We're Moving!

As you might have noticed, I haven't really been updating lately; I've started college and I've been hella busy. For that reason, I've decided that Tumblr would be a better format for this blog. Posts here may or may not continue. Come and check out our new place! 

Off Grid Living: Bus Houses!

Ever since this whole economic crash and teenage peer pressure business started (which was around the same time for me) I've thought it'd be really convenient to live like a hermit in the middle of nowhere, where I wouldn't have to deal with money or humans. I don't much like humans; they creep me out.

It was a bit more recently that I found out about the trend of converting old buses into homes. What could be cooler than living in an old bus? It's cheap, cozy, green, and pretty damn unique. Also you could totally drive your house down the street, were you so inclined. Whee!

Here are a few cool pictures that I pilfered from the internet:

Not gonna fit. :(

So with that, I thought I'd try my hand at designing one of my own. Not in real life, though; it's midterm season so I wouldn't have the time. But that's what CAD modelling is for! If I do say so myself, I think I managed to make a pretty cool off-grid home. I'd seriously consider making the real thing and moving in, but then I realized that there's no way I could find room for my bass.

I built with self-sufficiency yet simplicity in mind. Note the solar panels and veggie gardens. I aimed to keep the gardens compact, to create a plot of land that could fit in an country, suburban, or even urban location. I wouldn't mind hermit-ing in a city, either; there it's acceptable to just ignore everybody else.

Overview from above.

The front yard.

A cozy little nook for reading, writing, and dining. 

The living room and kitchen, as viewed from the doorway. 

The living room, as viewed from the kitchen.

The bathroom. 

The bedroom.

The backyard: a shady orchard with a gazebo. 

The floor plan. 

The Diamond Industry (and Other Ways Advertisers F*ck With Society for Money)

I remember at some point in high school math class, the subject of diamond ring prices came up in an example problem. One of my classmates raised her hand and asked "What's the deal with diamonds? They're overpriced shiny rocks."

A good point, I thought, but the rest of the class looked at her in utter shock. "What do you mean 'what's the big deal'?" the teacher responded. "They're diamonds!" Note that she didn't really answer the question.

But that got me thinking: Just what is the big deal with diamond culture? I mean, sure, they're shiny, which is always a plus, with with so many gemstones in the world that are just as beautiful and far more economical, why are we obligated to demand the most expensive ones, especially given the amount of corruption involved in the process of diamond mining? College Humor offers a delightfully cynical insight in this video.

Spray some mildly poisonous cleaning solutions
up your genitals or your husband will leave you and it
\will totally be your fault. Yeah, seems legit.  

And that made me wonder some more--what other things do we do just because advertisers imply that its "normal"? One of the most infamous examples would be the prevalence of douching in the 20th century, which thank goodness, is a trend that's pretty much died out. The same goes for shampoos, deodorants, and plenty of cleaning products; all things that are stunningly easy to make on one's one.

In any case, here's a thought: why not try offering/accepting a ring without a diamond, or maybe even getting a used one. Personally, as a history geek, I'd be utterly delighted to get a piece of vintage jewelry, regardless of  how much or little money the giver spent on it. Hell, if you're really adventurous, you can actually get engaged without having to trade status symbols.

This Video Wins the Internet

Five Ways Baking Soda Can Help You Fight the Beauty Industry

Seems legit. Image from Ad Busting at Tumblr.

It's not secret that the cosmetics industry is full of shit--it relies on the unnecessary insecurity of girls and women for at least half of its existence, in addition to all the use of animal testing. I myself spent years in high school blowing most of my allowance so I could afford to cake on makeup and hide my face; to this day, the habit of being terrified of every blemish and smudged bit of lipstick still sticks with me to this day.

But this isn't to say that I'm against the use of makeup and cosmetics altogether--indeed, I think there are few things more beautiful than self-expression, and cosmetics are a great way of achieving that. The issue is the attitudes surrounding the use of these things. Rather than a choice or something to add a little extra to one's look, they have become all but a requirement--thanks largely to irresponsible and-or manipulative advertising. So here I present a few DIY alternatives to mainstream beauty products:

1. Conditioning Shampoo
Shampoo is a remarkably recent invention--not considered a necessity until the mid twentieth century. There's a reason for that--it's incredibly easy to replace. Here's a simple recipe that I like to use:
                   -Add a few spoonfuls of baking soda to a small jar.
                   -Blend in olive or vegetable oil (olive oil is more moisturizing, but also has a strong scent that might not work well for hair) until achieving a paste-like consistency.
                   -If desired, add a few drops of essential oil for a nice scent.

