By SARAH WELCH and ALICIA ROCKMORE, getbuttonedup.com

The holidays are upon us, which means tens of millions of Americans will soon be taking to the skies, rails and roads. An estimated 41 million people took a trip last Thanksgiving, even with record-high gas and fare prices. With airfare costs expected to be down between 10 percent and 25 percent, we may see up to 50 million people traveling this holiday season.

Don't let Halloween sneak up on you without doing something to set the stage. You can organize a few simple things with minimal effort and create a spooktacular evening! Below are 10 ideas to get you started.

1. Make an Event Out of Pumpkin Picking

Last month, working mothers took a hit on the chin when the results of a new study on childhood obesity were released by the U.K.-based Institute of Child Health. The study of more than 12,500 5-year-olds found that those with working mothers were less physically active and more likely to eat unhealthy food. Or, as the BBC so provocatively summed it up: "Working mothers' children unfit."

When September rolls around, it's easy for parents to be consumed by back-to-school shopping, extracurricular-activity planning, book lists, lunchbox packing and school-bus or carpool schedules. But don't let "you" fall to the bottom of your to-do list; organizing these tasks should also be top priority.

Alicia on "Organizing Your Health: Mammograms/Prostate/Skin Exams":

Getting your young children ready to go back to school shouldn't stop with school supplies. You also should be thinking about getting their health and safety organized. It may not be something you want to think about, but a little bit of preparation can make all the difference. We urge you to take a few minutes this week and make a plan.

Alicia on "Stranger Safety":

A slumber party is a rite of passage for preteens. What could be better than hanging out with a group of your best friends, sleeping in sleeping bags on the floor (or outside in a tent), having pillow fights and staying up late playing with the Ouija board? But for parents, sleepovers are another story altogether.

Labor Day is your opportunity to give summer one last hurrah before buckling down and getting back to work, school or "normal" life. If you're one of the millions wondering what you should do for fun, we've got lots of ideas for making the most of your weekend without breaking the bank.

1. Hit the Parade

No matter the format, what you write down gets done. According to Dave Kohl, a professor emeritus at Virginia Tech, people who regularly write down their goals earn nine times more over their lifetimes than people who don't. Think about that. No matter how lofty or simple your goals may be, reaching them requires a systematic approach. That begins by writing down your to-do list.

Getting your well-oiled school-routine machine back into working order is not easy. During the summer months, kids get used to waking up later, everybody gets used to more varied schedules (with lots of time for physical activities) and there's no homework to contend with, freeing you all up to do more things.

There's nothing quite like college. There are so many incredible things to look forward to: football games, intellectual debates, fraternity parties, late-night study halls and pizza runs, group projects, service rallies and a newfound liberation that comes with fleeing the nest.