This is a real doozy. Break this rule, and the fashion police will hunt you down and dress you in a baby blue butterfly-collared leisure suit with matching neckerchief. The so-called “rule” that one should never wear white after Labor Day has been with us for many years. Interestingly, even fashion world experts can’t agree on where this rule came from -- and yet many people still abide by it. Ridiculous! …
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I am convinced that every single adult -- no matter their profession or educational background -- is a salesperson in some form or another. If you are a parent, you are constantly selling to you kids, persuading them to try hard in school, stay away from the wrong crowd, be polite. Heck, I am selling Lucy on veggies every night at 6 p.m. Teachers sell good conduct and self-sufficiency. Nurses sell healthy habits and discipline. Managers sell hard work, respect and communication. If you are ever persuading others to do something or act in a certain way, or you find yourself promoting …
Ever since you were able to hold a crayon, you’ve been instructed to color inside the lines. If you consistently color inside the lines, you are heaped with praise and judged to be a budding artist with tremendous upswing. The kids who regularly color outside the lines? Well, we’d rather not talk about them. …
Of all the rules that don’t exist, perhaps the most widespread is the notion that you are supposed to act your age. I’m guessing that this quip originated from a woman who caught her husband throwing things at the television while watching a football game. Or perhaps a high school teacher who was tired of her students firing spitballs across the classroom. As with any rule, there usually contains within it a kernel of common sense. In this case, it is, “Quit acting like an idiot, you moron.” …
How delightableare you? When it comes to delightability, kids are king. The next time you’re around children, pay close attention to them. Notice how delighted they are to find a penny on the ground (even more so when they get to throw it into a fountain). Observe how excited they become when they get to push the elevator button. It won’t take long, but after some serious study, you’ll start to smile at the little things kids get excited about. Kids are thrilled by lightning bugs, bubble baths, and the intricacy of a snowflake. They’re turned on my helium balloons, bedtime stories, and …
Kim and I have been watching MasterChef on Fox, starring one of our favorite TV personalities, fiery chef Gordon Ramsay. MasterChef conducted a nationwide search for the best home cooks in America, and through a series of exciting elimination rounds, will turn one of them into a culinary master. In the initial audition episodes, the contestants had to prepare their signature dish for the panel of judges in an effort to win one of 30 aprons in order to advance to the next round. As she prepared her dish, a young Hispanic woman named Adeliz spoke passionately about her family's food history. …
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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in Wonderland? Or work at Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory? Or have an apartment on Sesame Street? Would your life be better? More fun? More exciting? A while back I asked the following question on our Facebook page: Which imaginary place would you most like to visit? The responses were quite varied (my favorite might actually be "my clean house"), but here are a few classics that popped up: …
So we recently unveiled a new way to buy Kim & Jason greeting cards and get your hands on some original art. The WOW Greeting Card Box Set is packed with 48 cards spanning all of life's big moments, and the box top features a little drawing by moi. I have to say that I am loving the opportunity to get back into drawing and inking the characters I grew to know so well while doing the daily comic strip from 2000-2007. Since every box is different (customized based on the information specified by each customer), I thought it would be cool to give you a look at some recent creations. …
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It was 1999, but I wasn’t partying like Prince had promised. I had just graduated from college with a degree in art and found myself in the real world. Yikes. I was back at home, living with my parents, and engaged to be married within a year. I was faced with trying to find a job and I had two choices: get a regular, “normal” job with benefits (that hopefully had something to do with art), or cast out on my own as a freelance illustrator. I think my parents were hoping for the former. …
One of the greatest superpowers of childhood is curiosity. And I bet there are few people who'd debate the importance of validating and fostering the curiosity in children. However, the tone often changes when that curiosity tramples our adult sensibilities. Allow me to share part of an email I received from a woman who heard me speak at a national conference: …
