enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

IMG_9933

I've been thinking a lot the past couple days about doing some sort of daily/near daily personal album in 2011. Right now, it looks like Paul will be deployed for most of the second half of the year which means there will be a lot of just me time. And perhaps an over-share, but we are getting closer to starting a family, so 2011 may be the last full year that we are little-one-less. It could very well be my last year where I am just me, not yet a mom.

And totally not life changing, but I've got a random list of goals that need to be tracked.

So I've been thinking of a good method to share photos and also journaling. To keep stuff but not too much of it. I want something bigger than my usual 4×6 but definitely not a full size scrapbook. It can't be too clean and simple that I get bored, but it can't be too over the top decorated that it's hard to keep up with. Project Life, which I have been hearing a lot about, looks cool, but I know I want to make the book myself.

Lots and lots of thinking and so far nothing feels right. But I'll keep you posted.

EDIT : Thanks so much for your ideas and suggestions. I am getting closer to a plan! I hope to make a few sample pages and share early next week.

Photo is in front of an awesome wall in Ventura. We pulled over when we drove by, I ran across the street and Paul snapped the picture. Me on January 1, 2011. I hope to get a lot more shots like this (secret goal : 100) during the year.

Posted in ,

41 responses to “more documentation in 2011?”

  1. Alexandra Avatar

    Wow.. this is an exciting post! I love the flower wall! I know what you mean about liking Project 365, but wanting to make it more “You.” I’ve been battling with this myself…

    Like

  2. desiree Avatar

    I love the picture of you & the wall. What an awesome wall… seriously.

    Like

  3. Sarah Avatar

    I totally agree with you – I have been hemming and hawing about getting the Project Life kit, but I am just not sure it is exactly my style… I need something not too big but not too small. I am eager to see what you come up with!

    Like

  4. Maria Stenlund Avatar

    LOVE the wall! I also have a question about your blog archive. I’ve been wanting to read your earliest entries but it takes endless of hours to click back in time. Is there any easier way to go through your entries, for example choosing years or months instead of just going back day by day?

    Like

  5. Johanna Avatar

    Dear Elise, this sounds so exciting. I have been toying with the idea of Project Life since I first discovered it sometime last spring, but it is SO expensive to order it from Germany. Sheesh. I like the idea of stuffing in random bits of ephemera, as this seems to be what I am doing anyway (but so far without a specific home and “purpose”), but I don’t think I would be using all the stuff that comes in the package. And only small bits really resonate with me design-wise. So. What I mean to say is this: It will be great to see what you come up with for yourself, and I am already inspired to create a home for my collection of life in 2011 without a $150 package to guide the process. So often, you put in words what is namelessly swirling around in my mind. It helps me a lot (maybe too much) to clarify the mess of thoughts when reading someone else’s take on the matter. Thank you.

    Like

  6. Funnelcloud Rachel Avatar

    Love that mural – there’s your first good thing about Ventura, a great wall for photographs!

    Like

  7. katie Avatar

    how perfect is that wall? love the photo.
    it’s a great idea to do a big “you” project before you start thinking about adding a little one to your family. it totally changes your life and one thing I wish I would have done more before having kids is work on things that make me happy. I mean, obviously you already seem to do a lot of great work that makes you happy! 🙂 but if you want to try something new, now would be the perfect time.

    Like

  8. kimberly Avatar

    that wall is SO YOU! i think it’s a sign that your move is going to be the right one 🙂

    Like

  9. creole wisdom Avatar

    Exciting news for you. Good luck and wishing you well. I know I can speak for other readers/comments, I’m grateful for Paul’s service and your sacrifice.
    I love the week in the life prompt, but also made it mine. I documented my last week as a student in undergrad. You can see what I did here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/creole_wisdom/3718349243/in/set-72157622434400531/
    I just used an old album that I had from a really old Heidi Swapp costco kit.
    Good luck documenting!

    Like

  10. Lisa Fine Avatar

    Such exciting plans, and I think documenting each day is a wonderful idea. Remember when people used to write in journals and diaries? I love the idea because it seems so old-fashioned.

    Like

  11. Jamie Ko Avatar

    I’m doing my own version of Project Life. My album is 6×8 and the only concrete plan I have is to not have one. Otherwise I’ll feel to much pressure to follow through. I do plan on taking a family picture on the first if every month but that’s as far as I know. Good luck!

    Like

  12. jodi Avatar

    what a great mural!!
    what about doing each month in it’s own book? maybe that would help keep it a size you are comfortable with and in the end, you’d still have an entire year.

    Like

  13. Sylvia Avatar

    Found you blog via Chelsea’s Interview.
    I’m very excited to see things to come from you this year! 🙂
    i wander, i wonder

    Like

  14. france Avatar

    I want 2011 to be a well documented year also, but like you, I’m at a loss for how to do it. I look forward to seeing what approach you take.
    and what a pretty picture…those flowers are amazing.

    Like

  15. Nancy Avatar

    Love the photo and appreciate you sharing your thoughts here with us.
    I don’t think Project Life is for you . . . you are far too creative! I’m anxious to see what you come up with only because I know it will be great.
    Keep thinking . . . you will come up with something that is just right for you!

    Like

  16. smallwonder Avatar

    Starting off the year with your orange and grey looks like a nice start to me!
    I also want to document 2011 because this is the year that we’re getting married! Right in the middle, in June. So this is a different sort of “just me” time and then the second half of the year will be us, our new little family! I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to get started but I haven’t found the right inspiration yet.

