Today I took 2 bags of Tupperware (and that electric knife) to the Salvation Army.

This is noteworthy only because I did it the same week I packed them up, instead of having them sit around for a month!

This is more of a time and effort organization thing, but we finally got the ice rink bermed up and it's filling as I type. Or at least the low parts.

I spent several hours last night visiting the big box stores trying to find a large enough tarp. Do you have any idea how hard it is to wrestle a 40' x 60' tarp around trees and snow berms? The thing weighs 60 pounds.

The first layer will freeze tonight and then it's off to get skates for the two who have outgrown the old ones.

I better be thinking about where I'm going to keep that thing over the summer. At least the berms will just melt.

Gloria

Gloria!.... today it's 55 degrees here and we are having a thunderstorm... we did not even get snow last year year so I am quite envious!

maddiemom

You guys really inspire me. Quiltglo is building an ice rink and maddymom6 is just a whirlwind of activity, and, I read your page, home schooling the kids.
So I decided to take down the tree, get my containers in order, labeled, and the decorations put away.
Then I painted the vanity in the downstairs bathroom, and now I am seriously thinking of mosaicing the top of the vanity.
Bianchi
So thanks everybody.

Good deal Bianchi!!!!!!!!!! Way to go!

Today I ended up bringing in our wood flooring from the store ... 15 boxes at 75 pounds each.. so I am one tired pup... but I am going to take a stab at one drawers of a dresser we are going to move to the basement.

I also need to ponder on my china and how best to store it... It's really my MILs and she gave it to me. I don't see using it tooooo often but want it easy to get to but protected. Space for it is limited to the bottom of the china cabinet since the upper are in use otherwise...

Anybody have some thoughts???

maddiemom

I also need to ponder on my china and how best to store it... It's really my MILs and she gave it to me. I don't see using it tooooo often but want it easy to get to but protected. Space for it is limited to the bottom of the china cabinet

I store the large serving pieces in the top of a hutch, but all the different plates (from 2 sets) are in the bottom of the hutch, inside china cases similar to these (mine were purchased from Hold Everything years ago and have blue ticking, but it's the same kind of thing). Stacks also offers "accessory case holders" for serving pieces, but I don't have those.

Here is a link that might be useful: China protectors from Stacks & Stacks

Today I took down all the Christmas decorations in the family room. I then dusted and vacuumed the entire room, using the attachment to get close to the baseboards. I then tidied the bookshelf (aka "clutter magnet") and tossed some items I didn't feel we needed anymore. Now the carpet needs a good shampooing!

Sheryl

Yesterday I finished taking apart the tree and got it out of the house, put away all the Christmas gear in newly labeled storage containers (I make fresh labels every year so the bins hold exactly what the label says). I also hauled out from the loft a bin marked 'Decorations not used in 04' (and obviously not in '05 either!) and sorted through the contents-all stuff in colors I don't use anymore. I gave some to my sister and the rest is boxed up for the yard sale we will have soon. The empty bin was restocked with items so the total number of boxes in our loft stays the same. I sorted holiday cards received, saved the photo cards and a few special ones, and tossed the rest. Swept the LR and DR and patio clear of tree needles. Sorted through and organized into respective bins all my newly purchased holiday wrap and trim and then I stacked all the bins in the back hallway to be put away.

I also sorted all the holiday gifts which had been sitting in our foyer. Put aside the few things to be returned/exchanged, put aside some re-gift items and put the rest in the florida room to be hopefully routed to their final storage places today.

Somewhere in there too I spoke with a friend whose daughter is a few years younger than mine, who reported a desperate need for clothes. So since the daughter is about the same size mine was at that age, my daughter and I sorted through her closet and drawers and filled 2 very large bags with jeans, shorts, and tops for her friend. That was a planned chore anyway and I'm very happy to give the clothes to someone who will use them, instead of trying to sell them for fifty cents/piece at a yard sale.

So that is my progress report. Today I am taking my daughter out to shop for some things she needs-underwear, a warm sweatshirt and new jeans. Later I will tackle the rest of the holiday gifts and try to get them all put away.

Ann

The TREE is down!!!! ~ thank you thank you~~ DANG ..why do we have a 12 footer?????? geesh. I love the way it looks but that thing is a bear!
Moved the xmas bins to their new location.
Dusting the LR.. dang pixies!

New load of stuff for donation, kids are sorting their rooms.

Next big point to tackle is the secretary in the livingroom.. that is my launch pad..but right now it looks more like some sort of disaster scene!

Maddiemom

I'm at work, on break. Wish I were at home putting away xmas stuff except I didn't get it up until last Friday so will probably keep it til the 6th. But this weekend....

Today I put away most of Christmas gifts, put the rest of the gift boxes in the recycle bin (I'm NOT saving them!), stacked up the returns, tossed 3 pairs of DS's jeans (we bought him 4 new pairs this week), and spent time with the boys.

