I'm really not all that sassy. It's been about a year since I decided to start this path to sassy housewifery, and what I have come to realize in that time is I don't even think I want to be particularly sassy. What does that mean anyway? I realize, I want to just be a "Goodwife," some culmination between stereotypical 50's housewife, colonial goodwife and Victorian lady. Each had admirable traits and practices and from here on in, I'm less concerned with the "sassy" aspect. The only person I am trying to please is my husband (okay, and me, but I'm happiest when he's happy.) So what are my goals now? Easy.
greet him with a smile when he comes home
Keep the house clean and tidy by following a schedule
Save money
make more things myself- I have the skills, why would I buy pre-made? there's no reason
be thriftier
Cook dinner 6 nights per week (but planned overs count!)
Blog more- to get out my crazy.
Spend more time relaxing with hubby
exercise
Have a baby. :P
Lately, I've been doing very well with all this, really. I've been inspired by another "This Happy Housewife" (LOL!I can't tell who came first but it doesn't matter to me) to create these awesome schedules for each day an make a "home management binder." Here's her blog: http://thishappyhousewife.wordpress.com/category/homemaking/schedules/
(Honestly, she's much better at keeping up with hers than I am with mine. :P) But in any case, she's got some great, very helpful information. I love her schedules, I can't say it enough, I totally borrowed the idea and am working each week to see when are the best times for me to do such and such a task and how often. For example, I have three dogs (pit mix rescues) and two cats running around the house, plus my sewing and crafting which leaves a lot of little bits, fur, dust and dog toy innards scattered around the house. This means I need to put "vacuum" and "sweep" on my lists about 4-5 times per week instead of once or twice.
My trick to keeping up on things, I hate to say it, is duplicates (triplicates, etc...) of cleaning supplies. In each bathroom I have a caddy of favored cleaning supplies (I have two bathrooms- one on each floor) so it works out great to have one portable caddy designated to each floor so I'm not dragging things up the stairs. I also have two brooms, one in the downstairs kitchen, one in the upstairs bath, a dutch rubber broom upstairs (okay, that one gets hauled around, I need to order another one since it's amazing for pet hair....)A mop designated for each type of flooring or cleaner- this is so that the mop for the bathroom and kitchen, whose floors I ocassionally bleach, doesn't come in contact with the wood floors. Bleach and hardwood floors don't mix! There are dust mops and swiffers (with reusable, crochet pads) for quick jobs and microfiber towels and extra rags in the Kitchen and both bathrooms. Luckily, I don't have any carpeting upstairs so the dyson can live downstairs. :)
Something else that is helping a lot with keeping the house clean is the fact that I am getting rid of a TON of stuff, and finding good ways to organize what I'm keeping. Clutter isn't pretty. And having a lot of clutter makes cleaning much harder because you have to constantly move things to clean under or clean around. It makes no sense. Its much easier to dust the entertainment center when it's free of clutter, or wipe down the kitchen counters or sweep a room when there isn't stuff everywhere. I was starting to feel VERY smothered. I like my things, and I'm one of those people who gets sentimental about the stuffs. "Oh, I can't get rid of that, so and so gave it to me for such and such an occasion...." Or, "it's an antique!" Well, antique means that it should make some money at the yard sale. lol. I didn't get cold, I'm getting practical. Just because I am getting rid of a thing, doesn't mean I'm getting rid of memories or the person who gifted it or who it reminds me of. It's hard, but very liberating at the same time. I can't wait to have my yardsale so I can clear out all the stuff that has been accumulating on my 3 season porch (where I'm storing everything that is "going" till the weather is warm enough for a yardsale. I thought about a porch sale, but there is officially more stuff than can fit well enough to accommodate both people and stuff in the porch. :P)
One last idea/ tip. Put on an apron. Seriously, it's like a super hero donning a cape and mask, when I put on an apron something clicks in my brain. Suddenly I'm *drum roll...* Super-wifey! I guess it just puts me in the mood for domesticity. Another goal (*grin*) is to have at least enough aprons for one per day. That way... I can have a clean one each day, or mix it up a bit style-wise. And yes, aprons are cute! A lovely friend of mine recently gifted me an adorable apron that is pink and covered with skulls and crossed spoons! Oh, and the skulls are wearing hair bows (skull bows?) anyway, it's absolutely adorable. I even wore it out in public. same with the pink floral one I made last year (go back into the archives for the tutorial- it's wicked cute). Aprons are the domestic's best accessory, I am thoroughly convinced of this.
