February 22, 2019 The call of loneliness I truly want to believe that it doesn’t take heartbreak to make `you remember the love inside you… But evidence suggests that it takes that agony, that searing burn of loneliness and anxiety and isolation to truly help you find the lover that’s been within you, waiting for you, all this time. Read More February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home January 16, 2019 The most expensive home on the the market in LA is this palatial estate for $125 million What do you think a home would look like if it was set to be LA's most expensive home? If you're imagining 3.25 acres of eco-friendly hilltop property in Beverly Hills with a 18,500 square foot palatial estate with a huge open floor plan, automated doors, a screening room, an 85-foot pool pool, and much more? Then you'd be right… Read More January 7, 2019 Everything you need on an alternative bar cart for all your swanky soirees "Do you guys have any interesting ideas for setting up a mini bar in my new place? I've always wanted a grown-up bar cart for guests and impromptu gatherings and such. My new place doesn't have a lot of space and I want something a little off the beaten path. Re-purposing weird furniture or shelves, building something from scratch, crazy cart makeovers, — got any brilliance for me?" Let's see what bar cart inspiration is out there and what basics you'll need to get started on your own… Read More 1.2k December 11, 2018 Don your Mrs. Weasley sweaters for this spectacular Christmas at Hogwarts decor Remember this magical Harry Potter home decor from reader Jasper Price and his wife Angie? We could only imagine how extra festive it got around the holidays at Chez Hogwarts. We don't have to imagine anymore — Jasper shared with us their fantastical collection of mystical Christmas enchantment! Here's what they had to say about their efforts to recreate the spectacle… Read More 2.1k 16 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 More Home > Recent Life February 22, 2019 The call of loneliness I truly want to believe that it doesn’t take heartbreak to make `you remember the love inside you… But evidence suggests that it takes that agony, that searing burn of loneliness and anxiety and isolation to truly help you find the lover that’s been within you, waiting for you, all this time. Read More 1.6k 15 Comments January 14, 2019 In which I tell conservatives I understand them because I used to be one If I can say anything at this bleak hour, with the world splitting at its seams, it's this: conservatives, I understand you. It may not be something you expect to hear from a liberal, but I do. I understand you. I understand you because I used to be you. Long ago, in the era of Slick Willy and the dawn of explicit labels on music CDs, I was conservative, too. I stood up for men first, considered money an inalienable right, questioned immigration, and thought abortion was the greatest moral crisis facing our lives… Read More 15 Comments January 1, 2019 Two years of two-word resolutions Last year, my two-word New Year's resolution was simply FEEL LOVED… which was oddly terrifying. How can two words be so difficult? And oof, wait until you hear my two words for this year… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home January 16, 2019 The most expensive home on the the market in LA is this palatial estate for $125 million What do you think a home would look like if it was set to be LA's most expensive home? If you're imagining 3.25 acres of eco-friendly hilltop property in Beverly Hills with a 18,500 square foot palatial estate with a huge open floor plan, automated doors, a screening room, an 85-foot pool pool, and much more? Then you'd be right… Read More January 7, 2019 Everything you need on an alternative bar cart for all your swanky soirees "Do you guys have any interesting ideas for setting up a mini bar in my new place? I've always wanted a grown-up bar cart for guests and impromptu gatherings and such. My new place doesn't have a lot of space and I want something a little off the beaten path. Re-purposing weird furniture or shelves, building something from scratch, crazy cart makeovers, — got any brilliance for me?" Let's see what bar cart inspiration is out there and what basics you'll need to get started on your own… Read More 1.2k December 11, 2018 Don your Mrs. Weasley sweaters for this spectacular Christmas at Hogwarts decor Remember this magical Harry Potter home decor from reader Jasper Price and his wife Angie? We could only imagine how extra festive it got around the holidays at Chez Hogwarts. We don't have to imagine anymore — Jasper shared with us their fantastical collection of mystical Christmas enchantment! Here's what they had to say about their efforts to recreate the spectacle… Read More 2.1k 16 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 More Home > Recent Life February 22, 2019 The call of loneliness I truly want to believe that it doesn’t take heartbreak to make `you remember the love inside you… But evidence suggests that it takes that agony, that searing burn of loneliness and anxiety and isolation to truly help you find the lover that’s been within you, waiting for you, all this time. Read More 1.6k 15 Comments