The key to having lower stress as your approach any holiday entertaining is to realize that you don’t have to do everything yourself!
* Go food shopping for the incidentals – canned cranberry sauce, soft drinks, napkins, etc.– long before you have to get them. You can hide them, they’ll keep, and you’ll have far less items to be concerned about.
* Ask your local supermarket about holiday platters, precooked dinner packages, and delivery. Many markets offer these services.
* To avoid toiling away in a hot kitchen, take friends to dinner at a nearby restaurant and then return to your home for dessert and drinks.
* If guests ask what they can bring, tell them!
* Consider hiring part-time domestic help. It’s worth $30 or so to actually enjoy the holidays. College kids home on vacation and people not of your faith might be readily available.
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