by Allison

This is 40 movie

this is 40

Movie weekend has arrived at our house.  Over the holiday break we try to hit as many new movies as possible, because man, that’s when all the good ones for the entire come out.  All at the same time.  Do you do this?  Now that our kids are old enough to sit through (and enjoy) movies, we take full advantage of all the bounteous Hollywood movie glory available.

This weekend I’d really like to see the movie: This is 40.  Have you heard of it?  It opens today, and even though I didn’t want to see it initially (I’m closer to 40 than I’d like to admit, and totally leery of anything reminding me of it), now I’m dying to see it with my husband.

The preview kills me.  Clearly Judd Apatow has been married for awhile to have written and directed a movie so (painfully) close to the truth.  I think the best part is that the movie stars Apatow’s real life wife, Leslie Mann.  Hilarious.

So what does any of this have to do with you?  Aside from the fact that you need to go see this move ASAP, I’ve got a little sponsored giveaway: … >> 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

Make a DIY Christmas tree card how-to

(How-to make DIY note cards is yet another great post from Stuff Steph Does, just in time to head home for the holidays and hand out your very own Christmas cards.  See below for the how-to. -Allison)

make a DIY Christmas tree card how-to

//    Hello again! Steph from Stuff Steph Does here, and this week I’m doing a how-to of some simple DIY holiday cards you can make and share with your loved ones. Make a set of these to give as a gift or send notes of holiday cheer yourself. Either way, learning the how-to of these handmade note cards is sure to help make someone’s season a bit brighter.    //

Make a DIY christmas tree card how to

Supplies for how-to make DIY note cards:

  • blank note cards – you can buy a set of these at a craft store, or just fold over card stock and make your own!
  • graph paper for sketching out your pattern
  • scissors
  • felt
  • glue stick
  • thread

Here’s how-to start: sketch out the tree on the graph paper. Once you’re happy with it, make that your pattern and cut the shape out of the felt.

Make DIY Christmas card how-to

Glue the tree down on the card with the glue stick so it doesn’t slide around while sewing … >> 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.

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by Allison

Another last minute beauty gift guide

beauty gift guides
another last minute gift guide

Another gift guide for the last minute holiday buyers among you (and me)!

I’m no slouch when it comes to obsessing about beauty products, so here’s another last minute suggestion list/guide of my favorite beauty products.  Sometimes saving the best for last is the very best of all!  Isn’t it?  Just me?

There’s something in this guide for every beauty lover/wearer/consumer you’re friends (or frenemies) with, so don’t stress what you’re going to get that fussy teacher/mother-in law/boss: hint: #5 Philosophy’s Amazing Grace perfume.  Also, a word of advice: go go go GO now! to buy the OPI Skyfall 007 collection.  It’s made of magical lacquer and Daniel Craig pheromones and Goldeneye. (minus the Daniel Craig.  and the pheromones.) Perfect for a stocking stuffer for you someone worthy of James Bond Daniel Craig.  That’s serious business.

Now go forth and last minute shop with this guide as your compass, I won’t fail you.

1. 80 Acres Blood Orange Body Lotion 2. ‘Skyfall’ OPI Skyfall 007 nail polish collection 3. Tarte 5 piece lip gloss collection 4. Sephora smoky kohl eyeliner 5. Philosophy Amazing Grace perfume 6. Fake Bake faux glow shimmer… >> 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.

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by Allison

Last minute beauty gift guide

holiday style gift guide

last minute holiday beauty gift guide

Here’s a guide for the procrastinators among us (huzzah!), I have some last minute gift ideas for the stylish and beauty obsessed women in your life.  All the gift ideas in this beauty gift guide would make perfect stocking stuffers or presents for the main event, and I guarantee someone *ahem* would go bananas to have these in her life.

You’ll most likely ABSOLUTELY impress whomever you’re gifting.  Mom, grandma, roommate, sister, girlfriend, sister-in-law, teacher, yourself.  This stuff is off the hook.

Take this guide, tuck it in your pocket and head for the hills malls, you won’t be the only last minute shopper in there, (be sure to say hi when you see me).

1 + 2. bareMinerals 15 piece collection, (eyeshadow + lip gloss 3. Set of 10 L’Occitane shea butter hand cream 4. Sibu vegan sea Buckthorn facial soap 5. Tarte 6-piece eyeliner set… >> 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.

