I can’t believe Christmas is already over. It seems like just yesterday I was blogging about how excited I was for the upcoming holiday season. I swear, Christmas comes quicker and quicker every year (despite embracing the sights and sounds earlier and earlier every year).
Today, Mal and I spent the majority of the day putting away our Christmas decorations, organizing the dishes in our kitchen, and preparing for another home improvement project.
Breakfast
My day started bright and early with a French Toast Breakfast Scramble with a scoop of sunflower butter in the mix. I ate my breakfast while catching up with some work while Mal (and Murphy) slept.
Workout
A couple of hours later, I got dressed and headed to CrossFit with Mal for a workout.
Today’s WOD:
Strength:
Good Mornings 5 x 5. Add weight ea.
WOD:
4 Rounds For Time:
10 RDL’s
5 Power Cleans
10 Lateral Burpees
Rx: (185, 135)
Kerrie was in class this morning, so I worked with her on the Good Mornings. We worked our way up to 5 reps of 115 pounds.
For the WOD, I used 95 pounds, which was only Level 1, but, damn, it was heavy. The members at our box are definitely getting stronger and our coaches are pushing us to get stronger, so the weights for the WODs keep getting heavier and heavier. I remember when I used to do a lot of Level 2 workouts, but not anymore! Anyway, I used 95 pounds for the Romanian Deadlifts (RDL’s) and Power Cleans and finished in 7:25, right behind Mal and Kerrie, who I tried to keep up with for the entire workout. They’re both great motivation!
Snack
After CrossFit, I refueled with a protein shake made with fitmixer protein powder, decaf coffee, almond milk, cinnamon, and water.
Then, Mal and I went on a cleaning and organizing spree.
Project #1: putting away all of our Christmas decorations.
Project #2: Cleaning the house, which, of course, included vacuuming the pine needles that exploded all over our house.
By the way, how does that happened?! I swear, we find pine needles all year long!
Project #3: organizing the dishes in our kitchen.
Mal was inspired to de-clutter after reading an āOrganizing ChallengeāĀ article in the January issue of Real Simple.
All of my mismatched bowls and plates for the blog stressed him out, so I got rid of a bunch of them, which made our dish cabinets look nice and neat.
Lunch
After spending a few hours packing, cleaning, and organizing, I was more than ready for food. I snacked on some baby carrots and Rotel Dip while I made lunch.
I’ve been craving egg sandwiches lately, so I whipped up an egg and cheese on a Microwavable English Muffin for lunch.
Delish!
After lunch, Mal and I went to Lowe’s to pick out paint colors for our living room. Somehow, I was convinced to take on another painting project with Mal. Ooooh, how I love painting (not).
We decided to paint the walls in our living room a shade of almond with a darker brown on the fireplace wall (accent wall). Hopefully, the contrast of colors will really make it pop!
Snack
Mal and I are meeting friends for dinner later tonight, but I knew I couldn’t wait to eat, so I snacked on a sliced banana with a scoop of Teddie peanut butter to hold me over.
And now we’re off to have a drink before dinner!
(Mal liked my outfit and we all know I can’t dress myself, so he said I should snap a pic to remember it! Haha!)
Enjoy the evening, friends!
When do you typically take down your holiday decorations?
76 Comments
I love organizing things! Just wondering, what do you use to take pictures on your blog? Whenever I find myself out on the run without my camera I am afraid a camera phone photo won’t look as good
That is an adorable outfit actually! Where’d you get that sweater and boots?
You look great!! What a productive day!
sounds like a very productive day! I never get all my decorations down until January!!
You do look cute. LOVE the boots!
I need to spend some serious time working on all the visual chaos/clutter in our place.
It is a great outfit, I love that sweater with the colorful jeans and the boots!
See, there’s your problem with Christmas going away too fast. The “twelve days of Christmas” are actually the twelve days FOLLOWING December 25. January 6 is Epiphany (the day the Wise Men actually arrived, supposedly) and is technically the end of the season, so you’re just ending things way too early!!. My Christmas decorations go up on Dec. 6, and down on Jan. 6, just because I like things to be nice and tidy, and a full month fits the bill. š
@Samantha: exactly! Decorations remain up until after epiphany.
