Escape Adulthood

Christmas

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Ornaments, Advent Wreaths and Holy Guacamole

We put our Christmas tree up last weekend. The kids helped out, and by “helped out” I mean dropped hooks on the ground and placed multiple ornaments on a single branch about two feet from the ground. Trimming the tree is one of my favorite traditions in a holiday season filled with them. Most of the ornaments we own have a story behind them, whether it's a souvenir from our travels, or a gift from a grandma, or a memento from our early years of dating. It’s fun strolling down memory lane as each ornament goes up on the tree. Here are a few of our other holiday traditions: I make up …

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Family Turns Christmas Eve Dinner Into a Barbarian Affair

One of the attendees of last summer's Escape Adulthood Summit was inspired by the Barbarian birthday party we held to celebrate our son Ben turning one. She wanted to have one with her family on Christmas Eve, but she was worried about how it would be received. Unsurprisingly, it would be quite a departure from their normal holiday traditions. Judging by the pictures she sent, it seems like it went over pretty well. (Bonus points for the twisty straw!) Sometimes the biggest hurdle to initiating a Small Rebellion is our own fear. That feeling of dread or uncertainty is Adultitis' last …

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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, …

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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? …

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Christmas Carol eCards!

I made some art that features some whimsical little Christmas friends painted over the top of sheet music for classic Christmas carols. I was originally going to make them into a set of real-live Christmas cards. And them time went by too fast. Oh well, maybe next year. So I decided to turn them into eCards for Kim & Jason Insiders. (Yet another perk of free membership.) Recipients don't need to be an Insider to receive them, so you don't have to worry about hassling them to sign up. Just a fun way to spread a little Christmas cheer without having to buy stamps :) Here are the four …

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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 …

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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! …

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The Secret Ingredient to a Stress-Free Holiday Season

It's a busy time of year. Most of us are knee-deep in the holiday frenzy. There are trees to trim, decorations to put up, gifts to purchase, cards to send, office parties to attend, cookies to bake, crowds to navigate, presents to wrap, miles to be traversed, groceries to buy, meals to prepare, snow to shovel, rooms to clean, in-laws to suffer, and to-do lists to be tackled. Prime feeding ground for Adultitis, especially if you take it all too seriously. Please don't forget there are also memories to be made, cookies to be eaten, jokes to tell, ho ho ho's to be hollered, bells to …

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When Christmas Trees Get Jealous

When you shine brightly and share joy with the world, not everyone will be appreciative. These Adultitis-ridden doo-doo heads will laugh at you, mock you, and try to run you down. Mostly they are just threatened by your example and attack you in order to feel better about their own cowardice or laziness. Shine on anyway. [ Watercolor on paper, 9 x 12 inches. ] …

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