Two Minute Tuesday: Taming the Grocery Bags

You all know what I'm talking about.  That cabinet where you stuff all the grocery/store bags rather than throwing them away for any myriad of reuses.  Or maybe you have a full stock of re-usable bags for all your shopping needs and can't relate.  If so, good for you, helping our planet and all. I have a few myself to help make the dreaded grocery trips a little easier (they're bigger and easier to carry) but still end up with a few plastic ones.

But there are endless uses for those plastic bags - carry dirty/wet clothes, small wastebasket liners, lunch bags, dog poop picker uppers, etc. Unfortunately, they tend to take over the space under the sink (or wherever you choose to store them). Sure you could go spend your hard earned money on some grocery bag holder. There is a huge variety available with sleek modern designs, or even a $50+ dollar wooden one I saw earlier. But they almost all go on the inside of your cabinet door.

So who cares what it looks like? No one is going to see it. Save that hard earned money.

Next time you finish off a box of tissues, grab some 3M or other sticky strips - you know, the ones you can hang posters, pictures and other stuff with. Attach as directed.

Stuff with grocery bags.

And done. 

I used the stickies on all 4 corners so it doesn't peel away when I pull a bag out. Super easy and is faster than it took you to read this post. I have one in the kitchen now, but as we empty some more tissue boxes I will probably put one in each of our bathrooms since we use the grocery bags in the bathroom trash cans.

I haven't pulled it off, so I can't assure you it won't affect the finish of your cabinet. Since they're not supposed to pull paint off, I felt comfortable using them on our finished wooden cabinets. It probably depends on what kind of cabinets you have though, so use at your own risk and if you end up wrecking your cabinet, don't come crying to me!

5 Months

My little Peanut is five months old. 

 Hard to believe she went from this:

to this:

in that short amount of time. 

This was a tough month, with very little sleep. Four month shots, combined with her first cold, and Wonder Week 19, gave us a fussy, sleepless baby for much of the month. And we were at the doctors once a week. Uck. BUT by the end of it, we have an even happier, funnier, and more interactive baby than before and fell even more in love with her (if that's possible?!).

She celebrated her first Valentine's Day with a party at daycare and gave her "friends" little cards with finger puppets, and her teacher's some chocolate and Dunkin Donuts gift cards.  Yea, I was that mom. I'm sure the novelty of it all will wear off by the time she's at an age where it actually matters.

We have entered the "if it's in front of me I grab it and shove it in my mouth stage" as well, so that's... drooly?

She rolled from her belly to her back several times near the end of the month - something she hadn't done in months.  She started blowing raspberries one night which quickly turned into one of her favorite things.  Other favorites include Wheel of Fortune (lights, sounds, colors, letters, what's not to love?!) and pulling my hair. She also learned to shriek, which is not my favorite thing, but after a few days she's not doing it as often.

Still in size 2 diapers, and mostly 6 month clothes, but some 3 month still fit. Last doctor's appointment she was a little over 14 lbs and about 25 inches.  She smiles at almost everyone, and reserves her giggles for things that are truly funny.... like me saying "H" in a weird voice. She doesn't mind other people holding her, but if I'm in the room, her eyes are glued on me. Most days she wakes up chatting away at the ceiling fan.

I might be a little biased, but she's basically the best thing ever.

Have It & Eat It

I turned 28 last week.

Tomorrow my baby turns five whole months old.

I'm not sure when any of this happened.  In my head I still wonder sometimes who said it was okay for me to drive a car... never mind be married, own a house, and be completely responsible for another human life.

When I think back ten years, when I was 18, I can't recall what I expected my life to be like at 28, but I'd like to think I've made 18 year old me proud... amazing husband, beautiful baby girl, a more than decent roof over our heads, a solid career, incredible family and friends.Yea, I've done pretty well for myself.

I could happily go along for the next ten years, advancing in my current career, raising my daughter, doing my best to be a good wife.  It all sounds pretty good and fulfilling  And there would  be absolutely nothing wrong with that path.

But I've got another one in mind.

I'm out to prove to myself - and anyone who will listen - that with enough blood, sweat, and tears, and some laughter, dedication, and sacrifice,  you can, in fact, have it all. Yes, I want my cake, and I want to eat it, what the hell good is a cake you can't eat?!

That you can be in business and help people at the same time. And that you can help people while making money. And you can be the mom that's waiting at the bus stop and cheering on the sidelines of every game. And you can be half of a happy, healthy marriage.

I've never been one to do things the easy way and I'm confident this will be no different.