Are you still excited by the fresh New Year? Still committed to making 2012 the year of the organized you?
Well, if you are, or if you're ready to jump back in after getting derailed, make sure your kid's chaos and clutter doesn't distract you from your goal. The tiniest people in our lives are the ones that bring in the most stuff, it seems. Between the toys and books and the clothes they're always outgrowing, it's a never ending sorting and organizing job.

First thing is first, if you haven't gone through last year's toys and clothes yet, do it NOW. It's time to put on your mean-mommy game face and make some tough choices.

If they haven't played with a toy in 6 months, buh-bye! Off to the donation pile it goes (unless it's broken and/or covered in a thick layer of snot that you can't wash off, then trash that because NOBODY wants that kind of charity). Take no prisoners, and by that I mean, don't let toys be held hostage in storage bins and toy boxes just in case your kids decide they want to play with them for 5 minutes one rainy day 8 months from now.

There IS such a thing as too many toys. Kids can easily get overwhelmed and forget what they have. Set boundaries, a designated, finite space for toys, and don't let them grow beyond that. That means getting rid of one every time you get a new one.

Remember, kids don't NEED a ton of toys. Hang on to the high quality, open-ended toys that encourage creativity, and keep the plastic, narrowly focused toys to a minimum which is bonus for saving money on batteries.

When it comes to actually storing toys and books, break them up in small groups and teach your children to put them back in the grouping they belong. I adore storage options like the Expedit shelf from Ikea because it allows us to break up the types of toys we have and makes them more visible than a black hole of a toy box.

If the clothes don't fit, you must get rid of them. If you're saving them to hand down, put them in a designated spot, sorted by size. Plastic bins with labels on the outside giving a detailed description of what size and season each holds are a great option. But, before you put them away for future use, be brutal about what you'll actually be excited to pull out and use again. Are you really going to want to put poop-stained onesies on a future new baby?

Make it a habit to clean out closets and drawers at the end of every season. Don't just shove all the clothes that don't fit into a "for later" bag. Make decisions at that moment. Will this piece be saved, donated, consigned, or tossed into something else?

Once you have all your donations sorted, immediately drop them off. If you're selling, get them cleaned up and organized so they're ready to go.

By going through your kids toys, books and clothes frequently, you help tame a beast that can easily (and very quickly) grow and take over your whole home. Plus, you're also setting an example for your children and making it easier for them to see and appreciate the things they have.

Jill enjoys blogging on her personal site, Baby Rabies and you can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Technology can either be the best thing since sliced bread or it can add a lot of stress to your life. When I'm deciding whether I need a new gadget, I think about how it will affect my life by asking a few questions.

• Will this gadget require hours of tutorials to learn how to work?
• Will this gadget remove a task from my plate or make a current task much easier?
• Will this gadget make me more organized?

If I can answer yes to at least one of those questions, then I'm comfortable bringing a new gadget into my life. Being organized is something I strive for daily. I figure taking a bit more time up front to be more organized will save me time and stress later.

Here are a few ideas for keeping any tech savvy mom organized:

1. Always have a printed copy of every important system you have online. For example, I keep my contacts updated on my computer, but I also have a printed copy in my Kitchen binder in case I need the information and I do not have access to my computer.

2. Start with what you know. If you need a new system to keep track of the chores your kids are completing each week, don't go out and buy new software. You will have to learn the new software first and then create the chore charts. Create the chart in software you already have.

3. Do not purchase technology just because you can. Use the questions I listed above to be sure that you really do need the technology. Otherwise, you will just add more stress.

4. Have a central location in your home with all of your chargers. In our kitchen, we have a shelf with at least one of every type of charger that we all typically use. Those chargers stay in the kitchen so we always have a place to charge a device. The chargers are labeled with the gadgets they can charge.

