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!

Copy Case

I am not ashamed to admit that I totally stole an idea from my sister. I mean, really, who hasn't that girl is full of them.

Here's the thing...

I had a phone.
I dropped it.

A lot.

One day the case broke.

I dropped it.
The screen spider-webbed. Thankfully my screen protector kept the screen from falling out so it still worked.

Time went on.

I dropped it again. Screen broke more and lock button wouldn't work.

Sweet P got her little hands on my phone and put it in the sink as I was washing my hands. Phone stopped working for a day then came back to life.

Only, partially alive. Sound button stopped working and phone reception very poor.

Then the final straw hit - the home button stopped working. You can't do much with an iPhone if the home button is broke.

So...



And I needed to protect my little friend. So I used my sister's recent post about customizing her case for inspiration. Only, I didn't use vintage scraps and things, I used my Anthropologie recipe card bookmarks! They are the cutest by the way. I cut, pasted and laid out a design I liked, with the help from my girl.



Uploaded to getuncommon and...



So there you have it. My very own customized, kitchen-y inspired iphone case with an actual, working phone in it!

Thanks for the inspiration, Ash.

Scarfament Swap

Have you ever participated in a blog swap? I mean, not an actual swapping of blogs, I don't know the proper term. It's when a blogger hosts a swap, people sign up, those participating get paired off or randomly assigned someone, then you send your person something and you get something in return. Kind of like that.

Well, I joined in on my first swap and it was put together by the fabulous Danielle over at Take Heart. She hosted a "Scarfament Swap" this past month. You were to spend no more than $20 on a scarf and ornament for another blogger and mail them their goods by Dec. 1st and you would get an ornament and scarf from someone else. Buy it, make it, whatever, just get it there by the 1st.

I was paired up with, Nicole, over at, The Story of a Girl. I was given her favorite colors: purple, brown, mustard, teal. And this is what I came up with:

Clearly I went with the color teal. I hope she likes a little red because I felt it made it Christmas-y. I made the ornament and found that scarf while I was out and about one day. I kind of wanted to keep it. I liked the little sparkle in it - I hope Nicole did. It didn't say anything about liking sparkle, but, it didn't say anything about not liking it either!

And, based on my super helpful comments on my favorite colors (pink, orange, teal, red, black, purple) this is what Nicole came up with for me!

I love them (sorry about the poor photo). The ornament is awesome and is already up on the tree and I can't wait to wear my new fun scarf!

Anyway, all that to say, thanks Danielle for hosting the swap and I had a blast.

The Stache Party

So last week was my dad's birthday and my sister and I worked up a little party to celebrate his many years of life!

I originally saw this photo collage on pinterest and wanted to do it for dad. I didn't even know it came from MS at the time! Have I mentioned how much I love her?

Anyway, my mom pulled some photos together for me and I took pictures of each one with my phone, converted them all to black and white and added a border, then printed them for the backdrop at our swanky venue.

Looking back on dad's pictures, one thing that popped out was his mustache. He's had one my entire life so I thought I would be fun to incorporate the stache into the party decor. Thus, the theme was born.



My sister and I made treats for the party. Lots of mini cupcakes came out of my oven and a few didn't make it to the party - a girl has to taste-test. I used Bakerella's cookies and cream icing recipe (with butter, not shortening) and added some crushed Oreo's to a little of the chocolate batter (in a box) as well as the vanilla batter (also from a box). Folks, I may never make  a standard cupcake again. Those things were delicious. The cookies even kept their crunch.



Anyway, my sister made a variety of fancy treats like peanut butter bites, rolo pretzels and sugar cookies. They were all so tasty. She also cut out mini mustaches and the number 60 so we could top the treats. I think the party table came out pretty cute if I do say so myself!



My sister probably got tons of cute party pics so while she was doing her thing, I chased her kids around trying to get them to pose with mustaches with me for a little photo booth fun.

Side note - do you have the pocketbooth app?

photo from itunes

No!? Go get it now. If you do, you know how much fun that thing is, especially at parties AND parties that have mustaches on sticks!

Anyway, here are just a few of the photo booth pics - there's a whole lot more.



Oh, and the swanky setting? We had it at none other than Jim's Coney Island. I've mentioned it on this blog before and some know it by "Never on Sunday's" but I basically grew up there. I've even ran into my Dad at Jim's a time or two. It was the perfect setting: laid back, the smell of chili dogs and Greek food and just classy enough to not get stares from the other patrons as we ran around covered in fake mustaches!

I hope dad had as much fun at the party than we did planning it!

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!

In Case You Missed It

OSU beat OU.

Way to go Cowboys!

We had a little good luck charm during the first part of the game, but after she went to bed, we kept her enthusiasm alive by repeatedly playing this:

Happy Birthday Dad!!

It's my dad's Birthday today so let's all wish him a very special, happy Birthday!

We celebrated his big day this past week and here's a little sneak peek at the party details.



I'll post more on the party next week but for now, Happy Birthday to the world's best dad.



I love you.

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.

Oh How We Love Fall

Happy Thursday!