January 14, 2019 In which I tell conservatives I understand them because I used to be one If I can say anything at this bleak hour, with the world splitting at its seams, it's this: conservatives, I understand you. It may not be something you expect to hear from a liberal, but I do. I understand you. I understand you because I used to be you. Long ago, in the era of Slick Willy and the dawn of explicit labels on music CDs, I was conservative, too. I stood up for men first, considered money an inalienable right, questioned immigration, and thought abortion was the greatest moral crisis facing our lives… Read More 15 Comments January 1, 2019 Two years of two-word resolutions Last year, my two-word New Year's resolution was simply FEEL LOVED… which was oddly terrifying. How can two words be so difficult? And oof, wait until you hear my two words for this year… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home January 16, 2019 The most expensive home on the the market in LA is this palatial estate for $125 million What do you think a home would look like if it was set to be LA's most expensive home? If you're imagining 3.25 acres of eco-friendly hilltop property in Beverly Hills with a 18,500 square foot palatial estate with a huge open floor plan, automated doors, a screening room, an 85-foot pool pool, and much more? Then you'd be right… Read More January 7, 2019 Everything you need on an alternative bar cart for all your swanky soirees "Do you guys have any interesting ideas for setting up a mini bar in my new place? I've always wanted a grown-up bar cart for guests and impromptu gatherings and such. My new place doesn't have a lot of space and I want something a little off the beaten path. Re-purposing weird furniture or shelves, building something from scratch, crazy cart makeovers, — got any brilliance for me?" Let's see what bar cart inspiration is out there and what basics you'll need to get started on your own… Read More 1.2k December 11, 2018 Don your Mrs. Weasley sweaters for this spectacular Christmas at Hogwarts decor Remember this magical Harry Potter home decor from reader Jasper Price and his wife Angie? We could only imagine how extra festive it got around the holidays at Chez Hogwarts. We don't have to imagine anymore — Jasper shared with us their fantastical collection of mystical Christmas enchantment! Here's what they had to say about their efforts to recreate the spectacle… Read More 2.1k 16 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 More Home > Recent Life February 22, 2019 The call of loneliness I truly want to believe that it doesn’t take heartbreak to make `you remember the love inside you… But evidence suggests that it takes that agony, that searing burn of loneliness and anxiety and isolation to truly help you find the lover that’s been within you, waiting for you, all this time. Read More 1.6k 15 Comments January 14, 2019 In which I tell conservatives I understand them because I used to be one If I can say anything at this bleak hour, with the world splitting at its seams, it's this: conservatives, I understand you. It may not be something you expect to hear from a liberal, but I do. I understand you. I understand you because I used to be you. Long ago, in the era of Slick Willy and the dawn of explicit labels on music CDs, I was conservative, too. I stood up for men first, considered money an inalienable right, questioned immigration, and thought abortion was the greatest moral crisis facing our lives… Read More 15 Comments January 1, 2019 Two years of two-word resolutions Last year, my two-word New Year's resolution was simply FEEL LOVED… which was oddly terrifying. How can two words be so difficult? And oof, wait until you hear my two words for this year… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home January 16, 2019 The most expensive home on the the market in LA is this palatial estate for $125 million What do you think a home would look like if it was set to be LA's most expensive home? If you're imagining 3.25 acres of eco-friendly hilltop property in Beverly Hills with a 18,500 square foot palatial estate with a huge open floor plan, automated doors, a screening room, an 85-foot pool pool, and much more? Then you'd be right… Read More January 7, 2019 Everything you need on an alternative bar cart for all your swanky soirees "Do you guys have any interesting ideas for setting up a mini bar in my new place? I've always wanted a grown-up bar cart for guests and impromptu gatherings and such. My new place doesn't have a lot of space and I want something a little off the beaten path. Re-purposing weird furniture or shelves, building something from scratch, crazy cart makeovers, — got any brilliance for me?" Let's see what bar cart inspiration is out there and what basics you'll need to get started on your own… Read More 1.2k December 11, 2018 Don your Mrs. Weasley sweaters for this spectacular Christmas at Hogwarts decor Remember this magical Harry Potter home decor from reader Jasper Price and his wife Angie? We could only imagine how extra festive it got around the holidays at Chez Hogwarts. We don't have to imagine anymore — Jasper shared with us their fantastical collection of mystical Christmas enchantment! Here's what