5. Stick with the same type of products within your family (when possible.) I have 4 kids and each of us have a cell phone and MP3 player. We have chosen to stick with iPhones and iPods so that we all use the same chargers and we are all purchasing the same apps and media. This saves money and time because we do not need to learn a new device.

6. Back Up, Back Up, Back Up! I cannot stress enough how important it is to back up your computers. You may lose precious memories or important documents if you don't back up regularly.

What tech ideas do you have for staying organized?

Michele is CEO of Mom Geek Media and creator of Scraps of My Greek Life, a blog offering daily commentary, advice, reviews and shared experiences of how her real life and the digital domain connect. You can also connect with her on Twitter.

Enter the momAgenda Desktop Planner Giveaway, where you can enter to win one of 50 momAgenda 2011/2012 Desktop planners!

Visit the momAgenda Facebook page and let us know you 'like' the page and you'll be entered to win. After that, you can enter to win three more times by following momAgenda on Twitter, adding momAgenda to your Google+ circles or by signing up for the momAgenda email list.

Be sure to tell your friends. We're giving away a momAgenda Desktop for every 100 entries we receive, which means the more people who enter, the more chances you have to win!

One thing you can count on this year is color playing a big role and for designers jumping through hoops to get women to spend and shop. Just look at the color of the year, tangerine, and all the bold prints seen on the runway. It's just like the elections; it's all about "Look at me!"

I don't know if all of this proverbial yelling for attention will work when it comes to fashion. One trend I do see coming to fruition is more moms taking back their time.
That's right, I'm officially calling 2012 the year it becomes fashionable for moms to carve out time for themselves. The trend calls for narrowing down your commitments and seeing the ones you've chosen through. This year it is ok to say no in order to carve out time for yourself and become reacquainted with your pre-kids self.

Self-neglect is not trendy or cool or productive. Take a page from the 'A-list-Moms' who take time to shake up the mom uniform and show off their pre-baby style. Trendsetters in Hollywood such as Victoria Beckham, Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson are blazing the path. Why can't you make this the year you don't just throw on clothes? Instead, make it the year to wear clothes you love.

What else do I see in my crystal ball?

This is the year that walking becomes even more chic as a way to stay fit. Running errands (literally) has never been so cool. Moms are finding ways to maximize family fun by coaching and participating not just sitting on the sidelines. We want to be rewarded for our efforts, not just with slim thighs. It's also the perfect chance to spend time outdoors or engage in good old-fashioned play.

We hope you resolve to make this your best year yet. Be picky about what you sign on for--when you commit to something, do it with all the passion and energy you've got.

Living well is the best trend of all.

Nicole is a member of the Council of Media Moms at momAgenda. She is also the founder and editor of the popular blog Momtrends. You can also find her on Twitter.

Each year some of us make a list. We call it our "Resolutions for the New Year." The problem with most of these resolutions is that after a week or two, we forget all about them. Well, this is the norm. But if you are a mom, there may some resolutions that you really, really need to stick to. Here are my top 10 that I need to stick to this year. And yes, I must use humor to make it through.

1. Get my children to school on time: This should not even be on the list. It should be automatic. But, depending on the situation this is not as easy as you think. You see, I live 45 min - 1 hour from my child's school depending on traffic. Why? Because we chose to put our kids in school close to work so that they would be close during the day in case of emergencies. And, we live in Chicago. This means... traffic. I seem to be cursed. On more than one occasion I run into some unknown on the road. This could be horrible traffic out of nowhere, a backup due to an accident, or a freight train moving 5 miles per hour that holds us up. And this year (to make matters worse) they have made the school day start earlier. Oh joy! So, my #1 resolution is to start leaving the house much earlier on my days to drive them to make sure that they get to school on time. Believe it or not this means that I will have to leave the house approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes before they even start school. And on days with bad weather even earlier than that.

2. Put away clean laundry: Yes, I am very guilty of just keeping the clothes in the baskets. I mean why not? I do so much laundry that by the time I put it up, it all comes out again. So, I now vow to put the laundry away! It keeps things organized and leaves a lot more space to walk.

