1950's Housewife Challenge

A New Year, New Vintage Housewife Daily Schedule Printable

Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were fabulous and you were surrounded by people you love!

To kick the new year off I have freshened up the Vintage Housewife Daily Schedule Printable, and I have also added some bonus pages this year to help you track your daily chores.

A display of PDFS fanned out on a white background. Documents include the The Vintage Housewife Daily Routine FREE Printable PDF, and a daily checklist

This year’s printable features the 1950’s Housewife Daily Routine, a Daily Checklist inspired by the Housewife Routine, a blank checklist, an hourly daily planner, and a meal planner!

You can download all this absolutely free, along with my progress in the 1950’s Housewife Challenge, housekeeping tips, & fun and easy DIYs. delivered directly to your inbox when you subscribe to The Vintage Housewife!

I’ll send you the FREE VINTAGE HOUSEWIFE ROUTINE PRINTABLE PACK instantly in your first emai!

The Vintage Housewife website on a white laptop sitting on a desk with a mug, pink flowers and pink office supplies.

How to Be a Good Wife

Did you watch the Royal Wedding?

Of, course I did! I have a long fascination with the Royal family.

Megan Merkle was poised and stunning, Harry obviously at times overcome with emotion and beaming with pride and love. It is truly a modern-day fairytale.

Aside from the Royal Wedding which I watched in my PJs in the comfort of my own home, we are invited to handful friends and family weddings over the course of the summer.

Weddings always seem to come in clusters, some years there are none, other years many, and for us, we are definitely in a wedding season.

When my husband and I were married (close to 16 years ago now) our Reverend made a point during the service, and at the time I didn’t fully understand it, now all these years later it makes perfect sense and I actively try to take his advice at each and every wedding I attend.

Our Reverend said “Weddings are not just for the young couple starting out together in life, they are also for attending couples who have been together for awhile. A wedding is a time to relive your own wedding, reflect upon the vows and renew and refresh your commitment to your spouse”

Or something very close to that. It has been 16 years, after all…

While, I love attending and watching weddings, is because I love to see that sparkle of enthusiasm and new love newlyweds. I also like to evaluate my own marriage, particularly my role in the marriage.

Am I being a good wife? What makes a good wife?

After 16 years of marriage, I feel like I have learned a lot about being married, and I still have so much to learn!

If you have even spent a minute here you probably have heard me talk about The Good Wife Guide, the dated guide is the basis for my 1950’s Housewife Challenge, and is loaded with tips on being a good wife and a happy love-filled marriage in the 1950’s. The guide is primarily centered on cleaning and keeping a tidy house. While I do think that actually still is important, there is a lot missing from The Good Wife Guide. Here is my what I would add or further clarify:

Work on growing together

What is the number one reason people usually saw caused their divorce? Yup, it is usually something along the lines of “we just grew apart”. Why do people grow apart? I am not sure, I imagine it has something to do with becoming complacent. Marriage was never meant to run on autopilot, a marriage needs to be nurtured and nourished, regardless of how long you have been married. Love and marriage is a choice, one you must make every single day, and continue to work on.

Communicate

I think it is safe to say that the foundation of a successful marriage is built on strong communication, even the experts seem to agree on that. But for some that is easier said than done. I am not a natural communicator, and if presented the option of fight or flight, my natural instinct is almost always flight. I hate conflict and have a hard time with big, difficult topics. Over the years I have worked on addressing the big issues with my husband and making myself more emotionally available through communication. Not only has working on my communication strengthened my marriage, but I feel developing this skill has helped me grow as an individual.

Share Your Positive Qualities With Your Spouse

So many times we present the most pleasant version of ourselves to strangers. Being courteous and polite in the checkout lane, kindly thanking a stranger for holding a door, or giving compliments and smiles freely and naturally. As a married couple, it is easy to get caught up in the current task at hand, we tend to take our partners for granted, rather than the honoring our relationship and partner. I suppose since we are very comfortable and easily irritated with people we spend the most time with, it makes sense we are kinder to strangers than our loved ones. While the reasoning behind this behavior seems logical, it is not right. We must show the utmost love, kindness, and respect for those closest to us, especially our spouses.

