"Domestically Disabled" Swap

I definitely fall into the 'aspiring domestic goddess' category, though most of the time, I fall miserably short (because there just aren't enough hours in the day for everything!).

Could you give some examples of items that would fit the theme?

Eeek...I just posted a long list, but Swap-Bot lost it. :(

I'm still coming up with ideas myself, but for items to buy:

Cleaning products from http://www.caldrea.com or http://www.mrsmeyers.com - they come in all sorts of divine scents & are far more luxurious than most of us would probably buy for ourselves & make cleaning a bit more fun.

Fun aprons, dish gloves, pot holders, etc.

Anything from Anne Taintor or http://disgruntledhousewife.com

A household organizer of some sort (???), for the severely disorganized :-)

Check a bookstore - there are a number of light-hearted, fun books on the topic

Or you could go with vintage 50s magazines/books on cooking & cleaning

Any type of diversion your partner would enjoy (maybe based on her favorite crafts) - because some of us would rather do anything other than housework!

OR, if you'd prefer to make items to send, here's a list from Craftster:

-tees, totes, aprons, etc with Phyllis Diller or Erma Bombeck quotes -tributes/shrines to famous bad housekeepers (Roseanne, Lucy, Mr. Mom, etc. -kitschy '50s housewives gulping down martinis on postcards, retro definitions of a woman's household duties, heavy on the irony printed/painted/stenciled/needleworked onto just about anything imaginable -crummy housewife kits with pajamas, bon-bons and tv schedules with the soaps highlighted -the whole 'I'd rather be...' could be explored quite extensively here

Hope this helps!

That list is awesome! I'm making an apron for sure. I fall into the "aspiring" category, my new year's resolutions were to knit a pair of socks and bake more cakes.

Yeah! I'm NOT the only one who considers herself "domestically disabled"! I try, I really do, but I have way to many hobbies, and cleaning isn't one of them! (Although I do like cooking and baking.) I can clean my house one day and it can be totally trashed the next, because once I get on a roll with a craft project, it just takes over. Lately I've taken to doing a good cleaning on Friday so the house is clean for my family to be home on the weekends, but during the week . . . yikes!

That IS an awesome list. I cracked up over the Anne Taintor website, I'd never seen it before. I can't wait to get the name of my swap partner so I can check out her profile and get working on this! How fun!

I could be a domestic goddess if I weren't so darn time-challenged. I'm in!!

Jewels, LOL, you sound just like me. I'm glad I'm not the only one! With 4 kids, my house always ends up trashed the day after I clean it, it just amazes me...I've always wanted a shop just like the one you described on your profile too. :-)

I realized I forgot to post in my list above, Anne Taintor's website is http://www.annetaintor.com. Casabella (http://www.casabella.com/) also has really fun cleaning stuff (I always buy their brooms!), but their products are waaay cheaper on drugstore.com or Amazon. :-)

I'd say I'm one who strives/pretends to be a "domestic goddess." I work, go to school, and have an energetic 18- month-old, things get stressful fast and housekeeping ranks verrrry low on my priority list! I'm someone who would rather just "let it go" and worry about it later. I love to cook and bake and craft, but hate cleaning up afterwards!

I think this swap will be a blast :)

WHAT A FABULOUS FABULOUS SWAP IDEA, AND WOWIE ZOWIE ON THAT LIST YOU GENERATED, EH??? Oh my goodness!!! I can hardly wait for March to arrive just for this swap!!!!

Okay, I used to be very very very domestically disabled, but in this past year I suddenly became fascinated with the idea of becoming a domestic artist. Notice I wrote "fascinated with the idea!" LOL!!! I seem to be turning into a 1950's homemaker. Well, my MIND has turned that corner (and a few others as well!), but my body hasn't quite yet caught up with it. I'm more like Jewels with the house ending up trashed later that day with the craft projects!!

I don't even have kids to blame it on!!! The little bitty 4-leggeds get blamed a lot for some awfully BIG messes!!

I made a major half-way across the country move in September, and STILL haven't gotten the house all settled and unpacked, which makes the whole cleaning and organizing even that much more challenging.

Anyway, I can hardly wait for this one!!!! Thank you for coming up with such a fab idea!!!!

