This Mom’s Life

winter ornamental grass

For other Wordless Wednesday posts, check out 5MinutesForMom .

I’ve been reading Organize Your Way recently.  I found her through Twitter.  Someone posted a link to one of her tips and I started reading her other posts.  She actually replied to one of my comments.  From there we started chatting.  I asked her if she had a tip for the best way to store icicle lights.  I told her my current method and she emailed me back with several links which I checked out.  The tips I read seemed to be more involved then my current method.  So I told Mandi that I would take pictures and write up a post.

Each photo is linked to its original on my Flickr and should open in a new window.

Icicle lights look so elegant and beautiful on your house.  But when you take them down, they usually look like this.

My first step is to untangle the mess.  Then I cut a box flap off.  I try to be careful not to bend the flap.  Then I cut a little notched on the top side.  This will be used for the light plug in. I also have a bowl at my work space.  It will be used to hold all the light clips.  These can be stored in a zipper plastic bag for next year.

Then I start to wrap the icicle lights around the flap. It is best to do this holding it up right.  This way the strands of the lights can hand down and as you wrap them around the cord will hold down the strands.  Once I reach the end, I take the socket part of the lights and wrap it around its self to sort of tie it off.  Because I used such a large box flap I am able to fold it in half and use that to sort of keep some of the strands from being tangled.

Below is a similar box method.  You can see that I used a whole box, collapsed and taped shut.  I use the same method of cutting a notch and wrapping the lights.

The great thing about using the boxes is that you can write on a visible spot where you had the lights hung.  This makes it super easy to figure out what set gets hung where for next year.

Now we also have these bush net lights.  They are like a large piece of fabric.  For these I will use an actual box.  I take the lights and lay them out flat and start to fold.  I fold them until I get a small bunch and use the cord to sort of secure it.  Then take a plastic bag, {green alert: plastic bags are bad.  So everyone says.  I firmly beleive you can still be green and have plastic bags.  You simply reuse them as much as possible.  And when you find you can’t reuse them, take them back to the store.  They usually have a spot for you to recycle them.  Or donate them to your local library.  They always have a spot where they keep them for those who check out tons of books.} and put your light bundle inside.  this will make it so much easier to slide them into the box.  The box I have chosen is big enough to hold the two sets I currently have.  Though we will be purchasing two more sents next year.  We will deal with that when the time comes.

These are the three methods I use to store our icicle lights. I hope you are able to do the same.
Thank you for visiting me today and thank you for reading.

We are all making New Year’s resolutions.  Lose weight, make $$, clean that basement, etc.

Lets make a New Years Resolution to have great skin!  Your face is the first thing people see.  Just having make up applied in a great way is not enough.  You need a great canvas to start with.  Mary Kay has the solution for you.  TimeWise® Microdermabrasion Set

This is a two step process that will leave your skin smooth and soft.   This set gives you instant results.  INSTANT RESULTS!!!  In this busy day and age that is the key!  This set with help fight fine lines, refine pores and give you beautifully smooth skin.

The first step is easily done while you shower.  Just a little on the tips of your fingers and take 1 to 2 minute to massage all around your face, avoid the eye lids of course.  Then rinse it off.  When your out of the shower use step two.  This is a specially formulated serum to nourish you skin after step one.

This is a super easy set to use and gives you wonderful results.

When you shop with Mary Kay with Andrea Baker you know your purchase will be Safe, Easy, Secure and Private!  Shipping is always complimentary!

Order your very own TimeWise® Microdermabrasion Set 

{Some Things Are Too Important To Wait For}

How would you like to win $150 worth of Cosmo Cricket stuff?

Then you really should hop on over to Life as Lou’s blog and enter to win.

She has collected a huge amount from Cosmo Cricket as well as some from her stash. You have until January 2nd to enter.

I have been featured on MomFuse

Andrea Baker was December 20th’s “Meet the Maker” feature on MomFuse! Thanks to fellow Mompreneur, Nicole of Dusty Designs for the oppurtunity to be featured.  Read the whole article here.

I have also made it to the front page!  Thank you MaryMoon Design of Etsy Team Columbus.

Click the image and it will take you directly to the flickr page.

I also awoke this morning to find that my new blue note cards have been featured here.  CAFEMOM