Aprons are Awesome

I know what you're thinking.

Well...okay, maybe I don't, but I'm betting that some of you are thinking, "Wha...?" and some of you are going, "Sweet!"

Aprons have made a comeback.

I'd heard a few comments here and there, about ladies donning protective covers about the house, but my interest wasn't really captured until I saw a link for Jessie Steele aprons that I went, "Wow!"

I approached my grandmother, a seamstress of incredible talent, and asked for help. (She also popped my eyes when she referenced the apron's comeback, as evidenced on...Desperate Housewives. Okay. Grandma watches Desperate Housewives. Good to know.)

For a few bucks' worth of material, and some half-priced patterns, I now have an apron collection. One that's been filled out with a couple of birthday gifts, and a homemade present from the mother of my good friend, the Ramblin' Educat. (It's the one pictured above).

(If you don't know a seamstress, here are some Jessie Steele aprons. If you'd rather go the homemade route--much, much cheaper, and better value for your money--pick through a local material shop's half-off table, and try this pattern or this one...or this cute mother-daughter set. Or this one. Sorry, can't stop myself.)

I can't say, definitively, that it's dramatically raised my housewifely productivity.

But maybe it has.

It makes sense, from a practical perspective, to have something to protect your clothing while you cook and clean. But I hope you guys won't think I've lost my mind if I share that it really does add a little something to simply have a uniform of sorts, too, that kind of says..."Doing Junk at Home is Special".

I mean, you guys know that I value being at home with kids. I work part-time, from home, too, so I can't say that homemaking is my "career", but it is a big part of my life, and forms a large portion of my identity. (I mean, hello...I titled my blog, this little cyber-window to my soul, in honor of my status as a Stay-Homer.)

But it gets to be a drag sometimes, you know? Constantly cooking, picking up, cleaning, or nagging--I mean, gently instructing--children on picking up and cleaning...only to wake up the next day and find that you have to start all over and do every bit of it again. Every day. For the rest of your life. Amen.

All of us who have homes and the ability to stay there and take care of them appreciate it, and count our blessings, I'm sure.

But admitting that it can be tedious doesn't negate that. You can say it. It's okay.

So, try an apron to cutely cover your clothes...and add a little snap to your daily slavery.

(As an aside, the oldest "Peep" did tell me that it was hard to take me seriously in a frilly apron....and cargo pants. I'm not sure that I can ever go the whole-hog June Cleaver route, and don heels and pearls, though. Even with an apron, we'll still be a little off the traditional path.)

I like to call this pic, "If John Bender Were a Housewife".

To be honest, I've always turned up my nose at the FlyLady's advice to put on lace up shoes in the mornings. I mean, who wears shoes in the house? Crazy people, that's who. (Sorry, psychos who wear shoes in the house, who are reading this. I'm sure you're lovely people, otherwise.)

But then, it happened, on a few occasions, that I had to get shoes on, for some reason or another, and...it really does do something. (It also helps to occasionally put in your iPod earphones, to drown out the precious little voices, hence the trailing cord you see.)

Your choice of footwear might have something to do with it, though.

Because when I'm wearing the above boots, I feel ten feet tall! (Actually, about two inches taller than I am, normally, to be exact.) And the house...it doesn't stand a chance. Boots like this say, "I'm going to stomp your butt, house. You're going to stay clean, too. And call me "sir".")

So, maybe it is crazy. Or maybe it's some sort of genius psychology, I don't know. But if it makes the day go smooth, it's worth a try. (I'll insert my standard disclaimer about recommending FlyLady here, and suggest reading the book Sink Reflections instead of signing up for the email reminders if you need to cut down computer time to help you get the house in shape.)

And you can always take an alcohol-drenched cotton ball to the soles of your shoes, if it gives you the heebie-jeebies to wear them inside. Not that I'd know, or anything.