So... that's my life for now. I hope to blog more now that I have a clearer idea of my housewife goals. And I think I am going to change the name of my blog if I can figure out how.... :)
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
All dressed up.
UGH!!!!!!!! I wrote a whole blog... and it got deleted. I'm terribly bad at this.
Well, what I was up to was planning my birthday! We are having a retro dinner party, and yes, of course, my guests have to dress the part! I haven't chosen a dress yet, but these are a few that are in the running:
What do we think? These are all found on Etsy, they are real, vintage pieces. How scrumptious are they? I love, love LOVE them! Quinessential 50's housewife, if I do say so myself! To top it off, this month's Vogue Knitting magazine is featuring several vintage sweater patterns that I'd love to get on my needles in time for the party. :) I'm planning a 50's menu and cocktails- I'm not entirely sure what, but I think martinis are in order! Looking for some great music to layer on and well, it goes without saying that I am going to create a fabulous cake! Or at the very least, an impressive tower of cupcakes. ;)
I can't wait to show off my "new" kitchen and living room for the party either! For Christmas, my wonderful husband painted my kitchen.... LIME GREEN! It actually matches my lime green fiestaware! the whole theme in the kitchen is a sort of bright, retro, fun spot. The living-room also got a pick me up with a paint job, a fabulous new cream wool shag rug, and gorgeous red on cream patterned ottomans (pictures will follow... probably after the party!) It's fun to get the house in order. I've been on a rampage getting rid of the clutter (I only got the new stuff after I did a massive clean out). I'm still working on it but the progress is amazing. I can't believe the change just from clearing out the stuff we weren't using!
That's all my update for now... It's time to let the computer rest for a few days. :)
Well, what I was up to was planning my birthday! We are having a retro dinner party, and yes, of course, my guests have to dress the part! I haven't chosen a dress yet, but these are a few that are in the running:
What do we think? These are all found on Etsy, they are real, vintage pieces. How scrumptious are they? I love, love LOVE them! Quinessential 50's housewife, if I do say so myself! To top it off, this month's Vogue Knitting magazine is featuring several vintage sweater patterns that I'd love to get on my needles in time for the party. :) I'm planning a 50's menu and cocktails- I'm not entirely sure what, but I think martinis are in order! Looking for some great music to layer on and well, it goes without saying that I am going to create a fabulous cake! Or at the very least, an impressive tower of cupcakes. ;)
I can't wait to show off my "new" kitchen and living room for the party either! For Christmas, my wonderful husband painted my kitchen.... LIME GREEN! It actually matches my lime green fiestaware! the whole theme in the kitchen is a sort of bright, retro, fun spot. The living-room also got a pick me up with a paint job, a fabulous new cream wool shag rug, and gorgeous red on cream patterned ottomans (pictures will follow... probably after the party!) It's fun to get the house in order. I've been on a rampage getting rid of the clutter (I only got the new stuff after I did a massive clean out). I'm still working on it but the progress is amazing. I can't believe the change just from clearing out the stuff we weren't using!
That's all my update for now... It's time to let the computer rest for a few days. :)
Saturday, July 3, 2010
It's almost my anniversary....
....and I'm about 30 pounds heavier. That's right, I admit it. I've gained 30 pounds in the last three years. It's not pretty and I don't feel healthy. That has to change. For me, for hubby and for our future children. I was going to start on Monday but my anniversary is in less that an hour, why not start then?
