The Holiday Survival Guide
Oh, the holidays! The fun! The food! The blown budgets and stressful traveling and party dilemmas and…food. Here’s how to ride it all out.
Stay Healthy
6 Ways to Have Healthy Holidays
The holidays bring their own set of challenges: too much food, too many parties, too much stress, too little time. Stay on
the healthy track with these tips.
9 Healthy Holiday-Eating Strategies
Fend off holiday weight gain with these easy eating tricks.
Etiquette Advice for the Holiday Guest
10 Holiday Party-Food Dilemmas, Solved
9 Holiday Pet Hazards
How to Make the Holidays More Affordable
Gifts Gone Wrong
How to Return Gifts Without the Hassle
It’s quite common to receive a gift that needs to be returned. Follow these simple suggestions for frustration-free holiday
exchanges.
Holiday Return Policy Guide
Before you head out to the store or mail back that unwanted gift, use this guide to navigate popular retailers’ return policies.
Holiday Open-House Party Checklist
A candy cane-to-nuts schedule for a free-flowing get-together that leaves you plenty of time to enjoy your guests.
- Send the invitations. Make it clear whether children are welcome. Include a definite ending time—4 p.m. to 7 p.m. is ideal—so guests don’t arrive while you’re mopping up.
- Plan a stress-free menu. Serve foods that can be prepared ahead of time. Limiting beverages to sparkling water, juices, and red and white wine should satisfy everyone and makes a bartender unnecessary. Create a schedule of when each dish can be made, as well as a shopping list.
- Reserve any needed rental items. The rule of thumb is two plates, forks, and glasses per guest. (Rental glasses—tumblers are more worry-free than stemware—are a time-saver, since you just rinse and return them.) Alternatively, approach friends about borrowing items.