Tonight's activity is: Unknown. I need to think of something easy but effective.

We took down the outdoor decorations today. Tomorrow we will tackle the indoor decor and the tree. I'm ready for
Christmas to be done. I need a something new for over the fireplace and the mantle. That will be fun.

Happy

Maddiemom, if you have a 8' ceiling like I do, you can't have those tall trees!!! Actually, I'm jealous. Our previous home had a vaulted ceiling so we were able to get tall trees. I loved them! But I must say that the shorter trees are easier to handle!

Well, all our Christmas decorations are now boxed up, with labels on each box describing their contents. (I started this 2 years ago, thanks to this forum!) The only decorations left is the tree and the outside lights. Usually the tree is long gone by now, but since this is such a fresh tree and shedding NO needles, I am enjoying it! We never take down the outside lights until after new years. Our whole neighborhood is still lit up.

Sheryl

Today I made my second trip of the week to Goodwill. This time I took a big garbage bag of sheets & blankets, a big garbage bag of clothes*, and 2 grocery bags of kid books.

*This included 4 flannel shirts contributed by my husband--it's a miracle! He hasn't worn them in 10+ years, doesn't like flannel shirts, and is hesitant to part with them in spite of the fact they wouldn't fit him anyway.

Oh well, we don't put up a tree - no room for it. We just decorate a lighted garlant hunging around the living/family room wide door have lights around the same room's balcony door (inside) and have a few decorative touches around the house. I want to add a few things in the following years but not much. It is a small apartment (probably a little less than 800 sq ft) so this is really festive enough. We traditionally "undress" on the 6th or 7th.

Maria

I've got to get my tree down since it is getting really dry.

But I'm still filling that ice skating rink. Dang, I hope the temps stay below 20 for the next few nights.

I wonder how many thousands of gallons of water I've used? Good thing we have lots of water up here and we only pay a flat fee. I'd go broke if I was paying by the gallon.

Gloria

Julie - good job with Goodwill! I have a pile of stuff in the garage to take there. It seems that every day I find something else to add. Isn't it a great feeling?

Sheryl

(And don't you just love tossing something DH hasn't ever worn, yet he doesn't know if he can part with it????)

I packed up all the photographs (which were still in their envelopes, just shoved on a shelf), so one corner of our living room looks a little nicer (ready for resale).

And I've found some boxes at work to take home.

"I packed up all the photographs (which were still in their envelopes, just shoved on a shelf), so one corner of our living room looks a little nicer (ready for resale)."

TS, as usual...working on the same theme :). I at least gathered all the random envelopes of photos too over the holidays and they are at least in one box in one place!

And, ready for resale? Sounds like you are getting serious about the move. Good luck!

Ann

Well I can say all the holiday bins are packed up, labeled and put back in the loft. Except for the last few holiday ornaments I couldn't resist at the 75% off sale at Macy's yesterday :).

And, I finally surrendered to the prevailing wisdom and bought one of those stand up gift wrap containers. Wow, what I've been missing all these years! I love the way it holds so many rolls so neatly, and the little container on top for tape and scissors-yowza. Also at Target I found the ribbon organizer boxes on sale for $5. Neat stackable version too, so I bought a couple and was able to corral all the lovely rolls of ribbon I bought for next year, put them inside boxes on dowels and in the bottom tray put in all my holiday labels and a sharpie marker. Now ribbon and labels are together and ready to go, along with wrapping paper. In fact I like the paper storage enough that I'm going to get one for my everyday paper and clear out the under bed box I've been using.

Best of all my husband was happily surprised that I did not increase the total bin count at all. When he came out to start putting them in the loft he was giving me a hard time but he was pleased to confirm my claim that I did not buy one single additional tote or bin!

Ann

Decorations are all down here. I bought four of those clear type totes with red lids. Easy to spot in storage. I was able to group most things like mantle decorations together, etc.

Before hauling the tree out, we clipped off the branches and burned them in the fireplace. Woo. No wonder there are so many warnings about tree fires over the holidays. Now, I only have the trunk sitting beside the house and we'll cut that up and use for firewood next year.

Gloria

I packed up one box of kids' books. About 4 more to go. Don't let anybody ever tell you "kids can never have too many books"!!

Tonight I plan to put the wrapping paper away--move the Xmas stuff to the up-overhead bin, and put the everyday stuff down in the Rubbermaid tote so I can get to it through the year. And maybe get to another box of kids' books.

Gloria, one year my dad made these tall candle stands for my mom & gave them to her at Christmas; we kept begging them to light the candles. When we took the tree down, dad cut off a branch and brought it into the room w/ the fireplace. Then he called us in and explained why he wouldn't light the candles at Christmas time--WOWEE, did that branch ever whoosh into a huge, huge flame!

(normally dad wouldn't burn pine, bcs the sap in the wood can mess up the chimney)