petit elefant

cinnamon sticks jewelry $50 giveaway.

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving to you, and you, and YOU.

I'm giving you a leg up on Black Friday tomorrow by giving you this awesome Cinnamon Sticks Giveaway today. A $50 Gift Card to spend as you please on gorgeous jewelry.

Spend it on your mom, your sister, your friend, or yourself but have fun while you shop.

Canela's jewelry is in a league of its own, and I'm really excited in advance for whomever wins the giveaway.

Have fun and Happy Thanksgiving!

Giveaway Details:

To enter the Cinnamon Sticks Giveaway leave a comment on this post.
Leave ONE comment on this post between today and Thursday December 3rd Midnight, MST.
Link to this post on your own blog (include the url in your comment) and receive an extra entry.
Twitter about this giveaway with a link to this post for another entry.
Become a fan of Petit Elefant on Facebook, and you guessed it smartypants, you get a third chance to win!
Anonymous entries will be ignored, so please include your email with comment.
If you're selected to win, you have 7 days to claim the prize or it will be forfeited.

I give thanks

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us,

and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.

--theodore roosevelt--

for health, for love and friendship all around, for two little boys with eyes of blue, for His faith that I am capable of raising them, for song and for laughter, for plentiful meals and plentiful blankets, for education and love of books, for online-shopping, for kindness received and kindness I might show, for Mr. J's willingness to do dishes, for old fashioned values, for trials that discover strength, for country and for sacrifice. I give my thanks for all this and more.

Happy Thanksgiving

may your travels be safe
may your holiday be memorable
may you feel gratitude on this truly American day

[photo found here, a clever idea, too!]

thanskgiving plans.

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

So one of us {I can't remember if it was me or Viktor} thought it would be a great idea to head to L.A. for Thanksgiving. Warm, summery temperatures and memories of the sea tempted us. It seemed fun at the time. Harmless even.

We are idiots.

There is nothing even remotely fun about packing up a household to drive 12 hours straight in a car with two kids less than 36 hours before Thanksgiving.

Nothing, I tell you.

While you are reading this I'm either driving through St. George begging Viktor to stop for a potty break, driving through Primm begging Viktor to stop at the outlets {there is a Williams-Sonoma/Pottery Barn outlet to.die.for.} or I'm asleep as we pass through the Nevada border into California.

Good times, good times.

I'll try to post while we're gone. We're having a Polish/American/Taiwanese Thanksgiving so it ought to be interesting. Plus, we're staying in some really fun hotels. With pools. Which totally equals hot tubs, and that's all I really care about.

Happy trails.

christmas came early!

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Friends, Christmas came early for me this year. Santa {that would be the Santa of me} brought mama a new camera. Something to replace my aging, dropped on, battery sucking Canon A560. Which incidentally really doesn't take the most horrid photos on the planet. But I wanted more, because I'm selfish like that.

This is what I've been using. It's a good one, but it's seen better days. The lens doesn't close all the way, I have to do it manually. The batteries last about 15 minutes, so I travel around with a recharger and two pair of rechargeable batteries and most of the time when I'm in the middle of taking a really good photo, it completely dies on me.

Exhibit A:

It was time for us to take a break from each other. It's not the Canon, it's me. Really.

I replaced it with this beauty:

The heavens have opened, the choirs are singing, and I'm so blissed out I can't stop playing with it long enough to sleep at night.

{Sleep is for the weak anyway.}

gift guide book pick: encyclopedia of immaturity.

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:49:00 +0000

It's time to start talking about gift guides. I've got about a million and one ideas and suggestions for you, so let's get this party started.

My first gift suggestion is the book The Encyclopedia of Immaturity Volume 2 {yes, there was a Volume 1, and enough demand for a second book} for any grade school age kids you might have roaming around your house.

If you have a kid in the grade school range I don't need to tell you that your life is filled with poop jokes and armpit farting, you're already living the dream. This book is a guide, a whole encyclopedia filled to the brim with ideas to give your armpit farting kid a new repertoire. They'll love you for it.

two-way radios & day-after-thanksgiving-sale madness.

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:50:00 +0000

I've been in denial about this whole Christmas thing because frankly, my life is too busy for it to be the holidays already. I need another month or two just to catch up on my laundry, never mind holiday shopping.

