ShamPHree: Why I decided to stop shampooing my hair
When I was a kid, I had a DIY hair-ruining experience that traumatized me. My hair melted off and it was my own fault for not reading the warning on the perm bottle. Over processing happens to many of us at some point. But it left me feeling very self-conscious about the way I looked. At the age of nine, I had officially became the perfect target market for Big Beauty ad campaigns. It took me 20 years to look back and understand the origin of my unwavering belief in the words printed on plastic bottles. As a hairdresser, I had been hearing about the no-poo method for years. No-poo-ing means using Baking soda and Apple Cider Vinegar or lemon juice to cleanse and condition the hair. My first thought was 1. Gross for not shampooing your hair, and 2. Double gross for using the word “poo” associated with hair.
Part-time work means I earn less, but I live more
I’m not a lazy person. In fact, I love working. When I work, I work hard. I get shit done. But I’ve decided that having one job to go to every weekday, all the time, is just not for me. Maybe I can’t leave behind my teenage anarchist ways. Maybe I’m a beatnik stuck in the wrong time. Maybe I just can’t hack it. Or maybe there is a better way for me.
Why I’m choosing to write a book instead of having a second child
But when I take a hard look at my life I have to admit that I have a finite amount of time and energy and everything is a tradeoff. I am acutely aware that I traded a large chunk of my personal time to have a child. And I’ve never regretted that decision for a second. But I would regret a second child. Even if I did publish a novel with two children I would forever wonder what higher levels of success I could have reached had I decided to stop at one and focus on writing instead.
Throw this party: MINGLO!
When I first met with Kelli from [vendor-heart link=”http://vendors.offbeatbride.com/listing/shindig-events”]Shindig Events[/vendor-heart] to scheme my April staff/reader meet-up, we did a little brainstorming on activities, and it went like this:
Ariel: What if we did, like, hipster bingo cards but catered to Offbeat Empire reader interest? People could wander around being all, “You’re wearing an octopus accessory! Are you lactating? Who here had a home birth?” I know my readers’ tastes like the back of my hand [delicious!], and it could be fun! Sort of like… mingling bingo?
Kelli: YOU MEAN MINGLO!?
Me: I MEAN MINGLO!
And thus a party idea was born. And now you can steal it.
How my definition of “home” has evolved over the years
Living abroad is great for so many reasons. Meeting new people, experiencing new adventures, and learning about new cultures are just a few of the perks of moving every few years. However there are difficulties with everything being new again and again. And one of those difficulties is the feeling of having a “home.”
No, I’m not pregnant — and I never want to be again
A friend of mine (the mother of one of my daughter’s classmates) said hello to me at a school function a few weeks ago. After pleasantries were exchanged and she noticed I was on my way out with one of my kids in tow, she asked a seemingly harmless question.
Should you talk about money with people who have different financial priorities?
I have a friend who often makes remarks about having no money. “We can’t afford to buy fruits and vegetables.” “I hope you’re not getting sick, because we can’t afford a visit to the doctor.” “We can’t make it to your place for game night because we can’t afford the gas.” It’s true that they don’t have much, raising a family of three on just a teacher’s salary. But it seems (to me) like the money they do have is spent frivolously or unnecessarily. I don’t have a problem with people indulging when they have the disposable income. But I’m getting more and more uncomfortable. Commenting about being poor followed by showing a link to a costume jacket that he hopes to purchase frustrates me. Should I speak up and say something, or just chalk it up to different priorities?
Flip that funk: 5 ways to make your shitty day feel more awesome
I have had a lot of trying times in my life, many of them within the last few years. We all have people come and go from our lives at lightning speed with or without warning. The following tidbits are things are the things that have always been able put me in a better mood when I’m down. If you can do all of them daily — that’s great! If you can squeeze one in here and there — that works just as well. But honestly, the best time to follow any of these is on your WORST days, even just one of them. They are not easy, but they are not costly either; regardless the rewards you will reap will be endless.