My plan (it's simple):
Start my day with exercise and a healthy breakfast. I've cleared out the sunporch, which also houses a treadmill I should get my big butt on. which is a great place to do some morning yoga. I think I will start with Shiva Rea's Fluid power and work from there. Maybe find some belly dancing classes.
Eating well. Not dieting per se, since that simply hasn't been working. I'm going to cut back on the calories, and choose even healthier foods. I've been eating pretty well (until tonight's cupcake binge) but I need to eat less.
No wheat/ gluten. This should be a given because of my sensitivity, but I've been ignoring it a paying the price. Also not pretty.
Do more stuff for myself. When I am content and doing something I enjoy I don't snack as much or eat as much (quantity). I also tend to be moving more and burning those calories.
No birth control. Now, this sounds weird (and a "duh" for other reasons!) but I was on it for a whole month and gained 10 pounds- the 10 that really put me over the edge and could NOT seem to take off. UGH! No artificial stuff like that, thank you very much!
My goal: I'd like to loose 20-25 pounds. I'd LOVE to be my wedding weight again, but it was impossible to maintain for any length of time. That 5 pounds was a big pain, and I stayed comfortable at 136-140 reasonably easy.
So. Hopefully writing that out and putting it into cyber space will strengthen my resolve and this housewife will be better on her way to sassiness (so I can wear some sassy dresses and heals while I clean the house! and have the energy to do it!
My plan (it's simple):
Start my day with exercise and a healthy breakfast. I've cleared out the sunporch, which also houses a treadmill I should get my big butt on. which is a great place to do some morning yoga. I think I will start with Shiva Rea's Fluid power and work from there. Maybe find some belly dancing classes.
Eating well. Not dieting per se, since that simply hasn't been working. I'm going to cut back on the calories, and choose even healthier foods. I've been eating pretty well (until tonight's cupcake binge) but I need to eat less.
No wheat/ gluten. This should be a given because of my sensitivity, but I've been ignoring it a paying the price. Also not pretty.
Do more stuff for myself. When I am content and doing something I enjoy I don't snack as much or eat as much (quantity). I also tend to be moving more and burning those calories.
No birth control. Now, this sounds weird (and a "duh" for other reasons!) but I was on it for a whole month and gained 10 pounds- the 10 that really put me over the edge and could NOT seem to take off. UGH! No artificial stuff like that, thank you very much!
My goal: I'd like to loose 20-25 pounds. I'd LOVE to be my wedding weight again, but it was impossible to maintain for any length of time. That 5 pounds was a big pain, and I stayed comfortable at 136-140 reasonably easy.
So. Hopefully writing that out and putting it into cyber space will strengthen my resolve and this housewife will be better on her way to sassiness (so I can wear some sassy dresses and heals while I clean the house! and have the energy to do it!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Contemplating Muchness
I bought the new Tim Burton revisit to Alice in Wonderland last week. Since purchasing it, I have watched it 3 times, and that was because I was showing restraint. It's AWESOME. I love that a lot of the story is straight forward, but there is plenty of good symbolism floating around in there. Not to mention it's just beautiful to watch- the graphics were awesome, and the costumes... GORGEOUS!
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Sure, this story is about a young woman finding her strength, but can't that apply to all of us? The second time I watch this movie was with a very good friend that until recently I hadn't seen in almost 5 years, she leads a different life than I do, to me, a life much more adventurous. Anyway, there is a part in the movie where the hatter says to Alice: "You used to be much more...'muchier.' You've lost your muchness."
after the movie she brought up the idea of "muchness" and what that means... To me, she has so much, muchness, but she didn't think that was entirely so. It was any interesting conversation to say the least and it certainly got me thinking of my own muchness and my own life. Have I lost my muchness? did I used to be muchier? I don't know for sure but I worry I have and need to find it. What is muchness? And how can I reclaim my muchness? I've been thinking about this for days and answers are coming slowly.
