Retro housewife

There is something about the idyllic 1950s housewife and homemaking that makes me want to clean and cook all day. One episode of The Donna Reed Show and I get an urge to clean my whole house in a cute dress and apron. And of course, have some delicious meal with several sides and a homemade dessert ready the moment my husband walks in the door.

Just like tv now isn’t always a great picture of an average housewife, not every 1950s housewife was like Donna Reed but it’s still a fun thought. It can also still serve as inspiration, just remember none of us are perfect.

I can’t tell you the last time I had a perfectly clean house and a 1950s television-worthy meal ready right on time. It is pretty awesome when I do though. Forget Martha Stewart, I want to be Donna Reed!

Maybe Lucy is a better role model because she often reminded us she wasn’t perfect. Like the episode where she is living like the pioneer days and bakes bread and doesn’t understand the recipe. I kind of wish you could bake that size loaf of bread. 

Either way, Donna Reed or Lucy it’s fun to find inspiration from 1950s housewives on tv. I also love reading homemaking magazines and books from the 1950s and it’s amazing how many of their tips we seem to have stopped using. They are still relevant today and I use them in my own home all of the time.