by Allison 7 • 3 • 2014

Tech Summer Camps For Kids Apps + Design

Kids can be tricky in the summertime. Believe me, I’m a work-at-home mom, which means summer is a blessing and a curse. I love having my kids home more than life itself, but keeping them intellectually challenged and busy 24/7 is a job in and of itself.

We started out the summer with Some Fun Summer Bags for Kids, and a couple weeks ago spent the weekend doing the Kids Adventure Games at Snowbird. We’ve done an Easy Summer Activity Book DIY, we’ve made an Ice Cream Sandwich Cake, and we’re getting ready to blow up an entire box of fireworks. But still, the children remain at home most of the time, imploring me to entertain them, as if I am their cruise director.

So I’m doing what any mom in her right mind would do, and I’ve signed them up for day camps.

My little guy is going to a school day camp wherein he will learn about oceanography for 2 weeks, and my daughter is about to start an app camp for kids, followed by a design camp, where she’ll learn basic graphic design and Adobe Illustrator. I’m teeming with jealousy. I would’ve … >> 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 7 • 1 • 2014

Fun Photo App You Have To Download

I have a photo app to share with you. It’s free, and it’s amazing, and you have to go download it ASAP. It’s called Studio Design a design + photo app to make your pictures even better. To tell a story.

Imagine your favorite Instagram photo with gorgeous designs layered on top, and the perfect amount of text to help the photo tell a little bit more of the story.

Like this picture of my little guy in Warsaw a few years ago. It was the perfectly captured photo of my son, who at that time legitimately believed he could fly. He lives life at 200%, all the time, and even though we didn’t plan for his yellow shoes to match the yellow bench, it was perfect. Add a little bit of text and you get a bit more of the picture.

This photo is a capture of my daughter who’s been sick for several months, throwing up all day every day, and the graphics and text on this photo of her complete the picture: think positive.

Go download the app. It’s free and available for both Apple and Android devices and so much fun to play with. Remix … >> find out more...

Allison

by Allison 6 • 30 • 2014

Keep Your Kids Healthy During The Summertime

It’s really easy to end up having kids on the couch, inside all summer long, watching TV and playing video games. It’s too hot out, kids are bored, moms need a break. But it’s not a whole lot of work to get kids active and busy outside, if you plan ahead.

Every summer I make some fun summer bags for my two kids. I call them their ‘Welcome to Summer’ bags, filled to the brim with enough outdoor activities + toys to keep them busy all summer long. Outside.

I fill the bags with sidewalk chalk, beach balls, kits to make S’mores, squirt guns, water balloons, you name it. The kids look forward to it all year long, and it makes the transition into summer easier. It also sets the tone for the kind of summer we’ll have: a busy one!

Here are my top 3 ways to get and keep kids active, all summer long.

Set the stage (make a summer bag!)
Sign up for stuff!
Plan ahead. Make a summer bucket list.

#1: To set the stage for an active summer, set expectations for your kids. Let them know the plans you’re making, tell them the kind … >> find out more...

Allison

by Kimberly 6 • 29 • 2014

Easy Summer Activity Book DIY

This Summer activity book DIY might save my sanity for the next 9 weeks. I’m not really kidding. The month of May was so insanely over-scheduled and hectic it seemed the last day of school would never arrive. Then WHAM! The kids are home and it’s head first into swim team and t-ball and worrying about the infamous “Summer Slide”. It’s a thing, the “Summer Slide”, the thing where kids lose some of their academic skills over the summer. Turns out it’s legit–according to my resident expert and professional educator who happens to be my husband. The good news is a little bit of reading and writing over the summer can kick it to the curb.

So, school ended in a flury and frenzy and I realized I needed to come up with a strategy for keeping their brains busy and strong, not to mention keeping their mouths quite and bodies still for a precious few minutes. And I had to do it quick. Really quick. That’s how this no-frills, easy Summer activity book DIY was born. Or, rather, printed off, hole punched, and thrown in a binder. Made almost entirely of stuff I had on hand or could quickly … >> 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 6 • 28 • 2014

Some Ideas To Help You Celebrate The 4th Of July

4th of July, 4th of July! You know there’s nothing better than a summer holiday, right? For me, it’s the 4th of July. It’s my favorite holiday, hands down. The weather is gorgeous and hot, the pavement is baking, kids sit on the sidewalk eating dripping Popcicles, and fireworks end the day. It’s the most fun of the whole year, and that’s saying something.

I make my famous American flag cake. We sometimes run a 4th of July 5k and watch the early morning hot air balloons. There’s a parade in Provo, and we never miss it. There are afternoon naps, BBQ’s and frosty cold caffeinated beverages abound.

Cousins, adorable cousins come from near and far.

Sometimes there’s a baby or two, on a good year.

There’s grilled corn on the cob, and squirt gun fights and sparklers and a table full of desserts. There just isn’t a better holiday than the 4th of July.

I have a couple of favorite recipes for you, so you can whip up something red, white & blue for your own celebrations.

A yummy 4th of July dessert recipe made with the most American of ingredients: whipped cream + Jell-O. An American Flag … >> find out more...

Allison

by Allison 6 • 27 • 2014

Summer Fun Under The Stars

Summer is fun, isn’t it? Seriously, summer is my saving grace during the long, cold Utah winters. Sometimes I go weeks at a time during a freezing, slushy March just dreaming about the summer, when all things are possible. Summer in Utah really makes up for the miserable winters, and we spend summers swimming, barbecuing, camping, horseback riding, hiking and playing in the mountains, kayaking, and hanging out on the back yard deck.

