enJOY it

weekend links / 21.

May 31, 2014

As part of my word WHOLE this year, I want celebrate the work of others by sharing links to my friends, possible friends and complete strangers who are doing great things on the Internet. This is some of the rad stuff I recently saw online…

I could not pre-order this fast enough.

so glad Joy is bringing back her Baking 101 series.

I've been wearing this handmade ring non-stop since Mother's Day.

what a great shirt…

…and actually the whole lou + grey collection looks awesome.

I read Still Alice in over a 26 hour period this week and LOVED it. (ps…full book report coming soon. there are a lot I need to share about…)

roasted curry cauliflower sounds fantastic.

engineer prints made easy.

which reminds me…this big framed photo is perfection.

and from me…exactly the same and completely different.
around here.

May 30, 2014

We were gone for four days and then we were home for two and now today Paul and I are headed to Palm Springs while my parents hang out with Ellerie.

It was a busy few days at home (if busy = fussing with the plants, doing six loads of laundry, mixing cocktails and getting started on the backyard fence project…not necessarily in that order). It's pretty fun in our house these days. Ellerie has learned to point. At everything. Animals. Balloons. Trees. Light bulbs. Strangers. Walls. She's not picky. But she LOVES it when she points at something and then you go touch it. Or better yet, bring her to it to touch herself. This age, man. It's the BEST.

I had a few requests for a post about traveling on an airplane with kiddos. I don't have much to say because right now air travel is just parenting in the sky. At eleven months, Ellerie is too old to sleep for the whole flight and too young to distract and seriously entertain with "new books she hasn't seen yet" or "walks down the aisle." Instead we let her empty all the magazines out of the backseat pocket over and over and over again. My only real recommendations are to just bring more food than you think you'll need and greet everyone with a smile. It's far from relaxing but it's not too painful.

Have a great weekend! Palm Springs, we LOVE you. See you soon.

ps : Palm Springs is THE most photogenic city in the world (next to maybe Tulum) so if you're bored, check out my favorite photo heavy desert posts from the archives. (one, two, three)
project life 2014 : may.

May 29, 2014

As mentioned at the end of 2013, I am no longer completing my Project Life album on a weekly basis. I did that for two years. I enjoyed the process and I love my albums. This year I am taking a much more relaxed approach and playing more with this project. I don't have much of a plan other than to complete at least one (and sometimes many more) spread a month.

The big win is that I can never be "behind" on this album. I also like that I don't have to worry about having seven horizontal 4×6 photos each week and can group photos by subject instead of date. I love that I will be under no "weekly deadlines" and will be blogging just once a month about my album.

click to enlarge.

April ended with a 9 pocket page displaying our coffee bags. I had taken a ton of photos of our chemex coffee process for a blog post, so I decided to use 12 vertical photos on the opposite page.

I love those photos and LOVE how they look in a grid like that.

click to enlarge.

The next spread is my Studio Calico creative team layout featuring the Hello, Hello kit for June.

I used a bunch of embellishments from the kit and some printables to create a mostly black, white and gold page featuring photos from our Sunday at home.

The opposite page is one of my favorites. That photo turned out even better in black and white and I love how it paired with that journaling card.

Seriously my fave.

I had just a few more photos that I wanted to include from the month and I stuck them into the backside of the full photo pocket page. I have NO ISSUES at all that there were more great photos from the month that didn't make it in. I am busy this year in a very good way. This album shows just a small snapshot of our lives and that is more than good enough for me.

Thank you so much for following along. See my title page for this album here and 2014 album progress here.

product sources: Studio Calico Hello, Hello PL kit and add-ons, Studio Calico & letterpress plate (my card was a gift, thanks Andrea!), card from the midnight edition, We R Memory keepers 9 pocket page, Design A pocket page, staz-on ink, black sharpie.

all photos were printed at home on my Epson PictureMate Show
mexican martinis.

May 29, 2014

We spent last weekend in Houston visiting our friends Lauren, Pascal and baby Graham. We haven’t seen them in awhile and it was great to introduce the babies (and give them their first date AND first swimming pool experience). It was very laid-back and such a fun trip.

