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<channel>
	<title>Escape Adulthood with Kim &amp; Jason</title>
	
	<link>http://kimandjason.com/blog</link>
	<description>Live life with less stress and more fun!</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Fri, 25 May 2012 15:32:11 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Our World Needs More Whimsy</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/8_yPVvY-3x8/our-world-needs-more-whimsy.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-25/our-world-needs-more-whimsy.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2012 15:32:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Create & Do]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outdoor Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Play]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17759</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A creative group of folks led by Sean Martindale decided to do something about the various neglected city ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-25/our-world-needs-more-whimsy.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/martin-reis-outside-the-planter-boxes-04.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/martin-reis-outside-the-planter-boxes-04.jpg" alt="" title="martin-reis-outside-the-planter-boxes-04" width="500" height="376" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17761" /></a><br />
A creative group of folks led by Sean Martindale decided to do something about the various neglected city tree planter boxes that dotted Toronto. More than 30 <a href="http://www.planterart.com/">&#8220;planter interventions&#8221;</a> were created by a group of 17 Toronto based artists, designers, gardeners and urbanites within a 24-hour period in 2011.<span id="more-17759"></span></p>
<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/martin-reis-outside-the-planter-boxes-06.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/martin-reis-outside-the-planter-boxes-06.jpg" alt="" title="martin-reis-outside-the-planter-boxes-06" width="500" height="375" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17762" /></a></p>
<p>All of the solutions were cool, but my favorites are the <a href="http://www.planterart.com/projects/martin-reis/">Lego airport planter</a> by Martin Reis and the <a href="http://www.planterart.com/projects/bentley-ball/">Tire Swing / &#8220;Great Canadian (Fake) Swimming Hole&#8221;</a> planter by Bentley Ball.</p>
<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/bentley-ball-outside-the-planter-boxes-02.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/bentley-ball-outside-the-planter-boxes-02.jpg" alt="" title="bentley-ball-outside-the-planter-boxes-02" width="500" height="667" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17763" /></a></p>
<p>Wanna bet that the Adultitis levels of passersby went down after this project? Guaranteed. </p>
<p>Our world is aching for silliness. We could use a bit more <a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2007-08-22/the-importance-of-mirth.html">mirth</a>. I know I could. </p>
<p>You don&#8217;t need to be a designer from Toronto to do your part. I bet your cubicle, desk, refrigerator, or front yard could use a bit more whimsy. </p>
<p>I bet a few Legos, a sheet of stickers, a couple of googly eyes, or some action figures would be a good start. </p>
<p>I bet Adultitis doesn&#8217;t want you to read this post.</p>
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		<title>Not-So-Small Rebellion: Woman Finds Fun in Losing Wallet</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/BjBvZ_l6ndc/not-so-small-rebellion-woman-finds-fun-in-losing-wallet.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-23/not-so-small-rebellion-woman-finds-fun-in-losing-wallet.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 14:43:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Small Rebellions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17736</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You lose your wallet. Doh! You retrace your steps and realize that you accidentally threw it in the ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-23/not-so-small-rebellion-woman-finds-fun-in-losing-wallet.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brownpau/5192405114/"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/wlecome-to-hell.jpg" alt="" title="wlecome-to-hell" width="550" height="371" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17738" /></a><br />
You lose your wallet. <em>Doh!</em></p>
<p>You retrace your steps and realize that you accidentally threw it in the recycle bin. <em>Idiot!</em></p>
<p>You discover that the trash has already been picked up for the day. <em>You cannot be serious!</em></p>
<p>It dawns on you that you now get to spend a few hours calling banks and insurance companies followed by a trip to the DMV. <em>Son of a&#8230;</em></p>
<p>How&#8217;s <em>your</em> day going?</p>
<p>If you&#8217;re like most people, your day becomes a shame bagel with frustration frosting and anger sprinkles on top.</p>
<p>Or.<span id="more-17736"></span></p>
<p>Or &#8212; and this is the hard part &#8212; you could instigate a <a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2010-11-16/small-rebellions.html">small rebellion</a> and choose to roll with it, and maybe even have a little fun. That&#8217;s <a href="http://freshraindrops.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-lost-my-wallet-last-monday.html">what Judy did</a>. When on the phone, she joked with people about HOW she lost her license. And she really had fun once she got to the DMV:</p>
<blockquote><p>It occurred to me as I was directed with my form to an area with ledges to fill out the forms, that those around me were filling out this SAME form. It was a quiet, crestfallen looking crowd. After I filled out my form, I joked, a little loudly on purpose with the guy next to me how my garbage can had stolen my wallet. He told me how he lost his. Then someone else chimed in&#8230; and another and another. This group was now all grinning and laughing. By the time my number was called, I was standing at a window next to 2 other windows that were ALL processing driver&#8217;s license replacement requests. I asked my service rep how many she processed a day and she said usually 50-80. Now the reps got to join in on the laughter that was expanding in our section.</p>
<p>Earlier that morning, when I first realized my wallet was accidentally <strong>taken hostage by the recycle bin</strong>, I thought it would be a bad day. In fact, it was just the source of sharing laughter and life with a group of strangers who were rotely (or sheeplishly) going about their day in mundane fashion.</p></blockquote>
<p>In my experience, outside of getting your license for the first time, there is nothing inherently fun about going to the DMV. I&#8217;m pretty sure even the people PAID to be there dread it. But Judy proves that fun can be found anywhere, even under unpleasant circumstances.</p>
<p>Small rebellions are simple. They are not always easy.</p>
<h4>Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brownpau/5192405114/">Paulo Ordoveza</a></h4>