I like that the whole story revolves around the question "who are you?" In the beginning, Alice was not hardly Alice but by the end, there she is. Alice. Not necessarily the most original idea, but it was a nice way to see it again. So what about me? Am I not hardly Ashley? When will I know I'm not the wrong Ashley? Hm... Well, at least with all the difficult questions there was a lot of pretty colors. :-P
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Sure, this story is about a young woman finding her strength, but can't that apply to all of us? The second time I watch this movie was with a very good friend that until recently I hadn't seen in almost 5 years, she leads a different life than I do, to me, a life much more adventurous. Anyway, there is a part in the movie where the hatter says to Alice: "You used to be much more...'muchier.' You've lost your muchness."
after the movie she brought up the idea of "muchness" and what that means... To me, she has so much, muchness, but she didn't think that was entirely so. It was any interesting conversation to say the least and it certainly got me thinking of my own muchness and my own life. Have I lost my muchness? did I used to be muchier? I don't know for sure but I worry I have and need to find it. What is muchness? And how can I reclaim my muchness? I've been thinking about this for days and answers are coming slowly.
I like that the whole story revolves around the question "who are you?" In the beginning, Alice was not hardly Alice but by the end, there she is. Alice. Not necessarily the most original idea, but it was a nice way to see it again. So what about me? Am I not hardly Ashley? When will I know I'm not the wrong Ashley? Hm... Well, at least with all the difficult questions there was a lot of pretty colors. :-P
Friday, April 9, 2010
Soup and sewing. Perfect
Well, our 80 degree weather is gone for now (which is probably good, because I got a bit of sunburn that needs healing...) and has been replaced with 50-60 degrees and rain. That's alright, I do like the rain. Plus, it's an excellent excuse for soup! I don't know how it got into my head, but this is tonight's recipe: Asperagus noodle soup.
Ingredients
half a sweet onion
Garlic. lots of garlic
a few tablespoons of good olive oil (I'm using the amazing one C brought back from Spain. YUM!)
a bunch of asparagus
1-2 celery stalks
A handful of baby carrots
White or baby bello mushrooms
Noodle of your choice
white wine and herb stock in a box
Veggie stock
Parmesan cheese
White wine.... for the chef.
Directions:
1. Pour yourself a glass of wine and take a good sip.
2. Chop all the veggies, slice the mushrooms, etc. Cut the Asparagus into oh, 1.5- 2 inch lengths (chunky) but set them aside.
3. In a nice, heavy bottom soup pot or dutch oven, pour some olive oil, about 2 tablespoons, add the garlic and onion and start to saute them, add the mushrooms and saute till soft
4. toss in the carrots and celery
5. Add all the stock, bring to a boil, let simmer for about 10 minutes or so. Salt and pepper to taste.
6. Add pasta of choice
7. When pasta is 2 minutes or so from done, add the asparagus
8. Top with parm. and drink more wine. YUM!
Serve with some good garlic biscuits or home made bread. If you want some extra protein, you could definitely brown up some chicken and throw that in there. Delicious.
Other than making and eating soup I'm heading to M-town with M in a little while to do some summer dress fabric shopping. yey! Then it's back home and back to work.
Ingredients
half a sweet onion
Garlic. lots of garlic
a few tablespoons of good olive oil (I'm using the amazing one C brought back from Spain. YUM!)
a bunch of asparagus
1-2 celery stalks
A handful of baby carrots
White or baby bello mushrooms
Noodle of your choice
white wine and herb stock in a box
Veggie stock
Parmesan cheese
White wine.... for the chef.
Directions:
1. Pour yourself a glass of wine and take a good sip.
2. Chop all the veggies, slice the mushrooms, etc. Cut the Asparagus into oh, 1.5- 2 inch lengths (chunky) but set them aside.
