2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More November 5, 2018 We are STUPEFIED by this Harry Potter birthday party with the most magical cake ever Our son has been into Harry Potter for quite a while now, so when he said that he wanted the theme for his 12th birthday party to be all things Potter, I was excited for the challenge! We had a lot of fun bringing together all the elements to create the Wizarding World and transform this space into Hogwarts. Don't miss the snitch favors and amazing Potter cake… Read More November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home 1.3k 15 Comments October 26, 2018 Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 "I have never felt this good!" is not what you're told your 40s are supposed to feel like. This makes me wonder: what other common narratives around aging aren't necessarily true? Read More October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. Read More 1.0k 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 More Home > Recent Life November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More 1.5k 29 Comments October 22, 2018 Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Several months ago, I committed to stop shaving my armpits. My cousin is getting married in a couple of weeks. The wedding is a big deal, and will be pretty formal. My extended family dynamic is such that it will likely be perceived as a personal attack to the bride if I show up with hairy pits. I'm really conflicted. Do I just shave for the sake of keeping the peace? Do I hide my hairy pits? Or do I just say "Fuck it!" not make a big deal of it, and let my family and my cousin think what they think? Read More October 16, 2018 Dumbledore's Army, still recruiting: How U.S. elections are like the Battle of Hogwarts I've been upset about the recent Senate hearings and I've been ever more upset since the vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; I've also been thinking a lot about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seem strange? Let me explain… Read More October 15, 2018 We're cautiously excited for Netflix's time-traveling Afro-Colombian witch show, Siempre Bruja Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming drama, Siempre Bruja, which follows the story of Carmen, an Afro-Colombian slave and witch living in the colonial coastal settlement of Cartagena in 1646 who time travels to 2019 to avoid being burned at the stake as a witch. Netflix has had some hits and misses lately with representation, so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll handle the show featuring a darker skinned Afro-Colombian woman with care. Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More November 5, 2018 We are STUPEFIED by this Harry Potter birthday party with the most magical cake ever Our son has been into Harry Potter for quite a while now, so when he said that he wanted the theme for his 12th birthday party to be all things Potter, I was excited for the challenge! We had a lot of fun bringing together all the elements to create the Wizarding World and transform this space into Hogwarts. Don't miss the snitch favors and amazing Potter cake… Read More November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home 1.3k 15 Comments October 26, 2018 Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 "I have never felt this good!" is not what you're told your 40s are supposed to feel like. This makes me wonder: what other common narratives around aging aren't necessarily true? Read More October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. Read More 1.0k 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 More Home > Recent Life November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More 1.5k 29 Comments October 22, 2018 Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Several months ago, I committed to stop shaving my armpits. My cousin is getting married in a couple of weeks. The wedding is a big deal, and will be pretty formal. My extended family dynamic is such that it will likely be perceived as a personal attack to the bride if I show up with hairy pits. I'm really conflicted. Do I just shave for the sake of keeping the peace? Do I hide my hairy pits? Or do I just say "Fuck it!" not make a big deal of it, and let my family and my cousin think what they think? Read More October 16, 2018 Dumbledore's Army, still recruiting: How U.S. elections are like the Battle of Hogwarts I've been upset about the recent Senate hearings and I've been ever more upset since the vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; I've also been thinking a lot about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seem strange? Let me explain… Read More October 15, 2018 We're cautiously excited for Netflix's time-traveling Afro-Colombian witch show, Siempre Bruja Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming drama, Siempre Bruja, which follows the story of Carmen, an Afro-Colombian slave and witch living in the colonial coastal settlement of Cartagena in 1646 who time travels to 2019 to avoid being burned at the stake as a witch. Netflix has had some hits and misses lately with representation, so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll handle the show featuring a darker skinned Afro-Colombian woman with care. Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
November 5, 2018 We are STUPEFIED by this Harry Potter birthday party with the most magical cake ever Our son has been into Harry Potter for quite a while now, so when he said that he wanted the theme for his 12th birthday party to be all things Potter, I was excited for the challenge! We had a lot of fun bringing together all the elements to create the Wizarding World and transform this space into Hogwarts. Don't miss the snitch favors and amazing Potter cake… Read More November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home 1.3k 15 Comments October 26, 2018 Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 "I have never felt this good!" is not what you're told your 40s are supposed to feel like. This makes me wonder: what other common narratives around aging aren't necessarily true? Read More October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. Read More 1.0k 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 More Home > Recent Life