3. Spend more time with my kids: It is very hard when you work or run a business and have to take care of the home all the while trying to spend a lot of quality time with the kids. There are just not enough hours in the day. Better organization could help this. This year I vow to spend more quality time with my kids on the weekends.

4. Load the dish washer each night: After driving around, helping with homework, making dinner and bathing kids in the evenings, I am often completely exhausted. I am very guilty of leaving the kitchen a mess and choosing to deal with it the next day. The main problem with this is that it leaves more stuff for me to have to deal with the next day! So, I vow to load the dishwasher and tidy up the kitchen each night no matter how tired I am.

5. Teach my kids more cool things: My kids are very techy. I do not have to teach them much because they pick up so much on their own. But, there are still some things that I want to teach them more about like cooking and dancing.

6. Raise intelligent kids: So far my kids seem absolutely brilliant. The teachers and everyone around always says so. But, they are still young. I want to make sure that they stay that way. I love to chat with them and nurture their curiosities.

7. Talk to my kids more: I always say that my girls are 8 going on 35. I like to make sure that they understand what is going on and why. I do shelter them from some stuff, but not all. Otherwise, how will they learn right from wrong?

8. Make the kids clean up after themselves: Kids are messy. They leave toys, books, and other stuff in a trail all over the house. I do ask my kids to clean up after themselves. But, sometimes as bedtime approaches I just get frustrated and send them to bed. No more. From now on they will have to pick up everything!

9. Go out looking a little less like "mom": Yes, we all do it. We just throw on something quick to run to the store or run the kids to school. A few weeks ago I vowed to myself that I would take a few more minutes to look nice when going out. Why? Because you never know who you might run in to! And I don't want to embarrass my kids.

10. Organize my house: One of my priorities this year is to actually organize my house which makes doing all the things above much, much easier.

What I did not mention above is that after over 20 years of working, right now I am without a 9-5 job. I have mixed feelings about this, but I choose to make the best of it. And if I can feel good about at least 5 things on the above list, I will feel much better about my situation. So with more time on my hands and some determination I am going to be a better mother!

Kris Cain is a member of the Council of Media Moms at momAgenda. She writes about technology and her busy life on her blog, Little Tech Girl. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

We are in the middle of a break from sports season right now so I have a little more breathing room for a few months. Sports or not, it's key for me to be have a schedule down so when something does get thrown into the mix I don't get caught off guard. Sure the time will have to be flexible, but meal planning is the key to keeping my sanity. Without meal planning there is always the "What's for dinner?" question and if nothing is planned it makes my sanity run for the hills.

Here are a few tips I use for meal planning that save my sanity even if my schedule has to be altered:

● Keep regular ingredients always on hand (spices, flour, sugar, meats, rice and bread). It makes your shopping time less if you pick up the pantry necessities regularly.
● Have "fall back" recipes so if you are looking for an easy week of meal making you will be ready. For us, it's baked chicken, tacos or spaghetti. Those are meals I can throw together in a pinch (I keep the ingredients on hand) if needed.
● Plan accordingly. If you know you are going to have a ball game during the time you are usually cooking make that night a crock pot or cold cut sandwich night.
● When making your shopping list, write out the meals for that week (or month depending on how often you shop). Having a list of what you are going to eat over X amount of days helps tremendously. Look at it in the morning and take out what you will need for that night's dinner.

