To keep my plugs safe from moisture I wrap the plug/cord connection with the plastic Home Depot bags my lights came home in. (Any bag will do, it doesn't have to be HD.)
I'm hoping to use those stakes for some broken/lost parts on my string of candy cane lights in the front yard. Right now, some of them are zip-tied to some wood stakes. It looks a little ghetto during the day, but luckily those have been covered by snow since mid-December!
I've found that the broom clips that hold my PVC in place are great multi-taskers for holding extension cords out of the way/in place.
Speaking of multi-taskers, the "gifts" in my display are storage boxes wrapped with tablecloths from the $1 store. Now I have somewhere to put the inflatable Eeyore, his backbone/extra lights and the arch around my front door.
That's a good synopsis of what I've learned in my first year! I love reading others' tricks of the trade!
Steve