Way Back When-sday- St. Patrick's Day Edition

This was the boy's last year on St. Patty's Day. Don't you just want to eat that baby fat up?

I think if they could talk in this picture their conversation would go something like this....

Grant ( right): Um Gabe...why are you wearing Green? Don't you know that is MY color.

Gabe (left): Can you please be quiet. I'm practicing my hula dance.

So to give you a little background... When we first brought the boys home I couldn't tell them apart (they even had identical birth marks), so we left the hospital bracelets on and then we made bracelets with their names. When they outgrew those I "color-coded" them. Gabe got blue and Grant got green. Now even though I can tell them apart I still do it when I have the option to have a blue and green.  It helps me keep track of sippy cups, snack traps, and helps people who still can't tell them apart. My husband now blames me because the boys now prefer those colors. So do any other twin mommas do this or am I the only crazy one?

Totally Organized Tuesdays: Toy Storage Edition

I was sure as soon as I found out I was having twins that my house would look like it threw up primary colors and it did for a little while when we had two swings, two bouncers, a jumperoo, activity mat and two walkers in our living room but now that all of that stuff is behind us I feel like we have things under control. At least when the boys are asleep.

See you would never guess two babies live here.....

until you see this. This was a christmas gift and it came from Pier One and we LOVE it. The hinges on it keep it from slamming on little fingers.

I keep these baskets in our built in bookshelf. The small toys one is for balls, blocks, cars. stuff that would fall to the bottom of the toy box if I were to put it in there.

This is not even close to all of their books. They also have a bookshelf in their room. These are all of their board books, you know the ones that I don't have to worry about them tearing to shreds. Notice I stand them up instead of just piling them in there, this makes it easier to flip through and find the book you want.

Now I know what you are thinking this doesn't look like toys to you but this is the big boy of the house's toys (aka my husbands toys).Oh and if anyone has any tips on how to hide all those wires please let me know. They drive me CRAZY.

Since our tv is mounted on the fireplace I put this end table next to it to house the electronics. Unfortunately our new HD satelite box is too wide to fit under the end table but the playstaion does and I keep a basket under there for my husband to put the controls and headsets in. 

(notice the chubby bald babies...those are my boys, they grow up WAY to fast)

So my organizing question for you guys is...if you decide to keep baby swings, bouncers, etc. for future kids how/where do you store it? Right now ours is hiding in our guest room closet.

Slacker, a Feature, and a Blog Hop

Sorry for being such a slacker the past week but well sometimes life happens and I get a little side tracked but I am back on board now. I will be posting Totally Organized Tuesdays later today and give an update with lots of pictures of what we have been up to. But before I did that I wanted to thank some people.

I got my first feature last week with Tara at Undeserving Grace. Her blog is very inspirational. So head on over to her blog and check out her series Inspire Before You Expire.



I am co-hosting a blog hop with these fellow twin moms. If you don't already follow them and link up to their blog hop "Tag Back Tuesday" every Tuesday. Oh and you don't have to have twins to link up.








Happy Blog Hopping!

Totally Organized Tuesdays: Kitchen Edition

Here are some organizing solutions I use to keep my kitchen in order. This is obviously not all my kitchen cabinets, just the ones I thought might help someone organize their space.

I got tired of digging around to try to find the cookie sheet or muffin tin I wanted to use so I bought this slotted organizer from Walmart. It would be more ideal if this could go sideways but the size of the cabinet doesn't allow it.

This lid rack allows me to be able to stack all the pots together and have all the lids together.

All my dry measuring cups and spoons go in that basket.

I keep all appliances(except for the microwave) in a large cabinet together. An appliance that only gets used a couple times a week or less is not worthy enough to clutter up my cabinets. However I do like to keep all my kitchen utensils in a crock on the counter so I am not digging in a drawer to find what I want.

All meds seperated by symptoms. Makes it easier than digging in the back of the cabinet and knocking all the other bottles over.

If you have any neat organizing tips that you have done feel free to leave me a link in the comments section. Organization makes this momma very HAPPY! It is a little bit of sanity in my chaotic world.