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		<item>
		<title>More Cheap Family Fun: The Flour Game</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/H0rdTajCc-g/more-cheap-family-fun-the-flour-game.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-21/more-cheap-family-fun-the-flour-game.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 19:39:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Create & Do]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On A Budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Play]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17724</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Had I known about this idea two years ago, it probably would have made it into The Kim ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-21/more-cheap-family-fun-the-flour-game.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/flour-game.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/flour-game.jpg" alt="" title="flour-game" width="550" height="621" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17729" /></a><br />
Had I known about this idea two years ago, it probably would have made it into <a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/cheap-family-fun/intro">The Kim &#038; Jason Guide to Cheap Family Fun</a>. But I didn&#8217;t, so here you go.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s called The Flour Game and if you like fun and aren&#8217;t afraid of getting messy, this is for you.</p>
<p>Get a teacup or small bowl and pack it tight with flour. Regular, white, flour. Flip the cup over onto a plate, remove it, and carefully place a Lifesaver candy on top. (Some people use a coin of some sort, but candy is better in every way.) Then everyone takes turns cutting the flour with a knife, taking care not to disturb the Lifesaver. The person who makes the Lifesaver fall has to fish it out with their mouth. No hands &#8212; or feet &#8212; allowed.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m not sure who invented this game of awesomeness, but I learned about it <a href="http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2011/11/flour-game-fun-holiday-tradition.html">here</a>.</p>
<p>It is a game in search of an occasion. It&#8217;s perfect for birthdays, Christmas parties, even National Flour Month, which, of course, <a href="http://www.slashfood.com/2008/03/25/march-is-national-flour-month/">is March</a>.</p>
<p>Or, if you&#8217;re having a case of the Mondays, you could find some flour and go crazy. And have fun!</p>
<h4>Photo credit: <a href="http://lacduboisbemidji.villagepages.org/2009/08/06/making-a-cake-flour-face/">Lac du Bois</a></h4>
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		<item>
		<title>Carpe The Hell Out of This Diem</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/oBBu2YMG4Vo/carpe-the-hell-out-of-this-diem.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-18/carpe-the-hell-out-of-this-diem.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 16:03:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quotes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Live Passionately]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17062</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/carpe-the-hell-495x660.jpg" alt="" width="495" height="660" />My neighbor has a brain tumor. He&#8217;s in hospice. He&#8217;s under forty. So yeah, this seems about right. ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-18/carpe-the-hell-out-of-this-diem.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/carpe-the-hell-495x660.jpg" alt="" width="495" height="660" /><p>My neighbor has a brain tumor. He&#8217;s in hospice. He&#8217;s under forty. </p>
<p>So yeah, this seems about right.</p>
<p>The best day to do something amazing is always today.</p>
<h4>Photo credit: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/82697525/carpe-the-hell-out-of-thi-diem-85x11">Etsy</a></h4>
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		<item>
		<title>You’re Invited: Escape Adulthood Summit 2012</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/uKnJBoFWwCs/escape-adulthood-summit-2012.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-17/escape-adulthood-summit-2012.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 14:54:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Kim & Jason News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17719</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You are invited to join us for something amazing. On August 24th &#038; 25th, we are hosting the ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-17/escape-adulthood-summit-2012.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img alt="" src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/ea_summit_logo-2012.jpg" class="alignleft" width="300" height="432" /><br />
<strong>You are invited to join us for something amazing.</strong></p>
<p>On August 24th &#038; 25th, we are hosting the first ever Escape Adulthood Summit in picturesque Madison, Wisconsin. It will be a wild rumpus of epic proportions.</p>
<p>Part conference, part retreat, part mastermind group, it’s a one-of-a-kind event designed for people instilled with the soaring spirit of childhood. <a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/escape-adulthood-summit">Learn more!</a></p>
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		<title>Unleash Your Inner Superhero</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/iZ2gaKSZ4yU/unleash-your-inner-superhero.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-17/unleash-your-inner-superhero.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 14:32:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[You & Improved]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17666</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You are in possession of something powerful. Something with the innate possibility to change the world. You walk ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-17/unleash-your-inner-superhero.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/super-job-kotecki.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/super-job-kotecki.jpg" alt="" title="super-job-kotecki" width="500" height="549" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17667" /></a><br />
You are in possession of something powerful. Something with the innate possibility to change the world. You walk around with it every day, but sadly, you&#8217;re likely oblivious to its paradigm-shifting potential. Don&#8217;t feel bad, however, for even the most advanced airport security scanners are completely unable to detect its presence.<span id="more-17666"></span></p>
<p>What is it?</p>
<p>Your greatness.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s right, even Tony the Tiger would agree: <strong>You&#8217;re GREAT!</strong> But I&#8217;m not talking in generic, &#8220;you&#8217;re great, I&#8217;m great, everybody&#8217;s great and should get a trophy&#8221; terms here. I&#8217;m talking about your inner superpower.</p>
<p>The tragedy is that this inner superpower is often under-appreciated and under-used, rendering it nearly powerless.</p>
