As I look around the rooms of my already cluttered house, I think about all the ‘stuff’ that will be unwrapped come Christmas morning. As always, I’ll gaze at all the unwrapped presents and think, ‘Now where do we put all this new stuff?’
I seriously wish I had enough money and time to get rid of the old ‘stuff’ to make room for the new. What can’t be sold must be put into the trash – garbage is expensive to put on the curb these days – and for what can be sold or given away I need time. The very same time I need to go out and buy NEW stuff for Christmas.
Remind me, would you? To do some spring cleaning come April.
Thanks.
Blog post of December 14th, in honour of Every Damn Day December. Check it out!
lindaghill.com 
December 15, 2013 at 11:24 am
Enjoy the moments of gifts and make plans for the New Year to do a clean out and give to charity. 🙂
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December 15, 2013 at 1:50 pm
Yep, that’s what I’ll be doing . 🙂
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December 15, 2013 at 1:55 am
I will remind you, via my own blog, when I start hauling out this and that for Spring Cleaning. It’s icy and snowy now, and no one wants to sort things in the garage. I do, lol, but not ALONE.
We have very meager Christmases, gift-wise, because my in-laws buy way, way too much for the children. I can remember a year when they purchased a play kitchen, mini table and chairs, and a large block-sorting toy the size of an ottoman. The Mister had to make two trips to our home, because although those were the big things the babies got, they got other smaller things, let alone what the older children and ourselves received. That’s crazy, in my opinion — two trips to cart home the presents, so the family can get in the van and go home!
Once we got home, my living room was chockablock fulla presents, and it took me weeks to get everything sorted.
Yes, we do meager Christmases, present-wise 🙂
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December 15, 2013 at 1:48 pm
You’ve got to love it when some well-intentioned relative buys your kid something humongous. I still have a 3′ tall Pikachu from years ago. Just what I needed in my house. 😛
Meager is good. Or at least small enough to either drink, eat, or put into a jewelry box. 😉
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December 15, 2013 at 4:31 pm
I’ve been saying that if I can’t eat it, drink it, or smoke it, I don’t want it for Christmas, but I know my MIL will give me an ugly sweater anyway, lol!
3′ Pikachu — bet THAT was a big hit, though!
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December 15, 2013 at 6:37 pm
It was a big hit – for about 5 minutes. 😛
Ah yes, the ugly sweater. I think that must be a syndrome amongst in-laws. haha
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December 15, 2013 at 6:38 pm
At least it will be warm, eh? lol
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December 15, 2013 at 8:25 pm
Yeah, just wear it only when it’s dark. You’ll enjoy it more. 🙂
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December 15, 2013 at 8:27 pm
LOL!
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December 14, 2013 at 5:50 pm
May the spring cleaning bug bite as swift as cupid’s arrow flies…
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December 14, 2013 at 10:46 pm
…haven’t seen cupid’s arrow in a good long while… 😛
hehe
Thanks. 🙂
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December 15, 2013 at 12:52 am
🙂
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December 14, 2013 at 5:06 pm
I relate to the so much stuff where am I going to put new stuff. Every year I think, I might tone things down this year and each child will get one present. Though at the ages of 7 and 9 I still love the looks on their faces, so for entirely selfish reasons, They end up with mass amounts of gifts, every single one wrapped (OCD)
Something that I have started doing, however that may help for future years is filling up a scrap book with important events and defining moments for both of the children. I’ll write a story for certain memorable events or school certificates. I cover it with pictures of them I’ve taken throughout the year and then protect it with clear contact. They turn out beautifully, and the children spend hours going back and reading them…
Maybe in the future, this and maybe one other useful much needed gift will be enough (Bike, Bed, Small Car when they’re 18?) lol
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December 14, 2013 at 10:44 pm
That’s a great idea. Mine are 19, 18 and 13, so it’s a bit late to start fresh, but I could go back through old pictures and things. Thanks for that. 🙂
They’re not getting cars though – not ’til the proceeds from my as yet unfinished bestselling novel start coming in. 🙂
In the meantime, five or six presents each…
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December 14, 2013 at 10:50 pm
LOL, make sure you share that Best Selling Novel with us first eh 😛 lol
Not yet the parent of teenagers.. how goes it with that age? Of course I know it would be subjective based on unique parenting skills etc etc, but everyone always calls them the terrible teens.
I envison my son being like Seth from the OC (minus the hook up with the bar running lass and sneaking out the window bit)…
Fantasy Land much?!!?
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December 14, 2013 at 11:03 pm
A whole new set of challenges, that’s for sure. Puberty is a bitch. They’re all boys though, so I’ve probably got it as easy as I could possibly hope for.
Best of luck with your fantasy. haha
And yes of course I’ll share the best seller with my WP friends first… who do you think I’m going to bribe with cookies and beer to be my beta readers? 😉
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December 14, 2013 at 11:03 pm
LMAO!!!
#WaitingwithAnticipation
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December 14, 2013 at 11:06 pm
🙂
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December 14, 2013 at 3:21 pm
One year in the office we decided that instead of new gifts we would each bring an item that we were desperate to get rid of. I brought in a hideous ornament that was wrapped and put into the pile with my name on so that I did not get it back. My exchange present when I got it was beautifully wrapped in a box – when opened it was the exact same ornament in a different colour! It was meant to be.
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December 14, 2013 at 10:27 pm
Haha! How long did you hang on to it for?
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December 15, 2013 at 2:31 am
oops went out with the wrapping paper by mistake…..
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December 15, 2013 at 1:49 pm
Funny how that happens sometimes, isn’t it? hehe
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December 14, 2013 at 3:03 pm
Just remember to breath too. It is important to remember to live too…..
Have a wonderful weekend.
Irene
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December 14, 2013 at 10:26 pm
You too, Irene. 🙂
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December 14, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Exactly. I need to start Spring cleaning in January. There is not only my stuff but the bits and pieces I have inherited that it seems dishonorable to dispose of. Oh well, tomorrow’s another day.
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December 14, 2013 at 10:25 pm
Having to make the choice to get rid of something that has only sentimental value is the worst, isn’t it?
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