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After the 26th...

Yesterday morning, I was reading "Bees and Fleur De Lis" blog about taking down Christmas decorations. It occured to me that I love, love my decorations from Thanksgiving till the 25 th of December. However, on the 26th of December my Christmas decorations begin to make me feel cluttered. By the 30 th of December...the Christmas decorations feel like they are overtaking me and I can't function in my home! WHY is that??

So late last night..I had a moment of despair....went around and took EVERY Christmas decoration and put it in one room! If I could of carried the TREE in there, I think I may have done it!!! It's crazy...two weeks ago....I just wanted to host every brunch possible surrounded by my Decorations. Now, I can't even cook an egg if I see one Christmas ribbon!

{Whew..a clean, uncluttered counter is a good thing, right now!}

Are any of you like that??? Must it come down after the 25th? Or do keep it up till February until the neighbors start to comment?


63 comments:

nikkicrumpet said...

If I didn't have to do it myself...it would have come down the 26th. I hate having my house disrupted with Christmas decor. But since I have to do it....and it would cut into my blogging, napping, and guitar hero playing time. I LOVE my Christmas decor and might keep it up until the 4th of July!!!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

I am itching to take it down, but didn't have an opportunity with family in town, then when they left there was lots of cleaning and packing for the next trip, so next weekend it will all come down!!

Have a Happy New Year!!

Lora @ my blessed life said...

I know what you mean! I usually leave mine up till after the first of the year just because I'm generally too busy to do it before then, but I always look forward to getting the everyday stuff back out.

Pam D said...

I'm ready to pack it up. I love the lights, though; I may have to get a ficus and put white lights in it... just to have that nice little glow in the evenings. But I'm with you on the clutter.... and gee, your counters sure look great!

AndreaLeigh said...

i'm keeping mine up until after the new year. i just got it up the week before christmas though.

Jenni said...

I usually take most things down right after New Year's, but keep the inside window lights up for a little longer, because they make it so much more cheery! Sometimes we'll drag our feet about taking the outdoor ones down, too... In fact, we just MAY have been that house the neighbors comment on, because of our love of those white Christmas lights into the month of January! :)

I hope you have a great New Year's and that your Christmas was wonderful! :)

Sandra said...

It starts here either Dec. 26 or 27. I can't stand it after Christmas Day. A tree with no presents = :-(
I do leave my lights in the windows and the ribbons that I tie on everything until Jan. 1. But the majority is gone by the 27th. I know exactly how you feel about the clutter!!

Anonymous said...

I actually started taking our decorations down yesterday. I could only get to a few things as I was doing this while getting ready for work. I enjoy putting the decorations up but by the end of December I am tired of the clutter. I am going to take the rest down tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

Well, I could look at them all year, but my DH turns into a wild man the day after Christmas, so we do begin to pack things up. But then, he decorated many homes here where we live, then there's the clubhouse, all that has to be packed up too. But, I got to enjoy them for a month, so I'll take that. I hope you have a wonderful New Year.

Hugs,
Chris

Anonymous said...

Yup, I'm the same way-26th it's gotta go!

RosyRose said...

I agree about the tree stuff! I like to get it put away...my perdiciment(sp) is always what other winter decorations do I replace it with????especially on my porch.:p

Lotus Life Coaching said...

That is so funny! I am the same way. Come the 26th, I was packing it up. Although I have an 8yr, 3.5yr, and a 1yr old that have demolished the tree anyway, I was tired of seeing glitter and ornaments throughout the house that had either fallen off or been taken off the tree! You are not alone.

Angela said...

Oh, yeah. Those decorations that were soooo beautiful the day before Christmas suddenly look raggedy and old. I do like greeting the new year with everything put away.

Becky W said...

I am right there with you on that one - I can't wait to get it up but HATE having it up after the 26 or the 27th! YUCK!

Sarah said...

We usually put everything away on the 26th...due to family being here this year we did it on the 27th. It is always nice to get everything put away and the house straightened back up.

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

I am still pondering the fact that you will learn your new camera in a day. I am so not camera friendly. We got ours 2 months ago and i can't do anything except on flash, off flash. :) When you learn - send me your tutorial. We have a new canon as well.

Mari said...

Mine is down already. I love to put it up the day after Thanksgiving, and it comes down the day after Christmas!

CMB said...

You took the words out of my mouth...I feel exactly the same way. I did the same thing yesterday and all the Christmas decor is waiting on the ping pong table in the basement to be put away!

Shannon said...