Look Good

This topic always seems to draw the sharpest criticism whenever the Good Wife Guide is discussed. And, I know what you are thinking, isn’t focusing on appearances and style kind of shallow? Maybe, but hear me out.

I truly believe how you look affects how you feel, and vice versa. For me personally how I feel about my appearance affects my confidence and self-esteem. There have been plenty of times in our years together were food, exercise and rest wasn’t a priority for me, and my body showed it with puffy skin, lousy posture, and sluggish energy, which led to lazy and indifferent wardrobe selections. I would get stuck in a cycle of “I feel like crap, so I look like crap. I look like crap because, I feel like crap”. Break the cycle and the rest will easily fall into place. Once I started walking I started drinking more water and eating better, which made me feel better, once I felt better I started putting more effort into my appearance.

For me, this has always been less about looking good for him, and more about looking good to feel good, which probably makes me a more pleasant person to be around.

Go on “dates”

Dating, or creating a unique and special time to spend focused on each other is so important. Occasionally my husband and I will go out to dinner without the kids, but more often our dates look like walks around the farm. Date night doesn’t have to be fancy, You just want to set aside time each week to nurture your relationship, rather than wait for it to break down to try to spend time together.

Keep a clean and organized house

They say your environment affects your well being and mood. Keep your house neat and clean at all times. The clean and uncluttered environment at home will uplift his and your spirits and mood. Think of ways to make your home a peaceful sanctuary and soft place to land after a long day.

Give him his space

Just as important as spending time with your hubby, is spending time apart. While my husband and I have a lot of mutual interests, there are some I just don’t enjoy (hello baseball) giving him space to pursue his own interests or just to relax time refreshes moods and resets stress levels, and gives you and him something to talk about!

Fight wisely

It simply is not realistic to imply you will never face conflict with your spouse (although so much can be head off by good communication) or that you should live in quiet obedience and subservience.

You will fight.

Pick your fights, don’t let minor annoyances by a catalyst for a boiled-over argument. Talk, don’t yell. Listen. Communicate some more. And sometimes you will simply just need to agree to disagree and move on.

Be on the same page financially

I have heard almost every single possible variation of the money fight from my friends and family, and have lived through my own with my husband. Money is a touchy subject, and if you aren’t on the same page with your hubby about everything from spending, saving, debt, and investments there will be clashes. I hate to keep repeating myself but communication is key here, talk with your husband about money, have periodic financial check-ins with each other to make sure you are both on the same page.

Have fun

When we have fun we smile, we are in a better mood, and we usually have a better attitude, and generally are more pleasant to be around. When the dishes are piled up in the sink, and the floors need to be mopped it is hard to prioritize time for fun, but without it we can easily feel worn down and overwhelmed and kind of a drag to be around. How do you make time for fun when you have a ton of adulting to do, and kids to take care of? Impromptu kitchen dance parties, a Sunday afternoon bike ride, playing hide and seek in the yard are good places to start. Have fun with your family or sneak away from some solo activity like a jog, shopping (if that’s your thing), or anything else that refreshes and recharges you.

Show your appreciation

It is so easy to take your spouse for granted, and feeling unappreciated is not a particularly nice feeling. Make a point to express your gratitude for your husband. Not only will your spouse feel appreciated and loved, but you will benefit also, gratitude is the foundation of happiness. When we bring awareness to the little blessings in our every day, we tend to be more fulfilled, and happier. Practicing gratitude may take a little work in the beginning but soon it will become like second nature.

