Sunday, December 25, 2011

What Women Want?

It's Christmas night...time for women everywhere to reclaim their sanity after weeks of joyous exhaustion. Don't get me wrong...I love Christmas as much as the next person...but I think I like Christmas night even better. The frenzy of almost non-stop crafting, shopping, wrapping, baking, card-writing, cooking, dressing up, visiting, and eating is over for another year, but the best things, the peace and goodwill of the season, linger.


So, when we passed Santa leaving Maine in his big red pick-up truck tonight, I had very mixed emotions. The child in me didn't want to see him go, ever...but the exhausted woman in me wanted to open the window and yell,  "And don't let Rudolph hit you in the *** on your way out!"


Big, fat snowflakes were falling when we arrived home...a perfect end to a crazy-perfect day. With tummy and car uncomfortably full, I found myself thinking about what women (at least this one) really want as Christmas draws to a close for another year.

So, as the snow falls silently outside my window, and the house is finally still, here's my humble list:

1. I want to walk around wearing flannel, slippers, no make-up, and crazy hair for at least a week. I do not want to wear a sequined sweater or singing stocking cap for at least 51 more weeks.

photo from Mary Engelbreit website

2. I want my house back. I am ready to see every last pile of crumpled gift wrap gone. I want to wake up in the morning and fill trash bags to my heart's content. I want to walk from one end of a room to the other without tripping over bags, boxes, bows, candy canes, walnuts and elves. I want to walk into my craft room and not see this for 11 more months...


3. I want to gorge on salad and fruit. I do not want to be asked if I would like to try "just a little bit" of any of the following for at least 340 days: sugar cookies, egg nog, yule logs, baked brie, candied nuts, stuffed squid, chocolate-covered cherries, cheese balls, latkes, or pecan pie. It has taken me over a year on Weight Watchers to lose 37 pounds and I don't want one ounce of it back. I'm relieved that the annual holiday bacchanalia is over for another year...trying not to disappoint my (fantastic) WW leader, Mary Elizabeth,  is hard enough on a good week, a major challenge at the holidays.


4. I want to buy bins. I know it's crazy...I don't even need them...but when the Target flyer arrived in this morning's paper, there they were: colorful bins in all shapes and sizes, and, even, better, on Sale.  After saying I would never set foot in a store again after December 24th,  I have this insane compulsion to set my alarm for six a.m. (Target thoughtfully opens at 7:00 tomorrow for us after-Christmas women-on-a-mission-to get-their-homes-back), grab a Pumpkin Spice coffee on the road, and head the sleigh over to Target to load up on the latest accessories for the modern obsessive-compulsive.


5. I want my blogging time back. I have been so "wrapped up" in holiday preparations I've let my blog go and I miss it. I miss the creating, photography, and writing...but I especially miss my blog friends. I love nothing more than spending quiet time reading my favorite blogs, sharing comments, and being inspired by the amazingly talented women I meet in blogland. So I apologize to those Followers who wonder if I've dropped off the face of the planet (I haven't) and promise to do my best to reconnect with each of you in the coming weeks. My Sister's Cottage is here to stay.

Now that I've shared the Christmas Night confessions of a happy but holiday-weary woman, I'd love to hear from you. Are you sad that Christmas is over or anxious to get back into comfortable old routines?



This post is happily linked to :
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On the Porch

16 comments:

AuntLou said...

What do I want, think, feel or need? Oh, Cheryl, I don't know. Ask me Tuesday (DH has tomorrow off work.) ;)

The Charm of Home said...

Cheryl,
Have a very Merry Christmas to you and yours! I am getting my house back this week! LOL
Sherry

Tardevil said...

Funny post. Thanks for the laugh! I can sooooooooooooo relate. The best week in December, for me, is starting December 26th. Hope yours was very merry! So now, happy 2012!

Unknown said...

It's the hype that gets to me. Christmas merchandise is slipped quietly into the craft stores once we pass Labor Day. By now, everyone is so tired of red and green, parties and running in general.
I do hope you had a nice holiday with your family and friends.

Miranda @ Pressing On said...

This is great. I'm feeling that way myself, even though our real Christmas celebration is being held off until after the 7th of Jan when my husband gets home from being overseas. Uggg. I'm ready to be done.

Congrats on the weight loss. Holidays or no, you'll do just fine with your determination ♥

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

When Christmas is all "packed up" for everybody else, we will finally be having our belated family Christmas. Yes, I will be vacuuming the tree, it will have been up for so long! I know exactly what you mean, though. It's exhausting!! Welcome back!

Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...

I laughed throughout your entire post! I love Christmas, too, but I can relate to everything you said. I think I'll get up and eat an orange right now!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I am ready to 'move on' as we say! I love Christmas and I tried not to let the crazies get me this year. But of course some of it did. I'm ready to take down Christmas decorations..slowly not all at once, the lack of sparkle and color always is hard after a month of Christmas. Still I'm ready to buy more bins and get more organized. I've had a great holiday but I'm ready to rest just a little. Glad to know you aren't going anywhere (blog wise). I've missed you. Hugs, Linda

Gayle said...

I'm with you, I've already started taking down the decorations!

Vicki V @ blestnest.blogspot.com said...

Amen, sister! I feel all of the same things. My mom used to scoff at people who took their trees down by New Years Day, but now I'm one of them! I just can't wait to get things back to "normal," whatever that is!

Anonymous said...

I am glad to see your blog. Hope your Holidays were wonderful. Sandy

jmac said...

just found your blog....hahahahahaha...hilarious!! I have been sitting in MY chair since I got up at "9am" today!!!!! Have not done one thing..and I mean, nada. Except catch up on blogs. and post on mine. In front of the fire and teevee!! Made my husband go pick up chinese for lunch for I am NOT going into my kitchen one time today. He also made dinner. Seriously, it made my heart warm to read that someone feels EXACTLY the same as I do today!!!!! Chores tomorrow but today? MINE....ALL MINE!!!

Phyllis @Around the House said...

Well.. I am a new follower of yours and I will be very happy to get back to a less hectic month with less stress and yes my regular routine will be quite welcome...I love your writings...I too am so full of sugar and flour...its too much that rolly polly bloated look...lol come over for a visit...phyllis

MaryElizabeth "LeaderLady" said...

Cheryl....as your Weight Watcher Leader, I feel that I have lost every one of those pounds with you this past year. "WE" are not going to gain any of them back...there is no option but to progress toward reaching your ultimate WW goal at LifeTime. I still have your gigantic KEY waiting for you to reclaim.
One of my weekly 'highs' is seeing you and Hank and Andi at our Falmouth meetings.
MyLawsons & MySmithSisters are the best !
New Year and New You ....Luv, Luv, MaryElizabeth, a.k.a. LeaderLady

Vicki@MorePowerfulBeyondMeasure said...

Well, some fool decided I needed to go back to work tomorrow...isn't it a holiday??? The day after New Year's Day!! Anyway, except for that part, I'm pretty much ready for things to get back on routine.
Congratulations on your weight loss...it is extremely hard and I am thinking of calling in sick for my next WW meeting. I finally hit 40 lbs gone, but that was before the holidays!
It amazes me that I want exactly what you want...this was too funny and right on it! Happy New Year! Vicki...
I like the greenish colored bin best!

MeMeSue said...

You can see that date that I'm writing this and I still do not have all the Christmas stuff down and put away. It is such a daunting task and I "dread" it beyond words. I look in my grandchildren's room and it just looks like an explosion of new clothes and toys...UGH! I just close the door and am going to leave it up to their mother to deal with that mess.

Glad you holiday was nice and now you can breath!

Sue