LOVE your new camera! How fun that we both got one. :) I HAVE to take my Cmas decorations down the moment I step in my house after we get back in town from Cmas! :) I feel cluttered too and usually do sparse decorating until later when I can breathe. :) Your uncluttered counter looks great!!

Betsy said...

Mine has to come down. Mine too is all laying on the dining room table and the hubby is carrying down the bins to put it in right now. It starts to drive me crazy!!!

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

And just to let you know...I have now upped your "per minute" views after just spending the hour scrolling "MY", I mean, your blogroll. Thanks for sharing....one of these days.

Sarah said...

I am the same way! Although I'm not sure if the "nesting" is kicking in or my OCD to be organized! :)

We have everything in their containers and ready to go into the attic.

Jboo said...

I was so slow getting our decorations up this year, but usually start to them down on the 26th. This year I'm waiting until New Year's Day and am dreading it already!

Happy New Year to you and your family!

Janet

Christie said...

I am not really much of a Christmas decorator anyway, but after the 25th it all really starts driving me crazy. Of course my tree is still up though . . . hopefully I'll have time this weekend.

the undomesticated wife said...

I usually take mine down the day after Christmas! I am like you...I want my house back to normal. And once a holiday or occasion is done, I want that stuff out!

I got started taking mine down yesterday. It usually only takes me a few hours, but I started reorganizing all of my containers and such, and now I'm not quite done. All 10 trees are undecorated, and everything is down, but it's all in plastic bins in the hallway waiting for hubs to put it up in the attic.

Christi said...

I feel exactly the same way - and my decorations usually come down on the 26th. But this year we left to go out of town on the 26th, & I didn't have time to do that, so today's the day.

Thanks for stopping by!

Empty Nest Full Life said...

I feel the same way. I want to clean up Christmas decor, and everything else in the process! I am working on it right now. My tree and decor made it until the
29th and it has all come down. Have a wonderfu new year. Jackie

Me (aka Danielle) said...

You are a woman after my own heart. I am going on three years in a row that the Christmas decorations came down within the first 48 hours after the unwrapping had commenced. I do sometimes spend til February claiming all the stragglers. The ornaments and decorations that were missed in the first feverish attempt to "MAKE IT GO AWAY!"

Anonymous said...

Our neighbors shield their eyes on the morning of December 26th, for there on the cold, stone curb lays our tree. It all must come down for my sanity :)

Lindsey said...

OMG I can't believe you grew up in Milford! Such a great city that we love to eat in after hiking at Kensington Park! What a small world!

April said...

I really hate to admit this...but the majority of my decorations come down on Christmas Day. I know, it's horrible. The reason is because we go out of town the day after and that's the last thing I want to face when we return.

Danyele Easterhaus said...

i still love decorations for a few more weeks normally, but i'm feeling it this year. congrats on ur win over at SITS!!!

Anonymous said...

My tree was down the day after. Now the bed in my spare bedroom is covered with decorations that I still need to put up, but I can shut the door on that.

By the way I love those canisters you have in your kitchen. Very Cute!

Keeper of the Skies Wife said...

Mine is down...I finished Monday!!!

Debbie said...

The 26th they are all being packed up!

Darlene said...

Hi Sandy,

Well I usually leave mine up till the weekend closest to New Years (which would have been this weekend coming up) but with our Midnight (terror) kitten I was ready to get it DOWN! I too LOVE my decorations while they are up but when they came down it seemed so soothing and calming and less cluttered.

I hope you and your family have a great New Year's Eve. I am so glad I "met" you through blogging and look forward to blogging with you in 2009!

Kristy said...

Congrats on winning the Saturday Spotlight over on SITS! The giveaway was hosted by ME so shoot me an email with your address so I can get your books in the mail ASAP! my email is angelpayne24@yahoo.com. Hope to hear from you soon!

Jan said...

I use to tear it down on the 25th evening. Now I linger until after the 1st of the year. I love the no stressing after Christmas time. I use to stress out so much more. Your home is lovely.

Smelling Coffee said...

I feel the same way you do about this. But we're not home during Christmas and usually return around the 29th. Because we always have a New Year's Eve party, our goal is to have everything put away and the house back in the cluttered-free zone by the 30th. We unpack and pack up all in one day. :-)

Unknown said...

Mine will come down tomorrow. I always take it down on the 1st, and I am always so relieved once it is all put away and everything is back in perfect order!

Happy New Year!

Montee said...

I am with you! I was getting itchy on Christmas night to take everything down. This past Sunday afternoon I was determined to put everything to do with Christmas back in the attic and I did it. The whole time I was thinking, "How could all of this have been so pretty just a few days ago and now these decorations just look a mess?" Happy New Year!

