enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Mornings1

So far, I have taken a photo each morning of 2014 and shared on Instagram. This project was not something I thought about much in advance but it's become a simple habit that brings me joy.

Mornings are my favorite time of day. (I have blogged about this before.) I am having fun with this because I love mornings. I've had a few comments along the "I wish I loved mornings" variety and my response to that is "Why?" If you don't love mornings that's no big deal. Don't waste time wishing you love anything and instead think about something you already love and celebrate that. Personally, I would fail miserably at a photo project featuring daily outfits, my hair, lunch, winter or evenings. (Though I totally enjoy following along with anyone who is passionate about and shares those things.)

Mornings2

My daily routine is much different now with the baby. That is for sure. But I wake up to an alarm at 6:15 in order to have some alone time with my coffee and my thoughts (and my iPad) each morning. We are very lucky that currently Ellerie is such an excellent sleeper and right now I am able to get those 45 minutes to an hour.

Mornings3

The interesting part about this project is that my mornings (with one exception this past month) all look the exact same. I get up. I pump (not pictured on Instagram for many, many reasons). I eat breakfast. I read blogs on my iPad. I do not check my email. I pour and reheat my coffee (Paul makes it before he leaves for work). The baby wakes up. I change her. I feed her. We go outside and see what's new in the backyard. We play on the floor of her room while I finish my coffee. Somewhere between 6:15 and 8:00 I snap a photo.

It's the same thing. Every single morning. But the photos are all a little different because finding interesting ways to capture my routine is part of what makes this inpspiring to me. I am so loving this simple creative outlet.

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50 responses to “#eliselovesmornings / january.”

  1. susan Avatar

    “Don’t waste time wishing you love anything and instead think about something you already love and celebrate that.”
    so much wisdom, truth, beauty & joy in that one line. LOVE it ! love you !
    You’re the first place I visit every morning 9am Nova Scotia time xo Susan

    Like

  2. Marija Avatar
    Marija

    Oh my, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your morning photos. They seem so fresh and calm and it’s really great to see that someone actually has light this time of the year!

    Like

  3. Elizabeth Avatar

    I, too, love mornings. Well, four mornings a week I love. I work three days a week starting at 6am, so those mornings are rushed and bleary and uncomfortable. But, my four other mornings? They are savored and lovely and my absolute favorite. They make the other three worth it. I also love finding great and simple creative projects–love this one. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. Jenny Rose Avatar
    Jenny Rose

    My mornings just got a little better as I started using the Chemex coffee maker, as you do. I really love that it is not electronic and those filters, albeit more expensive than regular ones, makes the best coffee. I figure I’m saving on electricity (and apparently plug in coffee makers are the worst energy hogs) so I can indulge in the fancy pants filters.

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  5. Vanessa Carey Avatar

    I love this series because like you I also love mornings. The tranquil time when the world is waking up and you get to decide what you want to transpire in your day. I just wished I lived in sunny San Diego so I could enjoy more morning light instead of in the cold, cold winter!

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  6. Amanda Avatar

    I love this post, I love this photo series, and I love mornings too! Maybe not the actual moment when my alarm goes off, but the routine, the coffee, the quiet, the sun. The best.
    Just curious… what time do you go to bed at night? That’s one thing I find difficult, is making sure I get to bed at a good time for me to get enough sleep. As much as I love mornings, I also love evenings when my boyfriend and I can spend time together!

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  7. Tashia D Avatar

    I’m so inspired by this series. I love mornings too. I love the slow pace, the light and of course the coffee.

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  8. Sarah Mann Avatar

    I’ve loved following along with your instagram this month! Reminds me to find happiness in the little things. I wish I could wander out in the backyard too, minus the frozen tundra. 😉

    Like

  9. michelle t Avatar
    michelle t

    I love mornings too! Now that the boys are in high school they need to get up much earlier but I still get about a half hr to veg in front of the tv. I Love Lucy is on at this time. Guilty laugh pleasure. Enjoy your mornings! Michelle t

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  10. Elise Avatar

    That’s awesome! We actually started using reusable cloth Chemex filters! We just wanted to try them out but we think the coffee even tastes better! I think one was about $7. I’d recommend it after you finish your current box. 🙂

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  11. Elise Avatar

    Love that….so easy to appreciate the slow pace after the rush.

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  12. Elise Avatar

    Paul wakes up super early…so he’s exhausted around 9pm. We are usually in bed around 9:30/45 and I ready until around 10:30.

