I’ve been slightly enthralled with this book since discovering an antique copy in London. Isabel Beeton if you will was the Martha Stewart/Emily Post of her time. She published “Mrs. Beeton’s household management” in the late 1800’s, which was essentially a 1,112 page guide to properly caring for and running a Victorian home. Filled with everything from fashion, childcare, recipes and management of the help. Continue reading for the complete first chapter. – THE WIFE
Chapter One: The Mistress (Old fashion term for Lady of The House)
1. AS WITH THE COMMANDER OF AN ARMY, or the leader of any enterprise, so is it with the mistress of a house. Her spirit will be seen through the whole establishment; and just in proportion as she performs her duties intelligently and thoroughly, so will her domestics follow in her path. Of all those acquirements, which more particularly belong to the feminine character, there are none which take a higher rank, in our estimation, than such as enter into a knowledge of household duties; for on these are perpetually dependent the happiness, comfort, and well-being of a family. In this opinion we are borne out by the author of “The Vicar of Wakefield,” who says: “The modest virgin, the prudent wife, and the careful matron, are much more serviceable in life than petticoated philosophers, blustering heroines, or virago queens. She who makes her husband and her children happy, who reclaims the one from vice and trains up the other to virtue, is a much greater character than ladies described in romances, whose whole occupation is to murder mankind with shafts from their quiver, or their eyes.”
2. PURSUING THIS PICTURE, we may add, that to be a good housewife does not necessarily imply an abandonment of proper pleasures or amusing recreation; and we think it the more necessary to express this, as the performance of the duties of a mistress may, to some minds, perhaps seem to be incompatible with the enjoyment of life. Let us, however, now proceed to describe some of those home qualities and virtues which are necessary to the proper management of a Household, and then point out the plan which may be the most profitably pursued for the daily regulation of its affairs.
3. EARLY RISING IS ONE OF THE MOST ESSENTIAL QUALITIES which enter into good Household Management, as it is not only the parent of health, but of innumerable other advantages. Indeed, when a mistress is an early riser, it is almost certain that her house will be orderly and well-managed. On the contrary, if she remain in bed till a late hour, then the domestics, who, as we have before observed, invariably partake somewhat of their mistress’s character, will surely become sluggards. To self-indulgence all are more or less disposed, and it is not to be expected that servants are freer from this fault than the heads of houses. The great Lord Chatham thus gave his advice in reference to this subject:—“I would have inscribed on the curtains of your bed, and the walls of your chamber, ‘If you do not rise early, you can make progress in nothing.’”
4. CLEANLINESS IS ALSO INDISPENSABLE TO HEALTH, and must be studied both in regard to the person and the house, and all that it contains. Cold or tepid baths should be employed every morning, unless, on account of illness or other circumstances, they should be deemed objectionable. The bathing of children will be treated of under the head of “MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN.”
5. FRUGALITY AND ECONOMY ARE HOME VIRTUES, without which no household can prosper. Dr. Johnson says: “Frugality may be termed the daughter of Prudence, the sister of Temperance, and the parent of Liberty. He that is extravagant will quickly become poor, and poverty will enforce dependence and invite corruption.” The necessity of practising economy should be evident to every one, whether in the possession of an income no more than sufficient for a family’s requirements, or of a large fortune, which puts financial adversity out of the question. We must always remember that it is a great merit in housekeeping to manage a little well. “He is a good waggoner,” says Bishop Hall, “that can turn in a little room. To live well in abundance is the praise of the estate, not of the person. I will study more how to give a good account of my little, than how to make it more.” In this there is true wisdom, and it may be added, that those who can manage a little well, are most likely to succeed in their management of larger matters. Economy and frugality must never, however, be allowed to degenerate into parsimony and meanness.
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Diptyque is one of my favorite fragrance companies, They not only make deliciously scented room spray, but candles, Perfumes and Colognes. I’m extremely fond of their scent “Figuier,” I have strategically placed candles and room spray all through out my home. Other favorites of mine are Baies and Roses. These always make for perfect for house warming or hostess gifts. Room Spray $60.00, at Space NK Apothecary.
