After the Party is over

Now that Christmas is past, it's time to put away the decorations. Sad, but true. Bye-bye to the pretty twinkling lights and childhood ornaments. Whether that means today, or in a few weeks, you must do it. Decorations are tricky things to keep safe and organized and today I want to give you a few options for your fragile ornaments. I've included some relatively inexpensive solutions, with pricing and details, for you below.

1. Under Bed Ornament Storage Box ($25.99)
2. Three Tier Snap N Stack Ornament Storage Box by Snapware ($27.99)
3. Archival Ornament Box with Lid by I Was Framed ($19.99)
4. Ornament Storage Box with Dividers by Iris ($21.49 orig, sale now $17.19)
5. Cubic Ornament Storage Box by Mainstay ($16.00)
6. DIY Storage Bin by Martha Stewart

Dreaming of a White Christmas Part II

As I write this, Christmas Eve morning, it truly is snowing outside. Ahhh, how I love the white stuff! What I don't like, is the non-white stuff. Today we're talking chocolate stains. Chances are, you're going to consume some of that deliciousness in the form of cookies, brownies or other desserts this holiday season. Why not know how to treat the accidents?

CHOCOLATE:

On clothing/washable fabric:

Gently scrape away excess chocolate on the surface, then blot the stain with cold water. If the spot remains, add 1 tsp of clear dishwashing liquid to 1 cup of cool water. Sponge onto stain with a clean cloth. Rinse thoroughly with cool water. If the stain still remains.....
A. If it's milk chocolate.... add a few drops of ammonia to your dishwashing liquid solution, blot and rinse.
B. If it's dark chocolate.... add 2 tbsp of white vinegar to the dishwashing liquid solution, blot and rinse. 

For difficult stains on fabric that can tolerate hot water, stretch the stain over a heat proof bowl or bucket and sprinkle borax over the stain. Pour hot to boiling water through the stain (being careful not to splash on self).

On carpet:
Gently scrape up an excess chocolate on the surface. Blot up any liquid spills and sponge the stain with cold water. Blot dry with clean cloths or paper towels, then blot glycerin onto the spot. Blot and rinse with cool water.

Hope this has been helpful! Merry Christmas!

Dreaming of a White Christmas Part I

Hello from chilly Minnesota. This past weekend, the Twin Cities was doused with 15-20 some inches of snow and negative temperatures. What can I say? -- It is The Holiday Season...and chances are, you're probably hosting a party or two. With that, inevitably comes spills and stains. I'd like to share a couple stain removal/treatments with you! Here is installment #1:

RED WINE 
A. On Clothing/Washable Fabric
Pour or sponge club soda on the stain, and blot with a clean cloth. Launder as usual and check the stain before drying. If color from the stain still remains, sponge 1 cup of vinegar, 1 tbsp dish liquid and 1/2 cup of water. Let set for 15 minutes before laundering again.
B. On linen
Place the stained item in a cooking pot and cover it with milk. Heat the milk to a boil then take the pot off the burner. Let it set until the stain is gone.
C. On Carpet
Dilute the spill with white wine, then flush it with cold water before covering the stain with salt. Let it set for 10 minutes before vacuuming up the salt.
Tips found in Natural Stain Removal Secrets by Deborah L. Martin