Ask The Helpful Housewife

What Is Your Most Important Issue as a Homemaker?

I'm going to pose a question out here, and I really, really, really want you to leave a comment on this post! It's important! I'm looking for your input on this blog. You see, I have been analyzing the different ways people find their way to this site. My stats will show me where folks clicked in from when they get here.  It doesn't tell me who, or where, you are in the world. It just shows the last page you clicked onto a link to my page. That's all...don't panic about privacy! Seriously! I have no idea what you were doing, who you are, or anything else! It just tells me how you clicked to here...

Anyway, I have noticed that about 78% of those who come to my blog reach it from a GOOGLE or BING search for "routines, schedules for housewife" or similar search keywords.  That's right... 78%.  That's a staggering figure to me! There are obviously those who click in from feeds, blogrolls, other blogs who link to me, and other avenues.  But apparently everyone is really interested in how to maintain or develop a schedule for either cleaning or just plain managing their day. The second highest route to get here is a search for "laundry chart", or other such terms. That's around 13% of the search engine traffic.  That leaves only around 9% of the page views to other search terms or the traditional clicks I mentioned above.

So, here's the question: "What do you want to read about the most?" I want to know. Seriously. I want to make sure my content is useful for you, and makes clicking on the page worthwhile! Please tell me what you are looking for in the posts I publish out here.  Now, obviously, I started this because of my passion for all things housewife. Therefore, I've tried to write about all aspects of it, from grocery shopping to cleaning; from gardening to decorating. I enjoy all of these things, so it's not a chore to write! And of course, even though I'm looking for input, I will still post the things I feel compelled to share due to my excitement or interests.

But I want to know your thoughts.  If you are looking for certain topics, information, details, how-to's, tips, anything, I would like to be able to give you what you are looking for! So, if you've managed to read all the way through this post, please take a moment to leave your suggestions/requests in the comments. I promise I will read each and every one of them and take them to heart...

Finally - you get to decide! You may not get to choose when anything else happens today, since the world doesn't always cooperate, but here's something that you can control for a change! Take advantage! You never know when you'll get your own way again!  lol

"Window" Shopping

I've been indulging in some eye candy this morning...  I found two emails in my inbox that I absolutely couldn't resist opening.  I'm going to put lots of pictures in this post as I just can't help myself!  I have to share these lovelies with all of you! 

First, I opened my email from a London-based shop called "Plumo".  I'm positive I've posted about them before.  It's where I got my sweet little lollie makers from!  Anyway, they are having a big summer sale, and I had to peek.  I fell in LOVE with so much!  Here are some items that I added to my wish list (and may even be ordering by this afternoon if I lose my willpower!)  As you click on each photo, it should then change the large image to the one you just selected....  I hope it works. 

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I can't decided which of these items I like the best!  I absolutely ADORE the retro doilies and the polka dot pots.  But the Lena Totebag is near and dear because my nickname all through highschool and college was "Lena".  There is so much more on their website than these goodies.  They have gorgeous clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, home items and gifts.  And once in a while I get an email from them that offers free shipping, which is always wonderful when it's coming from England!  Sign up for their newsletters.... you'll get those notifications, and will always know when the next yummy thing is coming!

I also happened to check out the April Cornell website.  In their email they showed some beautiful new summer prints for the kitchen.  The Blueberries print and the Strawberries print collections are so cute, and perfect for those picnic-like days of summer.  And then there was the  California Check print collection....  so reminiscent of the 1950's, and fresh and bright to really perk up your day!  Sigh.....  I want.  I want. I want.  (My husband would tell me to want in one hand and wish in the other and see which one fills up first. But I am so tempted to take advantage of their sale as well!)

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 I personally love the watering cans... how sweet! If you click here it will take you to the table linens section, by category/print.  If you click here, it will route you to the watering cans.  But also be sure to check out the exquisite clothing lines, too!  When Attie, my oldest, was not quite 2 years old (and still an only child for a few more months!), I went to the actual April Cornell store here in town and got her an absolutely amazing Christmas dress, and mother/daughter matching aprons in the same fabric collection.  We still wear those aprons every Christmas when we bake cookies together!  But I have to admit, I only purchase from this site once in a very great while, and only when on sale.  Kitchen linens, especially table cloths, are my weakness.  I have way too many already that I have found at antique sales, flea markets and such.  I love the vintage ones, but when I find a brand new one that is a replica of a retro design, I have a tendency to get it.  I don't feel as bad when I use it daily and wash it so frequently.  But I'm an addict.  I have an entire shelf in my linen closet devoted to kitchen linens, and two drawers in my dining room "buffet" that hold the rest of the collection.  And I can't squeeze another in either space.  That's the main thing stopping me from going nuts on these items today.  Especially the California Check pattern, as it's on sale!

