Halloween is the time of year when kids and adults alike exercise their creativity and imagination, often in the form of being gross, creepy, and scary. If this isn’t a childlike holiday, we don’t know what is! It’s no surprise that Halloween has become the favorite holiday of many adults. Hey, no gifts to wrap, cards to send, or birds to cook. It’s simply about having fun. Now you may be a bit too tall for trick-or-treating, but that doesn’t mean you have to eat healthy (boring) grown-up food at your Halloween party. Have some fun getting creative with your menu. From Boogers on a Stick to …
How to Make This the Best Halloween Since You Were a Kid
Jason and I (and Lucy) were recently in New Jersey for some speaking programs. During our visit, we happened to pass a home that was all decked out for Halloween. Now, I'm not talking about a simple jack-o-lantern and a ghost hanging in the tree. They may have put a second mortgage on their home to finance this yard project. (Don't lose your home this Halloween!) We're talking at least 35 stand-up characters: Hannibal Lecter, Freddy Krueger, Chucky, and dozens of witches, mummies, and overall scary fellows. They had smoke machines, spooky lighting, and cobwebs. It looked more impressive than …
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Are You Living By Rules That Don’t Exist?
Life is filled with countless rules that need to be broken. No, I'm not talking about running red lights or robbing banks. I'm talking about simple assumptions that we live by in order to fit in and stay comfortable. Kids like to break the mold and a great way to stay childlike, leaving Adultitis in the dust, is to follow their lead. Here are a few thoughts about the rules that don't exist. …
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The Most Overlooked Ingredient to a Happy Life
Is there a silver bullet to instant happiness? Yes, and it's an idea that I would hazard to guess wouldn't even be on your radar. Drum roll please... Fake laughter (aka practicing laughter). Yes, you read that right, I said "fake." Doesn't fake laughter usually have a negative connotation? I'm sure you've heard of the many benefits of real laughter in your life, like boosting the 'ol immune system, bringing you more energy, lower levels of pain, and protecting you from the dreaded Adultitis, which leaves you a stressed-out mess. But, did you know that fake laughter brings you the …
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Escape Event #4: Laugh Flash
The countdown is on to the first Madison-area Escape Event. We've had Escape Events in the past but this is the first one the local Cheeseheads can attend in person to fight off that dreaded Adultitis that keeps lurking in the shadows. We're very exited because us folks at Kim & Jason are joining forces with fellow Wisconsin blogger Lance Ekum of The Jungle of Life to host this Escape Event right here in Madison, during the Farmer's Market on the Capital Square, Saturday, August 22, 11:00- 11:15am. …
4 Ways to Prevent Back-to-School Blues
For many families, the start of August marks the countdown to school. A buffet of feelings surround this reality, but it's safe to say that every kid is hungry to eek the last few ounces of summertime fun out of these first weeks of August. Here are a few ways to shoo away those nasty Adultitis-inducing back-to-school blues... Just You & Me Day: This is an idea from my creative sister-in-law who has made wonderful back-to-school memories with her school-age kids. She schedules a day to take each one out individually for their own special outing. They get to pick out all of their school …
9 Easy Ways to Make Yard Work Fun
Does anyone really enjoy yard work? Typically, it's a dreaded part of adulthood. Not everyone has the budget to hire it out, so inevitably you're left spending Saturday afternoon with your John Deere. The major challenge of living an Adultitis-free life is to tackle your dreaded tasks head on by infusing them with a whole lotta fun. I like to ask myself, "How would a kid handle this?" I should get a bracelet... WWKD (What would kids do?). Most likely, they would find a way to laugh and enjoy the situation. Fun, after-all, is the ultimate stress reliever. So, in an effort to improve your …
Top 10 Ways to Jazz Up Movie Nights
Whether you have a 19-inch TV or a big flatscreen, movie nights should be a blast. They are an inexpensive way to relax and enjoy the evening with those you love. Here are 10 simple ways to jazz up the movie nights in your household. 1. Light it up. Set the mood with candles, or hang a string of Christmas lights. If you have a fireplace, get it going. No matter what, make sure the lights are low. 2. Get comfy. Blow up the air mattress, set up the pull-out couch, or simply cover the carpet with piles and piles of blankets and pillows. The goal is to be so comfortable you don't even make …
10 Simple Ways to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed
Are you overwhelmed? It's actually one of the worst symptoms of Adultitis. Feeling overwhelmed stinks and let's be honest, adulthood sure invites this daily, with the bills and responsibilities and all. It's suffocating. I wish I would've known when I was five just how good I had it. Being overwhelmed can leave you feeling like you're submerged in quicksand and you're watching yourself sink deeper and deeper. Yikes! It clouds your mind, leaving you with little more than a zombie existence, until you're able to snap out it. But how do you do that? You must prescribe for yourself one (or more) …
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How to Stop Doing the Chores You Hate
One of the worst things about being a "grown-up" is the chores. Laundry, grocery shopping, mowing, cleaning the toilets, washing the floors, vacuuming. Enough already! The list is endless and there's no motivation of getting that ever sought-after allowance at the end of the week (even if it was only a shiny quarter). With life being so demanding, when left with the choice of your chance for some much needed downtime/playtime, it's painful to have to do chores instead. That's where Adultitis pops up. You're left with resentment, anger, and feelings of overwhelm. That's no way to live, but …