November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More 1.5k 29 Comments October 22, 2018 Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Several months ago, I committed to stop shaving my armpits. My cousin is getting married in a couple of weeks. The wedding is a big deal, and will be pretty formal. My extended family dynamic is such that it will likely be perceived as a personal attack to the bride if I show up with hairy pits. I'm really conflicted. Do I just shave for the sake of keeping the peace? Do I hide my hairy pits? Or do I just say "Fuck it!" not make a big deal of it, and let my family and my cousin think what they think? Read More October 16, 2018 Dumbledore's Army, still recruiting: How U.S. elections are like the Battle of Hogwarts I've been upset about the recent Senate hearings and I've been ever more upset since the vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; I've also been thinking a lot about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seem strange? Let me explain… Read More October 15, 2018 We're cautiously excited for Netflix's time-traveling Afro-Colombian witch show, Siempre Bruja Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming drama, Siempre Bruja, which follows the story of Carmen, an Afro-Colombian slave and witch living in the colonial coastal settlement of Cartagena in 1646 who time travels to 2019 to avoid being burned at the stake as a witch. Netflix has had some hits and misses lately with representation, so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll handle the show featuring a darker skinned Afro-Colombian woman with care. Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home 1.3k 15 Comments October 26, 2018 Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 "I have never felt this good!" is not what you're told your 40s are supposed to feel like. This makes me wonder: what other common narratives around aging aren't necessarily true? Read More October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. Read More 1.0k 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 More Home > Recent Life November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More 1.5k 29 Comments October 22, 2018 Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Several months ago, I committed to stop shaving my armpits. My cousin is getting married in a couple of weeks. The wedding is a big deal, and will be pretty formal. My extended family dynamic is such that it will likely be perceived as a personal attack to the bride if I show up with hairy pits. I'm really conflicted. Do I just shave for the sake of keeping the peace? Do I hide my hairy pits? Or do I just say "Fuck it!" not make a big deal of it, and let my family and my cousin think what they think? Read More October 16, 2018 Dumbledore's Army, still recruiting: How U.S. elections are like the Battle of Hogwarts I've been upset about the recent Senate hearings and I've been ever more upset since the vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; I've also been thinking a lot about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seem strange? Let me explain… Read More October 15, 2018 We're cautiously excited for Netflix's time-traveling Afro-Colombian witch show, Siempre Bruja Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming drama, Siempre Bruja, which follows the story of Carmen, an Afro-Colombian slave and witch living in the colonial coastal settlement of Cartagena in 1646 who time travels to 2019 to avoid being burned at the stake as a witch. Netflix has had some hits and misses lately with representation, so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll handle the show featuring a darker skinned Afro-Colombian woman with care. Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home 1.3k 15 Comments October 26, 2018 Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 "I have never felt this good!" is not what you're told your 40s are supposed to feel like. This makes me wonder: what other common narratives around aging aren't necessarily true? Read More October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. Read More 1.0k 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 More Home > Recent Life November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More 1.5k 29 Comments October 22, 2018 Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Several months ago, I committed to stop shaving my armpits. My cousin is getting married in a couple of weeks. The wedding is a big deal, and will be pretty formal. My extended family dynamic is such that it will likely be perceived as a personal attack to the bride if I show up with hairy pits. I'm really conflicted. Do I just shave for the sake of keeping the peace? Do I hide my hairy pits? Or do I just say "Fuck it!" not make a big deal of it, and let my family and my cousin think what they think? Read More October 16, 2018 Dumbledore's Army, still recruiting: How U.S. elections are like the Battle of Hogwarts I've been upset about the recent Senate hearings and I've been ever more upset since the vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; I've also been thinking a lot about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seem strange? Let me explain… Read More October 15, 2018 We're cautiously excited for Netflix's time-traveling Afro-Colombian witch show, Siempre Bruja Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming drama, Siempre Bruja, which follows the story of Carmen, an Afro-Colombian slave and witch living in the colonial coastal settlement of Cartagena in 1646 who time travels to 2019 to avoid being burned at the stake as a witch. Netflix has had some hits and misses lately with representation, so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll handle the show featuring a darker skinned Afro-Colombian woman with care. Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.3k 15 Comments October 26, 2018 Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 "I have never felt this good!" is not what you're told your 40s are supposed to feel like. This makes me wonder: what other common narratives around aging aren't necessarily true? Read More October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. Read More 1.0k 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 More Home > Recent Life November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More 1.5k 29 Comments October 22, 2018 Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Several months ago, I committed to stop shaving my armpits. My cousin is getting married in a couple of weeks. The wedding is a big deal, and will be pretty formal. My extended family dynamic is such that it will likely be perceived as a personal attack to the bride if I show up with hairy pits. I'm really conflicted. Do I just shave for the sake of keeping the peace? Do I hide my hairy pits? Or do I just say "Fuck it!" not make a big deal of it, and let my family and my cousin think what they think? Read More October 16, 2018 Dumbledore's Army, still recruiting: How U.S. elections are like the Battle of Hogwarts I've been upset about the recent Senate hearings and I've been ever more upset since the vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; I've also been thinking a lot about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seem strange? Let me explain… Read More October 15, 2018 We're cautiously excited for Netflix's time-traveling Afro-Colombian witch show, Siempre Bruja Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming drama, Siempre Bruja, which follows the story of Carmen, an Afro-Colombian slave and witch living in the colonial coastal settlement of Cartagena in 1646 who time travels to 2019 to avoid being burned at the stake as a witch. Netflix has had some hits and misses lately with representation, so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll handle the show featuring a darker skinned Afro-Colombian woman with care. Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. Read More 1.0k 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 More Home > Recent Life November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More 1.5k 29 Comments October 22, 2018 Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Several months ago, I committed to stop shaving my armpits. My cousin is getting married in a couple of weeks. The wedding is a big deal, and will be pretty formal. My extended family dynamic is such that it will likely be perceived as a personal attack to the bride if I show up with hairy pits. I'm really conflicted. Do I just shave for the sake of keeping the peace? Do I hide my hairy pits? Or do I just say "Fuck it!" not make a big deal of it, and let my family and my cousin think what they think? Read More October 16, 2018 Dumbledore's Army, still recruiting: How U.S. elections are like the Battle of Hogwarts I've been upset about the recent Senate hearings and I've been ever more upset since the vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; I've also been thinking a lot about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seem strange? Let me explain… Read More October 15, 2018 We're cautiously excited for Netflix's time-traveling Afro-Colombian witch show, Siempre Bruja Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming drama, Siempre Bruja, which follows the story of Carmen, an Afro-Colombian slave and witch living in the colonial coastal settlement of Cartagena in 1646 who time travels to 2019 to avoid being burned at the stake as a witch. Netflix has had some hits and misses lately with representation, so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll handle the show featuring a darker skinned Afro-Colombian woman with care. Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.0k 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 More Home > Recent Life November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More 1.5k 29 Comments October 22, 2018 Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Several months ago, I committed to stop shaving my armpits. My cousin is getting married in a couple of weeks. The wedding is a big deal, and will be pretty formal. My extended family dynamic is such that it will likely be perceived as a personal attack to the bride if I show up with hairy pits. I'm really conflicted. Do I just shave for the sake of keeping the peace? Do I hide my hairy pits? Or do I just say "Fuck it!" not make a big deal of it, and let my family and my cousin think what they think? Read More October 16, 2018 Dumbledore's Army, still recruiting: How U.S. elections are like the Battle of Hogwarts I've been upset about the recent Senate hearings and I've been ever more upset since the vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; I've also been thinking a lot about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seem strange? Let me explain… Read More October 15, 2018 We're cautiously excited for Netflix's time-traveling Afro-Colombian witch show, Siempre Bruja Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming drama, Siempre Bruja, which follows the story of Carmen, an Afro-Colombian slave and witch living in the colonial coastal settlement of Cartagena in 1646 who time travels to 2019 to avoid being burned at the stake as a witch. Netflix has had some hits and misses lately with representation, so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll handle the show featuring a darker skinned Afro-Colombian woman with care. Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 More Home > Recent Life November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More 1.5k 29 Comments October 22, 2018 Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Several months ago, I committed to stop shaving my armpits. My cousin is getting married in a couple of weeks. The wedding is a big deal, and will be pretty formal. My extended family dynamic is such that it will likely be perceived as a personal attack to the bride if I show up with hairy pits. I'm really conflicted. Do I just shave for the sake of keeping the peace? Do I hide my hairy pits? Or do I just say "Fuck it!" not make a big deal of it, and let my family and my cousin think what they think? Read More October 16, 2018 Dumbledore's Army, still recruiting: How U.S. elections are like the Battle of Hogwarts I've been upset about the recent Senate hearings and I've been ever more upset since the vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; I've also been thinking a lot about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seem strange? Let me explain… Read More October 15, 2018 We're cautiously excited for Netflix's time-traveling Afro-Colombian witch show, Siempre Bruja Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming drama, Siempre Bruja, which follows the story of Carmen, an Afro-Colombian slave and witch living in the colonial coastal settlement of Cartagena in 1646 who time travels to 2019 to avoid being burned at the stake as a witch. Netflix has had some hits and misses lately with representation, so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll handle the show featuring a darker skinned Afro-Colombian woman with care. Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 More Home > Recent Life November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More 1.5k 29 Comments October 22, 2018 Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Several months ago, I committed to stop shaving my armpits. My cousin is getting married in a couple of weeks. The wedding is a big deal, and will be pretty formal. My extended family dynamic is such that it will likely be perceived as a personal attack to the bride if I show up with hairy pits. I'm really conflicted. Do I just shave for the sake of keeping the peace? Do I hide my hairy pits? Or do I just say "Fuck it!" not make a big deal of it, and let my family and my cousin think what they think? Read More October 16, 2018 Dumbledore's Army, still recruiting: How U.S. elections are like the Battle of Hogwarts I've been upset about the recent Senate hearings and I've been ever more upset since the vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; I've also been thinking a lot about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seem strange? Let me explain… Read More October 15, 2018 We're cautiously excited for Netflix's time-traveling Afro-Colombian witch show, Siempre Bruja Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming drama, Siempre Bruja, which follows the story of Carmen, an Afro-Colombian slave and witch living in the colonial coastal settlement of Cartagena in 1646 who time travels to 2019 to avoid being burned at the stake as a witch. Netflix has had some hits and misses lately with representation, so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll handle the show featuring a darker skinned Afro-Colombian woman with care. Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
November 1, 2018 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? In our society, it is not acceptable for female-identified people to age. We are all downloaded with the message that we are supposed to look 20 years old forever. We get mad when our bodies begin to droop, sag, slow down, and our physical/mental abilities change. But aging is a reminder that we are having a finite experience on the planet… and that is beautiful. Read More 1.5k 29 Comments October 22, 2018 Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Several months ago, I committed to stop shaving my armpits. My cousin is getting married in a couple of weeks. The wedding is a big deal, and will be pretty formal. My extended family dynamic is such that it will likely be perceived as a personal attack to the bride if I show up with hairy pits. I'm really conflicted. Do I just shave for the sake of keeping the peace? Do I hide my hairy pits? Or do I just say "Fuck it!" not make a big deal of it, and let my family and my cousin think what they think? Read More October 16, 2018 Dumbledore's Army, still recruiting: How U.S. elections are like the Battle of Hogwarts I've been upset about the recent Senate hearings and I've been ever more upset since the vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; I've also been thinking a lot about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seem strange? Let me explain… Read More October 15, 2018 We're cautiously excited for Netflix's time-traveling Afro-Colombian witch show, Siempre Bruja Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming drama, Siempre Bruja, which follows the story of Carmen, an Afro-Colombian slave and witch living in the colonial coastal settlement of Cartagena in 1646 who time travels to 2019 to avoid being burned at the stake as a witch. Netflix has had some hits and misses lately with representation, so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll handle the show featuring a darker skinned Afro-Colombian woman with care. Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.5k 29 Comments October 22, 2018 Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Several months ago, I committed to stop shaving my armpits. My cousin is getting married in a couple of weeks. The wedding is a big deal, and will be pretty formal. My extended family dynamic is such that it will likely be perceived as a personal attack to the bride if I show up with hairy pits. I'm really conflicted. Do I just shave for the sake of keeping the peace? Do I hide my hairy pits? Or do I just say "Fuck it!" not make a big deal of it, and let my family and my cousin think what they think? Read More October 16, 2018 Dumbledore's Army, still recruiting: How U.S. elections are like the Battle of Hogwarts I've been upset about the recent Senate hearings and I've been ever more upset since the vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; I've also been thinking a lot about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seem strange? Let me explain… Read More October 15, 2018 We're cautiously excited for Netflix's time-traveling Afro-Colombian witch show, Siempre Bruja Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming drama, Siempre Bruja, which follows the story of Carmen, an Afro-Colombian slave and witch living in the colonial coastal settlement of Cartagena in 1646 who time travels to 2019 to avoid being burned at the stake as a witch. Netflix has had some hits and misses lately with representation, so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll handle the show featuring a darker skinned Afro-Colombian woman with care. Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
