My kids discovered a YouTube video that highlighted dozens of unique ways to decorate Easter eggs. They were excited to try out some of the new techniques they learned, many of which were new to me as well.

There’s no one way to decorate an Easter egg.

It reminded me that there’s also no one way to create an amazing life. 

There are lots of different ways to earn money.
There are lots of different ways to spend it.
There are lots of different ways to allocate your time.
And lots of options of where and who to spend that time with.

Of course, you can do things by the book. You know, the “normal” way. With a cup of water, a few tablespoons of vinegar, and some drops of food coloring, you’ll get a “successful” life, I mean Easter egg. 

Creating something that resembles a Fabergé egg requires an altogether different approach. Mind you, I’m not suggesting that it’s a better one. Task me with the job of crafting some sort of intricate pattern, and there’s a good chance our evening would be forever remembered by my children as, “that one Easter where Dad threw a chair out the window.”

The simple truth remains: there are an unlimited ways to decorate an egg. 

It does seem that my favorite eggs I’ve decorated are the ones into which I put a little creativity. Because I couldn’t just leave all the fun to the kids, I started drawing faces on a few of them. Eventually, someone suggested that it wouldn’t take much to make one look like Captain Underpants, and so that’s what I did.

I didn’t set out that evening to create a Captain Underpants egg. Sometimes we have to try a few different techniques before we settle on one that suits us and lights us up. I call that tinkering. 

Meanwhile, I enjoyed watching the way my kids approached it. This was the first year Ben was able to exercise a little patience. He colored an egg that looked as magnificent as a ruby. His secret, of course, was leaving it in the dye longer. 

My daughter Ginny is only five, and she has not yet built up her patience muscle. Having a hard time waiting is age-appropriate when you’re five. But a lack of patience can cause real problems when you’re forty-five. I know a couple pushing fifty who is no further along now than they were in their twenties, all because they’ve never been able to stick to a plan and see it through.

People are looking for recipes, which is basically a list of rules. Do this, get that. There’s no question that recipes work. But oftentimes, it doesn’t result in the deep satisfaction and meaning we’re striving for.

If your life is not coming out as brilliant as you’d like it to be, you have some options. Probably more than you even considered.

Maybe you need to add a little more of yourself into it.
Maybe you need to give the plan a little more time. 
Maybe you just need an altogether new approach. 

There’s no one way to create an amazing life.

If the recipe you’re currently using isn’t working for you, you’re allowed to try a different one.

Imagine the look of surprise you’ll see when someone in your home or office, on a mission to secure a cup of coffee, walks into a room entrenched with dozens — hundreds! — of Peeps, poised for an ambush!

The idea of staging a Peep De Resistance, shared with us by K&J Nation member Brit Neyrinck, was not in our 20 Unconventional Things You Can Make with Peeps post, but it should have been.

And if this is not already part of your Easter tradition, it should be.

This article gives you all the tips you need, including these great gems:

For the foot soldiers, traditional peeps seem to work the best as their body is built for stability and forward movement. Bunnies are surprisingly good marksmen, scouts, and general artillery soldiers.

* * *

Begin organizing your peeps in a way that will maximize their effectiveness in battle. Be sure to cover both high and low ground, as well as counter tops. Ceiling fans, cabinets, and the tops of appliances also work for other strategic locations.

* * *

Accessorizing your little resistors with random weaponry will maximize their chances of survival. Sniper bunnies work surprisingly well with straws, and the ground troops can hide behind fortifications made out of their former packaging. If you have action figures in the house, feel free to acquire their arsenal for the cause as well. You might also consider giving your peeps protective gear such as hats or shields.

* * *

Want to give your peeps a battle ready look? Use food coloring and food markers to give them angry faces or to make them look a bit war worn.

We talk a lot about the idea of Small Rebellions around here, but this takes it to a whole new level!

Viva la Peep!

But it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing proposition.

Check out these two examples of fun Easter crafts. The first one, shown above, comes from the Rice Krispies website. It’s a Rice Krispie Treat shaped like an egg, with M&Ms hidden inside. Neat, huh?

