enJOY it by Elise Blaha Cripe

home sneaks.

My parents drove down from Sacramento on Saturday with a U-HAUL full of wedding gifts and other fun things we were storing until we found a place. We spent Sunday clearing out boxes and setting up shop. And going crazy with projects. At one point, my mom was sewing curtains, I was recovering chairs, my dad was building shelving and Paul was cooking dinner.

It was a great day. The apartment is looking rad, I learned how to use my new sewing machine and Paul finally understands why I often shout "Let's just DIY it!" It's in my blood.

I hope to have the apartment ready for a full photo tour in a week or so. There are still so many projects I want to take on (making posters, sewing a duvet cover, trying to make these) but the details are coming together!

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day and because Stephanie says it so much better : please read this.

she & he in may.

They secured a San Diego apartment in a walkable neighborhood. This is good. She has never really lived in a walkable neighborhood. He has, but it's been awhile.

She ordered a custom address stamp five hours after they signed a lease.

He set up the internet/TV in record time.

(Priorities.)

She's loving the fresh start that comes with a new place but really wishes there was a magic button which would remove the tons of cardboard from the apartment.

They bought some herbs and set up a little window garden. They are sort of obsessed with these plants.

He doesn't have to report to work for one and a half weeks.

They are loving the extra time together. And by extra time she of course means all day, every day. And therefore, she isn't really reporting to work for one and a half weeks.

They've been married for a month. And so far it's been very good with some bad. (Like when they spent two weeks apart.)

Next week, they'll tackle their greatest married challenge so far : the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

the black and white room.

We already own a cream couch, a black TV and some simple light wood end tables. Most of the frames I already have are black and I just recently collected a few silver ones. You'd think I'd be hurting for a little color, but instead I'm totally drawn to the white and black Ikea rug. And then the chair that Paul thinks would be perfect for video game playing looks pretty rad in black.

So I think we may just end up with a black and cream and gold and white living/tv room. And I'm pretty excited about it.

Links : pillow, letter, lamp, vases.

our favorite breakfast place.

We have been enjoying a lot of meals out over the past couple weeks as we waited to find a place and then be reunited with our pots and pans. Last night was our first home cooked meal in a long time and we've made a pact of no meals out (unless guests are in town) for the next month. I'm looking forward to it. I think we need a healthy food recharge.

But I have to share our favorite place to eat breakfast on Coronado : Bino's. We highly recommend if you're ever in town.

we're busy.

On Sunday, while our apartment was still empty and Paul's best friend was in town, we drove up to LA to go to Disneyland. It's awesome that we're back in driving distance from Disney. It was a surprisingly uncrowded day at the park and I think we rode every ride. Which we should of, as we were there for 15 hours.

Yesterday, our movers brought so. many. boxes. to our new place. We can't get over how much stuff we have. Which is crazy because I did a lot of purging back in Maryland. Sometimes, it takes a new place to realize what you don't absolutely love should be given away. We are working on unpacking and setting up today. And then we'll be working on getting a few more items to make this space ours. I am trying to stick to the rule that if it's not exactly perfect for us right now, it's not worth it.

So far so good.

I cannot wait to be back to a regular schedule and out of these boxes.