But I know there are those of you who are die-hards for day-after-Thanksgiving crazy sales. Raise your hand if you get up in the dead of the night to wait outside in the cold with your sisters/girlfriends/husbands/mothers/neighbors/strangers.

Seriously, I won't judge. But I do have a brilliant idea for you. Now, if you really are a seasoned pro, this post will make you yawn because you probably already own a pair of binoculars, two-way radios, and layouts of every department store in town. But for the rest of us? A little idea: these Motorolla Two-Way Radios.

These babies have a range of 35 miles, yes MILES, so your girlfriend can be at the big box across town shouting out which Power Rangers she's grabbing by the cartload for you over there, while you can shout right back that you have her back where the Barbies are concerned. It's a win-win scenario.

Round up your troops, grab your sales fliers from your incoming massive Thanksgiving day newspaper, have a strategy session, and get a hold of a pair or two of these radios.

May the best mama win.

family games

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:50:00 +0000

Thanksgiving is coming, in case you weren't already aware. We'll be joining my in-laws again this year, as we have for all but one of the last 10 years. I haven't enjoyed Thanksgiving with my own parents and siblings in over a decade, and some of my memories are beginning to fade a bit. I remember loving the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, which made for perfect entertainment while I helped my mom stuff the celery or devil the eggs or chop the apples for the delicious dressing. We ate on her china and the crocheted tablecloth, homemade jam bejeweled her great grandmothers crystal dish, there were individual salt and pepper shakers at each place setting. My mother and brother argued about who sat on which side of whom and banged elbows all during the meal. Grandma made pies, usually including a chocolate cream pie just for me.

After our big meal we enjoyed games. When I was little, we stuck to Candyland and Uno, which evolved into Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit and Boggle as I got a bit older. Sometimes we went to a movie, but rarely. I'm really hoping I can persuade Mr. J's family to bust out some board games over the holiday weekend, to balance to the usual arsenal of PlayStation and NFL. Some good ones for our our crowd might include:

Scattergories

Twister

Taboo

What are your post-feast traditions? Please share! Perhaps we'll incorporate something new this year.

indoor catch

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:28:00 +0000

up in my neck of the woods, winter means a lot of time spent indoors. like 6 months of time spent indoors. I find myself searching for clever ways to beat the winter blues and cabin fever with my babes, so I am happy to be adding this to my list of rainy day activities. Easy enough my three-year old can help me make it. Tuck away anything remotely fragile and we'll be ready to go.

I saw similar gloves at the local big box store for 2-for-a-$1 this week, but I'm betting I've got a few old mismatched gloves in my winter gear bin that would work perfectly (recycling!). I do know for certain that there are some plastic golf balls in our garage (practice balls that have, ahem, never been used), so all I need is some adhesive velcro. Easy enough, right? This might even be something to entertain the younger set Thanksgiving weekend at Grandma's house. Oh I love to be the cool Auntie.

easy thanksgiving decorating.

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:00:00 +0000

I'm here to tell you if decorating isn't simple in every way, shape, and form I'm usually out. It's just the way it is, I don't have energy in my life for fuss.

So this year I came up with what has to be the simplest Thanksgiving centerpiece known to man. A jar full of pumpkins. No lie.

I bought the jar at D.I. for $1, bought a bag full of leftover Halloween pumpkins from the produce section of my grocery store for $1, and voila. Magic. All for the low, low price of $2.

What are your easiest {and recession friendly} Thanksgiving decorations?

tom and lucy's art shoppe.

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Where are you going this weekend? Besides the New Moon Premiere at the Gateway with me? I'll tell you where: Tom & Lucy's Art Shoppe.

What is Tom & Lucy's? Well, the hippest place on the map this weekend, your one-stop-shop boutique for holiday gifts. I'm telling you the vendors are phenomenal, the goods are to die for and frankly, you'll be one sad camper if you don't show up.

additions to our tradition

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:55:00 +0000

We are slowly building a collection of children's Christmas books to enjoy during the holiday season. Read more about that here. We read a lot of books with our little ones and it's nice to emphasize special occasions and holidays with an appropriate book. We have come across a few to consider this year. These two seem particularly lovely.

Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien

Tolkien is a brilliant mind, whether fantasy is your genre of choice or not. I love that Father Christmas sent personal letter to Tolkien's children each year, and that a book has been made of them! The illustrations are especially nice.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

the original story is a must read for everyone, but this illustrated adaptation seems like a great choice for very young readers to enjoy.

hosiery woes-ery

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:34:00 +0000

Motherhood and Pantyhose just don't seem to go together very well. Some say nylons or pantyhose should always be worn with a dress or skirt, some disagree. My personal feeling is that in the summer, hosiery is a bit silly. In the winter time, however, the reverse seems silly. I don't know the actual consensus on the matter, but I for one hate to have cold legs and unfortunately, I also hate (despise, abhor, dislike) traditional nylons and pantyhose. The slip, they slide, they itch, they run...you know what I'm saying. Add a toddler clinging to your legs, and a wiggly infant on your lap and it's a most-embarrassing-moment just waiting to happen.

Thank goodness for textured and patterned tights! Even fishnets. Yes, ladies, they are suitable for church, so long as they don't have trashy seams up the leg. I promise. I've been wearing them for a few years now and can attest that they fit better, are longer lasting and more comfortable than regular hose. And very on-trend. Not to mention they withstand the toils of wrestling small children when I'm dressed up.

DKNY Nude Fishnet tights

Gap Cable Knit Tights

Gap Herringbone Tights

J. Crew Wool Blend Ribbed Tights

brandi carlile {give up the ghost}

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:22:00 +0000

You know what I can't stop listening to right now? Brandi Carlile's Give Up The Ghost.

I discovered her last album The Story sometime last year and listened to it non-stop for a month. She evokes a certain likeness to the Indigo Girls with a little more bohemian feel and I love, love her music.

Might make for a great stocking stuffer for the music lover in your life. Go over Brandi's site and have a listen, I guarantee it will make you happy.

{image via Amazon}

holiday cards {by minted}.

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

I am totally excited about our holiday cards this year. First of all because it's early in November and my cards are already in envelopes, ready to be addressed. And secondly because they are so cool.

We ordered our cards through Minted, an online stationery company that does not only holiday cards but baby announcements, weddings, and basically anything awesome relating to paper.

I was really impressed with the huge selection of Holiday Cards from Minted; in fact it was the first year I've had such a hard time narrowing down my choices, they were all so different from your run-of-the-mill holiday card.

In the end though, I went with the Vintage Bicycle card, and how great did they turn out? I adore the fact that I found a card with a bicycle on it to go with the photo of our family riding across the Golden Gate Bridge this summer.

Perfection.

red chalkboard pantry door.

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:39:00 +0000

I've been begging Viktor for a red wall in our house since the day we moved in, to no avail. He thinks it's *garish*. Then I moved on to wanting a chalkboard wall, you know, for the kids. {wink} He decided it was too messy. So I came up with a winning compromise.

I painted the inside of the pantry door with chalkboard paint {for recipes, menus, and notes from the kiddos} and the outside, bright red. Everybody wins. Well, except Viktor. But as it turns out, he doesn't mind too much after all.

What do you think of the antique crystal door pull I found at the local antique store? I'm in love with it.

Even if someone whose name rhymes with *snicker* drilled through the glass when attaching it to the door and had to superglue it back together. It wasn't my proudest marriage moment.

kid storage on your bookshelves.

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:05:00 +0000

{from the archives}

From the word go as a parent I wondered how to go about decorating the way I like while integrating all the gear that comes with kids. While I know that IKEA gets a bad rap for being really cheap, it has saved my hide time and again when it comes to decorating. Especially in small spaces, and with children. Not many companies are conscious of children in their design, but IKEA is, and I love them for it.

Take for example, my study. It's the first room people see when they enter my home and it's my office as well as being the main play area for my children. It wasn't my idea to design it this way, but I'm trying to make the best of it. And that means that I get to hang out with my kids at the epicenter of activity in our home while I'm working. This has been a bit of a challenge as far as storage goes, and the best solution I've found is using these bins from IKEA. Sure they're not the prettiest, but they're indestructible, they fit almost any space, and they were literally .99 cents when I bought them. They may have gone up to $1.49, but they're worth the extra .50 cents, trust me.

Here are the bookshelves in my study. The pretty decorations, special books, and other things not to be touched by the kids go up high, and everything on the bottom two shelves belongs to the children. It's a fair compromise.

This stuff? Not within reach.

This too.

And this sand-disaster-waiting-to-happen? Too high. Also, it's off limits and the kids know it.