Hope you all enjoy browsing these sites like I did!

Revisiting A Mom's/Housewife's Net Worth

About a year ago I posted this, but I wanted to put it out here again after a lengthy conversation I just had with my mother and a friend.  I also frequently have this conversation with my husband, because at times I feel like a "kept woman" after leaving my job.  I get a guilt trip over not contributing financially, and he always jumps to the other side of the fence and is very adamant that I contribute way more by staying home.  No, he's not a chauvanistic neanderthal; he's just a great husband who is very supportive of me!

What is the salary of a mom/housewife worth?  The figure they keep tossing out there is $120,000 per year.  Not a bad figure, hey?  About 4 or 5 years ago, Andy got his USAA magazine in the mail, and they had an article in there on this very same topic, and they actually estimated it at around $140,000 I think.  I like that number better.  I wish I could find that archive in his office!!!  Counting for inflation and cost of living increases, I bet it would be more by now!

Whichever number you assign to it, it still isn't enough, but let's assume it's a fair amount.  When you think about all we do to keep our households running, we just couldn't afford to be without us housewives/moms.   We do the cooking, cleaning, laundry, managing of the budgets, shopping, caretaking, and more.  To pay a chef, drycleaner, accountant, personal shopper, daycare, and and other professionals to do these jobs for us, we would be spending three to four times more. 

Want to know the main reason why I left the engineering field when my oldest child was born?  Most of my paycheck would have gone to daycare.  Once we had all of our children, there was no point in going back to work.  Even when I had opened my own business, I was spending over $600 per week for PART TIME daycare for 4 kids.  And I still was doing all of the household management anyway.  No wonder I broke down and had Molly Maids come in once a month to do a good cleaning!  That was $100 well spent in my eyes!  For us, it is more fiscally intelligent for me to stay home. 

Moms are still undervalued today.  I hate the feminist movement; I am a firm believer that you should never feel bad about the choices you make for yourself.  If you want to work, great!  It shouldn't be because you feel like you have some bra-burning legacy to live up to.  On the other hand, if it means providing for your family, then yes, you must do it, and do it proudly!  And if you do it because you simply enjoy it and it makes you sane and happy, I applaud you!  On the other hand, if you want to stay home because you like the lifestyle of being at home with the kids and doing the housewife thing, I applaud that too.  Don't let anyone make you feel guilty or like you aren't contributing.  Because believe you me, you are.  At a rate of $120,000 per year. 

But for those of you who think that even though you love being home with the kids, and you love nothing more than a sparking clean home and freshly baked cookies coming out of the oven, you are just playing house and not really doing anything with your life?  There truly is value in what you do.  And when you can't see the emotional and spiritual value in what you do for your family some days, realize this: you are saving your family a whole bundle of money on those professionals who could be doing it for you!  As my husband loves to remind me....

MyPunchbowl.com Contest Winners...

OK, due to underwhelming interest in the contest (I am SOOOO disappointed, you all.  This is an awesome site!), I decided to choose winners anyway!  I plugged in the names of the followers of this blog from Facebook and found two winners from a random generator.  And the winners are (drumroll please.....)

Lisa Smith and Christie Nutkins!!!!  Watch for an email ladies!!

A Contest Give-A-Way!!!

 

I am a little (OK, a LOT!) late in getting this news out to you... this month has been crazy hectic for us.  But the lovely Ms. Stephanie Fader at mypunchbowl.com emailed me a while ago with a great idea for a contest!  And of course, I agreed because this site is just fantastic. 

To introduce all of you to this amazing virtual destination, we are giving away two, count 'em, TWO free premium memberships to mypunchbowl.com, valued at $49.95 each!  What does a membership include, do you ask?  Well, all of the amenities of the site!  Here's what mypunchbowl.com is all about!

As busy moms and housewives, we  have all had to plan the kids' birthday parties or family events and so many other happy occasions.  And it gets to be overwhelming, doesn't it?  This site does so much of it for you!  From here, you can manage your guest lists, set your date for your event (even coordinate it with your guests beforehand), send out free e-cards and e-invitations, order gifts, get great theme and decorating ideas, and SO MUCH MORE!  I can't tell you any  more details because it's part of the contest. 

