What is Intermittent Fasting, and Should I Do It?

You’ve heard of fasting and dieting, but have you ever heard of intermittent fasting? It’s a quick and easy way to reap lots of health benefits without changing what you eat. Our ancient ancestors didn’t have supermarkets and restaurants everywhere you turn. They had to hunt and gather what they could to survive. Our bodies are still made for that kind of cyclical eating. We store fats for times when we don’t have food, and we gorge when we have ample food. Use our biology to your advantage to stay thin and healthy.

What is intermittent fasting?

Intermittent fasting is a new way that nutritionists are treating people who have eating issues. It’s an easy way to help regulate blood sugar and keep your weight down. Instead of eating all throughout the day, you only eat during a few hours of the day. This doesn’t change the amount of calories you consume. You still eat the same amount, but you eat it all within a shorter window.

What are the benefits?

By limiting the number of times you eat, you give your digestive system time to recuperate. Having an extended period of time without eating leaves your body open to focus on repairing and healing. Your intestines don’t have to focus on digesting—they can do the necessary maintenance that it needs. You’ll also have a better digestive life. You’ll be more regular, and not have as much indigestion or acid reflux issues. You’ll might sleep better at night because your body will have had more time to digest the food before you sleep. You’ll also remain fuller longer, and your blood sugar won’t spike or drop as drastically.

What are the hours when you eat?

You want to think about how your typical day is. Do you wake up early and go to bed early? Then your window will look different from someone who has a late start to the day and stays up later. You want to have about 16-18 hours of fasting during the day. Start off with 16 hours, and see if you can whittle it down to 18 over time. For me, I have about a 6 hour window to eat, and I like to eat between the hours of 1-7pm. I have some water or coffee in the morning, and then I have a good lunch, a few snacks, and a good dinner around 7. I still eat slightly over 2,000 calories during that time.

Who is this for?

Many use this technique to help stay trim. While you aren’t eating, your body uses its natural fat stores to pull from energy. It’s a good idea for folks who are looking to lose some stubborn fat, or for people who have digestive issues. There are numerous health benefits that make it ideal for most people. If your doctor has instructed you to eat small meals throughout the day, then intermittent fasting is not for you. There are those who struggle with this style of eating because it takes some planning. If you aren’t able to plan because your schedule constantly fluctuates, then this is not the diet for you.

If nothing else, you can give it a try for a week and see how you feel. To really know if there are any positive benefits for you, it’s best to give it about 18 days. The way we eat and what we eat drastically impacts us. Spend a little extra time figuring out the best nutrition plan for you.

Car shopping is complicated, and it’s even more complicated when they throw in the question of whether you want to lease or buy. There are several things you need to think about before you answer the salesman. There are pros and cons to both options. Leasing gives you the best car on the lot for less money each month, but buying is more cost effective over a longer period of time. Think about how your use your vehicle and see what makes the most sense for you.

1. How often do you drive? Leases come with a mileage contract that are typically within 9,000 to 15,000 miles per year. If you are expecting to drive more than 12,000 a year, than you might want to consider purchasing a car. There are hefty fines for going over your mileage contract. Know exactly how long your morning commute is, and how far away any other frequently visited locations are. Crunch some numbers and make sure that you have plenty of wiggle room each month for extra mileage to grocery stores, trips, and expected emergency trips.
2. What is your monthly income? Leases are typically less expensive month to month in the short term. If you need to have a tight budget, then leasing is a better option. Over the long term, buying is less expensive. Once you purchase it, the only cost of the car will be gas and maintenance.
3. Credit Score: To lease a car, you’ll need to have a high credit score. Even credit scores that are slightly bruised aren’t going to get you the car. It’s easier to get a loan from a bank to purchase the car, than to lease. If you do end up getting the car loan, it will improve your credit score by having you pay it off on time each month.
4. Equity: If you decide to lease, then you do not own that property. It’s not a part of your equity even though you are putting money into it. When you return the car, you will get nothing in return to put down on a downpayment.
5. How do you treat your cars? There is typically a wear and tear contract in your lease that requires you to return the car in basically the same condition that you took it in. If you have kids riding around with you, odds are that things are going to be split and damaged, which will negate any contract. You’re also limited in what you can do with the vehicle. You can’t put tint on the windows, put stickers on the back, or make any body changes that you would like. You’re renting the car, and you can’t customize it to your preference. You have to keep it in pristine condition to return it without incurring significant fees. If you know that you aren’t going to be able to keep the car looking brand new, then it’s best to buy a car.
6. Do you want to keep the car for a long time? A plus of leasing is that you constantly have the latest in car technology. You are trading in a new car for an even newer car each year. You’ll always have the best that car companies can offer while you are on the road. If you are like many others, you grow attached to your car, and don’t like to constantly rotate your vehicles. Some enjoy keeping their car for as long as possible. If that’s you, then buying is the better option.