The second one is a nifty project from Not Martha. On the surface, it looks like a regular hard-boiled Easter egg:

But then there’s that curious little message, begging you to inflict some damage.

Armed with the excuse that the egg was asking for it, you get to cracking.

And discover this:

Surprise!

What we have here is a seemingly “secular” combination of sugar and candy and colored eggs.

As well as the perfect metaphor for the real meaning of Easter.

After all, the tomb that some grief-stricken friends found empty one Sunday morning over two thousand years ago was God’s best way of saying, “SURPRISE!”

Although probably not intentionally, these two projects represent the idea that Easter is the most epic surprise party EVER, thrown for us, by God.

Peeps make some people happy. They make other people sick.

But love ’em or hate ’em, there are a surprising amount of things you can make WITH them, from the edible to the decorative. Here are our favorites.

Make Peeps Krispie Treats
We’ll start things off with things you can actually eat. Sure, you can eat Peeps right out of the package, but that’s so passé. Why not try making Rice Krispie Treats with Peeps as the marshmallows?

Source: Love From The Oven

Make Peep Kabobs
You could also incorporate Rice Krispie Treats into this sugar coma on a stick. With Peeps and sprinkle-covered cupcakes thrown in for good measure, you’ve got a treat tailor-made for Homer Simpson.

Source: WarningSugaryGoodness.com

Make Peeps Sushi
For the more sophisticated types, you can’t go wrong with Peepshi. They’re cute and colorful, without that fishy taste.

Source: Serious Eats

Make Peeps Pretzel Rods
Moving on to ideas that involve dipping something sweet into something even sweeter, I give you Peeps on pretzel rods. The saltiness helps break up the flash mob of sugar.

Source: Love From the Oven

Make Chocolate Peeps on a Stick
Jam a stick up a Peep’s butt and dip him in chocolate. Don’t worry, it tastes better than it sounds.

Source: Your Homebased Mom

Make Candy Covered Peeps
If the stick idea above was just a bit too violent for your tastes, this may be a good alternative.

Source: Your Homebased Mom

Make Peeps Fondue
If you’re having a party, give your guests the option of what to dip their Peeps in. If you think that sounds dirty, then you will not like the fact that you’ll most definitely have to bring the sticks back out for this one.

Source: Hoosier Homemade

Make Tuxedo Peeps
If you’re trying to keep things classy, make sure your Peeps are dressed for the occasion.

Source: Babble

Make Peep Smores
Of course, Peeps are a great way to transform classic smores into something even more festive.

Source: Eclecticrecipes.com

Make a Peeps Fluffernutter Sandwich
Stick one of these in your kid’s lunch bag and then clear a place on the mantle for your Parent of the Year award.

Source: Serious Eats

Make a Peeps Cake
If you think your cake could use even more sugar, why not cover it with an airtight coating of Peeps and M&Ms? Makes sense to us.

Source: Cake Central

Or, you can bake your Peeps right into the cake itself:

Source: SeriousEats

Make a Peepza
Simply make a regular plain pizza, pull it from the oven about a minute from done, top it with Peeps, and then cook another minute more. According to Adam, the Peepza’s originator, “It actually doesn’t taste as bad as you might think. You know that whole salty-sweet dynamic that we all tend to love so much? Peepza has it in spades.”

Source: Serious Eats

Make Deep-Fried Peeps
Sometimes in life, there are no words. This is one of those times.

Source: Serious Eats

You may want to wash your Peeps meal down with a cocktail:

Make a Peeps Cocktail

* 1 1/2 ounces Cherry Vodka
* 1/2 ounce Triple Sec
* 3 ounces Half and Half or Milk
* Dash Grenadine

Shake with ice until chilled. Pour into decorated glasses (rimmed with dyed green coconut flakes and adorned with a Peep) and serve.
Source: Feast of Fun

Ok, I promised the non-Peep eaters a few things you can do with Peeps besides stuffing them into your mouth. Here we go…

Make a Peep Flower Bouquet
Your imagination can run wild dreaming up flower and color combinations to make a stunning Peeps centerpiece.