Here is what you need to do:  In order to possibly win one of these two memberships, you need to post a comment here letting me know at least one feature of the site you like the most or an event you would use it for.  You can comment as many times as you like, but it will still only get you one entry!  If you become a follower of this blog on facebook, this will get you an additional entry.  If you send an email to thehelpfulhousewife@hotmail.com with one feature from the site that you love, you will get an additional entry.  Add a link to Ask The Helpful Housewife on your blog homepage and that's another chance to win.  There's four entries for you all together!  If you have completed all four items, go back to our blog page on facebook (click from the home page here) and post it in the comments section, along with your blog url.  That way I can be sure you've completed all four and can go back and check them all! 

You have until June 2nd to enter this amazing opportunity that Stephanie has given us.  I wish everyone luck!  I'm definitely going to be using this site for all of our events from now on!  I'm already starting to make a list of the summer parties I want to have just to use the site....

Good Luck, Everyone!

Twins' 5th Birthday Party Planning!

The twins are turning 5 on the 7th of April.  Right smack in the middle of spring break.  The deal in our family is, when you turn five you get the big party, and after that it's family celebrations.  With four kids, it's unrealistic to think you get the star treatment every year!  Besides, we don't think it's a good idea to raise our kids to think they should get everything they want, whenever they want, and become materialistic.  We can't afford it with four, and it's just not necessary!  So we decided a long time ago that 5 was the magic number for the one big party.  So far, the plan has been a good one!  Anyway, I digress...  Since the birthday is at an awkward time in the schedule, we had a hard time finding a good time to have it.  So we just bit the bullet and picked tonight.  It seemed to be okay with most of the families of kids we invited!  Friday nights are tough anyway, but with it being the kickoff of spring break, we were really pushing it, but most welcomed it!  They got to drop off their kid, and have a couple hours of peace and quiet before a whole week of craziness, so it worked out well in the end!

If you need a couple ideas for a party for your own child/twins/more, here's some I can pass along.  We booked our party at a local place called Jumpin' Jax Bounce Arena, an indoor inflatable bounce center in Lansing.  Two local moms opened it, and what an awesome idea!  It will be our first time there, and we can't wait to see what it's like.  Having the party at an outside location saves you a lot of work.  It's worth the cost.  For party favors, we avoided any junk food for choking/allergy reasons and went to the local party supply store.  Each bag holds bubbles, a smiley face maze, a harmonica, a kazoo, and a bouncy ball.  Every five year old loves this stuff.  For about $35 I was able to put together 25 bags.  Enough for the guests and extras in case siblings show up.   

And yes, I know I am supposed to be the queen of all things homemade and retro, but this week has been crazy busy.  We are getting ready to go on our own spring break trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama to see the grandparents and relax a little, so there is a ton of laundry, packing, shopping, planning to do; on top of all this, my husband is travelling again and is going to be at Ft. Custer for the weekend leading his battallion in a training exercise, so I'm doing all of this plus the party by myself.  So that's my excuse for not baking the kids' birthday cake.  However, for $11.88, you can get 30 decorated cupcakes at Sam's Club!  We chose the Backyardigan's theme as seen here since we have boys and girls attending.  How can you go wrong?  If time is short and you can't get to the baking, I highly recommend it!  You can't bake them yourself at that price these days!  What a great deal.  And the kids love them.  And they get to keep the ring on the top. 

The bounce arena has arranged to order pizzas for us tonight, and is providing drinks and paper products and decorations.  All we have to do is show up with the cupcakes and have fun.  I can't think of an easier way to just enjoy the smiles on my girls' faces! 

New Address

The new official email address for this site is:  thehelpfulhousewife@hotmail.com

All future emails and questions should be sent to this address.  Since typepad won't allow me to change the previous email link to this address, I simply removed that link from the sidebar and will be sure to include this email link in the closing portion of each post.  That way it is always accessible to click on it!  Be sure to add it to your address book!

As If We Need Another Reason to Lock Up Our Pocketbooks!

These glasses would be perfect for lemonade this summer...

These cake stands would be perfect for holding my Lemon Blueberry Bundt cake and a batch of Lavender Tea Cookies to be washed down with that lemonade...

 

And even if I manage to behave and not purchase the glasses or the cake stands, I really must restock my pancake mix.  This Stonewall Kitchens mix is absolutely the best I've ever tasted!  I usually make my mix from scratch, but sometimes we have a treat and "get out the good stuff"...