The perils and glories of being a stay-at-home-dad
Being a stay-at-home-dad can be an isolating experience sometimes. We don’t quite fit in with the stay-at-home-moms and we don’t quite fit in with the bread-winning dads. For me, isolation is the worst of homemaking’s perils. I know many moms feel isolated, too, but my guess is that the dads among us experience it more often…
Why every home needs a terramundi money pot
We bought our first terramundi — a traditional Etruscan money pot — when I was pregnant. Over five years, we managed to fill eight pots. We filled each one to bursting, until they were a real struggle to carry. They had already moved with us once, when we left Scotland for England two years ago. But we decided they should not make the next move. And in smashing them all open before our move, we fell even further in love with the idea that every house should have a terramundi pot.
Sara and Nick: from a majestic movie wedding to adopting fur babies and parenting real babies
Since the wedding, we have purchased a house and adopted a couple of cats. My son is going into second grade. I’m currently pursuing Redken color certification and a cosmetology instructor’s license. Nick left the university he used to work for and is currently working for a marketing firm. We are going into our third year as Old Marrieds, but we’ve been together for seven years total.
Jenna & Trevor: From tree-hugging wedding to baby-hugging parents
Hello friends! Since Trevor and I said our wedding vows, I was a kindergarten teacher, then became unemployed, then became a photographer, then became a more-than-full-time-photographer. Trevor has been working away at the University where he’s employed. OH, and we adopted the most adorable baby boy!
Our one-bedroom condo in Seattle: Home to four people and a kitty living well
We’re a family of four that love living in a pretty small space. Our condo is 730 square feet, one bedroom and one-and-a-half baths. We didn’t intend to stay here, and I certainly never expected to end up loving small space living or a minimalist approach to possessions but this home has taught me the value of both and shaped the expectations I put on myself for how I want to show up as a home maker in the world.
Use beanbag chairs as super-squishy baby gates
I know, I know, I usually don’t touch baby stuff… but since we talked about couchless living, and I found out a lot of y’all love bean bag chairs, I figured you might love to know of other uses for those squishy seats. Offbeat Mama featured a post about baby-proofing with beanbags and it’s one big ‘ol “great idea” post…
DIY marshmallow shooters for kids of all ages
I know some big kids, aka supposed grown-ups, who will be high-tailing it to the hardware store to get s’more supplies for these marshmallow shooters. (Ha! See what I did there?) Then your advanced marshmallow weaponry is easy to load and laughter-inducing to unload. Find out how to make your very own marshmallow arsenal…
How to tell family you’re childfree
Where are my fellow child-free Homies? Your insight is needed! Offbeat Families reader, Haymaker, has a mom-in-law who is desperate for she and her husband to give her MORE grandkids. But they have NO plans on having children. Like, EVER. Head over to Offbeat Families to help a sister out!