enJOY it by Elise Blaha Cripe

my Olive & June faves.

I have been an Olive & June customer since March 2021 and an Olive & June ambassador for just over a year. I LOVE the polish so much. My code ELISEC20 saves you 20% off a mani or pedi system. Links in this post are affiliate which means if you make a purchase through them, I receive a commission on the sale. As always, all opinions are my own.

So first... what makes this polish so great? My favorite part is that it's incredibly long lasting. I can usually go 8 days without a single chip. That's a big deal! The application matters though! O&J recommends using polish remover right before applying polish in order to fully clean and prep the nails. I then use a primer before applying two light coats of polish. Then a top coat! For awhile I was doing two top coats but found that isn't necessary (though it doesn't hurt if midway through a manicure you apply another top coat).

The process takes about an hour including dry time. I used to think "I don't have time for that." But over the past year, my perspective has shifted a lot. I have realized that painting my nails is my number one "stress-loop closure activity." It's a time when I sit down. It's a time when my brain and body can both relax into stillness. For this hour, there is nothing to do. (If this sounds boring, I hear you. O&J launched a "quick-dry" polish this fall for times when you just need color on your nails; not a recharge session.)

When I remove my polish I do a lot of re-hydrating and I often go a few days between colors to give my nails a break. The nail care tools in this set are all a big part of my routine when I take off the polish on my hands and feet.

Olive & June sells polish separately and as part of a "system" which includes all the tools for an at home manicure or pedicure. The systems come with one or six polishes and you can pick what you'd like. As a customer, I started with the Mani System and six colors. Then later I purchased the Pedi System. Now as an ambassador I am gifted a lot of new polishes which is very fun. I have loved branching out from my standard few colors. Below are my "tried and true" polishes, my "new favorites" polishes and finally the essentials that I have bought over and over.

TRIED & TRUES

Obsessed -- this is the darkest I go; more maroon than brown. Perfect for fall and winter and what I wore in France last month.

CV -- perfect holiday red. I wear this all December.

Lava -- the best red/coral. I wear this all summer long.

Jam, Please -- I am in my purple phase and this is THE MOST fun punchy purple. Another great summer polish.

You're Invited -- my second favorite purple. Good for spring and summer.

LHG -- my favorite neutral.

NEW FAVORITES THIS YEAR

Sleeping Bag -- probably my most fun one? I would say it's unexpected but I met a friend for dinner in August and we were both wearing it so maybe it's exactly what to expect when you're a mom in your mid-thirties meeting a friend for dinner.

Bold & Unshaken -- purple but also blue. Just had this on and was surprised by how much I loved it.

Prairie -- wearing this right now! This is the only of the "quick dries" that has made it into my rotation so far and I love it. For sure a more muted purple. Good gateway to purple land for you skeptics.

Fierce & Loving -- this is the most pink I go! Great for spring and summer.

The Usual -- this is the color I painted my bedroom. I love it as a slightly more purple neutral.

Kiss Cam -- this red falls right between CV and Lava. Is it that different? YES. Honestly it might end up beating CV for me. I need to compare them next month.

ESSENTIALS THAT I BUY AGAIN AND AGAIN

These are the products that I use to keep my hands, feet and nails feeling good. A lot of these are available as sets or come with the systems but individual links are here: overnight hand treatment, cuticle remover, cuticle serum, foot serum, heel balm, nail polish remover, primer, top coat.

Again -- my code ELISEC20 saves you 20% on an O&J system. :)

36 THINGS.

I love doing these annual posts so much. This is my tenth round up, and it's still fun to think about a year in terms of cool stuff I tried. Some of the links below are affiliate. Most are not.

Cripe Cottage | The most obvious one. We are so thrilled we found it and SO excited to move in this June.

Six soundtrack | Remember when I was obsessed with The Other Boleyn Girl? (I blogged about it in 2006 for sure.) This soundtrack rekindled my love. We are obsessed in our house. I am hoping to take the girls when it starts traveling.

