enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

day in the life / april 2013.

Dayinthelife1

I've been watching Ali document a "day in the life" at the end of every month this year. She's keeping it simple and her photos and layouts (which she works into her Project Life album) have been inspiring to me. The once a month plan didn't really work for me, but I decided to do it three times in 2013. Last Tuesday, April 30th, was the first. I'll do it again at the end of August and then towards the end of December. Obviously, my days will change a lot in the months in between and I love that I'll have a record of them in such a monumental year.

Dayinthelife2

I took 21 photos this time around. All with my iPhone, all cropped into a square and posted to Instagram without a filter. For journaling, I just noted the time and a simple explanation of what I was doing. I used the TimerCam app to get the photos where you see me in the frame.

Dayinthelife3

My takeaway from this project is always the same. I love everyday photos. So much more than any other type. I love playing with my camera and finding new angles and techniques to elevate these everyday photos. I also always remember how much I love routine. (And yep, I'm on board for the major routine shift that will happen with the addition of a little one.)

Dayinthelife4

This time around though, while taking a bunch of random photos in my house, I was also reminded of the William Morris quote, "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." This quote has popped into my head many times since we moved into this new place. It's there as I contemplate what to get rid of. It's there as I rearrange furniture to make it work for us. It's there as I decide what baby equipment we actually need. It's there as Paul and I weigh pros and cons of huge furniture purchases. Photographing my space and the life I live within it always gets me thinking.

I assume that in ten years, I'll be interested in remembering the details of this time in my life. But what I am always pleasantly surprised by is how much this project means to me in the present.

Related : my tips for taking interesting everyday photos & my tips for taking self-portraits.

*I will be working these photos and minor journaling into a one-page insert in my Project Life album. Look for that in Sunday's update post.

Posted in , ,

18 responses to “day in the life / april 2013.”

  1. Ffion Avatar
    Ffion

    Love the idea of keeping track of the daily stuff… I think it makes you appreciate everyday life a lot more… I often tend to forget the small details that make my life happy…

    Like

    Reply
  2. Pink Ronnie Avatar
    Pink Ronnie

    I hopped onto the Day in the Life bandwagon in February this year and have loved it. I don’t journal all that much for our weekly Project Life layouts, so setting aside a day a month to document in great detail what takes place over the course of a day is extremely special.
    Your everyday photos have always been inspiring.
    Ronnie xo

    Like

    Reply
  3. JillT Avatar
    JillT

    I love all your photos. I’m a “single” too, although older than you and not temporary like you. I seldom get pics of me and continually say I need to get better at it. Inspiring. Esp. love the patio pic and reading in bed. Thanks as always for the inspiration. I notice you get a lot of “I started stalking you. . .” and I too am one that has stay for the stories and the non-scrapping inspiration. (Is it a little creepy that I’m almost as anxious to meet Baby Girl Cripe as her ‘real’ family is??? 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  4. Hannah Teej Avatar
    Hannah Teej

    I love these images, they’re great and it has inspired me to add a similar project to my to-do list. My partner is also in the military and it’ll be great to do something like this when he’s next away.
    This is the first time I’ve left a comment on your blog, but I will do so more often. You are such an inspiration and your input on the ABM blogging e-course inspired me to keep learning code in my spare time.
    Thanks so much for the inspiration.
    Hannah
    http://www.thelemonhive.com
    Hannah

    Like

    Reply
  5. Alyssa B Avatar
    Alyssa B

    i loved this post! I see so much of myself in you. I too love routine and long, quiet creative days 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  6. Brianna Avatar
    Brianna

    Looks like it was a good day. I’ve always wanted to do a project like this, but my life is not so exciting.

