An open letter to the Sir Catspian shower curtain
Oh hai, Sir Catspian shower curtain! I just met you and I’m in love with you. Maybe it’s your suit of armor, or the fact that you’re riding a freaking narwhal like a horsie. Or perhaps it’s just the expression of pure (purr?) joy on your face…
12 of my “favorite things” to gift to your favorite people
Here starts the latest round of Offbeat Home & Life gift guides. For this one, we’re going through the “my favorite things” archive AND re-visiting some of the things I’ve featured on Offbeat Home & Life that are STILL my favorite things… and may soon be your [parent/friend/partner/child]’s favorite thing.
My all-time favorite gadget for drying wet, snowy accessories
We live in snow country and deal with the fluffy white wet stuff about half the year. This is my all-time favorite gadget for drying soggy gloves/mittens, boots, shoes, damp socks, or anything small…
Purple paper, pens, and painkillers: inside a grad student’s bag
Have you ever played that game where you guess what’s in strangers’ bags while you’re commuting?
Why damaged tablecloths may be the most surprisingly useful item in your home
You know those things that you don’t necessarily think will be useful, and find yourself using nearly every day? Inexpensive tablecloths from a rental shop have become that completely indispensable thing in my life, and they could well save you time, money, clean-up effort, and stress.
The beating heart and layers of history: Why I love my dining table
Our dining room table is a beast of a thing. Seven feet by five. Six sturdy planks of unidentified tropical hardwood, some of which are starting to separate so far that I can fit a whole hand down the resulting gap. The top is covered in scars, scrapes and gashes — each one a story. It holds secrets, this table — layers and layers of history.
The most bad-ass, super-personalized Father’s Day gift of all time
If you’re wondering what to get your dad for Father’s Day and thinking “what do I get for the man who has everything?” allow me to answer that question for you with the most bad-ass, super-personalized gift of all time. I got this for my father last year, and he totally dug it. Here’s what you do…
The late night noms: how popcorn changed my life
My late night snacks always leaned towards the darkest sides of stoner food: quesadillas, cracker dipped in cream cheese, during more desperate moments, cheese melted on a plate scraped off with my own fingernails. On a whim last winter, I bought my husband a gift: a Whirlypop, which is a stovetop popcorn popper.