Enjoy Stress Free Holidays

My kids started asking if they could work on their Christmas lists today...a sure sign it will soon be that most magical time of the year. On the top of my wish list...a completely stress free holiday. Is it possible? I know it is. IF (a big if) I'm truly organized.

Parties, crafts, decorating, cooking, shopping, and a partridge in a pear tree. (and a day job.) The goal is to finish everything possible before Thanksgiving and then really enjoy all the fun.

Want to join along and enjoy a stress free holiday season?

For the first weekend in October, these are the goals:

1) If you are entertaining/hosting, plan the menus, including recipes and shopping lists

2) Purchase holiday outfits for the kids (yes, they are in stores now!!) Of, if you're too busy to get out - get online - find barely-used options on eBay or buy from your favorite stores online

Good luck and best wishes for a stress free holiday! Share your tips and thoughts below. (and tweet at #stressfreeholiday.)

Sleep Habits and Healthy Kids

It isn't news that many tweens and teens don't get enough sleep. Now, new research shows that when kids sleep matters, as well as how long.

A study of 2,200 9- to 16-year-olds in Australia found that kids who go to bed late and get up late are at greater risk for obesity, lack of exercise, and other related health problems, regardless of sleep duration.

Late-bed/Late-rise adolescents were 1.47 times more likely to be overweight or obese than Early-bed/Early-rise adolescents, 2.16 times more likely to be obese, and 2.92 times more likely to have high screen time. Late-bed/Late-rise adolescents were more likely to come from poorer households, to live in major cities, and have fewer siblings.

Ben Franklin knew what he was talking about! Read more here.