For me, the end of Christmas is marked when I've scoffed all 'The Purple One's' from the box of Quality Street! It has been a really lovely Christmas this year. Hard work - as always - but lovely.
Today I've been sneaking around and removing decorations from here and there. No one seems to have noticed, which asks the question ~ why put so much up in the first place?! I'm already thinking of keeping it simple next year. I won't take the rest down until next Wednesday, when the girl is back at school and the husband is back at work. At least I've given myself a little head start, and the house feels a lot tidier.
I always have Fairy lights somewhere around the house, all year round. I use them instead of side lights.
I bought some new ones last week, for year round use, though I did use them on the table on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. It was another idea gleaned from a film. When watching 'About a Boy' there was a scene where Hugh Grant and a lady were eating dinner, and on the table there were lots of fairy lights. Loved it and had never done it before, so I gave it a try and will most certainly do it again.
I liked these particular lights so much that I bought two sets. 
After de-Christmas-ing the mantelpiece today, I added a set to the mirror. Here they will stay until I change my mind and move them elsewhere. 
The only thing I'm not keen on is the super brightness of them. But I've got a plan bubbling in my mind, and later on this week am going to work at toning them down. If it works, I will show you the finished lights in the next post.Were you spoilt rotten over Christmas? I was, I had some corking gifts. Amongst my favourites are these. Vintage style measuring cups from my mum and dad.
Pretty, and far too nice to shut away in a cupboard. I'll be using them a lot. I asked my mum where she got them, and her answer was Morrisons. Seriously nice for a supermarket.
So on we go to a new year. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and wish you all a very happy and healthy 2012.