they had to say about their efforts to recreate the spectacle… Read More 2.1k 16 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 More Home > Recent Life February 22, 2019 The call of loneliness I truly want to believe that it doesn’t take heartbreak to make `you remember the love inside you… But evidence suggests that it takes that agony, that searing burn of loneliness and anxiety and isolation to truly help you find the lover that’s been within you, waiting for you, all this time. Read More 1.6k 15 Comments January 14, 2019 In which I tell conservatives I understand them because I used to be one If I can say anything at this bleak hour, with the world splitting at its seams, it's this: conservatives, I understand you. It may not be something you expect to hear from a liberal, but I do. I understand you. I understand you because I used to be you. Long ago, in the era of Slick Willy and the dawn of explicit labels on music CDs, I was conservative, too. I stood up for men first, considered money an inalienable right, questioned immigration, and thought abortion was the greatest moral crisis facing our lives… Read More 15 Comments January 1, 2019 Two years of two-word resolutions Last year, my two-word New Year's resolution was simply FEEL LOVED… which was oddly terrifying. How can two words be so difficult? And oof, wait until you hear my two words for this year… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Home January 16, 2019 The most expensive home on the the market in LA is this palatial estate for $125 million What do you think a home would look like if it was set to be LA's most expensive home? If you're imagining 3.25 acres of eco-friendly hilltop property in Beverly Hills with a 18,500 square foot palatial estate with a huge open floor plan, automated doors, a screening room, an 85-foot pool pool, and much more? Then you'd be right… Read More January 7, 2019 Everything you need on an alternative bar cart for all your swanky soirees "Do you guys have any interesting ideas for setting up a mini bar in my new place? I've always wanted a grown-up bar cart for guests and impromptu gatherings and such. My new place doesn't have a lot of space and I want something a little off the beaten path. Re-purposing weird furniture or shelves, building something from scratch, crazy cart makeovers, — got any brilliance for me?" Let's see what bar cart inspiration is out there and what basics you'll need to get started on your own… Read More 1.2k December 11, 2018 Don your Mrs. Weasley sweaters for this spectacular Christmas at Hogwarts decor Remember this magical Harry Potter home decor from reader Jasper Price and his wife Angie? We could only imagine how extra festive it got around the holidays at Chez Hogwarts. We don't have to imagine anymore — Jasper shared with us their fantastical collection of mystical Christmas enchantment! Here's what they had to say about their efforts to recreate the spectacle… Read More 2.1k 16 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 More Home > Recent Life February 22, 2019 The call of loneliness I truly want to believe that it doesn’t take heartbreak to make `you remember the love inside you… But evidence suggests that it takes that agony, that searing burn of loneliness and anxiety and isolation to truly help you find the lover that’s been within you, waiting for you, all this time. Read More 1.6k 15 Comments January 14, 2019 In which I tell conservatives I understand them because I used to be one If I can say anything at this bleak hour, with the world splitting at its seams, it's this: conservatives, I understand you. It may not be something you expect to hear from a liberal, but I do. I understand you. I understand you because I used to be you. Long ago, in the era of Slick Willy and the dawn of explicit labels on music CDs, I was conservative, too. I stood up for men first, considered money an inalienable right, questioned immigration, and thought abortion was the greatest moral crisis facing our lives… Read More 15 Comments January 1, 2019 Two years of two-word resolutions Last year, my two-word New Year's resolution was simply FEEL LOVED… which was oddly terrifying. How can two words be so difficult? And oof, wait until you hear my two words for this year… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
January 16, 2019 The most expensive home on the the market in LA is this palatial estate for $125 million What do you think a home would look like if it was set to be LA's most expensive home? If you're imagining 3.25 acres of eco-friendly hilltop property in Beverly Hills with a 18,500 square foot palatial estate with a huge open floor plan, automated doors, a screening room, an 85-foot pool pool, and much more? Then you'd be right… Read More January 7, 2019 Everything you need on an alternative bar cart for all your swanky soirees "Do you guys have any interesting ideas for setting up a mini bar in my new place? I've always wanted a grown-up bar cart for guests and impromptu gatherings and such. My new place doesn't have a lot of space and I want something a little off the beaten path. Re-purposing weird furniture or shelves, building something from scratch, crazy cart makeovers, — got any brilliance for me?" Let's see