The BeSpoken Diary: One Holiday down, one more to go...

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, there is a sigh of relief on December 25 after the gifts have been opened and the holiday bird carved, but the next day, after the wrapping paper clears, the question is:

"What do I do with all this Christmas stuff?"

Many of us spend time seeking out the perfect ornaments or home trimmings only to misplace them before the next holiday season. So, here's few ideas on how to store your holiday decorations without breaking them, or the bank, next year.

Color coordinate!: If you can still find them, purchase those red and green containers to hold your wreath, garlands, and ornaments. Next year they'll be easy to find, because of the colors, in your attic or basement.
Take inventory: As always, find out what's broken, missing, or needs to be misplaced. Most likely you will be able to catch these things on sale between Christmas and New Years and who doesn't like discounts??
Untangle the lights!: This is part of the reason I like organizing things. Almost every year, our lights would need to be untangled because previous year we just threw them in a box. So, to avoid that, we began wrapping them around a tube of newspaper. Just roll the paper like a paper towel tube, and wrap the lights around it. They are easier to untangle that way, AND they are easier to put on the tree!
Do the laundry!: Before throwing all the holiday linens in a bag to banish until next year, take the time to wash them first! Any stains left to marinate for a year certainly cannot be good. Linens that are soiled beyond repair can be used as cleaning clothes instead.

These steps will definitely help you keep your holiday decor in top condition for the next year!

Enjoy the rest of the holiday season and be safe!