Curtains

I'm cheap. Some people are frugal, but I'm just a down-right penny-pincher. I loathe spending money when I don't have to and I refuse to spend money on something I don't LOVE. That would be why, even after we moved, we still had my WalMart special futon from college for nearly half a year while I decided on couches. To say it drives Todd nuts is an understatement. When we moved here, we left our plates in the States because I didn't want to have plates that, when broken, could not be replaced (and they were Target hand-me-downs that got handed down to another very worthy person- thanks for taking them off our hands future Dr. Wilson!). Anyways, we went hunting, and I mean hunting with a very obliging missionary here. She even drove us to the end of the city and back looking for plates. I found what I wanted, which I didn't know I wanted until I saw them, four months later. Like I said, I have to love it to spend money on it. Certain things, however, particularly grind on Todd's nerves... like curtains. He insists that they are a "must" and I feel draping a sheet or something of the sorts is perfectly acceptable while I hunt. So to compromise, I have a set of generic-colored khaki curtains that I have used in 5 houses now while I a) hunt for what I want or b) move before I find what I want. Either way, they serve their purpose.

We've been in the new flat for almost three months with these curtains as our only block from the outside world (they do have a pretty good view into our living room). They were about 2 feet too short, but that just ment everyone could see Cooper playing with the dog through the glass, and I was okay with that. But alas, the hunt ended when I went to coffee with a friend and saw the most AMAZING curtains. They were great but with a price tag of almost $125 per panel, and I would need 4 or 5, plus the overly-flowery top, I decided to see if I could DIY those same curtains. Two trips to the fabric store later, and burlap found by the plastic fencing (don't ask), I have my curtains.

Yes, they're more than a bit country. Yes, they're mostly burlap. Yes, I did just eye ball the cuts to the burlap and then fray them until I thought they "looked right." But I still made them ALL cheaper than I could have bought one. And besides the slight earthy smell in the house, I couldn't be more pleased. The best part? I can utilize the amazing sunlight that streams into this flat all day long without having people see into my house! Wahoo!!! Now on to clean the living room floor which looks more like the arts and crafts pavilion at a camp than anything else.