The day has finally arrived that every mommy dreads, yet looks forward to at the same time.  My little girl is attending preschool!  Riley started classes last Monday and attends three days a week from 9 am to 1 pm.  She gets so excited to "be a big girl", carry her own back pack and head off to school each morning.  I'm just so proud and excited for her!  I remember how much I used to love school and I know she's really flourishing there at her preschool.

Of course, the house is awful quiet and uneventful with my little sidekick gone and at times I miss her terribly...

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Source: Shannon Miller Lifestyle :credits-caption:

If getting fit tops your New Year's resolutions for 2013, you're not alone.

According to the 2013 Outlook Survey organized by TD Ameritrade, Inc., 42 percent of Americans are making health-related resolutions this year. That's compared to 32 percent opting for financial-oriented goals.

After a gluttonous holiday, the new year always triggers the need to be more active, eat healthier and feel better. But how to get the most from your fitness regime without breaking the bank? Consider these ideas to stay in shape and get fit for less.

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Source: University Health Center:credits-caption:

This year, I have thrown down the proverbial gauntlet and am taking no prisoners when it comes to my health.  Now that I am 36, I look back and realize I have done my body no favors by the choices I've made so far.  Although I've always remained somewhat active, there have been times that I've let that slide for too long.  My main focus this year though, centers around my diet.  Gone are the days of poor nutritional choices, for in 2013, this girl is turning over a new leaf.

Forming these new life-long habits however is not easy.  Most psychologists believe that a new habit takes up to 66 days of practice before it becomes truly automatic.  So what baby steps will I be taking this year, 66 days at a time?  Here are the living healthy goals I've set for myself, in no particular order:

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Source: Diet and I :credits-caption:

If you've been reading my blog since the New Year, you might have read a few posts concerning my try at the South Beach Diet.  I'm definitely on a quest to get healthy and completely overhaul my junk food-laden diet.  The reason I chose the South Beach Diet program to begin with is because I liked how it began with a detox portion and then slowly introduced more and more foods, eventually ending with a healthy, nutritional diet that is to be maintained for life.

The South Beach Diet Phase One though is definitely no joke and much harder than it looks.  During this phase, you are allowed no fruits, little to no dairy, no starches or carbs and even some vegetables, like carrots, are restricted.  I knew this wasn't going to be easy, but not exactly for the reasons I had originally thought.  I thought that I would be craving sugar and carbs like crazy, but was surprised when this didn't happen.

You see, I'm not the biggest fan of food and actually don't enjoy eating a lot.  I eat when I'm hungry and I like feeling full all day.  Perhaps this is why I would typically snack on starches, carbs and dairy...they always did a great job of filling me up.

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Source: Mom Whisperer :credits-caption:

I look at January as a time to organize and kick off the new year clutter-free. I purge, create new files, plan my family calendar and get a rush from doing all this! If you're looking for the answer to the "How to Get Organized?" question, here are some things I've learned over the years.

1. Start Small, Stay Simple

Don't try to organize your life all within a week. Start by implementing organization with something small (like your email) then tackle your desk and so on. Keep organizing systems simple and easy to use, and don't waste money on all the products designed for organization. Instead, go the DIY route with these 10 common tools recommended by Houzz.

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Did your little girl watch the wildly popular "Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess" premiere last year?  Riley did and loved every minute of it!  As a matter of fact, we still have it recorded on our DVR so that she can enjoy that episode over and over again.

To coincide with the season premiere of the all new Disney Junior animated series "Sofia the First" on January 11^th, Disney Publishing has released the first "Sofia the First" storybook app for iOS devices: Sofia the First: Story Theater. The app follows the show's opening storyline and features the original voice of Sofia, narrated by ABC’s Modern Family star Ariel Winter, and the other characters of the TV show, including Sara Ramirez from Grey's Anatomy as Sofia’s mother.

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