De-stressing the holidays: Ditching traffic, fake smiles, and our parents
I love the holidays. I love the food, the family, and the general festive atmosphere. I hate the stress though. Add to this that my career choice primarily involves dealing with difficult people and that the holiday season is THE busiest time of year for those kinds of jobs (read: retail and waiting tables), the stress of the holidays is almost more than I can handle. Then I started thinking about what the holidays meant when I was growing up…
What to do when people ask, “So what gift do you want from me?”
Getting presents can sometimes be comparatively unrewarding — especially now I’m at an age where family still want to give me birthday and Christmas presents, but aren’t quite sure what to get. Therefore they ask me what I would like. I used to feel this took a lot of the fun out of it, but now I’ve realized that I can get all meta about it. What I’m really doing, I’ve decided, is giving them the gift of giving. So here are my tips for when someone asks you for a list of present ideas.
Did you catch Offbeat Home & Life and How-To Hair Girl on the Today Show?
Remember Roxie Hunt’s post about arm pit-dying DIY post from last month? Well, it’s been getting some mainstream attention this week — first the LA Times, then the Today Show. Here’s Kathy Lee and Hoda Kotb being horrified by the concept, and decreeing it “freaky”…
Throw this party: “T. Hanks-giving”
T. Hanks-giving is a wonderful pre- post- or alterna-Thanksgiving celebration that gives thanks to Tom Hanks, Patron Saint of American Film. Here’s how to throw your own T. Hanks-giving…
DIY is magic: Make your own My Little Pony plushie
When I asked my brother if there was anything I could make for my niece for the holidays, I was a little overwhelmed when he suggested a My Little Pony — Friendship is Magic plushie of Pinkie Pie. I’d never sewn a stuffed animal before, and I’d be a pony newbie creating something to give to a pony expert!
Why we should ask and answer more repetitive, annoying, offensive questions
I am Pagan, and I have always hated the repetitive, annoying, or offensive questions that occur every time I come out of the broom closet. Until a nativity scene changed my mind about those repetitive, annoying, and offensive questions.
Finding the value in being a part-time creative person
I now hold a very normal job. I work in the finance industry in the city, and I love it, but there always has been (and I suspect always will be) part of me that wonders if I should have done something more creative… Am I wasting potential talent? What if I’m withholding some grand work of literature from the world because I didn’t take that route?
Killer Uno: The best non-drinking game ever
We need a safe outlet in which to pounce, cuss, fist-pump, gloat, turn the tables and score before we do some actionable damage to ourselves and those around us. I give you: Killer Uno. The game is simple…