I put on our first Christmas songs of the season (Santa Clause is Coming to Town by the Jackson 5) and gave my family the terms: see how much of the house you can de-Halloween by the end of the song WITHOUT breaking anything.
It took a second song (A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives) for them to get the porch, mantles and kitchen table all cleaned up and put the decorations next to my storage boxes for me to pack up.
It made a kinda boring task pretty fun and quick.
It is easier for me to put away the Halloween decorations as I pull out the Christmas stuff because I keep the storage boxes in the same place.
Also, it kinda makes a mess to put things away (fake spider webs flying) and to pull out Christmas decorations (hello glitter). I just assume do it all at once and then vacuum. Contrary to what people may think, I decorate early and a little each day because I am lazy. Not because I am super obsessed. And I think it is a fun thing to decorate so why stress out about something fun?
There are SO MANY things that are real and substantial to stress about. A holiday mantle really shouldn't make the list.
**Photo of Max by Tara Whitney. I added an eye patch right over the frame and put a few cobwebs on it to add a little subtle Halloween decorating. All cobwebs in my house should be seen as intentional, subtle Halloween decor.