<p>Your greatness is made up of the activities you are great at and most enjoy doing. The things that people marvel at, ask you to do, and thank you for. The things that come easy to you, the things you find most enjoyable. </p>
<p>The &#8220;easy&#8221; and &#8220;enjoyable&#8221; aspects are the trap. They lead you to take your greatness for granted. When something comes easy to us, we assume it must be that way for everyone, so we don&#8217;t see anything special in it. And if it&#8217;s enjoyable, we assume it&#8217;s not worth that much because anything worth having requires a lot of work, right?</p>
<p>Wrong!</p>
<p>This kind of thinking is Kryptonite to our inner superpower. The truth is, the things that come easy to us and create enjoyment are the very gifts we were given to help change the world. Rather than toiling away at building up our weaknesses, we need to unleash our infinite potential by focusing on our strengths. If you think about it, building up our weaknesses is our futile way of becoming self-reliant. But we were designed to be dependent on one another. Our job is to utilize the gifts of others while ruthlessly sharing our own.</p>
<p>Write down a list of at least 10 things you are great at (shoot for 20!) Then make a similar list of things you enjoy doing. Compare the lists and circle the things that overlap.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s <em>your</em> greatness. That&#8217;s <em>your</em> inner superpower.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, you don&#8217;t need to be the best in the world at any of those things to be great. The beauty is in the mix. Consider this quote from <a href="http://www.dilbert.com/">Dilbert</a> cartoonist Scott Adams:</p>
<blockquote><p>I succeeded as a cartoonist with negligible art talent, some basic writing skills, an ordinary sense of humor and a bit of experience in the business world. The “Dilbert” comic is a combination of all four skills. The world has plenty of better artists, smarter writers, funnier humorists and more experienced business people. The rare part is that each of those modest skills is collected in one person. That’s how value is created.</p></blockquote>
<p>You may not be the absolute best at any one thing on your list. (Not many people are.) But that&#8217;s no reason to discount them. Chances are that if everyone in the world compared their lists of 20 things they are great at and enjoyed doing, no two lists would be exactly the same.</p>
<p>I hope you will take some time to make your own list to uncover and analyze your inner superpower. </p>
<p>I urge you to quit taking your greatness for grated.</p>
<p>I beg you to unleash it on the world.</p>
<p>We need you.</p>
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		<title>The Art of Living Unconventionally: Interview with Chris Guillebeau</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/TiUhClTQwKI/the-art-of-living-unconventionally-interview-with-chris-guillebeau.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-15/the-art-of-living-unconventionally-interview-with-chris-guillebeau.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 18:23:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dream Big]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Live Passionately]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17290</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A few years ago, Chris Guillebeau made it his goal to visit every country in the world before ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-15/the-art-of-living-unconventionally-interview-with-chris-guillebeau.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mr.potato-nonconformity.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mr.potato-nonconformity.jpg" alt="" title="mr.potato-nonconformity" width="600" height="454" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17296" /></a><br />
<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/chris-guillebeau.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/chris-guillebeau.jpg" alt="" title="chris-guillebeau" width="132" height="168" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-17291" /></a>A few years ago, Chris Guillebeau made it his goal to <a href="http://chrisguillebeau.com/places-ive-been/">visit every country in the world</a> before his 35th birthday. He&#8217;s already visited over 175 of them, and is on pace to complete the quest next year.</p>
<p>He is also a writer, entrepreneur, purveyor of the blog <a href="http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/">The Art of Non-Conformity</a>, and author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0399536108/?tag=kimandjason">the excellent book</a> by the same name. His mission is to help people live unconventional lives, make their own choices, and change the world.</p>
<p>We had a chance to chat with Chris recently, and covered a wide range of topics. We asked him about his world travels, how his adventure has changed him, and what has rendered him awestruck along the way. Chris also shares his opinion on the most Adultitis-free culture in the world, his unconventional thoughts on life balance, and some tidbits from his childhood, including his favorite toy and the surprising thing he wanted to be when he grew up.</p>
<p>In this short but thought-provoking interview, you&#8217;ll learn a super tip on how to save money while traveling and hear some things that may inspire you reinvent the way you look at life.</p>
<p><span id="more-17290"></span></p>
<p><strong>Run Time:</strong> 22 minutes, 34 seconds<br />
<strong><a href="http://www.kimandjason.dreamhosters.com/clubkj_stuff/podcasts/interviews/2012-04-23-Chris Guillebeau.mp3">Download MP3</a></strong> (21.7 MB)</p>
<p>P.S. Chris has a new book out called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0307951529/?tag=kimandjason">The $100 Startup</a>, which can help you reinvent the way you make a living, do what you love, and create a new future. You should get it, especially if you are unemployed, underemployed, or like your job less than head cheese. (<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/blog/2012-05-08/how-to-do-what-you-love-and-create-a-new-future.html">See our review here</a>.)</p>
<p>[ <em>Non-Conformity. Acrylic on paper. 19 x 25 inches.</em> ]</p>
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		<title>Traveling Potato Head</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/HUgDV3G16Yw/traveling-potato-head.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-14/traveling-potato-head.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 16:31:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Create & Do]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On A Budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Play]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17662</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Humans love surprises. Well, not the &#8220;thank you for your 30 years of service, but we have to ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-14/traveling-potato-head.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mccleary-traveling-potato.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mccleary-traveling-potato.jpg" alt="" title="mccleary-traveling-potato" width="600" height="440" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17679" /></a><br />
