After much deliberation, we have decided to shut down Club K&J. Have no fear; we will still be putting energy into providing a great escape from a world riddled with Adultitis…we just won’t be charging you for it :) Thank you for your enthusaism and support of us and our mission, we hope that it will continue, albeit in different ways. In the video below, I outline all of the changes and explain what’s next:

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One particularly good low-cost way to escape the “same old, same old” of modern life is to dig out a box of food coloring from the recesses of your kitchen cabinet. Most people have a box of the stuff somewhere, but it’s usually only used to color cookie frosting around the holidays. Rather than sitting forgotten in a pantry, we believe its rightful place might be right next to the salt and pepper shakers that get used every day.

I fell in love with the stuff during my first ever attempt at the Escape Plan. I made myself some green eggs (thanks for the inspiration, Dr. Seuss!), red orange juice, and enjoyed Capn Crunch in some blue milk. I can’t think of anything that made me feel like a five-year-old faster than mixing in a few green drops to the eggs I was whisking. 

Kids love stuff like that, and your inner child still does, too! Some people get weirded out by food that comes in strange colors, but considering that the taste is left unchanged, we think that any apprehension might just be Adultitis talking.

So here are some ideas to make food coloring more of a staple in your home:

1) Celebrate holidays. Think green yogurt smoothies for St. Patrick’s Day, pink pancakes for Valentine’s Day, or orange eggs for Halloween. (Read more…)

Photo credit: bossanostra

So an employer decides that his team needs a little cheering up. It’s Christmastime, nearing the end of what has been a tumultuous year. He remembers his daughter’s recent birthday, and a simple party favor he purchased that was a huge hit with the kids. It was also a huge hit at his own birthday party, some twenty-five years earlier.

A simple red clown nose.

He bought enough for every one of his employees — he had to visit three different stores to collect enough for everyone. Because of the holiday, the clown noses became “Rudolph Noses” and everyone was encouraged to wear one.

He wore his all day long.

So the employees wore them too, and had quite a hoot. Laughter was everywhere.  The customers enjoyed the fun as well. After all, it’s impossible to take yourself too seriously while wearing a clown nose.

Now, this didn’t occur at a place you might expect, like an elementary school or a design firm or an internet startup. Nope, this happened at a bank, arguably one of the least desirable places to work during this economic downturn. A place often filled with stuffed shirts and even stuffier demeanors. The story is true. The ringleader was the CEO, and his name is Morty. I met him today in Tampa, Florida.

Many industries have been hit hard by the weak economy, maybe yours is one of them. Don’t wait for someone on the news to give you something to smile about (you might be waiting a long time.) Clown noses cost about a quarter. If the CEO of a bank can give his employees permission to have a little fun with some red foam, imagine what fun you could have where you work.

The expense is minimal, but the benefits could be priceless.

Often as adults, we get trapped into the thinking that we have to constantly chase the “bigger and better,” especially when it comes to vacations. Well, that can get expensive. In this video, I share some thoughts on escaping adulthood by investing in smaller, but no less gratifying, delights:

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These days we’re busier than ever. Unfortunately, all this busyness tends to pull us away from regular family dinners, which are terribly important to the health and happiness of your family. 

You may be one of the scores of people who are struggling to find the time (and the money) to cook good, easy meals for your family. I’m happy to share with you a brand new web site called BudgetFriendlyCooking.com.

Katie is an everyday chef who cooks on a budget. She shares recipes and demonstrates her technique in a series of weekly videos. Her ideas are sure to save you time and her recipes will save you money, which will certainly go a long way to cutting down the stress and Adultitis in your life. Check out this episode on making tacos:

Learn more at BudgetFriendlyCooking.com!