enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

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Setting goals is the easy part. Reaching goals is the fun part. Checking in on your goals? Less fun, but hugely important in actually making progress. I thought it would be good today (since we're just about finished with Q1) to check in on where I'm at with my list of goals from 2015.

MAKE29 is over and done. I'm happy with this project and what I learned. I tried to record a podcast episode sharing what I learned but the "um" count was through the roof and that's no good for anyone. So scratch that until I can get my thoughts in order.

My new birthday project, MAKE&GIVE30, is launched and rolling. I have 5/30 projects complete and 11 months to go. We'll get there.

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Get To Work Book …. kadsjflkdasjflkdasjfkljdsaflkjdaslkfjdalskjflkdaj …. we're getting there. We're close. Close, close. It's designed. Sample is on it's way to me soon! Pre-order within the next 10 days unless something goes terribly wrong. Website nearly ironed out. Packaging planned. Marketing scheme planned. Money & spreadsheets obsessed over. Keep your eye on the blog, the newsletter and the Instagram account next week.

Office is fixed and functional. I'm thrilled with my simple clearout from early this year.

House is done. That was a VERY fun one to check off my list. Two years in a "complete" house is something I didn't think I'd have with our military lifestyle.

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I "fixed" our garden soil. Basically, I bought a testing kit and checked my soil and it came back as "moderately" okay for all the nutrients. So we added in some organic soil enricher and stirred it up well. Then I heard the excellent point (from a blog commenter, thank you!!) that my soil was probably getting really hot – a common problem in raised beds – so we added some shade (with sunscreen fabric from Lowe's) and I'm hoping that will help.

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The backyard is pretty solid. Really, we just need our succulents to keep growing and fill in that hillside. And we'd love to hang cafe lights from the house to the fence. But then I'm going to call it done. We've made good progress back there.

The capsule wardrobe lives on. This is the easiest one of all these goals.

Still shooting my roll a month.

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the pizza above? caprese! olive oil and balsamic, chicken, tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella and a bit of cheddar.

Doing pretty good with dinners! For the most part the only time we "miss" dinner at the table is if Paul and I have a date night. The best part of this is that even when Paul is working nights I make a point to sit down with E and have dinner at the table…usually with my parents on FaceTime. Ellerie is used to the routine and climbs up into her high chair when I tell her it's dinner time. She has also learned to clasp her hands under her chin so we can say the before dinner prayer. I melt every time.

So far so good on the date nights. I'm not really picky that it's one a month, just that we get out and enjoy a slow dinner at a place that isn't kiddo friendly. Our most recent date night was one of our best EVER conversation wise and took us to Starlight. It was great food, fun cocktail list and looked like it was straight out of Palm Springs (a HUGE win in our book).

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Stepwise, I'm doing alright. I got sick in early March and that threw me off, but I'm working on getting it back. Podcasts are my best friends when it comes to marching around the house at 9PM to get those last 1500 steps. Read more about the fitbit I use here.

Overall…good stuff. Goals! Thanks for keeping me moving/learning/working/growing. I owe you one.

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34 responses to “2015 goals check in.”

  1. Kelly Avatar

    Good for you! Goals reached are a wonderful feeling. I’m a mom of five, with only two grown kids at home now, but I still insist we all sit at the dinner table together. The rules are simple: no electronics. The BEST conversations happen as we laugh, catch up, and draw closer just for those few minutes. Keep up the good fight! It’s worth it.

    Like

  2. csilla Avatar
    csilla

    Can I just say I find it a bit ironic that yesterday you said it is good to come up with deadlines within the deadlines and then I realised you didn’t really set those for Make&Give30 🙂 I’m not trying to be annoying/rude, just an observation!

    Like

  3. Elizabeth Avatar

    Yay! Way to make awesome progress! Love reading posts like this–it inspires me to keep making headway on my goals. Also your yard is delightful!

    Like

  4. Carrie Avatar

    I love your goal updates. It makes me realize how important checking in is for goals.
    And the “um” count comment is so funny to me. I recently competed in (and WON!) the Miss Wheelchair Kansas pageant, and during my speech, my husband said I said “Um” about 50 times. It’s so hard when you don’t realize you’re saying it!

    Like

  5. Aggie Avatar

    OMG 10 more days!!! Can’t wait – I hope you have international shipping figured out crosses fingers and pleads

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  6. Misti Avatar

    I’m glad I’m not the only one who does laps around the house or the driveway for step counts!
    Your garden has turned out fantastic! I would like to spruce mine up a bit for some outside enjoyment this spring, re: the lights, etc.