A lot of us want to get a little healthier this year and sometimes that's hard to do. Here are some tips for striving toward a healthier 2012. Write them down in your myAgenda mini:

● Swap out that beef for ground turkey when making tacos or spaghetti.
● Make time for yourself daily. If you make time for you, chances are you will want to take care of yourself through better eating habits, exercise, etc. The last thing you are going to want do is work-out if you only take one hour a month for yourself. If you regularly make time for yourself it won't seem like such a sacrifice to spend some of your "me" time making yourself healthier.
● Toss the can and eat fresh. It doesn't have to be for every meal, gosh knows ours isn't. Start swapping out canned fruit or veggies for fresh. Start small and who knows, eventually it may be "clean" eating for every meal.
● Reward yourself. If you completed that 4 mile run you have been wanting to or went X amount of days with no processed sugars treat yourself to a little something! The best way for me to reach a goal is to have a prize in mind for myself when I reach it.

2012 is going to be a great year and the best way to get healthy and make meal time easier is to plan. Not only is it going to be a healthier year for my family but definitely a more organized one.

What about you, do you have tips for organized meal planning for a more healthy 2012?

Toni is a member of the Council of Media Moms. Sharing stories about parenting, life and everything in between you can find her on A Daily Dose of Toni. You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Every crisp New Year I promise myself I will:

1. Have sex with my husband more often.
2. Make a nice dinner every night.
3. Get a handle on our finances.

My sweet husband gets excited about all three of these, really in no particular order. I think he finds them all equally thrilling.

Doesn't he see what's coming? Does he really believe this will be the year he'll come home to find me all dolled up in some Jimmy Choo's cooking a pot roast having just balanced the checkbook?

It's not that I don't want to make homemade dinners, have some idea if or when we'll ever be able to retire or get freaky.

I do, honest.

I buy cookbooks, the latest is a "Family Cookbook," it even has games we can play at the table. Today I bought all the ingredients for homemade mac-n-cheese, who knew such a thing existed? I really planned to make it; the kids even believed I would (my powers of delusion aren't just effective on my husband). But after two orthodontist appointments, one art class, three piano lessons, a Cub Scout meeting and a dance class (none of them for me, of course), we had pizza. Betty Crocker clearly had under-scheduled children.

I label things. In my mind, this is really the same as dealing with them. Once everything is labeled and in pretty file folders, I can proceed on this "budget" business my husband keeps referring to. It's not that I don't "keep" this resolution, it's just always "in progress."

Of course the one that really makes up for not cooking, or budgeting, or really anything is the one I can never seem to make happen. With four children under foot, there's no such thing as spontaneity. We have an inside joke in our marriage about "the window". That would be that magic moment when he just might get lucky. He's always on the lookout for an open window. Usually it opens after a margarita at a party, but it's closed by the time I get home all cranky to find a child sleeping in our bed. I adore my husband - I'm just so tired. When are other people doing this? Seriously? We get about 6 hours when everyone is asleep at once, does he really expect me to stay awake for that?

Regardless, I'm starting this January off like every other, in my Jimmy Choo's, cookbook and label maker in hand...half asleep.

Kim-Marie Evans is a member of the Council of Media Moms at momAgenda. She is a lifestyle blogger who writes about motherhood and travel on her personal blog The Luxury Travel Mom. You can always find her on Twitter.

Ahhh, the New Year!

The new you!

The slimmer, healthier, prettier, shinier you!

At least, that's what we all promise ourselves at each gong of midnight on January 1st. To be better, faster, stronger, but hopefully not quite like Kanye.

Like a lot of moms and women, I struggle with my weight and body image. I'm softer and rounder than I used to be, thanks to two pregnancies and one birth. I'm war-beaten with stretch marks and wider hips, tired lines around my cheeks and circles under my eyes. I struggle with disliking the number on the scale but finding the time to do something about it other than whine.

Every few weeks, I stock my refrigerator with healthy snacks, but my toddler is usually the one munching on cheese and fruit while I dig into a box of Cheez-Its. The worst part is, I KNOW I feel better when I eat healthy. I have more energy to play with my son when I am jogging the neighborhood after he goes to bed. I know I look better when I am 20 lbs lighter. I know I'd spend more time in my jeans and less time in yoga pants if they fit my waist better.

