Category: Home

by Allison

Master bathroom remodel part II

My master bathroom is in flux.  Change.  Deep into the no-turning-back-please-kill-me-now phase.

Are you big into home renovation?  Do you love to rip out floors in a do it yourself kitchen remodel, and then lay 250 square feet of tile all in the same day?

You’re nuts.

master-bathroomI’m nuts, you’re nuts, together, collectively we are all insane.  DIY is awesome; until you have to start the actual DIY.  Or you start the DIY and run into all sorts of problems, budget increases, *COUGH, COUGH*, scope creep, and the general inundation of crap all over the house all the time.

Maybe it’s just me.  It probably is.  I’m sure you’re organized when you remodel things at your house.  I’m sure that if you were in the middle of YOUR master bathroom remodel project things would be coming along swimmingly.  But things are sketchy at my house right now.  I’ll show you photos in another post so you don’t just think I’m saying that, but just you wait until you see photographic evidence of the mess that is my life right now.  You’ll swoon on my behalf, and not in a good way.

Our master bathroom was in a sad … >> 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

Sweet potato mashed potato recipe

mashed sweet potatoIt’s recipe time.  I haven’t been cooking much lately, which is lame, but this master bathroom remodel is pretty much ruining my life.  I know! First, FIRST world problems.  I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have a new master bathroom, I really can’t.  I’m just saying, my house is a mess.  Like crazy, hoarders episode, staple guns and concrete buckets hanging out in the kitchen, messy.  No room for a girl trying new recipes.  Whatever.  Sometimes you don’t cook either, right?

Right?

Anyway.  *ahem*

I did find it in myself to whip up some mashed sweet potatoes, because my kids need to be fed once in awhile.  Not very often, but sometimes.  So I was in the kitchen a few weeks ago, making sweet potato rolls (it was a whim, don’t ask) and the recipe called for mashed sweet potatoes from a can.  Nasty.  If you have sweet potatoes (yams) within reach, even if that means a trip to the store so you can try a new recipe, do it.  Fresh sweet potatoes (yams) are heaven.  Mashed sweet potatoes?  Holy-have-mercy, come-to-mama.

>> Read 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

Master bathroom remodel design ideas

A master bathroom remodel is way less fun than you think it would be, and I know you think it would be fun.  The most fun in all the land, ripping apart your personal space and tearing out your closet.  So much fun they should have entire TV shows dedicated to remodeling people’s master bath … oh wait.

bathroom remodel
I mentioned a few weeks ago that we’re in the middle of our master bathroom remodel part I aka ripping up moldy sub-flooring and sledge-hammering our carefully selected (not by me) semi-turquoise counter top and vinyl flooring.  It wasn’t as bad as … No, yes it was, it was awful.

Right now we’re ripped down to the studs and framing out the steam shower (oh have mercy it’s going to be beautiful) and I’ll show you pictures of that, but first I wanted to show you the look and feel of the future gorgeous Czarnecki master bathroom.  If it ever gets finished.

My inspiration for this master bath remodel is all oceanic, naturally.  I may have mentioned a time or ten I was misplaced in my birthplace.  I *should* have been born in California.  Or Hawaii.  Or maybe even, … >> 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

Our master bathroom remodel part I

master bathroom before photoOur master bathroom is kind of a nightmare.  Was kind of a nightmare I mean, right before we ripped it all out.

jetted tub master bath remodelIt all started when we bought our house, almost ten years ago.  The master bathroom and (attached) walk-in closet were part of the reason we loved the house; the jetted tub was my closer.  What we didn’t notice, or know to notice, was all the water damage in the bathroom.

warped floor in bathroom The floor next to the bath was so soggy I could push down the linoleum with my toes.  When I ripped the green ivy wallpaper down a few weeks after moving in, (no really, ivy wallpaper to match the turquoise counters and spotted turquoise linoleum) I discovered more water damage in the form of smushy walls and peeling drywall.

We didn’t have any extra cash, so I did what anyone else would do: I peeled back as much bad drywall as possible before I painted over the whole thing.

moldy bathroom floorThe water damage in the master bath got worse, much worse, but honestly who has an extra five thousand dollars laying around for a bathroom remodel?  We didn’t.

chipped countertop master bathroomChipped up counter, who cares?

our master bathroom remodel

Rusted out sink?  … >> 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

3 great organic cleaning + bath products

3 great organic bath + body productsToday: 3 great organic cleaning + bath products for your pleasure.  Get excited.  You know I love me some good bath products, and even though I haaaaaaaaaate cleaning my kitchen and bathrooms, there is a great smelling delicious organic cleaner to ease my pain a little so you probably want on that train.

Where does one find such magic?  The Honest Company.  You’ve heard of Jessica Alba, yes?  Me too.  She seems like a girl I’d want to have lunch with, talk about the horrors of sleep-training and picky eaters, maybe have a girls night on the weekend when the boys are away.  So Jessica Alba, pretend girlfriend of mine, started having children a few years ago and discovered that even though there are a hundred billion products on the market for babies, there weren’t a lot of great products she could trust to be safe around her littles.  Boy do I feel that.  My babes sadly were lucky enough to inherit my allergies to the world at large, and baby products were a landmine from the get-go.  All sorts of hidden toxins and allergens are everywhere and Miss Alba said, ‘Eh, nope, we can do better than … >> 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 Stephanie Hayward

Tutorial chalk paint organizers DIY

DIY chalk paint organizers A DIY Tutorial for chalk paint organizers, yes? Yes.  YES.