The first night, after the babies were asleep, Lauren and Pascal introduced us to the Mexican Martini… a mash-up between a martini and a margarita. They were awesome and I immediately asked for (and if I could share) the recipe. Lauren’s favorite are from Trudy’s in Austin and apparently there are a ton of bad recipes online, but only a few legit ones.

We got home and mixed them up for ourselves last night. We adapted the recipe just the slightest bit from Texas Monthly:

serves two

2 shots tequila
1 shot Cointreau
1 shot fresh lime juice
1/3 shot olive brine
a splash of fresh orange juice
tabasco to taste (we added a few good shakes)
green olives as garnish

Mix all ingredients plus ice up well in a shaker. Pour into two martini glasses and garnish with green olives (we tried salt around the rim and felt it was “ehhh” but if you like salt, go for it). When we got home we added the tabasco and LOVED extra kick. If you’re into spicy, toss it in.

Enjoy!
#tasteslikecandy

May 28, 2014

My backyard garden has been off to a rather rocky (err, hot) start this year. I'm working on it (buying earthworms is on our agenda today!) but so far, so slow.

These three sungolds are the first (delicious) fruits of the summer. One for each of us.

This week on ELISE GETS CRAFTY, I'm talking with creativity coach Jen Lara about creativity! We discuss how creativity can be measured and improved …and we talk a bit about how I scored on the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking Jen administered to me earlier this month. Subscribe on iTunes or stream the episode here.
let’s talk Chemex (again!).

May 27, 2014

In the spring of 2012, Paul came home from deployment with a new appreciation for coffee. We bought a Chemex and I shared our experience using it and some facts about it here.

When Paul returned home last summer, he was even more inspired to up our morning coffee game. To celebrate his return we bought a fancy KitchenAid grinder and started paying more attention to where the beans come from and how they are roasted.

Our favorite places of origin are Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda. It turns out once we started using the appropriate amount of water for the beans we enjoy the flavor of the medium/lighter roasted beans more than the darker roasts we used to purchase (they tend to have a more citrus/berry taste). We have learned that oily coffee beans (they look shiny in the packaging) have usually been over-roasted (which is what can give coffee that burnt taste). We also learned that beans that have a "roasted on" date are fresh (and will taste noticeably better if they are drank within 5-10 days of that date).

For Christmas, my parents got Paul a six-month coffee subscription so once a month we get beans from three different roasters in the US. We also purchase at our local grocery store and from a few great San Diego roasters (West Bean, Dark Horse and Bird Rock are three of our favorites).

The "higher quality" bean roast has made a huge difference in taste, for sure. But Paul has also made a few changes to his brewing technique that makes our morning coffee closer to perfection.

To start, he weighs the beans (using my postal scale!) each morning. We generally use about 75 grams of beans for a not quite full Chemex. (This is much more than we were using pre-measuring and is giving our coffee a better, fuller flavor).

He grinds the measured beans each morning in our KitchenAid grinder. It's a burr grinder and the grounds look more like "flakes" – sort of like fish food! – than the "normal" coffee grounds I was used to seeing.

Like before, we boil water in our tea kettle on the stove, but then Paul pours a bit of water into the Chemex and swirls it around to heat things up. The water then goes into our mugs to warm them as well. (See how fancy?! It's just not fancy when you're me and forget there is warm water in your mug and so you pour coffee in as well. Wop, wop.)

We have started using fabric filters by CoffeeSock and are big fans. Yes, it's a hassle to wash them out instead of just dropping in the bin, but they work great and the taste has been excellent. The filter fits into the Chemex with the seam facing the spout and the grounds go into the filter.

The first bit of water is poured slowly and we give the grounds time to "bloom." With really freshly roasted beans this is a dramatic process and the grounds really expand.

Then its just pour some water, wait a bit, pour some water, wait a bit. The goal is to not overfill, to pour in a circle covering all the grounds and to be consistent. Paul usually sets the Chemex on the scale and pours about 855 grams of water to get a perfect ratio.

