enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

MAKINGMEHAPPY
photo by Tara Whitney

This is an exercise that I started doing after a bummer of a week last May. It's a great way to focus on the good. Hoping to bring it back once a month or so to share the things that are making life easier and keeping me happy.

stamps.com. This site was recommended to me after I complained for the 50th time about having to go to the post office to ship first-class international packages. I can now fill out customs forms and print postage without leaving my desk and my friendly mailman picks them up at my doorstep. I think the fee per month is about $16 but it's totally worth the time and energy saved by making trips to stand in line (especially now that the tellers have to type everything in!). I found the system easy to use and their customer service outstanding. Thanks for the tip, Tiffany!

Projects

new projects. I am so happy with how my floor pillows turned out and am excited to share our new shelving unit next week. (There's a fun video that goes along with it!) I am so glad we took the summer break (and obviously, I needed it) but I am ready to get rolling again. For the first time in a long time, I have more projects on my list than time in my day. I've also got Ellerie, who is thankfully game to wander the fabric store and Paul who is usually up for heavy lifting.

Datenight

e & p date night. We were fortunate last weekend to get out just the two of us again because my parents were here to watch Ellerie. Although they usually involve running errands before dinner, I am enjoying our date nights so much. I recently wrote about having a baby in an email and I mentioned that my marriage has been better since E arrived. I wrote that life feels more romantic. It feels (much) more hilarious. And somehow it's more exciting – we get to figure out how to raise this real-live person together. As I was writing, it triggered a memory… I remember being newly pregnant and receiving an email from a blog reader. She had written to share that post-kiddos her marriage became more romantic. I didn't get it then (how could that be possible?!), but now I know what she was saying. It seems like we have reached a new level in our relationship. (There are approximately 56 levels to marriage and I think we're on level 4 right now.)

Figs

fresh figs. I had never tried a fig until last summer and this month have eaten my fill. We stuck them on a pizza a few weeks ago but usually they are just a snack (just cut the stem off and slice in half). I'm a little obsessed.

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32 responses to “making me happy.”

  1. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    “Making Me Happy” needs to be a stamp! Great post!

    Like

  2. Nihal Avatar

    Nice. After bumping into real life hardships I realized it is important to stop and make time to count your blessings once in a while.

    Like

  3. Carrie Avatar

    Your plants are looking gorgeous, but that’s nothing new. So happy that you have found your groove and that Ellerie is a happy camper with crafty life. I can only imagine the wild and crazy crafter she will be as a toddler! 🙂

    Like

  4. Misti Avatar

    🙂 This is a happy, smiley post! Good warm fuzzies for the day!
    Figs…oh yeah! I didn’t grow up eating them and had dried ones a few years ago and was in love, but fresh figs? Oh man! Even better! We had a tree next to our house which is a Holy Grail come early July, but unfortunatley I have to share with the birds too. :\

    Like

  5. Kathy Avatar

    I love the photo of Ellerie snuggled in your chest while you are working…as far as the romance goes after baby….all I can say (tongue and cheek of course) is HE IS HOME>>>>>>>>>>>> now doesn’t that make better for romance than deployment….but I love that you guys are feeling close and are a family in the one house…so special and all your sacrifices together have paid off for this very special 4 years in the one place raising a couple of kiddos. Saw your new fabrics on Instagram and very keen to see what you have in mind for them. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia

    Like

  6. Libbi M. (Ashland, Oregon) Avatar
    Libbi M. (Ashland, Oregon)

    great post. can you tell me where you had that tiny instagram photo printed of you and paul? it’s in the 2nd photo on your new shelving. i believe you had a printed on metal but i can’t remember. thank you.

    Like

  7. Kristen Avatar

    If you call Stamps.com they have a version that’s a lot cheaper if you don’t do returns (I think that’s the only difference). You do have to call them because it’s unadvertised but they have great customer service.

