January is by far the saddest month of the year.
All the holiday decorating that we feverishly do the weekend after Thanksgiving, has to come down, get boxed up and stored……
Saddest month of the year, (Hugh Sigh)
So where does it go in a small house?
The big vintage ornament wreath has been a tradition of mine for the past 15 years.
The ornaments are individually hooked onto a chicken wire wreath form every year…one at a time.
They come down the same way. One at a time.
We box them up in the boxes they came in, or between layers of bubble wrap, then fill tubs. 6 tubs to be exact.
The tubs stack in the attic. Now this is a little controversial because glass ornaments need to be kept somewhere where the temperature is constant…..or they will age faster. I actually kind of like the age spots they get. Makes them look “loved”.
So the attic is fine.
But not for the glass Radko ornaments on the tree……
I don’t want them to age at all.
I fill mixing bowls with them as we take them off the tree.
Then these guys are individually bubble wrapped and stashed inside the banquet in the kitchen.
Once the cushion and pillows are in place….no one would ever know that they were sitting on top of a few hundred ornaments.
Everything that isn’t a glass ornament; bubble lights, reflectors, plastic clip-on birds, spinners, and glittery balls, are bagged and boxed.
The tree itself is wrapped in white sheets and stashed in this perfect, but odd, little space on the side of the chimney in the garage.
Jamie has the outside lights down to an exact science.
He removes all the bulbs from the light strands – this keeps them from breaking – and every strand goes in a labled ziploc.
Same with the garland around the front door….
The lights and berries are bagged and labeled….
…and these tubs fit perfectly on the shelves we built over the garage door.
Yes sir,
Organized Hoarding at it’s finest.
THE CAVENDER DIARY 
You Guys are way too good! My decorations are still up. Any chance of you coming to take them down and neatly boxing them up. I am not that far and I can offer up Jim’s Green Chili Stew! I definitely will have to do better!
YUMMMMM Green Chili Stew sounds Delish….but I think we’ll pass on the extra work…hehehe
I’m truly impressed!
Awww shucks, thanks Tracie
You two are an inspiration! I was a visual merchandiser for years and it just burned me out for holiday decorating. But, you have made me want to again. Thank you!
Cindy, I have down visual for about 25 years now…and I never tire of it…..my co-workers think I’m insane.
This is me: bowing & scraping before you!! I am SO envious of those of you born with that organization gene!!
LOL Vickie!!!!
Anal retentiveness at it’s Very BEST!
The VERY best, Janet
Oh my goodness! I am exhausted just from just reading that. Impressive to say the least and bless you both! Firstly it’s way worth it your place looks amazing (I might need some medication just thinking about the set up in November) Secondly, I will admit I leave my white lights up year round. We live in the country and I kind of like the way they look at night 😉 Thanks for sharing as always!! ps: sometimes (most times) they are not all white lights ( think Gretchen Wilson )
Shae, when I had boxwood hedges I had white twinkle lights in them year round…..they seem so magical
Ohmigosh… If y’all ever want to come to Ohio (in warm weather, of course) you can have all kinds of fun helping me get organized. 🙂 (One of these days some sweet OCD individual will really help me)
LOL, I was born in OHIO, …but still not sure I want to take down Christmas at 2 households…..
Amazing. Truly amazing!
Awww shucks…..just obsessive, maybe
My creative mind wants (read “needs”) to be so organized…my better half would appreciate it! And so next year’s resolution is born! Sigh! Thank you so much for the insight!
LOL, glad we can inspire Erik!
I’m proud that I finally have Rubbermaid tubs for ALL the decorations. They stack neatly in the attic. I draw the line at removing each individual bulb from the strings. I do love how organized you guys are!
So many used to break every year…just taking them down…I now it sounds crazy, but it works for us.
The patience of a saint.
That’s what they say…maybe a tad bit O.C.D. too
i’ve truly, never seen a tree or wreath as beautiful as yours. I love the garland at the front door too. Thanks for posting!
Awwww Sugar….seriously blushing over here…
Color me VERY impressed! Nice work, guys!!
Thanks Elise…..It’s good to stay organized
WELL. . . I was eager to play catch up, reading for tips and tricks for self and readers (many of whom probably still have their decorations up, ahem) – but holy moley!
My best tip is be rich enough to hire two guys to do all this FOR you (no chance you guys are for hire, huh?)
Inquiring minds NEED to know – how long does all this take?
I stand in your shadows.
xx, mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
– ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
I applaud you both for your organization of your Christmas decoration. So when do you start putting up the Christmas decoration each year??
Hi Libby, I do display for a living and I’m decorating stores for Christmas all October and November. So I have a strict rule that nothing goes up in our house until thanksgiving weekend. Of course, there is some pre-staging in the garage until that weekend.