Raise your hand if you still have Christmas lights strung along your front porch and have yet to take down the ole Tannenbaum. Sadly, I'm right there with you, although my New Year's resolution each year consistently includes a vow to take down my holiday decorations in a timely manner.

Regardless, it's January 11th, which means it's high time to bid farewell to those sparkly December fixtures. And just in case you're a procrastinator who needs a swift kick in the pants (read: me!), I've got a handy little organization list for the toughest decoration to store... EVER: the ornaments.

Of course, it's always a good idea to retain the original packaging of newly-purchased ornaments, but just in case that ship has sailed, here's how to store those glass bulbs without cursing piles of broken glass next November:

Our baby is approaching fourteen months of age. She is a walking demolition machine. Before we go shopping for a Christmas tree this year, I figured it would make sense to do a little Web-surfing first, and see what steps I should take to toddler-proof our tree. I mean, is anything safe from a toddler? Maybe not. In fact, the more I think about it, I'm realizing the safest option might be a nice painting of a Christmas tree. Tacked up high out of her reach, naturally, like everything else in the house these days...

Anyway, here are some tips on toddler-proofing your tree from the readers at BabyNamesWorld:

• Invest in a flexible extended-length baby gate or put the tree inside a playpen or pack 'n' play.
• Get a small (two- or three-foot) tree or a small potted tree and keep in on a table. Use whatever you can (e.g. heavy furniture!) to keep your tot's curious fingers away from the bottom of the tree and the electric lights. This is very important for your child's safety!