    Like

  17. Suzanne Avatar

    I’ve thought about project life, myself. But agree it’s better to make my own. Right now I’m starting a mini for my OLW; achieve, for 2011.

    Like

  18. barrentree Avatar

    I’m striving for this also, I can’t wait to see your ideas!

    Like

  19. kat :) Avatar

    fun! project life also sells just the pages, so if you wanted to use some of those & mix & match and make your own book? just an idea…

    Like

  20. kristen Avatar
    kristen

    How perfect is that wall?! So awesome.

    Like

  21. jessica o'brien | jessohbee Avatar

    gorgeous wall. kind of looks like the one you posed in front of for your wedding! i like you shared that note about the starting-a-family plan. i keep thinking the year ahead will be the time, but as i get closer, i push it. again and again… i’m just not mentally there!

    Like

  22. Denise Draper Avatar
    Denise Draper

    Elise!
    I was just in Sacramento with Rob and your parents after our trip to Tahoe and they gave me the beautiful cards that you had made with my name on it. SO cute!
    I also enjoyed looking at a wedding album full of photos of you and Paul 🙂
    I hope that everything is going well with the both of you, and hopefully Rob and I will get down there sometime soon to visit again! Happy New Year!

    Like

  23. Katie Avatar

    I love that photo! There are so many painted walls like that in LA too – I should be brave enough to go pose like you! I’m still trying to think of a 2011 documentation project too – something like Project Life. I’m looking forward to seeing what you make!

    Like

  24. Chelseabird Avatar

    Excited to see more of you, and your paper goods in 2011 Elise!
    Thank you again for letting me interview you :]

    Like

  25. naomi chokr Avatar

    I need to take more pictures of me. I take pictures of everyone else but me.
    I hope you will be ok when paul is deployed. We are here for yah!

    Like

  26. Dawn Nikol Avatar
    Dawn Nikol

    After tackling the December Daily and getting in the habit of making sure to take pictures AND actually edit/use them daily, I decided to take on the Project 365 in my own way. It’s not really so much about “me”, but about my daughter (she’s 14 months old) and I purchased these templates: http://vol25.typepad.com/vol25/2011/01/a-quote-for-your-week-chap-55-plus-template-update.html and I’ve been doing a sorta comparison of pics from 2010 and 2011 of the pics I have of her. I hope to do all 365 days, and it’s waaaaaaay more clean (and digital) than I normally scrap, but I plan to have them all printed into one giant book next year and start with just each day.
    I’m sure you’ll figure out something that works for you!!

    Like

  27. elise blaha Avatar

    I am so glad you like them! And thankfully you guys made it home safe with all that snow. Lets figure out a time to meet for sure! Happy 2011!

    Like

  28. elise blaha Avatar

    I know what you mean. Well see how I feel in a bit. 🙂

    Like

  29. elise blaha Avatar

    me too! and thank you.

    Like

  30. elise blaha Avatar

    awesome. I think I am going to go digital too. I think. More coming next week!

    Like

  31. Sarah Avatar

    Love the photo! And I’m so excited to follow your project this year…and your comment that you’ll be starting a family is super exciting, too! I’m not at that stage in my life, so I’ll be living vicariously through you in that regard!

    Like

  32. sophie Avatar

    great wall, amazing picture!

    Like

  33. Signe, Denmark Avatar
    Signe, Denmark

    Hi Elise, I have been having the same thoughts – wanting to document more especially before becoming a mother some day soon but still wanting to keep it simple AND interesting, but not knowing exactly which format to go with. Looking foreward to seeing what you come up with and in the meantime I will let the ideas purculate too.

    Like

  34. Tameeka Avatar

    Hi Elise
    I have been falling in love with your blog over the past few weeks. Keep up the awesome work your blog is beautiful.
    I am in a similar boat to you, my husband is often away at training and conferences, so I have a lot of “me” time to. Were also hoping to start a family in the next year or so. I have been having similar thoughts, wanting to document the everyday/regular stuff and wanting a simple easy way so it can continue after children.
    I have tried project life. For me i felt under “pressure” to do it daily so of course i didn’t. I also felt that I couldn’t get messy. To many little boxes for me. 🙂
    I have started and am actually continuing to use an art journal type format. A simple sketch book that I draw, paint, write, paste, cut and tape all sorts of things from our life into. I am sure I will change how I do it one day.
    I know that you have had heaps of great ideas here already. Just thought I would send you some love and let you know what has been working for me.
    xo Meeks

    Like

  35. color&love Avatar

    I agree!! My goal this year is to document my life better, and take MANY MANY pictures along the way!

    Like

  36. Genevieve Avatar

    Sounds awesome, can’t wait to see what you come up with! I did a project 365 (well, attempted a self portrait every day for a year, got 200 shots in the end), and made a huge mini out of the shots, and even though I didn’t document anything in words, the photos bring back so many memories. I’m really thankful that I did it, because it was the year before I got pregnant, so the last year as just me and my hubs. I’d love to do something similar now, but I don’t know how possible it would be with a little one around, so take advantage while you can! Good luck 🙂

    Like

  37. Michele H. Avatar

    Seriously…that is the BEST wall ever!!

    Like

  38. elise blaha Avatar

    Thats awesome. Just taking photos is key.

    Like

  39. elise blaha Avatar

    Thank you so much!

    Like

  40. celeste Avatar

    how serendipitous!

    Like

  41. Maria Stenlund Avatar

    Oh, now I found your blog archive. Was it there before or am i simply stupid??

    Like

Leave a comment