Emily Joy said...

I always have my post-Christmas blues on the 26th! My family took down our Christmas decorations on the 28th! Have a happy New Year!

Emily

Valarie Lea said...

I normally wait until tomorrow, I am so ready for it to be taken down!

Jerri Lynn @ Southern Sassyness said...

Mine is all put away - as of last night - whew!

I am going to have a year-round tree for the first time in 2009!

Happy New Year!

Tracy's Porch said...

I feel the same way! It is so weird. I think it is a combination of having a let down after Christmas and also a bunch of "new" things to organize as well. I always feel very cluttered. I got everything put away today. I feel so much better and fresh today.

vicki said...

seriously,
I know why you fall ill now... up in to the wee hours of the night cleaning up glitter??!!
I want your next post to be about the bubble bath you took alone (with out a child dropping a doll in it)..
you deserve it!! show us those pretty girley bath extras you have ...
and then you will kick that cold out with old st nick!
seems to me that you are fair weather friend with st nick! ha ha once he has served his purpose out with him :-)
as for me .. you know .. i never decorate anything.. tan, tan and more tan ..

Ruby Red Slippers said...

We took everything down yesterday-and I was ready!!! I leave up a little greenery and pinecones for the month of January, but nothing else...

trish said...

I am with you! A clean counter after Christmas is wonderful! I have been spring cleaning the past couple of days and was so ready for it! :o)
I adore your valance! Did you make them yourself?

Gini said...

I'm with you. Mine all comes down the 26th. It drives me crazy. Everyone else that I know waits until after the new years and they make it sound like I am doing something wrong!

Grand Pooba said...

Oh, I usually don't take the decor down until after New Years, but this year my husband did it on the 26th and I was so mad at him!

The Blonde Duck said...

I took mine down two days after Christmas, but normally I wait until New Years.

Pam D said...

Hi Sandy... just a quick response to your question on my blog entry. The doc is moving to a practice close to where he lives; he's been commuting an hour and a half each way for 8 years. I don't blame him at all, and I talked to him about transferring, but I'm not comfortable having Adam's primary care that far away. Our current office is literally about 2 minutes from the house, which is REALLY nice. But, if I just can't get comfortable with anyone there, I'll find a way to see Dr. G again!

Emily Joy said...

Hi Sandy Toes! You have an award waiting for you over at my blog! Have fun!

Emily

Thrifty Decor Chick said...

I'm feeling the same way this year. Usually I'm OK till after the 1st but not this year. Just a couple more rooms and I'm done! Well, and the big tree this weekend. What's funny though is I already can't WAIT till next Christmas to put up the goodies I found on sale!!

Our Complete Family said...

Yep~ I go bonkers if it's up too long! Two days after Christmas the hubs helped me to get it all back in the Christmas storage closet and the attic!
I owe him big gime!
Glad you can check that off your list, too, chicadee!
Happy almost 2009!
Cheers~ Les

Runner Mom said...

The decorations are still up! I just love to look at them a little longer...plus I don't have to dust yet!!!

happy new year!
Hugs,
Susan

Daphine said...

This was too funny! I'm jealous! We will get to our this weekend...HOPEFULLY! It will definitely be before February! lol!

Happy New Year friend!

Kasey said...

Thanks for stopping by. What a great blog. I'm going to have to add you too!! Yes, I feel the same as you. I had to buy another tote for my new decorations that I got this year. It is not fun taking it down. It's weird how much we look forward to decorating and then once the season is done we can't wait to take the decor down! I really like the verse you chose are well.

Momofgirls said...

I am so glad I am not the only one feeling like it all needs to go! My kids get so mad when I want to take the tree down on Christmas night! I just can't stand the clutter anymore either!
Happy New Year!

angie {the arthur clan} said...

My decorations really, really, REALLY need to go away (they are driving me nuts), but it's going to have to wait until the kids are back in school. Patience...

(I'm a *bit* jealous of your clear, uncluttered counter space though!)

Girly Stuff said...

I cannot rip it down fast enough! That is honestly why I keep all decor to a somewhat minimum. For the taking down purposes. It only takes us abou an hour and a half to be free and clear of it!

Sondre Lyn said...

I could not have put it better myself! I love the decorations, then all of a sudden, they are just clutter! So I go around and pile them all in the living room and start putting them up. Then clean, clean, clean...

Marie said...

It is Jan 4 and my Xmas decor is still up! I generally don't take it down until Jan 6...the 12th day of Christmas! I think I'll jump the gun a little and do it tomorrow. :o)