September 21, 2018 Our experience living in and restoring a Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome We live in a three bedroom, two bath, two-story dome with four foot riser walls on the central Oregon coast. Built in 1981, we are about two city blocks from the beach and elevated 151 feet above sea level tucked into the trees with ocean views on two sides among conventional houses. If you want to purchase a dome, the most important thing to consider is the QUALITY of the initial build. Don't go cheap and buy someone else's problem. If the owners are having leaking windows and roofing, you will, too. Here's our take on renovating and living in a Buckminster Fuller geodesic home. Read More September 20, 2018 Ikea's new fall collection has DIY Ikea Hackers in mind If you're an Ikea fan, you've probably seen the world of Ikea Hacking, or taking Ikea pieces and making them your own with mild or extensive customization. Ikea seems to be running with this idea in their new limited edition collection, SJÄLVSTÄNDIG. They are launching the collection in U.S. stores in October with customization in mind. Read More September 19, 2018 Hannah Gadsby should totally host an awards show Have you seen comedian Hannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, on Netflix yet? No? Hold that thought and give it a watch. I'll wait. If you have seen it, you'll know it's GOOD. And Gadsby's presenting gig at this week's Emmy's proved her cred yet again. Here's why this woman deserves to host an awards show… Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home September 21, 2018 Our experience living in and restoring a Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome We live in a three bedroom, two bath, two-story dome with four foot riser walls on the central Oregon coast. Built in 1981, we are about two city blocks from the beach and elevated 151 feet above sea level tucked into the trees with ocean views on two sides among conventional houses. If you want to purchase a dome, the most important thing to consider is the QUALITY of the initial build. Don't go cheap and buy someone else's problem. If the owners are having leaking windows and roofing, you will, too. Here's our take on renovating and living in a Buckminster Fuller geodesic home. Read More September 20, 2018 Ikea's new fall collection has DIY Ikea Hackers in mind If you're an Ikea fan, you've probably seen the world of Ikea Hacking, or taking Ikea pieces and making them your own with mild or extensive customization. Ikea seems to be running with this idea in their new limited edition collection, SJÄLVSTÄNDIG. They are launching the collection in U.S. stores in October with customization in mind. Read More September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More September 11, 2018 This fall foliage map will tell you when fall will be in full swing in your area It's early September which, for me, means it's Halloween. Yep, full-on Halloween month number one has begun! I kid (kinda), but really, now is the time for apple picking, pumpkin patches, costume making, cider drinking, bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils, and above all, enjoying the leaves change color — FALL. Don't know when and where to head to capture the best photo ops for Instagram? This fall foliage map will help. Read More 1.7k September 3, 2018 10 unexpected dorm items you'll need in college (or in a new apartment!) If you're heading off to college (or even just living on your own for the first time), you'll need more than a cat, a rat, or a toad when you get there. Apologies to non-Potterphiles for that reference. You already know you'll need those long bed sheets and shower shoes and maybe a mini fridge, but here are 11 unexpected dorm items you may not have thought of that will surely come in handy… Read More More Home > Recent Life September 19, 2018 Hannah Gadsby should totally host an awards show Have you seen comedian Hannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, on Netflix yet? No? Hold that thought and give it a watch. I'll wait. If you have seen it, you'll know it's GOOD. And Gadsby's presenting gig at this week's Emmy's proved her cred yet again. Here's why this woman deserves to host an awards show… Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More 1.0k September 14, 2018 We tested out press-on nails to see if they've gotten any better since the olde days I recently saw an Instagram story where a non-beauty guru was telling us how easy it is for normal types like me to use press-on nails and have them last for more than a minute. This was news to me as the last time I wore DIY fake nails was for a wedding way back in 2004 when they lasted all of two hours, max. Surely they've gotten better since then, right? I decided to put them to the test. Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 20, 2018 Ikea's new fall collection has DIY Ikea Hackers in mind If you're an Ikea fan, you've probably seen the world of Ikea Hacking, or taking Ikea pieces and making them your own with mild or extensive customization. Ikea seems to be running with this idea in their new limited edition collection, SJÄLVSTÄNDIG. They are launching the collection in U.S. stores in October with customization in mind. Read More September 19, 2018 Hannah Gadsby should totally host an awards show Have you seen comedian Hannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, on Netflix yet? No? Hold that thought and give it a watch. I'll wait. If you have seen it, you'll know it's GOOD. And Gadsby's presenting gig at this week's Emmy's proved her cred yet again. Here's why this woman deserves to host an awards show… Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home September 21, 2018 Our experience living in and restoring a Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome We live in a three bedroom, two bath, two-story dome with four foot riser walls on the central Oregon coast. Built in 1981, we are about two city blocks from the beach and elevated 151 feet above sea level