enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

our thanksgiving.

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We had such a nice holiday weekend. Per usual, I didn't get to spend much time with my camera in hand, but I do have a few photos to share.

This Thanksgiving didn't have the stress that came with hosting two years ago. Maybe because we had done it before? Maybe because it felt like we had the extra space this time around? Maybe because this year we had regular TV so folks could watch football? Not sure, but either way it was relaxing and simple. My favorite.

And now I am so ready for Christmas. It feels like we get a bonus week because Thanksgiving was so early. I am truly wanting for nothing this holiday season (and trying to get Paul excited about skipping the gift exchange this year) and so I am looking forward to just decorating our house, drinking hot apple cider, listening to Christmas music, working on my holiday book and finishing my last quilt. I feel a crafty season coming on and I am so thrilled to ride the wave.

Have a great week.

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22 responses to “our thanksgiving.”

  1. Kelly Jean Avatar
    Kelly Jean

    What a lovely Thanksgiving post. I love how simple this s.

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  2. Jenny Lynch Avatar
    Jenny Lynch

    Love your tablescape and mantle! I don’t think that apron could be more adorable either…is it another crafty creation of yours?

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  3. -Michelle Avatar
    -Michelle

    In honor of you and Paul I actually ate a brussels sprout at my aunt’s house. It was not as disgusting as I recalled from my childhood, so YAY.

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  4. Robin J Avatar
    Robin J

    I’m excited to see the crafts you get up to over the next few weeks! Last Christmas, I got inspired by your painted pots and made some of those as gifts for family.

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  5. lee Avatar
    lee

    Looks like you had a pretty and delicious Thanksgiving! =)
    Would love to hear more about this “skipping the gift exchange” concept, too, if you’re able. My fiance and I have simply agreed to disagree when it comes to the idea of a “small gift exchange” on Christmas, so I’m always interested to hear how other couples approach that.

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  6. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    thank you! I actually got it as a bridal shower gift. It is from Crate Barrel. 🙂

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  7. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    thanks! Basically we are having a hard time coming up with something we really want this year. So instead of just struggling to buy each other something we do not really want or need, I want to skip the whole thing! We are going to see a play in SF 12/27 and I think a great date night sounds like a better idea than a little gift exchange. I am hoping we can just transition to giving events/spending time together instead of wrapping little presents. 😉 good luck!!

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  8. Martha Avatar
    Martha

    Elise,
    I love the idea of a great date night. My husband and I usually give each other “experiences” more than things which works better when you have little room for things. Last year for our anniversary we went to the OC Fair and saw a comedian for my gift and went deep sea fishing for his. We really just want to spend time with each other more than giving things. This year we are adopting a few angel tree kids and buying together for them. They need the gifts more than my husband and I do.
    Unrelated, I read that they will not make the Bazzle cardstock for PL next year. I really liked it for mounting my instagrams to this year. Do you think any of the current ones would coordinate with your PL kit next year? I would love to get some now to go with your kit next year. Hopefully that makes sense.
    Martha

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  9. Angie Avatar
    Angie

    My husband and I always skip the gift exchange part of Christmas for ourselves. I think we pretty much stopped doing it the year we were married. We exchange bday gifts though. This year we are trying to do as many homemade gifts as possible for everyone on our list. 🙂

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  10. Karina K Avatar
    Karina K

    Thats what me and my boyfriend do, we don’t exachange gifts thru out the year but this year we went on vacation to Hawaii as our Christmas Gift. And usually for birthday’s we go on weekend trips to San Diego or Santa Barbara.

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  11. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Hmmm, I had not heard that! Bummer!! I like to just pair everything with white or kraft cardstock (bought at my local craft store) or even just layer smaller photos on top of simple patterned papers. I do not have specific ideas for cardstock that will work with the seafoam colors, but you can never go wrong with neutrals. 🙂

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  12. Carole Avatar
    Carole

    Yes!! We stopped giving gifts to our three kids even… years ago when they were really young. they are now nearing teen years/one is a young teen… and we have some wonderful family memories of “adventures” that we’ve had as a family. They get gifts… one from each set of grandparents, one from their cousins, and one from their uncle. And I plan something fun for us to do shortly after Christmas – I wrap a certificate or website print-out with that idea and put it under the tree. They save it for last and its actually the present they look forward to most of all. AND MY SHOPPING IS A PIECE OF CAKE every year!!

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  13. J3SS1C4 Avatar
    J3SS1C4

    We do similar… We end up buying things we want ourselves, so it’s hard to come up with ideas at Christmas, so we usually do date nights or weekends away as well. Experiences together tend to stand out more than a meaningless gift anyway.

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  14. J3SS1C4 Avatar
    J3SS1C4

    Looks like you guys had a yummy thanksgiving! I love the look of your mantle as well… It turned out so pretty and full of handmade goodness! I wish we had a mantle here… When decorating our new house when we move in next year, I might try to find away to include something like this for me to decorate since your always so inspiring 🙂

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  15. Fiona Avatar
    Fiona

    Looks like you had a lovely Thanksgiving! I love how you decorated the mantle. I can’t wait to see how you prep for Christmas!

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  16. sophie Avatar
    sophie

    i love the idea of not exchanging gifts. since my husband and i got married a year ago, we don’t exchange gifts any longer. however, we do go out on”date-nights” weekly, and surprise each other with fun treats through the year. wishing Paul + you a wonderful season!

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  17. Brianna Avatar
    Brianna

    Looks like a delicious day. Why not, instead of exchanging gifts, you go somewhere? Go to Disneyland for the day. Go to Santa Barbara for a long weekend. Do something instead of giving something.

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  18. Chrystina Avatar
    Chrystina

    That apron is absolutely adorable, do you remember where you got it from?

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  19. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Thanks! Crate and barrel a few years ago. 🙂

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  20. Martha Avatar
    Martha

    Elise,
    Can you please share some tips on how you get such great above the table perspectives. I am short (5 feet) and even when I stand on the chair it still doesn’t seem as good as yours do. I love that picture with your family member’s hands holding the platter. I would love that shot of my grandmother holding the bowl of creamed corn she always makes for me at Christmas.Thanks for the inspiration.

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  21. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    I just lift the camera above my head. This means I cannot see through the viewfinder, so I usually have to take a few shots, but it works out great. 🙂

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  22. Martha Avatar
    Martha

    Great idea, thanks

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