Source: The Nest

Source: Flower Duet

Make a Peeps Wreath
Or turn all those Peeps into a colorful Easter wreath. I wonder if this would also make a good life preserver?

Source: Eclecticallyvintage

Source: TaLooLaKids

Make Peeps Art
Like a mosaic but with Peeps. Andy Warhol would be proud.

Source: 8balloons.com

Make a Peeps Necklace
Technically you don’t have to eat this whimsical jewelry, but I bet it will be a challenge not to.

Source: Lisa Loves Holidays

Make a Peeps Diorama
For the uber-creative types out there, this is definitely the way to go. This ridiculously awesome diorama based on the Pixar movie Up was one of the winners of the annual Washington Post Peeps Diorama Contest. You can see pages and pages of inspiring entries here.

Hopefully this post served as sweet bit of inspiration to do something fun with Peeps. We’d love to know, how do you feel about Peeps?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

1. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
2. Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.
3. There’s no such thing as too much candy.
4. All work and no play can make you a basket case.
5. A cute tail attracts a lot of attention.
6. Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.
7. Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.
8. Some body parts should be floppy.
9. Keep your paws off of other people’s jelly beans.
10. Good things come in small, sugar coated packages.
11. The grass is always greener is someone else’s basket.
12. To show your true colors, you have to come out of the shell.
13. The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.

I love so many things about this idea from Brandy of Gluesticks. I love that it elevates lunch to a whole new level of playfulness. I love the tiny peanut butter and honey sandwiches. I love that the grapes look so freaking huge. I love that this idea could completely replace the boring old lunch bag. (Not that lunch bags have to be boring, mind you.)

Most of all, I love the fact that Adultitis must hate this as much as any kid (or kid at heart) would love it.

You might think that decorating Easter eggs is by default an Adultitis-free activity.

Not necessarily.

If the decorating of eggs is something that’s become more of a chore, or if you’re doing it a certain way because you’ve always done it that way…well, that makes Adultitis happier than a hippie in a hemp store.

Perhaps this is the year to mix things up. Here are some fun ideas…

Thumbprint Eggs
This remind me of the awesome art of Ed Emberly! Pour some acrylic paint on a plate, dip your thumb in the paint, dab off any excess, and press it against the egg. Once the paint dries, add some extra flourishes with a sharpie marker.
Source: Family Fun

Candy Coated Eggs
A little frosting or corn syrup serves as glue to adhere sprinkles and other sugar-laden decorations.
Source: Parents.com

Melted Crayon Eggs
When the hard-boiled eggs are still hot, color them with crayon tips or grate a crayon and sprinkle bits over the egg. The crayon will melt and mix together with other colors!
Source: Family Fun

Chalkboard Eggs
Cover your eggs with chalkboard paint. Decorate with chalk. Instant awesome.
Source: Styleathome.com

Tye-Dye Eggs
With a colander, a little vinegar, and some food coloring, you can easily make some sweet designs that may give you flashbacks from the 60s.
Source: Family Fun

Kool-Aid Eggs
Dip your eggs in a container that contains just 2/3 cup of water and one packet of Kool-Aid for some fruity-smelling technicolor-tinged results.
Source: Hey Jen Renee

Sticker Eggs
It doesn’t get any easier than this, folks. Color the eggs and then just add stickers, which you can buy at just about any card shop or craft store. This just reminds me of how much I miss my old sticker book from the 80s, especially the scratch-n-sniff, puffy, and goggly-eyed varieties.
Source: Reader’s Digest

Speckled Eggs
Let out your inner Jackson Pollock! Pour some acrylic paint on a sheet wax paper, dip Dad’s an old toothbrush into the paint, and flick your Adultitis away. You can dye your eggs first or leave them white and splatter on multiple colors.
Source: Southern Living

Have a Nice Day Eggs
Dye your eggs yellow and use a sharpie marker to add some personality. Of course, you can give your eggs a wide range of emotions, from “Yay! It’s Easter!” to “Holy crap! Somebody’s going to eat me?”
Source: Reader’s Digest

