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Friday, January 9, 2009

Finally Finished !

The last day or so I have felt like I might be the last person in town to have put away her Christmas decorations. Logically, I know that's not true......but I was feeling that way anyway! Like a lot of us, I'm hard on myself that way sometime. But now I'm happy to report that I am finally and completely finished! I'd love to say that I do this good a job every year, but the truth is I don't. For instance due to a certain set of circumstances last year I rather haphazardly stored my things and was done with it in quick order........and this year I was very frustrated when I started to plan the holidays. You see, I like to do something a little different every year, and I never use all of my decorations at the same time, so I really like to know exactly what I have from year to year, and where everything is! And much to my poor husbands bewilderment I buy a little something new every year! I determined that this year was going to be a "good packing away" year. I even got rid of 2 huge boxes of decorations that I know I will never use again. That's a biggie for me! I hate to get rid of holiday decorations and books, and so I felt very liberated taking those discard boxes to Goodwill. Still, even after that I had a lot of things to store. It's taken me several days because I started from the inside out and re-organized everything!

This is a snowman that my oldest son picked out for me this year......his tummy lights up when you put in a little tea light candle. Love it.

Here he is wrapped in his bubble-wrap cocoon.

Here's what probably takes the most time. I write down every single thing that is in the boxes. Actually I create a Database Sheet on my computer and list each item, what box # it is in, and where it is located ( I keep most of the boxes in the attic except for my Keepsake Ornaments and a few very special things that I want immediate access to in an emergency). Finally, on my database sheet I have a column for "Comments" where I write anything special I want to remember about that item. For instance the sizes of my 3 tartan plaid tablecloths, or who gave me the china candy dish for my December birthday in 1998, or the fact that the puppy chewed the foot of a particular wooden gingerbread boy in 2008.......all of these things are recorded there. For years I just kept a record of these things in a notebook, but using the data base feature in Microsoft makes it possible for me to search for an item easily and quickly. A search for tablecloths will bring up every holiday tablecloth I have and which boxes they are located in. It's just a little feature that I like, but whether you record what you have on your computer or use plain old pencil and paper it will make decorating for the holidays next year so much easier! It is well worth the extra time it takes on this end. You can start your planning whenever you want without having to dig through a multitude of boxes trying to see what you have! If you have a decorations collection of any size at all it is almost impossible to remember exactly what you have from year to year. You think you'll rememeber now, but you won't. This makes it so much easier.

I try to carefully pack the boxes, with associated things in them if possible. This box, CM#1, has gingerbread things and everything Snowmen.(Except my Snowmen Stemware and Snowmen Mugs are in a regular dishpak box for safekeeping CM# 7)

Finally, by 4 o'clock this afternoon, everything was put away......ten boxes and three trees safely packed away in the attic until next year!
And the nice thing is.......my sweetheart of a husband is making dinner for me tonight....doesn't get any better than that. Thanks, honey.

9 comments:

Tiffany said...

Wow! You are organized! You aren't the last person to take down and put away Christmas decorations. I noticed a couple of trees still up and lit inside homes tonight while I was out.

Anonymous said...

What program do you use to make your data base? Is it the standard Microsoft one that comes with the computer or is it one you installed yourself? I have the standard one but I've never used it for anything! This sounds like a good idea to me. I'm always on the look out for ways to be more organized.

Elaine said...

Hi, Trisha. In answer to your question..........
I use the data base program that comes standard on many computers. It's really not very difficult. You'll find lots of neat little things about it if you play around with it for a little while. I actually use it for keeping track of other things in my house as well, like out-of-season clothing and camping supplies we only use once or twice a year. If you have anymore questions about it you can e-mail me at chicalaine@gmail.com and we'll talk some more.

LuLu said...

Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving your sweet comment.
Now I am so impressed by how you put away your Christmas decor. Oh gosh, I feel like I need to get mine out just to redo it!!! :o)
you have inspired me to document my new organization- if I box stuff away how to do it (write it down etc..) love it Thanks so much...i'll be back!! Have a great weekend.
LuLu

Attic Clutter said...

Oh mY ~!! YOu are more organized then me(:) great job ~!!

the mosaic glass jar --candle holder-- I was pleased with the results of putting it on a cookie sheet in the oven..on a low temp--225ish..
I just got it soft enough to pick out with a table knife..
The reason I didn't use the microwave was because I thought there might have been a little metal an could caused it to arch..well dear ..glad you came over..
hugs, Patty

Rhonda said...

I put away all our Christmas things but I left up the tree and decorated it with hearts. A little early for Valentines but I like it .

Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment

La Pixie said...

WOW you are organized. you cant see, but I am bowing to you right now. good job!! youre amazing.

Anonymous said...

Love your idea about using your MS feature to create a data base. Definitely going to set one up this weekend. I have a lot of decoration myself and I have never found a really efficient way to keep track of them. Thanks so much!
Great blog by the way. I'll be back!

Anonymous said...

I have the decoations I used this year packed (sort of) in boxes but they are still in my spare room. I think I'll take a little more time to pack them better and maybe make a list of what I have. It sounds like a great idea to me. I've always wondered how I could have an easier time getting out my decorations. Sometimes I'm really late putting them out because I don't know what I have or where they all are. Thanks for the great tips. I'm going to enjoy doing this and I think it will be a lot different next year!