The second the clock strikes midnight on October 31, it seems like a switch flips and everything Halloween turns into a pumpkin (hah!) because its all Christmas until the end of the year. I noticed that especially this year people chose the day after Halloween (rather than the day after Thanksgiving) to put up their trees. I think everyone just needs a little magic and joyful spirit after the year we’ve had and I’m all for it!

One of my good gal pals texted me last week to ask what to do about Halloween costumes (and other costumes for that matter!). I figure this time of year more than ever we are trying to figure out where to put things like this.

Here is what I asked her:

• For costumes, are they adult or child?

• For adult, do you anticipate wearing again?

• For child, will they be used for dress up? (Think clothing that is not complex and ones they can put on themselves).

Here is what I shared:

• Adult: Unless you use it or love it, donate it. Here’s my favorite place to donate.

• Kids: Make available for dress up (via a dress-up bin or spot in the closet) if that’s the plan. If you want to store, I’ve got some tips for that too! Read on.

Costume Storage (for the ones your decide to KEEP + STORE!):

1. Collect all parts and pieces of all costumes.

2. Group individual costumes and parts together.

3. Make sure they are clean prior to storage + use a sealed plastic bag (I like Ziploc Space Bags + Gallon Size) for each costume.

4. Label specifically. For example, Madmen // 2016 // Betty OR Turkey Tom // 2020

5. Place in a larger bin with other costumes and Halloween decor.

General Seasonal Storage:

• Identify all decor from determined season.

• Lay it all out and divide into Keep, Donate and Trash Piles. Suggestion: Donate any items from the previous year that were not used in the current year.

• Further divide your Keep file by individual costume (in the case of Halloween) and group like items together.

• Put everything in a box(es) and label.

I hope this helps you get unstuck and move forward this holiday season. For more Holiday Tips, download my complete Holiday Guide here.

xx

Caroline