13 Easy Ways To Simplify The Holidays

The holidays are just around the corner. When it comes to shipping, the U.S. Postal Service is here to simplify your life.

1. If you get sap on your clothes from cutting down your tree, use hand sanitizer to get it out.

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As sticky as sap is, it's easy to get rid of it. All you need is some hand sanitizer!

2. Use markers to customize plates!

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Plates make great gifts because you can never have enough of them. Consider making white plates extra special by decorating them with your own two hands!

3. Simplify packing and unpacking your ornaments with egg cartons.

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Ornaments (especially ones from previous generations) need to be stored with great care. A wonderful way to make sure they are safe and sound is to store them in egg cartons or apple cartons.

4. Make a "tree" using all the Christmas cards you've received.

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Christmas cards fall off the mantle every time the door opens, and you can't always see them all if you put them on the refrigerator. The best way to display them is by creating a card tree like the one above! This way, the cards won't be constantly falling over, and when you're getting ready to send out your cards, you'll have an easy time making sure everyone gets one.

5. Instead of giving one person a cake, make cake pops to give to many people!

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Because who doesn't love cake?!

6. Or jam!

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It's sweet, easy, and makes an oh so thoughtful gift.

7. Instead of folding napkins for hours, use mini stockings to hold utensils at the dinner table.

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Intricate napkin folds are nice, but if you're having a bunch of people over for Christmas dinner, you've probably got better things to do. Instead, pick up some mini stockings from a local dollar store, and use those to hold the utensils, folding the napkins as you normally would to make an adorable impact on the evening.

8. Use photographs instead of gift labels.

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Using gift labels can ruin the aesthetic of a beautifully wrapped present (and writing out all those names can be pretty tedious). Instead, try using photographs to label gifts. Doing so will help keep Christmas morning meaningful for one and all.

9. Hang your wrapping paper on rods inside a closet.

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If you're sick of watching your wrapping paper get dinged up because it's sitting in the back of a closet, take charge! Installing some bathroom or kitchen rods on the back of a door will get the wrapping paper out of the way and help you see what you actually have.

10. If you forgot to make a centerpiece, use coffee filters to create mini Christmas trees...

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With so many things to prepare before a Christmas celebration, you might forget to put together a centerpiece. But have no fear! Grab some coffee filters, make a few adorable little trees, and scatter them along the length of the table. Your guests will love that they can actually see everyone.

11. ...or into bows for presents!

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Everyone will be impressed by how you are really taking Christmas presents to the next level.

12. Use an empty can of chips for packaging cookies.

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Cookies are a wonderful gift, but it's not always easy to make the container look as good as the cookies. Luckily for us, chip cans are the perfect solution.

13. And use extra bows to create a beautiful wreath.

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Putting together a wreath with flowers or pine can be kinda hard. But if you use bows, all you have to do is glue them onto a wreath form, and you're done!

But shipping presents can be simple too! Just use a Priority Mail® holiday-themed box from the U.S. Postal Service.

Let the U.S. Postal Service help make your holidays a success. With USPS Tracking® and text alerts, you'll know the status of your holiday package — whether you’re home or on the go.