what bar cart inspiration is out there and what basics you'll need to get started on your own… Read More 1.2k December 11, 2018 Don your Mrs. Weasley sweaters for this spectacular Christmas at Hogwarts decor Remember this magical Harry Potter home decor from reader Jasper Price and his wife Angie? We could only imagine how extra festive it got around the holidays at Chez Hogwarts. We don't have to imagine anymore — Jasper shared with us their fantastical collection of mystical Christmas enchantment! Here's what they had to say about their efforts to recreate the spectacle… Read More 2.1k 16 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 More Home > Recent Life February 22, 2019 The call of loneliness I truly want to believe that it doesn’t take heartbreak to make `you remember the love inside you… But evidence suggests that it takes that agony, that searing burn of loneliness and anxiety and isolation to truly help you find the lover that’s been within you, waiting for you, all this time. Read More 1.6k 15 Comments January 14, 2019 In which I tell conservatives I understand them because I used to be one If I can say anything at this bleak hour, with the world splitting at its seams, it's this: conservatives, I understand you. It may not be something you expect to hear from a liberal, but I do. I understand you. I understand you because I used to be you. Long ago, in the era of Slick Willy and the dawn of explicit labels on music CDs, I was conservative, too. I stood up for men first, considered money an inalienable right, questioned immigration, and thought abortion was the greatest moral crisis facing our lives… Read More 15 Comments January 1, 2019 Two years of two-word resolutions Last year, my two-word New Year's resolution was simply FEEL LOVED… which was oddly terrifying. How can two words be so difficult? And oof, wait until you hear my two words for this year… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
January 7, 2019 Everything you need on an alternative bar cart for all your swanky soirees "Do you guys have any interesting ideas for setting up a mini bar in my new place? I've always wanted a grown-up bar cart for guests and impromptu gatherings and such. My new place doesn't have a lot of space and I want something a little off the beaten path. Re-purposing weird furniture or shelves, building something from scratch, crazy cart makeovers, — got any brilliance for me?" Let's see what bar cart inspiration is out there and what basics you'll need to get started on your own… Read More 1.2k December 11, 2018 Don your Mrs. Weasley sweaters for this spectacular Christmas at Hogwarts decor Remember this magical Harry Potter home decor from reader Jasper Price and his wife Angie? We could only imagine how extra festive it got around the holidays at Chez Hogwarts. We don't have to imagine anymore — Jasper shared with us their fantastical collection of mystical Christmas enchantment! Here's what they had to say about their efforts to recreate the spectacle… Read More 2.1k 16 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 More Home > Recent Life February 22, 2019 The call of loneliness I truly want to believe that it doesn’t take heartbreak to make `you remember the love inside you… But evidence suggests that it takes that agony, that searing burn of loneliness and anxiety and isolation to truly help you find the lover that’s been within you, waiting for you, all this time. Read More 1.6k 15 Comments January 14, 2019 In which I tell conservatives I understand them because I used to be one If I can say anything at this bleak hour, with the world splitting at its seams, it's this: conservatives, I understand you. It may not be something you expect to hear from a liberal, but I do. I understand you. I understand you because I used to be you. Long ago, in the era of Slick Willy and the dawn of explicit labels on music CDs, I was conservative, too. I stood up for men first, considered money an inalienable right, questioned immigration, and thought abortion was the greatest moral crisis facing our lives… Read More 15 Comments January 1, 2019 Two years of two-word resolutions Last year, my two-word New Year's resolution was simply FEEL LOVED… which was oddly terrifying. How can two words be so difficult? And oof, wait until you hear my two words for this year… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.2k December 11, 2018 Don your Mrs. Weasley sweaters for this spectacular Christmas at Hogwarts decor Remember this magical Harry Potter home decor from reader Jasper Price and his wife Angie? We could only imagine how extra festive it got around the holidays at Chez Hogwarts. We don't have to imagine anymore — Jasper shared with us their fantastical collection of mystical Christmas enchantment! Here's what they had to say about their efforts to recreate the spectacle… Read More 2.1k 16 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 More Home > Recent Life February 22, 2019 The call of loneliness I truly want to believe that it doesn’t take heartbreak to make `you remember the love inside you… But evidence suggests that it takes that agony, that searing burn of loneliness and anxiety and isolation to truly help you find the lover that’s been within you, waiting