enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

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I would eat frozen yogurt everyday.

When I lived in LA for school I'd drive 15 miles (or more?) each way just to get frozen yogurt at my favorite place in Pasadena. Sometimes with friends. Sometimes by myself.

I am a really slow driver.

I do my very best thinking while in the car. But the problem is I have no where to write down my ideas and so therefore, much of the thoughts go missing shortly after putting on the parking break.

The California DMV ran like a pillar of efficiency compared to the Maryland MVA.

That is not my personal secret, but I just had to get it off my chest.

When we were in Maryland, I wanted to have kids as soon as we got married.

Now that we're in a different city that crazy urge has died down. It seems like there is too much to see and do and live through for awhile.

This does cause me some concern that boredom appears to be the reason I wanted little ones.

I think recognizing this is a positive step.

So we're on the "let's re-evaluate how we feel in two years plan".

In two years, Paul could have already been deployed and back.

That's terrifying.

He is much braver than me.

I try to avoid conversations that involve the phrase "So, what do you do?"

Because I don't know how to describe my job in real life.

I feel like I spend way too much time legitimizing the internet and Blogland and handmade.

I wonder if I am just trying to legitimize it to myself?

Speaking of legit, Monday night we felt a pretty big earthquake.

During it, we just stared at each other in a state of bewilderment.

I'm pretty sure that is not the correct course of action during an earthquake.

I'm also pretty sure that if we had been fighting at the time, the earthquake would have put an end to it. Pretty hard to remember your point when the ground is shaking.

Unrelated, excessive clutter makes me nervous.

Less nervous than fast drivers, earthquakes and deployments.

But more nervous than almost everything else.

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33 responses to “25 (more) secrets.”

  1. Monika Wright Avatar
    Monika Wright

    Do you ever just notice your wedding ring in the corner of your eye and stop and think, “Wow. I. AM. MARRIED.? I used to do it more, but still do it now. Even after 12 years I still love him more and I still love my ring!

    Like

  2. LiladeTresor Avatar
    LiladeTresor

    Dont’ worry to much about the “legitimizing the internet and Blogland and handmade” stuff. You’re you and for the moment it looks like you’re doing what you love. Remember this: http://www.elisejoy.com/ πŸ˜‰

    Like

  3. Armalite Avatar

    Love the flow of this post πŸ™‚

    Like

  4. chris Avatar

    I love this. I love how honest you are in your posts. How you bare yourself…our fears, etc. without even knowing many of us. And there’s no need to legitimize the internet. You do awesome things. And if they ask you what you do, point them here.

    Like

  5. Alyssa B Avatar

    funny pic and lots of laughs reading through your post. TFS

    Like

  6. margot Avatar

    your blog is becoming one of my favorite places. πŸ™‚

    Like

  7. Lisa Martin Avatar
    Lisa Martin

    you could get one of those little recorders to keep in your car so you can record your ideas. I think my phone has one. Or do what my sister does: calls herself and leaves a message at home (provided you still have a landline, most people don’t nowadays!)

    Like

  8. marta Avatar

    fantastic. this totally made my day. i am so with you on the legitimizing stuff part. hooray. happiness for your california exploring.

    Like

  9. desiree Avatar

    i am still kinda stuck with frozen yogurt, yum.
    ps: what you do is totally legit. don’t worry about what others think. i have learned that people will always find a way to critizise when they want to.
    thats what happened to me when i said i wanted to be a stay at home mom, who during nap time makes crafts. people think its lazy… if they only knew.

    Like

  10. Carla Avatar
    Carla

    Elise, most people would love to be as creative as you are and able to support yourself doing what you love! The “let’s stay in the box” people just feel safe there. Live YOUR life! You are doing such a great job of it!

    Like

  11. Jessica O'Brien Avatar

    you make me laugh. i only bring up babies when i’m bored too (or when i see really, really cute ones), but we won’t act on it for awhile either. i just want to live as a married couple, and experience being a wife, before babies enter the picture. πŸ™‚

    Like

  12. thursday Avatar

    I don’t like people asking what I do, as the answer is mom. And I’d much prefer to say something thrilling like detective or archaeologist (I was but never finished my degree).

    Like

  13. David Avatar
    David

    “Real” people always avoid conversations that center around, “so what do YOU do?”. Good for you.