I've labeled the bins so I know where everything goes. Vehicles, train set, Lego's, etc. I could put photos on them, but I guarantee they'd be ripped off by day two. So I made it simple and put labels. The kids know where everything goes.

See? Vehicles. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

ModBod fall clothing.

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:00:00 +0000

If you need some sexy pieces of clothing to spice up your fall and winter wardrobe, look no further than ModBod clothing. I had the chance to try some outfits from the ModBod Fall Line and I'm here to tell you: run, don't walk to find your wallet. I haven't tried on such universally flattering, comfortable, well made clothing for women {us curvies too} in a while. Hot, hot, HOT.

I call this one the sexy secretary. It reminds me a lot of Joan from Mad Men; curvy in all the right places.

Here's a little cheat sheet for you.

L to R ModBod Anna Ruffle Neck Top $36, Forever 21 Necklace $4.80, ModBod Pencil Skirt $44.95, Me Too Black Pumps {TJ Maxx} $12.99

This next one is a great casual outfit with a little extra something-something. Wear it to work, wear it with flats, or throw it on for a date with your significant other. It could also be paired with a button down 3/4 length sleeve in just about any color. The square buttons on the skirt make it feel like a throwback to another time. Love. Weekend casual at its best.

This outfit is almost the same as the sexy secretary but I've swapped out a necklace for a scarf, and changed the skirt from the Pencil to the Belle. I think I could almost ride my beach cruiser in the Belle though; maybe I could wear it to a picnic in the park {minus the heels of course}.

Cheat sheet:

L to R Anna Ruffle Top $36.50, Forever 21 Gauzy Scarf $5.50, Belle Skirt $59.00, Black Pumps $12.99.

This last outfit could be worn in a million foxy ways. The flirty Victoria skirt would be fun paired with a turtleneck for the winter, a button down for the office, or a 3/4 length scoop tee for a casual lunch with girlfriends. The flip out pleats and bow at the bottom are too cute for words.

Cheat sheet:

L to R Anna Ruffle Neck Top $32.00, Banded Cardigan $32.00, Victoria Skirt With Pleats $64.00, Unlisted Heels{$8 thrift store}

Thanksgiving project

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:20:00 +0000

I haven't tried this one yet, but it looks like it's right up our alley. A fun little craft for my toddler and me. It's showcased as a place card for Thanksgiving dinner, which is a great idea, but it would also be fun to send these in the mail to far away loved ones. I think I might just try it. I'll let you know how it goes.[read: how long my three year old's attention holds/until I start using my own fingerprints]

is it too soon?

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

...to be thinking about holiday decorating? I know of those who put their Christmas lights up before Thanksgiving, even their Christmas tree. Me, well, I aim to have the shopping done by T-day, and the cards ready by December 1st. Key word being "try."

If you craft your way through the holiday season, you know it's not too soon to get started. I discovered these ornaments while searching for instructions to replicate a homemade ornament from my childhood. Aren't they pretty? And they seem easy enough to involve older chidlren. A sweet gift for a neighbor or friend, don't you think? A monogram is always a classy choice.

sick day

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:00:00 +0000

Today I'm sick. I had oral surgery the other day and it's left me in bed, wearing 2 day old pajamas with an ice pack on my face and a barf bucket at my feet. In other words:

party at my house!

I'll be back tomorrow. In the meantime, check out the newest episode of Glee. Woot.

dylbug giveaway winner!

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:41:00 +0000

The winner of the Dylbug onesies 3-pack is:

joolee,

love these! i just found out i'm expecting my 3rd, so baby stuff is on the brain...count me in!

Congratulations Joolee! Email giveaways@petitelefant.com asap and we'll get you in touch with Dylbug.

heritage

noreply@blogger.com (KJ) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:01:00 +0000

aren't these family trees lovely? I think so. the company, my tree and me, offers custom family history art and do-it-yourself options (think fill-in-the-blank) for $45 to $100. What wonderful heirlooms and artwork to display in your home, or gift to parents, newlyweds, or even for a nursery. I'm eyeing that colorful tree for myself.

{found via ohdeedo}

laundry room nook {for the Kinder}.

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Our laundry room is much like a galley kitchen in a Manhattan apartment: long and narrow without much space to work with. I've been brainstorming over the last few years about how to make it a little more user friendly, a little more family friendly.