@Samantha: I’m with you guys too. My decorations stay up until at least epiphany (and sometimes longer out of laziness).
@Margaret: Glad I’m not the only one to mention Epiphany!
Ooh great – I definitely need to check out this “organizing” article. Good for you guys!
Cleaning/Organizing = fresh start for the new year! I took my decorations down today too (normally not until after the Epiphany) Personally, I am ready for the holidays to be over and the new year to commence. I work in retail and this year was particularly draining.
What a fun day getting things done. Enjoy dinner out!
wow–you’re fast with taking down the decorations! We wait until after the New Year. I host a New Year’s Day dinner every year, so I like our tree to still be up for that. š
Wow, kudo’s to you & Mal for “GSD” (getting $hit done!). I’m hoping I’ll start taking ours down tomorrow, I love to let the gifts sit under the tree for a day or two to admire them š
My Christmas decorations go up on December 16 as that is when the Navity is set in time for the novena which we read every night until Christmas. We also do not take anything down until the Epiphany as we wait for the Wise Men to arrive to the Manger … we are less practicing in our Catholic currently, but the traditions still stand.
I always clean and declutter the whole house before New Years as it is the correct way to start the year, free of clutter, free of the unnecessary … we did this over Thanksgiving break and we will do one more round before the 31st to bring in the 1st … light and airy … š rid of anything that may bring us down.
Happy Holidays!
We are taking ours down tonight. I’m not really looking forward to it, but it has to be done.
I leave my decorations out until New Years. I have to ease out of Christmas or it’s too much a shock to my system š Maybe like those mismatched bowls/plates… Although, I don’t think I could handle everything matching. I need cups to match my moods, not each other.
Love your outfit! Our decorations come down after New Years Day.
If you like Christmas so much, you may want to consider celebrating it in a more German way.. haha. The 25th is only the 1st day of Christmas here, and it continues for many days (depending on your specific religious preferences). Many Germans continue their Christmas celebrations until the holiday of Epiphany, which takes place on Jan. 6.
Christmas flew by this year š
I think it’s traditional in Ireland to wait until the 6th for what they call little Christmas…it’s apparently known as the Feast of the Epiphany elsewhere…I’m not at all religious but it’s stuck with me! Can’t wait to see the new paint complete!
Wow, I’m super surprised you take down your decorations just the day after. Christmas day itself is just one part of Christmas, not all of it. There are 12 days to Christmas technically and it goes from Dec. 25th to January 6th. Commercialism must be invading on that I guess. Christmas is just beginning where we are too. So sad to see your decorations down š
We take ours down after New Year’s, exact day depends on our schedule.
Oh man, our cupboards desperately need some re-organization. We got new Rubbermaid and Pyrex dishes for Christmas so I think I finally have my reason…
As for decorations, I like to leave them up until after the New Year!
Wow, you are FAR too productive for the day after Christmas! š Good job!
Haha! Thanks! š
This is going to be cheesy but I bought a few headbands to wear at the gym because I saw you wear them haha! I’m looking forward to taking my decorations down. I love Christmas but my house feels so disorganized with all the decorations everywhere.
Nice! The BIC Bands?
@Tina: Yep I ordered them!
We only had a small tree up (which I trashed today since we’re moving back East in July). Usually, I like to take down the decorations the day after. Putting them up early is the fun part!
My fiance and I keep kosher so we literally have two of everything: two complete sets of dishes {serving for 8}, drinking glasses, silverware, baking dishes, pots, pans, etc… It’s literally insanity in it’s cookware finest. Especially since we’ve started to get our “wedding dishes” as early wedding presents (which the HTB – husband to be – doesn’t want to use until we’re actually married). Our cupboards are bursting at the seams!!
wow, that’s quick. I leave it up until after the new year. I don’t like how we rush and fuss about Christmas for weeks beforehand, but then are so eager to forget it as soon as the clock strikes midnight on 12/26/12. It’s still the holiday season for me until the new year š
We don’t normally take ours down until after new years…I wish I could keep them up all year…I love them!