Humans love surprises. Well, not the &#8220;thank you for your 30 years of service, but we have to let you go&#8221; or &#8220;Luke, I am your father&#8221; kinds of surprises, but the fun, magical kinds that make your soul smile.</p>
<p>The cracker jack prizes of life.<span id="more-17662"></span></p>
<p>Some of my best scenes in my life have been surprises, from the surprise birthday party when I turned 30 to surprise tickets to a Switchfoot concert a few weeks ago. (Thanks, Kim!) We actually devote a lot of space on this site to creating surprises. See <a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2011-03-27/pokey-is-missing-and-why-thats-good-for-you.html">Hide Pokey</a>, <a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2009-05-16/leave-george-ea-show-24.html">Leave George</a>, <a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2009-06-12/shamwow-your-neighbor-ea-show-28.html">Shamwow Your Neighbor</a>, <a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2011-04-03/the-pajama-run-essential-to-your-familys-mental-health.html">Pajama Run</a>, and <a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-08/mom-and-daughter-celebrate-may-day-a-little-late.html">belated May baskets</a>, to name a few.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s another, shared with us by Betsy McCleary of Iowa:</p>
<blockquote><p>I have attached a picture of my daughter, placing Mr. Potato Head at the door of a friend&#8217;s home, indicating that he was a &#8220;traveling Potato&#8221; for them to enjoy as long as they like and to keep or pass on if they wish.  (It is sort of like &#8220;Hide Pokey&#8221; but on a grand scale.  Our Pokey hid so well no one has found him in several weeks :)</p></blockquote>
<p>Love it.</p>
<p>What fun totem from childhood could you turn into traveling anti-Adultitis ambassador and share with your neighbor?</p>
<p>How would your neighborhood change if you did?</p>
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		<title>Darth Vader Goes to Disneyland</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/1I1ia3QDuNk/darth-vader-goes-to-disneyland.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-13/darth-vader-goes-to-disneyland.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 13 May 2012 16:24:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adultitis Hospitals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17693</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You know a place is a legit Adultitis Hospital if even Darth Vader can have a good time ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-13/darth-vader-goes-to-disneyland.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-13/darth-vader-goes-to-disneyland.html"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p>
<p>You know a place is a legit <a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/category/adultitis-hospitals">Adultitis Hospital</a> if even Darth Vader can have a good time there.</p>
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		<title>An Inconvenience is an Adventure Wrongly Considered</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/PiSsNHN1ThQ/an-inconvenience-is-an-adventure-wrongly-considered.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-12/an-inconvenience-is-an-adventure-wrongly-considered.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 12 May 2012 14:44:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Quotes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17656</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/super-mario-fall-495x581.jpg" alt="" width="495" height="581" />&#8220;An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered.&#8221; &#8211;G. K. Chesterton ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-12/an-inconvenience-is-an-adventure-wrongly-considered.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/super-mario-fall-495x581.jpg" alt="" width="495" height="581" /><p>&#8220;An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered.&#8221;<br />
<cite>&#8211;G. K. Chesterton</cite></p>
<h4>Art by Alan Hynes</a></p>
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		<title>The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/n9bIuh1NQEA/the-top-5-regrets-of-the-dying.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-10/the-top-5-regrets-of-the-dying.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 16:04:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maintain Perspective]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17196</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Bronnie Ware worked in palliative care for many years. Her patients were those who had gone home to ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-10/the-top-5-regrets-of-the-dying.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/192528952790356409/"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-17305" title="you-know-all-those-things" src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/you-know-all-those-things.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="335" /></a><a href="http://bronnieware.com/">Bronnie Ware</a> worked in palliative care for many years. Her patients were those who had gone home to die. She wrote a fascinating post detailing the <a href="http://www.inspirationandchai.com/Regrets-of-the-Dying.html">top 5 regrets of the dying</a>. Here they are:<span id="more-17196"></span></p>
<p><em>1) I wish I&#8217;d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.</em></p>
<p><em>2) I wish I didn&#8217;t work so hard. (This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children&#8217;s youth and their partner&#8217;s companionship.)</em></p>
<p><em>3) I wish I&#8217;d had the courage to express my feelings.</em></p>
<p><em>4) I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.</em></p>
<p><em>5) I wish that I had let myself be happier. (Deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.)</em></p>
<p>In life, we rarely regret the things we DID, even if they didn&#8217;t turn out as he&#8217;d hoped.</p>
<p><strong><em>No, it&#8217;s the &#8220;I wish I woulda&#8217;s&#8221; that suck.</em></strong></p>
<p>Ultimately (and perhaps selfishly), the reason Kim and I have committed our lives to doing what we do is to have as few &#8220;I wish I woulda&#8217;s&#8221; as possible. We champion this cause and write the books and give the speeches in order to keep ourselves from forgetting how easy it is to let Adultitis sidetrack you into a story that&#8217;s not your own.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s our hope that this work leaves you with as few &#8220;I wish I woulda&#8217;s&#8221; as possible, too.</p>
