Practical skills are often forgotten as the frenzy of the season takes over. Just talk to friends and you will likely hear phrases like, “It just crept up on me this year,” and “How did we get to December already?” With a little pre-planning and simple steps to stay organized, you, the hostess, can enjoy the season along with all of your guests.

Stock your beverage supply in advance of the day. Stock up on adult beverages you plan to offer, and children’s drinks. Remember, for simplicity’s sake keep choices to a minimum for guests of all ages. Everyone will find something they enjoy. Keep ice, extra glasses and napkins on hand.

Keep your menu simple. Choose the centerpiece of your meal (poultry, beef, seafood) and build around it. Make as many holiday sides in advance as possible. Ask family members to bring their favorites and lessen your cooking burden. Chop vegetables the day you tote them home from the grocery store and store them in the refrigerator so all of your ingredients are “prepped” as you need them. For breads, dough can be bought or made, frozen and then baked off as needed. Prepare appetizers in advance as well. Fresh veggie trays, homemade dips and bite-sized baked treats can all be pre-made and stored until your guests arrive.

Decorations enhance the holiday mood. It helps to choose a color scheme or theme of some sort, and repeat it throughout the rooms in your home. During the Christmas season, reds, whites and greens are often popular. However, colors like purple, silver, blue and gold make a statement as well. Sometimes it helps to pull out a favorite item like a wreath or a platter and use that item as a starting point to decorate around.

The most important tip of all is perhaps to remember why everyone is gathered together in the first place. The holidays are a celebration. They are a time to reconnect with family near and far. They are a time to relax if you can, and relish in the wonderment of the season—just as we did as children. I