10 Little Known Facts About Me

Funny and random facts about the blogger behind the blog

It's been a good while since I've written a post like this. If you follow me on Instagram, I partake in "Friday Introductions" every so often, and try to make it as amusing as possible. So I thought, hey, I might as well make a full on blog post! Don't worry, this isn't full of boring things like, "I sleep on the right side of the bed" or "my favorite food is chips and queso" (although those are both true things). No no. Prepared to be entertained with these 10 little known facts about me.

1) I still wear my retainer at night three to four nights a week. You know, the old school one that I got when I got my braces off. Metal bar across the front of my teeth, flesh colored plastic that "clicks in" to the roof of your mouth. Yeah, that one. I don't even know if they make retainers like that anymore. But I do know that my teeth are still straight!

Not, you're not getting a pic of that.

2) I haven't cleaned a toilet in over four years. When hubs and I moved in together, he was adamant about getting a housekeeper. I thought it was creepy to have someone you don't know come clean your house for you. And then, I realized that means that I don't have to do the cleaning, and I got over that perceived creepiness reeeeeeeeal quick.

3) My pajamas are all Victoria's Secret PINK and I'm not ashamed. Ok, I'm a little ashamed because I am 32 years old, but hey! They make pants long enough for me, so until more "mature" brands get on board with long inseams, I'm PINKing on.

4) I have super bad vision, but I can only pluck my eyebrows without glasses/contacts in. This means my face is about three inches from the mirror. I don't know why this is the only way I can properly pluck my eyebrows, so lets just not ask questions. I look so ridiculous, I lock the bathroom door when it's eyebrow plucking day.

5) I love driving my car, but I never really leave a 5 mile radius of my home. Benefits of living in a major city I guess? Everything is within a few miles of me - literally, everything. But I'd never want to live in a city like NYC where you have to walk everywhere. Especially with kids! That sounds awful. Give me my car, kthanks. 'Muricka!

I can't image wrangling these two in a city that wasn't driveable. Nope.

A photo posted by Boymom Blogger | Paige (@anuncomplicatedlifeblog) on Nov 25, 2016 at 4:30pm PST

6) Speaking of cars, I haven't parallel parked a car in about five years. I was SO good at it when I lived in Minneapolis and had on-street parking. But now, everywhere in Dallas is lot parking or valet. Lots of valet here, it's actually kinda weird and obnoxious. You have to make sure you have cash on you for tips all the time and I'm like cash?! What is this, 1952? Anyway... I wonder if I CAN still parallel park like a boss. Probably not.

7) My new favorite thing is when I open our back door to let the dog outside, Henry says/screams, "That doggie is going POOP. He going POOP outside!" It makes me laugh. every. time. And there the boys' obsession with bodily functions begins, right? Le sigh.

He's THIS expressive and passionate, always.

A photo posted by Boymom Blogger | Paige (@anuncomplicatedlifeblog) on Dec 24, 2016 at 5:24pm PST

8) I have an iPhone, because it's 2017, but I use about 10% of it's capabilities. I'm just not that into technology. Yup, I still use a paper planner. And better believe it's color coded! But schedule a meeting in my phone's calendar? Heck no, I don't understand such nonsense.

9) I'm NOT a shopper. I was looking in my closet for something cute to wear for date night and realized I've purchased four shirts in the last 18 months. FOUR. Yoga clothes on the other hand... Let's just say my yoga attire is on point where my normal clothes are lacking. Anyone else feel weird spending money on themselves? I always think about how I don't NEED anything, I just WANT it. And so it goes back on the rack.

One of the four shirts I bought this year:

A photo posted by Boymom Blogger | Paige (@anuncomplicatedlifeblog) on Sep 21, 2016 at 10:26am PDT

10) I love to cook. I really do! And when I cook, everything is from scratch - gravy, sauces (no canned "cream of" soups for me!), I made my own veggie burgers in a food processor, and on and on. Yet, hubs and I still order take out at least three days a week. Because have you tried to cook while two little people tear apart your house?! Yeah. No. We discovered Snap Kitchen in the Whole Foods on Park Lane and y'all - it's SO convenient! There are tons of choices of what to eat, the nutrition information is clearly labeled and the part I like best is that they have sizes of each meal (S, M, L) so I can buy lunch or dinner portions. And I can pick it up on my weekly grocery store runs. Voila! Dinner is served.

Yeah so those are some of the top 10 little known facts about me! Hope that brightened your day. Now get back to work.

Playroom Organization Tips & Tricks

Get your playroom organized with these helpful tips

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not necessarily the cleanest person in the world. My husband is far tidier than I am. But what I do excel at is organization! If you ask me where any one random item is in my home, I can tell you in great detail exactly where. I have the kids' schedule outlined in my paper planner, and we have never been late to anything. Nothing. So while I may need to take a shower and do a load of laundry, I'm on top of the organization game in both my home and in my life. I'm going to lend a helping hand and share with you some of my best playroom organization tips and tricks.

Playrooms are notorious for being a big hot mess, and with good reason. My kids tear this room up! Every. Single. Day. But, there's an order to their madness because there is an order to the room. When there's an order to the madness, it makes the room much easier to clean up at night. Every toy has it's place and gets returned to that place. Then the boys know where to find that toy the next day. It can still be chaotic much it's more of an ordered chaos, if you will.

Before we jump in, I'd note that part of my organizational strategy is to keep the number of toys to a minimum. Our playroom is a good size, but excessive stuff no matter how much space you have adds to a larger mess to clean and organize daily. I keep toys down by asking friends NOT to bring gifts at the kids birthday parties and I've even been known to take Christmas presents and hide them in my craft closet to gift them to the boys at a later date. There's just no reason for 25+ presents at Christmas! Minimalism with the toys is key to more easy organizing.

