The husband and I spent the week leading up to Christmas sick. I had high hopes of spending my week of vacation finishing my Christmas cards, putting the final touches on my pom-pom wreath, and working on the master bathroom makeover. So none of that happened. (Yes, The Organized Wife did NOT send Christmas cards out this year. It happens to the best of us.) Instead, I spent most of the week either sleeping or thinking about sleeping.
Although I didn’t do everything I wanted, I don’t feel that the holidays were a total bust. The husband and I made a standing rib roast for the first time; it came out so lovely. We cooked some of our comfort food favorites: mashed potatoes, corn casserole, and green bean casserole. We lit a fire, played holiday music, and spent time in the kitchen together. We laughed and joked as we made our way around the stove. It was a great holiday despite how badly we felt.
It is traditional to leave the tree and decorations up until after New Year’s. That day is quickly approaching. Do you have any idea what you are going to do with your tree? The husband and I have a faux tree that has been in our family since we met. It suits our needs, but faux trees aren’t for everyone. If you have a live tree, it isn’t likely that you have a box to shove it back into.
TIPS FOR DISPOSING YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE
It is important to note that you don’t want to wait for your tree to dry out before removing it from your home. As trees become dry, they become more likely to cause house fires. Additionally, never put a Christmas tree in your fireplace. This sounds like an amazing source of fire wood, however Evergreen trees contain high levels of flammable turpentine oils that may cause flare-ups and chimney fires. If you feel the need to light it on fire, take it outside. Remember to check your local burning regulations before striking a match.
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- Arrange for pickup of your tree by your local yard waste management program, your regular trash collector, or with your local recycling center.
- Take the tree outside. Get fancy and wrap the tree with a large, plastic tree bag (they are available on Amazon for about $8) or wrap the tree in an old blanket before taking the tree outside. This will prevent needles and sap from making too much of a mess on your carpet or hardwood floors. Or you can do it the old fashioned way by grabbing the top of the tree and just dragging it through the living room and out the front door. Choose whatever way works best for you and your patience level.
- If you have a particularly large tree, like the tree in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, you may want to consider cutting the tree into 4 foot sections for easier curbside pickup.
- Carry the tree to the curb, making sure not to obstruct any roads or sidewalks.
