Keep, Recycle And Toss!

Keep, Recycle And Toss!

If you are like me…you might have been a bit slow in getting all the Christmas Decorations put away.

Part of my issue was just plain procrastination and the other part of me was knowing that it was time to sort through all the extra boxes of decor that the Captain brought into the house on New Year’s Day, along with the put-away-decor boxes.

I took one look at all the various colored tubs that were stacked floor to ceiling along the multiple slider wall and wanted to pull the covers over my head and take a long, long nap.

You see, he took me at my word in November when I casually said …

…..while smiling happily and carefully sprinkling shiny tinsel on the 12 foot Christmas tree, and listening to the wonderful Christmas music and sipping on hot cocoa…

….”I am going to recycle or throw away some of the Christmas decorations because they are beginning to look a little shabby and worn, and a good time to do that will be when we take everything down”.

The only thing missing from this Norman Rockwell scene was a gentle snow falling outside the windows and chestnuts roasting on a crackling fire in the fireplace.

Well, this is Florida.

AND, once I got a bit of motivation, I began whittling away at removing, packing and …yep, tossing.

I do have a  confession to make…you knew I would didn’t you?

I did not do it all in one day.

Or two days.

In fact I just finished up yesterday. 🙁

And I would have totally left it where it was for the next few weeks if it were not for the sunshine that I crave. That glorious bright light that makes my being stand up and sing.

You see, those streaming rays of sunshine were blocked by green, blue and red tubs, and my living room became darkened much like a cave.  I was beginning to feel like a mushroom in the deep recesses of a cellar.

The only option I had was to begin the tiresome chore of shoveling my way out to Florida sunshine.

Sure, I could go out on my lanai from time to time soaking in the vitamin D, but the bat cave was still there and would remain until I tackled each one of those tubs. And then the issue was where to store my newly organized tubs.

I have noticed that all the magazines and talk shows are talking about January organization and they are all telling us how and what to do to make our homes clutter free.

WE KNOW how to make it clutter free…we have just run out of space to put the extra “stuff” so we aren’t moving the clutter from one area to another.

For me, sorting and tossing or recycling is working. Also, shelves and bookcases to store the pared down decor is a solution. 

The Captain has been great about building shelves for me in the garage.  He has also utilized standing shelving units as well as racks hanging from the garage ceiling.  I use these to store my Christmas decor and trees.

We don’t have basements in Florida but when living in the Midwest, I used the space under the stairs for shelves.

There are those who say when you bring a new item home…remove one of the same so you can keep your home and closets clutter free.

That is good advice. Perhaps one day I will think about taking it. 

 For now, I will Keep, Recycle and Toss.

In no particular order….

Cuz it is time to tackle the stacks of magazines I have hiding under my bed.

Am I the only one who finds it difficult to part with magazines such as Cooking and Housekeeping magazines? 

Have a great week-end!