enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

making me happy.

Quiet

Loving, loving, LOVING the quiet this week. Online. In the house. In my brain. So good. And so appreciated.


Table

I had a few girlfriends in town this past weekend and it was a reminder that I adore having my house full. It's so easy, when alone and decorating, to get caught up in how a space will look. And then when there are people in the space you can begin to reflect on the important part – how it feels. I was overwhelmed with thanksgiving on Saturday night as we wrapped up dinner. The candles were burning. The light was glowing. The outside was dusk. And my table. I fretted over a dining table for three months and I know for sure I could not have chosen a better one.

Vacuum

My robot vacuum. It's not so much the robot that makes me happy, but the clean house it leaves behind. When is the last time you vacuumed for six hours? I can say for sure I have never vacuumed for much longer than six minutes. This dude clears my floors of dust and dirt once a week and each time I marvel over what it was able to accumulate. I finally understand what my parents have been hyping for the past few years and WOW, mom and dad, you were right. (Yep, it goes over all the rugs and doesn't mind the fringe. It also takes a long time to charge so about one whole day to clean my 1750 square foot home.)

Newblog

A new blog look. Whenever I do a quick blog redesign I always feel like I just lost five pounds or jumped in a cold pool on a hot day. It's refreshing and re-energizing. Simple and clean for summer. Simple and clean for whatever is going to come next here. (Plus, I'm odd, and LOVE playing with web code.)

Feeling completely normal and at peace. I hit 39 weeks on Wednesday and I think this little lady is going to sit tight for awhile. That is more than okay. Life is good on the outside, but I bet it's rad on the inside too. We'll see you when you get here, baby girl.

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35 responses to “making me happy.”

  1. Kelsey McEvoy Avatar
    Kelsey McEvoy

    Digging the new look!
    Keep on enjoying these last few moments of quiet because before you know it, quiet won’t happen again for a while 🙂

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  2. Jess Ankney Avatar
    Jess Ankney

    So happy for you and this time in your life. At 37 weeks pregnant I’m stoked about tomorrow being my final day at work (I teach pre-k)! I’m excited to embark on this next adventure and your posts always uplift and inspire me! I only hope I can get my home to a peaceful state like yours in the coming weeks so that I can at least seem as relaxed as you seem!!! Thank you again for always sharing your heart – though miles away, I feel as though I know you!
    Many blessings in the coming weeks!

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  3. Ffion Avatar
    Ffion

    Love the new blog look! Sounds like you’re loving and enjoying life and that’s always good to hear! Love the colours in the first and the atmosphere in the second photo! Now I totally want a robot cleaner 😀

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  4. Penny Avatar
    Penny

    How awesome is that West Elm light! So bummed they don’t sell it anymore. Seems to give off such a wonderfully cozy hue. Good luck with all that is to come.

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  5. Megan Anderson Avatar
    Megan Anderson

    I love the way the dining room looks all aglow.

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  6. Martina Avatar
    Martina

    I really like the new look blog – black and white is very you 🙂
    Fingers-crossed she’s comfortable enough to sit tight just long enough for her Daddy to come home.
    Martina
    http://snapshotsandwhatnots.typepad.com

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  7. Maryn Avatar
    Maryn

    I’m with Martina – wait for your dad, baby girl!
    Also, the best part of going past 40 weeks is that when people ask you when your baby is due, you can say “last Tuesday”. The looks on their faces are priceless!

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  8. Carrie Avatar
    Carrie

    We’re getting a new home and looking at the root vacuum also. I’m in a wheelchair so having someone (or something) else do the housework is quite ideal hehe.
    Can’t wait to see Little E! You are going to be such a good and fun mommy!

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  9. Shana Norris Avatar
    Shana Norris

    The view from your dining room is DIVINE.
    So, theoretically, how often could you use the robot vacuum, without running into charge issues? My floors need it at least every other day.

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  10. Claire Avatar
    Claire

    Loving the new look blog so much. Love your making me happy posts too. Such an inspiration and I am LOVING your robot! 🙂

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  11. Kathi Avatar
    Kathi

    Elise… does the robot vacuum SOUND like a vacuum?? Does is suck or sweep I guess is what I am asking… trying to see if it is worth the investment but I love having clean floors too… have you done a review on the one you have that I missed???
    Love your new header… noticed it yesterday because you come to my mailbox each day if you post… I consider these post bonuses since your maternity leave has started so always happy to enjoy my coffee with your posts 🙂 So excited about your little e coming into the world.. when Paul is there to enjoy it with you or soon after I am praying!
    Best Wishes, Kathi

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  12. Jenn Avatar
    Jenn

    Loving your candle holders/vase-where are they from??

