enJOY it

project life : week 7.

February 19, 2012

Week seven and I still…wait for it…love this project.

(click to enlarge & the images above will be [somewhat] clearer)

I got a little bit of Paul worked into the pages this week. Soon enough he is going to be home. I can hardly believe it (except, of course, I can since I have been focusing on the date for the past few months). I wanted to capture a bit of what his life has been like over there and he emailed me his own version of a day in the life. I played with it in PSE and printed at 4×6. The photos are various ones that I pulled from his unit's facebook page. His insert page is a Design A photo pocket page cut in half so it just fits 8 photos/papers (I filled the back and the front of it).

I am really going to have to figure out how to continue to work PAUL into this album throughout the rest of the year so it's not just "The Book of Stuff Elise Made in 2012." (Although that would be a great book. ;)) It will be easier once he's home and we can, you know, do stuff together and take pictures together, but in addition to that, I would also like to get his perspective on things. His mind works so differently than mine. I want that in there. I'll keep you posted on how that transition goes.

But the projects I complete are a big part of my life so they are going to continue to be in there too. I added a 4×12 insert with the 26 projects grid from the blog on the front and some thoughts about the project and my next birthday project on the backside.

I am becoming concerned about how thick this album is going to be. And by concerned I mean ecstatic.

I used one of the core kit 4×6 cards to hold some journaling this week. I had to trim it down a bit then I folded it in half and re-rounded all the corners (even the ones on the folded side). I wrote my text on the back and slipped it into a pocket.

And there is a bit more hidden journaling on that folded library card. "Life Goal" is a bit of an extreme title – it's really just some thoughts about what I have to get done the next week or so.

Paper crowns, our new couch (which arrived Saturday) and a photo from the knitting store I just discovered all made it in. Please excuse the heavy handed use of the "smudge" tool to blur stuff this week. Most of that stuff will be shared in due time.

Life is good.

supplies / Paper Source circle label, Martha Stewart & Avery labels, American Crafts file tabs patterned paper & letter stickers, red flower cut out & diecut label c/o Scrapbook Circle, "xoxo" paper from an old egg press calendar, zig-zag paper from a Linda & Harriet card, Design A page protectors (which are available in this variety pack), Clementine core kit, Bebas quote font. I use a Fiskars corner rounder (it's not amazing, but it's lasted the longest of any corner rounder I've ever had). I am using a Zig Millennium 0.1 pen and Recollections glossy marker throughout this album.

Confused by Project Life? Start here. See all my Project Life posts here.
26 favorite things.

February 17, 2012

I am closing in on my birthday (the 22nd!) and wanted to take a second to celebrate 26 things that have made being twenty-six great. I use "things" literally. This is the stuff that I discovered and loved over the past year.

Bar Method / best workout ever. I will be an unpaid spokesman for the Bar Method for the rest of my life. When I moved out of San Diego, I was the most sad to say goodbye to a workout location. I realize that is seriously ridiculous (note : I am seriously ridiculous). But man, Bar Method changed my body. The DVDs are a good workout, but the motivation is much better in real life. I drive 60 miles one way to LA to take a class with my girlfriends once a month.

Brussels sprouts / I have eaten these before this year. But I didn't love them and live on them until Paul deployed and I started cooking them my special way : chopped and browned in a pan with olive oil, pepper, garlic salt, pecans and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Looking to add more meat to your meals? Throw a lean chicken sausage in there. Best ever.

New Balance Minimus running shoes / forefoot running saved my relationship with running. And it also saved my feet. Funny story : my feet used to ache after spending a day walking in low-support flats. Since I started forefoot running in minimal shoes, they don't. My feet are stronger. Sidenote : $2 neon orange laces from Target can really make a difference.

Born to Run / I've talked about this book before, but it was a good one. It's difficult to read because you keep wanting to throw it on the ground and run out the door. It's a good reminder that running is normal. We evolved as runners. It's difficult to make excuses not to run after reading this book.

