Can I get a whoop, whoop?

I did it! And I finished two days early! Christmas 2010 is just a memory now....at least on the outside of my house.

They are all gone: The wreaths, the lights, the garland, the swags, the topiaries, the Christmas pillows, the candles, the lanterns. And now my house looks so boring!

I took everything down and put it in labeled storage containers.
Then I schlepped it up to the attic...all the way three flights of stairs. Many, many times.

Thanks to my husband, I have an easy and out of the way storage for all 26 homemade wreaths. He hung bars suspended between the rafters which allow me to hang them without interfering with other storage space.

If I could figure out how to rotate this image, I would be able brag about how organized my bins are now that they are tucked away up in the attic! But, I can't. So I will just tell you how glad I am that this part of the post-Christmas cleanup is done!
Next step is to take down my Christmas trees!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The first order of business for 2011 is the post-Christmas cleanup!

I love to decorate. I spend a lot of time looking for ideas, crafting, assembling, unpacking, and displaying. I love the whole process. But with that comes dis-assembly, repacking, schlepping up to the attic, organizing, and storing. And as much as I love the decorating process, I despise the un-decorating process.

I am thoroughly enjoying the warmth of all of the lights and sparkle inside and outside of my house. But, I know I can't be THAT neighbor and leave my Christmas decorations up until February. So, it is with reluctance I will begin the process. I will start outside so that I can linger in my indoor haven just a little longer.

By my next check in, it is my resolution to have all 26 wreaths down, the 36 strands of garland, the lights, the lanterns, the bows, the swags, the candles, the topiaries, and the outdoor Christmas pillows down and stored properly (inside labeled containers) in the attic. Life permitting, I am hoping to have this done by Wednesday, January 5.

But, before it disappears, I want to relish in it's splendor one last time: