Category: cleaning and organizing

by Alma

cabinet snooping by guest mom alma.

Mike and I felt we deserved a trip to IKEA last week to celebrate the news that we’re having a baby boy. Really, any reason is a good reason to go to IKEA. Among our purchases was this medicine cabinet. I’m tired of looking through every drawer of every bathroom when I need an Advil or a band-aid. I scouted this out online, and was struck by the product description that says, “Lockable top cabinet keeps curious fingers out.”


It made me start to wonder how many people actually snoop through other people’s medicine cabinets. I asked a couple friends and both admitted to doing it at one point in their lives. Is this something that a lot of people do?

I pointed out to a friend that enough people must do it because this cabinet comes with a lock to “keep curious fingers out”! Then she (a mother of two) told me that “curious fingers” meant kids.

Oh yeah. I forgot all about the fact that kids can and do get into their parents’ medicine (our nephew went to the hospital this past year because his father’s heart medicine looked like Skittles). And since the lockable part of this … >> find out more…

Alma

by Alma

book pick: it’s all too much.

So I mentioned earlier this week that my husband and I have a great de-cluttering problem to tackle in our home. We’re not the worst collectors in the world, but I think that we can both agree that we have too much stuff. At my last job, I could get nice, quality purses for free or almost free. I already had a purse collecting problem. So suddenly I had the power to binge collect purses that I’d never be able to afford on my own. And I actually reached a purse saturation point, if you can believe it. I had too many purses and couldn’t handle the thought of getting just one more. I mean, can you imagine the level of purse overload that would enable me to say “no” to taking home this beauty?


That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I already had way too much.

So right now, the future baby’s room looks like a storage shed of lots of different things. My purses. Mike’s miscellaneous camera and film equipment. My wedding dress that I swore I’d sell immediately. Bedding for sizes of beds that we don’t even own. The list goes on.

Then, this week … >> find out more…

Alma

by Allison

spring parties.


I’ve really got an itch for Spring right now; maybe because it won’t stop snowing in my neck of the woods! At any rate, I’ve been searching for fun warm weather ideas {fantasizing really} and I love this one from Martha Stewart. I’ve had this particular lantern/butterfly page bookmarked in my Martha for quite a while and I was happy to see it on Hostess with the Mostess today. Find instructions here.


… >> 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

paper basket bouquet.

I love this fun, easy craft {from Martha Stewart} to do with your kids for your Easter centerpieces. The instructions can be found here.

I’m taking an impromptu camping trip with the family, & I’ll be back at the beginning of next week with more lovely things to share with you.
Happy Easter.



… >> 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

love is in the air.

The happy couple.

I know a lot of us have already had our {wedding day} in the sun, and I’m aware that this is a parenting blog, but I have to post about some very happy & exciting news. My dear friend and cousin Miss NYC {whom I adore} got engaged this week to the love of her life, & is getting married this summer. I can’t wait to go to New York for what is sure to be the wedding of the century, and I’m getting a head start {the wedding is in 4 months!} on some lovely wedding ideas. My family and close friends know that in my former life I was most likely a wedding planner, so I couldn’t help shedding some light on some beautiful ideas for the impending nuptials. {Thanks for indulging me.}
{via Martha Stewart Weddings}.

Elie Saab.
{via Brides Magazine UK}.

{flowers via Ink & Peat}.

Flower Box Centerpieces.
{via Martha Stewart Weddings}.

{via Flikr}.

Congratulations Miss NYC! I can’t wait…


… >> 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

crayon hearts.


This is a project I have done with my daughter P every year for Valentine’s since she was about 3. It’s so much fun to watch the wax melt {her absolute favorite part} and it makes me feel better about using up all those odds-and-ends crayons. We save them up all year just for this project. The hearts look so beautiful when they’re done.

And don’t feel restricted to putting them up on windows, I hang mine from the ceiling with string and they look amazing that way. Follow the instructions here, and craft away.



… >> 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 Alma

Easy Eco-Friendliness

I had a moment this past week (and only one moment unfortunately) to curl up with January’s Martha Stewart Living. I loved the recycled t-shirt project they featured, where you can turn old t-shirts into reusable shopping bags. My husband has a whole drawer full of t-shirts he no longer wears, and this project seems like it will take a lot less time than making a “t-shirts of my bachelorhood” commemorative quilt.


Read the article here.


… >> find out more…

Alma

by Allison

no knit.



Although I actually am a knitter,
I think this scarf is fabulous so I’m going to
“no-knit” it anyway.
Martha Stewart
has me all excited with several fun
do it yourself projects in her
magazine.

It looks simple enough.
Here are the instructions.

No Knit Scarf.

{via Martha Stewart Living}

Get your knit on.


… >> 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

monogrammed cork.


This is going to be one of my first
craft projects
in the new year.
One for each of my children for their rooms.
It looks fairly easy to do
{it always does though right??}
and has a simple, sleek design.

Perfect.
Craft away.

{via Martha Stewart Living}.


… >> 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.