In 2010, I quickly dropped 35 lbs of baby weight thanks to Nutrisystem and depression. I looked fantastic, but my insides felt hollow. New meds (and lots of therapy!) made my heart whole again, but I put on twenty pounds quickly. Over the past year, even more pounds have crept on silently, drowned out by the munching of Dunkin Donuts and sipping of Starbucks. However, my goals for 2012 are forcing me to stare in the mirror, step on the scale, and face the music. I'd like to get pregnant again, but I'd like to not feel like a whale.

So begins a quest (once again, sigh) to drop these pesky lingering pounds in an effort to begin my third pregnancy at a healthier weight and stronger physicality. I've swapped donuts for homemade oatmeal and eggs; I pack a peanut butter sandwich and yogurt for lunch while my coworker's head to Chipotle & Panera. My water bottle is my new best friend, and the close runner-up is the bathroom down the hall.

I pulled out my dusty 30 Day Shred DVD and Santa Claus brought me a ballet DVD to
stretch and lengthen in the evenings. So far, I have dropped 7 lbs since the New Year began and hope to keep my motivation uplifted.

I just keep focus on the end prize. It's a little bit easier doing it for my future baby and not just for me.

Do you struggle with weight and fitness, finding yourself making new promises each year to be healthier?

Beth Anne is a member of the Council of Media Moms at momAgenda. She's a born and bred Southern Belle who blogs about motherhood at The Heir to Blair. You can also find her on Twitter.

It's a known fact that I would be totally lost without momAgenda. These products are essential for the full functioning and smooth operation of both my business and personal life. It's no surprise that I've used a variety of momAgenda products that fit my needs over the years, so I am going to narrow things down and share my top five favorites to get you inspired for staying organized in the New Year!
1. Home Office This product made my short list because of its absolute perfect functionality. Managing my own business as well as being a busy mom of two, I need a planner that has enough room to fit BOTH home and office. I also love the size of this product as it sits beautifully on my desk. I never have to worry about running out of room in this planner since it properly serves the need of combining home AND office together, naturally.

2. Personal Portfolio This is a favorite of mine since it has EVERYTHING I need in a calendar...and then some. It gives me a section for notes, a to-do list, complete planning space and even a full address book! The pockets in the front allow me to hold important business cards and other paperwork, making this the perfect versatile planner. It's small enough to throw in my bag as I'm on the go but still large enough for me to include everything I need in the space.

3. Mini-Daily What I love about the Mini-Daily is the fact that it gives me a full page for EVERY day of the week. Basically, this organizer serves as a to-do task list for me. I'll use another planner (such as the Desktop) where I'll account for all of my planning needs, but then I'll draft what my day will look like on EACH day of the Mini-Daily. This is the ultimate source for organization on a DAILY basis. Once again, it's the perfect size to slip right into my purse and carry with me on the go and allows me to feel super productive as I check off the tasks that I've accomplished that day.

4. School Years This is the best product on the market for keeping some precious memories safe. Unique artwork, photos, notes and other papers made by my children fit neatly into the pocket folders of each "grade" allowing not only safe keeping of these items, but a wonderful place to save them in an organized way. It's a wonderful gift for any parent, but it's a fabulous keepsake for children as well, especially when they can reflect on it years later. Every mom needs the School Years!

5. momAgenda Desktop Last but certainly not least, one of my all-time favorites is the Desktop. Similar to the layout of the calendar in the Personal Portfolio, the Desktop provides you with plenty of room to stay organized on a day-to-day and weekly basis. It also gives you a perfect glance at the month ahead. It's the kind of product that you can't go wrong with - if you're not sure at which momAgenda product would be best for you or if you are a momAgenda newbie, you simply can't go wrong with the Desktop for ultimate organization.

What is your favorite momAgenda product? What would make your short list of favorites for getting organized in the New Year?

Heather is the Leader of the Council of Media Moms and owner/editor of the blog Theta Mom. She also owns her own business at Theta Mom Media. Connect with Heather on Twitter and Facebook.

