I'm probably going to catch hell for this, but I have noticed an online trend that I call "make it at home".
Since society has embraced the lean and clean lifestyle (a good thing) there seems to be a preponderance (great word, no?) of people who zeal about such matters is a little "off".
When the topic of online conversation mentions anything that smacks of convenience of most any sort, it brings out the "you can make it at home" comments.
Please note, "making it at home" is a great thing (unless you are talking about drugs, deadly viruses or firearms, I suppose) there's just times that idea doesn't apply to the conversation and a mention of a convenience product doesn't always necessitate advice or mean someone isn't aware.
For example, if I wrote, "I saw Mick Jagger at Starbuck's with monkeys flying out his butt singing 'Blame it on the Rain' ", someone will inevitably say, "It's much cheaper and better if you make your coffee at home and bring it with you in a convenient travel mug".
Why yes, that is a true statement, but not exactly the main idea.
Or, "I grabbed a PopTart as I evacuated my burning house", will result in a comment along the lines of, "It's better make your own Pop Tarts at home!"
Why yes, that is a true statement, but not exactly the main idea.
Or, a while back I was asked to review Pizza Hut Pasta, so I did and I wrote that we tried it, we liked it, yielded, "I don't understand why you wouldn't make it yourself at home" comments and directions about how to do so.
Why yes, that was a nice thing, I guess, but not exactly the main idea.
The point was to comment on that product. It would have been totally different had I asked how to make the same pasta at home.
If I had asked about the best breakfast pastry to pair with a home catastrophe or how to avoid flying monkeys at Starbuck's then the advice of "make it at home" would be great.
I don't know, I'm not offended or inconvenienced by these statements, people usually mean well, I've just noticed a lot of them lately.
Now, if you'll pardon me, I'm off to go skydiving nude while eating packaged Rice Krispie treats and drinking bottled water.
ADDED: Maybe I'm not saying this right.
It's not that making something at home is bad, I don't care what you do.
The part that puzzles me is when the focus of comments consistently turns to that particular tangent rather than the point of the post.
One would think that seeing flying monkeys would supercede the fact that it happened at Starbuck's, but I could be wrong.
Recent Entries on Busymom.net:
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You might find this website of use then - it tells you how to make your own parachute
Wow. I have totally missed this trend, and those comments. We are not "make it at home" people. Seriously. No time. So, I guess I'll pass on this trend.
You're going to walk away and leave that door open?
And really, you should be using a Britta as well as a reusable sports bottle. Save the freaking planet, man....
LOL - I say this - A LOT - in real life, but I don't think I've ever commented about that. Strange, though, because that IS my mentality..."Hmmm...I think I can make that myself!" Sad thing is, yes, I can, but WILL I make it? Probably not!
I hate that trend too. Usually it's about saving money or the planet rather than convenience. But personally I prefer to spend my time doing something other than arts and crafts (unless it's with the children) or cooking. Just because I can make it at home doesn't mean I want to make it at home. Besides, mine won't turn out to be as high quality or tasty anyway!
I admit to being totally from the convenience side of the world. I'd love to say I "make it at home", but really, that would be a total lie.... and anyway, my son has grown quite fond of takeout. Who am I to take that joy from him (or me?) lol.
Next we're all going to be expected to have acres of gardens and a cow and chickens. We are a modern society for a reason, convience!
I am a convenience whore - if I can get pre chopped chicken and save myself 20 min - I will do it even though right now I DO have the time. Once I go back to work, all bets are off and anyone who is going to tell me to make it myself can come be my cook!
I don't "do it myself" as I have other ways I would rather use my time!
Glad I am not the only one!
Didn't you know that you can make rice krispies treats a whole lot cheaper at home? Just kidding - you go! I am all for convenience too, thank you.
Coincidentally, Pop Tarts are a staple of my evacuation / stranded at home without power - kit! They are not however of the homemade variety.
Maybe I shouldn't comment. Since I don't work any more, I make a lot of things myself and forfeit the convenience of convenience food.
Cas
But I should add - I really love to cook. Oops, maybe I shouldn't have said that either.
I'm not sure how the skydiving nude figures into this, but ok.... and I would never make Rice Krispie treats at home. Way too sticky for me. Sometimes store bought just works better.
Now, if you'll pardon me, I'm off to go skydiving nude while eating packaged Rice Krispie treats and drinking bottled water.