Hi, my name is Stephanie, and I’m a craft-aholic. I’m constantly accumulating craft supplies or little trinkets that I think could have great crafting potential and DIY tutorial potential (hello bottle caps, corks, and old sweaters). I store my craft supplies on a book shelf in my bedroom, and what were once five nicely organized shelves of a few pieces of fabric, a couple spools of thread, and a craft book or two has become a monstrosity of felt, sequins, jars, scissors, buttons, paints, brushes, bottle caps, and any other craft supplies you could possibly think of.

Well, it’s time for the madness to stop! I need some order in my craft bookshelf, and I’m sharing with you one of the tutorials of solutions I have come up with to help organize the chaos, and of course it is in on par with most of my other projects: up-cycling every day items you already have laying around the house!

SUPPLIES FOR DIY CHALK PAINT JAR ORGANIZERS TUTORIAL:

  • glass jars, rinsed, dried, and labels removed
  • white spray paint or primer
  • chalkboard paint
  • masking tape
  • foam brushes
  • acrylic paint
  • chalk >> Read More

Stephanie Hayward

A designer, maker, crafter, and blogger, Stephanie Hayward spends her days designing buildings in Columbus, Ohio and nights blogging about design, DIY, and (attempts at making) good food at Stuff Steph Does. She lives with her partner in crime, Brandon, and their spunky little dog, Lucy.

by Allison

Oscars drama 101 + my favorite dresses

I’m no drama geek, but oh-my-eff, there was some serious crazy drama at last night’s Oscars.  I don’t love watching the actual show as much as the red carpet and the sweet acceptance speeches, but only the very few genuine ones.  And of course my favorite part is the eye language (it’s a thing, I just made it up) between couples on the carpet, and the dialogue (lip reading only) between the assistants and actors/actresses.  Whoo, there was some drama there last night!  Jennifer Lawrence’s assistant alone looked like she was two seconds from flop sweat the whole way down the runway carpet.

Eddie Redmayne girlfriend

Alright, let’s jump right in.

Eddie Redmayne can do no wrong.  I’m sorry, I just don’t even care about the weird slippers he’s wearing, or the fact that his hair is as immovable as that of a Ken doll.  His follicular giftedness will come in handy when we pack our bags to run away together – we will totally share hair products.

Plus: his girlfriend is beautiful, he’s adorable (AND HE SINGS, ladies), smart, and generally humble and fantastic.  And a little hot.  Shut up, whatever. I love him.

best dressed oscars 2013Had you heard 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

How to home made marshmallows

make your own marshmallowsHomemade marshmallows are my a dream come true.  They can be as thick and pillowy as you want them to be, melt like buttah in your hot steamy drinks, and one more time just a little bit louder now: they’re HOMEMADE.  Can’t beat that business back with a stick.

YUM.

how to homemade marshmallowsSo how does one make these tasty home made marshmallows?

Easily, so so very easily, you might just swoon from the simplicity of it.  This recipe is from Martha Stewart (perfection) and these marshmallows were whipped together in well under an hour (by my 13-year-old).  YOU can totally make home made marshmallows, and once you do you’ll probably absolutely never go back to the store bought nonsense.

how to homemade marshmallow

Ingredients for Homemade Marshmallows

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • vegetable spray
  • 2/3 cup cold water
  • optional: I would add more vanilla or another flavoring to give the marshmallows a little more boom in your mouth, 1 teaspoon wasn’t enough for me

1. Spray a cookie sheet with vegetable spray and line with parchment paper.  Spray parchment paper with vegetable spray and put cookie sheet … >> 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 Stephanie Hayward

How to old book desk organizer DIY

Have a book or two laying around?  An old book you don’t want to get rid of, but really don’t read anymore?  Maybe you love to go to the thrift store and buy a good book here and there because you love the way they look, and you’ve acquired one too many.  No matter your bookstore habits, (I’m a bookstore whore, and I’m not ashamed to say it) today Steph is here to teach you how to turn an old book into a super cool DIY. – Allison

Upcycled Book Organzier

Hey! It’s me again, Steph from Stuff Steph Does again, and I’m here to show you a super simple DIY project from old books that will help organize your work space while looking really cool at the same time!

While out flea market shopping with my two girlfriends in Chicago last year, we came across these beautiful, old, vintage-looking folded books for sale at a vendor’s booth. While they were cool, we balked at the 20 dollar price tag. Twenty bucks?! We can totally make these ourselves! And just like that our day of flea market shopping was cut short and we made our way to the thrift store to find … >> find out more…

Stephanie Hayward

A designer, maker, crafter, and blogger, Stephanie Hayward spends her days designing buildings in Columbus, Ohio and nights blogging about design, DIY, and (attempts at making) good food at Stuff Steph Does. She lives with her partner in crime, Brandon, and their spunky little dog, Lucy.

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