My list is going to be a little longer than usual this year.

Please bring a helper who can read with each of my kids for at least 20 minutes per day and help them with their homework (algebra skills a plus). Please make sure this helper engages in stimulating conversations with my children; also, that he/she does not turn on the tv or let the kids play video or computer games. My kids' brain development is critically important so thanks for your help with this.

Please bring a housekeeper who can work 7 days per week. Responsibilities will include following my kids and husband around and cleaning up after them. (The housekeeper won't need to follow me around because I already clean up after myself.) Please make sure the housekeeper knows how to remove blood, grass, and vomit stains. In addition, the housekeeper must be an individual that does not get easily irritated or frustrated by repetitive tasks.

Please bring a personal chef who can prepare healthy meals for my family. The chef ideally will have an intimate knowledge of nutrition so that my kids will get all their required fruit and vegetable servings each day. That's 2-3 servings of fruits, and 5-8 servings of vegetables, in case you were wondering. The chef should be able to do grocery shopping, and needs to understand that sugary items, or items with hydrogenated oils or preservatives, are simply not allowed in my house -- no exceptions. My kids' health depends on that.

Please also bring a chauffer who can drive my kids to and from their sports and other after school activities. The chauffer must be able to tolerate long hours in the car. I have four children, and each one must have every opportunity to pursue his/her/my outside interests to the fullest possible extent, in order to ensure their future success in life. Therefore skipping these after-school activities on occasion is not an option.

Please bring a stylist for me. I know I'm being a little selfish here, but I need to keep up with the other moms in town. They are all perfectly accessorized - how do they do that? Can the stylist be someone with a working knowledge of hair and makeup styles as well? While we are talking about my needs, I would also like a personal trainer. Every article I read tells me that if I don't work out for at least an hour a day, I will gain weight, be unhealthy, and be depressed. Maybe the trainer can also remind me to drink my 8 glasses of water per day, I'm so busy I always forget about that.

One more thing, I know I have to work at my marriage. I have to keep the spark alive, communicate for at least 30 minutes per day on a deep level, and have passionate and satisfying sex at least 3 times a week. I know this is sort of a delicate issue, and I feel awkward asking, but could you possibly send someone to help me with that, too? The experts say that kids really suffer when their parents' marriage suffers, and I can't have my kids suffer, ever.

Santa, I take my responsibilities as a mom seriously. To be honest, I get a really bad headache when I just think about all the stuff I need to do to ensure my kids' eventual success in life.

If you don't mind, please bring me some Advil for that headache.

Thanks,
Nina

When I was a kid, my understanding of human nature was incredibly shallow. I thought all people were basically the same. Sure, some people were smarter than others, some were more talented singers or dancers or writers or whatever, but other than that I didn't think there was much separating me from anyone else.

Maybe part of my problem growing up was that I didn't have a strong sense of myself. I didn't view myself as particularly smart or talented or funny or social or pretty, all those qualities that make girls likable and popular. I had a very bright, beautiful and talented mom though, so I made it my goal to be like her. I tried to look like her (I don't look like her at all), tried to be like her (I am nothing like her), and even tried to do the same work she did (that actually worked out pretty well). Instead of trying to be my best "me", I was trying to do my best imitation of her.

It wasn't until fairly recently that I realized that I could be me. That the real "me" might actually be nothing like her. And that was ok.

As a mom, I have been privileged to witness the varied degrees of human nature in my own household. My kids run the whole spectrum, from one who is a complicated, deeply abstract thinker, to another who likes everything to be literal and concrete. From one who is pretty much always happy no matter what is going on in life, to another for whom happiness is a bit more elusive. From two who love the arts, to the other two who love sports.

At the risk of sounding like Oprah, I want my kids to "be their best selves," not just try to live up to my or my husbands or society's expectations. I want them to continue to discover and explore and find out who they are, and live that truth every day. It's incredibly difficult to know yourself, to resist conforming to other people's expectations of you, but how else can you reach your true potential in life?

But I am not sure how to help them avoid the trap that I fell into. The trap of copying someone else, someone you might look up to. Because it's so much easier than finding out who you are and living that truth. What is the key to helping our kids discover and celebrate their true selves?

As Steve Jobs reminded us, "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."

What are your thoughts about this? How do you help your kids find and be their own true selves?

Motherhood Uncensored
Kristin is so honest that sometimes it hurts, and that's why I read her blog. I see myself in her posts all the time, in her struggles parenting 4 kids and being married and staying in shape and working...she really is doing it all.

Theta Mom
There are about a million "mommy blogs" out there and I wish I could name every single one of them here. Since that is not going to happen, I will tell you about one of my "can't miss" mommy blogs, Theta Mom. Heather is a brilliant writer and thinker, who makes me think about working motherhood in a new way. (In addition, I am proud that she is a momAgenda Brand Ambassador!)

Jezebel
This site feeds the "snarky feminist" side of my personality. The part of me that loves knowing that supermodels and celebrities are totally airbrushed in magazines and totally mediocre in real life. It's pure escapist fun for me.

Think Simple Now
This personal development focused site has helped me tremendously in my journey toward clarity and happiness. The articles are thought-provoking, reflective, and actually really applicable to everyday life.

Simply Recipes
I have made so many recipes from this site and they have all been delicious. It's written from the point of view of cooking for your family, rather than for parties or events, so it is more applicable to my daily life than most other recipe sites.

Another Mother Runner
I am a runner, and this is the site I read for advice from other mother runners. Sarah, one of the cofounders, happens to be an old college friend, but that's not why I read this one. I read it because I always get good information here, whether it's about training or workout music or injury prevention.

Psychology Today
I have had a lifelong interest in psychology, so this site is pure mind candy for me. The subject matter is diverse, ranging from work to parenting to relationships to sex and beyond. Tons of articles are posted each day and even if there's only one I read, I always learn something new.

Owning Pink
The founder, Lissa Rankin, is an Ob/Gyn and writer who is focused on an expanded definition of health, one that includes not just your body but your mind and spirit and soul as well. Her focus is on thoughtful discussions of all the aspects of life that make you healthy, from taking time to nurture yourself, to your sexuality, to your spirituality.

These are a few of my can't-miss web sites. What are yours?

I think it must something about the overcast November weather, the shorter days, and the chillier weather that makes me want to stay in and build a fire and watch movies with my kids.... To just be really lazy and self-indulgent.

The problem is, when I really indulge my desire to stay in and let everything go, my life starts to feel a little bit out of control. I enjoy the lazy days, but then I get up and see the ever-growing pile of laundry, and stress kicks in. So I am really trying to strike a balance between laying on the couch eating bonbons, and moving full-steam-ahead toward all my goals.

Here are a few steps I am taking to enjoy my inner need to hibernate, yet still be a productive member of society....

1. Work smarter. Since I work while my kids are in school, rather than a typical 40-hour workweek, I have to be smart about how I use my time. If I want to enjoy lazy evenings with my kids, I have to get my work done during the day, so I am being super-focused on my business and my writing during those hours.

2. Make time for my friends. I am blocking out at least one night per week to see my girlfriends. It's important to me to stay connected and keep those bonds strong.

3. Remember to take care of myself. I admit, I have altered my workout considerably. I haven't been out for a run in almost 2 weeks. But I am still doing something to move my body every single day, because I know that if I don't I will start that slide into feeling lazy, which for me leads to unhealthier eating habits.

4. Do things that feel good. For me, what feels good right now is listening to my favorite music, reading, and writing in my journal. Yeah, I am definitely feeling introspective! So I am making time, at least 30 minutes per day, for those things too.

What about you? What do you do to stay on track when the days get shorter?