Tips on Organizing for New Years and other Family Get-Togethers

If your last family get-together didn't look like you had it together, you might want to consider doing some things differently especially the ones that resulted in negative feedback.

1.  Be sure to invite only those who you really want to be at your home or gathering. (Note: you might want to meet relatives elsewhere, so you don't have to cook, clean, host, etc.)

2.  Prepare family related items to share such as:  photographs or video taken during the last event and any other news that is positive. (Avoid the gossip.  You don't want unflattering comments spreading like wildfire!)

3.  List everything you need to do.  Sometimes people plan events and don't remember to do the following into the last minute while worrying themselves and others:

• Enlist help. (Many happy hosts end up being tired, sad hosts by the end of the event because they don't bother to ask for assistance.)
• Meal selection that accomodates a variety of taste buds including those who don't eat meat.
• A grocery list that includes a variety of drinks, appetizers, and much needed items to help with meal preparation ie.) milk, eggs, butter, sugar, etc.
• Cleanliness of one's home especially kitchen and bathroom areas.
• Table set up to accomodate guests and place setting arrangement.
• Decorations.
• A timeframe at which the gathering starts and ends.  (If there is no time limit, people just might stay overnight!)
• Activities for children and adults.  (Remember, kids get bored and some adults don't like sitting around the whole time--have things for them to do).

If you are hosting the event at home, stick with edible items that everyone knows about rather than presenting something new or different especially if you heard through the grapevine that some foods didn't go over too well.

Nicholl McGuire