Does your home have a name?

There are so many things to love about Mexico, from the culture to the bright colors and the delicious food. We’ve twice been there as a family (Tulum and Cabo) and were delighted to discover that many of the homes had signs denoting their name.

It’s a charming little detail we like very much, and so when we bought our new home, we decided it needed a name, too.

We settled on Casa de Whimsy.

And just as when you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to ask for a glass of milk, if you give your house a name, you’re going to need a sign to go with it.

Ours hangs proudly near our front door, lovingly assembled with knickknacks foraged from a secondhand art supply store in town. It gives visitors a pretty good idea of what they’ll encounter inside. 

The word “whimsy” represents our family well. We don’t take ourselves seriously. We love color. We regularly partake in kitchen dance parties, embark on epic Pajama Runs, and hold Barbarian Spaghetti dinners. And as far as decor goes, it is basically an art gallery specializing in whimsy.

Clearly, our home is appropriately named. But why is whimsy so important to us?

Although often viewed as superfluous, whimsy is a spark of delight with the supernatural power to uplift the human spirit. Whimsy can fill a heart with happiness and a head with new ideas. It brings a playful unpredictability to our days. It puts the heavy things we carry in perspective. The delicious ridiculousness of whimsy helps lighten our loads and brings joy to others. 

Casa de Whimsy is not just a description of our home, it’s an aspiration, too. Every time we walk through the front door,  we are reminded to have fun, take ourselves lightly, and celebrate the gift of life. It gives us permission to live playfully.

Now more than ever, the world feels dark and cumbersome. We need more wonder and more whimsy, not because we are in danger of forgetting the terrible stuff, but because the terrible stuff weighs so heavily on us.

There’s a lot of value in naming your home.

What would yours be named?

In January, I did a program for a big healthcare company and afterwards I met a guy named Randy who said he had a deck in his backyard that looked like a pirate ship.

Naturally, my curiosity was stoked. Did it come with the house? Was it seaworthy? Was talking like a pirate required for entry?

Happily for all of us, I was able to get the full story — plus pictures! Randy and his wife bought the house in 1999 and have been throwing summer theme parties ever since. (The first one was a Hawaiian style luau, complete with pork roasts wrapped in banana leaves, placed on really hot rocks, covered with a sheet, and then an entire sandbox of sand.) This year’s theme was Jaws, in honor of the 30th anniversary of its release (photo here and here.) Needless to say, it’s been a fun way for the couple to let their inner child come out to play.

The pirate ship deck emerged from one of these parties. Here’s Randy to tell the story:

One year we had a real big one and it was pirate themed. It was a perfect combination. Everybody showed up and (for a change) the weather was perfect. I worked for myself so I had lots of time to set it up. We made pirate ships out of refrigerator boxes, carpet tubes and palettes. We had 300 black water balloons for cannon balls. We also made our deck into the fortress, complete with jail (made out of 2x4s and PVC pipes painted black) and a pillory. Almost everybody dressed up as a pirate, including two people that wore Pittsburgh Pirate uniforms. (We put them in the jail as impostors.)

The party was such a success that everyone wondered how we could match it the next year. Well, I helped my neighbor tear out his deck, and the boards were really floppy, and I decided to use them to turn my entire deck into a ship. It was mostly made of old deck boards, with very little investment of money. I got the telephone pole from a friend who owned a farm and wanted it gone. The rest is semantics.

Pretty epic, huh? Just goes to show you what you can do with a little imagination, a supportive wife, and a neighbor with an old, crappy deck.

Have you or someone you know ever done any childlike home improvements? Share ’em in the comments!

But if I think about it even more honestly, the real reason is not the winter blues. It’s this…

I am not quite ready to file away the memories of Ben’s adorable 13-month-old fascination with our tree and his three favorite ornaments. Multiple times a day he walks (like Frankenstein) up to the tree, or strongly encourages anyone holding him to bring him closer to show you: Grover (“Gro Gro”), the rubber ducky (“Ca Ca,” his super cute attempt at quack quack), and last but certainly not least, Santa (“Ho Ho”). I’m savoring this over and over and over.

At first glance the simple solution is to keep the tree up until… May?

Seriously, it’s okay to give myself permission to keep it up longer this year than I have in the past.

But here’s the simple truth that I’m wrapping my brain around: I have savored these wonderful memories of Ben and our tree. They are forever imbedded into the section of my heart labeled, “Best Memories Ever.” I will savor these memories forever.

The twinkling lights in Ben’s baby blue eyes and his crackly voice and excitement will forever bring me a smile and heart filled with love. So, whether the tree is in our living room or back in the box in the garage, these memories aren’t going anywhere.

What memories do you have in that bring you this kind of awesomeness?

Inviting and re-savoring these memories… it’s a wonderful way to combat the winter blues.

Kim and I are suckers for whimsy. Especially when it comes to home decor. No, seriously. It’s true.