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  13. petal and plume Avatar
    petal and plume

    !!!
    i am so happy to have found your blog. you’re beautiful! thank you for sharing your creative heart with us.
    xx
    http://petalandplume.blogspot.ca/

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  14. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    I use it once a week. It has to charge three times during that use because it cleans the whole house in the day. If you used it every other day it would return to it’s base throughout the cleaning day to re-charge – depending on how big the space is. (I have no idea if this is making sense…) 🙂

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  15. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    It sucks and sounds like a vacuum… white noise for sure, but quieter than my handheld. No formal review. I am obsessed with it, though. 🙂

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  16. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    found them through craigslist! vintage, I think. 🙂

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  17. mandie Avatar
    mandie

    I am now seriously interested in this vacuum and have wishlisted it. 🙂 THanks for sharing!

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  18. Kristy Avatar
    Kristy

    That vacuum sounds AMAZING.

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  19. ee k. Avatar
    ee k.

    Elise, does the vacuum clean hardwood floors as well or just carpet/rugs?

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  20. eeny Avatar
    eeny

    love the new look. playing with webcode is fun 😉

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  21. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Hi Elise!
    Your place looks amazing and I can’t believe how much you have gotten done already. Thank you for taking the time to help me when I had problems with my blog. It is up and running thanks to your e-course.
    Good luck with the arrival of your baby girl.
    Best, Nicole

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  22. royela Avatar
    royela

    the roomba was seriously one of the best non-conventional baby gifts we received! we were being visited by friends and family so often those first few weeks that it was such a relief not to have to worry whether our house was “clean” enough for guests. or our newborn!
    it scares the bejeebers out of aidan now though so we can only set it off when we leave the house AND we’ve picked up ALLLLLLL the toys that end up littering the ground but when it works – talk about magic!

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  23. J3SS1C4 Avatar
    J3SS1C4

    It’s good to see that you have so much making you happy right now! With the lights and candles, your dining room looks so dreamy and amazing! And your blog update looks great! I love the black and white!

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  24. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    I have travertine floors and it goes over them perfectly!

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  25. Lindsey Soulsby Avatar
    Lindsey Soulsby

    i love when you redesign your blog. fresh! and thinkin’ i’m gonna need that vacuum, but it might need a side car for all the dirt on in my ranch house! 😉

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  26. Kathy Avatar
    Kathy

    I love that you are having a relaxing week enjoying just “in the moment” or is that “the calm before the storm”. Love the photo of your dining table with the candles the lights and as you say friends in that space…warms the heart. How long until Paul arrives home? It will be nice to see his house for the first time..how weird would it be to buy a house, have it decorated and then just plong yourself in it (hey……we would all love that) and thanks to his very clever and motivated wife he’ll be doing just that but I think plonking himself in your arms (if he can get that close to you now) will be what he would want the most. I know you have photos of your belly but I’m sure because he hasn’t seen you for months the realization that your little girl is in that big bump is more crazy. Wishing you both a smooth transition back into each others arms…..remember day 3 tears…it’s completely normal and forewarn Paul this so he doesn’t think you are completely nuts…All the best on this journey. I have just come back from watching my grade 4 (9 year old) play t-ball (like rounders) at school and he got a home run with one big hit which I was so amazed at and he was thrilled. I was over the other side of the field helping other kids but I could make out it was him and so thrilled that I happened to be watching that very moment when it was his turn. With nearly 400 kids playing there it was quite a moment for me to find where he was and see him at that moment when he has his big hit….I love being the supportive Mum there for my kids. Take care. PS I love the new blog look too….sooo cool. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia

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  27. Deneen Cook Avatar
    Deneen Cook

    Enjoy the quiet and I love what you have done with the blog 🙂

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  28. Mac Avatar
    Mac

    I am so curious about the neato! Our home just flooded and our beloved Roomba was a casualty. I’m waiting on a check from the insurance, but I’m thinking it might be time to give neato a try!
    Our 4 year old is terrified of vacuums so we’ve loved having a quieter alternative we can turn on after he goes to bed! Reviews tell me the neato is faster than Roomba so that’d be an even better bonus!

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  29. Eri Avatar
    Eri

    Hadn’t mentioned this yet but I love the new look of the blog!!

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  30. Anissa Avatar
    Anissa

    I have been reading your blog for over a year now and get excited to read your news.You are so talented and I enjoy your energy 🙂 Best wishes on the impending birth. I’m a mum of 23 years and now Nanna and you will be an awesome mum xx

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  31. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    I think the new look for the blog is just perfect. 🙂

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  32. Cristina Avatar
    Cristina

    You’ve got me wanting that vacuum. I don’t own any vacuum at this point.. but my apartment is pretty tiny, so I guess I don’t NEED one. But still.

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  33. Rebecca Avatar
    Rebecca

    love the new blog look! blog redesigns are so fun.
    Rebecca @ tr[i]b[e]cca

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  34. Shana Norris Avatar
    Shana Norris

    I makes sense, Elise. Thanks. I am really wanting one of these now. Unfortunately, it will probably have to be a Christmas present from my mama!

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  35. melanie bauer Avatar
    melanie bauer

    i’ve had two roombas before but totally purchased a neato today on a target trip because of you. 😉 marked down to $300 from $429. plus my redcard 5% discount.
    thanks?

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