In my new way of living simple and trying to live with a much smaller income, I am open to using natural products, not the expensive chemical filled ones found in the grocery stores.  I've been reading this blog:  http://www.diynatural.com/ and decided to follow their directions for homemade dishwasher soap and homemade clothes soap.  I'll let you know how it goes.

I know the homemade clothes soap will work well because I have used it before but I'm anxious to try the dishwasher soap.  I smells clean and fresh, so much better than the chemical laden store-bought products.

Also, I bought marrow bones and am making beef broth.  I included an onion, carrot, and celery as well as fresh basil, rosemary and oregano from my little deck garden.  I've been cooking it for a day and a half in my slow cooker and I'll give it until tomorrow morning.  It smells delicious.  Gelatin is very healthy for you and you obtain it from the marrow of the bones.  I had some leftover from a previous batch in the freezer and mixed it with a potato and broccoli and ate that last night.  A little salt and pepper and very satisfying.  Delicious.  I'll take batches of this broth and put in Ziploc bags and freeze flat in my freezer for future meals.  It will go great with added vegetables, meat and if wanted, grains, as a very delicious, nutritious meal.

I wish anyone reading this blog a very Happy, healthy, and wonderful new year.

I've been reading a lot of blogs and articles about spending less and living with what you have.  I just read an article from Forbes about a couple who decided not to spend any money for a year.  Here it is:  The Buy Nothing Year.  If you click on this link it will open in a new page.

It is a very interesting prospect.  I've often thought about trying not to spend money, especially since I don't have any, but I think I'll try it for week starting on Saturday and I'll let you know how it goes.

On another note, I'm starting The Kitchen Capsule Challenge started by Courtney Carver on the blog Be More With Less.  It's a challenge to only eat the same 33 foods for three months.  Read about it and let me know what you think.

Today is my youngest son's birthday.  I can't believe he is 34.  I am very proud of him -- he is a firefighter, farrier, husband and father.  Just love this kid.

I went to the Dollar Star to buy his birthday card.  They are only 50 cents each so I bought two of the same.  I cut out the design on one of them and used pop dots to pop it off the card on top of the same design. Makes it look like a more expensive card for only $1.00.  Love trying to be thrifty.

Of course, since I have so many craft items, I found the pop dots in my supply so they didn't cost me anything extra.  I had bought them for an earlier project.

Some day I would love to be perfectly organized in every room in my home.  Here are couple of ideas I found on Pinterest for the kitchen.

This first one I just think is a very practical idea:


                                          (makebakecelebrate)

I also love this one:


                                               Decorating Files

Enjoy these pictures and see if you can use them.

Here are ten healthy habits to start immediately:

1.  Start fresh every single morning.  It's a new day and time to start over.

2.  Put down your phone when you are with people.  It is so rude to be looking at your phone when you're in the middle of a conversation with someone.

3.  Don't try to keep up with the Jones'.  It just puts extra pressure on you and makes you feel inadequate.  Be happy for what you have accomplished.

4.  Stop beating yourself up.  If you are doing your best, accept yourself.

5.  Don't start smoking and if you do smoke, quit.  It will be one of the hardest things you have ever done but you won't regret it

6.  Cut back on sugar.  It will make you feel so much better.

7.  Listen to your body.  If it's sore, take it easy, if it needs exercise, take it for a walk.

8.  Always were a seat belt, even in a taxi or a bus if they have them.  Save your life.

9.  Count to 10 when you are angry.  Don't say something you will regret, especially to your children.

10. Don't skimp on sleep.  You need it and you will feel so much better for it.  That way, you can start fresh every morning.

I have never been a spotless housekeeper, mainly because I was so busy (cough cough) and I have so much clutter and THINGS.  Since I have decided to simply my life I have been getting rid of things and I have been following a cleaning routine.  I never knew how helpful this would be.  I was searching Pinterest for some organizational ideas and came across this cleaning box idea.  You can find it here http://aprongirls.blogspot.com/2011/08/cleaning-box.html,  I thought it was such a great idea.  Of course, mine isn't as cute as the one on the blog but it is nevertheless very helpful.  I tailored it to fit my lifestyle and what I needed to have cleaned.

Today, Friday, is kitchen cleaning day - wipe down counters, appliances, cabinets, knobs, sink, and clean the floor.  I can't tell you how excited I was to have a sparkling white acrylic (horrible) sink.  The faucet is shiny, the cabinets are clean, the baseboards are free of chalk from the chalkboard wall, and the appliances are clean, including the inside of the microwave.  It makes me want to keep it clutter free and now I will work on that - clearing off the counters.  I've changed out several cabinets earlier this week to make the kitchen more workable.  When I opened the dishwasher before to empty it, I had to put the dishes on the counter, close the dishwasher door, and then put the dishes away.  Now it is much easier.  Still a work in progress but getting there.

Now let's see, what can I get rid of on the counter......

My first post on my new blog.  I previously wrote a blog named "Lucky Loves Home" but decided I needed my time for myself.  I was working in San Francisco and was gone from the house for eleven hours a day.  When I came home I took the dogs for a walk, prepared dinner, and was pooped.  I had a one and half hour commute each way.  Granted, I did a lot of reading, but it gets old really fast.  I was let go and lived on unemployment for six months, then helped my mother for six months, now I am retired living on a very fixed income.

This blog will be about my frugal living (or learning to be frugal), my hopes and dreams for my family and myself, living simple and discarding clutter, and dealing with an ill mother and the family dynamics that entails.

I will try to post some pictures here and there, but I do not have a camera, only my Samsung Galaxy Note 3, so we'll discover how the pictures turn out.