tucked into the trees with ocean views on two sides among conventional houses. If you want to purchase a dome, the most important thing to consider is the QUALITY of the initial build. Don't go cheap and buy someone else's problem. If the owners are having leaking windows and roofing, you will, too. Here's our take on renovating and living in a Buckminster Fuller geodesic home. Read More September 20, 2018 Ikea's new fall collection has DIY Ikea Hackers in mind If you're an Ikea fan, you've probably seen the world of Ikea Hacking, or taking Ikea pieces and making them your own with mild or extensive customization. Ikea seems to be running with this idea in their new limited edition collection, SJÄLVSTÄNDIG. They are launching the collection in U.S. stores in October with customization in mind. Read More September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More September 11, 2018 This fall foliage map will tell you when fall will be in full swing in your area It's early September which, for me, means it's Halloween. Yep, full-on Halloween month number one has begun! I kid (kinda), but really, now is the time for apple picking, pumpkin patches, costume making, cider drinking, bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils, and above all, enjoying the leaves change color — FALL. Don't know when and where to head to capture the best photo ops for Instagram? This fall foliage map will help. Read More 1.7k September 3, 2018 10 unexpected dorm items you'll need in college (or in a new apartment!) If you're heading off to college (or even just living on your own for the first time), you'll need more than a cat, a rat, or a toad when you get there. Apologies to non-Potterphiles for that reference. You already know you'll need those long bed sheets and shower shoes and maybe a mini fridge, but here are 11 unexpected dorm items you may not have thought of that will surely come in handy… Read More More Home > Recent Life September 19, 2018 Hannah Gadsby should totally host an awards show Have you seen comedian Hannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, on Netflix yet? No? Hold that thought and give it a watch. I'll wait. If you have seen it, you'll know it's GOOD. And Gadsby's presenting gig at this week's Emmy's proved her cred yet again. Here's why this woman deserves to host an awards show… Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More 1.0k September 14, 2018 We tested out press-on nails to see if they've gotten any better since the olde days I recently saw an Instagram story where a non-beauty guru was telling us how easy it is for normal types like me to use press-on nails and have them last for more than a minute. This was news to me as the last time I wore DIY fake nails was for a wedding way back in 2004 when they lasted all of two hours, max. Surely they've gotten better since then, right? I decided to put them to the test. Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 19, 2018 Hannah Gadsby should totally host an awards show Have you seen comedian Hannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, on Netflix yet? No? Hold that thought and give it a watch. I'll wait. If you have seen it, you'll know it's GOOD. And Gadsby's presenting gig at this week's Emmy's proved her cred yet again. Here's why this woman deserves to host an awards show… Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home September 21, 2018 Our experience living in and restoring a Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome We live in a three bedroom, two bath, two-story dome with four foot riser walls on the central Oregon coast. Built in 1981, we are about two city blocks from the beach and elevated 151 feet above sea level tucked into the trees with ocean views on two sides among conventional houses. If you want to purchase a dome, the most important thing to consider is the QUALITY of the initial build. Don't go cheap and buy someone else's problem. If the owners are having leaking windows and roofing, you will, too. Here's our take on renovating and living in a Buckminster Fuller geodesic home. Read More September 20, 2018 Ikea's new fall collection has DIY Ikea Hackers in mind If you're an Ikea fan, you've probably seen the world of Ikea Hacking, or taking Ikea pieces and making them your own with mild or extensive customization. Ikea seems to be running with this idea in their new limited edition collection, SJÄLVSTÄNDIG. They are launching the collection in U.S. stores in October with customization in mind. Read More September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More September 11, 2018 This fall foliage map will tell you when fall will be in full swing in your area It's early September which, for me, means it's Halloween. Yep, full-on Halloween month number one has begun! I kid (kinda), but really, now is the time for apple picking, pumpkin patches, costume making, cider drinking, bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils, and above all, enjoying the leaves change color — FALL. Don't know when and where to head to capture the best photo ops for Instagram? This fall foliage map will help. Read More 1.7k September 3, 2018 10 unexpected dorm items you'll need in college (or in a new apartment!) If you're heading off to college (or even just living on your own for the first time), you'll need more than a cat, a rat, or a toad when you get there. Apologies to non-Potterphiles for that reference. You already know you'll need those long bed sheets and shower shoes and maybe a mini fridge, but here are 11 unexpected dorm items you may not have thought of that will surely come in handy… Read More More Home > Recent Life September 19, 2018 Hannah Gadsby should totally host an awards show Have you seen comedian Hannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, on Netflix yet? No? Hold that thought and give it a watch. I'll wait. If you have seen it, you'll know it's GOOD. And Gadsby's presenting gig at this week's Emmy's proved her cred yet again. Here's why this woman deserves to host an awards show… Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More 1.0k September 14, 2018 We tested out press-on nails to see if they've gotten any better since the olde days I recently saw an Instagram story where a non-beauty guru was telling us how easy it is for normal types like me to use press-on nails and have them last for more than a minute. This was news to me as the last time I wore DIY fake nails was for a wedding way back in 2004 when they lasted all of two hours, max. Surely they've gotten better since then, right? I decided to put them to the test. Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home September 21, 2018 Our experience living in and restoring a Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome We live in a three bedroom, two bath, two-story dome with four foot riser walls on the central Oregon coast. Built in 1981, we are about two city blocks from the beach and elevated 151 feet above sea level tucked into the trees with ocean views on two sides among conventional houses. If you want to purchase a dome, the most important thing to consider is the QUALITY of the initial build. Don't go cheap and buy someone else's problem. If the owners are having leaking windows and roofing, you will, too. Here's our take on renovating and living in a Buckminster Fuller geodesic home. Read More September 20, 2018 Ikea's new fall collection has DIY Ikea Hackers in mind If you're an Ikea fan, you've probably seen the world of Ikea Hacking, or taking Ikea pieces and making them your own with mild or extensive customization. Ikea seems to be running with this idea in their new limited edition collection, SJÄLVSTÄNDIG. They are launching the collection in U.S. stores in October with customization in mind. Read More September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More September 11, 2018 This fall foliage map will tell you when fall will be in full swing in your area It's early September which, for me, means it's Halloween. Yep, full-on Halloween month number one has begun! I kid (kinda), but really, now is the time for apple picking, pumpkin patches, costume making, cider drinking, bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils, and above all, enjoying the leaves change color — FALL. Don't know when and where to head to capture the best photo ops for Instagram? This fall foliage map will help. Read More 1.7k September 3, 2018 10 unexpected dorm items you'll need in college (or in a new apartment!) If you're heading off to college (or even just living on your own for the first time), you'll need more than a cat, a rat, or a toad when you get there. Apologies to non-Potterphiles for that reference. You already know you'll need those long bed sheets and shower shoes and maybe a mini fridge, but here are 11 unexpected dorm items you may not have thought of that will surely come in handy… Read More More Home > Recent Life September 19, 2018 Hannah Gadsby should totally host an awards show Have you seen comedian Hannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, on Netflix yet? No? Hold that thought and give it a watch. I'll wait. If you have seen it, you'll know it's GOOD. And Gadsby's presenting gig at this week's Emmy's proved her cred yet again. Here's why this woman deserves to host an awards show… Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More 1.0k September 14, 2018 We tested out press-on nails to see if they've gotten any better since the olde days I recently saw an Instagram story where a non-beauty guru was telling us how easy it is for normal types like me to use press-on nails and have them last for more than a minute. This was news to me as the last time I wore DIY fake nails was for a wedding way back in 2004 when they lasted all of two hours, max. Surely they've gotten better since then, right? I decided to put them to the test. Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home September 21, 2018 Our experience living in and restoring a Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome We live in a three bedroom, two bath, two-story dome with four foot riser walls on the central Oregon coast. Built in 1981, we are about two city blocks from the beach and elevated 151 feet above sea level tucked into the trees with ocean views on two sides among conventional houses. If you want to purchase a dome, the most important thing to consider is the QUALITY of the initial build. Don't go cheap and buy someone else's problem. If the owners are having leaking windows and roofing, you will, too. Here's our take on renovating and living in a Buckminster Fuller geodesic home. Read More September 20, 2018 Ikea's new fall collection has DIY Ikea Hackers in mind If you're an Ikea fan, you've probably seen the world of Ikea Hacking, or taking Ikea pieces and making them your own with mild or extensive customization. Ikea seems to be running with this idea in their new limited edition collection, SJÄLVSTÄNDIG. They are launching the collection in U.S. stores in October with customization in mind. Read More September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More September 11, 2018 This fall foliage map will tell you when fall will be in full swing in your area It's early September which, for me, means it's Halloween. Yep, full-on Halloween month number one has begun! I kid (kinda), but really, now is the time for apple picking, pumpkin patches, costume making, cider drinking, bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils, and above all, enjoying the leaves change color — FALL. Don't know when and where to head to capture the best photo ops for Instagram? This fall foliage map will help. Read More 1.7k September 3, 2018 10 unexpected dorm items you'll need in college (or in a new apartment!) If you're heading off to college (or even just living on your own for the first time), you'll need more than a cat, a rat, or a toad when you get there. Apologies to non-Potterphiles for that reference. You already know you'll need those long bed sheets and shower shoes