Playroom organization tips and tricks: The big picture

Basically, the room is categorized into four stations. The four stations correlate with the four major storage units we have in the room. Both boys can access all four stations and gain access to the toys that are stored in them.

Station 1 - floor toys

Station 2 - plush floor toys

Station 3 - books, blocks and sound-making toys

Station 4 - table toys

Playroom organization tips and tricks: The details

Station 1 - floor toys: We have one large racetrack that always sits out, and one wooden box that houses several games. Then I have two portable containers so that the boys can play with those toys in the living room while I watch the news, in the bathroom while I get ready, or in the kitchen while I cook. Other than these few portable containers of toys, everything else stays in the playroom.

Station 2

Station 2 - plush floor toys: This was used a lot more when Otto was younger because it houses a Bobby pillow, a tummy time mat, baby carriers (which we still use) and a few other infant-oriented, larger items. The top of this chest is where we store the boys' outdoor items. This is Texas, so they have baseball hats and sweatshirts! This makes it easy for a quick grab if we're going in the backyard, or if we're getting ready to walk the dog, in which case the baby carrier located in the same location makes that transition even easier.

Station 3 - books, blocks and sound-making toys: These are held in four wicker baskets that are light enough for Henry to pull off the shelves. One has blocks, one has a wooden train set, one has musical toys and toys that make noises, and the last has balls and stuffed animals. Each basket goes into the same slot so the kids always know where to find which toys. The top shelves have the books. We're starting to get so many of those, we'll need another bookshelf soon but I'm ok with them having as many books as they want! The lower drawers are filled with large plastic blocks that Otto can access.

Pro tip: These shelves are bolted into the wall so that they don't ever fall onto a child.

Station 3 - there's two of these, one on either side of the table

Station 4 - table toys: This looks a bit chaotic but the toys on the table are always the same. They're mostly cars and trucks, or other toys with wheels, because the kids like to roll them off the table. There's a few other baby toys on it so that Otto can have access to them since he can't quite yet pull the baskets off the shelves. Under the table are a few puzzles and larger race car tracks for all those cars.

Station 4

Like these organizational hacks? Pin it!

I've found this "station method" of playroom organization tips and tricks to really facilitate keeping our playroom in order! And having the toys branched out into these categories makes clean up so much faster and easier. We're just starting to have Henry (who's 2 and a half) help clean up this room before bedtime, and because of the consistent organization, he knows where each toy goes and is able to be helpful. Even Otto, who is just 13 months, watches and is learning where everything's place is. I can't wait for them to be able to clean the room without me before bedtime! With these organizational tips, I bet it won't be too long.

An Interview With The Hubs

On our third wedding anniversary, I asked my husband some questions on then and now

I see other bloggers have their husband's write posts, and I think it's really fun to see the "other side." I'm not sure where my hubs would start with the written word, provided he ever had enough time to sit down and pen a post. Also, who knows what would spew out of his fingertips! In light of his wildcard status and my lack of ability to give up control, I asked him a few questions about me and our relationship when we went out celebrating our third wedding anniversary last Wednesday. This is how the interview with the hubs played out - I didn't edit his responses, for realsies. 

The questions are in bold, his answers are in normal font and my thoughts on his response are in italics. Ready, go:

Think back to when we first started dating. What about me attracted you, way back then?

You're beautiful, and you looked good in a skirt!

Notice how one is present tense and the other past tense? Hmpff!

What attracts you now, after three years of marriage and two kids?

You're still beautiful! And you made me some beautiful babies, too. In terms of personality, you challenge me - you're not the typical passive aggressive Midwestern gal, you say what you mean and you say what you think. Even if it's not what I think, or we disagree, I know what's on your mind.

Well, at least it wasn't all physical.

Way back when we first started dating. Had to dig this one up from an old Facebook album

What's my best quality?

[Thinks for a long time] You're passionate. And you bring that passion to our family and our relationship.

This is true.

What's my worst quality?

[Doesn't take any time to answer] You're stubborn! If I really want you to do something but you don't want to do it, you just won't do it. Not even for me.

Nope, sorry buddy, do it yourself.

Quick, don't overthink it! Which kid is your favorite?

Henry. He's currently easier. But a month or two ago I'd have said Otto, and I'm sure it will be Otto again soon.

That's right guys, parents have favorites. They never stay the same kid for too long, but there's always a fave.

Mr Personality has favorite child status... For now

What's your favorite memory of us?

There's probably two, one before kids and one after kids. Before kids it was our first trip together to Carmel, CA. It was our first time traveling together as a couple and we had such a good time driving up and down the Pacific Coast Highway in a convertible. Post kids, it's probably just our daily life and routine. On Sunday afternoons we go to yoga together and then come home and play outside or if it's summer we swim in the pool and hang out with music on the outdoor speakers. It's nice to have the hour alone with you and then spend the rest of the afternoon together as a family.

The trip to Carmel is my favorite, too. 

Backyard swimmin' this past summer. I think hubs was trying to get Henry to keep water IN the pool

If you could do anything with me for a day, what would we do?

Get a sitter for the kids and go out in Dallas as tourists. We'd get brunch like we used to do every weekend and take a nap in the afternoon. Then probably have dinner in our courtyard and just hang out.

We're such homebodies! Seriously, we both love being at home. I know it's cool to travel and to be a travel blogger, but traveling stresses me out. Give me my family and my home, any day of the week. I traveled enough in my 20's to last me a loooooooong time.

Have you ever asked your spouse some funny (or even meaningful) questions while on a date? It was kinda fun to hear what he had to say, even if I did cringe a little in the beginning. The last responses to the questions in my interview with the hubs didn't surprise me at all. Maybe next time I'll do a reverse interview, and have him think of some questions to ask me. That could be an interesting post!