214740 526 Holidays & Celebrations Christmas true Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:04:11 -0700 /system/videos/6/86/19/23/231986.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, holiday, holidays, season How To Survive Christmas With Your Family http://www.howcast.com/videos/214740-How-To-Survive-Christmas-With-Your-Family http://www.howcast.com/videos/214740-How-To-Survive-Christmas-With-Your-Family/edit approved 136 640 360 <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=214740"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=214740" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="273" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed></object> 1 CinemaSlam http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/214740/Picture_4_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png 521 false false false 80425 0 19 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/214740/19.jpg Decide on the length of your visit and share this information with everyone immediately so there are no hurt feelings or misunderstandings. If you’re staying for a shorter time than your family wants (and you will) blame it on work or your travel arrangements.

]]> 80426 1 30 Tip Make travel plans well in advance so you’re not stuck with six connecting flights, and consider booking a room in a nearby hotel so you have a nightly escape route.

]]> 80427 2 38 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/214740/38.jpg Sure, you’ll get presents, but they’ll probably things you might have wanted back in fourth grade. Grin and bear them, graciously. And provide gift receipts with all the presents you give—maybe next year your family will get the hint and return the favor.

]]> 80428 3 52 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/214740/52.jpg Nothing will make the family cook happier than seeing you enjoy their food, so take two or three very small helpings of everything, which will give the impression you’re eating more than you actually are.

]]> 93789 4 61 Tip If you’re worried about gaining weight, insist on going for a walk or jog—it’ll have the added bonus of getting you out of the house!

]]> 80430 5 68 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/214740/68.jpg Have a drink to settle your nerves, but watch out—the more you indulge, the more likely you are to overeat, wake up with a hangover, or blurt out what you think of your sister’s parenting skills.

]]> 80431 6 76 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/214740/76.jpg Bite your tongue. Don’t let a thoughtless remark by Aunt Tillie ruin your day, or decide that Christmas Eve is the perfect time to have it out with your obnoxious cousin Ezra.

]]> 80433 7 86 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/214740/86.jpg Prepare in advance for irksome questions. For example, if Grandma Edith always asks why “a beautiful girl like you is still single,” plan to reply, “I’m holding out for Mr. Wrong.” You’ll be less stressed knowing you can shut the meddlers down with a witty retort.

]]> 80434 8 100 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/214740/100.jpg Create a diversion. If the attention shifts to you or is heading down a familiar path that always leads to a fight, take the opportunity to reveal a juicy bit of gossip about another branch of the family that you’ve saved just for this occasion.

]]> 80435 9 113 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/214740/113.jpg Take your expectations down a few notches, and be appreciative for the effort your family made toward the holidays, even if they weren’t successful. No family is perfect. Instead of trying to change yours, enjoy them as they are.

]]> 80436 10 125 Fact Christmas has been ranked sixth on the scale of most stressful life events, following things like divorce, moving, and changing jobs.

]]> 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 213986 How To Have a Stress-Free Family Christmas AssignmentGuide 506 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:06:39 -0700 2 CinemaSlam ]]> 117 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/13/47/23/234713.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, holidays, holiday, celebration Holidays & Celebrations Christmas 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/213986/Picture_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/213986-How-To-Have-a-Stress-Free-Family-Christmas 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