Posted in Simple and Frugal Living
You likely have your Christmas shopping done (or at least the bulk of it). The toys are purchased and perhaps wrapped, as well. One thing we tend not to think about is where all the new stuff is going to be stored after Christmas.
So, take some time over the next week and review the gifts you know will be coming into your home. For children, this is a great time to take out old toys that are not played with, toys that are missing pieces, and toys that are broken. This purging will help to open up room for the new items.
Once you have purged, take a visual of the space available. 
Now, think about the gifts you know your children will be receiving. Will anything need a container? Is anything an awkward shape? Is anything to heavy for a shelf? Are there gifts that might be better stored in your craft area, rather than their rooms? Are they getting clothes? (Make sure to purge clothing that is too small to make room for new clothes) Can the clothes be hung? This thought process will help you to organize your home BEFORE the presents officially get there. In this way you will be able to quickly and neatly place gifts in their appropriate place directly after Christmas.
All of this pre-planning will add to returning your home to simplicity after Christmas. If you have never done this before, you will be surprised how quickly you can return to "normal" without fretting, frustration, or chaos.
These are my thoughts.
Leslie Valeska
~Contributing Writer~
