enJOY it by Elise Blaha Cripe

my 25 @ 25 book completed.

Every year for the past three years, I have made a list of things to accomplish before my next birthday. Last year, I created a list of 25. After 365 days, I completed just 14 on the list. Not bad, but not great. (I do not think I am going to make a 26@26 list this year - but I have to think of something else to try...) Below is the book I started last June and wrapped up the day before my birthday.

You can click any image to enlarge.

I pulled so much of it together on Monday but used text from blog posts this past year and that helped get some "in the moment" journaling. Most of the typed journaling is from the blog.

The full book is 6x6 which is a fun size to work with because you can include square photos of course, but also 4x6 both as horizontal or vertical images. I tried to include lots of photos as well as some ephemera. All of the numbers were stamped in yellow with Ma Vinci unmounted rubber stamps. And as you can see, I left out the numbers that I didn't get to.

Sometimes, when I am in the middle of working on these continuous albums, I start to wonder if it's worth it and often give up. I am so glad I didn't on this one. 25 was monumental because of the wedding and all that jazz. But these little details really made the year what it was and are so easy to forget. I am so glad I have them all together. And now, after writing this post... I have almost convinced myself to make a list for 26. Eeek.

Questions? Ask them in the comments & I will respond there.

on bread baking.

Making bread always seemed like this impossible task. Something for real chefs. Which I am not. Something involving patience. Which I have not. Something that you needed a bread maker for. Which is not true.

Since moving in with Paul, I have become the pizza dough maker. Pizza dough uses yeast. Pizza dough is just water, flour and salt. It gets kneaded and kneaded and then takes time to rise. As it turns out, it is really just bread.

And I made that just fine.

But real bread? Like a loaf? Like for snacking and sandwiches?

That still felt impossible.

And then we got a big mixer with a dough hook. And while that is far from needed (no pun intended) to make dough, it's a huge help. And my impossible task suddenly felt a little more possible.

I started with foccia bread.

Then I bought a bread baking book. Complete with beautiful photographs and simple instructions.

And out of flour and water and a bit of oil and salt and baking soda came awkward-looking but fantastic-tasting pretzels.

Then came Kranz Cake Babka. Known around here as "the twisty bread with chocolate chips." I'm a huge fan of this one, probably because it reminds me of the chocolate crissonts we ate every morning on our honeymoon. I picked it because the book photo is awesome and it looked challenging.

Soooo tasty.

I have started to look forward to baking bread every few days. I am hoping to work my way through each recipe in my new book. Including the sourdough ones that involve a 5 day process for "building a starter."

Right now, this make it from scratch food is so worth the work.

(And I am considering #15 - try something new - crossed off the list.)

check plus.

It was the perfect hike to cross off #2.

Ocean views, desert trails and little lizards. I recommend Torrey Pines State Reserve if you're ever in San Diego and want a few hours of nature. Lots of different paths and not too difficult.

lucky number 13.

check plus.

We bought my beach cruiser yesterday and quickly got it outfitted with a basket. I can't sit on it without feeling like I'm back at school on the way to class or Traddies (our on campus bar).

I love it.

Paul's bike (not pictured) is pretty fancy because it's doing the heavy lifting like getting him to work. Mine is for trips to the local Office Depot, the downtown post office and the library.

Can't wait to get out and about. And don't worry, I have a legit helmet (also not pictured) for all my future rides.

home tour : the living room.

This is where we live.

I talked originally about making this room black and white themed. But then the lamp I wanted sold out. And the rug I loved was too small. And slowly, the room became yellow. (Which means I can cross off number 16.)

The furniture is the same as what we had in Maryland. That rug is Ikea. The lamp was a wedding gift from Crate&Barrel.

I pulled frames that were in all different rooms of our old apartment to change up the photo wall above the couch. I stuck with mostly yellow photos & added two wedding pictures. The ampersand is from Anthropologie.

I found this quote here recently and loved it. I formatted it and had it printed into a small poster.

On the opposite side of the window is a heart poster from here.

Our engagement book is the only scrapbook/mini album I have ever had on display. It's my favorite and very simple which is why it made the cut.

The light bulb and gray vase were clay projects Paul and Kristen (his sister, my friend) made in ceramics class in high school. We found them in Paul's room in Sacramento this spring and I love having them out. The blue and orange vases as well as the "vino" carafe are Crate&Barrel. The frame is super old and I think from Target.

Our DVDs hide out under the shelf that was built up to house the air conditioning. I love the extra storage space and surface it provides.

When we moved, we decided to get rid of cable (previously we had Comcast) because we never sat down to watch live TV and instead just DVRed our shows. Now we have a MacMini hooked up to our TV and watch everything via hulu & abc.com. Come fall, we'll watch football on espn360. So far we love it. And after a few months without cable bills, the mini will have paid for itself. Plus, I love checking email on a big TV screen.

And that's it. This is our main room - for dinner and TV and folding laundry and video game playing and crafts spread all over the floor. I'm happy with it.

I'll be sharing the rest of our apartment as I make progress!