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  13. Elise Avatar

    That’s *read

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  14. Martina Avatar

    I love how many different ways you were able to capture something as simple as a morning coffee, the variety in the photos is fab. I’m a couple of hours ahead of you and your morning coffee on IG makes me want a lunch coffee!

    Like

  15. creole wisdom Avatar

    I love mornings, too, so I know just how you feel. They are a magical time of day 🙂
    Your series is great!

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  16. Ashlee Avatar

    I’m not a morning person, but I do love mornings (if that makes any sense). I think this project is wonderful.

    Like

  17. Welcome Home Taylor Avatar

    I’ve been loving these instagrams! I love mornings as well, except for when I have to wake up at 6am for class. That’s never fun. But waking up early when I want to and taking my time to get ready and do what I want/need to is my favorite!
    xoxo
    Taylor
    http://www.welcomehometaylor.com

    Like

  18. Brianna Avatar
    Brianna

    Although I’m an early riser (something I inherited from my dad), I’m not a lover of mornings. I get stuff done, but I’m not that girl who bounds out of bed to run or do yoga. These captures are fun. It would be fun to do a book at the end of the year.

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  19. Christina C Avatar
    Christina C

    “Don’t waste time wishing you love anything and instead think about something you already love and celebrate that.”
    Love this simple statement, so much wisdom and truth. Think this needs to be a print 😉

    Like

  20. Angie Avatar

    This is such a brilliant idea. I love that second picture, on the very top row of he first collage. That time that’s not quite dark, and yet not quite light, is my favorite.
    For me, my favorite time is nighttime. I do find that taking night themed pictures is a bit of a pain, however this is inspiring me to get started and figure out a away!
    Thank you, Elise. Such a beautiful routine. ❤

    Like

  21. crystal Avatar

    I love this project. I’m doing a 365 project this year and I post in the mornings. Seeing your photo is little encouragement to get mine done each day.

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  22. April Avatar

    Love this, Elise. I’ve been doing the same thing, except capturing my moment every day reading. A little project I’ve come to love and look forward to. I’m not sharing on Instagram but plan to create a collage at the end of each month and share on my blog. Fun stuff, documenting those small moments that make our lives so rich.
    P.S. I LOVE mornings too!! I’m up at 5 a.m. for an hour of journaling, coffee and some reading before I get my son up for school at 6:00. I treasure that hour and simply cannot function without that time of quiet reverie each day. I’ve done it without fail every since my kids were born (now 5 and 8).

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  23. Meghan Avatar

    I really like this approach to documenting a time of day. I think it would make you more present and aware of it, which would carry over to the rest of the day and life in general. My morning routine is quite different, but I love evenings, and I think this would be a fun way to document them. Thanks for the idea!

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  24. Emilyabernathy Avatar

    I love seeing your #eliselovesmornings photos pop up in my Instagram. I also really enjoy my time in the mornings, and I always find it so hard to get off the couch and get started with the rest of my day!

    Like

  25. Carrie K Avatar
    Carrie K

    I really like what you said about every morning being the same yet all of the pictures are different and interesting. I think I sometimes get bogged down thinking I never do anything interesting or worth “documenting” because everyday is the same. Thank you for giving me a different perspective!

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  26. Ihilani Avatar

    Funny I just blogged today about how hard it’s been for me to have my ideal morning routine with my two little ones. They just seem to know when I’m awake! So I’ve decided to lower my standards and go with the flow, being grateful for whatever I’m able to do for myself in the morning. So nice to read about your mornings. It sounds lovely.

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  27. Kelsey Avatar

    I have always been an early bird and love love love the mornings. Love all these little glimpses, it’s reminding me to appreciate the beauty of the morning – even as I’m rushing to get ready for work and daycare and get out the door. It definitely makes me appreciate the slow pace of weekend mornings!

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  28. Kathy Avatar

    I love this photo series so simple yet make such a statement. I’m not a morning person so appreciate your series of pictures. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia

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  29. Diana Avatar

    I’ve been loving this little endeavor!
    xo
    Diana
    http://unusuallylovely.com

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  30. Emily Avatar

    This is absolutely beautiful. I follow your instagram and have loved each morning’s photo- they tell such a wonderful story.
    xoxo

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  31. Carrie Wohlt Avatar

    Elise as always I enjoy your blog post. I too LOVE the mornings. I get to enjoy about 5 hours at home before I leave to go to work from 2pm-10pm. I love your picture idea just take a photo during the mornings, I may try this during the month of February.

