Less Mess, More Yes

Protecting Your Holiday Treasures

by Jen Montbleau of Sterilite Corporation

The holidays are wrapping up and it's time to take down and store your winter wonderland. Now is the perfect time to get organized and de-clutter as you pack away your home's festive trimmings.

As the glittering holiday centerpiece in many homes, today's Christmas trees proudly wear dancing lights, musical ornaments and glimmering garland. Each tree is as unique as the family that decorates it, but no matter the differences, we all want to keep our ornaments in good condition for the next holiday season. Using a solid plastic container is very important when packing away your precious ornaments. The compartments in the Ornament Case cradle larger ornaments, preventing them from emerging with scratches or chips.

Tip: Do you have smaller ornaments that you like to hang on your tree? If you don't have proper storage boxes for them, consider keeping them safe by storing them in an egg carton. Use a rubber band to secure the carton shut and stack them into a plastic storage tote to keep them safe.  Also, if you decorate your tree with ribbon, try wrapping your ribbon around an empty paper towel roll and securing it with a pin to save it for next year.


The most important thing about storing lights and garland is making sure you keep them from getting tangled thereby preventing a hassle next Christmas. A clever way to store lights and garland is to wind them around a sturdy sheet of cardboard. Try using some of the shipping boxes from all your on-line gift purchases. Wrap a single strand of lights around a sheet of cardboard, cutting slits to secure both ends. Then stack them neatly in your Christmas-colored tote for next year.

Tip: When decorating next season, try unwrapping them from the cardboard as you walk around the tree.


Artificial Christmas trees are durable by design, though that doesn't mean that they don't require a little care. Most come with instructions on the correct way to set them up for the holidays, but there are usually no directions for proper storage.

After you have removed all of your decorations, here are a few simple things you should do if you have a pre-lit artificial tree:

1. Locate and replace broken or burned-out lights. The more lights that are not working on a light string, the more electricity the working lights have to consume. This will permanently damage the working lights and give them a brown tint.
2. Try to compress the branches of the tree so you don't damage them when you place the tree into a smaller space for storage.
3. Fold in your branches toward the center pole and wrap the bottom and middle sections with twine or a cloth covered bungee cord to further compress the tree. You do not want to make it too tight but just a little compression makes storage easier.

Stored in a sturdy tote, your artificial Christmas tree will be safe for the rest of the year and good as new when the holidays come around.


As you work, evaluate all of your holiday decorations. Consider donating anything you didn't use this year and throw away anything that is damaged. Most people have limited floor space so whether in an attic, garage, closet, or under the stairs, take advantage of the vertical space by stacking several totes on top of each other.

By storing your holiday treasures in an organized manner, decorating next year will be a snap!

Do you have any Holiday storage tips? We'd love to hear your ideas!

Gift Wrap ... Contained

This week's post is written by Professional Organizer Monica Friel, president of Chaos to Order based in Chicago and Atlanta. They have been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Hoarding: Buried Alive, as well as in Better Homes and Gardens, just to name a few. You can find them on the web at www.chaostoorder.com

It's no wonder people are stressed out around the holidays, there are so many more things to think about, to do and to organize during the month of December. Gift wrapping is one of many tasks: you need to purchase gift wrap, store it and have it accessible for wrapping gifts quickly. Some people wrap gifts as they bring them in, others store them all up and have one big wrapping session once all the gifts are purchased.

However you prefer to do the wrapping, having a good place to store the tubes of holiday paper is a must. Storing tubes upright is especially nice if you do a lot of wrapping because you can easily access what you need. This vertical wrap box from Sterilite is sturdy and durable. If you want to tuck the gift wrap out of the way and under a bed, try the 41 quart underbed box. If you don't keep too many rolls, you can also make room in the box for bows, gift bags, tags, tape etc. To keep paper from unraveling or tearing, wrap a rubber band around the roll.

However you choose to store your wrapping paper, having an organized place to contain it will help make the time you spend gift wrapping a bit more peaceful.


 

The Christmas Spirit!

By Heather Kilduff of Sterilite Corporation

Among the hustle and bustle, it’s important not to lose sight of the spirit of the holiday season. It’s a time to celebrate with friends and family, a time to appreciate what you have and to provide to those who have little. Feeding the hungry, providing clothes and warm blankets to the poor and giving special but simple gifts is a long-standing Christmas tradition.

In an effort to keep this tradition at the forefront of our holiday celebrations, a group of colleagues and I chose to provide for the needs of others – in this case, boys and girls ranging from age 6 – 10. Each of us filled Sterilite shoeboxes with small toys, hygiene items and school supplies as a means of reaching out to underprivileged children this holiday season. Our donations went to a local charity that provides year-round assistance to families in need.

So as you make your holiday plans, consider keeping others in mind by donating to one of the many charities that provide for the needy this time of year. Go ahead – give it a try and discover the true meaning of Christmas spirit!
 

 

Make Your Season Bright with the Perfect Make-Ahead Treat

By Cheryl Mailloux of Sterilite Corporation

Growing up, I remember our house being filled with the aroma of baked goods, especially when holidays were near. My mother never wanted to be without a gift when unexpected company arrived or when invites to parties came in. To ease some of the stress, she would start in early December actively making baked goods and candies and storing them in airtight containers in a cool place within our home. This allowed her the ability to make others’ holiday seasons bright without spending a lot, and to feel confident that the gifts would always be enjoyed!

Here is a traditional holiday treat that I love to make ahead of time with my kids and pass out to friends and neighbors during the holiday season. The sweet and salty combination makes it a hit with everyone. The best part of this recipe is that you can add or subtract ingredients to suit your personal preferences. It’s also fun to change the ingredients based on party themes or seasonal events. This recipe makes a large batch, but is such a hit that it is one of the first to disappear!

White Chocolate Popcorn
16 cups of popped popcorn
1 1/2 cup of Cheerios®
1 1/2 cup of Craisins®
1 bag of M&M’s ®
2 cups of pretzels, lightly broken
1 cup of nuts (almonds or cashews, optional)
2 - 12oz bags of white chocolate chips
1 – 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening


Step 1:
Select your favorite brand of plain popcorn and follow the package instructions to pop. I like to make mine on the stovetop as the kids always enjoy watching the kernels pop.


Step 2:
In an extra large bowl, combine popcorn, Cheerios®, Cranrasins®, M&M’s®, pretzels, nuts if you choose to use them. If needed, split ingredients between two large bowls to allow items to be thoroughly mixed in the steps below.


Step 3:
In a double boiler, combine the white chocolate chips and the vegetable oil and melt on medium-low heat. Stir until smooth then remove from the heat.


Helpful Hint: I like to purchase my white chocolate chips in early November as they typically become harder to find once December rolls around. The Ultra+Latch 12.6 Cup Square containers are perfect for storing all of my baking ingredients, and will hold several bags of chocolate chips keeping them fresh and easily accessible when baking.


Step 4:
Pour the white chocolate mixture over the popcorn mixture and gently toss to coat. Then spread the mixture out on two large baking sheets and allow to sit for two hours so the chocolate can set.


Step 5:
Serve in small snack bowls or place mixture in an airtight container to have on hand for future use. I like to make several batches of this during the holidays, and store in an airtight container ahead of time. I then purchase small themed containers to fill and hand out to neighbors and friends. When stored properly in a cool, dry place, this recipe can last two to three weeks … or until my kids and husband find it.

Here is hoping that your season is bright and your treats are a delight!