Good Days Start With Gratitude: A 52 Week Guide To Cultivate An Attitude Of Gratitude: Gratitude Journal

Be Interested In His Interests

Having common hobbies and interests can help you and your husband deepen your sense of intimacy, connection, and especially friendship. Like I said I just can’t get into baseball, but I do enjoy helping my husband on the farm, and he enjoys spending time on the boat with me. Finding common ground will definitely make you feel more connected to each other.

Express your love

Until I had read The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts it never really occurred to me that everyone has different preferences when it comes to giving and receiving love. Knowing what you and your partner need and value can help you love your spouse better. I value quality time, and physical touch, while my husband thrives on acts of service and physical touch. If either of us were to shower the other with gifts, while it would be nice, neither of us would feel particularly “loved”. We express our love for each other with quality time, small thoughtful gestures, and hand-holding, and hugs. Your expressions of love may look much different, but knowing how to express your love in a way that resonates with your partner is so important.

Keep Things Lively Between the Sheets.

Don’t underestimate the importance of your physical relationship with your husband. I think as women we sometimes go through phases were we don’t need as much physical touch as our husbands, maybe we are caring for toddlers and have them climbing all over us every day, or we may be dealing with our own insecurities and just don’t feel attractive. Developing a healthy physical relationship with your husband will keep everyone happy, and will maintain a level of intimacy that both people need.

Prioritize Your Own Self Care

Are you putting your own self-care at the bottom of the list? It is easy to do, especially with kids in the picture. Taking care of you is not frivolous or even a luxury, it is required maintenance so you can continue to bring your best self to whatever challenges and other priorities the day presents. If you feel like you are just to busy to practice self-care set aside just 10-15 minutes a day, and use this time to journal, walk or exercise, meditate, take a bubble bath, learn a new skill, anything that will help promote a healthy mind, body, and soul. You will be better for it!

Trust me, I am by no means an expert in being a Good Wife. It is something I strive for daily, but am lacking in often. There are days the house is a mess and laundry is behind, I am in a bad mood, or just I am tired and want to wear my PJs all day. I hope and try to be the best wife I can, but sometimes my attitude just basically needs a BIG overhaul and it is times like these I am thankful for wedding seasons.

Will this list change, or be added to as we near 20, 25 or 50 years of marriage? Probably. Did I miss something? I am sure. What would you add?

Daily Schedule for the 50’s Housewife

I attempted the vintage housewife challenge last year but fell short in my efforts once spring rolled around. I have a suspicion all the schedules and lists I am finding online where the typical SUBURBAN 1950’s housewife schedule. I live on a small family farm in the Northeast, we are somewhat rural, but not as isolated as families would be on a Midwestern ranch. In the spring and summer I am out helping my husband with the crops, animals, and harvests, I deliver orders to stores, and also spend a significant amount of time running to get tractor parts and taking kids to sporting events. It is not humanly possible to tackle the daily schedule of a 1950’s housewife for me during the spring and summer months, but winter and fall are a whole different story!

I am undeterred by my previous attempt and trying this again! I have created a simple printable to keep myself on schedule during the day if you are joining me in the 1950’s housewife challenge you can get your copy FREE when you subscribe to get emails from The Vintage Housewife to hang on your fridge: Subscribe to the Weekly email!

4 PDFs displaying the 1950's housewife daily routine, and a daily cleaning and chore checklist.

The schedule which has been widely circulated on the interwebz, and greatly debated, but does seem to be an accurate representation of the typical middle-class suburban 1950’s housewife’s day, and will provide structure for my day going forward. I will undertake all my daily tasks as authentically as possible. The typical family only had one car, which means less impulsive trips into town for me. I will manage the household finances frugally, and provide tasty full meals, complete with dessert DAILY. I will also put forth an effort to bring a little bit of glamor to my appearance (goodbye, yoga pants, and messy hair knot! ).