I’m super excited to be partnering with Kohl’s #DestinationSummer to share some fun summertime ideas in Utah, because you should definitely visit. Utah is absolutely amazing, especially in the summer. We got all dressed up for this fun summertime idea, and you’ll understand why below.

This summer we’re not traveling like we usually do, we’re staying close to home to have our fun since my baby girl is still sick after 3 months of non-stop vomiting. No big deal though, because Utah rules summer.

In fact, spending time under the stars is the best way to experience Utah in the summer. The days are hot and dry, and the nights are perfect and cool, just right for movies + symphonies under the stars, which is exactly … >> find out more...

Allison

by Allison 6 • 24 • 2014

Sexy And Totally Comfortable Shoes For Women

Sexy, comfortable shoes? Total oxymoron. Usually. But Brian James, a relatively new shoe company defies the un-sexy odds of comfortable, day-to-day staple shoes by making some seriously hot shoes for women.

Brian James is a shoe company started in 2012 by Angela Edgeworth, founder of the adorable children’s footwear line, pediped. Angela named the new shoe company for women after her husband Brian James (so cute!) because aside from her love for her two daughters and her shoe collection (OBVS), her husband Brian is her favorite.

Now, let’s talk about the shoes. Last summer I was gifted a pair of Brian James sandals. I was in the middle of hosting a party for 350 women in Chicago, in July. It was hot, I was tired and my feet swollen, and I’d just walked 5 blocks in the heat and humidity before I put my new sandals on. I’m always skeptical when it comes to new shoes, especially when my feet don’t feel awesome, and I’m here to tell you, WHOA. These shoes, you guys! So comfortable.

I’m a total shoe wimp. My feet can only handle certain kinds of shoes, and I really won’t suffer for fashion. I’m too … >> find out more...

Allison

by natalia 6 • 23 • 2014

Summer Nail Colors

One thing I love about Summer is a bright shiny manicure or pedicure. I just can’t stay away from all the shades of pink and orange and colors inspired by cotton candy and ice pops. Aren’t they so pretty lined up there all nice? Let’s talk summer nail colors in pastel, pink, and orange.

Pastels

Sometimes it’s fun to rock something out of the ordinary like these colors from Joe Fresh that make me think of summer treats like sherbet and cotton candy. JC Penney carries this line but I couldn’t find them online, you might have to check it out in store. Pastels are fun and very on trend right now, and a fun manicure is an ideal way to play with a trend.

Orange is the new black

I love the color orange. I think Elle was wrong when she said “whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously disturbed!” It’s a beautiful color and a really fun bright for summer. The middle one, from Wet n Wild is about a dollar or so at Target and it lasts forever! Don’t underestimate a bargain brand. The Revlon is a very true orange which probably works all year … >> find out more...

natalia

Natalia is a mom to two crazy boys and wife to one handsome dude. She lives in France part of the year where her husband plays professional basketball, but she hails from Southern California. The hubs was born & raised in Nassau, Bahamas, which makes them an intercultural, interracial family traveling the globe together since 2007. She loves to cook (but mostly eat), hang with her fam, be adventurous, & find ways to stay girlie in a house full of men. On her site you can find loads of hair tutorials, makeup ideas, & fashion tips for the everyday woman. She believes that beauty and fashion don't have to be intimidating and that every woman should learn to embrace her own beauty.

by Jen Price 6 • 20 • 2014

Summer Vacation Photography Tips

Ah, Summer vacation. It’s like an oasis from the long school grind. It’s something that everyone looks forward to which is why all the memory making from this very important event must be documented. Here’s a few Summer vacation photography tips that I’ve found helpful as I’ve learned to capture the memories but still enjoy the moments.

1. Capture the small moments that spark an emotion. When we drove from Texas to California, our car was packed down. I knew we would forget how crazy it was unless I took a photo. Same was true when we pulled into our driveway after a haul to Utah and back and we looked at the speedometer…3399.9 miles. Small moments but they’re fun to remember years down the road.

2. Let your child get behind the lens. I love seeing things from their perspective. While camping in Moab, I gave the camera to my son. Not only did he love it and capture some great shots but, it was also a memory in itself! As far as photography tips, this one might be my favorite.

3. Don’t get too focused on capturing the perfect shots that you’re not present. As a photographer, this … >> find out more...

Jen Price

Jen currently makes her home between two continents, one in the great state of Texas and the other in a small town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. She wears many hats such as wife, mother, photographer, storyteller, communications director, writer, traveler, and lover of dark chocolate. She writes for several websites including her personal blog, I Believe In Love, where she shares her creative ventures, her photography, and the stories of the orphans she loves on in S. Africa.

Tech Summer Camps For Kids Apps + Design

Allison

Fun Photo App You Have To Download

Allison

Keep Your Kids Healthy During The Summertime

Allison

Easy Summer Activity Book DIY

Kimberly

Some Ideas To Help You Celebrate The 4th Of July

Allison

Summer Fun Under The Stars

Allison

Sexy And Totally Comfortable Shoes For Women

Allison

Summer Nail Colors

Pastels

Orange is the new black

natalia

FMP 300.250px Zone1

Utah App Camp

FMP 160.600px