When I started writing for Blissfully Domestic, I emailed a bunch of friends and family, posted notes about it on my blogs…I was SURE I would get notes back wishing me luck, and congratulating me. Well, no. All I got in reply were notes laughing at the fact I would be writing about anything ‘domestic’. I might not be a coupon-clipping-scrapbooking-culinary expert, but I have learned some ways around my shortcomings.
I know there are some things I do well, so my flavor of domestic-ness simply plays up what I know I am decent at. Here are some tips that might help you pave the way to your domestic blissdom:
- Flowers. Not good at fancy arrangements. Get the kind for sale at the grocery store, probably 3 bundles. If you can find anything that looks like something in your garden, that is a bonus. You don’t have to arrange the flowers neatly. Just put them into large vases. People seem to think that these bundles of flowers come from your garden, so the ‘shabby chic thrown together look’ works.
- Floors. Everyone knows that domestic types are constantly sweeping and vacuuming their floors. Me? Not so much. A small Dirt Devil works wonders. I also get those pre-moistened handy-wipe-floor-mopping things to put a nice shine on the tile floor…but only in areas company will see.
- Kids. I don’t have any children – yet. I am in my late 30’s (nice way of saying months away from 40); however all of my friends have been blessed with a multitude of little mouths to feed. When they start telling kid stories, I tell cat stories. I have 2 and they are very advanced for their age.
- Perfectly made beds. For a long time, I couldn’t understand why you would spend time making something that you KNEW you were going to mess up again in a few hours. However, it is amazing what you can do with pillows and throw blankets. Prop up pillows (like 6) against the headboard. Fold a nice blanket in half; throw it at the foot of the bed. A nice touch is to add a book or magazine (on being domestic – haha) on the bed, maybe with some reading glasses on top.
- Crafts. I wish I could glue together a wreath for my front door, or use popsicle sticks to make a birdhouse, but I know my limitations. Scrapbooking falls in this same category. I really tried to get into it a few years ago. Spent a ton of money, and have 5 pages done. I have a group of friends who get together to ‘scrapbook’ (seriously, they haul all this stuff to one person’s house and sit there clipping and gluing for HOURS). I’ve learned that if I show up with pizza and wine, no one realizes that I ‘forgot’ my scrapbook supplies.
- Bathrooms. Toilet bowl cleaner cleans just about everything. A linen scented candle adds a ‘just cleaned’ smell. If time permits, buy new hand towels and some fancy hand soap. If the accessories are nice, no one will look in the corners for dust bunnies.
- Food. I am not a good cook. If you follow my tweets, you’ve seen posts like ‘popcorn for dinner’ and ‘cooked hubby mac-n-cheese, I am a gourmet!’ I maintain – if I had time, I could be a decent cook. But until then, here is what I’ve done…get anything you want from the deli counter, from a box, or purchased from KFC. Stuff from the deli or from a box can easily be doctored up. For example, potato salad – add some mayo, sour cream, oregano and dill – people will go nuts. Something from KFC? Put those hunks of chicken loosely in tin foil on cookie sheets in the oven (set on ‘warm’). Your kitchen will smell like you’ve been cooking, and you will have the dirty dishes to prove it!
- Mending and sewing. Even though I work in the fashion industry, I can not sew. Fabric glue and double stick tape are a great fake. Buttons (glue), hems (tape). That is, until you can get your alterations to the seamstress.
- Coupon clipping and bargain hunting. I have a lot of friends who are great at being frugal. Unfortunately, I don’t get it. My husband wishes I could ‘get it’, but I am woefully lacking the frugal gene. When my friends get into coupon conversation frenzy, I check my email on my cell phone. If they catch me, I tell them I am making notes (not untrue!).
- Martha Stewart. Every domestic diva bows to the alter known as Martha Stewart. Although I am sure “it is a good thing”, NOTHING can be that easy! If anyone questions any of my domestic-ness (like my food, flowers or bedding), all I have to say is, “Oh, that? I read in Martha Stewart’s magazine, this is the new ‘it’ way”. Works every time.
(Photo Source: Crocidillicus)
Rather than spending her time cleaning baseboards and mending socks, Kathy Friend helps women make the most of their wardrobes. As a wardrobe consultant, she blogs at fashionanswers – go there for great fashion tips, wardrobe tricks and trend advice.
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Hey, you did better with your scrapbooking than I did. At least you have 5 pages! I just have a giant, blank scrapbook that was supposed to contain my wedding pictures. I think it's somewhere in the attic right now.
Love your blog, BTW. Definitely adding you to my blogroll!
I have had your site in Reader for three days but I am removing my subscription. I was a prod. dev. director for two fashion firms you know, people should not be in that line of work if they cannot pick up a needlenor broadcast that you chose not to educate yourself in the time you did the job. But, the really sad part about this post is that you assume your readers prefer work-arounds to do a shoddy job over learning how to truly do a thing well. Also, premoistened floor wipes do not clean anything. Take it from me, I take some pride in learning to do the best job possible. And, fyi – there is always time to get it done if you need to. Disappointing and, not surprisingly, not a well-done job…
Hi Susanna!
Thanks for the love, glad I am not the only one who has tried and failed at the scrapbooking thing!
First of all, I think Blushing Hostess should learn to not say anything if you can't say something nice. Not everyone is good at everything and until that can be learned, you will continue to look down on people and write them off. I am sure Kathy is much better than you in many areas and vice versa.
Kathy – I think your personality is hilarious and this made me laugh out loud. You are an awesome fashionista, non-sewing or not.
Oh, a kindred soul. I am a good cook but everything else that is "domestic" I don't do. Seriously. I just don't do it. So if you ever want to come visit, tell me several days in advance or I simply won't be able to open the door to my messy house.
I understand the scrapbooking thing. (or crapbooking as my DH calls it. . .) I also spent a ton of money and the stuff and it's still in the bag from the scrapbooking store. Been in the drawer since 2005 and it's not moving anytime soon.
And you're awesome – down with the haters!
Ahh, an honest woman – and my kind of house keeping. It is SO all about short cuts! Thanks for the post.
Wow what's up with Blushing hostess? Somehow I don't think that attitude is too hospitable. Oh my anyway I for one loved your post. I can sooo relate and I have 3 kids. Keep up the great work. Do you have a personal blog?
You're better at "faking" than I am!
For what it's worth, I see nothing wrong with not preparing meals from scratch. I try something, and if my family ignores it, then it is worth the extra $$ at the grocery store for me to buy pre-made.
I love the bit about flowers, and have been doing the toilet bowl cleaner in the entire bathroom for a while now. Why waste time and money on so many extra cleaners when just one will do?
Thanks for the giggle (and the comfort)! Love this line:
"I’ve learned that if I show up with pizza and wine, no one realizes that I ‘forgot’ my scrapbook supplies." Brilliant!
You and I may be kindred spirits. LOL!
Priceless. Thanks for helping me remember I AM just like everyone else out there!
So cute! What a great post
Anyone who thinks they are THE domestic goddess needs to get a grip. Real life is a lot nicer.
What a great and funny post! I received the same feedback when I said that I was going to be writing for blissfullydomestic…