by Allison

What is it really like behind the scenes of a major film festival?


cannes film festival ticket



film festival


At the beginning of the summer I traveled to the French Riviera to attend the Cannes Film Festival with one of my best friends, Rachael, like you do.  Like one does, one who isn’t me.  Anyway no surprise: I loved it, every minute of it, especially the naked massage on the beach.  I might just up and fly to France one of these days just to experience that again.  The grocery shopping and resulting food purchases were ridiculous (insanely delicious.) France is awesome, and the Cannes Film Festival, the reason Rachael and I headed to the South of France in the first place, was otherworldly.


what it's really like at a film festival


I didn’t know this prior to heading into the festival, but one cannot purchase a ticket to the Cannes Film Festival.  Period.  You either are “someone” or you know “someone”.  I obviously belong in the latter category, which is awesome.  I was given a ticket to not only the film festival but all sorts of behind-the-scenes shenanigans as well, for which I’m super grateful.  I only had about 48 hours notice to get a red carpet dress, which proved trickier than you might imagine. I would’ve been in a huge pickle had I … >> 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 lindsey

Layered White Chocolate Pumpkin Cream Pie


pumpkin pie


 

Thanksgiving is my NYC marathon. Okay, maybe that’s a stretch. But I do spend an inordinate amount of time getting ready for the big day of gluttonous feasting by testing out recipes well in advance. It’s a sickness that results in the expansion of certain parts of my body and makes me thankful for jeans with a bit of stretch. You feel me, right? Okay. That’s how we come to this Layered White Chocolate Pumpkin Cream Pie.



white chocolate pumpkin cream pie


The vision of this pie came to me one day as I was remembering a pie I made years and year ago. My mom used to make this popular layered dessert in a 9 by 13-inch pan. Your mom might have too. A buttery layer of crust, then a layer of sweetened cream cheese, then chocolate pudding (from a mix), topped with Cool Whip. I turned that dessert into a 100% homemade pie using homemade pudding and everything. Everyone agreed it was a brilliant move, much better than the original dessert, and gave me several pats on the back. Heck, I was even patting myself on the back. So then I thought, why not make a pumpkin pudding instead of a chocolate … >> find out more…

lindsey

Lindsey Johnson can usually be found in one of three places--the kitchen (cooking and washing dishes), behind her camera, or at her laptop editing photos and writing. If she's not in any of those places, chances are she's chasing after her three crazy kids or scoring a great find at the thrift store. She writes the food blog, Cafe Johnsonia and lives near the beautiful mountains in Utah with the aforementioned three crazy kids and one great husband.

by Allison

Friday news roundup + some maps


us maps and prints


 

It’s Friday, and we all made it to the end of the week!  I shouldn’t say that in a surprised tone of voice, but I just did.  Sometimes making it all the way to Friday in one piece is straight up miraculous.  This feels like one of those weeks, and I don’t know why.  What I do know is that I’m going to see Thor tonight, and you can’t stop me no matter who you are.  Name that movie, I’m ashamed to say I’ve watched it.  Mostly I’m going to see Thor for the … costumes.  And the … Asgardians, maybe a little bit for Chris Hemsworth.  Actually the real truth *cough, cough* is that I’m doing it for the kids, because I love them and they need a reward not stabbing anyone in the face this week.

So what happened this week?  Well, it’s time for a Friday news roundup + some maps.  I think you’ll like.

 


handlettered map


 


travel essentials


 

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

Time to buy a purse and have an arm party on your arm

This post is sponsored by eBay.


coach leather purse


The holidays are nearly upon us (gak! I’m not ready!) and instead of scouring the interwebz for thoughtful gifts for the ones you love, I’d like you to take a moment, or two, or three to look at some pretties for yourself.  You deserve it.  It’s been a long year and you’ve worked hard at all of the things so put your feet up and take a peek at some arm party decorations I’ve gathered just for you.


silver and gold bracelet


 

While you’ve been working so hard at all of the things (pat yourself on the back, you hard worker you) I’ve been gathering like a squirrel for winter collections of things I love, collections of things I think you’ll love, from all over eBay.  One of my very favorite places to buy all of the things.

I’ve created dozens of collections from my favorite makeup, to boss leather jackets, to purses you must have this very minute, to an arm party of bracelets.  I’d love to have you follow my collections on eBay to see a myriad of my (ever growing) collections of everything pretty.

 


gold stacking bracelets




rebecca minkoff leather purse


 

I get a little … >> 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

Master bathroom remodel supply list

A couple of months ago I shared with you the finished product of our master bathroom remodel.  It was a tremendous, almost year-long project and I’m thrilled it’s finally over.  I’m even more thrilled about the fact that right now there’s nowhere in the house I’d rather be than my bathroom.  That sounds weird, but it’s true.  I never want to leave.  I just head into the bathroom and roll the big sliding yellow door closed and pretend the rest of my house doesn’t exist.  Like magic!