And then (after dumping out the "pre-warming" water) we pour into our mugs and drink. This is "real deal" coffee and so good I cannot imagine adding extras (and I used to be a die-hard "extras" girl). The transition to black coffee took a bit of time (much like the transition into loving red wine) but now I appreciate the taste so much.

Hilariously, switching to black coffee made me feel more adult than having a baby did. (I know, that's crazy.)

Since I know folks will be curious, Paul says this process takes about 15 minutes + water boiling time. He wakes up very early for work and makes the coffee each day. For him, it's how he adjusts to the morning and follows the steps while eating cereal and catching up on email, etc on his phone.

*this post is NOT sponsored but links throughout are affiliate because if you love good coffee have 15 minutes each morning I highly recommend the Chemex and I am happy to share the tools that helps us brew.
weekend links / 20.

May 24, 2014

As part of my word WHOLE this year, I want celebrate the work of others by sharing links to my friends, possible friends and complete strangers who are doing great things on the Internet. This is some of the rad stuff I recently saw online…

thought-provoking newsletter from Austin Kleon this week.

super cute striped dress, Target.

Emily McDowell is making me even more excited to attend Alt in June.

and Emily Henderson is the Legit Queen of Before & Afters.

small weavings.

since I've started this feature I have linked to may quilts. But this one, you guys, makes my heart ache.

if it's possible to "win" at being a bride, this one does.

Freshly Picked nailed it with their product expansion to bags this week (I mean, JUST LOOK at that homepage…)

the perfect little notebook title.

good news! taking a vacation can make you better at your job.

The Phone Photography Project workshop is back (and all new!) at Big Picture this summer.

and a short interview I did with The Practice Project.
around here.

May 23, 2014

Cheers to FRIDAY!

I've got a new blog banner up if you want to click through… I love updating the photos each season. It's such a quick and easy facelift for the site and it gives me a chance to look back through recent posts to see what I've been sharing here. If you were just visiting for the first time today and looked at the banner you'd be like, "hmm, I guess this girl likes gardens, succulents, pizza dough, photos, family, highchairs that don't look terrible, ampersands, holding things up against the sky and coffee." And I'd be like "Nailed it! Welcome, weary Internet traveler! Can I interest you in some archives?"

(Speaking of archives, I am committed to getting them resorted and much more functional this summer.)

Speaking of blogging, I have a post in my head that I want to write called "anatomy of a blog post." It's a post about what goes into writing posts here. (I'm not sure exactly what "meta" means but I think this is it?) Churning out content is more of a science than an art for me. There is going to be a matrix to help explain how I develop posts. I might be discussing some basic math concepts. I'm excited. (And the coffee post is coming! Look for it next Tuesday – had to push it back because it was feeling like an infomerical around here!)

And speaking of the opposite of blogging, tomorrow we start to RELAX (on an airplane with an 11-month-old? Impossible!) NOT WORK. Last fall Paul requested a week of leave at the end of May. Back then, the future felt like a mirage (meaning awesome looking but totally unreal) and it was hard to imagine we'd get here. But we did! TIME OFF. TOGETHER. I have a few posts planned and there will be a podcast as usual but if I do everything correctly, my email response time will be slower. Most likely my Instagramming will be frequent (but that's nothing new).

We're headed out bright and early tomorrow. But right now? Bright and early today? I'm packing up your posters. Thank you, THANK YOU, for another successful launch of a MAKE29 edition. There are about 100 posters left and if you place an order by noon today, it will ship out before the weekend. (Otherwise it will ship out next week.)

Have a good one.
small business how to : shipping.

May 21, 2014

This is going to sound like an exaggeration, but stamps.com saved my business.

FOR REAL.

If you are a small business owner that ships physical products you most likely know that shipping international can be a huge hassle. It seems like the postage rates are ALWAYS changing (sometimes depending on your teller). Worse than that, in the past few years the USPS has started typing all of the custom's form information into the computer while you stand there. I used to dread going to the post office. Depending on the teller I got, I could be there for over AN HOUR. ONE HOUR. Standing at the counter, waiting while the friendly but slow-typing teller entered all the information for every package.

