Chatty Patty's Place

Now that the holidays are almost over, the dreaded task of taking everything down is once again here. I've searched the internet for some simple storage ideas from several websites.  I hope they help make your task simpler. Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Storage Solutions Space Savers  http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/christmas/holiday-storage-00100000113869/ The Container Store http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning-organizing/cleaning-up-after-guests http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/12/24/christmas-clean-up-tips/ Disclaimer: No compensation received for this post.

In 1897 a little girl called  Virginia O'Hanlon  (1889–1971) who lived in New York City asked her father whether Santa Claus really existed because her friends had told her he didn't. Virginia's father, Dr O’Hanlon, suggested she write to  The Sun,  a prominent New York City newspaper at the time because, he told her,  'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.' The response, written by one of the paper's editors,  Francis Pharcellus Church,  struck an immediate chord with many readers, even though it wasn't published in a prominent part of the newspaper. Francis Church   had been a war correspondent during the American Civil War, a period which saw great suffering and a corresponding lack of hope and faith throughout much of American society. Perhaps it was his experiences during the war that led him to see an opportunity to address the philosophical issues underlying Virginia's simple letter. Virginia O'Hanlon died in 1972 and her obi...

Feeling crafty? Check out this tutorial on how to make your own gift boxes from DK US http://us.dk.com/static/cs/us/11/pdfs/dk_9781465408402_gift_box.pdf Disclaimer: No compensation received. Just sharing a great idea.

I learned how to make scented ornaments when my son was little.  The recipe is super simple. Place 1 cup of cinnamon and 1 cup of apple sauce (and glitter if you want them to sparkle) in a ziploc baggie and smush together until combined. Refrigerate for an hour. Remove mixture from bag and roll on wax paper Using cookie cutters, cut into shapes Poke a hole in top of each ornament for hanging Leave ornaments on the wax paper and put them in a safe spot to air dry completely.  This will take a few days. Once dried, place ornaments on a pretty ribbon and hang them on your tree, in your car, or give them as gifts to teachers or friends.  The scent lasts a long time.  These are NOT edible. This is a fun project to make with your children. Need more inspiration to make homemade ornaments?  Check out  http://craftadon.com/ornament-round-up/   . Photo credit :  http://craftadon.com/ornament-round-up/