crazy joy, instagram and Love146

How's that for a title!? I decided the topics all kind of relate so I'll just pull it all together in one post and get on with it.

First things first: the crazyjoy challenge. You may (or may not) have noticed the lack of posts regarding the crazyjoy challenge. Over Christmas break and then New Year's, Anna and I decided to take a little break from it. She was good and let her readers know about the break where I just didn't even mention it! Anyway, we both enjoyed the weekly challenge but also enjoyed the time off so with a lot of thought, we have decided to end the challenge.

I struggled with ending it because we committed ourselves to doing it for 52 weeks and had only made it about 30 so that would mean we failed. But to be honest, that's not a very good reason to keep doing something. Sure, it's not great to be a quitter but if you have the right reasons, I think it's just fine. I want to be more intentional about my time this year, including my blog and the challenge was just not a high priority. I don't feel bad about giving up on it but I have also replaced it with a new challenge.

Which brings me to the second topic: instagram. I love having a phone on my camera. I usually have my camera on me at all times and take random pictures of just about anything. I found instagram quite a while ago and love it. Although I have tried doing project365 twice before and failed, I'm giving it another attempt this year.

I think this time around will be more successful because I'm only using instagram photos for the challenge. That means I don't have to worry about uploading them to my computer, editing, or anything else. All I have to do is snap a picture with my phone each day (no problem there) and add it to instagram. I'm 8 days in and doing good.




Oh, and if you're on instagram, let me know, you can find me by searching recipeforcrazy.

Sorry, this post is super long, but I'm almost done.

If you haven't read any of this post yet, start now!

So, back to being intentional.

One of the more personal posts I've shared was this one on Love146. Just to remind you, Love146 is an organization with this mission:

"Abolition and Restoration! We combat child sex slavery & exploitation with the unexpected and restore survivors with excellence."

So, in an effort to raise awareness, did you know that the month of January is Human Trafficking Awareness month and January 11 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day?

You can click here to view a PDF with quick facts on child trafficking.

Want to learn more? Here are some great links:
HumanTrafficking.org
Love146
Love146 blog
Not For Sale
Oklahomans Against Trafficking of Humans
Stop Child Trafficking Now

Those are just a few but I hope you take some time this week to learn more about this issue.

Alright. That's all for today! Thanks for taking the time to read this today.

Oh, also, thank you for all the comments regarding the Star Wars poster! You guys made my day!

Ok, have a great week!

crazyjoy = sighting (revealed)

Just so you know, there's only 6 days left before Christmas! Are you ready!? I am so looking forward to celebrating with my family this year!

I'll have an update on our Advent calendar this week, but for now, it's time to reveal the crazyjoy challenge word photos for SIGHTING.

One of the activities on our calendar was to take Sweet P to see the lights at Rhema. If you're not familiar with Rhema, it's a local church that puts on one of the biggest (if not biggest) Christmas light displays in Oklahoma. It's pretty spectacular.

We haven't made it out the last few years but made the trip this year. So my photo was sighting the seasonal lights at Rhema.



Check out Anna's later.

If you want to join in the challenge, just submit a link below to your blog post with your picture. You have until Thursday at noon - Oklahoma time. Anna will post our favorite submission on Friday.





Have a great week!

crazyjoy =

Happy Friday!

The new crazyjoy challenge word is...



I've had some questions about how to join in the challenge so if you're interested, all you need to do is take a picture of your interpretation of the word (craft it, draw it, make it, find it, whatever you want), post about it on your blog and then submit your link on my post Monday. Anna and I will post our entry's Monday with the link tool but you have until Thursday afternoon to submit your link. Make sense? You can link up to the post on your blog if you want, not required though.

Anna and I alternate every week and announce our favorite entry each Friday so check both blogs in case one of us misses something.