David's Tea / Kal Barteski got me completely hooked. I am officially a tea drinker. I adore David's Tea from the branding to the cute names to the endless flavors. Tea has been my official night-time drink since Paul deployed.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2 / I am obsessed with Harry Potter and have read all the books at least half a dozen times. The movies usually serve as sort of bonus footage and are enjoyed because I am a book fan. But the last movie was amazing. For the first time ever, I thought the movie was on par and at some points better than the book (well at least the second half was better than the second half). I could write a 10 page single spaced essay on this movie, but the bottom line is I loved it.

thin gold ring / I have been looking for a thin gold ring to wear on my right hand pointer finger for over five years. I wish I was joking. Then on a visit to Santa Barbara in January, I stumbled on one in a little boutique for 12 bucks. It was super awesome until it fell off my finger doing laundry last week. I'm bummed, but now it just justifies a trip to SB for a back up.

Lululemon run crops / I could probably just say Lululemon everything. I knew about this store for a few years, but always wrote it off as too expensive. And it is expensive. But the quality is insanely good. Soft as can be, with fantastic attention to detail. I have collected quite a bit of their clothing now and wear most of it inside out half the time (the stitching is so perfect on the underside you can't even tell). I am addicted.

Instagram / the app I thought I didn't understand turned out to be the best ever. I love how much it makes me use my iPhone camera. I love the user-friendly format. I love following my online and real-life friends. I love how quickly it updates. I love that they updated it so you don't have to have the frames on each photo. I love that a bunch of photos together makes perfect grid and serves as an everyday time capsule. (You can follow me there under username "elisejoy.")

Flipboard / I saw Flipboard in action on a friend's iPad and never looked back. It's my favorite way to read blogs and stay up to date on news, celebrity gossip, twitter and everything else. iPad app of the year times 100. (p.s. Rachel, recognize anything?)

Friday Night Lights / this show… I have gone on and on and on about it. So I won't go further other than to say – clear eyes, full heart, can't lose.

succulents / I can't remember exactly when I bought my first succulent, but I think it was last spring. They were all over the place in San Diego and they are all over the place up in Oxnard. I have about four in my house that I feed lots of sunlight and am careful not to water and then they do just fine.

Pangea Organics / I made some changes to my skincare routine this past year and started the transition to all natural products. Mostly in an effort to fix my terrible nose pores and chronic dry skin, but also to healthy things up so I am better equipped to grow a tiny human in the next year or so. Pangea Organics was recommended by a lot of people and I love their face lotion, face mask, toner and body lotion.

short hair / Elise, of the future, if you are reading this and have grown your hair out and are currently rocking a side pony because that's all you can do, go to the nearest salon and get it chopped off again.

herringbone / pattern of the year. Appearing on my favorite paper, my lululemon infinity scarf and my built-in couch covers.

Secrets to a Healthy Metabolism / this book changed my life. That is not an exaggerated statement. You can read more about it here, but I know my outlook on food is forever changed. And this is coming from a girl who struggled with food on and off for the past decade. I feel like my struggles are behind me and it's mostly because I am in a really great place mentally but also thanks to this rad book.

greek yogurt / my favorite is with a bit of honey, some walnuts and a cut up banana. But any fruit is perfect.

Project Life / I know I am still very early in the project and there is a lot of year (and then years) ahead. But I love this method of memory keeping. For me, it represents a return to the basics with a creative twist. I want to keep it up forever and what I have captured so far already makes me want to cry.

soy candles / In January, I started burning candles almost every night. I buy them everywhere – Target, Anthropologie, little boutiques…where ever. And they burn evenly and longer than "normal" candles so I can usually justify the extra cost.

hand-knits / I bought a fantastic knitted scarf from Hey Jen Renee that I adore. And I loved making the checkered blanket. I've got an idea for another blanket, but next is this cowl, if I can figure out how to do those stitches.

black and white paint / I love color. But I've realized from what I pin on pinterest that neutrals really have my heart. Black and white paint came through for me in a big way this year.

The Sing-Off / I am not normally one for reality TV. Okay, that's a total lie. I should say, I am not one for American Idol or any show about children raising children. Singing shows usually make me run the opposite direction. But I love the non-cheesy, non-product placement focus that is this singing show. A cappella is incredible. I tuned in for season three and downloaded many, many of the songs. This performance, especially, was fantastic.

