As I continue to pack up our Christmas decor I’m trying to be more intentional about what I want to see when I open up all those Rubbermaid bins next year.
I’m embarrassed to admit that half of the 8 bins that I have are still full of stuff that we didn’t even use. I’m going to label those as unused stuff and also start a bin for a Christmas Swap for next Novemberish. My sister went to a Christmas Swap where everyone took stuff they don’t use anymore and brought something home that they loved. It’s basically the same concept of a Swap Meet but it’s all Christmas stuff. You know garland you didn’t use, wreaths, lights, wrapping paper, Christmas dishes.
I’m hoping someone out there will invite me to a Christmas swap so I can make sure some of my hard to part with pretties will go to homes where they will be loved. I’ve got a few things that I’ll donate to the Goodwill and some other junk that I’m not ready to part with yet. I’ll make sure to pack the swap box near the front of the decorations so I can grab it quick at the beginning of the season next year.
Have you ever gone to a Christmas Swap? Would you go to one? Will you have one and invite me to your swap so that I can just show up?
I would LOVE to go to one! I’d love to go to a regular one, not just Christmas, although either would be nice. I’ll host, if you’ll show up…. lol. That’s a long drive, though!
No I haven’t, but I remember reading Emily’s post about it and thought it sounded like a fantastic idea! Maybe I’ll host one next November, too! Of course, you’d be invited! :)
Never heard of this before but sounds like a great idea. If I can remember I will host one next year!
A Christmas swap sounds like such a lovely idea! Maybe I should organize one for next year. I know I have loads of things that I don’t use anymore!
What a great idea! If I had an invite, I would be there in a second!!
I have so much extra Christmas stuff– I’m like you, tubs of things I don’t even bother to unpack. I am taking all of my decorations down this afternoon, and I plan on doing some purging. BUT heck yes! If you lived anywhere near me, I would love to do a Christmas swap next fall. Maybe I need to plant that idea in some of my friends’ brains in a few months.
What a terrific idea! Gonna have to remember this for next year. Maybe I can talk it up among my friends. If so, I’ll let you know and you’re ALL welcome to come! ; )
Nester,
I am always so proud for you…your transparency and sharing continues to delight us all as you walk this walk with us….thank you for sharing you! I cannot pass our friend in MS without thinking of you as I go through the aisles of his goods….we will make it there together one day!!
hugs
S
I like the idea of a Christmas swap. When I pack up my decorations this year, I’m going to make a box for swap items. And then maybe I’ll organize a swap next year!
i am so excited to be down to one – yes, ONE- bin of Christmas stuff! I think a swap meet of any kind sounds fun, but a Christmas one really great because I really like my home to not look exactly the same each year at this season.
What a great idea! I need to remember that for next year. I think we all have a box or three of stuff we once loved but now never use.
What a great idea! I would love to go to a Christmas swap! I need to keep this in mind when putting away my decor this year. I still have a couple of 1/2 full bins in the garage with decor that I do not put up, though part of that is because our house is too small and I keep it hoping that one day I will have a bigger house!
What a great idea …. I opened boxes and used way less than previously. Then when I took everything down, I packed it in with the all the unused stuff and stored. Your idea is much better.
Just went to a Christmas swap at my MIL’s house. She had all the women on her side of the family over for breakfast, we played games and then we “shopped”. It was a great time for us to just all be together. I scored an item from my MIL that meant the world to my husband when he was a kid and my MIL didn’t even know it meant that much to him. :) He was so excited when I brought it home even though I think it is not my style , I can’t wait to hang it up next year to see the joy in his eyes.
I am planning on having a wrapping paper swap here in a few weeks. What a great idea to include other non-used items. I too wondered what I should do with these things.
A Christmas swap sounds awesome and I would definitely attend one! I actually took all my Christmas stuff down last night and got rid of tons of stuff and actually put some stuff in a bin for a swap meet that I hope to have in March or April. Never thought of hosting just a Christmas swap. Thanks for the idea!
I would love to go to a Christmas Swap. It’s an idea I may implement with our homeschool group next year.
What a great idea! I’m going to put that on my July calendar page as a reminder to start thinking about it then. I have the same thing happening here… boxes of goodies I’m not so enthusiastic about anymore but that someone else might be. Judging by your comments so far, I’ll bet any one of us could create our own fun “swap meet”. Thanks Nester!
Super great idea!
It’s such a great idea. I would particularly like being in a swap with YOU!
It’s an interesting concept. I’d have one but if you came you’d have to come to Kansas.
Melinda
I would love to do this also, I never seem to use all my stuff but hate to send it to the thrift stores.
I would invite you to a Christmas swap! I think that’s a great idea! I have some of my Rubbermaid bins that still have stuff in them {and there is at least one I never found} and I really want to organize them and label what is in them. I’d really like to put all my snowmen in one, Santa’s in another, ornaments, etc. Some things I can donate, because there is no emotional attachment to them, and some things I just wasn’t feeling this year.
I’d gladly come to one at your house. Or if God miraculously blesses me with my dream house, or at least a different house, by next Christmas I’ll have one and invite you.
I would most definately go to a Christmas Swap. I will have to check to see if there is one in my area – MS.
I would also invite you if you were close enough.
I have not heard of a Christmas decor’ swap before but it sounds like a wonderful idea. I hope you find one. I threw a lot out this year as well.
Happy New Year! ~Melissa :)
This year I asked my girlfriends to bring Christmas decorations that they no longer wanted or needed to our cookie exchange. I didn’t have any sort of plan, but we ended up putting things out on the coffee table and just took whatever–at first no one took anything because everyone was being too polite! I ended up getting a beautiful metal star ornament and a container (unopened!) of small cream and gold ornaments.
