Bringing Summer Indoors

It's only December 1st and already I am missing summer. I go through this every year about now. In my frustration I start buying African violets, orchids and lots of other indoor blooming plants,

to say nothing of the many cuttings and whole plants that I have brought in from the outside this fall.
Many of them do not make the entire winter, especially those that spent the summer outside.
I have kind of a love/hate relationship with African violets. I buy them at the local plant shop in full bloom and gorgeous

and then they spend a few months in my care and somehow don't look as good as they did when I bought them. Oh I read and try all the suggestions....gro-lites,

fertilizer, wick-watering etc. ---- but nothing. They don't die but certainly don't thrive and continue flowering. 
I will keep taking care of all of them but next fall I will just wait it out. Hang on, little plants !