enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Ps1

We scheduled this trip in mid-April when work was crazy for us both and when we just were not connecting as a couple. It was really frustrating and having a short weekend getaway on the calendar was something nice to look forward to. (Paul had Memorial Day + Tuesday off of work so we were able to go Sunday and avoid the insane holiday traffic and hotel rates.) By the time the trip came around, thankfully, things had settled both personally and professionally, but it was still a much appreciated mini-vacation.

Whenever people ask what we did on vacation (or what we plan to do on vacation) we're always pretty embarrassed. We do nothing on vacation. We sit. We enjoy good food and cold drinks. We nap. We people watch.  We laugh a ton. That's it. On the one had, we're the worst travelers ever, because we never do anything exciting or adventurous on trips. But on the other hand, we're the best travelers ever because we always come home relaxed and refreshed. 😉

Ps10
Ps15
Ps24
Ps11
Ps6
Ps5
Ps8
Ps7
Ps22
Ps12
Ps23
Ps25
Ps14
Ps26
Ps13
Ps4
Ps2
Ps17
Ps28
Ps16
Ps29 Ps20

I was a photo taking machine over the 48 hours we were gone (though it's easy because the Ace Hotel and Palm Springs in general is crazy photogenic). I'm so excited to pull these images (plus many more) and all the paper scraps I collected into a minibook this next week.

fun facts : my black & white maxi dress and red polka dot swimsuit are both from Old Navy. Those brown sandals are Steve Madden (similar here). My sunglasses are Kate Spade (here's a similar pair). That nail polish is essie ole caliente. We stayed sunburn free with the best non-chemical sunscreen ever. I am absolutely loving The Creative Habit and can't wait to blog more about it. That last photo of Paul with the cheesy grin is my favorite ever.

Posted in ,

37 responses to “our trip to palm springs in photos.”

  1. Isobel_A Avatar
    Isobel_A

    Nah, that’s how you should do holidays – nothing to be embarrassed about! Why go on holiday to run around like a crazy person?

    Like

  2. Sue Avatar

    What are holidays for if not relaxing? I tend to go a bit crazy doing things on trips (and come home needing a holiday!) but every so often I plan one that is solely for stopping, relaxing and resting. It looks like a sweet trip.

    Like

  3. christen Avatar
    christen

    it looks perfect!

    Like

  4. melissa Avatar

    in my world: those vacations are the best vacations. eat-sleep-relax
    love looking at your photos!

    Like

  5. Karina K Avatar
    Karina K

    Those are the best vacations. I felt the same way when people asked what we did in Hawaii and I said relaxed by the pool and beach and drank! Then they would ask didn’t you do this and that and I said nope we just relaxed.

    Like

  6. Elle Avatar
    Elle

    On the last three family holidays, my family has spent a large proportion of our time playing cards in the comfort of our hotel (including our most recent trip to Melbourne, Australia for a family wedding). Pretty sure it’s as long as you’re happy with the way the holiday goes, then you shouldn’t care what you did or didn’t do!

    Like

  7. Emily S Avatar
    Emily S

    I am dying over the coolness that is a polaroid camera in the room.

    Like

  8. Amy Avatar

    That’s what you’re supposed to do on holidays! Looks like a fantastic time 🙂 can’t wait to get away in the sun later in the year and do exactly the same! xoxo

    Like

  9. laura b Avatar

    My husband and I are heading to Palm Springs in June for a few days of “just the two of us” time. Any recomendations for eating?

    Like

  10. Skye Avatar

    Your vacation looks amazing! I can’t wait to see your minibook. 🙂

    Like

  11. SKUnger Avatar
    SKUnger

    That sounds & looks like a perfect vacation! My husband & I did the same thing to celebrate our 25th anniversary… just hung out, relaxed together, ate great food & enjoyed one another’s company immensely. Sometimes we just need time away to remember why we fell in love!

    Like

  12. JillT Avatar
    JillT

    Love your ‘vacation philosophy’ and love that camera and tag! Looks like a very cool place to stay!

    Like

  13. Frankie Avatar

    Sounds like an absolutely perfect way to vacation. Makes me excited to my beach vacation that can’t come fast enough!

    Like

  14. laura k Avatar

    I am totally with you re: not doing things on vacation. I’d much prefer to lounge around with a book or some magazines and get some real relaxation. Sounds like you had a perfect weekend. Yay for taking time to rejuvenate!

    Like

  15. Mindy Avatar
    Mindy

    doing nothing on vacation sounds amazing! we are always on the go sight seeing etc,,,and now with a little one in tow there is really no time to do nothing 🙂 ahhh….some day!! curious what kind of camera was left for you to use at the hotel & did you use it?

    Like

  16. elise blaha Avatar

    it was a polaroid, but we did not use it. 🙂

    Like

  17. nicole : three by sea Avatar

    I’m a firm believer that vacations are for relaxing and wandering…if there’s an itinerary, it’s not a true vacation.
    Also, I LOVE “The Creative Habit”…very inspiring and motivating- some great exercises at the end of the chapters.