First, put away the Absolut and Grey Goose. Cleaning with vodka is best done with the cheap stuff. Vodka works well for a number of everyday and more unusual cleaning applications, and there are more uses for vodka than you may expect. As a cleaning agent, vodka is a good alternative to more toxic cleaners, bringing the sparkle back to your diamonds and freshening your home.
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Step1
Use vodka on your laundry. High-proof alcohol has a solvent effect and can work very well for removing some types of stains, including grass and vomit stains. Simply blot the stain with a clean cloth soaked in vodka. You can also use vodka to spot clean heavily beaded garments or clean beading. The alcohol will make the beads sparkle and clean the underlying fabric. By diluting one part vodka with five parts water, you can make a spray for freshening your clothes. Add a bit of lavender oil or other essential oil if desired. Diluted vodka spray is quite effective at removing cigarette odors, either by itself or after washing.
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Step2
Clean your bathroom. Vodka will help make a dingy bathroom sparkle. It is ideal for both glass and chrome and can remove that spotty dullness that effects the fixtures in your bathroom with little effort. Diluted in a spray bottle, it will remove hairspray and soap residue from the surfaces of your bath, especially ceramic tile. Cleaning with vodka is also effective on mold and mildew
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Step3
Use it to clean small, delicate items. Many types of jewelry, with the exception of softer and more delicate items like pearls and opals, will come clean with a soak in vodka. Vodka is also ideal for cleaning your eyeglasses without leaving streaks. If you own a chandelier or lamps decorated with glass prisms, vodka will make them sparkle. Apply to a soft cloth and gently wipe each prism or dilute and spray, then wipe.
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Step4
Kill and prevent unwanted household pests. A diluted vodka spray can be used to kill ants and other common household insects. Household plants can be cleaned with a soft, damp cloth and then wiped with diluted vodka to prevent aphid infestations. You can also use vodka to kill weeds. Combine 1 oz. of vodka, 2 cups of water and a bit of dish soap. Spray on weeds. These uses for vodka can keep your home free of unwanted visitors.
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Step5
Remove residues of various sorts. Vodka is an eco-friendly solvent and works quite well for removing adhesive from items of all sorts, even skin. Save yourself the money on expensive and smelly adhesive removers. – eHow.com
A Greener Firelog
While flipping through an engineering textbook, a tiny fact with huge implications caught inventor Rod Sprules’s eye: coffee grounds have more energy capacity than cordwood when combusted.
He got to thinking, and soon realized that two recent cultural trends could work together. Neighborhood coffeehouses and awareness of the need for a sustainable lifestyle were experiencing a groundswell of support all over North America. So he asked himself, what if we used coffee grounds from retail outlets, manufacturing plants, office buildings, and homes for hearth fires? The Java-Log® Firelog concept was born.
Java-Log® Firelog advantages include:
Diverts 12 million pounds of coffee grounds from landfills per year
Emits up to 78% less carbon monoxide and up to 66% less creosote than cordwood fires
Features renewable all natural-based waxes
Available at Whole Foods Markets
(Photographed above my hand addressed Christmas cards waiting to be put in the post.)
A good WIFE should have the most beautiful and neat handwriting. This always comes in handy when writing Thank You notes, Addressing Cards, and Sharing Recipes. This is one quality the WIFE should never be without. If you worry about your penmanship then might I suggest purchasing some handwriting notebooks (they can be found at amazon.com). Or if you want to take your excellent writing to the next level enroll yourself in a calligraphy class (check paper source.com for class schedule) Practice makes perfect! – Taryn Cox
Faber Castell Artist Pens are my favorite pens to write letters, cards and notes with. I prefer the Medium point pen, I think its the smoothest. They are available at any art store.
Zig Calligraphy Double ended Pens make addressing envelopes a breeze! I like using the smaller end of the pen. Its the exact pen I used to write the addresses with in the photo above.
Also available at art stores.
