enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

  • butternut squash soup.

    IMG_8380

    Homemade soup might be the kicker that takes fall over summer in the favorite season competition. I have been craving soup the last few days as it's been very gray and rainy in San Diego. Paul is currently working looong days and spending a few nights a week on call at the hospital so it's nice to have something easy to heat up and eat as leftovers.

    IMG_8372

    This is a recipe for butternut squash soup that I adapted from this based on what we had on hand and what I was willing to chop up. Measurements are approximate…another huge plus of soup. This made enough for three meals for two. OH – and we put shredded (cooked) chicken in ours at the very end (after the food processor). Not necessary, but good if you like meat with your dinner.

    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 1 butternut squash (about 2.5 pounds), peeled, seeds removed and chopped into small pieces
    • 1 cup of baby carrots (or a few big carrots), chopped
    • 1 small onion, chopped
    • 2 cans chicken stock – we used 3 cups of hot water and the appropriate amount of chicken bouillon
    • garlic powder (or fresh garlic, minced) to taste
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Melt the butter in a large pan on medium. Add squash, carrots, onion and garlic. Stir until pieces are evenly coated with butter and let cook for about five minutes. Pour in the chicken stock, add some salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Cover, turn to low and let simmer for about 45 minutes.

    Move the soup into a food processor or blender and blend until soup is smooth. Taste! Add more salt, pepper or garlic powder as needed.

    Enjoy!

  • kneading and rolling.

    IMG_8346
    IMG_8349
    IMG_8342
    IMG_8345
    IMG_8361
    IMG_8367

    I should never underestimate the power of rolling out and shaping bread dough.

    It's basically a cardio workout with some therapy thrown in.

  • LISTED

    in the shop.

  • operation : build a headboard.

    Headboards
    In August, Paul and I bought a new mattress. It was a big purchase, but something we had wanted to do since about three years ago when I moved in. And since August, I have been dreaming about buying an actual bed. Something with a headboard and legs. Something that isn't just a metal frame with wheels.

    But come to find out, beds, like mattresses, are Very Expensive. Plus there is the fact that our tastes are bound to change in a few years and we'll want something completely different.

    For awhile we thought we would buy a new headboard and frame as a Christmas gift to each other. So that just left the problem of figuring out which one to buy.

    And then I saw this post in the archives of Design Sponge about building a headboard. Oh for sure : this was the new plan.

    Ours is going to be simpler in shape (probably rectangular) and come off the ground only about four feet. We'll see, I have to take some measurements and see what's available at home depot. But our local fabric store sells upholstery foam by the yard and quilt batting should be easy to come by.

    Right now, the plan is to cover it in fabric and I think I am going to use this method to accomplish a chevron print. (I am going to make the strips much wider if possible.) I might be able to find chevron fabric, but I think the dimension added from the seams is pretty cool and might work well as a headboard. The best part about the fabric is that in a year, when I realize I am over chevron, I'll just rip out the staples and recover it with something new.

    Changeability at it's best. In theory.

    So this whole plan might be crazy. I am fairly certain Paul thinks I've lost my mind (nothing new). But, I am hoping to get it made and behind our bed by November 1st. I'll keep you posted.

    images via : west elm, dana made it & design sponge

  • apple cider and a lit candle? it must be fall.

    apple cider and a lit candle? it must be fall.

  • 2010 holiday books.

    IMG_8236
    HOLIDAYbookpromo
    IMG_8228
    IMG_8237
    Pages1
    Pages2
    Pages3
    Pages4

    Available in the shop at 10am this Tuesday. I have a lot of these books, so I am not anticipating a quick sell out. But if you want to get the first ones – Tuesday is your day.

    As always, thanks for your support!

  • dear elise,

    take more photos.

    of you.
    of Paul.
    of what you two do.

    your iPhoto storage now?

    is a whole lotta work shots and very few memories.

    change it up.

  • sneak peek : holiday books!

    IMG_0434
    IMG_0429

    Last year, I sold 4×6 holiday books with 25 pages for celebrating and documenting December.

    Ali Edwards has made the "December Daily" project famous and you can read more about her process here.

    This year, I started planning much earlier and love every paper that is in the book. I am going to be working on them non-stop for the next two days. Originally, I mentioned a release date of November 1st, but I think I'll move that up to sometime next week. I will be sharing the finished book, prices and list date on Monday.

    So excited for these.

  • on self-employment.

    IMG_0321

    Since I was thirteen, I have held a lot of jobs.

    Baby-sitter, nursing home activities assistant, smoothie maker, magazine ad intern, admissions student intern, real estate development intern, big box store management intern, claims adjuster intern, customer service associate, retail assistant manager & public relations intern.

    Lots of interning. Lots of learning.

    What did all of these jobs have in common?

    In the beginning I was all about them. A-ha! This will make me money! This will make me happy! This is a step in the right direction! And then after awhile, my days started to drag on and on. Of course, there were highlights. I loved the rush that came from accomplishing a big project, making a huge sale or speaking to a large group. But I didn't love that I was on someone else's clock. That the harder I worked, the more the company, not me, benefited from my labor. In a lot of my positions, it was beneficial to stretch out projects and look busy. And when I wasn't doing that, I was bored.

    Not so good.

    I have been working part time for myself for about three years. I have been working full time for myself for about five months. I have ups and downs. But I never have days where I would rather be sitting in on a conference call or punching a clock. I do not wish for the stability that comes with a "real job".

    I do not make a lot of money. In fact, without Paul and our combined financial situation, this would probably not be a viable career yet. (Or maybe I would be working harder to make it one? Hmmm, interesting…) But what I do make has steadily increased as I learn better business practices and develop more ideas.

    I have discovered a completely new rush from the work that I do. I get to apply what I know into something I love. I get to make stuff. I get to dream and sketch and meet interesting people. I get to be excited about emails. I get to enact marketing tools. I get to try different things depending on my current interest. I get to scratch things when they don't work. I make it happen for me.

    I do not know if this is a path that I intentionally chose. I started this blog because my junior year of college I thought I had funny stories to tell. At that time, I was twenty. I wanted to work in an office. I wanted to wear heels to work. I was excited about a new ad sales internship. From this blog grew everything. I am so glad.

    My senior year of college, I really struggled to make my career goals a reality. I interviewed with big company after big company. I studied their mission statements and organizational charts. I calculated what would be the best path to the top. I printed resumes, dressed up and answered questions. And over and over again I got rejected. When it became clear I wasn't going to get something I liked, I decided to move out to Maryland and take a chance on a future with Paul. I figured since all else had failed, I would work at a paper store.

    As far as my self-employment path goes, that was the second step I had to take.

    The paper store and slightly-better-than-minimum-wage was life changing. I learned about retail. And letterpress. And stationery. And customer service. It was a creative environment that sucked me in. It enabled me to build my own job and work for myself.

    I am grateful for my past internships. I am grateful that so many corporate offices didn't think I was the right fit. And I am grateful for this space.

    I have learned and grown so much while typing here.

  • the BIG mini workshop // a rerun.

    MiniLOGOMosaic95e6876a2d71dec1bd492f89267c9e4b725a6d0c

    I am excited to announce another round of the BIG mini workshop. This is the same class that I ran at the beginning of September, so if you missed that one, here’s your chance. This was a labor of love and by far my favorite online workshop to teach. Above are sample photos from some of the projects and lectures.

    This round will run from November 1-12, 2010. You can read all about the workshop here.

    And if you are ready to register, please CLICK HERE.

    Thank you!