Tips to avoid stress and impress guests at the same time!!

Entertaining friends and family in your home is a much bigger responsibility than many people realize. There are a lot of things that go into a successful dinner party or a get-together.

Don`t let stress get you down. Pace yourself and enjoy hosting. A good goal to have is to make your event a reflection of you. You want your guests to feel comfortable and enjoy themselves, don't worry about impressing them by going overboard and straining yourself.

So here i come with some interesting tips to avoid stress and impress guests at the same time!!

AVOIDING STRESS

Plan ahead: Get shopping done as early as you can, to avoid the stress later. Make a list of what you need and set out to shop with that list. Purchase only the items that you set out to buy. Nothing is more stressful than running out of money before you have finished shopping.

Lower your expectations: Try not to place high expectations on how events will unfold. Always expect the unexpected . Just have a "what will be will be" attitude. Avoiding high expectations means you won't become stressed out or upset should things not turn out the way you wanted.

Set Spending Limits on Gift Exchanges: Speak with all friends and extended family members that you will be exchanging gifts with and set a spending limit. Keep in mind the overall cost and not the gifts individually. If it is unrealistic for your budget, don`t be afraid to suggest a lower amount. Be sure not to go over the agreed upon price.

Don`t Be Afraid To Ask for help: When you organize a get together at your home, don`t try to be the hero and do it all by yourself. When your guests ask if there is anything that they can do, don`t be afraid to tell them yes. And don`t be shy when it comes to clean up after the party is over either. Delegate by sharing chores. The idea of a get together is for everyone to have a good time and that includes the host/hostess. It's true - many hands make work light - and they also reduce stress in doing so.

Two words: Pot luck. Another great way to limit the stress of planning and orchestrating a party is to unload some of the responsibility. Consider asking guests to pitch in by bringing an appetizer, dessert or beverage to share. It's a good idea to coordinate who is bringing what so you don't end up with an unbalanced table, but it will save you a lot of work.

Stick To Your Routine: Don`t allow yourself to be totally consumed by preparations. Take the time to do some of your regular day to day activities. Go to the gym, take a nap, read a book or go for a walk.

IMPRESSING GUESTS

A little forward planning and attention to detail, and you cannot fail to put together an event that will be talked about for months - even years - afterwards. There are many surprisingly simple ways to impress your guests, and to have them coming back to enjoy more of your dazzling hospitality.

Stock Your Fridge and Cupboards: It is important to be ready always. Expect the unexpected. Stock your fridge with different veggies, fruits, Juices, spreads and dips. Stock your cupboards too.Keep a supply of mixed nuts, cookies, crackers, potato chips and other munchies in the cupboards.

Have Small Gifts and Cards Ready: While doing your shopping, pick up an extra package of greeting cards, a few small boxes of chocolates or cookies. Wrap them up so that they are ready for when unexpected guests drop by. A big smile on their faces will make ur effort less stressful.

Music: Make sure to have a good selection of music on hand. The right music can only add to the festive mood of the get together. Too loud of a music will ruin the environment. So always make sure to keep it soft and low.

Food and drinks: This is the detail that can make or break any event, but it need not be complicated or intimidating. If you're a great cook, now is the time to showcase your skills and dazzle your guests. But if you are not so much into cooking , this is definetely not the occasion to try a challenging new recipe. Instead, keep the food simple and present beautiful. End the show with a good dessert and drink.

I gathered these tips from here and there and some out of experience.If you think these tips are worth implementing, you should definetely give it a try. Will come again with yet another interesting post. Till then stay tuned. This is me signing off for the month.