3. In a nice, heavy bottom soup pot or dutch oven, pour some olive oil, about 2 tablespoons, add the garlic and onion and start to saute them, add the mushrooms and saute till soft
4. toss in the carrots and celery
5. Add all the stock, bring to a boil, let simmer for about 10 minutes or so. Salt and pepper to taste.
6. Add pasta of choice
7. When pasta is 2 minutes or so from done, add the asparagus
8. Top with parm. and drink more wine. YUM!
Serve with some good garlic biscuits or home made bread. If you want some extra protein, you could definitely brown up some chicken and throw that in there. Delicious.
Other than making and eating soup I'm heading to M-town with M in a little while to do some summer dress fabric shopping. yey! Then it's back home and back to work.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
I'm up!!!!
I feel like I have been UBER busy lately! Running around, sewing, and taking advantage of the GORGEOUS weather. Easter was lovely, we went to the in-law's and my mommy-by-law made lasagna! YUM! I made a lemon poppy cake with pudding filling and butter-cream icing... with peeps on top. Sorry, I forgot to take a picture. :-( It was really nice to see the family, and have all us "kids" in one place.
I made my easter dress from the "anda" pattern available for home download at www.burdastyle.com Which is really nifty if you haven't tried it. You print out all the pieces in little parts, then tape it together and cut it out (alright, that sounded like a little more work that it was. But it was only $3.50 for the pattern). Not to mention, there are a ton of free patterns for download too.
The dress itself is made from 100% linen in "meadow" from www.fabric-store.com (one of my favorite online stores!!!) I sewed the innards by machine with cotton thread, but because all the historical costuming has gone to my brain, I flat felled the seems and turned the hems all by hand with cream-colored silk thread. I really like the way it finishes, the flat felled seem is just so much nicer for this project than a French, and the detail of the handwork give the dress a unique quality which you are definitely not going to find at your average clothing store. My next one will have a more daring neckline for C's sake. :-P
Today, yet again, I have a very busy day. But it's going to be super fun. Today is the first meeting of the little craft club myself and Melissa are starting. It's a morning-ish session, so we are doing good girl projects: Dishcloths. :-P But cute crochet ones. This is a super easy (and cute one):
All it is, to make it, make a chain about as wide as you want you cloth, I like mine rather large, so if I fold to double the thickness, it is still nice and wide. Single crochet in each chain, then do a v-stitch. To start: Chain 3, skip two single crochets then double crochet, chain one, double crochet in one single crochet, skip two single crochets and repeat the v to the end. In the last single crochet, just do one double. Turn and repeat 'till you are at just about a square, single crochet across the top, at the end, chain 10-15 and slip stitch to last single crochet (to make loop). Weave in ends and you are finished. This look really cute on your tea tray, almost like a modern, casual doily, that you can mop up spilled stuff with!
Also for today I am making a sparkling mango, orange iced green tea. To make this you need...
7 green tea bags (or loose leaf tea)
4 cups boiling (or almost boiling) water
Mango Orange juice
Seltzer or other sparkly water (I actually am using raspberry for extra flavors...)
pitcher and wooden spoon
Steep the tea for about 5 minutes, you want it nice and strong. Let it get down to room temp and then put it in the fridge to chill.
After the tea is cold, put it in the pitcher (if you haven't already), add a good amount of OJ, maybe 3-4 cups. Right before serving, at the seltzer to taste and fiz level. Garnish with orange or lemon slices... or anything else that suites your fancy. (floating raspberry, mango slices.... whatever!)
You can also do this with cheap champagne. YUM!
So that's what's going on for today.
I made my easter dress from the "anda" pattern available for home download at www.burdastyle.com Which is really nifty if you haven't tried it. You print out all the pieces in little parts, then tape it together and cut it out (alright, that sounded like a little more work that it was. But it was only $3.50 for the pattern). Not to mention, there are a ton of free patterns for download too.
