Category Archive

Life

We launched as Offbeat Home in 2011, but it has become clear that the site is about much more. In 2013, we relaunched as Offbeat Home & Life, with an expanded focus on Relationships, Budget & Career, Travel, and Style. This is the category for the non-home/rest of life stuff!

What a photo shoot taught me about being human and feeling beautiful

When a friend of mine asked to take nude photos for her A Beautiful Body Project I was excited and flattered by her suggestion. And terrified. I had never been too fond of “seeing” myself in mirrors, or through a camera lens. It always brought up my inner critic, so I figured the best remedy was to minimize the cause for judgment. It took me many months to think about Jade’s invitation and photographs of myself. I don’t know the exact location or origin of the fear, but it was very much about being seen, and what that meant. I had to look at what I might be so afraid of.

Throw this party: Eating the Dinosaur

Every couple of months, I do a “Book Optional Club.” The thing is, no one ever reads the books. It’s really just an opportunity to get together and eat and visit. Being a little OCD, I like a themed party to match the books. The book for this Book Optional Club party was Eating the Dinosaur, by Chuck Klosterman.

10 healthy, brain-stimulating “at work”-outs you can do at your desk

I know, I know, you’re too busy to exercise. You’ve got obligations, family to attend to, and not to mention that full-time job (that you may be at right now!). You’re stuck behind a desk most of the day, so suiting up to go to the gym just ain’t happening. Okay then, why not get a little exercise right there at work? Here are seven exercises and three stretches that you can do right now at your desk.

How do we buy a house when we can’t agree on a location?

I was looking at houses in Georgia (where I am from) and noticed houses that are gorgeous and are cheaper than where we are currently living and looking to buy in Alabama. Why is the price so different? I don’t know, but I am willing to move from one state to another. The problem: my husband isn’t willing to move. How do you buy a house together when neither of you agrees on the location?

Lord of the Rings cable reel table

Cheryl Hellcat’s grandpa turned a cable reel into a table. Then Cheryl turned the the cable reel table into a Lord of the Ring fan’s dream piece of furniture.

How can I help my friend who’s been diagnosed with cancer?

Can we have a conversation about how to practically help a friend with a diagnosis of cancer (or other serious disease)? Just this week a very close old friend of mine (with 2 little kids) found out she has ovarian cancer, and it is spreading already. This is scary, scary stuff. Not much else is known right now. But I can’t be the only person with a friend facing this.

On the other side of the door: What it’s like to be an apartment manager

I have been fortunate enough to work from home for the past two years. I currently work as an apartment manager for my apartment complex. While I love my job, and no matter how much insane shit I deal with every day, I would never trade it for the world. That being said, there are times when it sucks to be an apartment manager…

5 ways to make fandom happen on the cheap

My husband and I are both nerdy. Between the two of us, our nerdy obsession list is quite long. Unfortunately, when you combine all the orgasmic merch available for each of these fandoms with our limited disposable income, you create a perfect storm for massive credit card debt. In order to practice self-restraint, these are the five tactics that we’ve come up with to protect our checking account as we grow our nerdy collections…