and maybe a mini fridge, but here are 11 unexpected dorm items you may not have thought of that will surely come in handy… Read More More Home > Recent Life September 19, 2018 Hannah Gadsby should totally host an awards show Have you seen comedian Hannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, on Netflix yet? No? Hold that thought and give it a watch. I'll wait. If you have seen it, you'll know it's GOOD. And Gadsby's presenting gig at this week's Emmy's proved her cred yet again. Here's why this woman deserves to host an awards show… Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More 1.0k September 14, 2018 We tested out press-on nails to see if they've gotten any better since the olde days I recently saw an Instagram story where a non-beauty guru was telling us how easy it is for normal types like me to use press-on nails and have them last for more than a minute. This was news to me as the last time I wore DIY fake nails was for a wedding way back in 2004 when they lasted all of two hours, max. Surely they've gotten better since then, right? I decided to put them to the test. Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 21, 2018 Our experience living in and restoring a Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome We live in a three bedroom, two bath, two-story dome with four foot riser walls on the central Oregon coast. Built in 1981, we are about two city blocks from the beach and elevated 151 feet above sea level tucked into the trees with ocean views on two sides among conventional houses. If you want to purchase a dome, the most important thing to consider is the QUALITY of the initial build. Don't go cheap and buy someone else's problem. If the owners are having leaking windows and roofing, you will, too. Here's our take on renovating and living in a Buckminster Fuller geodesic home. Read More September 20, 2018 Ikea's new fall collection has DIY Ikea Hackers in mind If you're an Ikea fan, you've probably seen the world of Ikea Hacking, or taking Ikea pieces and making them your own with mild or extensive customization. Ikea seems to be running with this idea in their new limited edition collection, SJÄLVSTÄNDIG. They are launching the collection in U.S. stores in October with customization in mind. Read More September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More September 11, 2018 This fall foliage map will tell you when fall will be in full swing in your area It's early September which, for me, means it's Halloween. Yep, full-on Halloween month number one has begun! I kid (kinda), but really, now is the time for apple picking, pumpkin patches, costume making, cider drinking, bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils, and above all, enjoying the leaves change color — FALL. Don't know when and where to head to capture the best photo ops for Instagram? This fall foliage map will help. Read More 1.7k September 3, 2018 10 unexpected dorm items you'll need in college (or in a new apartment!) If you're heading off to college (or even just living on your own for the first time), you'll need more than a cat, a rat, or a toad when you get there. Apologies to non-Potterphiles for that reference. You already know you'll need those long bed sheets and shower shoes and maybe a mini fridge, but here are 11 unexpected dorm items you may not have thought of that will surely come in handy… Read More More Home > Recent Life September 19, 2018 Hannah Gadsby should totally host an awards show Have you seen comedian Hannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, on Netflix yet? No? Hold that thought and give it a watch. I'll wait. If you have seen it, you'll know it's GOOD. And Gadsby's presenting gig at this week's Emmy's proved her cred yet again. Here's why this woman deserves to host an awards show… Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More 1.0k September 14, 2018 We tested out press-on nails to see if they've gotten any better since the olde days I recently saw an Instagram story where a non-beauty guru was telling us how easy it is for normal types like me to use press-on nails and have them last for more than a minute. This was news to me as the last time I wore DIY fake nails was for a wedding way back in 2004 when they lasted all of two hours, max. Surely they've gotten better since then, right? I decided to put them to the test. Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 20, 2018 Ikea's new fall collection has DIY Ikea Hackers in mind If you're an Ikea fan, you've probably seen the world of Ikea Hacking, or taking Ikea pieces and making them your own with mild or extensive customization. Ikea seems to be running with this idea in their new limited edition collection, SJÄLVSTÄNDIG. They are launching the collection in U.S. stores in October with customization in mind. Read More September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More September 11, 2018 This fall foliage map will tell you when fall will be in full swing in your area It's early September which, for me, means it's Halloween. Yep, full-on Halloween month number one has begun! I kid (kinda), but really, now is the time for apple picking, pumpkin patches, costume making, cider drinking, bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils, and above all, enjoying the leaves change color — FALL. Don't know when and where to head to capture the best photo ops for Instagram? This fall foliage map will help. Read More 1.7k September 3, 2018 10 unexpected dorm items you'll need in college (or in a new apartment!) If you're heading off to college (or even just living on your own for the first time), you'll need more than a cat, a rat, or a toad when you get there. Apologies to non-Potterphiles for that reference. You already know you'll need those long bed sheets and shower shoes and maybe a mini fridge, but here are 11 unexpected dorm items you may not have thought of that will surely come in handy… Read More More Home > Recent Life September 19, 2018 Hannah Gadsby should totally host an awards show Have you seen comedian Hannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, on Netflix yet? No? Hold that thought and give it a watch. I'll wait. If you have seen it, you'll know it's GOOD. And Gadsby's presenting gig at this week's Emmy's proved her cred yet again. Here's why this woman deserves to host an awards show… Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More 1.0k September 14, 2018 We tested out press-on nails to see if they've gotten any better since the olde days I recently saw an Instagram story where a non-beauty guru was telling us how easy it is for normal types like me to use press-on nails and have them last for more than a minute. This was news to me as the last time I wore DIY fake nails was for a wedding way back in 2004 when they lasted all of two hours, max. Surely they've gotten better since then, right? I decided to put them to the test. Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More September 11, 2018 This fall foliage map will tell you when fall will be in full swing in your area It's early September which, for me, means it's Halloween. Yep, full-on Halloween month number one has begun! I kid (kinda), but really, now is the time for apple picking, pumpkin patches, costume making, cider drinking, bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils, and above all, enjoying the leaves change color — FALL. Don't know when and where to head to capture the best photo ops for Instagram? This fall foliage map will help. Read More 1.7k September 3, 2018 10 unexpected dorm items you'll need in college (or in a new apartment!) If you're heading off to college (or even just living on your own for the first time), you'll need more than a cat, a rat, or a toad when you get there. Apologies to non-Potterphiles for that reference. You already know you'll need those long bed sheets and shower shoes and maybe a mini fridge, but here are 11 unexpected dorm items you may not have thought of that will surely come in handy… Read More More Home > Recent Life September 19, 2018 Hannah Gadsby should totally host an awards show Have you seen comedian Hannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, on Netflix yet? No? Hold that thought and give it a watch. I'll wait. If you have seen it, you'll know it's GOOD. And Gadsby's presenting gig at this week's Emmy's proved her cred yet again. Here's why this woman deserves to host an awards show… Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More 1.0k September 14, 2018 We tested out press-on nails to see if they've gotten any better since the olde days I recently saw an Instagram story where a non-beauty guru was telling us how easy it is for normal types like me to use press-on nails and have them last for more than a minute. This was news to me as the last time I wore DIY fake nails was for a wedding way back in 2004 when they lasted all of two hours, max. Surely they've gotten better since then, right? I decided to put them to the test. Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 11, 2018 This fall foliage map will tell you when fall will be in full swing in your area It's early September which, for me, means it's Halloween. Yep, full-on Halloween month number one has begun! I kid (kinda), but really, now is the time for apple picking, pumpkin patches, costume making, cider drinking, bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils, and above all, enjoying the leaves change color — FALL. Don't know when and where to head to capture the best photo ops for Instagram? This fall foliage map will help. Read More 1.7k September 3, 2018 10 unexpected dorm items you'll need in college (or in a new apartment!) If you're heading off to college (or even just living on your own for the first time), you'll need more than a cat, a rat, or a toad when you get there. Apologies to non-Potterphiles for that reference. You already know you'll need those long bed sheets and shower shoes and maybe a mini fridge, but here are 11 unexpected dorm items you may not have thought of that will surely come in handy… Read More More Home > Recent Life September 19, 2018 Hannah Gadsby should totally host an awards show Have you seen comedian Hannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, on Netflix yet? No? Hold that thought and give it a watch. I'll wait. If you have seen it, you'll know it's GOOD. And Gadsby's presenting gig at this week's Emmy's proved her cred yet again. Here's why this woman deserves to host an awards show… Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More 1.0k September 14, 2018 We tested out press-on nails to see if they've gotten any better since the olde days I recently saw an Instagram story where a non-beauty guru was telling us how easy it is for normal types like me to use press-on nails and have them last for more than a minute. This was news to me as the last time I wore DIY fake nails was for a wedding way back in 2004 when they lasted all of two hours, max. Surely they've gotten better since then, right? I decided to put them to the test. Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.7k September 3, 2018 10 unexpected dorm items you'll need in college (or in a new apartment!) If you're heading off to college (or even just living on your own for the first time), you'll need more than a cat, a rat, or a toad when you get there. Apologies to non-Potterphiles for that reference. You already know you'll need those long bed sheets and shower shoes and maybe a mini fridge, but here are 11 unexpected dorm items you may not have thought of that will surely come in handy… Read More More Home > Recent Life September 19, 2018 Hannah Gadsby should totally host an awards show Have you seen comedian Hannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, on Netflix yet? No? Hold that thought and give it a watch. I'll wait. If you have seen it, you'll know it's GOOD. And Gadsby's presenting gig at this week's Emmy's proved her cred yet again. Here's why this woman deserves to host an awards show… Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More 1.0k September 14, 2018 We tested out press-on nails to see if they've gotten any better since the olde days I recently saw an Instagram story where a non-beauty guru was telling us how easy it is for normal types like me to use press-on nails and have them last for more than a minute. This was news to me as the last time I wore DIY fake nails was for a wedding way back in 2004 when they lasted all of two hours, max. Surely they've gotten better since then, right? I decided to put them to the test. Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 19, 2018 Hannah Gadsby should totally host an awards show Have you seen comedian Hannah Gadsby's standup special, Nanette, on Netflix yet? No? Hold that thought and give it a watch. I'll wait. If you have seen it, you'll know it's GOOD. And Gadsby's presenting gig at this week's Emmy's proved her cred yet again. Here's why this woman deserves to host an awards show… Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More 1.0k September 14, 2018 We tested out press-on nails to see if they've gotten any better since the olde days I recently saw an Instagram story where a non-beauty guru was telling us how easy it is for normal types like me to use press-on nails and have them last for more than a minute. This was news to me as the last time I wore DIY fake nails was for a wedding way back in 2004 when they lasted all of two hours, max. Surely they've gotten better since then, right? I decided to put them to the test. Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More 1.0k September 14, 2018 We tested out press-on nails to see if they've gotten any better since the olde days I recently saw an Instagram story where a non-beauty guru was telling us how easy it is for normal types like me to use press-on nails and have them last for more than a minute. This was news to me as the last time I wore DIY fake nails was for a wedding way back in 2004 when they lasted all of two hours, max. Surely they've gotten better since then, right? I decided to put them to the test. Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 17, 2018 6 things you can do to help encourage voting (especially with those young voters!) It's a tense time in the U.S. when key issues are being threatened. Women's healthcare, marriage equality, the Affordable Care Act, gun laws, voting rights, and so much more are and will continue to be challenged. What do we need? Voters. When do we need them? Now. Here are a few ways we can encourage voting in the midterms and make a habit of it after that… Read More 1.0k September 14, 2018 We tested out press-on nails to see if they've gotten any better since the olde days I recently saw an Instagram story where a non-beauty guru was telling us how easy it is for normal types like me to use press-on nails and have them last for more than a minute. This was news to me as the last time I wore DIY fake nails was for a wedding way back in 2004 when they lasted all of two hours, max. Surely they've gotten better since then, right? I decided to put them to the test. Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.0k September 14, 2018 We tested out press-on nails to see if they've gotten any better since the olde days I recently saw an Instagram story where a non-beauty guru was telling us how easy it is for normal types like me to use press-on nails and have them last for more than a minute. This was news to me as the last time I wore DIY fake nails was for a wedding way back in 2004 when they lasted all of two hours, max. Surely they've gotten better since then, right? I decided to put them to the test. Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Life > Recent Food 28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
28 Comments August 28, 2018 The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back today: love it or hate it? In its earliest premiere ever, Starbucks is releasing the 2018 Pumpkin Spice Latte today, August 28, unofficially heralding the coming of fall. As someone who's motto is usually, "let people enjoy things," I don't get mad about it. It's a tasty drink and gets people excited for a popular season. How bad could it be? But you know how it is, especially on the internet… Read More May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
May 16, 2018 Is ugly produce your path to food budget bliss? We all know there's a big problem with food waste. So if you're not the type to fuss too much about picking the perfect apple in the stack at the grocery store, a new food delivery service might be the solution for you AND for the environment. You may have already seen friends posting on social media about a company called Imperfect Produce, a CSA-style program that delivers just slightly bruised or weird-looking veggies to you. They're still tasty, but just not quite as pretty as you may be used to. Read More 1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.2k 10 Comments April 13, 2018 Your microbiome and you! How to feed it a healthy diet Three years ago, I decided I needed to re-haul my diet. I was slowly gaining weight, no matter how much I exercised. I had a host of health issues, including eczema, vitamin deficiencies, and food sensitivities. I had lots of chronic pain, and caught every single cold and flu that came home from school with my kids. It got to a point where I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Why was my body fighting against me? That's when I got interested in feeding my microbiome. WAIT! HOLD ON A MINUTE… WHAT IS A MICROBIOME? Read More 1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.1k April 9, 2018 19 super easy meal ideas from readers' go-to recipe files Back in the summer, we featured a call-out to readers for their favorite super-easy lunches and dinners and you delivered. You gave us a ton of awesome lunch and dinner ideas! Let's face it, we're also tired after work, amirite? I've divided them into categories: grains and stuff, easy pastas, salads and greens, and sandwiches and toasts. There are a lot of super easy meal ideas to be had here… Read More March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
