Monday, January 3, 2011

After Christmas Chaos Comes Organization



Right now, many of us are probably up to our elbows in tissue paper, boxes, and plastic bags.

Taking down Christmas decorations, packing them into boxes, and hauling then up into the attic is no fun chore. While the holidays, themselves, are exhilarating and looked forward to, the aftermath is something we'd probably rather skip. 


























Of course, if I simplified, there wouldn't be such an ungodly household-wide mess to deal with. However, when the holidays come, decorating every single room in the house, including the bathrooms, is part of the thrill of the season !  Santas, creches, snowmen, reindeer, dolls, animated animals, and on and on all come out of boxes and make this house look very "festivas."

In the kitchen, red and green glass objects lined the upper windowsills while reindeer bears vied for space with gingerbread people and other holiday figurines.

























However, we are aware that all good things come to an end. Once the holidays are over,  a major clean-up is in order.

The first day of the year, a lot of progress was made in taking down Christmas decor. A portion of the Santa army was packed away and several boxes of decorations currently await transport to the attic. The tree is still up as well as the mantle and outdoor decorations but will be taken down soon.

"Inch by inch, it's a cinch," is my mantra these days.

While there is no rush, it's a good feeling  to get everything packed away so the house can get back to looking neat, clean, and organized.

Please don't think I'm complaining about the huge amount of work it is to put away decorations. Christmas is my absolute Number One favorite holiday of the year and every bit of work preparing for it and cleaning up afterward is worth it. It's a gala month and a half that fills my heart with immense happiness and gratitude.

When everything is done, and the last Christmas card is read for a final time,  I like to sit quietly and think about the year to come. Of course, when next Christmas draws near, the excitement and anticipation of decorating will begin all over again. The boxes will be brought down from the attic and unpacked, to welcome yet another Christmas.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY? IS IT CHRISTMAS?

10 comments:

kristin said...

my favorite holiday is by far (and always has been) Christmas. I love decorating, the lights, snowmen, christmas music.. just everything about it. And I love being older and being able to have my own decorating space and my own traditions and now a blog where I can peek into other people's christmas'. I do hate taking it down though, I put up so much stuff that it takes forever to take down, but its not so much that as it is I hate how bare it feels afterwards and I hate not seeing the christmas lights on the tree. but a year goes by so quickly anymore that it seems like just yesterday I was decorating for the previous christmas!
I love any and all holidays that I can decorate for, I love going all out and finding new cute knick knacks that I can put up everywhere (which really stinks when its time to store everything!)

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I agree I love Christmas. The decorations are so varied...elegant, romantic, child like, fun, funky, traditional and most importantly religious. I will decorate as much as I can as long as I can. This year getting it all organized so next year is easier is my goal. You are doing great with yours!

ShabbyESP said...

Christmas is my favorite holiday all the sparkle and decorations and family get together's and love and laughter.
But like you I hate taking decorations down it is like a final good bye until the next Christmas. I like to keep up my tree till the middle of Jan but I take everything else down on New Years.
Happy New Year to you and your family!
Suzann

Bookie said...

I am often so ready to get the stuff down as I am tired of the busy looking rooms. However, the last two years I have simplified and it has been comfortable longer. This year I still have "some" things out which is unusal for me on Jan.3...but I find the dashes of red all over the house nice right now.

Char said...

Yes, it's all down now and I still am finding a little something left behind. Of course that is always the case when all the boxes are packed away!! Char

Brenda ~ The Heminger Farmhouse said...

Hi Susan :) Thanks for stopping by :) I love putting out the Christmas decorations; seems it's more easy to put things out than it is to put things away....why is that? I had to find another tote to use, plus purchase one of those specially made for keeping ornaments in, as I had more to put away than what I had originally put out...hmmmm, LOL :)

Isn't my Estella such a cutie-pie...and a little she-devil too, lol...but I love them all inspite of that, lol :)

Warmest hugs, Brenda

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

Thanks for stopping by today, I bought that red pepper jelly, but I'll be making some this summer! Can't wait!

Looks like you've got your hands full putting away decorations! I'm starting tomorrow - hope to be finished by Friday! LOL!!!

Linda O'Connell said...

Susan,
You have a full time job there. I love the Christmas holiday season best, too. Snowmen melt my heart. It's hard for me to pack them away.

diane stetson said...

Simplify, simplify..that's my motto. I'm too old to put up many things now. Christmas is my favorite holiday only when I can spend it with family members.

Claus said...

When it is Christmas, I love Christmas! When it is Independence Day, I love it too! I think all holidays have a "special something" that one looks forward to. I love them all!, so it would be hard to pick just one.
Right now, though, I'm looking forward to Easter and all the traditions we have here. A long way to go, but already excited about it. :o)

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