enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

  • autumn minibooks!

    autumn minibook promo from elise blaha on Vimeo.
    video music : camera by Rabbit! used with permission

    I am so excited to share the first look at the autumn minibooks! I put together a very short video trailer so you can see each page. I LOVED the summer minibook project and am looking forward to documenting this fall. I plan on sharing book updates and video tutorials on the blog this season as well.

    IMG_5090

    This time the books have two different cover options. The copper version is what I'll be doing. It feels a bit more fallish to me. But because it doesn't pop quite as much, I am also offering a white version for those that prefer. White is also great if you did the summer book and want them to match.

    Both versions of the book will be on sale in the shop on Monday morning at 8am PST. I am planning on making these over the next few months, so for now, there is no need to worry about them selling out. However – if you'd like yours by the beginning of September, please purchase next week! I'll be traveling at the end of August and will not be able to ship them then.

    I'll be starting my book on September 3rd once I am home from my vacation. I hope you'll be joining me!

  • currently.

    IMG_5062

    loving this short haircut. best decision ever.

    flattered by your sweet comments! thank you.

    so glad that after five days of travel, Paul is safe and sound in Afghanistan.

    wishing we were able to talk more often.

    surprised that when we did talk he sounded so much older! (in a hot way.)

    realizing that all that time apart during his intern year really prepped us for this.

    happy that my past few days and this weekend involve so much friend & family time.

    sore from bringing bar method back into the routine.

    thinking about what to pack for my North American tour (Chicago, NYC & Winnipeg!) in just over a week.

    up to my eyeballs in web coding for the new blog and site.

    waiting for this fun pair of teal shoes to show up on my doorstep.

    planning on making some banana bread.

    excited to unveil the autumn books tomorrow.

  • so, this is worth a laugh.

    Igh9

    I know, right?

    It's from the photobooth at Steph & Steve's wedding that we went to last May.

    Couple of things :

    1. That was such a great wedding.
    2. Paul is officially Russel Brand.
    3. That photo needs to be poster size and hung over our mantle tv.

  • oh hey, haircut.

    IMG_4962 Hair

    I did something different! I wasn't quite brave enough to go super short quite yet, but this is a step in the right direction. Tomorrow, we'll try it curly…

    p.s. San Diego ladies? I have been going to Shannon @ Rinse Salon for about a year and she is amazing. Highly recommend.

  • 2011 album update : july.

    IMG_4906

    Wow. I feel like I just did June's entry. Not to wish away the days or anything…but I am hoping autumn rushes past just like summer seems to.

    IMG_4894
    IMG_4893
    IMG_4895
    IMG_4896
    IMG_4897
    IMG_4898
    IMG_4901

    Exact same process every month. I'll be buying refill pages soon and another album to keep up this project in 2012.

    See January, February, March, April, May & June.

    Dottedline

    mykolo.com home

  • wrapping up the summer book.

    IMG_4885
    IMG_4881
    IMG_4882
    IMG_4884

    I'm finished with my summer book. Yep, it's still August. Yep, I know that means it's still summer. But for me, this book seems done and this chapter seems complete. I'm excited that I kept it up and I'm thrilled to be done.

    IMG_4891

    As for what's next :

    I'll be spending the next week or so putting together my week in the life album. It's going to be digital and I will have much more to share about it once it's printed and complete. Then, starting in early September, I'll be working on an autumn minibook. I plan on carrying that project through November then doing a holiday book and finally I'll take a long documentation breather in January.

    (Can you tell "Long-term Planner" is my middle name?)

    If you have been working on your own summer minibook, I hope the process has gone well! I welcome you to join me again (or for the first time) in documenting your fall season. Look for a fun trailer (yep, I'm jumping on the "launch a new product with a video" train) by the end of the week and then the official launch of the new autumn books will be on Monday.

    Would you like to see my complete summer album? Go here. I am officially out of papers for the summer books, so they are no longer available but you can purchase a cover at the bottom of this post and a bonus pack of paper here. Are you working on your own summer book? Add photos to the flickr group or upload a badge to your blog or website.

  • home is wherever i’m…

    IMG_2659

    I am so glad that I participated in Ali Edwards' week in the life two weeks ago. When I heard the dates and realized Paul was going to be out of town for training, I inwardly groaned. "I don't want to do this if it's just me," I thought. "This won't be a real week in the life." And then a few hours later I thought, "Self, you're an idiot. Pull yourself together and take some photos."

    And what I ended up capturing makes me so happy I can hardly breathe.