March 14, 2018 Let's get spicy: reader-favorite cooking spices & flavor staples Way back in the day we called upon our Offbeat Homies to pony up their favorite garlic and onion alternatives for those of us who can't eat them. Sad, I know, but there ARE a ton of delish cooking spices that slay when it comes to amping up flavor in recipes. I decided to cull a bunch of those helpful reader comments into a roundup of reader favorite spices that will take your cooking game up a few notches. Read More More Food > Recent People September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 12, 2018 Help! What's the best way to store dirty cloth diapers? We are 32 weeks pregnant with our first child and planning on cloth diapering. I'm looking for a little bit of guidance on how to store the dirty diapers until wash time. I looked on the internet but still felt confused after reading about dry pails v. wet pails while other people recommend getting a bidet sprayer to attach to the toilet. I would love to hear what other people do in the time between a diaper getting dirty and laundry time. Read More 10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
10 Comments September 6, 2018 How do I know if I want a baby or just want to experience pregnancy? I am 28 and I am in a serious relationship and I have the strong urge to have a baby. However, like this woman, I feel I am more interested in the feeling of being pregnant and giving birth than actually being a parent. I am actually afraid I won't be a good parent at all because I won't be able to cope with the responsibility. But I ask myself, how does this make sense with my current, very raw urge to be pregnant? Read More August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
August 27, 2018 I'm a teacher and I'm dreading this question when school starts Colleagues will ask it, parents will ask it, students will ask it. Some will ask it because it's the thing to do, some to fill dead air, some because they saw my (not to brag or anything) AMAZING vacation photos on social media, and some because they genuinely want to know. "How was your summer?" You want to know how my summer really was? It was awful. I was an emotional, hormonal mess who was pregnant, but won't be having a baby anytime soon. I had two miscarriages, my second and third. Read More August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
August 24, 2018 Talking about sexuality: the big dirty elephant in the room Talking about sexuality is a conversation that can make folks a tad uncomfortable. Sexuality is always some big dirty elephant in the room — it's there and obvious but everyone avoids talking about it. That's because, for many of us, it has been taught for generations that sex is a dirty thing we keep to ourselves. We offer sexual education in some schools, we talk to our kids about the birds and the bees, but beyond that, how often do we ever really talk about sexuality? Read More August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
August 23, 2018 Pregnant Potterphiles need to see these downloadable pregnancy announcements If you're waiting for a yet-to-be-named future wizard to join your family, these Harry Potter pregnancy announcement graphics are for you. Created by Mugglenet designer Cheyenne, these downloadable graphics can be plugged into an announcement email or into Facebook, Instagram, or your social media of choice. Let's peek at these Potterphile pregnancy graphic styles… Read More More People > Recent Pets July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
July 31, 2018 My cat medication hack (that I stole from dog owners!) My cat has diabetes and has to be given food and a shot every 12 hours. It's a pretty smooth process unless I can't be around at that 12-hour time and have to do a big schedule adjustment. Or worse, I'm on a 5:30am and 5:30pm schedule where I'm giving a sleepy shot and forget to write it down. Either way, I needed a solution that let me keep track of the fact that I gave her the shot. I stole this idea from a dog owner… Read More 3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
3.9k 12 Comments May 25, 2018 I tried out a space-age automatic cleaning kitty litter box to see if it was worth the hype I own two kitties who love to crap. All the time. I recently got the chance to try out a product I'd been eyeballing FOREVER: a Litter-Robot! Yep, one of those fancy-pants automated litter box cleaning machines. Plus it's the really nice kind that isn't cheap and it shows. I decided to give it a whirl to see if a robo-litter box from the future was the better way I was seeking. Read More May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
May 21, 2018 This Instagram of dogs eating gently is your new relaxation happy place You haven't reached the end of the internet until you've seen this relaxing Instagram account where sweet and mild-mannered pooches eat treats, noms, and fuds gently… oh so gently. They're so sweet and so relaxing and ZZzzzzzz… For fans of cute-ass puppies (and maybe ASMR for some of y'all?), this feed of gently scarfing dogs will be your new happy place. Get away from the news, from work, from your whole damned stressful life for five minutes while you remember that dogs are too good for this world… Read More 1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.6k 26 Comments April 11, 2018 My area is going plastic bag free. How do I dispose of this cat poop? In Australia, our big supermarkets are about to switch to being plastic bag free. I'm all for this, but I regularly use the bags to dispose of icky kitty litter and was hoping I could get some suggestions as to more environmentally friendly (and hopefully cheap) options? Read More 1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.1k January 10, 2018 I tried a a pet camera to spy on my kitties and it was comedy gold I was able to get my hands on a fancy-pants pet camera (Thanks, Ariel!) that