The True Queen of Frugal

This post astounds me. Seriously, this is my ideal.

Handprints on the Wall: The True Queen of Frugal

Laundry once a week, all line dried. Herbs from the garden. Grocery shopping twice a year! Oh, good, gosh, I think I stumbled into heaven.

Seriously, I wish we could live like that. Unfortunately, life at the moment demands otherwise. But it's something to shoot for.

Cloth napkins

A while back, much like this post on Tomato Soup Cake, I found cloth napkins on sale. My hesitancy matches up pretty well with what The Mama talks about on her blog (more laundry, stains, paper towels work just fine, etc.). And, like her, I went ahead and took the plunge.

However, one other reason I didn't buy them for the longest time is because I had it in my head that I needed to buy napkin rings to go with them. I've since found many alternatives. Here's just a few of them:

• ribbon (my personal favorite)
  
• raffia (good for Thanksgiving)
  
• silk flowers (best if you get these for free)
  
• rings made from cardboard tubes, covered in the material of your choice
• pipe cleaners
• braided yarn

One more comment about cloth napkins and then I have to go. If you make them yourself (not difficult to do), they need to be large. The best I have are easily larger than a dinner plate. And if you have children, try to find ones that are fairly absorbent and durable, as well as beautiful. They will get used. :)