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by Allison

How to make a DIY stud bracelet

// Learn how to make a DIY stud bracelet in today’s post from new contributor Stephanie Gerber of the blog Henry Happened.  She’s wicked talented and you’ll know how-to make a DIY bracelet before you even know what hit you. //

how to DIY studded bracelet

Hi! I’m Stephanie of Henry Happened, and let me introduce myself by saying that I’m a bit of a magazine hoarder. Ever since my first subscriptions to Sassy and YM checking the mail has been one of the highlights of my day. My roommate in college (my sister) joked that I did more magazine reading than studying.

Now I’m more of a Martha Stewart and Real Simple gal with some Lucky thrown in. Do you love magazines? Which ones do you read?  How often?

The January issues have been hitting the mailbox and after flipping through the latest fashion candy, I noticed that all of a sudden, studded bracelets are everywhere! Arm parties are still going strong so it’s time to add a simple studded bracelet to your stack.

Want to make your own? Of course you do! It’s super easy and I’ll teach you how to do it!

How to make a DIY stud wrap bracelet… >> 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.

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by Allison

2012 what did we learn this year?

2012 is almost over, (thank everything) so let’s talk.  What did we learn this year?  What did YOU learn in 2012? Is there anything you’d like to do-over in 2013?  My list is huge, but I guess every year we live and learn and try again to do it bigger, and better, and kinder than the year before.

2012 was a rough year for me.  I tried hard to make it a healthy one, but you know.  Some years Stupid Lupus wins, and this was one of them.  There were some amazing parts to the year though, and man did I learn a few things (or three) so let’s recap:

In January I felt peppy with the new year and made a promise to live every day like I mean it.  I highly recommend doing this for 2013.  Make a list of random things that make you happy and check them off like a to-do list.  Life, elevated.

In February I remembered that even though my husband is the patron-saint-of–Valentine’s-Day-hatred, he’s still my very favorite person to wake up with every single day.

2012 what did we learn this year

In March I thought to myself I was doing okay as a parent teaching my kids … >> 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

Giving the gift of art to ones you love

Have you ever thought of giving someone you love the gift of art?  I’ve done it a few times in small ways; a print of painting by a favorite artist, a beautiful photograph of a happy memory or wonderful vacation.

I have yet to meet someone who wouldn’t love to receive such a thoughtful gift, have you?

giving gifts of art

I’ve wanted to turn some photos of my family’s favorite travel moments together into canvas and hang them in a gallery all along the wall up our stairs.  Somewhere I would see them every single day, and remember especially on hard days, the great memories we have as a family.

Don’t you think that would be fun?

Like this photo of my daughter surfing for the first time on our ridiculous amazing family trip to Costa Rica this Spring.

You can’t buy the kind of joy shown on her face.  In every single photo of her surfing she’s smiling or laughing irrepressibly, completely unaffected and totally spontaneous.

I want to look at that photo every day and remember how happy we were that day on the beach.

giving the gift of art

Or maybe go a little funky and get a huge canvas of this crazy lizard our … >> 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

Make your own DIY hex earrings

DIY hex nut earrings

// Make your own DIY hex nut earrings with a tutorial from new Petit Elefant editor Stephanie. //

Hi! It’s Stephanie from Henry Happened. Still looking for Christmas gift ideas? I’m so far behind on my shopping it’s not funny! Today I’m sharing how to make your own super simple pair of earrings that involves one of my favorite crafting activities – a trip to the hardware store! You can make this project in bulk and whip up several sets of earrings in under half an hour. So much easier than a trip to the mall, right?

I’ve long been a fan of the simple hex nut but on my last visit to Home Depot I discovered that they come in gold. A shiny, expensive looking gold! I wanted to make something delicate and dangly with them so I crafted up a simple pair of earrings and a fun matching necklace.

Ready for a trip to the hardware store?

Make your own DIY Hex Nut Earrings

DIY hex nut earrings

You will need:

  • Gold hex nuts – I recommend size 8 or 10
  • 2 earring hooks
  • Gold chain
  • Needle nose pliers

Step 1 – 2: Decide how long you want to make your … >> 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

WIN an amazing Canon camera this season

Canon DSLR camera giveaway

This season I love you a little extra. Not that I don’t totally love you every.single.season of the year, but this season is something special for me. For all of us really. It’s the holiday season! which means in addition to the giving of yourself, your time, your heart, and your special cookies/toffee/dipped chocolate you only make once during the holiday season, today it’s time to give the gift of awesome to YOU.

Which is why today I’ve teamed up with 9 TOP bloggers to bring you an amazing giveaway. As a way of saying thank you to our awesome readers, together we are giving away a >> 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.