I love the organization! I get stressed when things are cluttered so I keep pretty much every room in my place super organized at all times. It’s nice to get rid of stuff once in a while too. I also love your green pants!
Me too! Mal and I are always getting rid of things because the clutter stresses us out.
You look cute!!
And this year, I was so busy, we didn’t put the decorations *up* until Christmas Eve so I’m giving it at least a few more days before I take them down! I want to enjoy them at least a little bit!
~Ang
I’ve been contemplating trying coffee in a protein shake… Can’t live without my caffeine in the morning, but the hot & cold of having both at the same time never seems like a good combo, either. May have to try a version of your shake š
It’s a delicious combo! I do half coffee and half almond milk and sometimes a splash of water if it’s too thick.
I’m so impressed (and jealous) that you have your decorations packed up!! I will be traveling until the 2nd so mine won’t be down until the first weekend of January!
I’m leaving the tree up (that’s my only decoration) through the Epiphany. (Jan 6)
Love the outfit too! So cute! I just went on a little organizing spree myself. Something about the holidays just brings it out in me!
We take down our decorations on New Years Day. I’m usually more than ready to put them away.
You sure don’t waste any time! We’re in the mindset it’s bad luck to take down the decorations until after the new year. Plus it’s just nice to enjoy them that little bit longer without the pressure of having to keep the house cleaned for company, etc so you can have your presents strewn about underneath the tree. (Of course we don’t have a real one so maybe I’d feel differently if it was stiff and ready to go up in flames! LOL)
Why did you take down Christmas so soon???
Way too soon to be taking down the Christmas decorations!!! š
It actually made me a little sad to see you were so quick to take down your decorations!
I always wait until after the New Year. I usually like to take them down on New Year’s Day or the following weekend.
Oh my goodness why take the decorations down so early? Ha, I feel the same way about painting! The outfit looks really cute, especially the green and brown together.
I was seriously considering taking down the tree today too, but decided to hold off until the weekend. I’m really over the tree this year for some reason. And my whole life is mismatched dishes. LoL. I do like the idea of a clean organized look, but I can’t imagine getting rid of my bowls. š
I hate taking Christmas decorations down. I can’t believe you did it so quickly!! Mine come down about the 2nd week of January! You look great in your pictures!
I wish I had the energy to take them down right away like you did because I can’t stand to see them after Christmas! I usually keep them up until New Years and then it’s bye bye!
We haven’t been home since Saturday, so I was so excited to do absolutely nothing today. We are busy again the next few days, but in the mornings while we’re home, I’ll be taking down decorations and getting things organized.
Love the rotel dip, sounds delicious! At every holiday, my brothers and I always have a bowl with cream cheese and a jar of salsa poured over the top, so freaking good.
First week of January — I just couldn’t bear to take them down yet! Need time to ease into the idea… that being said, I’m impressed by your matter-of-factness!
I took down my decorations today too! Wow, I posted that on facebook and could not believe the comments I got!!! I get stressed when there is so much “stuff” around the house!!
I totally agree! I love the decorations only for so long. Plus, our tree was so dry and making a huge mess!
OMG you take your decorations down sooooooo early! LOL! I don’t think my mother takes her decorations down until at least a week or two after New Years Day!! LOL! But hey, I mean, why string it out and make you think about how you wish it were still the holidays even longer! Time to move on š
I myself (in my own apartment) don’t even put decorations up, lol!! So no need for the clean up š
We’ll leave our decorations up for about another week and a half…I’m not ready to say goodbye to them quite yet!
Last year we took it down the day after, but this year we have our friend visiting us in Seoul (she comes 2moro yay!) and she has requested we keep our holiday spirit just a bit longer;) I’m happy to oblige but am doing a major cleaning today as well! Off to fight dust bunnies…
We don’t decorate, so no real clean-up for us, aside form putting the stockings away. We have stockings because 1) mine is uber cute and 2) I made bf’s… lol.
I really need to reconsider the kitchen and the things we have stashed in there. We have dozens of coffee mugs, most of which we never use, and probably quite a bit of food storage containers that I should throw out because we have better ones I use 98% of the time.
Maybe I’ll do that tomorrow!
6 January for me, although I do look forward to decluttering!