Daily Schedule for the 50’s Housewife:

Throw back the covers
Open up the blinds and windows
Freshen up
Make and serve breakfast
Clean up breakfast
Complete a 10-minute exercise regime
Shower, do hair and makeup, get dressed
Gather a basket for tidying. As the rooms of the home are tackled, pick up items that aren’t where they belong and place them in a basket. Redistribute them where they should be as you enter a new room
Straighten up the living and dining room, including picking up potential clutter, light dusting, fluffing/straightening pillows, and watering plants or flowers
Make the beds
Tidy the bedroom, including light dusting
Hang up any clothes that may be about or ensure dirty ones are in the hamper
Do a light tidy of the bathroom including removing and replacing used towels, refilling toilet paper and soap (if needed) and cleaning the sink and basin area including soap dishes
Review the menu for the current day and the next and compare it to what’s currently available in the home. Make note of anything that needs to be prepared ahead of time or marketing (shopping) that needs to get done
Begin long-advance preparations for dinner (such as making dessert)
Wipe down kitchen work surfaces and inside the fridge
Dispose of garbage
Rinse dish cloths and hang to dry
Sweep or mop the kitchen floor
Handle errands that might take you out of the home (such as marketing, volunteering, going to the post office, getting an item fixed, etc), bookkeeping, correspondence, or indulge in a hobby
If returning from the grocery store, wash vegetables, wrap them and put them away. Place rest of groceries or purchases in their proper place
Have a quick lunch
Start advance food conditioning like crisping vegetables or thawing frozen foods
Handle weekly chore for the day (more on that below)
Set the table for dinner
Arrange the living room for evening enjoyment (such as “the Mister’s” newspaper, book, and cigarettes)
Do a quick sweep of the floors and ensure entrance ways are clear
Prepare a special dish for dinner
Freshen up before the husband returns from work. Consider changing into something more festive if the day dress is plain
Set out a tray with equipment for making cocktails, should “the Mister” want to serve drinks before dinner
Greet husband “gayly”
Serve dinner
Clear table and wash dishes
Pour boiling water down the sink to ensure pipes are flushed
If necessary, pack the husband’s lunch for the next day. Set aside a lunch tray in the refrigerator for yourself if having leftovers
Set table for breakfast
Ensure breakfast foods are available and do any make-ahead preparations for it
Enjoy an evening of relaxation

Also, each day there is a once-a-week chore to tackle, such as:

Use metal polish on bathroom fixtures
Clean and disinfect all kitchen appliances
Scald and disinfect bread boxes and garbage pails and bins
Replace flowers with fresh bouquets

Dinner is Served, 1950’s Style

My first week as a 1950’s housewife went by so quickly! If you are new here, or just as a recap. I am diving head first into recreating the 1950’s housewife’s typical day. But, because becoming the ultimate 1950’s housewife is a huge undertaking, I will be writing about one specific aspect of the Challenge each week. I will write weekly about my progress or resistance and share it here every Tuesday evening. Follow along on Facebook or Instagram for peaks into my day throughout the week, or sign up to my email list to get my weekly updates delivered directly to your inbox!

Serving Up Vintage Style Family Dinners

I decided that the family dinner was the first topic I was going to delve into here because I feel it is the cornerstone that family relationships are built on, and yet this meal time ritual is quickly slipping away from our society. It’s estimated that only 30 percent of families regularly eat meals together.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Family dinners build relationships, yet this daily tradition is slipping away from our society. ” quote=”Family dinners build relationships, yet this daily tradition is slipping away from our society. “]

We live side by side with our family, yet it is not uncommon to have no idea about what’s going on in their lives. There’s been at least a million articles written about technology’s impact on our relationships, and they all seem to come to the same conclusion: technology isn’t, bad but the way we use it is. All our tweeting, likes, and follows connect us to people across the world, but also at the same time distance us from the person sitting right next to us, like our families.

This part of the 1950’s housewife challenge was about more than just the food, although I did try to create traditional family meals. I wanted to recreate a nicely set table, and a beautifully prepared meal that would encourage lingering around the table, conversation, and a break from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

[clickToTweet tweet=”The ritual of family dinner is worth preserving” quote=”The ritual of family dinner is worth preserving”]

I decided we needed to lay some ground rules for our family dinner. I know, it sounds rigid and not fun, but the ritual of family dinner is worth preserving, and honestly no one balked at the rules and expectations, it just wasn’t a big deal.