had wifi, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, a phone app, notifications, and even a treat dispenser! But this wasn't just a webcam — this was supposed to be a state-of-the-art surveillance swat team of a camera that also allows me to taunt coo at my kitties while rewarding them for chilling out in front of the camera. Here's how my pet camera trial went down… Read More More Pets > Recent Do It Yourself September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 13, 2018 Bollocks, Pulp Fiction, & Oregon Trail: 9 subversive cross-stitch patterns When you're more about the LOLs and less about the "live laugh love," these are the subversive cross-stitch patterns for you. Most are DIY patterns you can download, but a few are available to purchase completed, so you can find something no matter your skill level. From bollocks to Pulp Fiction to IT Crowd references to Oregon Trail, the cross-stitch market has gone hilarious… Read More 1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.5k August 31, 2018 Intimidated by learning to sew? These are the resources you need (with reader advice!) Back in the day we had a great discussion about sewing anxiety from a reader who wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Our amazing readers stepped up to the plate to offer some great sewing advice on where to start and how to wrangle a needle and thread. (My favorite resource is Threadbanger on YouTube!) I pulled some of my favorite comments so that we can share in their collective sewing knowledge and start making clothes, totes, costumes, and whatever strikes your fabric fancy. Read More August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
August 17, 2018 How to carve an everlasting jack-o-lantern (from a foam pumpkin!) I've loved holiday-specific crafts my entire life: gingerbread house building, Easter egg dying, and most especially, pumpkin carving. I moved to Louisiana seven years ago. The first few years I was down here I'd carve a real pumpkin, and due to humidity it would be moldy in three days or less no matter what I did to try to preserve it. That's when I discovered foam pumpkin carving! Read More July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
July 13, 2018 How to waterproof canvas shoes the easy way If you've got a pair of canvas shoes that you really love, you probably want them to last. I just nabbed this pair of rainbow shoes from Target recently and they're already showing some wear. Sadface. There are a couple of really easy ways to waterproof canvas shoes to keep them more resistant to rain and the elements: beeswax and my preferred way, Scotchguard. Here are both methods to try on your fave pair… Read More May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
May 4, 2018 May the Fourth be with these spinning BB-8 heels (with a tutorial!) It's that time of the galactic year again: May the Fourth be with you! Sure, you're probably already inundated with merch from the new Star Wars rebooted universe, but this DIY tutorial HAD to be shared. Why? Because it's for spinning BB-8 heels. Seriously, the heels are BB-8 from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and they SPIN. Read More More Do It Yourself > Recent Shopping September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
August 30, 2018 Space out with these out-of-this-world galaxy goodies for your home & office If you're a fan of galaxy print (like I am!), there's a LOT out there with which to decorate yourself, your home, and your office. From galaxy shower curtains and lunchbags to art prints and washi tape, galaxy is always a super fun way to add color and personality to everythang! Let's get space-y and start bedazzling our lives with the whole flippin' universe! Read More 1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.1k August 8, 2018 This flora and fauna jewelry will bring out the quirky forest nymph in you I love me a whimsical animal-shaped ring. Or animal-shaped necklace. Or animal-shaped… anything, now that I think about it! I stumbled upon GOOD AFTER NINE recently and couldn't stop clicking around and taking note of ALL of their animal rings and flora and fauna jewelry in general. Read More August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping > Body Image A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More I am gender fluid and losing weight. How will I feel about my body after? Read More Get your daily self love by following these body positive Instagram accounts Read More I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity Read More Read More » > Offbeat Families My teen-dream cabin in the woods How my family says grace without bringing capital R Religion into it Parenting outside the gender binary I'm trying to conceive and feel like it might not happen Heuristic play: here's what's in my infant-friendly treasure basket An epic photo journey through an unplanned cesarean birth Learning to love in new ways Raising children on the spectrum when you are also on the spectrum Read More > Smart & Sexy How can I start talking to my partner about opening our relationship? How The Addams Family does BDSM right So, what do your kids call their genitals? What kind of sleepover rules should we establish for our bisexual teen? How to have great sex as a disabled person My dirty little secret How do I stop my teenage son from pressuring girls into sending nudes? My husband and I haven't had sex, not even on our wedding night Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
August 3, 2018 When snacks are life: gifts for anyone obsessed with food (like we are!) Are you ready for second breakfast? Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? When it comes to food, we're all Hobbits. And for those of us with noms on the mind most of the time, these food-themed gifts are key. From donut socks and cupcake lip balm to ice cream phone cases and all things bacon, start bookmarking gift ideas for a foodie pal or yourself. The best part? They're all calorie-free! Read More More Shopping >