Holiday

[Bellabutterfly]

I am presently sorting thru my Fall and Winter "STUFF".

I am getting tired of all the STUFF and Storing ALL the STUFF.  

I am going to ask, my sister-in-law and neices if they are interested in any of the Fall and Winter items.  Like you Nataliesgramma, they are in prestine conduction and look brand new.  If they do not want them, they are going to be donated.

Anything, I buy anymore is going to serve double duty. Meaning I can use it all year long, with little touches to make it holiday. 

[LTT1]

Remember that philosophy saying you should ask each thing if it brings you joy?
I'm going to try to remember this!
I remember how there weren't many items of my mother's that I could visualize in my place.
I believe that our DD probably feels the same way. I do know that she dreads "clutter."
Will need to finally one day soon ask her to choose then let her know that we need to declutter.
We don't wish to leave all of this to her to deal with❤️

[Spurt]

@Nataliesgramma

Hi! I DO have problems with the sentimental items.......  a dear friend who passed away from cancer gave me a set of angels that I will never part with......There are ornaments that my mom gave me (I started collecting Christmas ornaments when I was 17)....so these are special to me too especially since my mom has passed, seeing those ornaments each year makes me think my mom is still with me at Christmas, there's also one ornament my sister made and I have other special pieces too that I look forward to unpacking these are the ones that were my moms and passed on to me--- these I will always keep even if I down size ....

Now the non sentimental ones --ones that I purchased myself and no longer use--- those are the ones I donate to Goodwill or the Salvation Army or Animal Defense League (they have a thrift shop and proceeds help the animals in their no kill shelter)....I think of the fact that someone may find them and like them as much as I did and hopefully have a new home..... This helps me make room for one or two (or more--) of new merchandise that I fall in love   But I still think I need to purge more than I do.....I put out a few decor accents with each season and my storage room is running out!!

[Spurt]

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@Mominohio wrote:

For the most part, I don't have a lot of trouble getting rid of many things that clutter our lives.

Clothing, shoes, handbags that I don't use or are past their prime go out with a quick toss to the trash or the donation box without a second thought. Those kinds of things mean nothing to me, I hate shopping for them, hate when the closet is crowded, and never want so much it becomes a burden.

Standard home decor is like that as well. I save stuff for awhile, then when I get a couple of boxes of 'not using it right now' kind of decor, I look at it, realize how much my style has changed, and off it goes too.

This year, (and last year too) I purchased new fall decor. Moving to have larger statement pieces, everything on the main level coordinating/matching, and only my best 'older' pieces in the family room. I gave away everything else. For years I had virtually no fall decor, then adding just small things for a number of years, I was tired of a hodge podge of things that just didn't make my house look seasonal and pulled together, but more like I'd shopped at thrift and garage sales for a decade and just had a mix of seasonal, but not coordinated things.

I am so happy with the new look, had no emotional attachments to the old things that went out, Should be able to store everything in two tubs (one for garlands, wreaths, and candle rings, and oh my have I bought a lot of those this year, all to match) and one for the other things.

Much of what I'm using is not season specific (trays, pedestals, candles, lanterns) and will not need actual storing at all, but will transition into holiday, then winter and then back to my 'regular' decor after that.

BUT...Christmas is always another story.

For many years I didn't have too much Christmas decor. Aside from the tree ornaments, it was just the same few decor pieces. Then after I bought my first home, my mom started buying me really nice things for Christmas gifts, that were Christmas decor, and the Christmas closet began to fill. After 20+ years it was beyond capacity, especially after I discovered Christmas in July.

The short version of the story is that now I have a lot of sentimental things, some of which haven't been used in the last several years, but I dread giving away, because I'm afraid I will regret it.

And besides those things, I have a lot of things that I use to create other things (you know, different color bulbs, garlands, picks, etc. that I used to create a certain look or style for some years or some vignettes) and change up how a tree or a room is styled. Nothing sentimental about things like that, but a fun part of decorating is taking a base of something (wreath, tree, tray) and creating something entirely new looking from the way you did it before. To do that, one often buys a lot of 'things' to create with, and then those things add up as well.

I'd like to get back to the place where I have just the same stuff that goes in the same places year after year, but I know i will get bored with it, my creative side will long to create something new (and it is especially fun to bring out old things to combine in different ways for a new look), so the plight of too much holiday decor continues. 

I have high hopes that when I break into it this year, a lot of it will be easy to move on, because I did it so easily with the fall things. I tell myself that the Christmas decorating season is about a six week window at my house, eight at the max. I only have so much surface space to create a look, and just how much stuff that doesn't see the light of day, do I really need to keep. I like having the newer things (with a few family treasures going back generations sprinkled in) that make more of a coordinated and elegant statement I've created over the last couple of years.

But there is always that fear of regret. I've done it before. I got rid of some 1950's decor that belonged to my grandparents, then my parents then me. I thought it was past it's prime, I thought it was so out of style, but then, when it was gone, I was sorry I dismissed it. I had found a creative way to use what I had saved of that stuff, and it so warmed my heart to have those things out at the holiday, that I could see where I could have used the other things as well (this wasn't a closet full of stuff, but maybe 5 things). So there is where the fear of regret is born!

So I'm sure someone will come on here and say things like "It's just stuff, and the real treasures are your memories of those people and times that the things remind you of" and "Take pictures of the stuff then move it on", and that is all very reasonable and rational advice. But let's face it, emotional attachment to things, especially holiday, has noting to do with reason or ration. It is an emotional string around our hearts and memories that is stronger than some people can understand. It ties us to people and times gone by, at a time of year where the past seems more precious than at others throughout the year.

