbing to fit through!

Fold the fabric in … >> find out more…

Allison

Well, hello there! I'm Allison Czarnecki, founder + editor of Petit Elefant, a blog all about style on a budget for every part of your life: style / home / travel / family. We do a lot of how-to beauty + style tutorials, travel posts, easy recipes, crazy home remodel projects, and cool (yes, cool) DIY crafts you'll totally want to try. I'm super happily married (to a hot Polish immigrant) and am the mother of two kids, a daughter and son, all of whom are featured here on the regular. We live in the country but we're a little bit rock + roll. Welcome!

by Allison 10 • 29 • 2012

3 ways to wear booties this fall

Booties 3 ways

Surely by now there’s a hot pair of booties you’re coveting; I can’t tell you how many booties are on my wish list this Fall, it’s a little embarrassing. And the everlasting question with trends of any kind, like ankle booties, is how on earth to wear them without looking ridiculous, so I present to you 3 ways to wear booties.

1 // skinnies

Wear a pair of stunning black bootie heels with some gorgeous leather pants, a slightly oversize long blouse and a tank, a gorgeous pendant or statement necklace, a big watch, and a stack of bangle bracelets. Perfect for the chilly days to come this Fall.

2 // pencil skirt

Dress up a little for the office in some equestrian themed awesome, unless your office is actually boots on the ground with horses, in which case maybe not so much. Otherwise grab a fun patterned pencil skirt, a patterned blouse (but it MUST be in the same color scheme), some platform booties, a horse ring (a horse is a horse, of course!), a black leather envelope clutch, and another classic bold statement ring. Boom.

3 // … >> find out more…

Allison

by Allison 10 • 26 • 2012

Roasted fennel and Roma tomatoes

Roasted Fennel and Roma Tomatoes

I’m always looking for quick, simple recipes to go with grilled chicken, fish, or meat. I like roasting vegetables because they taste so gosh darn good. That’s why I love these roasted fennel and Roma tomatoes so much. It’s great as a side or fantastic on its own.

I’ve grown to love fennel over the years. It looks and behaves a little like celery, except that the stalks aren’t edible. The fronds are, so if you find fennel at the store with them attached, keep them to use as an herb. Fennel is good for the digestion and full of vitamins and minerals. It’s typically used in Italian cooking. The flavor is fresh and anise-y. You can eat it raw, thinly shaved into salads and slaws. Cooking it is a different story all together. The flavor is mellow and can melt into submission with a long, slow cook. Think: caramelized onions. But it’s also good quick roasted like this. And fennel with Roma tomatoes from the garden….Oh, mama. I’m getting hungry all over again.

If you want to (I’m just thinking about this now as I’m drooling), you could also throw some small, sweet onions … >> find out more…

Allison

by Allison 10 • 23 • 2012

Teaching my children to conquer fear

There’s something all of us fear deep down, even if we don’t verbalize it or give into the terror. Children are no different, but they don’t usually have much say in avoiding the things that make them nervous, whether it’s the barking dog on the walk to school or the terrifying spotlight of Show & Tell every Tuesday (that would have been me).

Since I’m big on moving onward and upward, creating life lists, and overcoming fear big or small, I’ve been thinking lately about my approach to teaching my children to conquer fear.

We achieved a major milestone in the last few months with Precocious starting junior high, leaving Charming to fend for himself in elementary school. Last year was officially the last time both my children attended the same school together, and we’ve squared ourselves into the wind to face the barrage of changes rolling into us all at once. I won’t pretend for a second I’m not completely terrified by the turmoil of the elementary school playground bullying and the horrors of the junior high boys who don’t stop talking about sex long enough to take a breath (When do we talk about sex at … >> find out more…

Allison

by Allison 10 • 23 • 2012

How to magnetic cork numbers and letters

Raise your hand if you had those primary-colored plastic numbers and letters magnets on your fridge growing up (or if you still have them). Yup, thought so. They’re so fun to play with, right? Today’s DIY is an updated version of those fun magnetic letters that look a bit cooler and are customizable to whatever color(s) you want.

How to magnetic cork numbers and letters:

Here’s a list of the supplies needed for this DIY how to for your very own magnetic letters:

roll of cork
stickers: numbers and letters
magnet tape
spray paint

I used 3/32” cork on a roll. I wouldn’t go any thinner than that, but thicker cork would work fine just as long as you can cut it cleanly.

Cut the cork into 2” long strips.

Stick on the letters. I used the cutting board as a guide to center the letters every 2 inches.

Paint the strips.