I hated wasting that time and knew it was going to be impossible once Ellerie was born.

If you collect payment and ship through PayPal you have probably noticed that you CAN ship international PRIORITY through the PayPal system. This is good – but VERY expensive. International shipping is a lot of money to begin with, but priority international rates are crazy high. So for me, that was not an option.

I was considering closing shop to international orders (which would have been a huge bummer) but then, Tiffany, a blog friend of mine who runs a fun handmade shop, emailed to tell me about stamps.com. She explained how easy the system made first class international shipping and I was intrigued enough to sign up for a trial account that day. About a week later I received a "welcome package" in the mail from stamps.com (with some free labels and information about the service).

Shortly after I sent a package first-class international FROM MY HOUSE and it arrived safely.

AND THEN I NEVER LOOKED BACK. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, TIFFANY.

I still use PayPal for the majority of my domestic shipping because it's it works and the shipping costs are deducted right from my PayPal account.

But I use stamps.com for all my international mailing. (please note : I am on a Mac and so I have to use the online system. I am pretty sure if you are on a PC, you can download an actual program from stamps.com that makes importing addresses even easier.) I enter the addresses, package size, weight and customs information. Then I print a label on regular printer paper, fold it in half and stick it into an envelope called a PS Form 2976-E. I order these clear envelopes in quantities of 50 from the USPS – they are free and are shipped free.

I stick that envelope on my package and my mailman picks it up at my doorstep. FIRST CLASS INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES. Out the door, easy as one, two (there isn't even a three because it's so simple). Aside, from the ease, I love that my shipping records are saved so if and when I get emails from international folks about their packages I can check the system and see when their label was created and if I have any information about it to pass on. (While the USPS does not offer international tracking, I can see "package left LA sort facility on XX" which is usually very helpful.)

Because shipping rates seem to always be changing, I use stamps.com to "test" items and determine my postage fees. I weigh and measure my packages before a new MAKE29 edition goes live and then see how much it will cost to send to various countries. I am now able to offer more accurate shipping fees because I know in advance exactly what I will be paying.

Something else to keep in mind is that stamps.com has more shipping options than PayPal. The biggest one is "regional rate" priority boxes that allow me to send something priority to Sacramento for less money than it costs to mail the same thing to Massachusetts. It doesn't come into play very often with the type of product I sell, but when it does, I appreciate it.

What I didn't know before I started doing my shipping online (both through PayPal in 2012 and stamps.com in 2013), is that mailing the same item at home from your computer is CHEAPER than mailing through the post office. It's adequate postage. It includes tracking so you have a digital record and your (domestic) customer gets email confirmation PLUS it's cheaper. Making the switch has saved my business thousands of dollars and saved me hundreds of hours. (Again, I am not exaggerating.)

Stamps.com costs $15.99 a month in addition to the money you spend on postage. I have had to call their customer service hotline twice – once because my payment wasn't going through and another time because I had a question about package type. Both times my concern was addressed quickly and professionally and both times I was THRILLED that I was able to speak on the phone with a real live person (rare these days).

Other than the service you will want a postal scale and shipping labels (both of which you can also get through your stamps.com account) to make the process even easier.

If you have an online shop and are dreading the post office visits, I really hope this helps!

This post is NOT sponsored by stamps.com but links throughout are affiliate because I have used this service for nine months and have had a great experience.

Speaking of mail… today on ELISE GETS CRAFTY I'm chatting with Melanie of Grey Moggie Press about the National Stationery Show! Subscribe on iTunes or stream the episode here.
my experience with the fitbit.

May 20, 2014
Since May 1 (for nearly three weeks), I have been wearing a fitbit flex non-stop. I wear it all day. I wear it in the shower. I wear it to bed. I have taken it off a few times while I am at my computer to charge the battery – but that's it.

I have gotten a few questions about the fitbit on Instagram and I'd like to answer them here.

What's a fitbit?