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  32. Shannon R. Avatar
    Shannon R.

    I do love this idea. I have been a stay at home mom for the past 11 years and am now getting my Masters to teach. I will be student teaching in the fall and will hopefully get a job shortly after that. I would like to start documenting my days somehow because I know in just a few short months, they won’t be like they are now. I probably just need to start doing something or I will miss out if I keep thinking about how to go about it.
    I enjoy seeing your mornings on Instagram each day.

    Like

  33. Kat Avatar

    Love the morning photos! And mornings are my “me” time. I love my coffee and journaling!

    Like

  34. Shauna Avatar
    Shauna

    Wait Wait Wait Wait!!!!
    You have a child that sleeps til 7?
    Can my girl please Skype your girl and they can get things sorted.
    I’m all for my munchkin waking up around 5am so we can go for a walk or even 6am so we can both sleep in.
    But the last few weeks it’s been 4am and for no reason, it’s still dark and she’s not hungry til 6. Very strange indeed.
    I love your quote “Don’t waste time wishing you love anything and instead think about something you already love and celebrate that.”
    I might try to make a dodgy poster and stick it on the wall. Words of wisdoms right there.

    Like

  35. Jadyn Avatar
    Jadyn

    I just love your #eliselovesmornings pics. I’ve been so bad at doing anything organized with the many photos I take of my one-year-old and our life in general (I’ve yet to figure out a way of doing Project Life that works for me), so I was inspired by you to do the same with taking morning photos and then printing them at the end of the year to have at least something easy and tangible. I couldn’t come up with a better hashtag, so it’s #jadynlovesmornings – I hope you take that as being the best form of flattery. 🙂 Thanks for inspiring as always!

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  36. Leah Buckley Avatar

    yesterday you wrote basically, make project life work for you and if it doesn’t, quit, and today, about not wishing you loved mornings but celebrating what you do love. i’m not sure if it’s something you’re intentionally focusing on, but i love the extra reminders to “do you,” and not try to be someone else. that can be hard to remember on the internet sometimes.

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  37. Alison M Avatar
    Alison M

    Love this post for all the reasons everyone else has said. But it is worth saying it again. Really loud! Love your photos of your mornings and how much you appreciate it. Inspiring. 🙂

    Like

  38. Laura Avatar

    Your photos are really beautiful. In a couple of weeks I’m starting studying so things are going to get very busy. I’m looking forward to getting back into an early morning routine and you’re photos are inspiring. Thanks Elise.

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  39. Kim Avatar

    you are so smart, I was one of those who wishes … rather than celebrates. I am going to work on celebrating more 🙂 THANK YOU!! love these photos!!

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  40. Rose Avatar

    That first cup of coffee makes all of the difference. Glad you’re still making time for yours.

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  41. Elise Avatar

    Thanks for pointing that out. I think I am feeling very “do you” these days. Motherhood side effect, perhaps? 😉

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  42. Elise Avatar

    Totally flattered. 🙂

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  43. Shana Norris Avatar

    Love your Minnetonkas. What color are they?

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  44. Coty and Mariah@quirksandtwists Avatar

    I’m madly in love with mornings. I’m happy to read your post about your love of mornings as well.

    Like

  45. Jenny Rose Avatar
    Jenny Rose

    Oh my word! That is total brilliance. I’m getting the reuseable one pronto. Not only am I a coffee snob but I’m an eco girl and the expensive throw away filters are not sitting well with me. Thank you for telling me!

    Like

  46. Jenny Rose Avatar
    Jenny Rose

    Sorry to be a bug…I went on the Chemex website and they don’t sell them. Where did you score yours?

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  47. Maggie Whitley Avatar

    ^ So smart. So super smart…

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  48. Laura Avatar

    I loveeee this series! I really need to learn to love mornings more.. I do love them when I’m in a good routine though x

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  49. Sam Avatar

    Great project! I like that you have found interesting ways to capture your morning!

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  50. Sarah Avatar

    How fun, I might have to try that! I too get a little morning time to myself each day, and while I don’t love the actual process of rolling out of bed, I DO enjoy the time alone and the way my family wakes up slowly. I might just try snapping some shots to really appreciate the dawns/the tea/the sleepy bebes. I expend so much gratitude at night, but during the morning I’m always go go go … this could help me slow down!

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