enJOY it

magic monday / on a tuesday.

November 29, 2011

After reading about this, I set a goal to run at least a mile every day from Thanksgiving to New Years. I started the day after Thanksgiving, so yesterday was day four…and so far, I'm four for four. The real challenge, of course, begins today. The past few days have just meant running twice around my parents 0.7 mile block and looking for the prettiest pile of leaves to take a photo with. If I am able to keep running through the move and while settling into our new place, it will surely be magic.

So today, instead of dwelling on the craziness ahead, I am celebrating the joy that is getting my heart rate up and fresh air in my lungs. And I am taking deep breaths and reaching down to my toes to summon every inch of patience I have to get through this move.
more markdowns.

November 28, 2011

Just added a few more items to my shop sale. Take a look!
40 loaves / rosemary olive oil bread.

November 28, 2011

Bread no. 28 : rosemary olive oil bread

Adjustments : nothing – though I ended up adding a lot of extra flour to get the right consistency and I cooked this on a regular baking tray, not a stone because we didn't have one at my parent's house.

Notes : this was our Thanksgiving day bread and so easy and fun to make.

Review : tasted great with a bit of butter, and like all leftovers, it was almost better the second day.
it’s thanksgiving morning.

November 24, 2011

I'm home in Sacramento. My dad is on his way home from the airport with my little/big brother who just flew in from LA. Frank Sinatra is on the CD player. I have two loaves of bread to bake and (what else?) Brussels sprouts to make. There is more than enough coffee to go around. I am so thankful for all of the above.

It's just going to be the four of us this Thanksgiving. And it's probably the last "just the four of us" Thanksgiving we will ever have. Paul is scheduled to be home the next few Novembers (I'm also thankful for that) and someday, when he is out of the country again, there will hopefully be a little E or a little P thrown into the mix.

So I am savoring this last holiday of just the Blaha's. We'll eat roasted turkey and drink red wine. We'll watch football and start Modern Family season one on DVD (which somehow, no one has seen but me). We'll reminisce about the big USC game last Saturday and catch up on stories.

I wish so much that Paul was home. I wish so much that this deployment was over. But he isn't. And it isn't. And so we make do. We'll be toasting him and praying for him.

To my American friends, happy, happy Thanksgiving. To everyone, hug your loved ones tight today.
2011 album update : october.

November 23, 2011

I had to come to terms with the fact that the first album was bursting and buy a second. Now January through June is in one album, July through December will fill the second.

Hiding that last page for a bit because the photos are from my trip to Kolo and aren't ready to share yet. 🙂 Just two. more. months. and I'll have kept this project up all year long. I love that I have a glimpse of this year saved in such format.

Album is the Catalina by Kolo. See January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August & September.
project 16 of 26 / holiday stars.

November 22, 2011

I have had this project in my head since last Christmas season and am happy I was finally able to execute it. While I wanted for my paint at Home Depot last week, I picked up a cheap ($6) piece of wood that was 4 feet by 12 inches. I had them cut it down into four 12x12s. Then I brought it home, stained it up (and did a downright terrible job on the staining – I think my stain needed to be shook) hammered in five nails and wrapped red and white bakers twine in a star shape.

They don't look so excellent on the floor, but I can't wait to decorate with them in the new place. I am going to add little hangers to the back so they'll stay on the wall (just like in this project).

Seriously, so simple. Hopefully this is one of many holiday DIYs. I have a few ideas I hope to try as soon as I get unpacked!

This is project 16 of 26.

I am attempting 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.
magic monday.

November 21, 2011

MAGIC : the stripes are gone. I don't want to admit how many coats it took. But I knew I could stop when I could no longer see where to paint. For the record – totally, totally worth the hassle to have them for seven months.

MAGIC : USC won a huge football game this weekend. That would have been rad on it's own, but even better – the game was on espn3.com. We don't have regular TV/cable so I watch everything online and rarely do they play our games. I was so happy to be able to see the whole thing. I was even happier to get slightly delirious phone calls from my dad and friends immediately after the win.

MAGIC : talked to Paul for over an hour and a half Saturday night (Sunday morning for him). That has never happened – not just because he's deployed, but because I hate the phone.

MAGIC : celebrated happy hour with an old friend on Friday night. We always connect so very well.

MAGIC : met a new friend on Saturday morning!

MAGIC : this was my last weekend in San Diego. I will be in Sacramento all week and then it's pack up and ship out! I am so excited for the new place. Like my freshly painted walls, it feels like a clean slate.
final autumn minibook update.

November 20, 2011

Clearly, I lost steam a bit with this autumn minibook. But no worries – I still got the big stuff documented. I will be adding just a few more photos from Thanksgiving and then that's it. On to the next. (See all autumn minibook updates and tutorials here.)