Here's the rundown we post every week:

1. Think on the word, photograph it, draw it, make it, whatever you want to do to represent it
2. Come back Monday and I will post my and Anna's photo and you can link up through Thursday with your interpretation
3. Then check out Anna's blog on Friday where she will post our favorite entry and the new challenge word

 And last week's favorite entry for dark goes to Andy!

Now go out and have a great weekend, see some sights and come back and share your pictures!

crazyjoy = dark (revealed)

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend!!

Here's my photo for the crazyjoy challenge word, DARK:



That is Sweet P on the night-vision monitor, clearly awake and playing her music on her glow worm at 3:30 in the morning - when it's very dark out. She just sits and talks to herself for about an hour before she starts crying and this has been happening the last few nights.

One of us eventually goes in there, comforts her and then she falls right to sleep. I'm worried this is becoming a habit for her so I welcome advice on nipping it in the rear. Oh and yes, we've tried just letting her cry it out but she goes on for hours and the cries turn to screams!

Anyway, more than you care to know, but that's life.

Head over to Anna's blog to see her entry and to link up with the challenge.

crazyjoy =

I didn't forget about the new word for this week. I've just been out running errands and finishing up that shopping list.

Here's the new challenge word:

Get out and get those creative juices flowing and check out Anna's blog Monday to link up.

Have a great weekend!

crazyjoy = twinkle (revealed)

I hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed yesterday's video! Am I the only one that hates hearing your own voice recorded?

Anyway, it's time to show off your photos for this week's crazyjoy challenge word TWINKLE!

Here's mine:



That's one of my favorite ornaments on our tree. I think it was one of the first ornaments the husband and I got together when we got married. I love how it sparkles with all the twinkly lights around it!

And check out Anna's:



Did you accept the dare and join us this week? Link your blog post up below and show off your photo. Anna will announce our favorite this Friday on her blog!






Have a great week!

CrazyJoy =

Raise your hand if you find it hard to believe it's December 2nd.

*raises hand*

Seriously folks, this year has flown by. We are only 22 days away from Christmas and then it will be New Year's eve and we'll welcome in 2012. That's just nuts. I love this time of year even though it gets to be a bit colder than I prefer. But I'll take it along with the hot cocoa, twinkly lights, Christmas carols, fires in the fire place, and holiday cheer!

In celebration of the festive time of year, this week's crazyjoy challenge word is...



I dare you to join in the challenge this week! Here's what you need to know:

1. Think on the word, photograph it, draw it, make it, whatever you want to do to represent it
2. Come back Monday and I will post my and Anna's photo and you can link up through Thursday with your interpretation
3. Then check out Anna's blog on Friday where she will post our favorite entry and the new challenge word

Go on, get out and enjoy the last remaining days of this year and get some twinkly pictures!

Here's our favorite entry from last week. Thanks, Jessie!



Happy Friday!

Oh, and in case you're not from Oklahoma or live in a cave and aren't aware that tomorrow is Bedlam, you've been warned. I'll either be an insanely happy lady tomorrow night when my OK State Cowboys beat those land-thieving Sooners - or - I will crawl into a hole and weep over our loss. I'm kidding, I won't cry but I'll probably sulk.

CrazyJoy = Buy (revealed)

Happy Monday!

I'm sure there was a lot of buying going on over the last few days with Black Friday and now Cyber Monday. I got a couple of really good deals over the weekend but one of my favorite buys came in the mail today. It's a bow I ordered from Lulu & ChaCha.



I found the Lulu & ChaCha through my sister's blog where they're sponsoring this month. They have some seriously cute headbands and bows.

Check out http://www.thejoycottage.com/ later to see her photo and to link up with the challenge.

CrazyJoy =

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Sorry this is late. I've been in and out, enjoying a few Black Friday traditions, eating, decorating and even grabbed a quick nap. It's been a great couple of days!

Anna posted the new crazyjoy challenge word earlier today so I hoped you checked it out. If not, here you go.



I'll see you Monday where I'll post my photo for the challenge.

Until then, here are some new photos over the last few days...






