enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

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I am currently on a layover in Denver and almost home. I had a really great trip to Winnipeg. It could have been awkward and it could have been amazing and happily it landed on the good side.

I learned a lot of different things about art, type, my damn camera lens, motherhood, marriage, painting, Lululemon, skincare & David’s Tea. (More on those last four will be coming soon.)

But as I sit here on my computer and get my head back into “work mode” for the first time in two weeks, two things that we talked about a lot are circling my brain.

ONE : social media only works if you enjoy it. If you don’t have to think about it, you’re probably doing it right.

TWO : nothing rings as true as authenticity. It’s impossible to please everyone and trying to do so will drive you insane and turn your work into vanilla.

And so for September, I am going to try a new experiment. I’m not going to look at the numbers. Google Analytics? We are on a break. I am not going to worry about what posts get the most hits or how many comments are coming through. I am not going to think, am I tweeting too much? Am I tweeting to little? Is it okay if I hate facebook? Is this post relevant? Am I relevant? Am I going to make money? Am I right? Am I wrong? Am I crazy?

I’m just going to roll with it.

Happy September. I am so excited to get back to work I might just skip the plane and fly home by my own power.

photo by Kal with instagram.

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36 responses to “two things.”

  1. Jen Avatar
    Jen

    Double like on both those points!

    Like

  2. cinback Avatar

    love your new experiment…i had to go there too, and it works.

    Like

  3. Amanda S. Avatar

    I only look at that analytics junk to see how many cool places people come from all over the world, the rest meh. I care more about just reading the comments people leave, the conversations I have with family and friends about “something they saw on my blog” than all that other stuff. I hope you continue doing what you are doing – I love reading your blog and seeing your projects! 🙂

    Like

  4. Kara Avatar

    LOVE this. excited to see where it takes you.

    Like

  5. Linda Avatar

    I so appreciate this post. I am sure you will have a great September! I hope it for you, definitely.

    Like

  6. Stephanie Howell Avatar

    Good for you. This is much how I approach my blog. Of course I don’t run a business…but I think you’ll enjoy it.

    Like

  7. molly Avatar

    I love this. Good for you. The answer to Am I relevant is a resounding Yes Yes Yes. You are.

    Like

  8. Leah Buckley Avatar

    sounds like a great experiment. and that picture has me SO excited for script school!

    Like

  9. elise blaha Avatar

    So sweet. Thank you. And thanks for reading.

    Like

  10. elise blaha Avatar

    oh man, script school will be amazing!!

    Like

  11. Gabi Avatar

    I love this post, Elise! Let’s get rolling with a free mind.

    Like

  12. Carrie Avatar
    Carrie

    You are so lovely! I admire your courage to try new things, step outside the box and get an immense amount of encouragement from seeing you always give your best to things. I think the think one of the things I love most about you and your blog (it would be impossible to pick one thing) is that authenticity. The posts never feel “staged” or driven solely to increase readership, but they inevitably do because you, your story and your creative spirit are so real.
    Keep up the great work! So glad you enjoyed your travels. I am looking forward to Script School, too. Heading out to buy my supplies this weekend!

    Like

  13. Erica Avatar
    Erica

    Excellent plan – and David’s Tea is great!

    Like

  14. robyn Avatar

    loving this! i find i struggle with twitter a ton – now that owen is here i definitely don’t want to be online as much as i used to be, and twitter has been the first thing to drop off my radar. which is okay; like you said, if i have to think about it, i’m not doing it right! so i’m not worrying about it. i’ll tweet if/when i want to – if i’m thinking about it, i’m going to walk away!

    Like

  15. melissa Avatar

    great attitude, as always.
    anxious to see your post on david’s tea!