If you’re looking to put money back into your own pocket, buying the car to own is a better option. Leasing is like renting a home. You have a nice place to live, but after the lease is up, you have to move out. When you own the car, you have more freedom to do whatever you like with it, but it does cost you more money up front. Talk to a financial advisor to see what the best route is for you.

Being thankful isn’t only for the holidays. When your heart is thankful for everything around you, then you start to see the world a little differently. Appreciate your loved ones even when they drive you nuts, be thankful for what you have, and stop focusing on what you don’t have. Enjoy your house, take pride in your car, and most importantly spend time with your loved ones.

Personal

You’ll develop a deeper outlook on life, giving you more wisdom and maturity. By being more thankful for the everyday things that you have, you’ll flip your world view and see things is a positive light. Being thankful can transform an pessimist into an optimist. You’ll see people as more important instead of things. You won’t be as materialistic or concerned about monetary issues. Your time priorities will shift when the ones you love become the most important things in life. You’ll give more freely of yourself, and you’ll have more self-esteem by putting others before yourself.

Social

Your thankful heart will make your smile infectious. You’ll walk around in a good mood, and want to share that with others. People are attracted to other upbeat people, so naturally, you’ll have more friends. Your social circle will grow by leaps and bounds when you share your thankfulness. Your relationships with significant others will thrive. You’ll see their worth, and reflect that in how you treat them. You’ll have deeper and higher quality relationships with everyone in your life.

Health

Your mental state of wellbeing is directly correlated to your physical health. Your limbic system inside your brain is in control of your emotions and your hormone levels. When our emotions are out of whack, stress hormones rage, and it’s difficult for us to think clearly or even get quality sleep. It also drains our energy and leaves our immune system more susceptible to disease. Basically, the more thankful you are, the more positive you are, which has a domino effect on your health. Everyone wants to stay out of the doctor’s office, so by changing the way we think, we can avoid more illnesses.

Emotional

Our brain is a fascinating thing. When we think of positive things, it goes through our memories to recall more positive things. Likewise, it does the same for negative, which is why it can be hard to get out of a depression spiral. By keeping this mindset, we set ourselves up for more positive interactions. When bad things do come your way, you’ll be able to bounce back from it more easily with a thankful heart. When you know you can handle whatever comes your way, then you are more relaxed and let stress roll off your back.

Career

Thankfulness directly impacts your career as well. Now that you are more sleeping better, and thinking more clearly, then you’re able to make better decisions on the job. You’ll have more energy to be more productive at work. The boss will notice your new upbeat attitude and see the progress that you are making. With more confidence, you’ll have the ability to stand tall when you put your name in for the promotion. As a manager, you’ll see employees as people, and take a genuine interest in them. When managers care about their employees, the entire business thrives.

A thankful heart will make you all-around a happier person. You’ll sleep better, work better, and feel better. You won’t be as concerned with money, and you’ll see time as a better commodity. Time is the most precious thing that we have because we can never get it back. When we change outlook to be thankful, we prioritize our time differently to show others around us how much we love them.

You’re finally out on your own and you can’t wait to spread your wings. College is a wonderful experience that can set you up for success later in life, but one of the biggest drawbacks is the price tag. Yes, student loans help, but ask yourself if living in the dorm is worth it to you. Sometimes the dorm experience isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Before you select the perfect dorm for you, think about what might be the perfect apartment for you.

Off-Campus Pros:

1. Freedom: When you live off campus, there’s no need to worry about nonsense dorm rules and RA’s breathing down your neck. You have the freedom to do as you please. You can have people over of any gender at any time, you can throw parties, and host dinners. There’s more freedom in your decorating choices as well. Dorms usually are limited when it comes to what’s allowed on the walls and around the room. Typically you aren’t allowed to have candles, shelving, or any permanent artwork hanging in dorms. When you live off campus in an apartment, you have the freedom to let your design skills go to work.
2. Food: The cafeteria food can be alright, but you don’t get to control what’s in it or how it’s made. Not to mention, meal plans can be expensive! If you’re looking to keep a closer count on how things are prepared, then having control of your own kitchen is the way to go. You get to test out your culinary skills and learn new recipes. You are able to prep and plan for meals for the week, which can save major time. Cooking on your own can also take up a huge chunk of time, so if that’s not allowed in your schedule, then pre-made meals from the school cafeteria might be the way to go.
3. Responsibilities: When you live off campus, you get a crash course in how to manage daily expenses like rent and utilities. This can help you later in life to know what bills need to be paid when, and about how much they cost. You will know how to operate the utilities and have more of an interest in the community that you are living in. You’ll see direct reflections of the political decisions made in your town, making you a more informed citizen. It’s better to learn how to manage your finances during your college years, rather than waiting to figure it out later in life. Living in a dorm comes with less responsibilities because many custodial duties are handled by the school maintenance.
4. Peace and Quiet: College kids generally aren’t the best neighbors, and when you live in a dorm surrounded by hundreds, things can get noisy. It’s almost impossible to find a place to do your homework and study when there’s constantly something going on. When you get out of the dorm atmosphere, you’ll have more quiet time so you can focus and get your work done with speed. You’ll also retain more information and sleep more soundly. It’s less likely that you’ll have the distraction of college kids running through the halls. That being said, renting an apartment off-campus comes with its own risks, too.
5. Cost of Living: Even though you don’t pay a rent check each month to the school for your room, that doesn’t mean your room and board is cheap. Most of the time, that is the major expense to students. Before you write a check out for your tuition, get an itemized breakdown of exactly what you are paying for. You’ll be able to see what cost is going into the room and board. Most of the time it’s either the same, or cheaper to rent off campus. There are excellent options for off campus living that are near the school that you are attending. You can have the freedom to control who your roommate is, or you can choose to live on your own.
6. More Space: Not only could you spend less, but you will also get more space for the money that you do spend. On average, dorms are a few square feet with just enough room for a bed and a desk. For the same price, you could get an entire apartment. You might sacrifice a little in proximity to the classroom, but overall you’ll get more for your money.