 

As I’ve spent the last couple of months meditating in the steam shower (I highly recommend this) I’ve been thinking about how happy I am with the choices we made in choosing all the building blocks of the bathroom, right down to the accessories.  I don’t always feel 100% happy with a remodeling project, but the color palette and general minimalism of the remodeled bathroom are so calm and quieting.  So transformative.  I thought it was about time I share all the specific pieces of the project and where they came from, starting with the crowning glory of my favorite place in the bathroom: the steam shower.

 

Steam Shower:… >> 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

Home made DIY blotting paper



homemade blotting paper





One of the modern marvels of the world, (my modern world anyway) is the invention +/or discovery of blotting paper.  Tell me you know about this stuff.  You do know about it, right?  If not no biggie, that’s what I’m here for, to help you navigate the sometimes weird world of beauty.

Blotting papers are these magical little squares of paper that absorb oil from your face.

Say what?

Truth.  You know I wouldn’t dare tell you guys any lies, I love you too much.



blotting papers DIY





This is what blotting paper looks like, little unobtrusive pieces of wafer thin paper.  It’s actually rice paper which is super fantastic at absorbing oil from your gorgeous mug and doesn’t leave anything behind so you won’t end up with powder residue on your nose when you head to the ladies to touch up your makeup.

Women still do that, don’t they?  Or is the ladies room just for a quick bit of gossip and general outfit rearranging?  I usually generally go to the restroom when I’m out and about because I’m an old lady with an old lady / post kid bladder.  Once in a while I refresh my lipstick in there … >> 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

OPI Fall 2013 Collection



OPI Fall 2013


Clockwise from top left: Incognito in Sausalito, I knead sour-dough, muir muri on the wall, embarca-dare ya, dining al-frisco

 

OPI has done it again.  A new amazing Fall collection of completely gorgeous nail colors for Fall 2013.  And you guys, this time it’s named after and color themed to match one of my favorite cities in the world: San Francisco.

If you know much about San Francisco you’ll probably have a little giggle at the nail polish names.  Embarca-dare ya?  Come on.  Lost on Lombard?  Stop!  The clever is almost too much to handle, and the colors are to die for, as always.

Check it out:

 



OPI Fall Collection 2013


in the carpool lane, lost on lombard, peace & love & opi, first date at the golden gate, keeping suzi at bay, a-piers to be tan, haven’t the foggiest



OPI Fall 2013


wharf-wharf-wharf, it’s all san andrea’s fault alcatraz rocks

I’m currently sporting ‘haven’t the foggiest’ which is a gorgeous metallic silver, but embarca-dare ya, and incognito in sausalito plan to get on my nails at some point in the next 7 days.  They’re all insanely good.  My teenage daughter is a fan of the liquid sand which are the bottom three colors, but I’m … >> 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

How to make your life the best life possible



living your best life


 

A few weeks ago I went to see this movie, About Time (a film from Richard Curtis, the creator of Love Actually, Notting Hill, and Four Weddings and a Funeral).  I love Rachel McAdams and romantic movies and was super stoked to see it, (check out the About Time movie trailer, good grief, you’ll want to go see it asap).  But it’s totally not a romantic movie (it is and it isn’t), it’s mostly an amazing movie about how to live the best life ever, no regrets.  It’s out in a handful of theaters November 1 and everywhere November 8th.

Go put it in your date book right now, I’ll wait.

 



living your best life


 

I beat the drum of living your best life all the time because I feel the frailty of life in a different way than most.  Living with Lupus has of course changed everything.  I don’t take much for granted, I can’t afford to.  Parenthood has affected me deeply, to the end that I think twice about everything, mull over my life’s experiences and how I can pass on the most important wisdom I’ve earned while taking my own advice.

 

 



live the best life


 

One of the … >> 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

5 boots you should be wearing this Fall



5 boots you should be wearing this Fall


 

Boots are as much a staple for a stylish outfit for Fall weather as the white tents during fashion week in NYC.  They’re a thing, an institution of Fall you might even say.  Exactly which boots you should wear is totally up to you, but there are a few standard boot choices, with a million and one variations to consider. Here’s a whole DIY post from Robyn on how to’s: transitioning into Fall Fashion, and another from me on 3 ways to wear booties this Fall.  Because really, what does one wear with a skinny jean?  What about a super flared boot cut pant?  And if you were to wake up and decide you absolutely must wear a dress to work that day, because your legs are too fabulous not to share, what on earth should you wear on your feet with that situation going on?

I’m so glad you asked!  I have a very fashion-y answer to all of those questions, just for you.

5 boots you should be wearing this Fall

  1. The tall high heeled boot:  perfect for a flow-y dress or gorgeous knee length or above skirt.  Not to be worn with a long

… >> find out more…

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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!