Facebook Marketplace | I have found SO MANY gems. Blog post here and updated one to come.

wallpaper | my first project was a success! I have plans for four more wallpapered rooms in 2022.

couple's therapy | so this is actually something we did last year but it's on the list right now because it changed our marriage and I have continued to see the benefits. When Paul was deployed he had decent internet access and we did online therapy through regain.us (it's the couples' version of betterhelp.com). We logged on weekly and chatted with a therapist for two months. I would not say it helped with the deployment stress but it did really help us work through some other relationship pain points. I am so grateful that we did it. I hate deployments so so much but they do have a way of helping you hit rock bottom! We used it to our advantage this time around.

Olive & June nail polish | I didn't paint my fingernails for like five years and then I tried Olive & June and was completely obsessed. It's the only polish I have ever tried that stays on my nails for more than a day. (Seriously, I have had it stay perfect over a week.) My favorite colors are Lava (a coral), CV (the perfect red), Obsessed (a dark burgundy), HZ (an opaque light pink) and LHG (a very faint opaque pink). If you're a new customer and use code ELISEC20 you can save 20% off a mani or pedi system. (I have the mani system and I love the foot serum and foot balm from the pedi system).

Maintenance Phase podcast | most likely you're already listening but if not, it's great. Every episode is a gem and I think it's especially relevant for anyone who was a teenager in the early 2000s and/or anyone with a body. I am learning so much.

rock climbing | we started taking the girls to a local indoor rock climbing gym this past fall and it's been such a fun activity for all of us.

Recess | I have cut back on how much alcohol I drink and am always looking for alternatives to "transition" my day into evening. Recess has been amazing for that. It's CBD fizzy water and the flavors are all good (though my least favorite is coconut). I get a sampler delivered every four weeks and it's a highlight. Code ELISE15 will save you 15% if you want to try!

The Actual Star by Monica Bryne | I read this at the end of 2021. The briefest summary is that it takes place in the years 1012, 2012 and 3012. The stories mingle together beautifully but my favorite part was reading the author's imagination of the year 3012. The technology and social changes were fascinating to consider. My one recommendation would be to refer to the glossary at the back of the book as you read. I think that would have helped me understand the future better if I knew the terms (I didn't realize there was a glossary until I finished!).

Encanto | I imagine the soundtrack is also seared into your brain, yes? The whole movie was so wonderful.

MacStitch | my cross-stitch design program! It helped me launch a brand called Playbook Patterns this year!

Wordle | my favorite word game. I love that it's quick to do. I love that it's just challenging enough.

framing art | last year I started buying original art for any and all business milestones. It was a joy to search out artists and pick the perfect pieces. But the best part was starting to frame them all! More on this soon as I begin hanging my collection all over Cripe Cottage.

my 2021 Christmas quilt | this took much longer than I expected but it's finished and I LOVE it. You can see a simple tutorial for how I build the tiny squares right here.

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo | I read this last spring. It took me a few pages to get used to the style – it's written with very little punctuation – but shortly I realized it was like reading a poem. The characters are all so different and so detailed. Their individual stories intertwine in amazing ways. (After I finished, I diagrammed how their relationships all fit together.) I loved it. One of the best books I read in 2021 without a doubt.

project breakdown notebook | my own product made the list! The project breakdown notebook is something customers have been asking for for years and I finally made happen. What surprised me wasn't that it sold well but that I LOVE to use it. The graph paper + breakdown page is a perfect match.

Sticker Mule water activated tape | I bought this for my MAKE36 packaging and it's great. Super impressed.

mindset shift | I was completely struck by the quote "Beware the soul-sucking force of reasonableness" on this Instagram post from Cup of Jo. I immediately added The Power of Moments to my reading queue (it will probably make the list of 37 things next year) and haven't stopped thinking about it. I decided to make so many changes to my life and work this past year. Most of them (from buying purple clothing to selling our San Diego house and renting it back for nine months) were not what I would have considered "reasonable" last February. But here we are and it's working.

our custom epoxy garage floor | of course!

family dinners | sometime in December, overwhelmed by the girls eighth shouted request for a snack, I said to Paul "that's it. We are bringing back dinners!" And since that night we have all sat down at the table together with candles and ate together. (What were we doing before this? I don't even know. Mostly, in year 700 of a global pandemic we were just taking the path of least resistance and letting them eat whatever at 4:35 and then again at 7pm.) It's been a big habit shift with a huge payoff.

