According to the author of Happy Holidays from the Diva of Do-Ahead, Diane Phillips, "the key to a great party is a relaxed host," she explains. How to be a happy host? "Do as much prep ahead of time as you can." Phillips should know. She's catered, taught hundreds of do-ahead cooking classes and she's written the book on it. I know I could definitely use a little help on making my experience as a host more enjoyable. I am not the poster child for the hostess of the year. I really don't handle the stress well and even if I do manage to throw a wonderful, beautiful party with amazing décor and food, I would not describe myself as a relaxed host. So according to Diane, I probably have never had a great party haha! That's ok. I am here to learn and improve so I can take the stress out of party planning and have a great time myself.

This is of course the time of year where many of us attend numerous holiday parties whether it is with family, friends or co-workers among all the other bajillion other things we have going on. And you might be the lucky one who finds him/herself hosting a wonderful get-together. If you are, you know that sometimes it can take over this magical time of year and make it the MOST stressful time of year. Let me share some tips that I have gathered from Diane and many other "hostesses with the mostest" and let's go on an adventure together to learn how to take the stress out of party planning, especially this time of year. We want you, the host, to have a GREAT time at YOUR party and a wonderful rest of your holiday season.

Make a Plan

Make a plan. Use a blank calendar, mark the day of the party, then fill in the days before with things that need to be done, even the most mundane like cleaning the house, selecting music, grocery shopping. Decide how many people, what kind of party (sit-down, buffet) and then gather your recipes. Make a shopping list and don't forget the nonfood items, such as napkins, paper towels, candles, etc.

One party planner says she always keep several lists that she continually updates through the planning process: a master to-do list to highlight every task that must be accomplished, a shopping list that ensures you won't forget any supplies, and an all-important guest list where you can track contact information, dietary restrictions and RSVPs.

Give Yourself Permission to Outsource

Give yourself permission to outsource. If you aren't fond of making desserts or rolls, find a great bakery or a talented friend.

Set the Table Early

For sit-down functions, set the table a day or two ahead of time, then cover with a sheet. For a grazing party, make sure the platters you will use will fit on the table. Do a dry run with empty serving platters, arranging them in a pleasing manner, then mark the spots with sticky notes. This serves two functions: you know that the serving pieces will fit and when someone asks, "May I help you with something?" you can smile and say, "Would you please put this on the table where the note is?"

Chill the Drinks

If you have lots of drinks to cool and a full fridge, fill your washing machine with ice in the morning of the party and chill in there. Bring drinks out as you need them. The washing machine will drain as the ice melts, and you won't have to stock coolers all night or empty all the melted ice the next day! (Works with front loaders too.)

Keep Food at the Optimal Temperature

To keep dips cold, slice off the top from a round loaf of bread and remove the inside of the bread, leaving a 3/4-inch shell. Put the round in a freezer bag and freeze. The day of the party, pour the dip into the frozen bread round. It will keep the dip cold for 4 to 6 hours. To keep items like meatballs or mulled cider warm, put your slow cooker to work, on the "warm" setting.

Keep Appetizers Simple

Consider serving dinner-by-the-bite with trays of mouthwatering hors d'oeuvres in lieu of a sit-down meal. This less-formal approach allows guests to sample lots of different flavors and provides more opportunities to mingle with other guests. The key to whipping up appetizers in a snap is to assemble ready-made ingredients from the market - instead of making everything from scratch.

Set Up a Kids' Table

For a family-friendly gathering, it's often smart to set up a separate area for little ones to have their own fun. Try covering a table in butcher paper, and place bundles of colored pencils in Mason jars at each seat so kids can channel their artistic side right on the table.

Stay Relaxed

Leave yourself an hour before guests arrive to freshen up, slip into something party-ready and light some candles for added ambiance. This creates a welcoming atmosphere from the moment you open the door with a big smile. Don't forget that, as the host, you set the tone, so a relaxed attitude will bring out the same in your guests.

Some of your holiday parties may have come and gone by the time you read this, but a lot of us have New Year's parties and heck, all sorts of parties all year that could stress us out that we could use a little help with. I hope you found these tips useful! Have a wonderful holiday season!