Bubble Wrap Eggs
Who doesn’t love popping the bubbles on bubble wrap? Who knew it could also make a great egg decorating tool? All you have to do is coat a piece of bubble wrap with acrylic paint, then roll your egg over the paint.
Source: Family Fun

Aluminum Foil Eggs
Similar concept as above, except with aluminum foil. Crumple and uncrumple a section of foil. Then coat the foil with paint, and gently wrap the egg in it.
Source: Family Fun

Angry Bird Eggs
If you’re all caught up in the Angry Birds phenomenon, perhaps it’s time to make some Angry Eggs.
Source: Amanda Younger

Sparkle Dot Eggs
Mix some clear adhesive dots with some super-fine glitter and what do you get? Sparkly polka dot nirvana, that’s what.
Source: Domestifluff

Mosaic Eggs
Dye a bunch of eggs. Sacrifice a few of them to the Easter Egg gods by cracking up their shells and then glue the broken bits to the remaining intact eggs.
Source: Gingerbread Snowflakes

In those times when she is suffering, I’d happily take on her sickness and carry it myself if given the chance. Even if it meant that whatever affliction would be ten times worse and last ten times longer. I’d do it. In a heartbeat. I know parents who have lost children to cancer and diabetes, and I know they’d agree with me.

They would’ve given anything for the chance to trade places.

That’s the part about parenthood that surprises me the most. How is it that after thirty years of living with my own best interests in mind, can I suddenly turn into someone who would happily jump in front of a speeding truck to protect this little being I’ve only known for such a short time?

Before I became a Dad, I read about how God teaches you things about himself through the vocation of parenthood. I always kind of looked forward to that.

And now I get it.

Now I understand why God did what he did.

His own children were sick with sin. Really sick. So inundated with it that there was no hope for survival. They were terminal.

Unless.

Unless the perfect God of the Universe would be willing to take all of it on — all of the pain, the loneliness, the death — so we wouldn’t have to.

And so now I understand why he would give himself up on a wooden cross, eagerly willing to die in such a painful and humiliating way.

He was a Dad who loved his kids more than anything.

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Weekly Poll

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Weekly Giveaway

This week we’re giving away Jelly Bean Earrings from the Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand. To enter, just leave a comment sharing your favorite childhood memory from Easter. The winner will be announced during next week’s show.

Linkety Links

• Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand Renovation Sale
• The April Fools Show

While in Tampa, Florida, one woman came up to me and shared a game her brother-in-law (Lowell Allen) plays with his family. I’d heard of it before, but didn’t really know what it was. It’s called Peep Jousting. If its new to you. here’s the skinny, according to Urban Dictionary:

A game involving the classic Easter candy, Marshmallow Peeps. Each Peep has a toothpick sticking out of the front of it, like a lance. Two Peeps, so armed, are placed in a microwave facing each other. As they are heated, they expand, until one Peep’s toothpick makes contact with the other, causing the unfortunate bugger to pop.

Now, as awesome as that sounds, it’s even awesomer to watch:

Now, is this little game the result of people up north having too much time on their hands during long winter months spent indoors? Maybe. Does it border on childish? Perhaps. (But it doesn’t hurt anybody — except maybe for Peeps unskilled in the art of jousting…)

One thing is certain: it is definitely a cheap way to escape adulthood.

I’ve just now discovered that you can get Peeps decorating kits, and purchase Peeps in their very own chocolate eggs. You can even join the Peeps Fan Club. I remember getting a box in my Easter basket every year when I was a kid. (Who am I kidding? My parents just got me a box THIS year for my birthday.) Not sure what this says of me, but I always liked biting their heads off.

If you’re looking for something to do with Peeps other than eating them, you might try “Peeps jousting.” That’s when two Peeps armed with toothpicks face each other in a microwave oven. As they expand from the heat, their lances move closer; the first to strike a blow wins.

Apparently, the best time to score some Peeps is the day after Easter, when they go on sale upon the conclusion of Peep season (roughly February 15 thru Easter).

As creative as I am, I could not make this stuff up.