The collages were made with the diptic app using instagram photos from my phone library. I guess I should mention that I'm a little obsessed with Instagram (free) and Diptic (only 99 cents).

crazyjoy = edge (revealed)

Well, if you live in Oklahoma or keep up with college football at all, you know there was quite the disaster for Oklahoma football this weekend. Both OSU and OU lost. The silver lining, TU won and there's still hope that OSU can still bring home a conference title!

The OSU game was a nail-biter. It came down to double overtime and while I thought about taking a picture of me and the husband on the edges of our seats, I decided not to give you a picture of our bums to start off your week. Your welcome.

Instead, here's my entry for the crazyjoy challenge word, EDGE:



Sweet P's kitty was hanging on the edge of her dollhouse. You never know what you'll find in that dollhouse!

Ok, I need my coffee and I'm sure you do. But first, check out Anna's photo:



And link up with us below.

CrazyJoy =

Short and sweet:



If you want to join me and Anna in our little crazyjoy challenge, here's what you need to know:

1. Think on the word, photograph it, draw it, make it, whatever you want to do to represent it
2. Come back Monday and I will post my and Anna's photo and you can link up through Thursday with your interpretation
3. Then check out Anna's blog on Friday where she will post our favorite entry and the new challenge word

So here's our favorite from last week:

Thanks, Jen. He's too cute taking care of business!

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

crazyjoy = business (revealed)

Here's my photo for the crazyjoy photo challenge for BUSINESS:



As a freelance designer, I get to run my business from my home. This is my work space. Coffee, notepad, computer and one of the projects I've been working on is on the screen.

If you're viewing this on a feed, you haven't seen the new blog design so this is new to you. I'll post more about it tomorrow but now my blog looks more similar to my website!

Here's Anna's photo:



I love the colors she uses for her quilts! They're always so perfect, boy or girl. Go to her post today to link up with the challenge!

Have a great week!!

crazyjoy =

First off, thank you to all the men and women that serve our country to protect our freedoms. You are all honored, especially today, on Veteran's Day.

Secondly, here's the crazyjoy challenge word:



Check out Anna's post to find out how to participate in the challenge and to see our favorite entry from last week's word.

And just because she has been keeping me on my toes lately and the fact that I think she's the cutest thing, my Sweet P.

Someone learned how to climb onto the table.

Happy Friday!

crazyjoy = crack (revealed)

I hope you had a fantastic weekend! Mine was full of excitement. OSU beat Kansas State in an absolute nail-biter of a game! Go Pokes!

Then, just as we were starting to calm down from the rush of the game, a record-breaking earthquake hit Oklahoma. It was the first earthquake I've ever felt and it also happened to be the strongest in recorded history for Tulsa! It was nuts!!

And since earthquakes cause structural damage, I thought it was fitting to include this photo for this week's crazyjoy challenge word: CRACK.



Don't worry, the quake didn't cause that, it was like that before.

Check back for Anna's photo in a little bit.

If you joined in or plan on participating, you have until noon on Thursday to link up with your blog post showing off your interpretation of crack. Link up below.





Have a great week!

crazyjoy =

Whew. What a week! I am very ready for the weekend, who's with me?

Here's the new crazyjoy challenge word for the weekend:

I'll show my immaturity here but I giggled a bit when the random word generator popped up with that one. Anyway, here's what you need to know to join in the challenge with me and Anna:

1. Think on the word, photograph it, draw it, make it, whatever you want to do to represent it
2. Come back Monday and I will post my and Anna's photo and you can link up through Thursday with your interpretation
3. Then check out Anna's blog on Friday where she will post our favorite entry and the new challenge word

And here's our favorite from last week: LIGHT.

Love that shot! Thanks, Kimberly.

And I know I promised to post more on some of the projects I've been working on but, sheesh, this week has been nuts. I hope to post more on those next week.

Have a great weekend and I'll see ya Monday!