Pictures?
:)
I'll admit, I was a "do it at home" dad - until my children got involved in every after-school activity available.
Consider me a convenience convert.
Like many things, "trends" tend to get overused, and that I think is the case here. Like every other trend, it will wane when it becomes less "cool."
Don't worry... like Members Only and Menudo, it will soon fade away.
I think that there are two things at work here -
1) Being "green", natural etc. is VERY trendy right now. Not saying that it's good or bad, but you can't do much of anything right now without seeing a reference.
2) The economy is impacting just about everyone and doing things like avoiding luxuries like Starbucks and saving money by making things at home is very much top of mind right now for a lot of people.
I'm so un-handy it isn't funny. I can't make things at home if I try. Hell, even my kids are adopted.
I think it's all part of the "I can do anything better than you" mommy / parenting crap.
Use my excuse - Yes, I can make it at home myself, but I am a much nicer person when I don't. Ask my kids and husband
I think some people just love to beat an issue to death and the whole green living concept is so "en vogue."
I have an impressive collection of take out menus in our kitchen and I'm not afraid to use them!
p.s. I can't quite get that Mick Jagger imagery outta my head.
People make stuff at home? What the heck is that about? I served pizza hut pasta last night with a homemade salad and it was BETTER THAN IF I MADE IT AT HOME! Know why? I DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE IT AT HOME!! YAY!
How funny and how true. You don't even have to write about it just say it and it happens. You end up looking at the person like didn't you hear what I just said!
I am a bit of both; I make my espresso at home on my Krups, but I love going out for a random coffee or meeting friends. Convenience is the reward we get for being busy people, right? I'm not so good at eating locally either since I get tired of apples during the winter and have to splurge on strawberries and other non-WA products.
I agree with Erika (above)--it's all about judging other people and making themselves feel superior. Sorry you got slammed, BM.
If it gets made, done or completed...then that's all that matters to me. I don't feel guilty for the nights that we do it the easy way out...I don't feel guilty until it's the 4th night in a row. ;)
Ok, point taken, but seriously?
Those Starbucks butt monkeys are SUBSTANTIALLY better when you make them at home.
I soooo want to see that happen at Starbucks. It would make life so interesting.
And btw, happy birthday!!!
Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to youuuuuuu! Happy birthday Mrs. Busy Mom, happy birthday to youuuuuuuu!
And many more....~cough~ Sorry my bass is a bit off.
If I had to see Mick Jager's butt with or without flying monkeys, I don't think I would still have the desire to drink coffee from Starbucks or my house. Ewww.
Happy birthday to you, BusyMom! Oh, and to me, too!! Enjoy your day!
Well, I stopped cold at, "I'm off to go skydiving nude while eating packaged Rice Krispie treats and drinking bottled water."
Wow, don't you need a sippy cup for skydiving?
Hope it was a great day...Happy Happy Birthday to you!
i've noticed it too & would much rather talk about flying monkeys
I don't think it's a "make it at home" trend... I think it's a "I'm not really reading what you are writing, I just want to comment on my own agenda, which is to point out that you are richer/better off/have more time/are more extravagent than I am" type of trend.
As conservation and environmentalism start to pick up even more steam and as gas prices plane at new highs the new "have mores" are the ones who can afford to leave their own darn homes. Or at least that's what I think is driving the comments that seem to have their own "at home" agenda.
:)
Y'know, my grandma used to make those little sock monkeys at home. I'm sure Michaels or somebody would have some little wings to attach to them...
And I quote, 'Since society has embraced the lean and clean lifestyle (a good thing) there seems to be a preponderance (great word, no?) of people who zeal about such matters is a little "off".'
Wait, say that again? Busymom, it's great that you're expanding your vocabulary, but when you make a point of mentioning it, the pleasure of that tiny shred of eloquence is completely destroyed.
Regarding said eloquence, or more correctly, the complete lack thereof - without the paranthetical commentary, here's the sentence you wrote:
"Since society has embraced the lean and clean lifestyle there seems to be a preponderance of people who zeal about such matters is a little 'off'."
Wait, what? Busymom, in that pathetic attempt at a clever turn of phrase, you succeeded in confusing both me, and you. Congratulations?
I won't pick apart that wretched sentence, but next time, for the sake of coherence, consult a dictionary and a thesaurus.