Where do I start? An anime guide for newbies
I don’t remember why I decided to spend a few hours one night watching English-dubbed Sailor Moon episodes from the ’90s. I do know that magical blonde high-schooler lured me into a story-telling art form that I have since fallen deeply in love with. The story arcs, the relationships, the character development, the magic, the grit, the color, the fan art… anime lights my story-loving/comic-nut fire.
So while I’m still fairly new to anime and am definitely not an expert, I’m trying to get more well-rounded in my knowledge. Feel free to follow my breadcrumb trail, Offbeat Homies, and lose yourself to this world forever.
Unleash your inner six-year-old (or keep one busy) with spool knitting
What the hell is spool knitting you ask? Spool knitting (aka “French knitting”) is basically knitting done in a constant spiral instead of in rows. It’s typically used to make sleeves and socks, but a small spool, like the kind I used as a kid, produces what’s basically a long rope. And here’s how it’s done…
Cosplay storage solutions… from IKEA?
This past year I’ve started to dabble in cosplay. Even though I just have four costumes, I’m ALREADY feeling the storage pinch. That’s why this “IKEA bedroom stories” video, featuring a super-awesome cosplayer, made my day. Watch this and then let’s talk…
Plus size workout clothes that are plus cool
I’d love some help finding plus size exercise clothes that aren’t the same old Boring Black Basics.
I go to the gym and I’m in a roller derby league, and I’d prefer to have something a bit more fun to wear! My shoes and skates are colourful, my headband has a funky pattern, and my yoga mat is adorable… but the only clothing options I’ve found in my size seem to be really bland. Thanks!
Spreading the relaxing, tingly love of the autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR)
ASMR stands for “autonomous sensory meridian response,” which is basically a fancy made-up acronym for a heightened feeling of relaxation, accompanied by tingles, especially in the scalp and spine. I got into ASMR a year or so ago, during a stressful period of my PhD. I was watching a HELL of a lot of make-up and massage tutorials, not so much for the actual tips, but because they gave me a lovely relax-y buzz. And then Youtube, in its wisdom, suggested an ASMR Massage video…
How writing erotic fan fiction changed my sex life
Since the beginning of my sexual awakening (or when my high school boyfriend put his hands down my pants), I loved sex. Along with sex, my other interests are TV shows, movies, and books. There is a particular workplace sitcom that I adore and almost exclusively write for. The bridge between these interests is not a long one, and soon I was writing erotic fan fiction. And yes, after (a little) personal deliberation, I told my husband that I was a fan fiction writer. But I don’t think the switch in our sex life really happened until he read My Really Long Fic.
Quit “should-ing” all over yourself and get all the endorphins with DANCE WALK
As I was reading through all the brilliant suggestions for offbeat hobbies, I found myself should-ing all over the place. Every time someone mentioned running, my brain said, “Yes, hrm, I really should do that.” Then I noticed every time someone mentioned dancing, I felt longing. When I finally realized what I was doing, I said, “Hey, I could dance.” I stopped, searched Meet-Up for dancing, and found THE MOST AMAZING GROUP EVER.
Community Education: Break out of your rut on the cheap
I love to try new things, but I don’t usually want to spend much money on exploring new hobbies that I may or may not stick with for very long. My solution? Community education classes! Here are some reasons why I recommend trying community ed…