Surviving the Holidays For Dummies

By Consumer Dummies

Just the thought of the holidays can be overwhelming: the decorating, the shopping, the entertaining, and the extra commitments (not to mention the extra calories). Fortunately, Surviving the Holidays For Dummies offers expert tips to help you make it through the holidays in one piece — with your friends and family marveling at how you do it all! This specially created ebook is divided into four parts that guide you through the holiday process. We can't help you with every holiday happening (and we would never claim to be able to do so) but we can help you plan and prepare for what should be the most wonderful time of the year. So whether you're having trouble getting in the holiday spirit or overwhelmed by all the shopping and entertaining, we've culled tried-and-true content from many of our bestselling titles to bring you this fun, approachable ebook to survive — and thrive — throughout the Holiday season. You'll start with tips and hints for avoiding as much holiday stress as possible and discover how you can get a head start on holiday shopping with gift ideas and, of course, Dummies product suggestions. Next up you'll find out how to entertain like a pro and host a stellar bash — from choosing a date and planning a menu to making your holidays flow smoothly with handy, must-have to-do lists. Plus, you'll find easy-to-follow recipes for drinks, appetizers, main and side dishes, and desserts and that will make you the talk of Tinsel Town. And what would any holiday be without a bit of overindulgence? If the holidays leave you feeling drained and in need of a recharge, we've got advice for how to quickly recover, both mentally and physically. We've even included a lighthearted Part of Tens. In this section, you discover what you should (and shouldn’t) do during the holidays. 'Tis the season to enjoy the holidays with a little bit of help from For Dummies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wiley
• Release date: Sep 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9781118495933

Book preview

Introduction

Just the thought of the holidays can be overwhelming: the decorating, the shopping, the entertaining, the extra commitments (not to mention the sleep deprivation). And if you have kids, juggling everything can prove to be even more of a challenge.

Fortunately, Surviving the Holidays For Dummies offers great tips to help you not only make it through the holidays in one piece but also to have your friends and family marveling at how you do it all!

How This Book Is Organized

This book is divided into eight chapters that guide you through the holiday process. Whether you’re having trouble getting in the holiday spirit or are overwhelmed by all the shopping and entertaining, we have some tips for you.

In Chapter 1, you find out how to avoid holiday stress. (Yes, it can be done!) And in Chapter 2, you discover how you can get a head start on holiday shopping.

In Chapter 3, you get the scoop on hosting a stellar holiday bash, including choosing the date and planning your guest list. Chapter 4 helps you plan an awesome menu, while Chapter 5 reveals the secret to making your holidays flow smoothly with must-have to-do lists.

Holidays leave you feeling drained? In Chapters 6 and 7, you find out how to recover both mentally and physically.

And, of course, no For Dummies book is complete without a lighthearted Part of Tens chapter. In Chapter 8, you discover what you should (and shouldn’t) do during the holidays.

Icons Used in This Book

Throughout this book are little pictures called icons, which highlight important information. Here’s the decoder key:

remember_4c.eps This icon is a friendly reminder of the information you’ll want to remember as you go through the holiday season.

tip_4c.eps This icon points out suggestions for ways to do things better or faster. If you’re looking for some quick and easy pointers on ways to improve your holidays, check out the paragraphs with this icon by their side.

warning_4c.eps Don’t be scared by this icon — but do pay attention to it. In these paragraphs, you’ll discover information on ways to avoid mishaps and minor catastrophes.

Where to Go from Here

If you’re sitting down with a cup of coffee while visions of sugarplums are dancing in your kids’ heads, feel free to read from start to finish. But if you’re panicking about your never-ending holiday to-do list — you do have a to-do list, right? — then skip to the part that you need most.

Chapter 1

Getting in the Holiday Mindset

In This Chapter

arrow Reducing stress by being prepared

arrow Cleaning up for holiday visitors

arrow Getting stocked up on beverages

Somehow, what with all the jam-packed shopping malls, ungodly credit card bills, and sleep deprivation, most of us have forgotten that the holidays are supposed to be a time of great fun.

But before you turn into a scrooge, check out this chapter. Here you find suggestions for avoiding holiday headaches and welcoming guests (no matter how unexpected they are!). We also help you stock the best Christmas spirits (of the drinking kind!).

Avoiding Holiday Stress

Because we’re pushed and pulled in so many different directions during the holidays, we can all use some helpful hints for reducing the stress in our lives.

Plan ahead

Planning ahead sounds like obvious advice, but unfortunately, many people fail to do so. Planning ahead helps you stay worry-free come the festive day.

Planning ahead enables you to take some early-bird steps to ease your holiday stress:

check.png If you have some idea of the holiday gifts you’d like to give, you can pick them up throughout the year and save yourself last-minute-shopping panic (not to mention money!).

check.png If you want to hold the holiday meal at your house, stake out your claim early. Other family members may be thinking the same thing, and the early bird gets the worm.

check.png If you know that you’re going to need an extra dining room table, you can call rental companies or ask neighbors about borrowing one ahead of time.

Shop smart!

remember_4c.eps Always keep the recipient’s tastes and preferences in mind. By doing so, you reduce the stress of wondering whether your gift will be well received. You can pick up some terrific gifts at craft stores, super discount stores, gourmet food shops, party goods stores, flea markets, garden centers, and even hardware stores. (For more on gift-giving, see Chapter 2.)

Read the recipe instructions

We can’t stress enough how important it is to read recipe directions, and that means from start to finish. You don’t want surprises halfway through a recipe. You also can acquaint yourself with the techniques you need to be familiar with.

Use some familiar recipes

When you’re planning your menus, include some recipes that you’ve made before and know that you like; those recipes may even be your signature dishes. All the recipes in this book have been tested and retested so that they’ll work the first time, but it’s nice to have some recipes in your repertoire that you’re comfortable with and that your family enjoys.

Prepare ingredients early

Most people walk into the kitchen, begin a recipe, and work through it from beginning to end. That’s fine if you have no time constraints — but name one person who isn’t working under the gun during the holiday season!

Here are some ingredients that you can prep ahead of time:

check.png Vegetables: Onions, bell peppers, celery, broccoli, carrots — almost any veggie. Cut to the desired size a day ahead and refrigerate in a covered container or plastic bag.

check.png Dry ingredients: Sugar, flour, baking powder and soda, cocoa, chocolate, nuts, dried fruit, and so on. Measure the proper amounts up to a month ahead and store at room temperature in a covered container or resealable plastic bag.

check.png Wet ingredients: Liqueurs, milk, cream, water, juices, sour cream, corn syrup, chicken stock, and so on. These items vary in their ability to be stored, so use your judgment. But you can measure all of them at least two days ahead.

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