    Like

  18. elise blaha Avatar

    Awesome! We waited forever (and ever) to have breakfast at Cheekys and I have to say, it was worth it. If you are going to be there on a non-weekend day check it out for sure (but remember they are closed on Tuesdays). We went to happy hour at Flemmings Steakhouse. If you eat at the bar any day between 5-7, they have select cocktails and appetizers for $6. We loved Flemmings in SD so we went back. Get the calamari and beef carpaccio… so good! Our fancy dinner was at Spencers and while it was good, I am not sure we would go back. Ace Hotel has a diner in it called Kings Highway and we ate there for breakfast our last day. Very good and the service is 100% better than yelp claims. I think they are working on it. 🙂 Hope that helps!

    Like

  19. San Avatar

    I think that sounds like an awesome vacation.. It’s good that you can just “be” 🙂 also, the bread in one of the last photos looks delicious!!!!

    Like

  20. Carole Avatar
    Carole

    Looks fantastic!! I get your “nothingness” on vacation. My husband and I are the same way. We went to Catalina Island for our 10th annivesary a few years ago – in NOVEMBER. I don’t know if you’ve ever done Catalina in November, but there is NOTHING. A few restaurants open. Many closed. Summer activities shut down. Gorgeous weather, though. And we sat by the pool… I read 2 books in a few short days. The question… “What did you DO??” kept coming up. Nothing. And it was the BEST. We settle into that. Just did Vegas this last wkend. Not gamblers. No shows this time. Just walked and talked and dined. And it was glorious!! We do have the 3 kids – and we do adventurous things w them… the ziplining, water slides, amusement parks.. we do “adventure” with THEM. When its us… we put our feet up and enjoy just being together. Great job, Elise+Paul, at reconnecting that way. Sometimes adventure can just equal distraction, and sometimes food for marriage is just being together. We’ve found that to be the case for sure. Looks like a great Palm Springs getaway!!

    Like

  21. Sarah G Avatar

    Those are the best kinds of vacations (and weekends)! I always feel a little funny at work when people ask about my weekend, because more often than not my boyfriend and I like to keep things really relaxing and simple on the weekends, so I don’t have anything fun! and exciting! to fill people in on come Monday morning…oh well, I like it this way.
    Is that sunscreen for face only, or face and body? I really need to get away from the chemical sunscreen so I’m gathering recomendations!

    Like

  22. elise blaha Avatar

    The stuff I linked to is face, but they make a GREAT SPF 30 for body that I use too. 🙂

    Like

  23. Cara-Mia Avatar

    Love all these photos! Looking forward to the mini book you come up with. My husband and I were just there. 🙂

    Like

  24. amy tangerine Avatar

    SERIOUSLY AWESOME.

    Like

  25. Lindsay Avatar

    Ahh!!! I’ve been wanting to go to the Ace in Palm Springs so bad. Well I’d actually like to go back to any Ace hotel. I LOVE them. My hubby + I stayed at the one in Portland when we got engaged 🙂 It will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart + the photo booth. P.S. I love Josie Maran’s sunscreen too. I want to try the body one too.

    Like

  26. Jennifer Kang Avatar

    your hotel got together with impossible project?! so cool!

    Like

  27. Ali Avatar

    wow! i wish we had cool/retro hotels like this is australia to visit! 🙂

    Like

  28. r8chel Avatar

    Elise, I really enjoy your approach to photography. I love that you have so many close-up shots of things you want to remember from your vacation, rather than including lots of context like I tend to do, which makes the photos much less interesting.

    Like

  29. JJ Avatar

    Elise since you take a lot of photos – can you share how you keep them safe? As in – do you have a large hard drive or a few backups? I LOVE to take pictures but I find I run out of room quickly since I have a nice high res camera. Thanks for sharing your view of the world 🙂

    Like

  30. elise blaha Avatar

    I have an external harddrive that I backup to about once a month and I print lots. 🙂

    Like

  31. Kathy Martin Avatar

    You two are so cute and you have the most fun!!! 🙂

    Like

  32. Sara Avatar

    Love your blog! I am a military girlfriend, and let me just tell you sister, the relaxing moments together are truly the best.

    Like

  33. lucky penny love Avatar

    Thanks so much for the advice!

    Like

  34. kristen Avatar

    such cute photos of you guys! and the hotel is pretty photogenic, too – love all of the typography and signage shots!

    Like

  35. JJ Avatar

    Thanks for answering 🙂

    Like

  36. Chrystina Avatar

    That’s awesome. I’m really enjoying all of the pictures where people’s faces are sort of cropped out of the frame. Great shots!! Glad you guys had fun… and I think it’s AWESOME that you guys do nothing on vacation.

    Like

  37. Michelle Clement Avatar

    Love your vacation photos!! 🙂 The mister and I love nothing vacations…we recently forewent a trip to Florence in lieu of staying a few days longer on the beach when we were in Italy – and I have to say, that’s always the best way to go on trips! Soooo much more relaxing and good for the soul – at least for us, too. 🙂

    Like

Leave a reply to Amy Cancel reply