Once the paint is dry, cut into 2” squares and peel off the stickers. Stick pieces of magnet to the back.

how to make magnetic cork numbers and letters

Stick on your fridge / locker / file cabinet and have fun with your new numbers and letters magnets! Such … >> find out more…

Allison

by Allison 10 • 22 • 2012

Introducing the Lee skinny jean

– Editor’s note from Allison: Last month I sent one of my new editors, Kalli Verbecki to a Lee jean mom summit in Kansas. I can ensure you Kalli encountered a hot skinny jean or two on her trip, these are not the mom jeans of yesteryear. Lee is on board with all the new denim trends, so prepare your mind to be blown with hotness: introducing the Lee skinny jean. –

When Allison asked if I’d like to go to a blogger summit hosted by Lee Jeans I thought “why would I want to go to a mom jean blog party?”. But then I thought that was a little harsh. Ever the equal opportunist, I checked out their website which is when my mouth sort of flopped open. Yo, when did Lee start making skinnies? They look good too! Doubly attracted to the promise of a night in an upscale hotel with a room to myself I said I’d do it – and a few weeks later hopped on a plane headed to glamorous Kansas City, MO.

Truth? I had a great time. Lee and their PR team were nothing but gracious hosts. My fellow attendees and I were … >> find out more…

Allison

by Allison 10 • 22 • 2012

Halloween craft ideas and treats

Even though I’ve been a little AWOL with the headache of the century (I still love you, promise) I thought I’d round up some of my favorite Halloween links from the last few years of fun ideas to craft now that we’re so close to the big day. What? Halloween is totally a big day (around here). Halloween candy is the most ~~dangerous~~ delicious ambrosia of the year, so I’ve got a handful of cool craft ideas to keep my your hands busy enough to stay out of the candy corn jar.

Good luck with that.

– What do you think? Any craft ideas or treats in the mix you’re up to creating? I’ll be honest, the treats are my downfall. Especially those caramel apples, they get me in trouble every year! –… >> find out more…

Allison

by Kimberly 10 • 19 • 2012

Doing gluten-free for a friend

So, around these parts, there is a distinct sense of community. If a neighbor has a baby, illness, endures a life changing crisis or just has a crappy week, someone else magically, and mercifully, shows up on the doorstep with dinner or treats. A generous token of friendship and charity. I know, because I’ve been the recipient of such kindness a time or two or 16. A little network of angels banding together to take care of one another. It takes a village, you know. Maybe your neighborhood is the same?

I like to return the favor whenever I can, but, what to do for someone with special diet concerns? Such a dilemma! Changing my own diet drastically has made me more sensitive to others’ eating habits, like being gluten-free.

If you aren’t sure, just ask. Most people, me included, are happy to explain what is and isn’t safe for their family to eat and will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Allergies? Special diets? I want to take something they will be able to enjoy, after all. Many moons ago I once was asked, with 2 hours notice, to prepare a dinner for a family of 6 that did not eat meat, … >> 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 10 • 17 • 2012

Fall vegan chili dinner meal

– Here’s another delicious Fall meal from our very own Lindsey of Cafe Johnsonia. Today she’s got a Fall vegan chili dinner meal for you to make on a blustery Fall evening, with a side of GF cornbread. I don’t think dinner gets better than that! Unless you want to make the last dinner Lindsey posted, a tasty Fall dinner sausage and peppers with polenta. –

Let me guess…you’re in the mood for something warm and comforting to get you through these chilly Fall October nights? This hearty, healthy chili has just enough heat to keep you and your mouth warmed up and your belly full of goodness. With all of this flavor, trust me, you won’t miss the meat one little bit. Also, what’s chili without cornbread on the side? I’ve been trying to perfect my gluten-free cornbread, and I think I’m getting there with this recipe. It’s super soft and moist. (Can I just say that I hate that word, but what else can I say? It’s moist. GAH.)

Load up your chili with garnishes like end-of-the-season tomatoes, avocados, sliced jalapeno and cilantro. If you aren’t off dairy, then dollop on some sour cream and sprinkle … >> find out more…

Month: October 2012

Easy how to tote from a towel

Allison

3 ways to wear booties this fall

Booties 3 ways

1 // skinnies

2 // pencil skirt

3 // … >> find out more…

Allison

Roasted fennel and Roma tomatoes

Roasted Fennel and Roma Tomatoes

Allison

Teaching my children to conquer fear

Allison

How to magnetic cork numbers and letters

How to magnetic cork numbers and letters:

Allison

Introducing the Lee skinny jean

Allison

Halloween craft ideas and treats

Allison

Doing gluten-free for a friend

Kimberly

Fall vegan chili dinner meal

Allison

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Passionfruit – above fold

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Pasionfruit – below fold