From Donna Pilato,
Your Guide to Entertaining.
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You tell yourself that you host a party to entertain family and friends. But deep down inside you know the real reason is because you want to have fun. Unfortunately, it's easy to get so carried away with your plans that the party ends up running you instead of the other way around. When the party's over many hosts feel exhausted and swear that they'll never do that again. Instead of looking back on a fun time, it seems like all they did was work. That wasn't the point, was it?

That's why the next time you throw a party, keep focused on the intention to have fun at your own event. If you're successful at that, chances are good that your guests will have a great time too.

Make a List of Everything You Need to Accomplish Before Your Party

Start by thinking about all the things you need to accomplish before your party and then throughout the event. Your "to do" list might include:

• Clean your house.
• Plan your menu.
• Shop for your groceries.
• Buy or make your decorations and centerpieces.
• Purchase or make party favors.
• Create placecards.
• Iron linens.
• Set the table and buffet.
• Cook the food.
• Pull out your serving pieces.
• Lay out the food.
• Mix and serve the drinks.
• Clean up between courses including wrapping and storing perishables.
• Clear the table, plates, glasses, serving pieces, etc.
• Wash everything.
• Sweep the floors.

The next thing you need to decide is which of these items you have both the time and inclination to do. Will you be able to clean your house before the party? Or will you be too busy running your kids around to lessons and activities to add cleaning the house to your party to-do list? Do you like to cook? Or are you too stressed by the thought of cooking for other people? Are you the crafty type who can't wait to create a fabulous centerpiece? Or would you rather hand over that task to someone with a more artistic eye?

Choose What You Want to Do and Find Another Way to Manage the Rest

Once you've figured out what you'd like to do and can squeeze into your schedule, follow these strategies to get everything else done. Then get ready to smile because your next party is on its way to becoming a fun time for you as well as your guests.

Do you hate cleaning? Hire someone to clean your home the day before your party. Really hate cleaning? Hire someone to help tidy up throughout your party and after it's over. This could be a cleaning service. It could also be your older babysitter who always helps out her mom at home and knows her way around cleaning products. Or maybe you could bribe your kids or spouse to help out. Get creative. Just don't do it yourself.

Do you hate to iron? Hand over your linens to your local laundry service or dry cleaner to press for you.

Is menu planning overwhelming to you? Then go with a predesigned menu for your theme from this site, your favorite cooking magazine, or suggestions from a friend.

Does cooking stress you out? Don't cook. You can hire a caterer, purchase prepared food from your supermarket, take out from a favorite restaurant, or make your party a potluck. Just remember to be specific when giving out menu assignments to your guests so you don't end up with seven desserts and no main courses.

Do you find yourself making too many last minute trips to get the things you need for your party? Then make a very thorough shopping list before you head out on your errands. Include all the party essentials on this list, and plan your course to minimize the drive time. If possible, delegate this shopping trip to your spouse. Save your energy for other party preparations.

Is it too big of a job to pull out (and then store away again) your serving pieces for anything but the largest parties? Use disposables for everything but your most formal party. Saves on the cleanup too. Or do disposables seem too wasteful for your conscience? How about planning meals that can be served right out an attractive cooking pot such as a paella pan, fondue pot, crockpot, or dutch oven? Instead of serving the bread in your fine silver breadbasket (that requires polishing too), serve it on your lovely wooden cutting board.

Do you find yourself getting flustered throughout your party with competing demands for your attention? Then be prepared with jobs you can hand over to willing friends or family. Don't be a martyr who responds "No thanks, I'm fine" when someone offers to help. Ask them to refresh drinks; place an appetizer fresh from the oven on a waiting serving tray; toss the salad with the already prepared dressing; bring the condiments to the table; cover the leftovers with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for you; or assign any other task that's not to tedious to ask a guest to do, and that doesn't require supervision by you.

Do the little details overwhelm you throughout the party planning and hosting process? Visit my favorite tips for making the details easier from handling your guests' coats to deciding how much cleaning is really necessary to present a tidy home.