Beauty Counter mascara | I am still using a lot of BC products (current skincare favorites are the foaming facewash and sheer sunscreen) but the mascara is a newer addition and the results are legit.

our cats | surely these girls were on my list last year? (I checked and they were.) But it's fine. They are back. Poppy and Sugar are our adopted sister kittens and they bring more joy to our house that I could have ever imagined.

Clue | I bought the girls Clue for Christmas because it was one of my favorite growing up. I still think it's fun! We have loved playing it as a family and continue to marvel when somehow Piper (age 6) guesses all three cards correctly with limited information. The "looks like a book" version is a cool bonus too.

David's Tea advent calendar | I bought myself an advent calendar last year and it was amazing. I got to try a bunch of new teas (my favorite was Cinnamon Rooibos Chai) and it made December feel extra special (also! A non-alcoholic transition drink!) I will be doing it again for 2022.

DIY apron | one of my few 2021 "just for fun" makes. I made it for wallpapering (of course) but it worked great at the holiday market I sold at too. Such an easy, satisfying sewing project.

Vouri joggers | look... I realize there are a lot of joggers out there and these are pricey. But they are v v good. I have two pairs and Paul even bought a set.

the color lilac | here for it. I want it in my decor. I want to glaze all my pottery in it. I want to wear it. I want to frost a cake in it. I just love it.

florals | just all of them.

Ellerie's bubble mirror | this was a DIY from early this month that felt like coming home.

flannel sheets | these were my birthday gift last year. On February 23rd when we climbed into bed Paul and I literally giggled at how warm and cozy they were. Legitimately changed our winter bedtime. (Still loving linen sheets for all the other seasons.)

the Poppy Clutch | my first sewing pattern! I love that I finally made it happen. Now I just need more life events to happen so I can USE IT.

cabbage plates | I saw a post about these on Emily Henderson's blog last summer and I thought "hmmmmm." Then I went to an estate sale and found a set of four by Bordallo Pinheiro for a song. Since then I got a set of four bowls on etsy (which I think are OOAK based on the bottom markings). We have been using them for snacks and meals and they are just more fun. Adding whimsy for sure. I have my eye out for more.

Blick Essentials gloss glazes | I have been experimenting with painting designs on my clay pots and this glaze is really fun to work with. I have so so much more practice to do and a shelf full of colors to do it with.

flower pattern tile | our laundry room is far from done but my flooring plan still stands and I can't wait to get it in.

"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be beautiful or believe to be useful" - William Morris | I vividly remember sharing this quote in 2010. I think I made a whole mini-book around the idea? But I am back into it again. Especially relevant now as I drastically change my entire life and style outlook and have spent the past year pouring over Morris collection wallpaper samples.

AGING! What a tremendous gift that keeps on giving. Here's to another birthday and to finding 37 more amazing things this upcoming year.

35 things.

I have been making this favorite things list for EIGHT YEARS. Here is the first one when I was TWENTY-SIX. The gist is I try to share a number of "things" that were new to me/made me happy/bettered my life/etc over the year. I am turning 36 next week. Here are 35 things I found and loved this past year. (Some links are affiliate.)

Jungalow for Keds –– I love these shoes so much. Sold out in so many sizes, I know. I hope they bring them back.

an iPad stand –– in the before Covid times, the girls would watch a show while they had breakfast before we went to school. I used to come up with all sorts of balancing methods and finally realized for $15 I could just stop doing that. It was the first thing I bought when Paul deployed and I felt like Supermom. (LOL.)

backyard eggs –– we got chickens last spring! They LAY EGGS. (That ceramic tray is from this Etsy shop.)

this romper –– it's possible this is PJs? I wear it all day though.

our finished staircase –– maaaybe one of my favorite before and afters? How much better right?! Here's a link to the light and these are the primed planks we used.

native deodorant –– switched to this when my other stuff wore out and I'm a huge fan.

our kittens –– the Cripes got a million pets in 2020 including these perfect kittens. They are sisters (from same litter) and were adopted at 11 weeks from our local shelter. Poppy is the one with the spiral markings and Sugar has the white nose. Due to Covid, we picked them based on website photos and they turned out to be just the best decision of the year.