No Envy, No Fear / this song by Joshua Radin pulls at my heart and then flips my stomach and then brings tears to my eyes. I heard it for the first time shortly after Paul deployed and it sums up the attitude I have worked so hard to embrace since then.

that old trunk / the white trunk I found at a crowded antique shop near my house got the ball rolling on my non-Ikea decorating plan. It inspired me to build furniture, repaint furniture and add stripes to my walls. And then, it helped me think outside the box while decorating my new place, which really just means I am currently living in a craft museum of my own design.

Trader Joes / a grocery store is on my list of favorite things. This means I am old. But for real, I started shopping here consistently because there was one by my Bar Method studio. The stuff is cheap, the people are nice and they have my favorite things… like Brussels sprouts on a stalk, fresh basil and full-fat greek yogurt.

"I have decided to be happy because it is good for my health." – Voltaire / I heard some wonderful quotes this past year, but this one is it.

I feel like this is my version of Oprah's favorite things. I wish at the end I could say "Aaaaaaaaaand, you get an antique trunk! You get an antique trunk!" Maybe next year? But seriously. Killer list. Killer year. I think the stuff I read in these books or embraced as a tool or wore on my body or welcomed into my home will stick around for a long while. I cannot wait to see what 27 awesome things I'll discover next year.
paper crown love.

February 16, 2012

This last little bit of waiting for Paul to get home has been painful. Not painful in the it's-January-so-close-but-yet-so-far way. But painful in the it's-February-so-close-I-am-losing my-mind-way. I sent a "woe is me" email to my girlfriends yesterday and veronica (my partner in birthday crime since we turned 21) suggested I take on the task of making birthday crowns for the brunch we're having on Sunday.

We will be celebrating five birthdays. (Seriously, 80% of the population is born towards the end of February.) Two boys and three girls. I made five crowns. How I have I never done this before? What is it about 50 cents worth of paper that makes you feel like a million bucks?

You guys. Seriously, no tutorial necessary, but here are the steps. I cut 12×12 in half so I had 2 6x12s. I sewed those together with my machine using a zig-zag stitch (so I had a strip slightly shorter than 6×24). Then I just freehand cut little triangles out of the top side to make "points." After that, the steps varied, but involved either sewing some ribbon/tulle to the bottom edge or sewing a zig-zag stitch from each point to the bottom edge. I used glue dots to attach sequins to some for extra flair.

The very last step was to staple the open end together so it would fit on a head.

For. The. Win. Now I just need time to fly so it's Sunday morning and we're drinking mimosas. Also, I need Paul home. p.s. nope, he is not going to be here for my birthday. But it's okay.
26 projects / wrap up.

February 16, 2012
I am thrilled with how this birthday craft adventure turned out. Some of these were super simple. Some were much more involved. Some I already painted over (the color scheme in the finger painting no longer worked for me and I wanted the canvas). Some I'll be hanging on to for years. Some will be kept forever (I'd lose my mind if that blanket was destroyed). Twenty-six will always be remembered as the year Paul deployed for the first time and the year I made a lot of stuff.

Here are the links for each project and I starred my favorites.
It's been really fun sharing here on the blog over the past year. I got a comment a few weeks ago if I'd no longer be blogging DIYs after I turned 27. Of course I will! They were here before and will continue now. Stay tuned for more information about my next birthday project. I'm really excited and can't believe I have to wait a week to make something. 😉
project 26 of 26 : a painted trunk.

February 15, 2012
This was not supposed to be the 26th project. I had it all planned out, remember? But then I found an inexpensive wood trunk and realized that what I had intended to do for #26 would be WAY better if I waited for Paul to get home to complete it. So I'll still be making it and sharing – just not before my birthday.

And really, this trunk is the perfect project to end on. It's so classically me for three reasons :
1. decided with little to no thought so there was no opportunity for second guessing.
2. uses just two colors & simple shapes.
3. perfectly imperfect.
I can usually tell when a project isn't right for me because it sits on my list and I hem and haw over how to complete it. The projects that I am meant to do are rushed and rarely thought through. That is exactly how this trunk came to be.

