I recently had a debate with myself about getting prints of my photos.  When I received my first camera as a child, prints were the only option.  We took 24 pictures — being careful not to waste any pictures on “unnecessary” subjects — then we dropped the film off at the store, waited a day (an extremely long wait for a 10-year-old), and came back to pick up the prints.  Simple as that.  We then put the prints neatly into an album and the album on a shelf.  Done.

Now, with digital photography completely taking over, we can take as many pictures as our hearts’ desire with no regard to “waste.”  We see the photo immediately on the camera, and take another and another, as many as those ever-increasingly-sized memory cards will hold.  When we feel like it, we upload/email/sync the photos to our computer.  And then what?  We can email the photos, post them on blog, share on Facebook, and on and on.  But what about those prints and albums we used to set on the shelf and pull out when the grandparents came to visit? That’s the exact question I’ve been debating.  For quite a while, I tried going totally digital and not buying prints or albums.  After two years, though, I realized that I never looked back at those photos on my computer, and missed just pulling out an album to look back through the great memories it holds.  Well, last week I ordered some 300+ prints from events over the last two years.  So, the sentimental me who likes to pull out a photo album to browse occasionally won over the practical me who thinks about the 9 cent per photo cost and about packing those albums next time we move.  I’m sure I’ll have the same debate next year   What do you think on the prints vs. digital debate?  Have you gone completely digital, or do you cling to the album of prints?

Here’s an idea for somewhere in the middle — use photos as your home decor.  It’s personal and a whole lot cheaper than art – so it fits both the sentimental and practical sides.  I created this wall collage from photos NGHubby and I have taken in our travels.

We also use family photos in our decor, from our wedding pictures to this frame — perfectly made for those of us with nine siblings

How do you use your photos?  I’d love to hear your ideas.

- Clarissa

This post is a replay from pre-NextGenerationHousewife.com days that I wrote about the bedroom curtains I made.  I’m replaying it now because after painting the bedroom, I’ve FINALLY completely finished these curtains.  Hope you enjoy this post about the curtains, and then I’ll follow up with the finished product.

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In my never-ending quest to finish at least a few of my on-going projects, I finally finished the bedroom curtains and am very proud of how they turned out.  I had purchased the fabric on clearance long ago, but just like wine, I believe it is best aged in the closet for awhile before use. Although this is a milestone in my bedroom curtain project, it can’t quite be crossed off the “to-do” spreadsheet yet (yes, I know, I have a to-do spreadsheet — just keep reading) because, as you will see in the photo, the curtain rods now need to be raised.  In all of my reading on the latest decorating trends, I learned that full-length curtains should start about 6 inches from the ceiling even if the window stops lower.  As an extra tidbit — if your windows are not full-length and the 6 inch rule does not apply, a good rule of thumb is to place the curtain rod 1/3 of the distance from the top of the window to the ceiling.  That is probably completely worthless information to 99% of you, but I thought there may be just one person who enjoys the tip.  Anyway, here are a couple pics…

Hanging curtain (too long right now, but you get the idea)

I even lined the curtain so it hangs nicely and looks expensive

This one’s for you, Mom — the perfect corners on the back

My very devoted helper through each step of the way

- Clarissa

Back when I was a toddler I had this joke that I thought was absolutely hilarious.  I would tell it to anyone who would play along over and over and over and…

Clarissa: Knock, knock

Poor person unaware of what was coming or a very patient family member: Who’s there?

Clarissa: Banana

Same kind soul: Banana who?

Clarissa: Knock, knock (trying to contain giggles)

Slightly annoyed other person: Who’s there?

Clarissa: Banana (hahaha)

Person rolling his/her eyes: Banana who?

Clarissa: Knock, knock!!

…and this continued until I could tell the person was just about to walk away and then it would go…

Clarissa: Knock, knock

Very annoyed person ready to leave: Who’s there?

Clarissa: Orange

Other person who is intrigued by the change in answer: Orange who?

Clarissa: Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?!? (And then histerical laughter ensued, of course, only by me.

So, where am I going with this?  I love orange!  The fruit’s ok, but I love the color.  Adam has either come to also like orange or just deals with my craziness, so this weekend we painted a wall of the bedroom orange. Here’s a during picture (nevermind the ugly paint clothes, that’s why they’re paint clothes)…

Again, I always forget to take before pictures, but here’s one from very early in the process when Adam’s taking down the curtain.

And the big reveal — after picture…

Doesn’t it match our quilt nicely?  I’m happy with that.

Because it’s a very dark (some may say burnt) orange, we only did one wall and plan to do something else on the other walls.  That something else is yet to be determined but may involve an orange stripe, stenciling, or a lighter complimentary color.  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

- Clarissa

A long time ago I mentioned the living room curtains that I was starting.  You probably thought I forgot to show you the finished product, but oh no, I didn’t forget.  There just isn’t a finished product yet.  This project started easy enough, but then quickly blew up into a much more difficult project.

First, I wanted brick-colored curtain fabric — how hard could that be?  I will tell you – very.  There’s maroon, burgundy, merlot, claret, spice, clay, and 500 more, but where’s the brick?  After bringing most of the aforementioned ones home and then returning each the following day, I finally found brick!  I thought that had been the most difficult part of the project – ha!

Next was to create a valance that fit the room, portrayed the balance of formality/informality I wanted, and worked with the curtain rod I had already purchased on clearance.  I sifted through many websites and books for valance ideas and finally found the PERFECT one.  Since I could figure out exactly how it was assembled, I actually purchased a pattern for the valance (If I haven’t said before, I hate buying patterns because I always think I can reverse engineer anything from the picture).  So, after giving in to using a pattern, I bought some super cheap material to create a prototype before using the expensive stuff.  Well, it’s very lucky I did because this “perfect” idea looked horrible on our wall.  Here’s a pic if you don’t believe me…

Yes, that is King Kong fabric, nice?

Well, it was all drape-y and pretty which was great, but just didn’t fit the rest of our straight line, clean-looking style at all.  So I scrapped that and went back to the picture books.  This time I picked a more flat simple design and created it.  I did reverse engineer that one which is excellent since I was completely unimpressed with that one too.  By that time I was so frustrated there isn’t even a picture to show.  But then inspiration struck and I drew up (what I think is) a cool idea that is straight and simple while not completely flat.

This has turned into a much longer story than it deserves, but the point is that I’m finally happy enough with a design to work on the “real” fabric.  It’s still taking much longer than I would like, but this might be part of the problem…

I’ll keep you updated and hopefully someday will have a finished result to show.  If it works, maybe I’ll even create a pattern so you don’t have to go through the headaches I did.  I sense a completed valance soon!

- Clarissa

I love to paint, and I hate to paint.  I hate the actual act of painting, but I love the part when everything is cleaned up and  you look around the wonderful newly painted room.  That love-hate relationship is probably why my house painting is going so slowly.  I just realized we’re fast approaching a year of living in this house, so I think it is high time to get moving on the rest of the painting.

To get a head start, my mom helped me paint Adam’s office during her stay.  Here’s the beautiful “after” picture…

and the always important “before.”

And one more “after” just for fun.

See, that’s the best part

The paint we used is Sherwin Williams “Indigo Batik.”  Now on to the next room!

- Clarissa