BUT YOU CHANGED MY MIND, FOLKS. AND SAVED ME MONEY. (Love you, kiss kiss!)

However, we will return to that subject shortly.

This past weekend was spent cleaning and arranging our garage to make room for both of our cars. In the past, D (aka the “Mid Century Modern Hoarder“) has housed many of his goodies in the garage, thus leaving room for only one vehicle. This has secretly driven me batty, for I can’t stand clutter, stacks, or any shit lying around that is not being actively used.

Within days of moving to our new neighborhood, we found out that our Homeowners Association will not allow vehicles on the street. The only way you can keep a car in the street permanently is if you own three cars, at which point you must actually PHOTOGRAPH two cars in the garage before requesting a permit. Naturally, this news was rather disappointing to D, but for me? IT WAS THE BEST NEWS OF MY LIFE. D was being forced to clean out his “treasures!” HAHAHAHAA HALLEFUCKINGLUJAH.

Although D had to do most of the rearranging and cleaning, don’t think for a second that I didn’t sit out there watching him like a hawk the entire time. “Are you trying to hide that box of CDs from 1991?”, “Do you really need 49 wooden frames?” and “Do you envision yourself actively using that 8-foot-long wooden Hungarian spatula in the immediate future?” were common questions coming out of my mouth over the course of the past 48 hours.

However! It got me thinking. Who needs a bunch of new baby gear when I can use some of D’s treasures instead?

Take this lovely basket.

Forget using a Bjorn, wrap or ring sling…just pop your tiny infant into this bad boy and call it a day!

Ooooh, so comfortable. Don’t worry if your newborn starts crying while stuffed in there, those are just tears of joy.

Got an early 20th century dough bowl lying around the house? Hell, WHO DOESN’T?

Helloooo! Perfect baby bed! Concerned about splinters? Just throw some bubble wrap in there and you’re good to go.

Look at the happiness exuding from Louise the Chicken! She loves her new baby bed!

As much as the dough bowl baby bed warmed my heart, I did end up buying the Arms Reach Mini Co-Sleeper due to some incredibly convincing comments and emails from you all. And once again, this purchase truly confirms what I’ve known all along. A parental tagline of sorts…

BABY GEAR: SOMETIMES THE FUGLY OPTION IS THE BETTER CHOICE.

I’m dealing with it.

This is the extent of my packing. Good progress, right?

(HOLY SHIT. HELP ME.)

The belly is definitely popping, which is perfectly coinciding with my incessant need to graze like a cow all day long. Speaking of…

(SEGUE!)

I love to prep. I love to cook. I love to eat. I HATE TO PLAN MY MEALS.

I’ve talked about this before, and how the Relish System totally saved my ass in the kitchen. Seriously, you guys. I’ve been consistently using their menus and grocery lists on a weekly basis for almost 2 years. 2 years! That right there is true love in my books, for the last time I showed that level and length of commitment was to my Duran Duran poster (MARRY ME, NICK RHODES!!!) from 1982 to 1984.

(Hey! If you also suffer from Can’tPlanDinneritis and want to join Relish, be sure and enter whoorl in the “how you heard of us” section so they know I sent you!)

Back to the planning thing. Although I have my dinners beautifully covered on a weekly basis, I am still falling short on planning/purchasing items for other meals, such as snacks. Seeing as I feel the need to eat a little something, oh, about every 26 minutes, I am at a loss as to what I should buy for healthy snacks in between meals. Right now, I am eating more baby carrots and radishes than you can shake a stick at. I am turning a lovely shade of rosy orange, though!

What are some of your favorite moderately healthy snacks to keep around the house? Help me! DO IT FOR THE BABY.