That is all for now.

Can't find curtains you like?

Curtains can be expensive. Not only can they be expensive, it can be hard to find curtains in the exact color or a pattern you would like. At least that is my issue. So, I am going to share a secret with you.

Most of my curtains are cloth tablecloths. I've been doing it for years. Tablecloths, rectangular ones, are not that expensive and you can find them in a variety of patterns and colors.  I am into more vintage, colorful decor, so they have been a perfect fit.

Rectangular tablecloths come in a variety of sizes, which make it easy to fit most windows for a price that is cheaper than buying large curtain panels. Most come in a size of 60"x84" which is what most long curtain panels measure.

I will look online for ideas of what I would like, then browse local stores or Amazon.com. I've had a lot of luck at Target. Look for ones that are only fabric and no plastic backing.

Here are my dining room "curtains" I found at Target. They cost me 15 bucks a piece. They fit in perfectly with my dining room.

All you need are these, (drapery clip rings) and voila, instant curtains.  Just space the rings evenly on the top of the tablecloth and hang on the curtain rod. Easy peasy. You can find the drapery rings at a store that sell home decoration items. Walmart, Target, K-Mart, etc. They will run you $4-10.

You can buy new long paneled "curtains" for $30-40 bucks. A fabric shower curtain will also work for small windows or if you do not want your curtains to touch the floor.

- Gail

Gail is Boring.

We were talking over some wine, of course. The subject came up about extra money. Not a huge amount, but a few hundred bucks a month. What would we do with it?

A few ideas were tossed around.. save it for travel, clothes, more wine, etc.

Gail pipes in saying she would use the money and double up her car payments. Exciting, right?

Nope. Boring.

Gail hates debt. With a capital H.

Gail's theory is the less debt you have, the more money you'll have later to spend on what you want. Guilt Free.

Makes sense, right? Although is not nearly as fun as purchasing new shoes, when you want...

HAha!

Sad, but true. A recent quote from Nicole. 

Easy Beans.

Gail here, with another crockpot recipe.

This is a healthy, cheap, and easy recipe. It's one of my personal favorites and I grew up eating this at my grandparent's home.

You need
1 - bag of large limas, small limas, any white bean of your choice.
1 - yellow or white onion, chopped or pureed
Salt and pepper

Soak the dry beans over night in a bowl of water. It helps release the gas in the beans. In the morning, rinse the beans and place in the crockpot. Place onion and cover with the beans and onion mixture with water. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook on low for 7-8 hours.

To give the beans more flavor you add some country ham, a piece of salt pork, or bacon. I've fixed it all three way and it has come out delicious with the all of them, but I prefer ham or bacon.

This is my actual pot of beans that I made today. YUM. I used Canadian Bacon today and it was delicious.

Let's DeClutter!

When I typed the post about decluttering your children's artwork, I wanted to share another idea that I've recently started doing.

These days it is hard to remember to print our your photos. Everything is digital. Even when you do remember to print them, you have to them put them in a photo album while keeping them all in order.
It takes me forever to get it all done. It takes hours, not to mention it can be expensive if you have to print 500 photos at once.

So I would suggest that throughout the year, set aside your favorite photos that you would print and put them in a special file on your computer. Or even put them on a photo publisher's website in a private album. (Example: Snapfish or walmart.com)

I personally prefer to keep them on my computer. I have two, and put our pictures on each computer. A little annoying, but I want to keep those special memories.

Once a year, search for a coupon code or groupons for a good deal on a photo book. Then take a couple of days and personalize a book that suits your families personality. You can make all sorts of layouts and choose different sizes. It is a lot of fun to do.

The best part is you can save the work you did and not have to worry about the mess on your table. Or your child destroying all your hard work.

This would be great for your baby's birth, an informal wedding album, or a special birthday party.

Over the years it will save paper, time, money. It will create less clutter in your home, while being able to keep your memories saved in a special way.