for you, all this time. Read More 1.6k 15 Comments January 14, 2019 In which I tell conservatives I understand them because I used to be one If I can say anything at this bleak hour, with the world splitting at its seams, it's this: conservatives, I understand you. It may not be something you expect to hear from a liberal, but I do. I understand you. I understand you because I used to be you. Long ago, in the era of Slick Willy and the dawn of explicit labels on music CDs, I was conservative, too. I stood up for men first, considered money an inalienable right, questioned immigration, and thought abortion was the greatest moral crisis facing our lives… Read More 15 Comments January 1, 2019 Two years of two-word resolutions Last year, my two-word New Year's resolution was simply FEEL LOVED… which was oddly terrifying. How can two words be so difficult? And oof, wait until you hear my two words for this year… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
2.1k 16 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 More Home > Recent Life February 22, 2019 The call of loneliness I truly want to believe that it doesn’t take heartbreak to make `you remember the love inside you… But evidence suggests that it takes that agony, that searing burn of loneliness and anxiety and isolation to truly help you find the lover that’s been within you, waiting for you, all this time. Read More 1.6k 15 Comments January 14, 2019 In which I tell conservatives I understand them because I used to be one If I can say anything at this bleak hour, with the world splitting at its seams, it's this: conservatives, I understand you. It may not be something you expect to hear from a liberal, but I do. I understand you. I understand you because I used to be you. Long ago, in the era of Slick Willy and the dawn of explicit labels on music CDs, I was conservative, too. I stood up for men first, considered money an inalienable right, questioned immigration, and thought abortion was the greatest moral crisis facing our lives… Read More 15 Comments January 1, 2019 Two years of two-word resolutions Last year, my two-word New Year's resolution was simply FEEL LOVED… which was oddly terrifying. How can two words be so difficult? And oof, wait until you hear my two words for this year… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g 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 More Home > Recent Life February 22, 2019 The call of loneliness I truly want to believe that it doesn’t take heartbreak to make `you remember the love inside you… But evidence suggests that it takes that agony, that searing burn of loneliness and anxiety and isolation to truly help you find the lover that’s been within you, waiting for you, all this time. Read More 1.6k 15 Comments January 14, 2019 In which I tell conservatives I understand them because I used to be one If I can say anything at this bleak hour, with the world splitting at its seams, it's this: conservatives, I understand you. It may not be something you expect to hear from a liberal, but I do. I understand you. I understand you because I used to be you. Long ago, in the era of Slick Willy and the dawn of explicit labels on music CDs, I was conservative, too. I stood up for men first, considered money an inalienable right, questioned immigration, and thought abortion was the greatest moral crisis facing our lives… Read More 15 Comments January 1, 2019 Two years of two-word resolutions Last year, my two-word New Year's resolution was simply FEEL LOVED… which was oddly terrifying. How can two words be so difficult? And oof, wait until you hear my two words for this year… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
February 22, 2019 The call of loneliness I truly want to believe that it doesn’t take heartbreak to make `you remember the love inside you… But evidence suggests that it takes that agony, that searing burn of loneliness and anxiety and isolation to truly help you find the lover that’s been within you, waiting for you, all this time. Read More 1.6k 15 Comments January 14, 2019 In which I tell conservatives I understand them because I used to be one If I can say anything at this bleak hour, with the world splitting at its seams, it's this: conservatives, I understand you. It may not be something you expect to hear from a liberal, but I do. I understand you. I understand you because I used to be you. Long ago, in the era of Slick Willy and the dawn of explicit labels on music CDs, I was conservative, too. I stood up for men first, considered money an inalienable right, questioned immigration, and thought abortion was the greatest moral crisis facing our lives… Read More 15 Comments January 1, 2019 Two years of two-word resolutions Last year, my two-word New Year's resolution was simply FEEL LOVED… which was oddly terrifying. How can two words be so difficult? And oof, wait until you hear my two words for this year… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.6k 15 Comments January 14, 2019 In which I tell conservatives I understand them because I used to be one If I can say anything at this bleak hour, with the world splitting at its seams, it's this: conservatives, I understand you. It may not be something you expect to hear from a liberal, but I do. I understand you. I understand you because I used to be you. Long ago, in the era of Slick Willy and the dawn of explicit labels on music CDs, I was conservative, too. I stood up for men first, considered money an inalienable right, questioned immigration, and thought abortion was the greatest moral crisis facing our lives… Read More 15 Comments January 1, 2019 Two years of two-word resolutions Last year, my two-word New Year's resolution was simply FEEL LOVED… which was oddly terrifying. How can two words be so difficult? And oof, wait until you hear my two words for this year… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
