213986 526 Holidays & Celebrations Christmas true Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:06:39 -0700 /system/videos/3/13/47/23/234713.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, holidays, holiday, celebration How To Have a Stress-Free Family Christmas http://www.howcast.com/videos/213986-How-To-Have-a-Stress-Free-Family-Christmas http://www.howcast.com/videos/213986-How-To-Have-a-Stress-Free-Family-Christmas/edit approved 117 640 360 <object width="425" height="273" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="howcastplayer"><param name="movie" value="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=213986"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=213986" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="273" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed></object> 2 CinemaSlam http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/213986/Picture_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png 506 false false false 79890 0 20 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/213986/20.jpg Book a hotel Book a room. Nothing adds to family tension more than staying in the same cramped quarters with no escape from each other. If you’re the one hosting Christmas, suggest some nearby hotels; they’ll get the hint.

]]> 79891 1 31 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/213986/31.jpg Lower expectations Lower your expectations. While we’d all like Christmas to be like an episode of The Waltons, it usually ends up like The Simpsons, so don’t get depressed if things don’t go as planned.

]]> 79892 2 43 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/213986/43.jpg Ask what people want to do Ask people want they’d like to see, do, and eat while you’re together. Maybe deep down everyone would prefer Italian food, a potluck buffet, or even dinner out rather than the labor-intensive traditional Christmas meal.

]]> 79893 3 57 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/213986/57.jpg Address your pet peeves List everything that drives you crazy about Christmas: the endless gift buying? All-day cooking? Lazy relatives? This year, make changes: Get everyone a gift card, order in your side dishes, assign specific tasks to your guests.

]]> 79894 4 74 Tip To make gift buying even easier, get all your gift cards at your local drugstore. Many carry cards for national restaurant chains, stores, and even spas!

]]> 79895 5 82 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/213986/82.jpg Schedule breaks Schedule breaks from your family. Give yourself a breather by going out alone or with friends. Just make sure your family knows your plans ahead of time, so they won’t take it personally when you leave.

]]> 79896 6 94 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/213986/94.jpg Keep a two-drink maximum Keep a two-drink maximum. A drink or two may make dealing with your family easier; any more will make it harder—and possibly prompt you to say something that’ll keep tensions high for many Christmases to come!

]]> 79897 7 107 Fact The average Christmas dinner takes five hours to cook and three hours to clean up!

]]> 526 105200 How To Choose an Artificial Christmas Tree AssignmentGuide 977 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:16:33 -0800 9 Altius ]]> 114 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/00/52/10/105200.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, holiday, holidays, christmas Holidays & Celebrations Christmas 3 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/105200/Picture_6_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/105200-How-To-Choose-an-Artificial-Christmas-Tree 526 214740 How To Survive Christmas With Your Family AssignmentGuide 521 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:04:11 -0700 1 CinemaSlam ]]> 136 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/86/19/23/231986.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, holiday, holidays, season Holidays & Celebrations Christmas 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/214740/Picture_4_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/214740-How-To-Survive-Christmas-With-Your-Family 523 160842 How To Escape From a Bad Party Without Offending the Host AssignmentGuide 6334 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:47:13 -0700 13 kevinveselka ]]> 183 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/42/08/16/160842.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, celebrations, party, parties Holidays & Celebrations General Holidays & Parties 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/160842/Picture_2_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/160842-How-To-Escape-From-a-Bad-Party-Without-Offending-the-Host 523 163315 How To Get Your Guests To Leave AssignmentGuide 2498 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:19:09 -0700 9 davidhe ]]> 98 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/15/33/16/163315.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, christmas, thanksgiving, holiday Holidays & Celebrations General Holidays & Parties 5 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/163315/Picture_4_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/163315-How-To-Get-Your-Guests-To-Leave 523 166189 How To Party With Celebrities AssignmentGuide 715 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:32:26 -0700 0 Semore9 ]]> 110 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/49/08/27/270849.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, holidays, holiday, celebration Holidays & Celebrations General Holidays & Parties 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/166189/party_celebrities_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/166189-How-To-Party-With-Celebrities 523 180144 How To Mingle AssignmentGuide 4375 Tue, 12 May 2009 08:33:09 -0700 16 Thom_Roholt ]]> 166 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/44/01/18/180144.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, celebrations, party, parties Holidays & Celebrations General Holidays & Parties 3 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/180144/Picture_9_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/180144-How-To-Mingle 523 181188 How To Be a Good Host AssignmentGuide 1041 Wed, 13 May 2009 08:17:26 -0700 6 wbetts01 ]]> 145 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/88/11/18/181188.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, holidays, holiday, christmas Holidays & Celebrations General Holidays & Parties 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/181188/Picture_5_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/181188-How-To-Be-a-Good-Host 523 206019 How To Fake Your Way Through a Cocktail Party AssignmentGuide 5007 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:03:50 -0700 10 DimitriL ]]> 180 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/19/60/20/206019.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, party, parties, holiday Holidays & Celebrations General Holidays & Parties 4 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/206019/fake_way_through_cocktail_party_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/206019-How-To-Fake-Your-Way-Through-a-Cocktail-Party 523 214537 How To Buy Alcohol For a Party AssignmentGuide 10506 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:25:33 -0700 2 rsansivero ]]> 115 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/37/45/21/214537.flv alcohol, party, beer, vodka, buy, amount, quantity, booze Holidays & Celebrations General Holidays & Parties 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/214537/Picture_6_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/214537-How-To-Buy-Alcohol-For-a-Party 523 217129 How To Be a Good Party Guest AssignmentGuide 1700 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:03:37 -0700 8 heroicarts ]]> 165 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/08/58/23/235808.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, holidays, holiday, christmas, thanksgiving, party, guest, good, helpful, help, etiquette, manners Holidays & Celebrations General Holidays & Parties 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/217129/be_a_good_party_guest_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/217129-How-To-Be-a-Good-Party-Guest 523 223526 How To Make a Hand-Painted Tie For Father’s Day AssignmentGuide 236 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:02:28 -0700 1 theprohouse ]]> 96 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/22/71/25/257122.flv father's,day,fathers,crafts,making,tie,painting,children,kids,creative,ideas,presents,gifts Holidays & Celebrations General Holidays & Parties 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/223526/Picture_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/223526-How-To-Make-a-HandPainted-Tie-For-Fathers-Day 525 113750 How To Remember People’s Birthdays AssignmentGuide 1505 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:16:57 -0800 8 Equilibrio ]]> 103 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/50/37/11/113750.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, holidays, celebrations, holiday Holidays & Celebrations Birthdays 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/113750/cupcake_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/113750-How-To-Remember-Peoples-Birthdays 525 148184 How To Prevent the Waitstaff From Singing “Happy Birthday” To You AssignmentGuide 3172 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:19:15 -0800 5 briskimj ]]> 93 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/84/81/14/148184.flv happy birthday, DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, holidays, celebrations Holidays & Celebrations Birthdays 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/148184/Picture_5_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/148184-How-To-Prevent-the-Waitstaff-From-Singing-Happy-Birthday-To-You 525 230009 How To Get Free Stuff on Your Birthday AssignmentGuide 1162 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:33:25 -0700 1 rachybop ]]> 113 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/22/39/26/263922.flv free,stuff,birthday,getting,advantage,birth,day,complimentary,drinks,food,scoring Holidays & Celebrations Birthdays 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/230009/birthdayfree_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/230009-How-To-Get-Free-Stuff-on-Your-Birthday