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)

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.

Keying In On Clutter

As a great complement to me, my husband teaches me the benefits of giving everything it's own place. Extra keys just laying around make him a little shifty. For good reason too... just leave it to someone like me to lock my keys in the car, and not know where to find the extra key.

This little arrangement was found at Home Depot. Kept in a discreet place on the pantry wall, the color coordinated labels ensure we put the keys back. We use this for the electric box key, gate key, car keys, even padlock keys.

Just one step in fighting the war on junk drawer clutter.

Shoe Organization

Shoes in your closet may be "organized" whether they are in a particular pile or a neatly sorted bin. For my family, most difficulty is found outside of the closet.

How do we keep from loosing the "Cars" shoes or the "pretty pink sandals" along with our minds on the days when we should've been there already?


My solution was to strategically place a cubby hole shoe organizer by our back door.

• This organizer is found by walking through tile flooring.
• No one digs through a box of shoes to find their own matching pair.
• All family members can easily find/reach and put away their own shoes.
• Easy training for the family as organization expectations are clear.
• When there are too many shoes to fit - time to take them to personal closets.
• There is room for a small basket on top of the box for hats.
• If a coat rack is also needed, I would suggest placing one above the shoe box, and using a basket atop for hats, mittens etc.

If this tip fits, please use it.

Holiday Gift "Rapping"

I never realized the vast qualities a gift wrap organizer had to offer or how much fun gift wrapping could be until beginning this year's adventure in Holiday wrapping with my Mother-in-law. It all started when she asked if I had any wrapping paper?

After taking out my wrapping paper organizer and hanging it over the door, we had a blast wrapping and discussing the ease and practicality of the tool. (We could have made bunch o bucks on QVC if this scene was replayed)

We both agreed on the following qualities to this organizational tool:

• Hanging the organizer over the door allows for more wrapping space in various areas throughout the rest of the room.
• Having scissors, tape, ribbon, paper, and gift bags all in one spot is highly efficient.
• Great option to unroll a bit of paper and cut directly from holder (good way to bypass a hole in the paper from your knee while trimming paper from the role)
• Makes you look and feel organized.
• Rolls up to a compact piece that can fit in a closet corner or even under the bed.
• Less mess than other Tupperware tubing or boxes as the view from the door hanger shows everything at a glance.
• This model is cheap. It can be found through Amazon for 14.95.

There are many other gift wrap organization options that may suit you even better.

Do you have any wrapping paper I could use? I do hope I am asked again.