Taylor Swift's two albums –– according to my Spotify account I legally must put these on here. I loved them both though. (Also "I'm doing good; I'm on some new shit" is basically how I felt when I started this blog up in November after taking five years off.)

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi –– my favorite fiction book of last year.

pottery wheel –– I bought myself a Shimpo VL-Lite for Christmas and it's amazing. I took pottery classes back in 2016 and am so enjoying getting back into it. I throw in my garage and rent kiln space at a local place called Ceramic Heights.

blue splatterware glaze –– my favorite new glaze!

sourdough chocolate chip cookies –– I halve this recipe and otherwise follow it to a T. It's actual perfection.

cross stitching –– this was my very, very first hobby! My mom has always cross-stitched and I remember being little (6 or 7?) and learning how to make my crosses. I finished a big piece this year, started a second one and...then created my own pattern! More details coming in March.

Ellerie's giant art –– Ellerie wrote the very best note, told me it "came in the mail" and then was kind enough to let me frame it HUGE for our entry. (I resized it in Photoshop Elements and had it printed and framed by Framebridge.)

Untamed by Glennon Doyle –– my favorite memoir of the year.

Brother coverstitch machine –– I thought about this purchase for a very long time before making the jump. It's the machine that makes the hem of your garments sewn from knit fabric (think t-shirts, sweatshirts) look professional. I still have a lot to learn on it but so far, I love it. (And so do my knits.)

my journal –– I launched a journal this year with Chronicle Books! It's a two year journal with a spread per week to reflect and goal-set. I didn't know how much I would personally use a journal but can confirm it's one of my most used tools. I truly love it. I love taking the time weekly to think about where I am at and where I am going. I LOVE to see how my "thinking about" section changes. I love seeing that time is passing. Available wherever books are sold or here in my shop.

quip toothbrush –– after hearing about them for four years on podcasts, Paul and I swapped out our old toothbrushes for quips. I look forward to my next cleaning to see if it's actually working better than a normal brush but so far I love it.

Hinterland dress –– pattern of the year I think. I am looking forward to making a second one this spring.

Beauty Counter products –– so last year around this time, I had skincare routine that I loved, but then I got Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum for my birthday and became obsessed. Over the past year I have tried a bunch of Beauty Counter products and there are two I am thrilled with. Tripeptide Serum at night (after toner, before face lotion) and Counter+ All Bright C Serum in the morning before sunscreen. They are so pricey. But my skin has truly never looked or felt better and I love the ritual and scent of putting them on so much. (ps... I am not a BC consultant, but those are affiliate links.)

fake palm plants –– I had a real (bird of paradise) plant in our living room and it died a slow death. I decided to swap it out for a fake one and loved it so much I got a second of the exact same fake one for our bedroom. Ours is the XL size.

Amanda Gorman's poem –– like most of the world, I was completely captivated by Poet Amanda Gorman at the inauguration. I am looking forward to having The Hill We Climb in our library at home. I also adored this interview with Anderson Cooper. "Madam President Gorman, I like the sound of that." –– more of that energy, please.

tiny tiles quilt –– I think this is the first quilt I "made from a pattern" and am totally obsessed with it.

the Great face masks –– can't NOT have a face mask on this list. This one is my favorite and there are a lot of simple patterns. These ear loops are my go-to because you can adjust the size. (I should also note that this far into the pandemic, if I go in a store, I wear a medical mask either on it's own or under a cloth mask like this. I carry cloth masks on me and wear them at the park, if I am passing someone on a walk, etc.)

reading nook –– we realized one of my dreams for this house! Another before and after highlight. The shelves and cabinets are ikea. I had the cushions custom made by a local upholstery shop. ("But Elise, couldn't you have made those yourself?" "YES! But part of not burning out on your hobbies is knowing when to outsource.")