Strollers

I have two strollers right now and am looking for a more narrow compact side by side stroller.


The first stroller we had was the Quattro Tour Duo Tandem Stroller. We didn't have the same fabric, ours was called platinum. We also had the Graco Snugride Infant Car Seat, Platinum that snapped in. This stroller was great until the boys outgrew their car seats and I put them in the stroller part.
Pros:
-Two carseats would snap onto this stroller. A lot of strollers only accomodate for one carseat.
-Big basket at the bottom for shopping bags.
-Cup holders are nice
-Double Handle is great to put diaper bag and shopping bags on.
-Narrow enough to get through tight spaces.

Cons:
- Buckles are hard to fasten with a wiggly toddler. This was not an issue of course when we were still snapping the carseats in.
-Double Handle is hard to steer one handed. Like when I am in target pushing the stroller in front of me and pulling a cart behind me.
- Boys like to be able to see each other and they can't in this one.
-Heavy and bulky when folded.



Over the summer, we bought the Baby Trend Expedition Double Jogging Stroller, Skylar. They were 6 months old and they loved it.
Pros:
-Obviously great for jogging.
- Adjustable sunshade.
- Cupholders and a place for wallet and keys
-Very easy to buckle wiggly toddler.
-Side by Side, the boys love to tickle each other and steal each others cheerios.
-Very easy to steer.

Cons:
- Because it is a jogging stroller when the wheel isn't locked it gets kinda wobbly when you are walking fast.
- The basket is divided so if you have big bags they won't fit.
- One handle doesn't allow for you to put your diaper bag on it.
- Heavy and bulky when folded.
-Hard to get through doors. Always having to open two doors to get in which is challenging when I am by myself.  When there is only one door, we just don't go in that store. By the way, I think every place should have automatic doors haha.


Now here is the one I am thinking about getting, the Combi Twin Sport 2010 Side by Side Double Stroller, Sand. From what I have read, it folds pretty compactly and is narrow for a double side by side at least. The only drawback I see is that there is no cupholders for the Mom but I could buy one that hooks on if I see fit. So Moms that use a double stroller, is this a good one for shopping trips and doctors offices? Is it easy to buckle the babies in? Is there a better, cheaper option out there that you love. By the way I am keeping the jogger so this will be strictly for indoor use.

TIDWTFT

Gabe:
-is getting his one year molars in

Grant:
- loves to smack his lips

Both:

- can blow kisses on command
- can point to their mouth when asked "where is your mouth?"
- love to play with cake pans. It gives the daddy a headache but the momma is just happy to have found something that will entertain them.

I have lots of new pictures I will be posting soon.

Totally Organized Tuesday: Pantry and Junk

In a dream world I would have this pantry from House of Smiths. But in reality my pantry looks like this and it will do now.

 Top shelf :  cheerios(we go through lots of these), goldfish, and stuff that is too big to fit in a bin like a canister of oatmeal.

 2nd shelf: bread and drink mixes(crystal light, hot chocolate, koolaid).

 3rd shelf : chips and boxed mixes( bisquick, pancake mix,cake mix)

 Bottom shelf: snacks for us(granola bars, girl scout cookies, popcorn) and the boys snacks(applesauce, fruit cups, mum mums) so that if we ever have someone over to watch them they will know what is safe for them.

I have two more cabinets in my kitchen that also hold more food because my pantry isn't big enough.

I made the labels for the canisters and I have some more that I use more frequently sitting on my counter. In the baking bin, I keep my cocoa, baking powder, cupcake liners, sprinkles, and my extra things of flour and sugar that won't fit in the canisters.

The pasta pin keeps all my pasta, boxed macaroni and rice.

Now here comes the junk part. Most people have a junk drawer, I have a junk cabinet...ya know a place for stuff that has no real home.

Top shelf: camera bag, card games, coins, and scentsy(and candles, potpurri).
Middle shelf: camera accessories, phone accessories, light bulbs(and outlet covers), batteries(seperated by size in ziploc bags).

Bottom shelf: cook books, phone books, card box, board games, and behind the board games I have jars and canisters I plan to recycle for future organization projects.