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		<title>Mom and Daughter Celebrate May Day a Little Late</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/cBHdrNIIFOM/mom-and-daughter-celebrate-may-day-a-little-late.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-08/mom-and-daughter-celebrate-may-day-a-little-late.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2012 16:39:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kim</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Create & Do]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rules That Don't Exist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Rebellions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[May Day]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17649</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have fond memories from childhood of May Day. We&#8217;d cut some of our beautiful irises and gently ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-08/mom-and-daughter-celebrate-may-day-a-little-late.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/lucy-may-day.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/lucy-may-day.jpg" alt="" title="lucy-may-day" width="600" height="600" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17651" /></a><br />
I have fond memories from childhood of May Day. We&#8217;d cut some of our beautiful irises and gently put them in homemade construction paper cones along with some candy and run giddily over to our neighbor Lois&#8217; house to surprise her. The best part was ringing the doorbell and running away. When else can you do this?!<span id="more-17649"></span></p>
<p>Inevitably, she&#8217;d come by later that day with some sweets in hand to thank us for thinking of her. May Day always seemed to be a neat little &#8220;out of nowhere&#8221; holiday.</p>
<p>So, when May 1st came and went without any notice in our house last week, I felt bummed. The day had been busy, and although I had thought about the fun Lucy and I could have making and delivering May baskets, the timing just didn&#8217;t work out.</p>
<p>The next day, May 2nd, I felt disappointed and regretful &#8212; two emotions that Adultitis thrives on. Then, I remembered the concept of &#8220;<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/category/rules-that-dont-exist">rules that don&#8217;t exist</a>.&#8221;  Was this an opportunity to exercise this perspective? You bet! Who says you can ONLY deliver May baskets on May 1st?</p>
<p>Lucy and I set out making construction paper cones, picking flowers from our yard and counting candy pieces for each neighbor. I&#8217;m not sure who enjoyed the anticipation more. We included &#8220;Happy Belated May Day&#8221; notes in each one. I strapped Ben on my back, piled the goodies and Lucy into the wagon and off we went, spreading joy from one house to the next &#8212; nine in all. (We are blessed with wonderful neighbors!!)</p>
<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may-basket.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/may-basket.jpg" alt="" title="may-basket" width="250" height="250" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-17652" /></a>To Lucy&#8217;s delight, one of the neighbors showed up just a few hours later with a bag of goodies as a thank you: a kite, sand toys, and some Hello Kitty chap stick that Lucy calls her lipstick. That was sure a neat surprise! </p>
<p>To my delight, I found this picture on Facebook the next day, along with a status update from our neighbor around the corner: &#8220;Woke up to find this beautiful little belated May Day bouquet hanging on our door. Thank you, Lucy!&#8221;</p>
<p>So, I learned a big lesson in all of this fun: never let a date on the calendar dictate that you missed out on a chance to make memories and spread a little joy. </p>
<p>Turns out, May 2nd is just as good as May 1st to share smiles and celebrate friendships.</p>
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		<title>How to Do What You Love and Create a New Future</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/HglFTQHWH1E/how-to-do-what-you-love-and-create-a-new-future.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-08/how-to-do-what-you-love-and-create-a-new-future.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2012 13:50:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Workplayce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dream Big]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Live Passionately]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17276</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many people I talk to have an inkling of some kind of dream business they&#8217;d love to start. ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-08/how-to-do-what-you-love-and-create-a-new-future.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/100-startup-cover.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/100-startup-cover.jpg" alt="" title="100-startup-cover" width="333" height="500" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-17277" /></a>Many people I talk to have an inkling of some kind of dream business they&#8217;d love to start. A cute yarn store. An interior design consultancy. A little coffee shop. It&#8217;s often deep in the back of their mind, buried by things like fear and doubt. Something&#8217;s holding them back: Lack of funds. Uncertainty about what steps to take. Or the comfort of a job that already pays the bills and provides benefits, even if it&#8217;s one they dislike so much that they&#8217;d rather punch kittens for a living.<span id="more-17276"></span></p>
<p>I was talking to guy a few summers ago who was out of work and was looking for a job. He&#8217;d been looking for eight months. I remember thinking, &#8220;Jeez, if you&#8217;d started a business when you first got laid off, you&#8217;d probably have some pretty good momentum by now.&#8221; Instead, he was still waiting for someone else to give him any old job that he probably wouldn&#8217;t like any better than his previous one. To my knowledge, he&#8217;s still underemployed to this day.</p>
<p>One of the biggest excuses people have for not making the jump toward creating their own dream job is the fear of sacrificing a solid living for an uncertain one. But if you&#8217;re currently unemployed, that excuse flies out the window. Heck, even if you <em>are</em> employed, businesses can be started and nurtured during nights and weekends until they&#8217;re strong enough to support you on their own.</p>
<p><strong>The truth is that now is probably the best time in the history of the world to start your own thing. </strong></p>
<p>And finally, to my great delight, there is a resource to show you how. It&#8217;s called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0307951529/?tag=kimandjason">The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future</a>. I got an advance copy from the author, <a href="http://chrisguillebeau.com/">Chris Guillebeau</a>, and I can confirm that it delivers the goods.</p>
<p>As an entrepreneur myself, I&#8217;ve read a TON of business books. But none like this. </p>
<p>This one chronicles fifty case studies of people who&#8217;ve started a wide variety of successful businesses with very little capital. (Many began with under $100 in funding.) The stories deliver gobs of inspiration, but this book also gives you steps to take, and charts to follow, and solid real-world advice for making your little dream a big reality.</p>
<p>If you are unemployed, underemployed, or toiling in a job you like less than beets, you should <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0307951529/?tag=kimandjason">check this book out</a>.</p>