I am excited to start my holiday minibook this year. I always feel like I don't have very many "holiday-ish" things scheduled but somehow it always gets full. Interested in working on your own holiday minibook? Grab one here.
since paul’s been gone i have…

November 18, 2011

decided to not just survive this deployment, but do my best to thrive.

visited girlfriends in LA, Chicago, New York, Canada, St. Louis and Sacramento.

saw Paul's friends in San Francisco.

planned a birthday surprise.

played a third wheel and a fifth wheel.

programmed my phone with all the important numbers.

happily drank a half bottle of wine by myself at 4:59 on a Wednesday.

sometimes drank more than a half bottle.

developed a love affair… with Brussels sprouts.

attended 34 Bar Method classes.

washed the car.

sewed a quilt.

over-reacted.

ate probably 65 spinach salads & 80 eggs.

found us a new place to live.

scrubbed our old place so it sparkles.

made phone calls and asked important questions.

bought a new couch.

started painting over the stripes on the wall.

filled all the nail holes.

re-hung the doors that it took two people to get down.

ran a half marathon.

ordered Christmas gifts for our families.

painted three things I am excited about.

wrote over 150 blog posts.

hosted a real life minibook workshop.

hosted an online blog design workshop.

washed 50+ loads of laundry.

learned to navigate Trader Joe's with my eyes closed.

baked a cake.

saved more money than ever.

changed my skin-care routine.

wrote a magazine article.

made coffee.

found a new haircut that I love.

laughed until I cried.

cried until I hyperventilated.

worked for a big company.

rented a car.

stayed solo in a hotel.

flew to a funeral.

celebrated a life.

sent birthday cards.

sent sympathy cards.

sent congratulations cards.

sent thinking of you cards.

sent thank you cards.

cried on a shoulder.

held someone while they cried.

decided to buy a Christmas tree.

waited to watch our favorite TV shows.

picked out a new refrigerator, washing machine and dryer.

called customer support.

dealt with the DMV.

yelled at the DMV.

cried on the phone with the DMV.

remembered I am miserable at handling the DMV.

canceled our Netflix disc mailing service.

had another love affair… with Friday Night Lights.

stayed in my pajamas all day.

dressed up in my fanciest attire.

bought new lipstick.

offered advice.

contributed my share to our family's income.

maxed out our Roth retirement funds.

made plans to try for a baby in 2012.

baked a lot of bread.

saw a movie in a theater by myself.

killed spiders & fruit flies.

dealt with mold.

watered the plants.

ironed clothes.

fixed our Internet.

broke our garbage disposal.

danced around the house.

worried.

day-dreamed about our trip when he's home.

wrote letters.

read books.

woke up in the middle of a nightmare.

asked for help.

said I could handle it on my own.

ran late.

arrived early.

called my parents in tears.

saw two USC football games in real life.

emailed Paul with relevant (and irrelevant) news updates.

stayed upbeat most of the time.

drove 500 miles up the five and then 500 miles down – twice.

lost my mind in a fit of rage – at least twice.

got lost – way more than twice.

scheduled and re-scheduled oodles of flights.

designed wedding invitations.

took thousands of photos.

had trouble sleeping.

slept like a baby.

made new friends.

made mistakes.

prayed for strength and for Paul's safety.

rejoiced and thanked God.

felt immense support from both people we know and from complete strangers.

been overwhelmed with pride for Paul and what he is handling over there.

felt so much respect for others who have dealt with deployment, heartbreak & loss.

remembered everyone is fighting their own battle.

aged 105 days.

always known that of course, OF COURSE, life goes on.

*When I started writing this post I was definitely fueled by anger (at an anonymous comment? come on, Elise, get over yourself) but by the end of it, I'm totally at peace. That's a real good thing. Putting my life on the internet has been one of the best decisions I have made in the last six years. I have closed the comments because while I wanted to share this post, I am not reaching out for sympathy or anything of the sort. I am so very grateful for this blog and for so many readers who are willing to offer encouraging words. Truly, it's a blessing. And now… back to regularly scheduled DIYs and recipes – with some personal stuff thrown into the mix. 🙂

**I can't help but read the title of this post like I am Kelly Clarkson singing into a mic.

***confused by that photo? read this post.

****last thing, I highly recommend this exercise. Pick a time period. Write down everything you can think of that you have done in that time period. It doesn't matter if you are single, married, divorced, aged 15, 41, 83, happy, sad or struggling. It's therapeutic as hell. And so empowering.
minibook workshop @ teahouse studio.

November 18, 2011

As mentioned, I taught a minibook workshop at Teahouse Studio last weekend. It was an honor to be asked to teach this class and then an adventure prepping for it. I was awkwardly nervous the first hour or so, but by the end of it, had settled in. Our theme for day one was "Don't be shy." And day two's was "Enjoy the process."

I love how the photos above show a table filled to the brim with crafting supplies and coffee mugs. The table was packed and the 14 class hours were busy. We played with binding methods, learned how to use sewing machines, built books and talked and talked and talked. About minibooks, of course, but also about blogging, weddings, relationships, kids, jobs & making friends. It was creative and crafty and therapeutic. And seriously, such an pleasure.

Teahouse Studio is an amazing place and the ladies that took my class were so sweet and filled with good ideas. By the end of it, I really felt like I had made new friends. And last I checked, the more crafty friends you have, the better. It was a quiet reminder to get out from behind my computer screen more often.

Thank you Teahouse and thank you Jen, Holly, Mere, Ashley, Mer, Tiffany & Karen.

Except for the first two and the last one, all photos were taken by Stefanie Renee. She's awesome.