The dress itself is made from 100% linen in "meadow" from www.fabric-store.com (one of my favorite online stores!!!) I sewed the innards by machine with cotton thread, but because all the historical costuming has gone to my brain, I flat felled the seems and turned the hems all by hand with cream-colored silk thread. I really like the way it finishes, the flat felled seem is just so much nicer for this project than a French, and the detail of the handwork give the dress a unique quality which you are definitely not going to find at your average clothing store. My next one will have a more daring neckline for C's sake. :-P
Today, yet again, I have a very busy day. But it's going to be super fun. Today is the first meeting of the little craft club myself and Melissa are starting. It's a morning-ish session, so we are doing good girl projects: Dishcloths. :-P But cute crochet ones. This is a super easy (and cute one):
All it is, to make it, make a chain about as wide as you want you cloth, I like mine rather large, so if I fold to double the thickness, it is still nice and wide. Single crochet in each chain, then do a v-stitch. To start: Chain 3, skip two single crochets then double crochet, chain one, double crochet in one single crochet, skip two single crochets and repeat the v to the end. In the last single crochet, just do one double. Turn and repeat 'till you are at just about a square, single crochet across the top, at the end, chain 10-15 and slip stitch to last single crochet (to make loop). Weave in ends and you are finished. This look really cute on your tea tray, almost like a modern, casual doily, that you can mop up spilled stuff with!
Also for today I am making a sparkling mango, orange iced green tea. To make this you need...
7 green tea bags (or loose leaf tea)
4 cups boiling (or almost boiling) water
Mango Orange juice
Seltzer or other sparkly water (I actually am using raspberry for extra flavors...)
pitcher and wooden spoon
Steep the tea for about 5 minutes, you want it nice and strong. Let it get down to room temp and then put it in the fridge to chill.
After the tea is cold, put it in the pitcher (if you haven't already), add a good amount of OJ, maybe 3-4 cups. Right before serving, at the seltzer to taste and fiz level. Garnish with orange or lemon slices... or anything else that suites your fancy. (floating raspberry, mango slices.... whatever!)
You can also do this with cheap champagne. YUM!
So that's what's going on for today.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Apron tutorial finale
Sorry this took so long. I've been trying to outsmart the technology since Saturday. Ugh.
Anyway. To continue you should have both straps in place. At this point, the bodice it pretty much done...
Step 7: Gather the body about 4 inches wider than the bodice (so you have a little wrap around action). Be sure to secure the pulling ends of the thread when you reach desired width.
Now working on the sash....
Step 8: Grab your bodice, and sandwich it between the two sash pieces. (be sure that it is centered.
Pin and sew the ENTIRE length of the sash, from end over the bodice to the other end. Making sense?
Step 9: Attach the body. This is a little tricky to explain....
Take the FRONT part of the sash and (again, making sure everything is centered) pin it to the body RIGHT sides together (bodice front will be facing body front).
Step 10: Press the gathered part into the sash area, then press the seem allowance along the open lengths of the sash (both back and front pieces). Pin down even with the front of the sash.
(note, the bodice is at the bottom of the picture)
Sew from one end of the sash to the other, as close to the edge as possible.
Step 11: Finishing
Clip all loose threads, turn over ends of straps and sash then hem them. Make sure to pull out any of the visible gathering threads, too. They are not pretty! But very very easily removed.
Tada!
Step 12: Wear it with sass!
(The lovely woman I made this one for put it on right away and said to her husband "look, I could wear this with nothing underneath to cook!" At that point we wondered if we should leave... LOL)
Extras:
My pink one has two chunky pockets that were made by cutting rectangles just about the size I wanted my pockets to be, hemming the top and pressing under seam allowance along the three sides. Then I top stitched them right onto the apron.
You could also make it a button closure on the back of the sash or the neck straps, and/or bring the straps straight back to the sash and sew them on (like bra straps I guess...)
Most important, make it your own and have fun! (And wear clothes under when company comes for dinner. )
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