<p>Now is your time.</p>
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		<title>Bucket List, Summer Edition</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/aQR9UuYIziU/bucket-list-summer-edition.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-07/bucket-list-summer-edition.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 May 2012 17:54:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Create & Do]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lifestyle Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Live Passionately]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Play]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17315</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A few months ago, I wrote about the idea of making a list of things you want to ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-07/bucket-list-summer-edition.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/summer-bucket-list2012.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/summer-bucket-list2012.jpg" alt="" title="summer-bucket-list2012" width="500" height="732" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17316" /></a><br />
A few months ago, <a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/blog/2012-03-04/how-to-ward-off-your-i-wish-i-would-haves.html">I wrote about</a> the idea of making a list of things you want to do this summer. A summer bucket list, if you will. This is mine.</p>
<p><em>Time flies, whether you&#8217;re having fun or not.</em></p>
<p>Creating a great life story requires living with intention. As the old saying goes, if you don&#8217;t know where you&#8217;re going, any road will get you there. But if you want to create a life filled with great scenes and happy memories, you need to do your part.</p>
<p><strong>You need to invite those scenes and memories into your story.</strong></p>
<p>One way to do that is with a bucket list. Write it out. Draw it, like I did. Or make a collage with pictures from the internet or magazines. Fill it with big things and little things. Maybe team up with your spouse or family to create one together. Then &#8212; and this is the important part &#8212; keep it somewhere you&#8217;ll see it often. This bad boy is going on my fridge.</p>
<p>Summers get busy and are gone before you know it. Let this become your ever-present reminder to fill it with adventure.</p>
<p>P.S. I&#8217;d LOVE to see your lists. Feel free to post them to our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kimandjason">Facebook page</a> or email me at <a href="mailto:&#106;&#97;s&#111;&#110;&#64;k&#105;%6d%61&#110;&#100;j%61s&#111;%6e&#46;%63%6f%6d">&#106;a&#115;o&#110;&#64;&#107;&#105;&#109;&#97;&#110;&#100;&#106;&#97;&#115;&#111;n.com</a></p>
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		<title>A Print Perfect for Mom</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/_Zv35-TplpE/a-print-perfect-for-mom.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-04/a-print-perfect-for-mom.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 May 2012 21:58:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Cool Things]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parenthood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lemonade Stand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mother's Day]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17406</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I drew this one long ago, and it&#8217;s still one of our best sellers. Available at your friendly ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-04/a-print-perfect-for-mom.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mother_art.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mother_art.jpg" alt="" title="mother_art" width="600" height="389" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17407" /></a></p>
<p>I drew this one long ago, and it&#8217;s still one of our best sellers. </p>
<p><a href="http://kimandjason.gostorego.com/mom-matted-print.html">Available</a> at your friendly neighborhood Lemonade Stand.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s to moms, the everyday superheroes.</p>
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		<title>My Greatest Day as a Dad (So Far)</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/aNicjPCoeS8/my-greatest-day-as-a-dad-so-far.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-04/my-greatest-day-as-a-dad-so-far.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 May 2012 15:12:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Parenthood]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17318</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My greatest day as a dad recently eclipsed my previous greatest day as a dad. The first one ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-04/my-greatest-day-as-a-dad-so-far.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/star-wars-lucy.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17322" title="star-wars-lucy" src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/star-wars-lucy.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" /></a><br />
My greatest day as a dad recently eclipsed my <em>previous</em> greatest day as a dad.</p>
<p>The first one was about a month ago. I was wearing <a href="http://www.snorgtees.com/sugar-skull-trooper">a Stormtrooper t-shirt</a> I had gotten for Christmas. Lucy was sitting across from me at the table, and said, &#8220;I like your shirt, Dad.&#8221;</p>
<p>I thanked her, thinking she liked the artsy design and bright colors.</p>
<p>Then she asked, &#8220;That&#8217;s from Star Wars, isn&#8217;t it?&#8221;</p>
<p>My ears perked up, because I hadn&#8217;t talked that much to her about my favorite movies in the history of the universe. Yet. </p>
<p>&#8220;Why yes, it is,&#8221; I responded.</p>
<p>The thing she said next solidified that day as my greatest as a Dad.<span id="more-17318"></span></p>
<p><em>&#8220;I can&#8217;t wait to watch that movie. Can you tell me about it?&#8221;</em></p>
<p>She <em>immediately</em> had my undivided attention and I spent the next ten minutes regaling her with stories about a princess (the perfect in!), a bad guy named Darth Vader, and a hero who just so happened to have the same name as her brother (Ben).</p>
<p>Up until that point, I&#8217;d had an ongoing internal debate about the proper time to introduce my firstborn to Star Wars. Of course I&#8217;d start at Episode 4, but my sense was that I&#8217;d probably have to wait until she was four or five. But this unexpected early interest changed everything.</p>
<p>Kim suggested we start her off on some Star Wars children&#8217;s books, and wouldn&#8217;t you know it, the Easter Bunny just so happened to include a few used ones that he&#8217;d found online in her Easter basket. Lucy took to them like a Jawa to a junkyard. She even seemed to understand the overarching plot line, which is not always easy to follow. (Try explaining a &#8220;tractor beam&#8221; to a three-year-old sometime).</p>