    Like

  14. Mandy Dake Avatar
    Mandy Dake

    I think it’s awesome you have decided to be a couple and take time to do those new city things first. My hubby nad I had kids just 2 years into our marriage and sometimes I miss the us being a couple and doing those things.. but when I see my boys, I member that we are a family, not just a couple. Hugs, M

    Like

  15. SAJ Avatar

    I suppose you already have lots of socal friends but if you need another one I’m just a hop and a jump up the coast from you.

    Like

  16. creole wisdom Avatar

    I do a ton of freelancing, some nannying, and a low paying internship at a really cool magazine. I would never be able to do these things if I didn’t have help paying for my education and continual support from my parents. I have to remember that the life I live is a blessing πŸ™‚
    It seems like you are kind of in the same boat, but with a lot of support from Paul/military- that is great, and what a blessing to have the ability to be creative and do your bliss, while not having to seriously worry about basic needs πŸ™‚
    In our society everything has to be “legit,” but especially so if you are somewhat of a recent graduate from college. I think it’s only natural of people to ask, and people get big eyes when I start rambling off all the “jobs” I do- it’s part of the deal. I went to a state school so I don’t feel too awful for the cost of my education in relationship to what I am doing now, but of course when you go to a place like USC, people are probably going to as you a bit more-
    Just saying, it’s a luxury!

    Like

  17. Carrie Avatar

    You just crack me up. Have a good day!

    Like

  18. Gabi Avatar

    I love your creativity and your honesty, Elise! Every time I read your blog, it makes me think about so many things in my own life. Keep being yourself and be happy!

    Like

  19. R Avatar
    R

    I have been known to traverse the country for yogurt from 21 choices in Pasadena, California.
    It is absolutely worth whatever amount of time and distance… I might be drooling a little bit now.

    Like

  20. Sandi Keene Avatar

    What do you do? You are an ARTIST. Simple. And a really, really good one.

    Like

  21. Heather Avatar

    I do my best thinking in the shower…same problem!

    Like

  22. heyjenrenee Avatar

    totally love how your brain flows … i can relate. (and I hate explaining that I’m a stay-at-home mom, because it’s more than that … and … it can be harder than people think.) anyway, love this post. πŸ˜‰

    Like

  23. Lanne Avatar

    Elise – Try this… What do you do? – I am an artist. They will either smile and move on.. OR ask.. and then you can explain. It is a legitimate real answer… and you only need to expand if they ask. πŸ™‚

    Like

  24. Cameron Avatar

    I always thought I wanted kids as soon as we got married, too, but then once we got married and it was suddenly real and possible, we decided to wait, too. πŸ™‚ So maybe that’s part of it and it wasn’t just boredom. πŸ™‚

    Like

  25. Valentina Avatar

    You are really funny πŸ˜‰ I usually don’t know what to say to the β€œwhat you do” question. OK. I know what I do, I know what I’m doing, but still sounds “funky” every time I say: I’m an artist. I always get the “hmmm..” face πŸ˜‰

    Like

  26. lauren Avatar

    hehe! the bit about what you & p did during the earthquake totally cracked me up!!! πŸ˜‰
    great secrets!
    *

    Like

  27. elise blaha Avatar

    thank you. πŸ™‚

    Like

  28. Tori Avatar
    Tori

    Random but… has anyone ever told you that you look kinda like Rebecca Mader, the girl that plays Charlotte on Lost? Just wondering, not trying to be creepy stalker…

    Like

  29. elise blaha Avatar

    No! Thats cool though!

    Like

  30. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    Love this post! It sounds just like what goes on in my head. You don’t need to legitimize anything, you’re a great inspiration to many people. The first thing I do in the morning is check your blog. You motivate me to get moving and accomplish more. You are amazing!! Keep up the good work & best wishes to you and Paul!

    Like

  31. kristen Avatar

    a lot of ppl have kids b/c they think that’s what they SHOULD do. but really you don’t have to.
    waiting to reassess is a practical, smart idea!!

    Like

  32. Marcia (123 blog) Avatar

    love this list too.
    I also do good thinking in my car BUT i keep a notebook next to me and at the traffic light I take notes (keywords) πŸ™‚

    Like

  33. A. Sanborn Avatar
    A. Sanborn

    Lazy… stay-at-home-MOMS definitely aren’t lazy and the crafts is to keep the sanity! {wink}

    Like

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