It's a pedometer that looks like a bracelet that you wear on your non-dominant hand. It tracks steps, miles walked, active minutes and calories burned throughout the day. While you are sleeping, it tracks the number of times you are awake or restless. (I love this feature!) It connects via bluetooth to your computer or your smartphone. (I am not sure exactly what sort of smartphones, but I have an iPhone 4s and it works with that. My mom has an iPhone 4 and it does NOT connect to hers.) There is a free app you can download that syncs with the bracelet and gives you an INSANE amount of data about how you are moving. You can also enter how much water you are drinking (I do this) and what you are eating (I do not do this) onto the computer or the app.

Still have questions? Here is the amazon listing for the flex that I have or you can check out the fitbit website.

Why am I wearing one?

I recently stopped pumping breastmilk for Ellerie. If you've followed for awhile, you've heard me mention that I pumped and bottlefed exclusively from about six weeks on. This was a choice I made for a few reasons and not something I have too much to say about because I am not looking to provide advice or receive feedback. It was a tremendous hassle, but on the whole it worked for us. I am thrilled that I was able to provide Ellerie with breastmilk for 10 months. I am also thrilled that I am done. Because my "attachment" was to the pump not the baby, the only emotion "weaning" resulted in was joy.

The point though (and the reason why I mention all this), is that for the first time in over a year and a half my body belongs to me (and only me!) again. IT'S A GREAT FEELING. I don't have time to go to the gym. I don't want to pay for childcare while I take work-out classes. But I do want to get in better shape. I thought that this might be a great way to be aware of and increase my activity level.

Does it work?

That depends. Yes, I think the fitbit does track steps accurately enough (is it perfect? Probably not, but all that really matters is that it's consistently imperfect). But it's only going to WORK (make you healthier) if you WORK (on making yourself move). If you are motivated by this sort of stuff (goals, data, graphs) then you will flourish with this sort of system. If you are not, you will not.

Example scenario: it's 8:30 PM and according to the app, you've only moved 8,000 steps today and your goal is 10,000. Do you feel discouraged and angry at yourself so you continue watching TV? Or do you feel encouraged and motivated to get up walk around? If you picked the first option, don't get a fitbit; it will bum you out. If you picked the second option, get a fitbit; it will inspire you.

THAT SAID : if you get the fitbit and find that on a normal day you are getting about 4,000 steps, I would recommend lowering your daily goal to 6,000 (you can edit all goals from the "factory settings") and then pushing for those 6,000. No sense setting an un-realistic goal for your lifestyle! You can always up it down the line and any progress is great progress. 🙂

Has it helped?

When I first bought the fitbit, I was SHOCKED to discover how in-active I actually was. (I thought for sure I'd be hitting 10k without issue.) Turns out on a "normal day" I would probably get about 7,000 steps. Now that I "know" my numbers I am pushing myself to MOVE (mostly by taking longer walks but also by adding running with Paul and the stroller into the mix). The first week I hit 10,000 steps only 3 out of 7 days. The second week and so far this week, I have hit it everyday. If you're a numbers person, I have lost 2 pounds since May 1.

But another strange side effect is that my house is the cleanest it's been since Ellerie was born. Instead of spending my last 15 minutes before heading to bed on the couch scrolling Pinterest, I'm darting from room to room putting away toys, wiping down counters, clearing out closets and taking out the trash. Am I crazy? Oh, for sure. Am I getting my steps in? Absolutely.

In sum:

From past experience I know that when I want to be healthier counting calories or restricting food is a recipe for failure (or in the case of my junior year of college TOO successful). I've basically ate the same way for the past three years (you can read more about the my switch to better, smarter eating here). Because I'm pretty set in the food arena, increasing my activity level and moving more is a great option for me when I want to feel better physically. This will come as a surprise, but I am totally goal-oriented and LOVE that I can see actual progress in bar-graph form. 😉 If you feel similarly motivated, I recommend the fitbit or similar step-counting device.

this post is not sponsored but as I am sure you've guessed, the fitbit link is affiliate, which means if you buy one, I make a small commission.

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