<p>Then came the moment of truth. Kim thought she might be ready for the movie, and I agreed. Last weekend, after dinner, we all switched into our pajamas in settled into the living room for the first installment of Star Wars. (We divided the viewing into two nights.) I tried my best to keep Lucy abreast on what was happening, but she was already with me. Kim humorously observed that I was (allegedly) so enthralled with the movie myself that I didn&#8217;t even notice a few questions Lucy was asking me.</p>
<p>Lucy was hooked. In the days that have followed, she&#8217;s been playing Star Wars non-stop, running around looking for Ben and muttering about &#8220;using the Force.&#8221; She&#8217;s transformed into Luke Skywalker, Kim is Princess Leia, I am Han Solo (huzzah!) and her little brother morphs between R2-D2 and Chewie.</p>
<p>It was official. The day we watched Star Wars together for the first time became my new greatest day as a Dad.</p>
<p>And today may eclipse even that.</p>
<p>For today, my friend, is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Day">Star Wars Day</a> (May the 4th be with you!). And this evening, I will be surprising Lucy by pulling out some of my old Star Wars toys for her to play with.</p>
<p><em>I predict that her mind will be blown.</em></p>
<p>And that I may have a <strong>new</strong> greatest day as a Dad.</p>
<p>P.S. I realized that Star Wars has been a pretty regular topic in the 10 years we&#8217;ve been doing this blog. Here are a few for your enjoyment:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/blog/2011-05-25/on-darth-vader-adultitis-and-our-wedding-day.html">On Darth Vader, Adultitis and Our Wedding Day</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/blog/2011-03-12/pancakes-strike-back.html">The Pancakes Strike Back</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/blog/2010-10-02/darth-vader’s-dos-and-don’ts-for-dads.html">Darth Vader’s Do’s and Don’ts for Dads</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/blog/2010-08-02/do-or-do-not-there-is-no-try.html">Do Or Do Not. There Is No Try</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/blog/2010-07-14/how-to-avoid-the-dark-side-of-metamorphosis.html">How to Avoid the Dark Side of Metamorphosis</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/blog/2008-11-14/be-the-free-prize.html">Be The Free Prize</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/blog/2008-07-14/an-expectant-dads-reflections-on-registering-part-1.html">An Expectant Dad’s Reflections on Registering (Part 1)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/blog/2008-03-05/star-wars-according-to-a-3-year-old.html">Star Wars According to a 3-Year-Old</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/blog/2005-10-29/adults-are-ruining-everything.html">Adults Are Ruining Everything</a></li>
</ul>
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		<title>Cookie Sale</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/mx7sGiogKnk/cookie-sale-2.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-03/cookie-sale-2.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 15:32:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17280</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We live in a culture that worships the new. I think it&#8217;s worth keeping in mind that just ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-03/cookie-sale-2.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Cookie-Sale-Newsprint.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Cookie-Sale-Newsprint.jpg" alt="" title="Cookie-Sale-Newsprint" width="600" height="394" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17281" /></a></p>
<p>We live in a culture that worships the new. I think it&#8217;s worth keeping in mind that just because something isn&#8217;t &#8220;new&#8221; doesn&#8217;t mean it&#8217;s without value.</p>
<p>This is true with things other than just cookies, too.</p>
<p>[ <em>Cookie Sale. Acrylic on newspaper. 9 x 12 inches.</em> ]</p>
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		<title>Almost Guilt-Free Banana Split Bites</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/ql21jLWH1Jg/almost-guilt-free-banana-split-bites.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-01/almost-guilt-free-banana-split-bites.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 May 2012 16:50:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food & Recipes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17200</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the greatest inventions of the past few years is the Dairy Queen Mini Blizzard. I love ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-01/almost-guilt-free-banana-split-bites.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/banana-split-bites.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17199" title="banana-split-bites" src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/banana-split-bites.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="376" /></a><br />
One of the greatest inventions of the past few years is the Dairy Queen Mini Blizzard. I love Blizzards, and am rarely able to contain myself if I spot a Dairy Queen logo while driving home from a speaking gig. (My favorites are the Reese&#8217;s Peanut Butter Cup ones.) I love that the mini size allows me to assuage the craving while staving off the shame spiral that comes from inhaling a bigger size.</p>
<p>The point of this post is to praise tiny portions of dessert. I have found that it doesn&#8217;t take a lot to satisfy my sweet tooth. If have have a taste for some chocolate, peanut butter, and ice cream, I don&#8217;t need it served up in a ten-gallon bucket.<span id="more-17200"></span></p>
<p>Seriously, who ever buys the large? If that isn&#8217;t a cry for help, I don&#8217;t know what is.</p>
<p>In the ice cream treat world, banana splits are notorious for being belt-busting behemoths. But these little gems from <a href="http://www.bakersroyale.com/ice-cream-and-frozen-desserts/banana-split-mini-bites/">Bakers Royale</a> are a great way to get your fix without feeling *too* guilty. There&#8217;s even some ice cream tucked inside the little bananas! Here are some notes for making your own:</p>
<blockquote><p>• Use firm bananas and cut into 1-inch sections. Leave the peel on for easy handling, and with a melon baller, dig a well in the middle of each banana section.</p>
<p>• Melt chocolate in the microwave and dip the bottom portion of the banana in chocolate and then dip it once again in either non-pareils or chopped peanuts. To quickly harden the chocolate, place dipped bananas in the freezer for five minutes.</p>
<p>• Fill each well with ice cream and top with whip cream and a maraschino cherry.</p></blockquote>
<p>Banana split bites, Mini Blizzards, and desserts served in shot glasses are perfect Adultitis-fighting weapons for waistline-minded warriors!</p>
