I put on my snow pants, boots and mittens and scoured the vast wastelands of the Internet to uncover a whole bunch of neat tips for making your next snowman the envy of the neighborhood. Please keep in mind that these tips are for building a traditional snowman, which is typically three snow balls placed on top of each other. If you want to get all crazy and create some elaborate snow sculptures, this is not the post you're looking for. These tips are for those times when you want to roll old school. …
Create & Do
It’s Always Time To Be Ridiculous
"Watermelon with Mustache" by Jason Kotecki "The right to be ridiculous is something I hold dear." -- U2, I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight I recently became aware of a website called ridiculo.us, an online community dedicated to the encouragement, development, and execution of ridiculous ideas. Their most recent project is to fake a marathon. That's right. On February 2nd, people all over the world (including me and Kim) are going to be taking and sharing pictures of themselves stretching, running, and finishing a marathon. They will be decked out in official race t-shirts and bib …
Making Memories Stick: One Sentence Daily Journal
My memory stinks. And I'm not even forty. Perhaps that is why I am so interested in simple ways to record the cool stuff that happens in my life. Then when I'm old I can actually have some idea of what I spent my life doing. …
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Messages in a Bottle: Make Your Own Memory Jar
At the end of every year, Kim and I sit down and review the year that was. We talk about what went well, what didn't go well, and reminisce about the adventures we had and the things we accomplished. The hardest part is remembering it all! We review our calendar and archived to-do lists, and even though I'm amazed at how much you can accomplish in a year, I always feel like we're missing stuff. Which is what makes this idea pure genius. Find a neat jar and put it in your kitchen with a pen and a stack of tiny paper nearby. Throughout the year, write down any cool adventures, funny …
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Superhero Fort Kit
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: …
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 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! …