CrazyJoy = Light (revealed)

Happy Halloween! I hope you all have a safe and fun evening. I have a couple of photos to share with you today.

Up first, since it is Halloween today, here's our kitty. Complete with the licking tongue!



And now for mine and Anna's photos for the crazyjoy challenge word: LIGHT.



That was from a wedding we went to this weekend at Woolaroc and it was absolutely beautiful! The weather was perfect and the sights were gorgeous. The sun was setting as we were leaving and we got to see elk, bison and tons of little Japanese deer walking around! If you haven't been out to Woolaroc in a while, or ever, you should check it out. I'll post more pictures tomorrow.

And Anna's:



The was out and about at Quilt Market and I'm kind of jealous of all her facebook posts about the event.

If you joined in, link up with Anna today and come back Friday to see our favorite.

And here's another picture of my kitty just because I think she's so cute!

crazyjoy =

Well hello friends. I've been busy finishing up projects and starting new ones so I've been absent from here the last couple of days. Also, I have found a little addiction while I'm working - mini Tootsie pops. I can crush through 6 without even thinking about it. I really regret buying the Halloween candy we're going to pass out 3 weeks early.

Anyway, I'll share a couple of the projects I've been working on next week. But for now, a peek.

And it's also time for the new crazyjoy challenge word!

Anna will be out today getting ready for Quilt Market but will be back sometime this weekend. Here's the new word for the weekend:



Check back with her over the weekend to see our favorite "us" entry from this week.

Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend and I'll see you on Monday!

CrazyJoy = Us (revealed)

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend. We sure did. We celebrated Oktoberfest all weekend, my Cowboys won their game Saturday and we got to have a lot of family time. I'll post more on that stuff this week, but for now, photos for the crazyjoy challenge.

Here's my photo:



I know, I slacked. With all the cooking, game watching, eating and having fun, I forgot to get a picture of us. This one is me and the husband on our wedding day. I love the picture and it always makes me smile. I'm so happy to be a part of an "us".

Check out Anna's photo.


How cute are they!?

Did you join the challenge this week? If so, link up to your blog post with your photo below and we'll pick our favorite and announce it on Anna's blog Friday.





Have a great week!!

crazyjoy =

Friday, Friday, so good to me. Isn't that how that song goes? No? Well it should.

Anyway, if you're here for the new crazyjoy challenge word, wait no longer, it's...



You have until next Thursday to go out and capture US the best way you can. Here's some more info if you want to join the challenge.

1. Think on the word, photograph it, draw it, make it, whatever you want to do to represent it
2. Come back Monday and I will post my and Anna's photo and you can link up through Thursday with your interpretation
3. Then check out Anna's blog on Friday where she will post our favorite entry and the new challenge word

And here's our favorite from last week: SWEET.



Thanks, Andy. Hope it was as good as it looked!

That's it for today. Have a great weekend!

CrazyJoy = Sweet (revealed)

Happy Monday! In case you missed it, OSU beat UT this weekend! That's means we're still undefeated!!

In other news, today is the day Anna and I share our photos for the crazyjoy challenge word. Anna announced on Friday that our new word is SWEET.

There were so many opportunities for this one over the weekend - I mean, pregnant lady and sweets, come on. But, in the end, I decided on this one:



The special, sweet moment of daddy holding his daughter's hand.

Saturday morning we headed over to Claremore to check out the wildlife conservation and enjoy the beautiful weather. We saw a ton of deer and walked all over the trails. Before Sweet P, the husband and I would go on these little outdoor adventures and talk, walk, enjoy a picnic lunch and just hang out together. We really enjoy each others company and being outside but it is crazy how much better these adventures are with a little one.

Watching her take everything in and be in awe of deer walking by us just makes me stop and really appreciate my life. When Sweet P is older, I'll probably still think back to these sweet moments we got to have with her and remember her daddy bending down to hold her little hand as they walk along sharing life.

Check out Anna's blog today to see her photo and to join in the challenge.