Hopefully, all participants (whether domestic divas or domestically disabled) have good senses of humor 'cause I'm finding tons of irreverant things and I'm hoping no one will get offended! :)Anyone out their easily offended? I won't send it 'cause it's just too naughty for something like this, but has anyone else checked out Amy Sedaris' I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence? Hilarious! Plus, good recipes!

Oops! I meant "out there"! I'm an English teacher, for crying out loud!!!

^^ I love Amy! (David too, for that matter!) The recipes are awesome-- my fav. is zucchini fritters drool

Oh geez, I learned something new here... I put asterisks around the word 'drool' and it came out italicized!

Hey ladies! Just wanted to include another website that might be helpful with this whole domestically challenged business! Some of the suggestions are pretty helpful and her system is pretty great, though a lot to implement. Anyway, check it out if you're interested~

Flylady.com

I'm just getting ready to send out things for my first swap (Thursday), and this one sounds like a lot of fun.

I'm definitely domestically disabled, and I'm one of those cringers at the thought of being a domestic goddess. I already have too much going on with taking care of people, so the thought of spending a bunch of extra time making my house worthy of a goddess just wears me out.

Can't wait to see how this goes! It should be a lot of fun.

Hello Everyone, I definitely fall into the catogory of "aspiring domestic goddess". =) I can't wait for this swap... I have started collecting things already! -Angie

This sounds fantastic! I'm most certainly an "aspiring domestic goddess", but am just happy when I get the floor swept before company shows up.

I\'m not really sure where I\'m at with my domestic goddess skills. I\'m joining this swap because maybe when my package arrives I\'ll be inspired to clean. I\'ve always wanted to try those fancy cleaning products like mrs.meyers. This will give me an excuse to go get some for my partner.

OK, I think that I fall into both categories. I cringe at the idea that I dare to try to be a domestic goddess knowing full well that I am no where near succeeding.

This sounds fun! I would love to get some speciality cleaning products, but then the Bon Bon's/pajamas sounds fun too. =) Not a big soap opera fan though. =) I do love organizing and rearranging. I am constantly on the go, but do love my down time.

Oops, I haven't checked the comments here in awhile! Lily - The Amy Sedaris book was part of my inspiration for this swap, I highly recommend it to everyone! Unfortunately, I'm a Fly Lady dropout, the system (which might work well for some) was just too intense for me! I did try valiantly for a couple of weeks though. I'll be on first thing tomorrow morning to give our participant list a "look through" one more time & then assign partners! :-)

I've had fun keeping my eye out for suitable products / items. For me, I adore Anne Taintor, Method products, would love to get the Amy Sedaris book, I'm a big Lucy fan... This will be fun :)

You guys won't believe this. I got my package already!!! While the rest of us are THINKING about what to get our partners, Anisa and her organized self, sent her stuff out already and I got it!!

A terrific package of nice things I have never indulged in - great smelling cleaning stuff, a beautifully hand crafted dish towel and some other nice things.

Thank you, Anisa!

Debbi - Your package is on the way! Enjoy! -Angie (imyorehucklberry)

Angie...What fun unpacking the box from you..now i have to figure out what cocktail to use the beautiful glass swizzle sticks with! Thanks sooooo much..enjoy the weekend.

Elizabeth- thanks so much for a wonderful package! I can tell a lot of care went into making that beautiful paint can. I had a lot of fun looking at all my goodies, too. I will try and take some pictures tonight and post them later. :) vicki

Charlotte sent me the most wonderful package. I got SOOOOOO much wonderful stuff. I love it all, 3 super cool books vintage cool style. She made me fun apron and pot holder, also I got 3 types of mrs.meyer cleaning stuff! 3 really cool dish towels! And all of packaged with chocolate dispersed throughout the packaging. She really rocks. I wish i could give her hearts X100! THANK YOU

I put a couple of pictures up if anyone is interested. :)

Girlymom! Package on it's merry way to YOU!! :D

Drewzel - package has been sent out to you! It's coming from the US... so about a week?

sorry mine went today sorry for the delay no excuse i just let life get in the way please accept my appoligys fiona

What a bummer! My partner flaked. I had Summer and she has now deleted her account. =( Boo Hooo.... Sniff, sniff...

Oh no! What an awful swap to be flaked on. That sucks.

I'm still waiting for mine and trying to be patient and not bug my partner about it since she's been busy and seems to keep forgetting. This is one of those swaps I've really looked forward to, you know?

::hugs::

I'm sorry about your partner flaking. Some people are just mean.