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by Molly Gold, founder of GO MOM !NC

It's easy to get overwhelmed during the holiday season, but it doesn't have to be that way. You can stay focused on your family priorities during one of the most hectic, and overscheduled, times of the year. By tackling your schedule with a month at a time mentality, Moms will realize their goals to truly enjoy their family through the wonder of the season.

Take a look at our shortcut solutions for Family Holiday Happiness 2008: 

• The November Organized Mom
  Grab your planner and map a Thanksgiving full of fun! First, don't hesitate to delegate! Enlist complete menus from hospitality experts like Rachael Ray and assign specific menu items, recipes included, to each guest attending.
  
  Next, honor traditions that take you back to your roots. From pre-holiday decorating to a weekend full of football, day-after Thanksgiving shopping or volunteering at a charity event, the tradition is yours and practicing it yearly provides our children a generational connection that can't be found outside the clan.
  
  Finally, keep the fun in family! If this year's kids table is bigger than the grown ups', make it the central focus in your plans. Include colorful accessories to decorate throughout the day, offer a way for kids to express themselves, such as a Giving Tree that you decorate with leaves stating their thanks, and always include a change in scenery to keep the mayhem at a minimum. Well timed activities like Legos or coloring in a playroom partnered with a spirited game of tag outside, kids against adults, is priceless for everyone, not to mention good for the china and crystal on display. 

• The December Organized Mom
  If it's Christmas you celebrate, you've got 23 days before 48 truly miraculous hours of wonder. Kick off Week 1 by sending holiday greetings. Make it a family affair, enlisting helping hands to stuff, stamp and seal as you write. Update your address book and computerize for next year to cut your time in half.
  
  Week 2 is meant to shop till you drop, either in person or online, to accomplish this task before the holiday gets too close. Use a list to stay on track, compare prices, and take advantage of free shipping whenever possible.
  
  Week 3 is the official "12 Days of Christmas." Work hard to make family traditions come alive by baking and crafting for others. Include your children and they will learn hands-on the untold value of offering a humble gift from the heart. By the time you arrive at Week 4, you will have no problem spending some down time with your family in the way that suits you best. 

• The Ready for Company Mom
  Unexpected company can break your stride during a season full of events. First, tackle your house with short order cleaning. Stock every bathroom with necessary supplies, including fresh seasonal hand towels, candles, and air freshener. Assign last minute company tasks to each family member and you'll master the scramble in style.
  
  Second, be ready for meals in minutes by visiting a group kitchen to prepare a collection of delicious dinners to stock your freezer, ready to pull out anytime. If its hors'd'ourves and dessert you need, go for the best in boxes, bags, and jars. Costco or BJ's carries a huge selection of prepared items from meatballs to bruschetta, cheesecake to coffee. Shop on a Saturday to taste what you can and enjoy your visitors without the worry. For a more simple approach, stock up on lots of hot chocolate, marshmallows, peppermint sticks, and holiday cookies.
  
  Finally, gifts galore can cloud your thinking. Choose a few signature items that truly express your personality and purchase ten to have in your gift closet, wrapped and ready to go. From favorite ornaments to hot cocoa kits, a good bottle of wine or a holiday CD, the gesture will reflect you and your family and that alone is worth cherishing.

GO MOM! Founder Molly Gold is a mother of three and the creator of the GO MOM!® product line, which is produced via license partnership with Mead Westvaco Consumer and Office Products and sold online at www.dayrunner.com and in OfficeMax stores nationwide. Molly is known for her keen insights into Family Scheduling and has been featured both in print and on air. Learn more about Molly at www.GoMomInc.com