15 Comments January 1, 2019 Two years of two-word resolutions Last year, my two-word New Year's resolution was simply FEEL LOVED… which was oddly terrifying. How can two words be so difficult? And oof, wait until you hear my two words for this year… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
December 17, 2018 This new comic book company is coming in hard with rad & diverse new stories New comic book publisher, TKO Studios, launched just this month and has big ol' plans to take on the comic book industry. We're talking the inclusion of some heavy hitting creators and stories from new and diverse voices and a focus on readers instead of investors. This includes a tale of three generations of Black women in Chicago working together to pull off the heist of a lifetime by Roxane Gay and Ming Doyle… Read More More Life > Recent Food December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
December 24, 2018 17 gingerbread house fails that made the sugary housing market crash Not every gingerbread house attempt turns out as sweet and pretty as the one above. Sometimes the sweet turns sour and you end up pouring icing over the wreckage and calling it a day. Not all of us are meant to be baked good architects (myself included!) but most of these are pretty hilarious in their chaos. Let's revel in the holiday spirit of trying our best. It's the thought that counts and it all tastes yummy in the end, right? 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g 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 1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.3k 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g 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 More Food > Recent People February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
February 18, 2019 Asexuality and queerness redefined sex for us (& how we're making it work) What is sexual compatibility? Insecurity made our life a little rocky early on. I worried that my partner's asexuality was simply disinterest in me, while she worried that I might prefer someone else. But after nearly seven years together, we've ironed that out — and in the process, built a sex life that we both find satisfying, exploring a non-traditional definition of sex. Here are the tools that we use to help us to define sex for ourselves… Read More February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
February 11, 2019 I took my daughter to therapy with me I try to speak openly about my battle with depression, and it is the time of year where I tend to be at my worst. This season is no different, and the last few weeks have been a struggle to accomplish my day-to-day tasks. Still, even with my attempts to be open and unashamed of my mental health, it was hard to bring my daughter to therapy with me. I never had the intention of bringing her. However, I had my usual therapy session scheduled on one of her approximately 148 snow days this year. My first thought was to cancel the session, but I realized the only reason I was going to do this was some ambiguous sense of discomfort… Read More 1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.5k 19 Comments February 4, 2019 How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Why underwater maternity photos? Because any time I have my picture taken my brain is all, “Have my arms always been this… weird!? Why are my hands so flappy? Is THIS what my smile feels like? HOW DO LEGS WORK!???” Amplify those body issues by, well, two when you’re pregnant and it can feel even MORE awkward. But under the water, all of that changes! And the result is all this mermaid awesomeness… Read More 2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
2.5k January 9, 2019 My child was sexually harassed on the school bus & the reality set in Yesterday should have been a normal day. It started off that way. But instead it became a first for my eldest daughter. My daughter asked a boy to stop using profanities, and instead, he used them more and more, especially directed at her. And then he threatened her, repeatedly. When the bus did stop, she ran as fast as she could and into my arms. Her whole body shook with fear and anger. That was the day our daughter became the victim of sexually violent language. She is ten years old. The boy was twelve. She was riding the school bus home from fifth grade. Read More December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
