Ok, so how awesome is this...a Superhero Fort Kit! Complete with sheets! Clamps! Glow sticks! The best thing is that you can make it yourself and then make the MONTH of a kid. (If you can dare to part with it, that is. Better make two.) The ideas and photos come from the fun and awesome Meg + Andy, as does this handy list of what you need to make your own Superhero Fort Kit: 2 Twin sheets: ARC for about $2 each Ties on the Sheet: old XL T-shirt Rope: Hobby lobby for about $2 Flash Light: Dollar Store $1 Clamps: Dollar Store $1 Glow Sticks: Dollar Store $1 Clothes Pins: …
Archives for December 2012
The Seasons of Life and a Stress-Reducing Secret
I became a father a little over four years ago. Before that, my wife and I had been married for eight years and worked together on our small business. We were used to working long days, coming and going as we pleased, and eating out at nice, quiet restaurants. We used to have a Cheerio-free backseat in our car. But now we have two kids, which practically makes me an expert at parenting. An expert at knowing how little I actually know about it, that is. …
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The Minivan Express
If you've been around here for awhile, you've probably heard of a Pajama Run. The Minivan Express is similar, but with a holiday twist. First, print up some golden tickets (templates here) and hide them under your kids' pillows. While the normal bedtime routine is underway, prep some popcorn and hot chocolate in coffee mugs (with lids). When the kids discover the golden tickets under their pillows, it's time to grab some slippers and head for the family vehicle (doesn't have to be a minivan :) to get their ticket punched. Then, with a soundtrack of Christmas music playing in the background, …
Christmas Vandalism
According to Wikipedia, "Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, an ancient Germanic people, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable." Most of the time vandalism is mean and perpetrated by jerk heads. But what if an act of vandalism is done is a spirit of cheerfulness and actually adds or enhances beauty? Is it still called vandalism? …
Christmas Carol eCards!
I made some art that features some whimsical little Christmas friends painted over the top of sheet music for classic Christmas carols. I was originally going to make them into a set of real-live Christmas cards. And them time went by too fast. Oh well, maybe next year. So I decided to turn them into eCards for Kim & Jason Insiders. (Yet another perk of free membership.) Recipients don't need to be an Insider to receive them, so you don't have to worry about hassling them to sign up. Just a fun way to spread a little Christmas cheer without having to buy stamps :) Here are the four …
Christmas Cookies Get Ugly
What sorts of things do you do every Christmas, the exact same way, because you've ALWAYS done them that way? What if you changed things up this year? I'm not talking about the sacred, untouchable family traditions (although maybe I am). But what about the things you do automatically, without much thought and without any real meaning? What if, instead of trying to make your Christmas cookies look like Martha Stewart's, you went 180º in the other direction and made them ugly instead. You know, on purpose. The photos of the treats above are from my friend Soyphet, whose office held an …
Ben’s Barbarian Birthday Bash
Our nephew Caden was a big fan of going "Barbarian." A few months ago, as our son Ben's first birthday was approaching, Kim and I wondered how we could make his party special. We were well aware of the fact that he would remember precisely none of it, so our focus was actually about making it memorable for the guests. …
Wishlist Christmas Ornament
Star Wars stuff was always in the conversation when it came to what I wished for from Santa, but I remember one year when I had Go-Bots listed as the top of my list. (He delivered, big time.) I'd love to know what I was pining for those other years. This ornament idea is a pretty cool way to record the visions that kept your kids on their best behavior through the Decembers of Christmas Past. You can buy one here, but I'm pretty sure you crafty types could figure out a way to make your own! …
Cure Your Adultitis with a Free Issue of Courageous Creativity!
Courageous Creativity is a spiffy, thoughtful, and well-designed microzine from Shirin Subhani and Shahana Dattagupta of Flying Chickadee. The zine presents stories of courage and creativity sourced from people living, working, being courageously creative and changing themselves and others in our community. Their writers come from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life -- they are small business owners, state employees, corporate CEOs, non-profit founders and volunteers, professionals, scientists, sociologists, artists, activists, mothers and fathers, and friends. This month, the …
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Hey Congress. Legislate This.
I couldn't agree more. Imagine these being installed in airports. Imagine these being installed in the offices of all law firms and insurance companies. Imagine these being installed in every single government building, especially the ones in Washington, D.C. I dare say that these could bring peace to the Middle East. Get on it, Congress. …