I bought this trunk on Saturday to use as a coffee table in our upstairs loft area. It was rad to begin with. I think it could have just been cleaned up a bit and worked as just a stained trunk. But I already have a stained brown coffee table. I wanted a bigger impact and I figured an $18 whim purchase was a good way to do it. If I grow out of this pattern or the color scheme no longer works in a year or so, I'll just repaint on top of it – OR – it will make a rad toy chest for our future littles.

(excuse the blurry & dark iPhone photos)

To get the look, I took off the hardware (except the hinges) and sanded the whole thing. I then painted two coats of ultra white satin finish wall paint. I let it dry then freehand taped off diamond shapes. I wanted the corners of them to be touching so with my thick tape I had to do them in stages. I added pink wall paint (I bought a small tester of Valspars Pink Burst at Lowe's) and then peeled up the tape and let it try again completely.

Then I added more tape to connect the corners of the already painted diamonds. When it started to look like that photo above I began to panic a bit. It looked like the diamonds were going to be totally wonky.

And of course, they are. But when you look at all of them together, they somehow work (at least in my head).

Once the top was done, I started going around the sides to fill it up. It wasn't too hard, but the corners got a little messed up because it was tricky to know what diamond points needed to match up.

I imagine it might seem a little odd? Crazy? Circus themed? But I am so pleased with it. Makes me smile and is totally different yet is going to fit with the rest of the place. (I think when there is more furniture in that room it won't be quite so loud.)

I have been having a hard time figuring out how to make the most of the space up in the loft. Now that I have a coffee table, my mind is whirling with ideas for the rest of it. I will share as progress gets made, but right now, I am waiting for our new couch to be delivered so our old couch can come upstairs.

And with that, I completed the 26 projects! I will be preparing a wrap up post to talk a bit more about all of them soon. Anticipating a question here… YES! I am absolutely doing a birthday project for 27. It's along similar lines but even better than the 26 projects. I'll be sharing the rules for it soon.

This is the final project!!

I decided to tackle 26 personal craft projects before I turn 27 on 02.22.12. You can follow my progress here on the blog or on pinterest.

See project 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 & 25.
i got the wreath up.

February 14, 2012

It broke into eight pieces on the drive back home. But a little hot glue and a few yards of fishing line later, it's hanging above my mantle. Check plus.
i love february / valentine edition.

February 14, 2012

Crate & Barrel ampersand pillow, piecedpapers printable journalling cards, ModCloth love ballad top (that shirt is already out of stock again, I got on the waiting list last time and finally scored it), StyleMint striped T dress (save 25% off your first StyleMint T credit with code "EJOY"), marc johns ampersand art print, Ariel Gordon ring, ban.do heart tote.

I love LOVE. But thankfully, Valentine's day has never been a big deal to me or Paul. If it was, I'd be sad to be apart today. Instead, I am just donning that red stripe dress and taking myself out to coffee. And then I may go buy the Breaking Dawn DVD. And then I am going to spend time dreaming about an anniversary in the future when Paul thinks it would be a good idea to gift me with that ampersand pillow and diamond ring. 😉

Happy LOVE day. Forget the hype, and just share LOVE.

And speaking of LOVE. LINKwithlove is launching a Pinterest campaign today. Get the full details here.
project life : week 6.

February 13, 2012

Week 6. And I love love love this project.

(click to enlarge & the images above will be [somewhat] clearer)

Lots going on this week with the addition of the day in the life insert. It was another week where most of the project came together on one day. That is still not my favorite way to do it, but I know as things get busy it's going to be my only option.

As mentioned, this project is not an attempt to reinvent the wheel each week. I am continuing to use the same techniques over and over and I love having a place to store all the extra stuff. This week included a note from a friend, a package from some face lotion, a candle tag, movie ticket stub and parking pass. I just crop everything down and stick it in there.

My "date" pocket this week just holds a piece of scratch paper that I practiced using my new Smash date stamp on. I liked the look of it, so in it went.

