A little 4th of July fun for you out there in cyberspace. Oh, and you might also like this post about kids and fireworks and delighting in the little things: I'll Have What They're Having. (Click the comic to see it bigger.) …
Delight in the Little Things
Tip of the Week: Memory Maker
This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is: #10: Memory Maker: Create a memory today with someone you care about that will mean a lot ten years from now. Last week Jason and I made one such memory. We had the opportunity to tour one of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles. Living in Madison, the official home base of the Weinermobiles, we've seen them around town a number of times. We have never had the chance to get a tour, though, from the official Hotdoggers (the team that drive and maintain the 27 foot long hot dogs on wheels). It was definitely a memory that Jason and I …
Father’s-to-be Day
Today is Father's Day. I have to say my experience of this annual holiday is a bit different this year. Living with an expectant dad has allowed me to see fatherhood through a new lens. Yep, you read that right... we're having a baby! ETA: right around Thanksgiving. (Our Club K&J members have known about this for a few weeks.) It's all very exciting! Even though the baby is only about 4 inches long, Jason has shown countless fatherhood traits over the last four months. Here are ten reasons I think Jason is the best father-to-be, this Father's Day. 1. He insists on carrying the …
The Monet Vacation
It's that time of year... summer vacation. "FINALLY!", the Wisconsin kids are exclaiming, after having to make up a few snow days here in June. Never fun! Rumors abound that vacations will be down this year due to the gas prices. (Debbie Downer Alert!) P.T. Barnum (yes the guy from that little thing known as the greatest show on earth) proved in his day was that even in a period as tough as the Great Depression, people will spend their last nickel on FUN. Everyone needs a break... an escape... a vacation of sorts. That doesn't mean you have to fly down to Disney or go surfing in Hawaii. It …
Tip of the Week: Dear Hero
This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is #12: Dear Hero: Write a letter to a childhood hero (real or fictional). Last summer a group of us from Kim & Jason went to Milwaukee for a Get Motivated Seminar. It was an unbelievable experience. Not only did we get the opportunity to hear the perspectives of highly respected leaders like Suze Orman, Colin Powell, and Ed McMahon, we were also treated to hearing some snippets explaining "how he got to where he is today" from everyone's favorite TV dad, Bill Cosby. What a guy! The highlight for most attendees, though, was the …
Tip of the Week: Backyard Adventurer
This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is: #13: Backyard Adventurer: Spend ten minutes doing something outside that you have never done before. As a kid I spent most of my summer vacation outside. All it took was a simple prop and I would be inspired for hours and hours, engaged in imaginative fun. For instance, one time my sister and I found two potato sacks in our garage... two hours later our front yard was adorned with an elaborate obstacle course. Of course, one of the many elements happened to be a potato sack race. I'll never forget the scratchiness of the bag …
Tip of the Week: Random Act
This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is: #14: Random Act: Do something to help someone you don’t know. When I was in college we had a project for my Psychology class, experimenting with the social reactions of people in different situations. As I was brainstorming a connection for which direction to go in, I remembered a book I had received and enjoyed a few years earlier, "Random Acts of Kindness." It had become very popular, sharing a compilation of stories about people being kind to strangers- just because. The light bulb went off and the project was underway. …
A Royal Mess
Being an artist, my favorite thing about God might just be his creativity. He really puts out great stuff. (Thanks to Minette for passing this photo along.) …
Tip of the Week: Family Tree Trivia
This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is #16: Family Tree Trivia: Call or meet with someone in your family and ask them a question you are curious about regarding your family’s history. A lesson I learned early on from my husband (boyfriend, at the time) is that the easiest way to strengthen a relationship is to ask sincere questions... then shut up and listen to the answers. Anyone who knows Jason knows that if you have more than a three minute conversation with him, you will soon be asked a question that will take the conversation to a whole new level. Questions …
Go for the Ocean View
Kim and I just returned from a speaking engagement in Florida. This was the view from our hotel room on Clearwater Beach. When we checked in, our original reservation was listed as "garden view," but we were offered the option of upgrading to an "ocean view" room. As appealing as "garden view" sounds, I can assure you that it is usually hotel speak for "ugly air conditioning units view." Because we stay at this particular chain of hotels often, the cost of upgrading for both nights of our stay was $40. Now, many people would stay with the "garden view" room, pocket the $40, and rationalize …