What to do with Plastic Grocery Bags?

Until you remember to take those used grocery bags to a store for recycling, here are some suggestions for how to store them, and maybe even reuse them.

Adorable handmade dolls can be found at Linda's Creations for $20.00. Definately one of my future purchases. I have seen these and can attest to them holding quite a few bags.

Super Human Grocery Bag Holder found at Target for $12.99.
We currently use this holder and I have found that it fills up too fast. When I remember to bring in the cotton grocery bags placed in our car that are to be used at the store, this one may work just fine. Order for me, comes with practice.

For the creative/green in you, below is a list of 10 smart uses for Old Plastic Bags. The detail and original list can be found on the Real Simple website.

1. As knee pads
2. As hand protectors for doggy doo
3. Paint preservers-in the middle of a paint job
4. Make shift rain hats
5. Easy kitchen cleanups (suggesting to peeling fruits and veggies on top)
6. As wrapping paper
7. Wet umbrella holders
8. Shoe Protectors/carpet protectors (muddy shoes)
9. As Cookbook protectors
10. As planter fillers (saving on needed potting soil)

Displaced Directions

Ever go to clean out a junk drawer and find pieces of paper with directions you may just need to use again? What do you do with them? A paper clip? An envelope?

For this dilemma, we have a small notebook kept in the glove compartment of the vehicle we use the most. The first few pages display a list or table of contents of sorts. (This way I don't have to thumb through the entire book, or try to remember if someone has been added. I can simply look down the list) Each time I add a new page into the book, I add the name of the location "Sunny Sommers Home" to the list at the beginning of the book. This has come in handy on more than one occasion.

The outline for the rest of the pages are as follows...

Sunny Sommers
555-4102
8008 Sunshine Ln
Sunland, AZ 01134

From Home (Phoenix)
L on 25th Street
R on Coombiya Ln
R on Cardinal Terrace
L on Morning Ln

This same concept works well using the Notes feature of a BlackBerry or Smartphone. Another route is using the text note features on most mobile device address books - add directions to each person's home or business in this section and you have no hard copy to mess with, or lose, plus it's easy to save backups.

Cookies To Order

You just got off the phone with some surprise guests; perhaps your husband just let you know that he had a rough day - he is looking for some extra TLC; an event that you forgot about until last minute comes up that you were supposed to bring a treat for.... Ah boy...

After this tip, you can simply preheat the oven and retrieve the best chocolate chip cookies you have ever tasted giving your home a sensational appeal for your guests, warming the heart and tummy of your husband, and hiding forgetfulness from the people who surely think you have it all together...assuming anyone does.

The cookie recipe below can be made and separated into 3 rolls. Put two in the freezer and cook the first roll for proof. The next two rolls are bonus used usually for the aforementioned reasons.

Be forewarned... these are good enough to hide from my husband in places like the frozen chicken nugget bag, or frozen vegetables.

350 8-10 minutes
Mix: 2 sticks butter (unsalted)
2 cups brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
Add: 2 eggs
3 tsp vanilla
Stir in: 4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda (be sure it is not expired)
1 tsp salt
2 cups of chocolate chips

Order up!

Organizing Your Greeting Cards

Unused Christmas cards from years past, birthday cards purchased but unsent (If only I used the "You Remembered!? " tip years ago!), extra note cards, cards and or envelopes just lying around, and much more hidden within junk grouping areas, presented me a new "orderly home" project.

A central location for all of these cards, complete with dividers for easy access and filing. I use a 6.4x10.9x16.3in Rubbermaid container that easily holds all card sizes and has a little space for an extra holder for maybe stickers or stamps.

With my Brother PT-80 label maker,(LOVE this gadget) each divider (made from trimming manila envelopes) is given a category as follows.

• Birthdays
• Christmas
• Get Well
• Friendship
• New Baby
• Thank You
• Note Cards
• Cards w/out Envelopes
• Extra Envelopes

With the start of the new year, I am glad to have my "Card and Party Central" in place before I am enveloped :P with the next group of birthdays that seem to all arrive at once.