October 16, 2018 Dumbledore's Army, still recruiting: How U.S. elections are like the Battle of Hogwarts I've been upset about the recent Senate hearings and I've been ever more upset since the vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court; I've also been thinking a lot about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seem strange? Let me explain… Read More October 15, 2018 We're cautiously excited for Netflix's time-traveling Afro-Colombian witch show, Siempre Bruja Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming drama, Siempre Bruja, which follows the story of Carmen, an Afro-Colombian slave and witch living in the colonial coastal settlement of Cartagena in 1646 who time travels to 2019 to avoid being burned at the stake as a witch. Netflix has had some hits and misses lately with representation, so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll handle the show featuring a darker skinned Afro-Colombian woman with care. Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
October 15, 2018 We're cautiously excited for Netflix's time-traveling Afro-Colombian witch show, Siempre Bruja Netflix released a trailer for its upcoming drama, Siempre Bruja, which follows the story of Carmen, an Afro-Colombian slave and witch living in the colonial coastal settlement of Cartagena in 1646 who time travels to 2019 to avoid being burned at the stake as a witch. Netflix has had some hits and misses lately with representation, so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll handle the show featuring a darker skinned Afro-Colombian woman with care. Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More More Life > Recent Food October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
October 31, 2018 Reader favorite raw vegan holiday menu recipes Once upon a time, we talked about how to create a raw vegan holiday menu for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. Our readers, adept as they are in specialty diets, came hard with raw vegan holiday recipes that I am jonesing to try. From pumpkin pie to mezze plates to green bean casserole, you'll be shocked at what traditional dishes can be just as delish in raw vegan form. Read More 1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.1k September 24, 2018 11 unusual pumpkin recipes that go WAY beyond pie Tired of pumpkin yet? Pumpkin isn't tired of YOU. It never tires of you. It loves you. And when you see these unusual pumpkin recipes, you may change your tune and return that love. OR maybe you're still totally ready for pumpkin to find its place in your menu, in which case, scroll for the goods. We've got savory pumpkin dishes, pumpkin sweets that totally aren't your usual pumpkin pie, and even a little treat for the pooch in your life. Because y'all KNOW puppies love pumpkin. So grab a can of pumpkin puree or a whole pumpkin if you're feeling Martha Stewart-ish today, and tell us how the cooking goes… Read More 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 More Food > Recent People 2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
2.9k November 12, 2018 Could-be-babies: my missed miscarriage of twins I've been up all night deleting my lists of baby names, deleting my secret baby registry, unfollowing the Twins groups I joined on Facebook, throwing away the books and the ultrasound photos that I'd been proudly displaying on our fridge. I've been up all night unbecoming a mother. I had a glass of wine and sushi and it wasn't as good as I needed it to be. Women don't talk about miscarriage, even though it happens to a lot of us. A LOT. Read More November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
November 9, 2018 Prayer for the grandmother I long ago scorned I read today that all of a woman’s eggs develop in her body when she herself is still in utero. At four months, the female fetus develops its ovaries and all of the eggs that lie therein. Which means that the seeds for every single one of us, every single human being, are planted in our mothers while our mothers are still within our grandmothers. In a sense, we were all born of our grandmothers. Read More 1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.7k 24 Comments October 29, 2018 When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves There are a lot of books that I enjoyed as a child that dismay me as an adult. I try not to be a loud feminist killjoy too often, but occasionally I come out of hiding from my lair, like when I read this outdated series of books that somehow ended up in my house and has been taken up by my son with great enthusiasm… Read More 1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.2k 15 Comments October 10, 2018 Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance Maybe the most obvious way to talk about individuation is to say that, in the context of my marriage, if there was a bad feeling, I would look to my spouse to help me with it. Over the years, this mean that basically I held him at least partially responsible for my sense of well-being. Then, suddenly, my sense of well-being was very much my responsibility alone… and ultimately, it always was. Read More 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
October 8, 2018 Crafting projects + charities = DIY for good We've been talking about the hurdles of learning to sew recently and got a great comment that made me think: can charities + crafting = DIY for good? If you're learning to sew, quilt, crochet, whatever, is there a way to donate your crafted items to a charity who needs them? Sees like a no-brainer. I decided to find out. 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.7k 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 1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.4k 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.0k 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.2k 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 You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Read More When kids books go bad: how Mr. Men and Little Miss teach kids to hate themselves Read More Do I shave my armpit hair to keep the peace with my family? Read More A fat suit, really? Netflix's new show Insatiable is not what we need right now Read More Read More » > Getting Older I Miss Drugs: the domestic lives of aging hipsters False dichotomies: What if the opposite of trying too hard isn't being lazy? Hidden Blessings: Dispatches from the midlife trenches Secrets from a makeup artist: The best makeup for mature skin 5 books that changed my life this year (no, like, ACTUALLY changed my life) Tackle Box Boys: Honoring those who don't make it out Here's the weird thing about getting fit after 40 Just try not to be empowered by this stunning 60th birthday boudoir session 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 >