North Kingstown housewife and entrepreneur Diane Veyera has plenty of definitions for housewives, but a maid isn't one of them. Now, thanks to Veyera, more housewifes are wearing their modern-day take on the profession on their sleeves. Literally.

Veyera has created nightshirs, aprons and tote bags with the signature phrase, "I am a housewife" and one of several witty taglines including
"I order take-out" or "It's a job."

Her website, www.iamahousewife.com, went live over the summer and is already a success. Women from Rhode Island, Massachusetts and even as far away as Kuwait have embraced the comical spin on an age-old occupation.

It's fitting, given one of Veyera's taglines, "Where's my wine glass?" how the idea came about. After a few cocktails at a local bar this summer. Veyera emerged with a napkin depicting what would become her company's icon - a stick figure housewife - and several catchy one-liners to accompany the slogan.

"The more cocktails I was having, the more taglines I came up with", Veyera says.

Now, she has more than six slogans, an office (a renovated garage in her home) and a brand-new line of products for housewives-to-be: "I am a bride." Although more taglines are in the works, her first, "I like big rocks," is sure to hit home.

By Meghan O'Connor, Rhode Island Monthly - December 2005