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Hoarders and Freecycling
I love the show Hoarders – like a good horror film it scares the bejeezus out of me. At some point in every episode I think There but for the grace of a good cleaning lady and a tidy husband, …...
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Edna’s Nephew
After a few months, our antiques business was in full swing. We were getting the hang of shopping the sales, pricing, displaying and actually selling a little. Our booth was actually filling in....
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I am not an Antiques Dealer
As the months passed in the antiques mall, we realized that there was absolutely no money to be made in this business. Half of our sales were made to other dealers (who were convinced that we were...
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International Knitting
I always wanted to be one of those people who creates beautiful objets d’art. I have tried painting, quilting, photography, knitting, and most recently collage. I can see the end products so clearly...
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LilyPad Knits
With the company of assorted fellow housewives, I have tried many ways to make money from home. I had an eBay store. I sold used books on half.com. I submitted my short stories for publication. I...
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Passing Fancy – the Pop Up Store
The “LilyPad Knits” etsy store was not a success. We were not willing to work for 50 cents an hour, and no one was willing to pay any more. You had to actually see our creations in person, we...
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Strategy for Housewives – continued
Since about 1994 my friend, Sally, and I have tried to find ways to make a little money. We excel at the idea generation stage, but fall apart at the execution stage. I’m sure I have forgotten many...
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London 2012 Olympics
I have been planning to go to the London Olympics for the last 8 years. I funded a secret bank account and eventually saved up what I thought was plenty of money for the trip. Then, about a year ago,...
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Five Decades of Fashion
Recently, I was scanning some old family photos and I had a chance to reflect on some of the lovely fashions over the 50 years of my life. The 1960′s If it weren’t for Mad Men, we would probably cringe...
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Vogue Knitting
I am a knitter. I am not terribly prolific or talented, but I always have one or two projects going (just like I am always reading a few books). There is a whole secret world of knitting that was...
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Laduree has nothing to fear
One of my favorite treats in Paris is a French macaroon – especially from Laduree. They sell 15,000 macaroons per day (according to Wikipedia). They are now in New York, but not in Chicago. I had...
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Kransekake
It is time again for our annual New Year’s Eve Progressive Dinner Party. This is our 17th year. The theme this year is Scandinavian (as Jeannee traveled there this year). As soon as I heard...
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Scandinavian New Year’s Eve Progressive Dinner Party – 2012
For our 17th annual New Year’s Eve Progressive Dinner Party Jeannee selected a Scandinavian theme. The complete menu and recipes can be found at...
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Me and Hillary and the DVT
I have a few things in common with the Secretary of State – we both grew up in the Chicago suburbs (she actually went to high school with my cousin) and we both seem to be prone to blood clots. …...
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The Good Corporate Wife in Puerto Rico
It was time for another customer symposium. This one was is in Puerto Rico in February, so at least it sounded warm. From the moment I started packing I began singing West Side Story songs, and I...
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Stitches West
It finally arrived – the trip we had been planning for over a year – a journey to Santa Clara, California. It was the year of Noelle’s 50th birthday and her wish was for us all in the knitting group …...
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Protected: Valley of the Housewives: The Swinging Sixties Party
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Valley of the Housewives: The Swinging Sixties Party
About a year ago we toyed with the idea of reading a 1960′s book for book club and serving some 60′s food at the meeting. We wanted to recreate some of our childhood foods – in particular, that cream...
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London 2012 Olympics
I have been planning to go to the London Olympics for the last 8 years. I funded a secret bank account and eventually saved up what I thought was plenty of money for the trip. Then, about a year ago,...
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Things I Learned from My Mother
I am descended from a long line of very mediocre housewives. My mother summed it up in one sentence — “We are Irish”. Apparently that explained everything. It was why we could not clean thoroughly...
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