So, like the New Year resolutions and hope for a brighter future we face at the end of December every year, we sit, embarking on another season where we intend/hope/plan/swear to down size/reduce/eliminate/get free of too much holiday decor. It all sounds so possible, so doable as we type away and get 'strength' from each other in mid September. Let's see come January where we are then. And let's remember not to beat ourselves up too badly when the boxes of new things put in storage after the season, total more than those going out.

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@Mominohio

So well stated......you could write for a magazine......

I can totally relate to what you said---some fall, Easter/Spring and summer decor were easily parted with.....BUT CHRISTMAS!!!  I remember one year as I unpacked my Christmas things.... I decorate my rooms in stages....hey I didnt unpack these boxes at all and every possible surface is decorated....this might be a good time to just load these boxes into the car, or call the Salvation Army for a pickup.....but no i couln't do it....then IT HAPPENED....the angel I used for the top of my tree fell apart---I tried salvaging her---but even though I tried even different glues her time had come....that's when I realized....why there's a nice vintage star in that unpacked box that I can use on the top of my tree---WHEW glad I didn't get rid of those boxes---and so THE EXCUSE began---LOL!!!  And as you said---some items I can donate without any problems---but others some older pieces---I don't want to get rid of----. 

And then there are the pieces you use year round---the pedestals, candle rings, floral picks and florals for vinettes and flower arrangements you change up every now and then these all take up room too.....Oh I tried throwing them away then I regretted that because the flowers/picks  currently available arent the color, don't go with the rest of the arrangment look chintzy and cheap etc etc....so you don't want to get rid of it....and ON AND ON IT GOES......SIGH!! But I promise myself I HAVE TO REALLY CLEAN CLOSETS AND PURGE (all but the Christmas stuff!!)......will I keep that promise only time will tell...

Anyway well said @Mominohio you express many of our same thoughts (mine especially).....

[Spurt]

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@Spurt wrote:

@Nataliesgramma

Hi! I DO have problems with the sentimental items.......  a dear friend who passed away from cancer gave me a set of angels that I will never part with......There are ornaments that my mom gave me (I started collecting Christmas ornaments when I was 17)....so these are special to me too especially since my mom has passed, seeing those ornaments each year makes me think my mom is still with me at Christmas, there's also one ornament my sister made and I have other special pieces too that I look forward to unpacking these are the ones that were my moms and passed on to me--- these I will always keep even if I down size ....

Now the non sentimental ones --ones that I purchased myself and no longer use--- those are the ones I donate to Goodwill or the Salvation Army or Animal Defense League (they have a thrift shop and proceeds help the animals in their no kill shelter)....I think of the fact that someone may find them and like them as much as I did and hopefully have a new home..... This helps me make room for one or two (or more--) of new merchandise that I fall in love   But I still think I need to purge more than I do.....I put out a few decor accents with each season and my storage room is running out!!

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Since you like animals maybe there is an animal shelter in your area that takes donations that could sell the items and use the proceeds to help animals and this might make it easier for you to get rid of them....

[homedecor1]

I've been slowly doing the same -- started w/Christmas last year.

Im finding my new mantra is "less is more" and I'm enjoying seeing my home "un"cluttered. When I buy something now I buy for incorporating into everyday decor into seasonal. I bought 2 new things for Fall and few larger pieces for outside for Christmas.

I met a young girl w/2 little girls who works at my credit union and she loves to decorate. I am planning of "purging" my fall and offering to her. If she declines, I will head right to Goodwill or Hospice Thrift store to donate.

Good luck the first few items to get thru are the hardest! Just keep telling yourself " you're passing on your treasures for someone to enjoy!"

[151949]

I have an angel for the top of our tree that I got years ago at Cracker Barrel and I am just tired of her. She still is pretty but I'm thinking I may make a huge red velvet bow and then just run the sashes down the length of the tree. Our tree is visible from the front and from the rear due to it being in front of a half wall into the kitchen, so I would need to put a bow on the front and one on the back, which should not be a problem. I find that running a 3" wide ribbon through the tree makes it look really filled in.I prefer ribbon to garland for this.

[gidgetgh]

As someone else mentioned, as I get older (almost 61), I find it easier and easier to get rid of "stuff".  I just finished emptying my parents large condo and selling it.  Took quite awhile to clean it out even though they weren't over the top with their possessions.  My sister and I kept some things, but the vast majority are gone.

I've never been over the top with mine either, but the past almost 5 years, I work all the time to keep things pared down and cleaned out.  I did a big purge almost 5 years ago.  Took 3 months.  Just did a little each day.  And again, compared to some people, we don't have too much.

Now, I keep a bag open for donation all the time.  When it's filled, off it goes.  When it comes to holidays, we decorate for Christmas only.  And that's just a tree and my smallish collection of Woof & Poof angels.  I've given away tons of ornaments.  I'm happy with a tree and my angels.

I really just don't want all the clutter and stuff stored anymore.  Not trying to diss anyone else- we're all different, but I'm just really all about decluttering anymore.  

[Imadickens]

Yes! My problem is that I am sentimental! If one of my kids bought me something I feel I should keep it and use it! My ds always thought about me and bought me tons of holiday decorations! Most of them I love with all my heart, but a few aren't my favorite, yet I end up using it all every year! I'm longing to downsize, and he says he doesn't care, which I know he means. It's just that I see his sweet little face so full of joy as he watched me open his gift! That makes the work (and odd decor) worthwhile ! But, it may be my cause of death!🙄

[Imadickens]

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@drizzellla wrote:

Sadly, instead of getting rid of stuff I no longer put out for holidays. I leave the boxes of stuff in the attic. So my seasonal corner is now a large portion of the attic. I should just bring all the stuff down and go through it.

Maybe that will my project next weekend. 

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Don't bother! I do it every year and somehow it all ends up back in my storage area! Save yourself the headache, leave it for your heirs to Gael with!😉