    Like

  8. carrie wohlt Avatar

    I love this post Elise and I can’t wait to see your new shelves. I LOVE diy projects. Look forward to more making me happy post to read…

    Like

  9. Chrissy Avatar

    Love this – very uplifting and I might even have to copy this idea! I love all your ideas…they seem never-ending! Thanks for all the inspiration! xxx

    Like

  10. Mila Avatar
    Mila

    What are the 56 levels of marriage?

    Like

  11. Stephanie Avatar

    Totally random, but I stumbled upon this old post of yours: fun to picture you and little e reading Harry Potter 😉
    http://eliseblaha.typepad.com/golden/2007/07/if-you-are-not-.html

    Like

  12. Stephanie Avatar

    And I love this idea, you have such good therapeutic ideas sometimes 🙂

    Like

  13. Ffion Avatar

    I started keeping a happiness/gratitude journal once when I felt life was rubbish and it really made a huge difference and totally pulled me out of a slump! This seems like a great idea too 🙂
    That picture of you two is gorgeous!

    Like

  14. brianna Avatar
    brianna

    I love these kinds of posts. Making me happy definitely needs to be a stamp.

    Like

  15. andrea Avatar
    andrea

    I really love the first picture and i’m looking forward to the video.

    Like

  16. Jessika Avatar

    Hi Elise! What type of wrap do you have? Do you like it? And I agree with another comment who said that “making me happy” should be a stamp. 🙂

    Like

  17. Megan Abbott Avatar

    And with each child, your love just grows exponentially! I’ve been doing a quick gratitude journal entry and my goal is to not miss a day- let’s see how it goes! Love your blog as usual!

    Like

  18. elise blaha Avatar

    it’s by postal pix!! love the quality. 🙂

    Like

  19. elise blaha Avatar

    thanks for the tip! And I agree – fantastic to work with.

    Like

  20. elise blaha Avatar

    ha! I am not sure yet.

    Like

  21. elise blaha Avatar

    that wrap is solly baby. 🙂

    Like

  22. Hannah Teej Avatar

    I love these posts, they’re so positive and uplifting.

    Like

  23. Sarah Stäbler Avatar

    One of my best friends from high school said the same thing after the birth of her daughter. So sweet. I hope I get to feel that someday soon.
    I love figs with a passion. Unfortunately, I’m allergic to most raw fruits and can’t eat them fresh! Boo! But give me a fig jam or a fig tart any day and I’m happy!

    Like

  24. Libbi M. (Ashland, Oregon) Avatar
    Libbi M. (Ashland, Oregon)

    thank you. i checked them out and it looks like you can only use them if you have an iPhone but i’m not sure on that yet. i have an Android phone.

    Like

  25. Libbi M. (Ashland, Oregon) Avatar
    Libbi M. (Ashland, Oregon)

    postal pix now has an android app. yippy!

    Like

  26. linda Avatar
    linda

    Yes to the suggestion for ‘makes me happy’ stamp !!!!

    Like

  27. Chrisy@GoodNorthCoastLife Avatar

    Can totally relate Elise. I have never felt as close or as in love with my husband as what l did after my daughter was born. The experience really did take our relationship to the next level. We experienced so much together, in such a short period of time……I am so lucky to have him in my life 🙂

    Like

  28. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    a Making Me Happy stamp would be great! =)

    Like

  29. J3SS1C4 Avatar

    Love this post! It’s always good to reflect on the good stuff going on, and sounds like you’ve had some great stuff lately 🙂

    Like

  30. Kathi Avatar

    Thanks for being the inspiration of my latest blog post… I have reread this post several times and it speaks to me differently each time and each time so powerful. Thanks for making time to blog with Ellerie around and for keeping up with PL and my fave the Dear Ellerie posts 🙂 Have a blessed week! Kathi Faithful reader!

    Like

  31. Tiffany B. Avatar

    Hi Elise! I am glad stamps.com is working for you. Thank you for the shot out!

    Like

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