Today I sat it on a wonderful meeting where we discussed goal-setting strategies for the upcoming year. It may be hard to think about the next year when we are right in the middle of the holiday hustle and bustle, but now is a great time to start thinking about what you want the next year to look like.

Take a piece of paper out and write down one business and personal goal you want to reach in the next year. Over the next few weeks start making a list of all the little tasks that need to be done to fulfill that goal. When the new year rolls around start implementing a few of those tasks each week until you reach your goal.

Plan out your week ahead of time to see how these new tasks can fit in. Be aware of this procrastination pitfall: As your list starts getting marked off you may see there are a few tasks you keep skipping over because you just flat out don’t like to do that activity or it is not a strength of yours. Instead of avoiding it all together, ask yourself if the task is necessary to get the job done, if so can it be delegated? As mom’s we tend to see ourselves as a “one woman show” when in reality we have a multitude of friends that would be willing to share a specific skill set. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Break your goals into manageable bite sized tasks while keeping the big picture in mind! If you are connecting the dots, which dot is next in order to get the picture to look right?

I think it’s funny that a holiday about giving thanks is surrounded by all these ads about Black Friday. You see more media about sales and stuff than being thankful for what we already have. Tis’ the season for giving and receiving.

As I join in on the hustle and bustle of the season I tend to want to go above and beyond with the gifts. “Just this one more thing” or “Oh, he will loooove this!” This year we decided to get the kids something big that they can share but then felt a tinge of guilt that they wouldn’t have more presents to open on the big day. But the gifts aren’t really what it is all about. And rest assured there will be plenty of gifts from the Grandparents!

As I shop now I think about all the things we have to be thankful for. By giving thanks I remember that our kids are very well off and they could care less about the number of gifts they received. What they remember the most is how the family spent that time together. Laughing, playing, giving thanks and just being together. It is much easier to keep the holiday shopping simple by remembering how much we have to be thankful for!

For the past few months I have been collecting shoe’s from friends, family and clients for Soles4Souls, the organization I traveled to Haiti with. It is certainly a great time to start weeding out those shoes and summer clothes! I just had to pull out the winter clothes for the kids and I know some of you in the north have done that long ago.

Before the holidays are upon us let’s think about other things we can start weeding out. The maintenance part of staying organized is all about keeping on top of things that no longer have a purpose in the house. What about that ice-cream maker you bought five years ago and never touched? Unless you have made that a summer family tradition by now, it’s not likely to happen. Take a good look through cabinets and closets to see what needs to be weeded out.

What about spots equipment and pool toys? It’s easy to throw them in a big box when they are not in use. Remember the float that has a hole beyond repair. Or the helmet that the youngest has grown out of? If it’s broken let it go. Unless it can be handed down to another sibling let things like helmets and outgrown bikes go as well.

All of this stuff takes up space in our homes and lives. It’s time to weed! Don’t let these things lead to overwhelm.

Would you like to be on this board, help out with the PTO, sign up for this class, lead this lesson or help with the launch of this thingamajigger? Mom’s we got it coming at us in all directions! Can you relate?

We don’t just wear the mom hat but we feel like we can take on the world sometimes!

Oh but it feels good to be needed though doesn’t it? We pile up those responsibilities like no tomorrow until one day we catch ourselves leaving the house with our hair standing on end, yesterday’s gym clothes still on and on the table you just noticed the kid’s lunch boxes that should be at school with the kids! Not again!

Our families are busier than ever with sports and school activities but you don’t have to take it all on! Peel back those obligations and find out where your true priorities need to be. Work on those first before you take on extra activities.

Some of us are natural doers when it comes to extra activities and the rest just feel bad that they aren’t doing as much as Molly down the street. If it stresses you out it’s not for you! Find what you are great at and stick to it!

So good to be back from Haiti but I miss it dearly already! The kids I visited were just adorable as you can see! As you know from last week I took Loot Bag Combo labels to the kids at an orphanage that we were involved with. Right now they have 14 children and I am glad to report they all have their names on their bed. And they had them on their shirts and foreheads and well, all over. Their sweet faces lit up when they saw their names in print.

Stephen, the orphanage “dad” said the labels were great, because they are trying to teach the children ownership and how to take care of their possessions. He wants to give them each a box for their stuff and the labels of course will come in handy. In larger orphanages you will see children clinging onto toys they are given for dear life. They barely play with them because if you drop it, one of the other 80 kids could swoop in and take it. Everything is communal and they don’t really “own” anything, It is too hard to keep track of.

These children were so thankful for their gifts and I brought them another surprise. I made tutus for the girls and capes for the boys. There were tons of smiles all around! A big thank you to Mabel’s Labels for your support all the years I have been blogging with you and we are certainly going places! To Haiti and beyond!