Sometimes I see people who I can tell have Adultitis. They are not rude or angry, as you might think. The ones who have it the worst are a little bit dead inside. I'm not talking about clinical depression or the grief that comes from losing a loved one. It's the sadness that comes from having gone such a long time without doing the things that bring them joy. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs said that he would look himself in the mirror every single day and ask himself one question: "If this were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I'm about to do today?" He said that if he answered …
Archives for November 2015
New Limited Edition Celebrate Everything Calendars are Here!
They're here! They're here! We got the new Celebrate Everything calendars back from the printer and they are gorgeous, you guys! If you got last year's version, you will be blown away by this year's. At 12" x 12", they are larger (Bigger art! More room to write!) and the printing is spectacular, featuring brilliant UV inks and a luxurious, velvety soft cover. Just like last year, every single day features a real (although sometimes obscure) Adultitis-fighting holiday, typeset in legit, official-looking fine print. Not just the old standards like Valentine's Day and Halloween, but …
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Expect to Be Amazed and You Will Be
We have a wooded marsh with walking trails near our house. I love navigating through the oaks and maples on my morning walks. This time of year, the crunchy leaves carpet the forest floor, and the barren trees look like strong but spindly old fighters, girding up to take on one more winter. The best is when I spot a deer, and we have a little stare down before she gets spooked and runs off. I really, really love those moments. Interestingly, my expectations play a big role in how often those moments arise. The times when I’m traipsing through the woods absent-mindedly, assuming it’s too …
Saturday Morning Sprinkles: Dandelion Paperweight Edition
• It's a dandelion preserved in paperweight form! (Hat tip to Cristy Ward) • These amazing murals only appear on roads when it rains. • Here are some Disney Princesses reimagined as hot dogs. Yes, you read that right. • Artist Stan Herd doesn't use paper or canvas. He uses 1.2 acre fields. His interpretation of Van Gogh's painting "Olive Trees" involved weeks of "mowing, digging, planting, and earthscaping to create the piece viewable from the air near the Minneapolis airport." Just wow. Finally, some posts from around here you may have missed: • The Art of Little Things • …
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Meet Wendy Linebrink-Allison
The Small Rebellion is a playful group of escape artists who share a joyful, indomitable childlike spirit and are not afraid to let that spirit come out to play! They’re united by a common goal of fighting Adultitis and the doo-doo heads who embrace its ideals. Quite frankly, they’re pretty much the coolest people on the planet. Here's one right now... • My name is...Wendy Linebrink-Allison (AKA Princess Leia). • My hometown is...Rio Rancho, New Mexico. • My biggest dream...is to travel the world (I have traveled 48 of 50 states in the USA). • My inspiration...is living in a world …
Self-Made Successes are Exactly Like Unicorn-Riding Leprechauns
I sat for a long time on this painting, trying to decide if it was finished. I often add some sort of phrase to my work, to underline the meaning. But I kept thinking it could mean different things to different people, and I didn’t want to limit them all by choosing just one. Kim and I are initiators; we like to think of ourselves as self-reliant. This is a good trait to have when you encounter closed doors. Instead of accepting defeat, you look for another door, or a window that might have been left unlocked. This trait, however, makes it difficult to accept gifts. By definition, a …
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The Danger of Eating Dessert First
A few weeks ago, I was on a Navy base in Florida, delivering my first program for a military audience. The meeting planner was very hesitant about me encouraging them to break rules, especially since they had just spent several (long, boring, excruciating) days being briefed on new procedures, policies, and regulations. I still told them to break rules. Of course, I am not calling for anarchy here. I understand the need for rules, especially in the military, where if you break a rule, someone could die. The problem is that too often, we assign the same gravity to all the rules in our …
Saturday Morning Sprinkles: Robin William Costumes Edition
• Every year since 2012, this group of girls pick a different famous actor and create Halloween costumes based off the roles that person played. This year was Robin Williams. So cool! • You can now buy a 70 mph adult version of the Little Tikes toy car. Finally. • Deer photobombs a baby's photoshoot. Pure magic. • Really enjoyed the perspective from this artist who had her work insulted by a kid. Finally, some posts from around here you may have missed: • The Best Thing About Art School • How to Be a Millionaire …
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The Art of Little Things
We ordered a pizza last weekend from a local joint that we love. When the delivery driver pulled into our driveway, we were delighted to see that she had decorated her car for Halloween! Several large rubber spiders clung to her cobweb-laden Corolla, and when she came to the door, not only did she have a hot pizza, but she also pulled some fun stickers out of her pocket to give to the kids! I guess you could say she was an over-delivery driver! She didn’t need permission from her boss to do what she did. She didn’t even need much money. And I am certain that this wasn't an official …