    Like

    Reply
  7. Diana Avatar
    Diana

    Loving that William Morris quote. I actually wrote it down to let it inspire me to purge my apartment this weekend!
    xo
    Diana
    http://unusuallylovely.com

    Like

    Reply
  8. Sarah {findingabundance} Avatar
    Sarah {findingabundance}

    I love everyday photos too. There is that quote somewhere about how valuable an ordinary day is… Such a good way to remind ourselves of this. And a great way to document what a life changer having a baby is!
    Can you share some info on your teapot? Is it a cup with a strainer on top or a pot with strainer built in? I’m looking for a new one and I dislike fiddling with tea balls.

    Like

    Reply
  9. ~Michelle Avatar
    ~Michelle

    I really have loved your Day In The Life posts, bc all the ones I see from others focus on children (which I don’t have) and family life. You have done at least two without even Paul there, just yourself and your life.
    Yours will change soon, but I just wanted you to know I have found them really interesting, bc you don’t have kids, a job that you commute to, friends in your neighborhood, and all those other things, but you still find things to document. Very inspiring.
    Maybe I haven’t looked hard enough but I also don’t see people doing it who actually have a job (as opposed to “work”, which we ALL have in some way, right?). I cannot see myself taking photos at my office. In fact, it’s prohibited by policy (due to concerns about our competitors). I HAVE taken many many photos of my walk to and from work, my train rides, buildings, the river, etc. It’s been really nice to have it all documented, especially since in the last year we have had 4 people leave from my dept (starting with our director) and I have made found count em FOUR mini-scrapbooks for people. The last one was handed over last Friday to our assistant, on her last day.
    So if you’ve seen someone with a 9-5 job doing this and posting online, hey point me over there! Love to see it.
    IN other news… you might like this!
    http://edudemic.com/2013/05/52-gmail-shortcuts-you-should-know-about/

    Like

    Reply
  10. Jessi Avatar
    Jessi

    I always love your day in the life photos. You always have great angles and document the daily things in an interesting way. I haven’t done a day in the life since the addition of our second baby. I really need to do that!
    Oh, and the addition of a baby does not have to hinder routine at all! I have both of my kids on a schedule, a pretty strict one actually. Kids thrive on routine and familiarity. So schedules are great to have with littles. The baby nurses and naps at the same times every single day. Makes life so much easier 😉

    Like

    Reply
  11. kayoungche Avatar
    kayoungche

    Thank goodness for your blog today. It is an oasis in the middle of my most stressful days.

    Like

    Reply
  12. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    I have a ForLife brand mug and infuser. I bought it from amazon. The tea kettle is just a normal one, also from amazon.

    Like

    Reply
  13. yours truly, melissa Avatar
    yours truly, melissa

    Such a great idea. I should do this too. Maybe now, right before baby comes, after she’s here, and then later when I return to work. Would be interesting…

    Like

    Reply
  14. Sarah {Finding Abundance} Avatar
    Sarah {Finding Abundance}

    Thanks 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  15. Kellie Avatar
    Kellie

    LOVE this idea. I’ve wanted to do it for awhile now, just haven’t really found the time.
    I love yours. So glad you shared!!!

    Like

    Reply
  16. J3SS1C4 Avatar
    J3SS1C4

    Awesome photos as always! I love how you’ve documented your day in the life… Sometimes simple is best! I actually forgot about day in the life for April, until falling asleep that night, so I just took a bunch of photos the next day to fill in and represent the day. I’ve already set the reminder for May! I like that you’ve made them all square with no filter, and can’t wait to see what you do with them in your PL album!

    Like

    Reply
  17. ChrisyC Avatar
    ChrisyC

    Great everyday photos Elise. There’s a real skill for turning normal, routine activities into visually interesting and stunning photographs. Your photos always provide lots of inspiration and things to try myself.

    Like

    Reply
  18. pianoB Avatar
    pianoB

    I love your everyday photos. Now that I’ve finally purchased a (used) iphone (yesterday! yippie!) I hope I can shoot more of them as a daily routine. Having to take them with a DSLR (which, incidentally, my husband use for work as well) makes me so lazy.
    I’m surely going to make treasure of your hints!

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment