Tis the season to be merrily taking down the decorations and putting them away for one more year. Unless, of course, you decide to throw a Christmas In July party which does hold its own allure.
My schedule this year is such that I couldn't wait until after the twelve days were over and I spent a good part of January 2nd dismantling the tree, wreath, etc.
I also have an odd habit of trawling the after-holiday sales on festive decor and packing whatever I find away with this year's ornaments and lights so that come next November, when the decorations make their yearly appearance again, there are things in those boxes that I don't remember purchasing! It makes it seem almost like...well...um...Christmas!
This holiday season was great. Jae and I got our greeting cards out before Valentine's Day, we had another couple over for dinner on Christmas Day, we had our annual Holiday Open House on New Year's Day and it was wonderful seeing so many friends come by to share the festivities.
Yes. It was all marvelous. But am I glad it's OVER!!!
Don't get me wrong. I'm no Ebeneezer Scrooge and I'm just as excited to celebrate as the next reveler, but you have to admit, the holidays are exhausting! You have your normal life and then all the other stuff layered on top of that. I love it, but I'm just as happy going back to routine and calm and cooking regular meals and having a clean house and the poor cats not freaking out because their favorite sleeping spot is occupied by some stranger's butt or coat or bag.
So, happy new year and let's get down to the work at hand. The storage challenge.
This year we were lucky enough to purchase the perfect artificial tree. Tall but narrow so as not to take up valuable floor space. It also came in a box that is strong and actually big enough to get the tree BACK INTO without damage or excessive bending. Not only that but it was also big enough to pack the lights and lighted garland in as well...great space saver.
I also did something this year that I had never thought to do before (I have no idea why not, knowing who I am). I decided to take everything off the tree and pack it in separate piles before combining it all in the bigger boxes. It was sort of like a 3D jigsaw puzzle but I managed to get it all (including my new sale items) in one less box! Cool, huh? A great boon to New York apartment dwellers with limited storage space.
Tomorrow, everything goes into the long-term storage closet from which I will chose the "Three Wise Sacrifices". These are three, usually bulky, items whose time has come and gone in our home and have been in the long term closet for over a year. I know already that one of the TWS's is going to be a huge fax machine in its original box that we have never used and kept "just in case". In case of what?! In case we ever get a landline? In case we forget how to use email? Out it goes!
It's sort of a New Year's resolution and sort of spring cleaning run amok and WAY ahead of schedule but it works and I highly recommend the feeling of comfort and joy it affords!
Meanwhile, dear readers, I will continue to try to offer you suggestions and ideas and maybe a laugh or two during, what I hope will prove to be, a spectacular 2011.
-SSG
No comments:
Post a Comment