    Like

  16. Cindy Avatar

    I love hearing your creative and business brains trying to work things out harmoniously. I am sure it will turn out great. =]

    Like

  17. Nicole Avatar

    Love this post Elise. I hear where you are coming from. I’ve been having similar type thoughts and get so absorbed in what everyone else is doing that I start comparing it to my own work/projects and that’s not fun. Good luck with your new experiment. You rock!

    Like

  18. Tiffany B. Avatar

    Love it! I am with you. Sometimes looking at all the “numbers” & stats makes my head hurt. I always look forward to you reading you posts no matter your up to.

    Like

  19. Skye Avatar

    I love your attitude about blogging and social media. Your blog always makes me feel happy and inspired. 🙂

    Like

  20. creole wisdom Avatar

    There are several “big” blogs that I have ceased reading for various reasons, but yours is one that I come back to time and time again. I think it’s because I “found” you in 2005 and you have always been genuine and open about who you are, where you are and have been vulnerable without over sharing. So basically, the opposite of vanilla and your stats show it. People like real people.
    I’m excited to hear what you think of Lululemon. I love that place, even if I could only buy a head band 🙂

    Like

  21. elise blaha Avatar
  22. Alex Louisa Avatar

    Hooray!! I hate Facebook too 😉
    Good points all around.

    Like

  23. Rachael Avatar
    Rachael

    My Sensei used to say “don’t think just do”. I have found this advice to be helpful in so many areas of life. Don’t think just create!

    Like

  24. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    my favorite part of your blog is the i am a real person part. even today at lunch with my friend — i talked about your running clothes and book on metabolism and how i love love love your mini books and how you document life. it’s you. it’s who you are. it’s what you believe in and how you live. such a genuine example. the rest is a bonus.

    Like

  25. Amanda Avatar

    thank you for this post. especially: “social media only works if you enjoy it. If you don’t have to think about it, you’re probably doing it right.” that’s something I’ve been struggling/thinking about a lot lately.

    Like

  26. Jess Avatar

    Love the sounds of the experiment, Ever since i found you blog, back just before you got married, i have loved it ever since, I look forward to reading your posts, i feel that they are more personal then alot of other big popular blogs, I love your crafts, and photography and that you share with us the personal things as well.
    thanks for blogging!

    Like

  27. Amy K Avatar
    Amy K

    Love this…good for you! I look forward to seeing how this new approach evolves for you.
    Safe travels.

    Like

  28. alexandra Avatar

    I’m excited about everything that is to come with your new apporach to thing – so excited!! I adore you and your blog.
    and I do hate facebook – and I think that’s ok 😉

    Like

  29. Bloomingayl Avatar

    You hit a home run with this post.

    Like

  30. Jade-ee Avatar
    Jade-ee

    i love that feeling of being so inspired that you very feel theres so much energy inside you that you could actually fly ❤

    Like

  31. Emily Rooney Avatar

    Just have to say, I love THIS post! All this can be SO overwhelming, to say the least, I think this is an awesome plan.

    Like

  32. sierra Avatar

    as i’ve started writing more regularly again and as i am working on my new blog i have been trying to remember why i want to do this in the first place – growth is good – but i want to tell my story – whether some reads it or not, and hooray if they do and they like it 😉 but the joy of documenting my life and what i love at this moment always must come first – even if i want to live on the stats page some days 😉
    p.s. i found lulu lemon this winter and have love everything i bought – i love the little details and so far the quality has been great
    p.s.s.– your skirt and t-shirts from your trip look like i would like to live in them forever – where did you get them?

    Like

  33. elise blaha Avatar

    thank you! That gray vneck tee is from American Apparel and I live in it. The skirt I bought at Nordstrom and the brand is stem. I shared it in my I LOVE August post awhile back if you want a link. 🙂

    Like

  34. Kathrina Avatar

    Even though you don’t want to think about it…I liked this post. No, LOVE. Happy September and happy…HAPPY.

    Like

  35. Meg Avatar

    I loved the quote about work turning into vanilla. For whatever reason it that whole comment really spoke to me!!

    Like

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