Stress-Free Party Planning

It's a fact; most of us feel immediately stressed and harassed at the thought of having to organize a party or special dinner.</p><p>We spend hours trying to make everything perfect, preparing the most elaborate dishes, struggling over fiddly, expensive decorations, spending more money than we can afford to impress our guests...</p><p>And then the outcome is we are too tired, stressed and worried about things going wrong to actually enjoy the event and the company of our friends, relatives and colleagues.</p><p>Wouldn't you like to be that host or hostess at a party who seems to sail through everything effortlessly, remains calm, never looks stressed, and always provides wonderful food, good conversation and a relaxed atmosphere?</p><p>In "101 Best Party Recipes," Edith M Barber says one of the keys to a successful party is that the hosts enjoy the event. This makes a lot of sense; after all, if your guests sense you are feeling hassled their enjoyment will be lessened.</p><p>Here are just a few simple rules to ensure your party is a success without the stress:</p><p>- plan your event well in advance</p><p>- attempt only what can be carried out successfully and with apparent ease</p><p>- be realistic about your skills</p><p>- ensure that your time at the party is not occupied by long spells in the kitchen</p><p>- never be afraid to ask for help - use the skills of those around you</p><p>- keep notes</p><p>- always look for the easy way to achieve something</p><p>- above all, keep things simple!</p><p>Follow these guidelines and you will be well on your way to becoming a successful party host.</p><p>Lisa Hartwell is a writer, broadcaster and voiceover. She is the publisher of "101 Best Party Recipes" (<a target="_new" href="http://www.bestpartyrecipes.com">http://www.bestpartyrecipes.com</a>) and webmaster at "Ultimate House and Home" (<a target="_new" href="http://www.ultimate-house-and-home.com">http://www.ultimate-house-and-home.com</a>)