diy: plastic bag storage

i have a GIGANTIC project to-do list..

most of which consists of projects found on/inspired by pinterest..

now that the birthday stuff is over & done with, i'm trying to cross somethings off of it..

ya know.. i don't even know if this can be called a 'project'.

it's more like a 5 minute pantry make over, that took 3 minutes.

how's that for ya? :)

if you are on pinterest you've likely seen this one floating around..

if not.. well consider yourself informed of this simple storage idea! :)

here's my pin. and the original website that posted it..

(along with much more in depth instructions, if you are interested)

i'm almost embarrassed to show you the before...

but here it is.

i really do try to remember my reusable bags, but sometimes i'm human and i forget!

(don't tell the green police!)

just cleaned out & took the label off of a clorox wipes container...

(i'm trying to break my addiction to these..they are so horrible on the environment)

separated all the bags & just shoved them into the container one by one.

i'm sure there is a more organized way of putting them in.. but honestly..

this thing is full enough with just a handful of bags that it forces them to the top..

and i don't want to have to unroll them every single time i need to shove a new bag in!

and here is the after...

(i should mention.. i'm anti-paper plates & cups...

but those things are realistic when throwing a party..

and somehow i end up with extras... ALWAYS.

you are looking at about 7 years worth of party leftovers!)



and done..!

soo much better.

i'm creative, but i can't stand clutter & disorganization.

(the dude's room drives me nuts!

why can't a 7 year old keep action figures separate from cars.. sheesh! :)

and maybe the other one is a little cuter..

but this thing is in my pantry & ain't nobody gettin' a gander at it but me..

so i ain't wastin' the time or paper ;)

using up some of my saved plastic & glass bottles. check.

organizing pantry. check.

crossing items off my to do list. check.

happy thursday!

xo-k

linking to:
someday crafts
fireflies and jellybeans
tales from bloggeritaville
somewhat simple

housekeeping: color ordered closets

everyone has them..
those crazy little quirks..

my husband can't stand anything sticky on his hands..
the smallest spot of stickiness on his hands will drive him insane!

my dad can't sit down to eat if a kitchen cabinet is open..
we've often gotten a good laugh at his expense by randomly opening a few cabinets...
& then laughing as he mindlessly wanders the kitchen to close them.

my mom makes perfectly shaped triangles in the carpet when she vacuums..
she is FANATICAL about it.

and me.. well i've got a few crazy things i do as well.
i've decided i'm going to start sharing the crazy every once in a while.

first up.. color ordered closets.

every closet in my house has the clothes in it hung in color order...
i realize i may not be the only one out there who does this..
but does everyone get as OCD about exactly what order the clothes in each color are hung?

i do.

in the babe's room, within each color its:
short sleeved shirts
short sleeved button ups
short sleeved polo's
long sleeved shirts
long sleeved button ups
long sleeved polos
short sleeved onesies
short sleeved polo onesies
long sleeved onesies
long sleeved polo onesies
one piece jumpers

convinced i'm nuts yet?

the dude's closet & our closets follow similiar crazy over-organizing. within each color:

tank tops
short sleeved shirts
short sleeved polo's
short sleeved button ups
long sleeved shirts
long sleeved polo's
long sleeved button ups

how about now... are you thinking... 'this lady is nuts'?
hear me out...

now.. i don't expect everyone to run to their closets & start color-organizing & crazily rearranging..
but it works for me. & it works for helping the dude get dressed on his own.
he'll say he wants to wear blue jeans & i can tell him to pick something orange or green...
then he can run in & grab something..
knowing i won't make him go back & change.
(granted.. by now he's a little more aware of what matches.. but when he was 4 it worked well!)

not only that... but because i can visually see what amount of color is in each closet..
when i'm shopping for new clothes i easily avoid buying tons of stuff in the same color...
(not that that is a concern for anyone other than me who has a mother who monitors the quantity of certain colors in their wardrobe! :)

so now you know one of my crazy quirks. trust there will be more :)

xo-k

diy: kid emergency box

do you have one of those friends who is ALWAYS prepared for anything...

especially when it comes to being out with her kids?

i do.

(don't ya just hate them for having it together...!!)

i'm kidding. (sort of :)

my bf is prepared for EVERYTHING.

i tease her about it, but she's got it together...

& although a day trip has her packing everything but the kitchen sink..

MORE than once she's saved us by having some obscure item i'd never think to pack.

(this applies to swimming trips as well.. she truly makes me ill)

me on the other hand...

even though i'm a fanatical organizer & lister..

i manage to usually leave something behind..

within the first three months after the babe was born i forgot formula for him.. TWICE.

i've thought.. 'oh hey it's just a short trip i won't need that' more than once.

like when the dude was little..

i can't tell you how many new outfits he got while i was out.. 

because i figured i didn't need a second or third set of clothes since he was toddler...

and it never failed..

i'd find myself in the bathroom at target with his butt under the sink while the bf paid for new clothes..

(oh and there was the time we had to find a target because his diaper leaked at a craft show!)

so not fun.

i've tried to learn from the bf.

tried to take on her 'pack it all' way of thinking.. 

but the truth is..

if i have plans to go to target for an hour with the babe..

i usually just put him in the carrier & go.

bad. bad. bad.

i know.

but i have a plan for myself.

because i can be prepared at least once, right?

(truthfully, i do carry more for the babe if we are going to be out longer)

so here it is.

my 'kid emergency box'.

the idea is to have stuff you may need in a 'kid' emergency.

ya know...

blow-out diapers

potty accidents

drinks spilled

wet clothes

cuts & scrapes

etc..

obviously your box would be tailored to your kids & your needs..

this is ours..

the first aid kit is something i always used to carry.

seems like as long as i carried it, i never needed it.

if it was smart to put formula & a bottle in here, i totally would..

but i doubt the heat is good for it. :)

that's also why i put the liquid items in a little sandwich baggie..

always better safe than sorry..

(see i'm even prepared for them to explode in the summer heat!)

stick it in the back of your car & your good to go.

just don't be like me..

remember to change out the diapers as your child changes sizes :)

xo-k

ps.. even as i feel super proud & prepared..

i'm sure the bf is reading this thinking of all the things i should be packing in here..

 i'm telling you.. all but the kitchen sink people! :)

**edited: see she was the first to comment!! lol..**

linking to:

skip to my lou

the girl creative

keeping it simple

c.r.a.f.t

whipperberry

tatertots & jello