There is a famous quote by Jerry Hall that has always stuck in my head…

“…My mother said you should be a maid in the living room, a cook in the kitchen and a whore in the bedroom…”

Fear not, I’m not on a one woman feminist mission, but I am seeing an uprising trend amongst my friends and peers, a trend that involves staying in and making cupcakes and cocktails rather than going out and getting lashed, one that has them asking for homely things like ‘knitting bags’ or ‘jam making books’ for their birthdays, as opposed to me who asks for MAC, big costume earrings and sexy knickers and/or hot man shoved in for good measure. Am I wrong to be under the impression that your twenties are the freedom years, full of wild flings, broken hearts, crazy nights out and ill-judged purchases? NOT knitting needles, card making and suduko?
Is it the financial state of affairs in this country? Because why else are super-slick city girls hosting intimate tete-a-tetes with Salmon En Croute and asparagus soufflé at home, instead of sipping cocktails and eating at over-priced restaurants? Or is it due to too-much-stress and crap telly? One of my girls likes to knit  because it relaxes her, others are joining clubs where they learn how to make knickers and puddings weekly instead of the usual Saturday night piss-up.  A true guilty pleasure involves one of my best friends – she actually does jigsaw puzzles of tabby cats and railways with a glass of wine – I kid you not!

This somewhat reformed party girl as-of-late is actually beginning to get it though. Kind of.

You won’t find me dashing about like a Corrie-style housewife from yesteryear, but I do enjoy the odd spot of cross-stitch, and I am partial to spending my evenings at  home, concocting yummy dishes like sausages and mustard mash with balsamic red onion gravy, rather than heading down the pub for a few drinks.

Something that does puzzle me though – how on earth is anyone supposed to feel remotely sexy or ready for man-time, when they’ve been to work all day, gone to the gym, cooked dinner and then stood over the sink donning a pair of marigolds unless they’ve superwoman tendencies or a rubber fetish?

And where does this leave the single girl? Its all very well baking cupcakes, but where are the people to share them with? Making knickers – where’s the man to share them with? It’s all very well having self-pride and self-admiration, but cupcake-making does not a date maketh.

So perhaps balance is the key. A little bit of naughty – think drunken nights out, messy bedrooms, those shoes and bad-girl knickers mixed with a whole lot of nice – Steak Diane, homemade jam, clean bathrooms and white t-shirt whilst hovering to ‘Wives and Lovers’.

Mum, there may be hope yet!

Stitchin’ is bitchin’ with urban cross-stitch – www.urban-cross-stitch.com – £18.00

Homely, delightful and utterly delicious – we heart you, Sophie!

Miss Dahl’s Voluptuous Delights – www.amazon.co.uk – £16.99

If I really have to do the washing up, Ill only do it in these….

Washing up gloves Zsa Zsa – www.therainbowprincess.co.uk – £11.99

You won’t look like a northern fishwife when you have this Missoni gem from Italy wrapped around ya’ barnet – bella!

Missoni silk scarf – www.net-a-porter.com – £60

Go on, we all love a cup of tea – especially if it’s in the style of an AnnaLouofLondon Tea at the Ritz necklace!
Tea at the Ritz – www.annalouoflondon.com – £18.00