Thanks for sharing, Mairead. I am new to this also and am having many of the same reactions. I just bought a bag of clothespins about an hour ago, actually. A very talkative woman in the laundry aisle engaged me in a discussion about how much better it is to line-dry your clothes instead of using the dryer. I had an awfully hard time not giggling, and I'm sure I turned beet red...

There are 50 in the bag, which makes me a little nervous. I'm not really sure I'm ready for the other 48.

I had a nice time this morning with some Good Grips bag clips--you know, the kind you use to keep chips fresh, that you find on the gadget wall at Bed Bath and Beyond (oh, my...I just had a thought about creative uses for other things you find on the gadget wall at Bed Bath and Beyond). They come in a four pack, each one is a different bright color.

Anyway, the inside of the clippy part is rubberized, which makes for nice, firm contact with the skin, without breaking it. They're pretty wide, so the whole nipple is inside, even when it's smooshed out.

Although I did not take advantage of this feature, there's also a loop in the end, so a string or chain could be attached.

Ha! Listen to me, giving somebody a tip like I have any idea what I'm talking about....

Also, I like your avatar, Mairead. That soy sauce is going nowhere!