December 27, 2018 This one-year anniversary shoot proves that it's always worth snagging stunning photos Whether you hated your wedding photos, didn't have a wedding, want to celebrate a milestone, or just want to capture how awesome you've been looking lately, a couple's photo shoot is always a good idea. You don't need to have had a child or gotten engaged or married to snag yourself from frameable shots. This is exactly what Ashley and Nick did at their plaid-covered one-year anniversary shoot. Read More More People > Recent Pets 1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.5k 66 Comments January 28, 2019 Keep your dog leashed: thoughts from one friendly pet owner to another Where signs clearly say, “All dogs on leash," folks can’t help but release them. I get it. There’s nothing like seeing your four-legged friend filled with joy as they bound freely through the field or trot proudly down the path. But here's why I'm asking for everyone to keep their dogs leashed in those areas. It's for a few reasons… Read More 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g 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 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.6k 27 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 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g 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 1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.2k 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 1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.8k 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g 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 1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.6k January 30, 2019 25 offbeat Valentine gift ideas for a sweet, sexy, & smoldering Valentine's Day If you celebrate the silliness of Valentine's Day, this roundup of offbeat Valentine gift ideas is for you. And if you don't, I totally get it. But it doesn't have to be all about partners and love and junk. It can be about friendship, self love, and lots of, ahem, playtime, too. Here are 25 Valentine's Day gifts that are sincere, goofy, spiritual, glam, and maybe totally for you or your partner(s). Keep an eagle eye out for a shout-out to our publisher's new passion project (literally)… Read More December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
December 19, 2018 Gift your friends an early start on festival gear with these dried flower crowns Over on Offbeat Bride, we featured a whole slew of fanciful dried flower crowns for weddings that can easily be worn every day, at closer-than-you-think spring and summer festivals, and wherever you like. Like, sitting on your couch eating cheesy poofs looking magical AF. Here's a quick preview of some of my faves… Read More 1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.1k November 21, 2018 The most ridiculously adorable gifts to snag on Small Business Saturday (that you'll totally want to keep) If you're planning to take advantage of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Hangover Tuesday, you'll probably snag some sweet deals. But don't forget: toooons of small businesses also have sales and promotions going on which allow you to stock up gifts for the holidays while supporting indie and small businesses. I rounded up a bunch of ludicrously endearing gifts for that super special weirdo in your life… or let's face it, just for ourselves. Read More September 18, 2018 Tons of Hocus Pocus gear (shirts! prints! costumes!) to put a spell on you Come little reader, I'll take you away, into a land of enchantment. Hocus Pocus has entered the pantheon of classics to rewatch this time of year. Thankfully, when something becomes popular, MERCH arrives! There are some cute AF Hocus Pocus gear like shirts, jewelry, props, prints, and even costumes that are available to get you in the spirit. Let me put a spell on you while you peruse the merchandise. I promise not to steal your youth. Probably… Read More 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g 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 1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping > Body Image How underwater maternity photos helped me enjoy my pregnant body Read More 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 Read More » > Getting Older How do you Adult? Telly gawps and the past tense: Loving and caring for a relative who has alzheimers You’re looking at crones. Can you see the beauty? Individuation: stumbling toward emotional self-reliance I'm graduating and want to move: but who will care for my ailing parents? What are your relationship's job titles? One-lowsmanship, money anxieties, and being a work in progress The year I started dating god with a lowercase g Read More > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Offbeat Home archives READ NOW
1.3k September 7, 2018 Funny coworker gifts for your office bestie, your work spouse, or your actually rad boss If you're lucky, you find an ally at work: someone with whom you can commiserate and who makes the bad days better and the good days funnier. Your work bestie, your work spouse… you know the one. If you need to gift them something funny, here are a few ideas. From a "Didn't kill anyone" award ribbon to surviving another meeting that could have been an email, these coworker gifts will make another day a good one. At least until tomorrow… Read More More Shopping >