No Devices: no TV, cellphones, tablets, or any other device that beeps, tweets, or rings.
Begin with grace. If you’re not religious, have everyone share something that they’re grateful for that day.
Family news: everyone takes turns sharing something positive and negative that has happened to them during the day.
Contribute to the conversation. I consider this a life skill, and one day my children will thank me. Each person is expected to bring something interesting to the table that they’ve read or heard during the day.
Help with cleanup. Again, this gets everyone involved and contributing to the family dinner. Why should one person do all the work?
Compliment the cook Ok, so this may be a little self-serving, as I am the cook, but when my kids go to a friends house I want them to be in the habit of doing this, and good manners start at home.

Admittedly, planning meals is a habit I have yet to perfect. It’s not that meal planning is hard, but you need to actually sit down and do it for it to be effective 🙂 To make this easier for me I picked Sunday morning to be my meal planning time. I sit down with the Sunday paper inserts and check the sales for good deals on meats and fresh produce, and build my meals around sale items, and things already in my freezer. I also clip any coupons that are of interest to me. I have found sitting down with a cup of coffee, and leisurely going through the circulars is much more enjoyable than trying to scribble down a list right before I run out the door to the store.

Here is what dinner looked like as my first week as a 1950’s housewife, along with a few observations:

Sunday

Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Roasted Carrots. Brownies for dessert.

Dinner went as planned, with the exception of dessert, I had planned on cherry pie, but I couldn’t shake a general worn down feeling. In fact, mid-afternoon, while my roast was in the oven, and my husband was watching college basketball, I dozed off briefly. I should have known at that point something was brewing and went to bed early, instead, I plugged along, and stayed up late to do the laundry that fell behind while the kids were on winter break. Needless to say, the brownies were not homemade, but I am feeling good about this portion of the challenge!

Monday

Baked Split Chicken Breasts, Garlic and Herb Couscous, Green Beans.

I had intended to make my children breakfast before they went to school, but the lurking feeling of unwellness from Sunday had turned into the full blown stomach flu. My oldest daughter stepped up without even being asked and cooked ham and eggs! After a day of rest, and because I had planned ahead (so much thought wasn’t needed) I was able to cook dinner but opted out of dessert.

On a side note, all the confidence I was feeling Sunday was slowly starting to slip away today. I have thrown a couple of loads of laundry in and kept up on dishes, but that is about all. When I am feeling better and completely ready to dive into the 1950’s housewife challenge I am going to have my work cut out for me.

Tuesday

Meatloaf, Homemade Mac-n-Cheese, Beans

Another easy peasy meal, we are enjoying family dinner night, and each other company around the table.

Wednesday

Hot dogs, grilled veggies, potato chips

Thursday is traditionally my shopping day, but I am switching it up this week because I had a hair appointment this morning. So I made a meal plan for next week and did my shopping after I visited the hair stylist. If you have questioned my commitment to this challenge, let me lay your concerns to rest, today I had 3 inches of hair cut off so I can properly style my hair because no 1950’s housewife would leave her house unless her hair was perfectly coiffed. My hair was way overdue for a trim, but it has not been this short (above my shoulders) in a very long time, I haven’t broken out my hair rollers yet and attempted a vintage inspired style, but when I do I will be sure to share photos.

Thursday

Homemade pizza, tossed salad, angel food cake.

Today I really started to get back into my groove after my stomach bug. I deep cleaned both my bathrooms, worked on laundry, and made an angel food cake for dessert.

Friday

Beer Battered Fish Fry, cole slaw, oven baked french fries, Lazy Daisy Cake.

#FishForFriday, it’s a thing, and so easy to do at home!