The solution went thussly:

Step A}: Buy a coat rack from IKEA in the As-Is section for $3.99. Bring it home and screw it into the laundry room wall.

Stand back and admire your work.

Step B}: Buy an old, old bench from D.I. for $5. Take it home and paint it red.

Do a little happy dance because not only is the color of the paint perfect, it's oil so it's shiny and the red paint compliments the shabby apple green paint of the walls.

Step C}: Let it dry overnight and shimmy it into place under the coat rack on the wall.

Smile, because the bench fits perfectly and is short enough for your little people to sit on while they remove muddy/snowy/dripping boots.

Step D}: Go pour yourself a cold drink. You've just completed the easiest transformation of a laundry room in the history of laundry rooms.

Enjoy. I know I will.

shoe problem {it's called addiction}.

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:49:00 +0000

I have a problem. And the problem is the shoes.

You see? It would have taken two laundry baskets to hold all the shoe love you see here. I stopped at one, it seemed excessive enough.

I laid them all out on the dining room table for you to see. It's a problem. I just can't figure out which ones to part with, I love them all. I need your help sorting them out. Which ones do I donate, give to a friend, or keep? Seriously, it's time to give my closet a break.

I'm not parting with these. They serve the purpose of being cute with every outfit and adorning my feet when I hang out with my father's side of the family.

Besides, haven't you always wanted a pair of shoes that say this?

Me too.

These are my go-to foxy, tall, black high heels. They go with everything, especially fancy things like black dresses. I love them and will wear them to my own funeral, so they're not on the chopping block.

These are hideous, and delicious all at the same time. I wear them almost every day from October-May because it's cold in Utah. Really cold.

These are my comfy shoes. Vans, Converse, and running shoes. I wear all of them on a regular basis {some more than others, *cough, cough* running shoes}.

Flip flops.

I have Croc high heels {don't knock 'em}, Tevas {I live in UTAH}, Reef sandals {go buy a pair today, you can thank me later}, more Crocs {saved my feet at BlogHer}, pink Crocs {for mowing the lawn}, flip flops for painting projects, and my Birkenstocks. I adore my Birkenstocks. They will be my alternate pair of shoes when my feet start hurting at my funeral.

Then we have flats.

I'm obsessed with flats. I wear heels to fancy places and come home to wear flat shoes. I don't want to part with any of them. Especially that pair in the center on top. PONY. Oh, how they hug my feet. I walked all over New York in those things last year and never felt a thing. *sigh* Those can't go either.

Last, but certainly not least, are my high heels. The superstars of any girl's closet.

The ones in the bottom middle row? I've had them for 12 years. They're a pair of Nine West {my favorite shoe designer} blue leather heels, and they're comfortable in a way most high heels aren't. But they're scuffed. And they're not really that hot anymore.

Mercy, I need help. That's 27 pair of shoes, not counting the ones I was wearing while taking the photos {slippers. we all need a pair}.

Help me eliminate shoes so I can make room for more. Because I think Viktor's outer limit of shoe closet takeover might be closer to 35 pair than 27 and I want to see him sweat.

the cost of having children.

allison@petitelefant.com (Petit Elefant) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:28:00 +0000

{from the archives}

Pregnancy for me is not a beautiful, ripe, created by God for the wonder of the earth situation. For me it looks something like this:

four of these a day
{pumped into my body like this}

+

central line dressing kit
{to be changed by an in-home nurse, or my husband. weekly}

+

and lots and lots and lots of this

It's literally survival-of-the-fittest, and if mother nature had her way, I would be long gone by now. I try to keep it pretty light on Petit Elefant, but I've been thinking about the cost of parenthood recently, and I think it's a topic worth exploring a little. I'm not sure why I've been thinking about it, although it might have something to do with the fact that my four-year-old C {who caused all the trouble in the first place} is fascinated by the scarring all over my arms and wants to know where it came from. I have no qualms about telling him

"it came from you baby, all the scarring came from you."

The crazy thing is that even though I spent a year of my life in bed, on the verge of meeting my maker, I would do it again in a heartbeat if I could get another little C out of the deal.

I'm curious, to what lengths do the rest of you go to have babies? Was it accidental and you're still trying to find your way out of it? Are you one of those beautiful, glowing pregnant women? Or did you, like me, have to fight tooth and nail for each baby you have?

{I made this test multiple choice; you know, to make it a little easier on you}