2. Toothpaste
Baking soda on its own makes a great toothpaste with a strong whitening effect. Simply sprinkle a little on your toothbrush, or, if you prefer it in mint flavor and paste form, follow this recipe.
                  -As with the shampoo, add a few spoonfuls of baking soda to a jar, and blend in oil to give it a paste-consistency. Use an oil without too much flavor, like vegetable.
                 -Stir in a bit of mint extract.

3. Exfoliating Scrub
                  -Blend one part baking soda and one part honey.
                  -If desired, add a few drops of lemon juice for an astringent effect, but keep in mind that this can have a bleaching effect on skin, so it might not be the best if you're going for a tan.

4. Deodorant
Keep in mind the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant--this will reduce body odor, but not the total amount of sweat your body produces. Some say  deodorant is better for one's skin, but it won't keep those annoying sweat stains from showing up on your clothes, if that's normally a problem for you.
                   -Add a few drops of essential oil to a few tablespoons of baking soda--and that's it!

5. Bath Salts
I mean the kind for actual use in a bath, not the kind that turns people into zombies, in case there was any confusion. This particular concoction adds a nice feel to bath water, and has a great softening effect on skin.
                   -Blend one part salt (table and/or Epsom, your choice) and one part baking soda.
                   -Add a few drops of essential oil and, if desired, food coloring. This will initially leave clumps, which you can break up with your fingers until color and scent are distributed evenly.
                   -To use, add one to two cups to a hot bath.

                 

We're Back!

As you may have noticed, I've been on something of a hiatus lately, thanks to running out of ideas  Google+ being a horrible, horrible thing that effs up pretty much all of Blogger (and the rest of the internet, for that matter.) I swear, one of these days we're gonna be living in a cyberpunk dystopia ruled by Google.

Anyway, throughout that time, I've had something of a branching out in interests, thanks to me going from a nerdy high school kid to a hippie-ish college kid. So now, therefore, my usual steampunk programming will be supplemented with other facets of Alt culture, including, but not limited to, Goth fashion, Punk living, feminism/social justice, environmental/DIY lifestyle, and whatever other crap I feel like posting. Yay!

Also,you should totally check out the Facebook page I've just started admin-ing: We Love Bats. Come on, its awesome. Please?

DIY Roundup: Victorian Christmas

I don't know about you, but I personally like to spend my Christmases frolicking around in poofy dresses pretending that I'm in Victorian London--well, I do that pretty much all year, but its particularly atmospheric when there's snow and Christmas trees and shiny stuff everywhere.

But there's more, of course, to the Neo-Victorian/Steampunk lifestyle than frolicking around in fancy clothes, as much fun as that is. Here are a few tutorials for a Victorian Christmas that Mister Dickens himself would geek out over.

1. Christmas Crackers
The Christmas cracker--an iconic symbol of the English Christmas. And it's surprisingly easy to make. Sadly, the bits that make it pop are tricky to find in U.S. stores, although I've found a few suppliers online. Also, they aren't magical like the ones in Harry Potter. Damn. Still pretty cool, though.





2. Make Your Own Wreath!
With the steampunk philosophy of DIYing everything that can be DIYed, why not try making your own Christmas wreath? If you've got a pine tree to trim a couple branches off of, it's easier than it sounds!











3. Light Bulb Snow Globes
A simple tutorial for making snow globes from light bulb ornaments. With a little creativity, this could be made into something mind-blowingly steampunk.













4. Hot Air Balloon Ornaments
Hot Air Balloons--the vehicle of choice for many an explorer! They also make lovely ornaments for your tree. This one's a bit more complex, but totally awesome.












5. Terrarium Ornaments
What better home decor for the scientifically-minded Victorian than a terrarium? (I mean, besides a complete size dino fossil, but those are a bit tricky to find.) Now, wouldn't that terrarium look lovely on your tree? Of course it would. Here's an easy tutorial.