Ask Mrs. Stepford

So, I was going through my email today, and imagine my surprise when I found a couple emails from readers of my blog! I asked their permission to share their questions on the blog, in case others may have similar questions.

Q: What is your favorite house cleaning tip? One that even I can do because I'm no good at keeping house.

My favorite, by far, is my recipe for make-it-yourself Febreze. I hate the smell of regular Febreze, and even with CVS sales, it's just too darn expensive for my taste. With the make-it-yourself stuff, you can pick a scent that you like, use what concentration you like, and use as much or as little of it as you want. And because you use fabric softener, whenever and whatever you spray it on has a fresh from the wash smell. I like spraying it on the bed before I make it for the day.

Q: I liked your dinner ideas for your husband's birthday, especially the part about the candles. One question I have... My candles turn kind of yellow after a little while. I end up throwing them away and getting new ones. Is it because I buy dollar store candles? Can you think of anything to do with yellowed candles?

Pretty much every candle I buy, except for the Yankee Candles, turn kind of a yellow over time. Instead of throwing them away, wipe them down with some ammonia. In white candles, that will bring back their original white color. In some colored candles, it will lighten their overall color, but remove their yellow coloring. In the super cheap candles, it may strip them of their color all together, leaving them white, or a very pale version of their original color. Painted tapers? Depending on their quality, it could bring out a shine, or strip their paint.

If you want to see what happens, test it on a small part of your candle first.

Q: What's the dumbest household trick you heard from somebody else that you can't believe you didn't think of first?

To keep a spare watering can in the bathroom so you can easily rinse the tub and shower walls when your shower head isn't detachable. When I heard that, I hand a "oh DUH!" moment. That was way easier than my previous method, which was basically me trying to aim the shower head at the shower walls and trying to rinse it off.

Q: Lots of bloggers are talking about that CNN article where they call being a stay-at-home-wife a luxury and status symbol. What do you think? Do you work?

I work part-time, outside of the home. Before that, however, I was a SAHW for a couple of years. I earned very little income, and contributed to the household in other, non-bread winner ways. I decided to go back to work part-time to earn a little money for our savings, pay down some debt, and take some of the stress of being the sole income of the house off of Mr. Stepford. This has worked very well for us.

What do I think about the article? Really, I think that families will make the choice that is best for their family based off of the knowledge they have, the needs of their family, the capabilities and interests of those involved, and their specific situation. Because I believe that most families will make the choice that is in the best interests of their family and that most are trying to act in their families best interests, I don't see it as my place to make judgments here or there about anybody's particular situation.

If you want to have a spouse stay home, or if you want both spouses to work and you believe its what's best for your family, then I applaud you for your decision, and it's not my business to make judgments on it or second guess your choice. I do not think that families that have a stay-at-home spouse are inherently better than a family with both spouses working, or vice versa. I think the best family is the family that does what is needed to be happy, healthy, balanced, and personally successful.

Q: Do you fight the frump? Like wear make-up, jewelry, things like that?

I do, pretty much every day. I wear concealer, foundation, powdered bronzer, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara, and lipstick. I *LOVE* when makeup lines have ECB offers at CVS, because it gives me a chance to try brands, shades, and tools I wouldn't otherwise buy. Like right now, I'm wearing black nail polish with ruby red sparkles that I got for free with my ECBs on Sunday. It looks pretty hot, if you ask me! :)

I also always have at least one necklace on, and a pair of earrings. I wear 5 rings over my two hands, and yes, I do have a navel piercing. :)

If that counts as frump fighting or not, I guess remains to be seen. I've seen some of the tips floating around, some good, some not, some I think kind of contrary to the mission of frump fighting. In the end, again, I think that the best thing to do is dress to flatter your body type, wear cosmetics that match your hair color, eye color, and complexion, and to remain open to exploring your style.

I try to find one thing a week to do that's different or outside of my norm... Either buy with ECB's a color or product I'd not used and hadn't previously considered, wearing my hair differently, trying a new polish color... Something. I think that goes a long way to fighting frump, since there is no set "this universally looks good on all, and this universally does not" formula for us girls to follow.

If anybody else out there has questions, feel free to leave a comment or two, or to drop me an email. I'll be happy to give some of your conundrums a go!