So it should come as no surprise that we are in love with Blik, a company that makes removable wall decals. It’s the coolest way to add a dash of artistic whimsy to a room without having to possess any artistic ability. Wallpaper wishes it could be changed this easily. Talk about an easy way to transform your home or office into an Adultitis Hospital! Here are some of our favorites:

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 stories, or happy things that occur and put them in the jar. Then on New Years Eve, read all the notes and bask in gratitude at the cool stuff that happened during the year.

Since everyone in the household can contribute, a highlight is reading the notes other people added over the course of the year. Even neater: a shelf in your house that features your memory jars through the years!

Looking for some fun ideas to make sure your memory jar is filled with awesome? Try this.

Hat tip to Jill Bodwin and Jaden Hair.

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!

I like this idea a lot. Beckie of Infarrantly Creative was not a big fan of board game boxes, so she did something about it. She framed the colorful game boards and turned them into functional art.

And when I say “functional,” I really mean functional:

See that — all the pieces stuffed in a bag attached to the back of the frame. Pure genius! And I suddenly have the urge to play a game of Chutes & Ladders.

Here’s how she did it.

Photo credit: Beckie

Turn it into a planter, of course!

Places where this would be cool: a gym teacher’s office, a principal’s office, a sports medicine or therapist’s office, and pretty much any other office in the world (except the Adultitis-ridden ones).

Here’s instructions on how to make your own.

We were not disappointed.

I love how the bold colors pop off the blue background.

I love how the cereal is larger than life.

I love that our kitchen suddenly feels…magically delicious.

One of the big steps was transitioning Lucy to a “big girl bed” in her new “big girl room.” (Next up, potty training — heaven help us!) This required purchasing a “big girl mattress” and some redecorating. It went much more smoothly than I anticipated, and the items we’d collected over the last year or so really tied together well.

Among the highlights is the focal point of the room, a series of original paintings I did featuring the beloved Fisher Price Little People. Kim rescued them from her basement a while back, and they’ve become one of Lucy’s favorite toys. I had to share!

It’s well-known in our family that I am not the most — ahem — handy person around. Which is especially embarrassing since my Dad is a carpenter by trade and a magnificent woodworker. But it is kind of neat to be able to create something unique like this. Probably the cheapest thing in the room if you consider money spent, but certainly the most priceless. I couldn’t even guess what something like this might cost.

Perhaps I should take it out of Lucy’s allowance :)

There are still a few tweaks to be made to the room (which is why there’s only a photo of one wall.) If you have children, I’d love to hear what unique touches you’ve done to add some whimsy and originality to your kids’ rooms!

It took an enormous amount of mental and physical energy to rise above our physical environment in order to keep our blue sky mentality. I realize that our situation was not unique. This is a challenge for many folks for a variety of reasons. A tight budget may be preventing you from upgrading that outdated decor. Your spouse’s job loss may have brought you to the reality of downsizing your square footage. You might just be looking for something to lift your spirits to combat the negativity that pummels us day in and day out. Whatever the reason, here are a few easy ways to make your home more fun, with a little inspiration from our friends John, Paul, George and Ringo.

1. Yellow Submarine
Start fresh with a few cans of paint. Don’t be afraid to pick something bold. And don’t forget about the power of simply painting one accent wall. A red wall may be just what you need to feel passionate again. A lemon yellow wall might really brighten up that drab kitchen. Jason and I dared to go against our rental agreement and paint a few of the walls in our apartment, even though “the rules” said we couldn’t. We desperately needed the lift that the new colors would bring. In the end it all worked out fine. We’ve found it’s sometimes better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

2. In My Life
I love photos because in our busy rat race world, they remind me of the uber happiness-inducing people and experiences in my life. For example, we have a picture in our kitchen of me holding a big fish at the Pike Place Market in Seattle at the famous fish throwing shops. When I look at this picture I am instantly zapped back to the giddiness I felt in the moment. Frame up the pictures that bring you memories of fun experiences. You can also frame up fun retro pictures. A few years ago, Jason printed a few photos of childlike objects — jacks, alphabet soup, and an Atari controller — and put them in some black metal frames. It was an unconventional way to spruce up a blank wall. If you have kids, the possibilities are endless. (Check out Jason’s list of 5 Tips for Phenomenal Photos of Your Kids.)

3. Octopus’s Garden
One of the simplest ways to add a little life to your living space is by bringing in some fresh flowers. We always have a vase of flowers on our kitchen table. Jason picks up a bouquet when he goes grocery shopping and they usually last a week or two, depending on the type. At first we felt a bit guilty spending money on such a seemingly “unnecessary” expense, but in reality, we spend at most $12 a month on flowers. Considering how much joy it brings us to see fresh flowers every time we walk into the kitchen or sit down for dinner, we realized that there are a lot of other things we spend more than $12 on each month that can get cut from the budget before the flowers. It’s a small price to pay to make grey days palatable and the sunny days seem sunnier.