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  7. Anna Avatar

    I always love these recaps. You may have said this in your original post, but I love how you have a mix of long-term goals and “done!” goals. I tried for something similar with my 2015 goals – big accomplishments that I can work towards and (hopefully!) check off the list, and ongoing habit changes that will always be a work in progress. I think of it as goals vs. resolutions.
    And your garden looks fantastic – I’ll be curious to see if the shade makes a big difference in your results. Though I’ve been gardening for a few years now and I still have no real idea why things succeed or fail.

    Like

  8. Karli Jo Avatar
    Karli Jo

    Keep it up! Quick question… Are you still wearing the Tory Burch gold fitbit bracelet??? I saw in your post about Long Term projects that you were wearing a gold bracelet in the first photo and was curious if you are still loving the Tory Burch one or if you found a different gold bracelet for your fitbit.

    Like

  9. JC Avatar

    I hate that you have your garden in already, our ground is still frozen. Also I love that you post these, they really help to remind me to review my own goals.

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  10. Natalie | Circus & Bloom Avatar

    Amazing! Oh my goodness, you are so accomplished! Well done. Having resolutions makes such a huge difference in productivity!
    Circus & Bloom
    ♥♥♥

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  11. Cori Avatar

    I love the transparency and how committed you are to your goals. As always, thank you for sharing.

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  12. Kyriam Avatar

    I like to check out on my yearly goals every three months. And i LOVE hearing about other people’s goals. Thanks for the post x

    Like

  13. Ines Teles Avatar
    Ines Teles

    Ooooooh, a post on your marketing strategy (also more about how you came up with it – how you went about researching what others did, if you did that – rather than what it is) would be an awesome podcast or small business post!

    Like

  14. Hannah Avatar
    Hannah

    I always wonder if bloggers are religious or not, but don’t want to ask because I that’s a bit personal. I suppose saying a dinner prayer doesn’t always equate to super-Christian or whatever, but I’m happy you believe in something, even if only a little. 🙂

    Like

  15. kristina Avatar

    What are your go-to dinners (other than grilled pizza)? I love when you share recipes/food photography here 🙂
    So sweet that Ellerie is learning to participate in Grace before dinner! 🙂
    We have LOVED the monthly date night resolution too (so much so that it’s been twice monthly…). We try and take a picture together before each one 🙂 – do you and Paul do the same? I know I’ve seen at least one from a recent date night (on insta)!

    Like

  16. Johanna Avatar

    YES. Me too.

    Like

  17. Marina Avatar

    I was in San Diego a few weeks ago visiting a friend in Bankers Hill. We tried hitting up Starlite but it was packed. Glad to hear you liked it. Will have to try again next time! =)

    Like

  18. dawn Avatar
    dawn

    Love hearing these updates, WAY TO GO!! When the little ones I babysit pray with their little hands and words it melts my heart every time too.

    Like

  19. Libbi M. Avatar
    Libbi M.

    I agree with Kristina. I would love to hear some of your favorite go-to recipes.

    Like

  20. Claire Avatar

    Have you read Gretchen Rubin’s (The Happiness Project) latest book, Better Than Before? Insanely good and practically a manifest for anyone who is into goals, habits and creating lasting change.

    Like

  21. Cate Avatar
    Cate

    Will your preorders be up for a bit for the Get to Work Book? We’re going to Cuba with no internet access for two weeks, so I’ll miss the preorder date by five days (if things roll right along for you).

    Like

  22. Laura Hager Avatar

    Your backyard is my dream! It looks amazing! The lights would be beautiful.
    http://www.laurahager.blogspot.com

    Like

  23. Brianna Avatar
    Brianna

    Great update. I’m thinking about ambitiously setting 33 goals/things I want to do while I’m 33. I have some time – birthday’s in August.

    Like

  24. Elise Avatar

    Yes! Totally dilberate! I want to see how it’s goes and honestly make & give 30 feels “easier” than make29. But we will see if I suceed or fail! 🙂

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  25. Elise Avatar

    Omgosh! Congrats! Um is tricky. For me, “like” is too.

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  26. Elise Avatar

    I’ll keep you posted!

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  27. Elise Avatar

    I am! Only about 30% of the time though. 🙂

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  28. Elise Avatar
  29. Elise Avatar

    Yep! I’m Christian! Grew up Lutheran. It’s obviously not a focus of the blog, but a part of my life. 🙂

    Like

  30. Elise Avatar

    I’ll get a post together on our dinners. We don’t get a photo every time.

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  31. Elise Avatar

    No, but I’d love to!

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  32. Elise Avatar

    Yes! They will be live for awhile. 🙂

    Like

  33. Emily Avatar

    Your backyard is beautiful!! It looks like it would be fun to hang out there. 🙂

    Like

  34. Chris Rahimi Avatar

    Looks like you’ve got some great stuff on the go! Good luck 🙂

    Like

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