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		<title>Cheap Family Fun Name Your Price Offer</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/FMBi1qM4yQY/cheap-family-fun-name-your-price.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-01/cheap-family-fun-name-your-price.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 May 2012 16:23:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Kim & Jason News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17248</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/cff-name-your-price-495x422.jpg" alt="" width="495" height="422" />Life often moves so fast that it can feel like you’re in constant survival mode, barely keeping your ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-05-01/cheap-family-fun-name-your-price.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/cff-name-your-price-495x422.jpg" alt="" width="495" height="422" /><p><span id="more-17248"></span>Life often moves so fast that it can feel like you’re in constant survival mode, barely keeping your head above water in a sea of endless obligations and to-dos. Summer’s almost here, but it will be gone before you know it. When the dust settles and summer is over, how many memorable scenes will you have created with the people you love?</p>
<p><strong>If you’re like most people, your summer will be filled with a lot of should do’s and not nearly enough want to’s.</strong></p>
<p><em>Would you like to look back on summer and wonder where it went, or smile as you think about how filled it was with fun, silliness, and happy memories?</em></p>
<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/cheap-family-fun/intro">The Kim &amp; Jason Guide to Cheap Family Fun</a> is just what you need. With it, you’ll get an email a week for a year. Each email includes a short video in which we share something fun to do with your family that’s cheap and easy to insert into an already busy schedule. It’s 52 weeks of our best, memory-making material.</p>
<p>And now for the crazy part.</p>
<p><strong>For this week only, YOU GET TO NAME THE PRICE.</strong></p>
<p>Here’s how it works:</p>
<ol>
<li>Send an email to <a href="mailto:m&#121;%6ff&#102;&#101;r&#64;&#107;%69%6d&#97;&#110;%64%6aa%73o%6e&#46;%63&#111;&#109;">&#109;&#121;&#111;&#102;&#102;er&#64;&#107;im&#97;&#110;&#100;ja&#115;on&#46;&#99;&#111;&#109;</a> with the price you’re willing to pay for 52 weeks of fun.</li>
<li>We’ll send you a Paypal invoice for that amount. (You don&#8217;t need a Paypal account to pay.)</li>
<li>Once you complete the payment, we’ll send you a link and a code to sign up and start the fun.</li>
</ol>
<p>Fine print:</p>
<p>- You will NOT be able to offend us with your offer. Just go with what you can afford.<br />
- In case you were wondering, we’ve been selling this online for $39. On a related note, it costs about $200 to take a family of four to a major league baseball game.<br />
- Although we do have a 2-DVD set, this special offer is for the digital subscription only.<br />
- <strong>This offer ends on Tuesday, May 8, 2012.</strong></p>
<p>You can watch a few sample videos and learn more about Cheap Family Fun <a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/cheap-family-fun/intro">here</a>.</p>
<p>Oh, and here’s what a few people have had to say about it:</p>
<blockquote><p>“Thanks for being my motivation for doing something like this with my family and friends. I can’t say thank you enough for the impact you’ve had on the way I’m trying to live my life. I feel that my kids are getting much more enjoyment out of the parent I’ve become since making a defined effort NOT to be too grown up all the time.” &#8211;Shelley Storhoff, Wisconsin</p></blockquote>
<blockquote><p>“We have to schedule everything in our lives anymore and this email arriving once a week helps us schedule fun, too!” &#8211;Patti Kamper, Virginia</p></blockquote>
<p>I hope you decide to take advantage of this crazy offer before my accountant finds out about it. (Feel free to share it with friends.)</p>
<p>After all, a summer is a terrible thing to waste.</p>
<p>Your friend,</p>
<p>Jason</p>
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		<title>When It Comes to Relationships, Our Days Are Numbered</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapeadulthoodblog/~3/ACy9e35qaT0/when-it-comes-to-relationships-our-days-are-numbered.html</link>
		<comments>http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-04-30/when-it-comes-to-relationships-our-days-are-numbered.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:27:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Marriage]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://kimandjason.com/blog/?p=17164</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[4,363 days. That&#8217;s how many days Kim and I have been married, as of this writing. I was ...<a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/2012-04-30/when-it-comes-to-relationships-our-days-are-numbered.html" class="read-more">Continue Reading</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/you-are-the-lid.jpg"><img src="http://kimandjason.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/you-are-the-lid.jpg" alt="" title="you-are-the-lid" width="600" height="390" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17170" /></a><br />
4,363 days.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s how many days Kim and I have been married, as of this writing.</p>
<p>I was inspired to figure this number out after attending a breakout session by <a href="http://www.worldlaughtertour.com/">Steve Wilson</a> at the AATH (<a href="http://www.aath.org/">Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor</a>) Conference in Chicago last weekend. He explained that he and his wife Pam don&#8217;t count the years they&#8217;ve been married, but the days. And if you were to ask either of them on the spot what day they were on, they&#8217;d be able to tell you. (I want to say it was over 10,000.)</p>
<p>And here I thought I was lucky getting hitched in 2000 because I&#8217;d always be able to tell how long I&#8217;d been married as long as I knew what year it was.<span id="more-17164"></span></p>
<p>My buddy <a href="http://www.hellomynameisscott.com/">Scott</a> has kept a count of how many consecutive days he&#8217;s worn a name tag, but up until last weekend, I&#8217;d never heard of anyone keeping track of how many days they&#8217;d been married. (At least past the one month mark.) Steve said that he and his wife were well aware of the fact that you never know how many days you&#8217;ll be blessed with so you need to appreciate them all.</p>
<p>Indeed.</p>
<p>When I calculated the number of days Kim and I have been married (the leap years added a tricky wrinkle), I was amazed at the number. It seemed really high, and yet the years seem to have flown by. If we were to make it to a 50 year wedding anniversary, we will have spent well over 18,000 days together. I hope we do.</p>
<p>A woman named Vera was also at the conference, and she told me that she and her husband made fun a priority and went on a date every single Thursday since they&#8217;d been married, which also had been a number of years. I thought that was cool, too.</p>
<p>The marriage thing is hard work. It comes easy to no one, even though it may appear to be for some. This weekend, I was reminded of two things needed to keep your relationships strong:</p>
<p>1) Make fun a priority. The couple that plays together, stays together. </p>
<p>2) Appreciate every day, keeping in mind that they&#8217;re numbered.</p>
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