I may have to check out the TJ Maxx where I work.. I definately want one for next year...
I keep looking at the mantel.....even though I love the way it came out this year... I'm trying to come up with new ideas for afterwards.

I looked around last night and decided that I'm just not ready to take things down. I haven't enjoyed the living room tree enough. I don't even feel like I've enjoyed the Christmas dishes enough.

When DH goes back to work on Monday, I'll start with the dining room first, then the living room. I'll be dragging my feet though. The tree in the den will be our guilty secret, it will probably still be up after Little Christmas passes. - Gail

"more than you need"....."pare down".....
Girl, are you nuts? How can we be good enablers if you go having thoughts like this? LOL.
Unless you're moving from a mansion to a shoebox, I can't think of one good reason to pare down.

Karen who's definitely lost it

I started taking the LR tree down today but didn't finish it or get anything else done.

I did a pare down last year and gave stuff to my eldest DD and then went and bought more stuff after Christmas last year. I didn't really buy more stuff this year because the piles of totes are getting higher and higher.

I won't touch the trees till next week after the 6th!
And drowning in tote bins!
I vow to weed out and donate to the Thrift Shop...I have way too much, and buy more every year, cause I am sick!
Karen, you need to start with more dishes, LOL!

***wishing I knew which Thrift Shop Kathleen was donating to*** - My trees will stay up a couple more weeks - I just love the festive atmoshere around the house - especially the livingroom which we don't live in so it is very quiet and tranquil at night ....

Lynne

UGH! I am another "sicky"...I have far more Christmas stuff than I can possibly put up, even with two trees. I am hoping to weed some of it out this year...."hoping".

Now...as far as dishes go...I am a babe in dish-land...I walk in the shadows of one of the boards best known dish collector...LOL

Another Christmas-lover here who's still enjoying my trees and decorations. Like Kathleen, I don't take mine down until after Twelfth Night on January 6th. I want very much to get rid of some of my decs, but only so that I can replace them with different, less cutesy ones. My tastes are changing, but I keep holding onto some of these for my future grandkids. With DS now 24, but wanting to travel and work before settling down when he gets out of grad school in May . . . and DD only 14 y/o, some people would consider me demented to hang onto these bins of decs ;~P
I probably am, but really glad to have found this site with fellow holiday lovers/crazies !
Lynn

This thread is making me chuckle--I love leaving mine up until after the first of the year, but went ahead and got it stashed away early this year so I can concentrate of getting other things done before we head out in the motor home for a month long trip. I could tell I had added more stuff this year, couldn't get it all packed back in the bins and had to put some stuff in those large black lawn bags! I don't decorate as much as most of you, but I still feel that I could pare down a bit. However, everytime I think about it, I'm afraid to get rid of anything because it just might be exactly what I want NEXT year! Especially with all the great ideas shared on this forum. ;o)

Luvs

I am not ready to take stuff down either. Christmas went by too fast for me. Also I didn't even put up a fraction of what I usually do. So there isn't too much to put away.

Hubby had the 6ft. spiral trees down from the front deck & stored away when I got up today.

I took my diningroom table down & all the other decor & boy are my legs tired from going up & down the basement steps.

I put out a simple table & coordinating decor throughout the livingroom..

If some of you remember all the amber vases & candle holders I got at the end of summer, well that is what is out now & can stay for a long time. The only things I'll have to move are the three on the diningroom table when I do Valentines day & other holidays, but the rest can stay since it all coordinates with my decor.

I've been dying to use all the amber things since last fall.

I'm glad mine is all put away, was dreading it, even though I didn't put out as much as last year, it sure felt like it when I was making the treck up & down the stairs!!!

I'm torn between enjoying my decor and wanting to drag the 'season' out as long as I can...and taking guilt trips for leaving it up awhile yet. Tho some of you are making me feel better since you share my feelings!! I guess after all these years of thinking I HAD to put the decorations away right after New Year's, its hard to switch gears. But I am sure trying. My Dad, who's over 84, lives with us, and is in bad health, just LOVES the Christmas stuff. Luckily my DH doesn't care what I do, he just wants to play golf 6 days a week and have me happy. LOL. So this week its been a case of indecision on when to start putting it all away. sigh.

hugs, Karen

HI Everyone ,
I enjoy nothing more than wallowing in the glow of the tree and decorations til after Jan. 6. For me its a much more peaceful time to enjoy it than before with all the preparations going on . Having said that , I was up at dawn to get the ornaments off and the tree is out of the house as I type this.We were all sick thru the the season and I am really thinking its the live tree which we have always had .I have an artificial tree in the attic that I got thru freecycle and am hoping I can actually go thru with putting it up Christmas 09 and not going for the live one . I feel I am in mourning of a lifetime tradition but can't deal wiht another sick household . Sorry for the downer post . Happy New Year everyone . Kareen

Yachter, Please post pictures of your decor!!! Would love to see all your amber stuff.

Hi Kareen, So good to see you posting again, we had wondered where you were. So sorry to hear you and your family have been sick, hope it wasnt't caused by allergies to something on the tree. Do they spray them with a fire retardant now? Maybe that was it if it had never bothered you before. Sure hope you start feeling better and will be joining in here again. Luvs

Hi Luvs,
Thank you , I have been lurking but didn,t do as much decorating this year . Even at that it seems like the Christmas season is just so busy.We have been getting our tree from the same tree farm for a long time and as far as I know they don,t spray .....probably the aging process affecting just another area of our past youth !!!!ugh!!!K