Saturday

Cabbage Rolls, tossed salad, Italian Bread

My mother made a batch of cabbage rolls, and graciously delivered a huge pan to us for dinner! There are plenty of leftovers so we will eat those Monday for dinner also.

Sunday

Corned Beef, Cabbage, Carrots, & Potatoes, with Rye Bread. Brownies for Dessert

Sunday was the family fun day, my son had a friend over, the girls and I watched a movie, and we spent a lazy afternoon at home. It was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of youth sports, and all the accompanying running around.

Of all the aspects of the 1950’s housewife challenge, reinstituting (or in my case becoming more structured) with the family dinner possibly pays the biggest dividends. After only one week I feel my family is more connected. I know there are many challenges that stand in between any given family and a sit-down family dinner, but I do believe if you can overcome those obstacles you will find family dinner is the time to relax, reconnect, catch up on the day’s ups and downs, all while developing a sense of who we are as a family.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Family dinner is the time to relax, and reconnect while developing a sense of who we are as a family.” quote=”Family dinner is the time to relax, and reconnect while developing a sense of who we are as a family.”]

The 1950’s Housewife Challenge

Chances are you have seen the “Good wife Guide”. This guide originally started as a chain email (remember those?) but it is now more frequently shared on Facebook. There are usually some remarks about how far we’ve come as a society, and then it usually gets torn to shreds about the sexist treatment of women. I am not here to argue about whether a woman belongs in the kitchen or the boardroom, that decision is personal, and honestly, I think a woman belongs wherever she feels the most fulfilled.

This list of the ideal characteristics of a wife has launched many 1950’s Housewife Challenges, women undertake the role of 1950’s super-wife for a brief period of time. I admit I am curious if the soft skills of the 1950’s housewife would have an impact on my marriage, if daily life will run a little smoother in my household if everything is exceptionally tidy, and most of all I am curious will I resent my family’s slobbish tendencies after I spent the majority of my time cleaning?

THE GOOD WIFE’S GUIDE

The following is a viral post that is presented as an excerpt from a 1950’s home economics textbook intended for high school girls, teaching them how to prepare for married life. However, Snopes discredited this claim. While the list may not be an authentic period publication I do believe it to be a relatively accurate reflection of the mainstream vision of a woman’s role in post-war America, and therefore will be using this as a daily guide during my 1950’s Housewife Challenge.

Have dinner ready: Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal — on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him, and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.
Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.
Prepare the children: Take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces if they are small, comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.
Minimize the noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.
Some Don’ts: Don’t greet him with problems or complaints. Don’t complain if he’s late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day.
Make him comfortable: Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.
Listen to him: You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.
Make the evening his: Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment; instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.
The goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can relax.

MY TAKE ON THE 1950’S HOUSEWIFE CHALLENGE

This challenge is not new, in fact, it has been done numerous times by many different bloggers. Some focus on appearance, other’s on relying less on modern conveniences, both are fun and worthy causes!

My desire is perhaps a little more subtle. After the recent American election, there seems to be such hostility, rules of decorum seemingly thrown out the window. I long for the grace and thoughtfulness that the mid-century woman embodied. I will create a haven at home, nurture my family, and socialize the way women in the 1950’s would have. I will be gracious and kind, striving to make everyone around me feel comfortable and liked.

I will also undertake my daily tasks as authentically as possible. The typical family only had one car, which means less impulsive trips into town for me. I will manage the household finances frugally, and provide tasty full meals, complete with dessert DAILY. I will also put forth an effort to bring a little bit of glamor to my appearance (goodbye, yoga pants! ).

Want to follow along with my 1950’s Housewife Challenge? Becoming the ultimate 1950’s housewife seems like a big goal, so I will be undertaking one specific aspect of the Challenge each week, adding habits and traits in subsequent weeks. Follow along on Facebook or Instagram for peaks into my day throughout the week, or sign up to my email list to get my weekly updates delivered directly to your inbox!