I used a little printstagram shot to represent by drive back down south early in the week.

That black pattern on kraft paper was hand painted. And I used the diagonal lines on that patterned paper to hold journaling similar to what I wrote in my blog post this morning. I saw Ali Edwards write on lined paper just like this and I LOVED it. Such a fun way to incorporate text.

I can't really explain how much I love this project. It's making so much more sense and telling a better story as the weeks start to add up. I have seen a few comments from people who are getting excited to start next year. I totally get that. But I recommend starting now. Dive in on February 13 and just go with it. In ten years, you might look back and say, "Wow, I wish I had captured more of 2012." You won't look back and say, "Wow, I wish I hadn't started six weeks into the new year." Also – I have heard that Project Life supplies (like page protectors) will be restocked on amazon very soon.

You can see the day in the life insert page in more detail here. I am hoping to have Paul email me with a day in the life for him. There will probably not be photos included, but it would be great to have his "normal" routine in Afghanistan in the album.

supplies / Paper Source circle label, Martha Stewart & Avery labels, American Crafts remarks stickers, Smash date stamp, Crate Paper patterned paper (diagonal lines), little word stickers c/o Scrapbook Circle, Design A page protectors, We R Memory Keepers photo protector, Clementine core kit, Bebas quote font. I use a Fiskars corner rounder (it's not amazing, but it's lasted the longest of any corner rounder I've ever had). I am using a Zig Millennium 0.1 pen and Recollections glossy marker throughout this album.

Confused by Project Life? Start here. See all my Project Life posts here.
from the weekend.

February 13, 2012

I played host to four sweet friends over the weekend. I love showing off my town. I love laughing until I cry. I love drinking wine. I love cooking up a giant batch of spaghetti. I love having someone to run with. I love having someone to collect rocks with. I love talking about the same stuff over and over again. I love getting the gossip about people we went to high school with. I love wandering Santa Barbara. I love finding new restaurants. I love seeing a chick flick in the theater (even when they are a bit underwhelming).

I love that I had someone to agree that a new/old $18 trunk is just what I need. And then help me carry it to the car. And then begin the "let's make it fit in the car" game. I love that that trunk is just dying to be painted in an obnoxiously fantastic pattern. (No joke – I am currently considering hot pink diamonds.)

Good stuff, great visit. Come back soon, loves.

And more good stuff on Stephanie Howell's blog today. I wrote a post for her Lovely things month about Paul's deployment and showing him LOVE while he's been gone. I totally cried while writing it. These past six months have been so full of high highs and low lows. But that's life. And he'll be home soon and I'll get to show him our amazing new town.
documenting a day in the life.

February 12, 2012

I don't yet have week six of my Project Life album finished yet – my girlfriends have been here the past few days and I am currently in LA dropping them off at the airport. But I do have my insert for this week – a spread for Day in the Life.

I kept it super simple. (That rad Wednesday badge is from Ormolu.)

I copied the text from Friday's blog post into PSE and printed it so I could trim it down to 4×11. Then I sewed a page protector to fit the paper.

The text spilled over to the backside too. That file tab is from American Crafts c/o Scrapbook Circle.

I used a We R Memory Keepers photo protector to display 18 photos and pieces of paper from the day. Above is the front.

And then the back.

Wednesday included a particularly good email chain with some of my college girlfriends. I printed off my portion (it was a "update us on your lives" email) and stuck it to the back of that pretty paper from American Crafts. It's not Blogland appropriate so I won't share it here. I am not even sure it's future little ones appropriate, but I'll deal with that when they learn how to read. 😉 The "hello" brand is Amy Tangerine for American Crafts and the label is discontinued from Paper Source.

The "five senses" page is from one of my sweet friend Marta's mini diaries. I tore a page out, trimmed it to 4×4, added my text and slipped it in. Super simple and makes for a good daily life "snapshot." I'll have to remember to do that more often this year!

Check plus. Adore this project. Will be sharing the rest of week six tomorrow afternoon probably.

Confused by Project Life? Start here. See all my Project Life posts here.