Since I am no authority on Entertaining, Catering or Decorating, I will pass on the Domestic Front and leave that to Martha Stewart. I can however contribute some of my expertise to the subject of Holiday Gift Shopping and how to avoid the numerous obstacles & hassles.

The most important part of this process is "The List". You must sit down for 15 minutes or so and make one. Each & every person to whom you would like to present a holiday gift should appear on the list…even the mailman. Next the list should be re-organized and grouped according to some sensible plan i.e.: Mall Shopping, Local Shopping, Catalogue, On-Line, Phone Orders, etc.

Some of the shopping can be done by day, some by night, from home and some of it squeezed in traveling to and from work. Mall shopping should definitely come first and, if possible, on weekdays. The closer the Holidays get, the more painful the Mall becomes.

Gift bags vs. boxes & paper save lots of time. It helps to wrap & tag gifts as they are being purchased; so they don’t pile up.

Gifts do not need to be extravagant, but they should be thoughtful. Each person on the list deserves a bit of thought in terms of what would make them happy. A gift, however small, could and should delight its recipient. The best gifts are items that the person would love to have but normally would not purchase for themselves.

Happy Shopping and Happy Holidays!