4. Come Together
It’s time to marry the practical with the playful. The reality is that you need certain things in your household – salt & pepper shakers, for example. So, why not have fun ones? The kitchen is a super easy place to do this. Ours is filled to the brim with whimsy, with our silly measuring cup, playful ice cream scoop and mouse cheese grater, just to name a few. One of our favorite gifts ever was when Jason received a Superman cookie jar. The Man of Steel dutifully guards our kitchen from his countertop fortress. By swapping standard — and boring — gadgets for sillier and more fun versions, you can create simple opportunities for a smile without taking up any extra space.

5. The Long and Winding Road
Several years ago, Jason and I started collecting postcards from our travels, picking out specific ones that were associated with meaningful memories we made. Fifty cents here and there and a few years later, we had quite the stack of remembrances. We went out and bought a bunch of $1.00 postcard frames and displayed them all together on a wall in our home, creating an artistic kaleidoscope of memories. Lucy loves pointing to the panda postcard, which reminds me of our trip to the San Diego Zoo. It’s a fun conversation piece and an inexpensive way to highlight your life experiences. Even if you’re not a big traveler, there are times in your life when you end up in a neat and memorable place. Keep your eyes open and fifty cents in your pocket, and you’ll have a cool collection before you know it.

6. With a Little Help From My Friends
Mr. Potato Head. Batman. Oscar the Grouch. Boba Fett. Mighty Mouse. Papa Smurf. Han Solo. These are just a few of the friends Jason has invited into his office to help him keep a childlike perspective throughout his day. Who says our favorite childhood friends have to stay dusty in the back of the closet? Clean ’em up and put them on display. It says a lot about a person by what they choose to display in their home or office space, so make sure your knicknacks reflect the real you.

7. Here Comes the Sun
Light is energizing. And let’s face it, Vitamin D is a necessary tool to keep your spirits up, and one that we could usually use more of. Especially when you’re limited by space constraints, light can serve as a magic wand to a room that needs a pick-me-up. Instead of taking a sledge hammer through your walls to create more “windows,” simply make an effort to open your curtains and blinds all the way every morning. That extra sunlight will help expand the room and your mood. Mirrors are another sneaky way to create more light. Hanging stained glass pieces will also bring both color and light into your life. Make an effort to embrace the light in your home and you will find more energy for fun and silliness.

Bonus Tip: It’s All Too Much
Remember when you were little and life was simpler? There just wasn’t as much to think about. Now, our minds are in constant motion as we work daily to balance it all. A great deal of your mental energy is zapped from clutter. Piles of stuff not only deplete the amount of actual space you have, but they deplete your mental real estate, leaving you with no room for fun. Subconsciously you are in a constant state of assessment, accounting for what might be in one of the boxes or piles. Take 15 minutes a day to sort through some piles or closets. Throw stuff away, donate items that can be used again and then make sure whatever is left has a home. Check out Unclutterer.com for daily tips on how to organize your home or office.

So… how about you? Please share any tips you may have for making your living space more fun!

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It’s amazing how quickly snow cones and cotton candy can help people escape adulthood. And it’s uncanny how consistent children are in their desire to combine all possible snow cone flavors.

I think my favorite part of the whole space are the tables in the conference room (we gotta come up with a better, less corporatey name for that room). There are four tables in all, constructed by my dad and decorated by me. We were originally going to paint some checkerboards on them, but then I was inspired by the background image on my blog and thought it might be neat to cover the tabletops with a collage of Kim & Jason sketches. I knew it would be a big job, but once I thought of it, I couldn’t not do it.

Many, many hours of drawing and six coats of polyurethane later, the tables were finished and turned out pretty darn good. Part of the reason I consider them a highlight of the space is because they were a team effort between me and my dad. To me, it’s a great symbol of all of the support my parents (and Kim’s parents, too) have given us over the years. I’m sure they thought we were a little bit unstable when we first started this company seven years ago. Since then, they’ve supported us in many ways. Some of the support has come financially, but it sure is hard to put a price tag on the value of their encouragement, prayers, and belief in us. There have been times when we were about ready to throw in the towel. Knowing that they believed in us gave us the strength to keep going on the hardest days.

The tables my dad built are the most stable tables I’ve ever seen. And stable is the perfect word to describe the foundation our parents have built for me and Kim. They gave us the gift of wonderful childhoods, taught us the value of hard work, and believed in us when not many other people did.

Thanks, you guys. We couldn’t have made it this far without you.

‘Well, Urban Outfitters has recreated that same little Christmas Tree. For $24 it can be yours: to display in all its pathetic misery, or to turn into something wonderful yourself.’

Charlie was so sympathetic to that little tree. I’ll never forget how Linus used his blue blanket for the tree skirt and the disappointing sound of that heavy red ball ornament drooping to the ground. To me that tree is a symbol of childlike hope and innocence. What a cool thing to have around at Christmas.