Organized & Entertaining--Part II

You have a plan to entertain. The date is set and the guests are invited.

***WARNING*** The period between the party planning and the actual event can be one of great discomfort. You begin to doubt whether you have enough time and energy to pull off your great plans. The days fly by and life intervenes with your preparation for the party.

Here are some ways to sail through the days before your celebration:

• Keep making lists.  Lists will help you organize your random thoughts. If your list is too ambitious, it can seem daunting and you will enter the "I never will get all this done" mode of thinking. Be realistic about what can get accomplished within the constraints of work, everyday life, and the need to be healthy.
• Enlist help.  Children love to help, especially in the kitchen. An ordinary cake mix becomes Pink Princess Cupcakes, and everyone is happy! You may want to trade time with a friend or neighbor who can lend you a hand. Organizing consultants specialize in helping people get ready for big events.
• Take care of yourself.  If you miss out on sleep or exercise, you won't be in peak operating condition.
• Don't worry.  Develop a plan complete with timetable. For example, one item on your list might be "Grocery shop--Tuesday evening." The more things you think of and plan for ahead of event, the more you can be assured everything will turn out great!

Entertaining does require some organizing. You can do it!

What are your entertaining secrets? Please share--we would like to hear about them.