So most of you are probably still picking up small pieces of paper from the floor and shifting the boxes of new goodies from the holiday festivities. I know I still am and believe me even I feel overwhelmed. Like everything, it's only temporary.

The problem I find is that if you don't take the time to manage the "mess" it will never get taken processed. It will sit in large piles collecting more and adding to your stress of what to do with it all. I encourage you to take some time to manage all the new things that have made their way into your home.

Creating a few good rules can make all the difference. Here are a few that we have incorporated in our house for the holidays:

1. New Toys Come In - Old Toys Go Out. Although this is a difficult rule for my kids, they are learning to really love the toys they have. We managed to donate to our local preschool two large boxes of miscellaneous toys just before the holidays knowing that new toys would be coming.

2. Aunt Shirley's Sparkle Socks? So did you get that gift that YOU KNOW you will never use, wear, hang or play? If you got that gift that is not your taste it's not necessary to keep it. Although you may feel guilty about getting rid of a new gift, keeping it will only cause you more stress and effort having to always do something with it. You can always regift...