Two days after Christmas, I’m sure many of you are still lounging in your new bathrobes, lethargic from the long week of binge eating, and shuffling through wrapping paper and piles of gifts you aren’t sure where to put.

Not me! Today, I have but one goal in mind. Clean house! Goodbye, dead Christmas tree and pine needles. Goodbye, snowflakes and other messy decorations. And goodbye to rum cake, sugar cookies, and left over dressing. It’s all gotta go! It was fun while it lasted, but now it’s time for leaner décor and a leaner you.

First of all, let’s tackle the decorations. As much as I love the warm, cozy feeling holiday decorations impart, after four weeks of coziness, I’m feeling a bit claustrophobic. There’s nothing better than stripping away the layers of tinsel and garland to the pristine mantle beneath. The house has that bare, empty feeling that’s really nice after a house full of company. If you’re a serious collector or decorator, it may take some time to get all the decorations packed away. That’s okay. But don’t put off taking down those outside decorations – the lights, the garland, the singing Santa on the roof of your house. HE MUST COME DOWN!

Ladies, I know how difficult it was to get your husbands to help with the outside decorations. I feel your pain. Men use every possible excuse to put off putting up the Christmas lights, and they will use the same lame excuses when it comes to taking them down. “I have to work.” “The Spurs are playing.” “I have a bone in my leg!”

Believe me, I’ve heard them all. But you must be persistent. I remember one year when I was seven months pregnant and my husband could not find five minutes to help me take the Christmas lights off the house. I was forced to climb the rickety ladder and remove them myself. Luckily, our unborn child and I survived. There is nothing tackier than left-over Christmas decorations in mid-January, so do what you must to get them down in a timely fashion.

Now it’s on to the leftover food. Get rid of it! I know English toffee is your absolute favorite, and you won’t get to have it again for a whole year, but it still must go. If it is something your kids can enjoy a little longer, then put it out of sight. Anything sitting on my kitchen counter gets “picked” to death by me. Seal it up and put it away … out of sight, out of mind. Then make a tray of leftover goodies and send it with your husband to work, to the fire station, or home with relatives. Some foods can be frozen to be enjoyed at a later date. Do whatever it takes to get those tempting foods out of your house.

January is a time of new beginnings, so let’s start with a clean slate. Goodbye, Christmas. It’s been fun. And we’ll see you next year!