Herschel belt bag –– aka a fanny pack. I actually got this when I was 34 but I wear it ALMOST every day. Perfect for a phone, a CC, a key, a baggu bag, hand sanitizer and a mask.

magic loop knitting method –– I finally learned this from the I'm So Basic Sock pattern (it's free!). Can confirm my sock knitting is elevated.

gray Cline sweater –– I pulled out a homemade knit cardigan that I never wore to make my second Cline. It turned into such a great basic.

Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski –– my favorite non-fiction of last year. This is a book about sex and so much of it (brakes vs. accelerator... the flock of birds... etc) was just great and so helpful for talking and thinking about sex. But I also loved the chapter on stress cycles and more specifically closing a stress cycle. If you're just into learning about stress and not sex, Emily co-wrote the book Burnout that I hear is great.

Klum House Slabtown backpack –– over the summer I made a backpack from a kit! I haven't had a chance to take it anywhere yet, but I loved making it. The pieces come pre-cut which is just amazing and it was truly a "sewing is a super power" moment. (ps.. the dress in that photo is a favorite from Two Days Off Clothing.)

The Bones by Maren Morris –– this song is the only reason I made it through those final weeks of deployment. "Life sure can try to put love through but we built this right so nothing ever going to move it."

big blue painting –– I found a gigantic painting in the window of our local goodwill and walked it home, scraped off the thickly painted tigerlillys, painted it white and added blue stripes. I love the scale and the light wood frame.

my anniversary ring –– Paul and I hit ten years married this year! We didn't get close to the "celebration" we would have loved to have –– deployments are terrible! But Covid would have ruined our plans anyway! –– but we did have a duplicate made of my wedding ring. I wear them both now and nearly ten months later am still thrilled when I look down at my hands and see them together.

MAKE36 –– I spent over half of the last year working on a new project that launches Monday. Monday! More here, but the gist is: on the 22nd of each month for a year I am launching a new small batch product. There are going to be finished pieces but also one of my goals is to encourage YOUR creativity with this project. So there will be patterns and kits as well. It's going to be a huge challenge but I am so hopeful about it. I haven't been this excited about work since I was writing my book in 2018.

"Sometimes to take care of yourself, you have to be misunderstood." –– wow, I loved this reminder so much. Is 36 going to be the year I get comfortable with being misunderstood? Sounds hard. Sounds freeing. Let's try.

CURRENTING LOOKING AT: puzzles!

It's puzzle season! Normally, I borrow them from my library (they have an awesome puzzle exchange program) but our local libraries are closed for browsing due to Covid, so I am window shopping for more to do. Here's a round up of eight pretty ones –– we have the heart and the "love lives here" (both are great.) But I am new to custom puzzles! And double sided ones! It looks like the Galison double sided pieces have a matte side and a glossy side so it's easy to tell which goes with which puzzle (fun!).

Also, I can confirm it's nearly impossible to doom scroll while puzzling.

L-R, top-bottom: New York Times custom front page puzzle (500 pieces), Seltzer heart bouquet puzzle (634 pieces), Anne Bentley loves lives here puzzle (1000 pieces), Galison Frank Loyd Wright puzzle (1000 pieces), Galison Gray Malin double sided beach puzzle (500 pieces), Galison double sided cut flower garden puzzle (500 pieces),  I See Me! personalized button puzzle (500 pieces), eeboo zodiac puzzle (1000 pieces).

CURRENTING LOOKING AT: taper candle holders.

It's candle season! From the day daylight saving time ends to early March, I look forward to the ritual of lighting candles each night. My favorite taper candles are the dripless white ones from Trader Joe's and I stock up every season. (They sell out quick!) Here is a round-up of four beautiful taper candle holders, that would be perfect all winter long.

Clockwise from top left: Smith and the Magpie stoneware candle holders, Effortless Composition sculptural stoneware candle holder, Paddywax U-shaped taper holder, World Market flared whitewash wood candle holder