    Because when I look at my hundreds of photos from one week, I feel full. Sure, I don't see a lot of people. I don't see Paul. I don't see myself surrounded by family or friends (though I am so grateful they are just an email or quick drive to LA away), but I do see me. I see me living my daily life. And most importantly, I see me enjoying it. Staying busy and happy and inspired.

    Undoubtedly, if Elise from five years ago could look at those photos she'd be proud of me today. And Elise from five years from now? She'd probably use one of her three wishes to get that sort of time to herself.

    I am grateful that I had the opportunity to capture a week in my life as it was and how it will be for the next little while without Paul.

    I know you've heard the song "Home is Wherever I'm with You." I adore that song. I think it's especially great for families and couples that move around a lot. It's a great song if you need to set down new roots often. It's great when you have to turn a different place into something that feels familiar. The song is a reminder that wherever you go, as long as you are with the ones you love, you're home.

    I have been thinking about it a lot the past two weeks. Because as much as I believe it that home is wherever I'm with Paul, I am facing the next seven months without him.

    And so I have two options :

    Complain and wait for him to return and life to start OR redefine "home" and decide what it will mean for me.

    And today, at the real start of this adventure, I define it as this :

    Home is where I am. Home is where I feel safe. Home is where I want to be. Home is a place for dance parties in my pajamas. Home is watching what I want on TV. Home is cooking what I want to eat. Home is baking a quarter of a batch of chocolate cookies because I only want one. Home is a place I mess up with all my stuff and then clean when it becomes too much. Home is where I work. Home is a place I invite friends from near and far to crash at. Home is where I can pick up and leave at a moments notice. Home is where I am always grateful to return to. Home is the place I love. Home is what I make of it.

    +++

    Paul is currently still traveling. We have been able to speak a few times and that has been wonderful. I am grateful for the friends that kept me occupied this past weekend. I am grateful for your sweet comments on Friday's post. I am so very grateful for the families that have done this before me and the ones that continue to do it. I am grateful for the servicemen and women that will be keeping the base Paul will live on safe and secure. I am grateful for those that have made the ultimate sacrifice; it was heartbreaking to wake up Saturday morning and read of the most recent helicopter crash.

    Focusing on sending a lot of love and thanks out into the world today. I am blessed.

  • do your best.

    For as long as I can remember do your best has been my family's motto.

    My mom's favorite chorus especially.

    Test at school? Do your best.

    Presentation? Do your best.

    College applications? Do your best.

    Pulling out of the garage to drive to a friend house? Do your best.

    It became so routine that the words changed meaning.

    They started to represent everything :

    I love you. You can do it. I have faith. It's okay.

    I went to college and started to hear the words over the phone.

    Finals? Do your best.

    Job interview? Do your best.

    Challenging situation? Do your best.

    Un-challenging situation? Do your best.

    The words soaked deep inside me and became a part of my vocabulary.

    I moved out to Maryland and suddenly had someone to say them do.

    The words had become my chorus as I spoke to Paul.

    New rotation? Do your best.

    Presentation? Do your best.

    Board exams? Do your best.

    Paul graduated and became a doctor.

    New rotation? Do your best.

    Beginning of a 30 hour shift? Do your best.

    Going into work knowing your ICU patient will probably die? Do your best.

    Today Paul is deploying.

    Today I'll kiss him good-bye for the next seven months.

    Among other things, I will say quietly, "do your best."

    I love you. You can do it. I have faith. It's okay.

  • currently.

    Ventura

    staying up in Ventura while Paul gets ready to deploy.

    still unsure about what day he is actually leaving.

    making the best of it.

    sleeping better than I have in weeks.

    enjoying this break from work and every second I'm spending with him.

    ps. over-processed photos courtesy of the PictureShow iPhone app.

  • 40 loaves / cinnamon pull apart bread.

    IMG_4846
    IMG_4850
    IMG_4854

    40loaves

    Bread no. 18: cinnamon pull apart bread

    Adjustments : I had to use a lot more flour than what was recommended to keep my dough from becoming a sticky mess. I also substituted about a cup of wheat flour for white flour. And even though it was encouraged to use a cup of sugar for the filling – I couldn't do it. I ended up using about a fourth a cup and extra cinnamon.

    Notes : This ended up being much easier than I expected. Rise time was short and the dough still really grew. Am very glad I used just a fraction of the sugar – still had great flavor.

    Review : Love. Will be making this again. Would be perfect for bring to a breakfast or brunch. And when it was still warm? It was divine.