Tag Archives: after Christmas

Family Time

The presents have all been opened and exclaimed over, the paper gathered up and thrown into the recycling bin. Two days ago, here was Boxing Day. Not for us the Boxing Day sales which in Sydney started ridiculously early at 5 and 6am. No, we did as many Australians do in the Christmas holidays; we gathered the family together and went to the beach. For us, the beach is ten minutes away. Mick and I were first in even though the water felt a little cold initially, but was only the first minute or so, then it become beautifully refreshing. … Continue reading →

Post Holiday “To Do” Tips

Something you might want to add to your after Christmas list is a new collection of containers for storing all your Christmas stuff. These go on sale, oh about Halloween or soon thereafter, but they begin to be marked down big time after Christmas. From wrapping paper storage bins to some new shelving that will hold individual boxes of ornaments or bins filled with holiday lighting, you can find a variety of seasonal storage options at a discount. If you have been considering an artificial Christmas tree, you might want to pick one up now and set it aside for … Continue reading →

Post Holiday Crime Prevention Tips

The winter holidays and shortly afterward are prime times for crime. Communities often see a spike in crime around this time. Thieves know that many home will be vacant while families are out visiting, and they also know that there will be expensive gifts under the tree, just waiting to be snatched quicker than a wink. Two of the biggest post holiday community-based crimes are vandalism to personal property, such as holiday decorations, and thefts of property from vehicles. Juvenile vandals get a thrill from stealing or ruining your decorations. And thieves will cruise a neighborhood looking for unlocked cars. … Continue reading →

Post Christmas Quiet

‘Twas the morning after Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (we have traps set in the garage). Sigh. This is the morning after Christmas, and I am enjoying some great quiet time with just me, the tree and all of you. If you celebrate the season, did you have a good Christmas? For us, it all started with Christmas eve. The excited kids finally went to bed, after we heard the jingle bells that herald the forthcoming visit from the big guy in red. And as those children were nestled all … Continue reading →

The After Christmas List

There are always great sales after Christmas. This is where I often gather new items for the next year. So, I’ve decided to make a new list, an after Christmas list, of things I want to pick up at those tremendous sales. Last year, I was able to obtain some very nice, new Christmas ornaments for mere pennies on the dollar. They were marked down anywhere from 50% to an incredible 90% off the regular price. I found some lovely hand-painted glass ornaments in a variety of styles and colors. My favorite set has four deep green, four deep red, … Continue reading →

Time to Take Down Christmas Decorations

Well, we finally got everything up and now it’s time to take it down. This is the part most people dread. It is the whole “Christmas let down” thing many of us feel after the holiday, but it’s also because it’s a pain to take it all down and put it away. Many people will wait until after New Year’s to tackle this task, but whenever you do it, there are some tips to help make it easier. Pack Similar Items Together This may seem basic, but many people box up everything together with no real sense of order. It’s … Continue reading →