Love this idea! Maybe we will do it on http://www.seekthetriad.com next November!
MJ
I missed your summer swap and your garage sale, so that sounds like a grand idea – I’ll even offer up my house for it. However, I reserve the right to freak out and back out the closer it gets to swap time! I’m so not an entertainer of any sort. Speaking of Christmas decorations, I haven’t properly thanked you for adding my house to your highlights Tumblr tour. I knew something was up the first day because my page hits went through the roof. What fun that was! And you’re welcome to come see my house, imperfect as it is, anytime you’d like.
What a fun idea. My wheels are spinning. Thanks for the suggestion. ;)
XO*Tricia
I give first dibs of my unwanteds to my two adult, single daughters. After they choose what they want, the rest of the unwanteds go to the curb. Merry Christmas to the curb surfers!
I’d love to go to/have either or both of those swaps! I think I’ll borrow your idea when I put my decorations away. I think Oct. would be a good time because Nov. gets busy & some are already putting out theirs or planning/buying what they will use. We always go away for Thanksgiving, & I think next year I really am going to decorate for Christmas before I go so I don’t feel rushed when I get back. Love your idea!
What a great idea!! I think I’ll do that, too! Maybe I’ll host one! I live in TN, though, so you probably wouldn’t want to drive that far!!
Never been to any kind of swap except the world’s best–at your house. When would you do a Christmas swap, though? Best to do one now, when we’re all putting things away, or in the fall, when we’re all getting things out again?
I’d go to one, no doubt about it. I’d host one, too. But when?
Excuse me while I go eat some more peppermint bark and ponder this.
I’ve never been to one, but I am certainly going to host one next year! That is a fantastic idea! My #1 item to donate to charity is holiday decor. I can’t wait!!
Great idea! Too bad shipping would be involved- us bloggy girls could have a great time!
I love the idea of doing a Christmas swap because I, too, have several boxes of things I’ve never used. Awesome idea. I’m sort of an organizer of events within my group, so this will totally happen. I hope!
I definitely have enough stuff to fill up my part of a Christmas swap, but instead I am packing up all our (nice!) unused Christmas items and boxing them to send over to the Middle East where my brother and his wife live. They are newlywed Christians (not military) who live there and it’s not too easy for them to get Christmas decorations. I thought sending over a nice assortment of items would be a great way for them to start their own Christmas decorating tradition! Shipping costs will keep me from sending more than about 1 bin full (will wait for the next person who flies over to take it), but it should still be plenty to begin with.
Rather than just swapping for more stuff to keep, what about intentionally finding a family who either 1) doesn’t have the luxury of many decorations for the holidays or 2) donating to a missionary family in a part of the world where decorations are not easy to come-by? I’m not sure of the logistics of that but I bet if everyone looks around their community or church congreation there are plenty of families who would be thrilled by some “new” holiday lovelies!
My friends and I are getting ready to have a “Holiday Swap Party”. In February we’ll all get together and bring all of our unwanted holiday items to trade with each other. We will include all holidays and occasions. Easter, Valentine’s Day, birthday party, 4th of July, you name the celebration and we’ll trade our decorations. My friends who is hosting the party sent out e-mails several months ago so we could all start to collect items that we want to get rid of. I have two large shopping bags full and ready to go.
Thank you for this awesome suggestion!!! I do have stuff I didn’t use this year… I will definitely cull through my goodies and set aside some to give away or swap. Brilliant, you are!!! And I would definitely love to attend or host a swap of any sort. I loved attending yours and meeting wonderful ladies in person!!! I think October does sound like a good time to have/attend a Christmas swap. Blessings!
What a fantastic idea!!!!! I’m going to have to jot that one down in the ol’ memory bank and apply it next Christmas!!!!
I keep daydreaming about hosting a swap. I had never even thought about a Christmas swap! I think I’m more inclined toward the run-of-the-mill swap. I fear my Christmas style is too different that that of most?
Oooh- I like this idea! :) I’d definitely attend one…I wouldn’t mind hosting either, but then I’d get all nervous about whether people would be mad if they ended up with junk and yell at me and then I’d have to find new, less crazy friends. ;)
I would LOVE this!!!! Tennessee anyone?
I’ll host if you all come to BC Canada. :) Never been to one but it sounds great!
My version of a local swap is to bring my stuff to a thrift and go find more to replace it. I figure I’m supporting a good cause either way. :)
Good idea! I’m ready to ditch all my fake garland I didn’t put up this year. And go shop for more vintagey type stuff! Thanks for the idea!
Donna
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
I was just setting aside a bunch of stuff today for this exact purpose next year. Wish we lived near each other! I’d invite you to mine!
I’d love to have or go to a Christmas swap. Do you live in or near VA? Ha. I did donate an artificial tree and ornaments to GW right after Thanksgiving – hoping some young college student might be looking for one. My girls used it while they were in college.
Sign me UP! I would love that!!!!
And I would totally help organize if you decided to do it online!
I am doing the EXACT same thing this year! I’m finding a lot of Christmas decorations that didn’t get taken out of the box because they didn’t fit me. I’m so glad that you mentioned this! It’s because of you that I’m doing this – I couldn’t believe you had your tree down so quickly! That is IMPRESSIVE girl! Would love to hear how you keep everything so neat, tidy and organized! Especially with three boys.
ok, so now I know what kind of party to have next year if I don’t get around to a cookie exchange (really wanted to do one of those this year but a conference in NOLA got in my way early december!). ANyway, thanks for the idea!