You don’t have to live on campus the entire time that you attend college. Think about what makes the most sense financially to you. Weigh out your pros and cons and make the best decision for you.

Spring is around the corner, which means it’s time to get outside. You may have forgotten about your outdoor balcony space because it’s been so long since you’ve been out there! To get ready for the nice weather, take a few minutes to spruce it up to make it the coziest part of the whole apartment. With these tips, you’ll be dreaming all day of sitting outside and enjoying your balcony.

1. Make it glow: The mood is set by the lighting. Create a cozy and inviting feel to your balcony with some string lights or lanterns. There are candle or electric lanterns that you can choose from. Find a style of lighting that makes you happy. You’ll be itching to get outside to be surrounded by the soft glow of your lights as twilight comes around.
2. Outdoor mat: Bring the outdoor furniture together by having an outdoor rug or mat. You’ll want to find something that can withstand the elements, and something that has a nice design to it. A woven rug made out of natural fibers is a great option. It easily evaporates water, and traps dirt, but also looks excellent. You can find natural colors as well as bright colored patterns.
3. Convenient trays: It’s lovely to have dinner outside on the balcony patio, but it can be a pain to bring everything from the kitchen outside. Have a few serving trays that are easy to transport back and forth. You can load them up with food, utensils, and whatever else you may need to be right at home outside. If you don’t have a table outside, then you can use the trays as lap tables so you can eat any dish. When you are finished, load up the trays and bring everything in.Choose funky or fun patterns that you don’t mind having on display. You can leave them outside or convenient storage, or as your tabletop surfaces when you go outside.
4. Pillows: If you aren’t comfortable on your balcony, then you won’t want to stay there. Make your seating extra cozy by loading up the outdoor furniture with plenty of pillows. Make sure that every seat has a cushion and that every back has a pillow. It’s also a fun way to bring colors outside. Change out the pillows with the seasons to match your decorations.
5. Plants: Having plants gives you a reason to go outside in the first place. You have to go outside to take care of the plants, which gets you in the habit of spending time outside on your balcony. While you’re there, take pride in the plants you’ve grown and enjoy them for a spell. Any kind of greenery brings life to a space and makes it warm and inviting. You’ll want to stay and admire your beautiful flowers on your balcony patio.

Sit, relax, turn on your new string lights, and let the patio glow. Bring a book to read as a way to unwind after work, or meet with a friend and laugh over a bottle of wine during the weekend. Make your balcony a space that you love. The more you are outside and unplugged, the better you will feel!

The great outdoors is even better when you get to share it with your furry best friend. He will love a change of scenery and the social outlet of meeting new people and dogs. Most dog parks around the Haddon Township area are within parks that have many other amenities, making it an excellent outing for the whole family. 

1. Cooper River Dog Park: Walk or run next to the Cooper River while your best friend gets some exercise. It’s a nice area that has a flat walking/running path next to a low trafficked road. There are quiet homes nearby, with plenty of greenery to enjoy. Bring a book and sit on one of the park benches while your pet has an opportunity to socialize. There is a small dog fence, and a large dog area. Bring a hat during the summer time because there isn’t much tree coverage. It’s never crowded, and sometimes, you can enjoy a quiet place to yourself. Bring any toys that you like to keep your pup entertained.
2. Bow Wow Dog Park: The Bow Wow Dog Park has tons of space for all sized dogs. There is a separate area for small dogs as well as large dogs. This park is clean and full of friendly locals. There is lots of green space for both people and pets to enjoy. There are some trees around the perimeter, but most of it is open space so bring a hat and wear sunscreen.
3. Voorhees Dog Park: Your dogs (and kids) will love Voorhees Dog Park. There are about 1-2 acres for the large dogs to run, and about ½ an acre for small dogs. There’s also a children’s playground area with slides, climbing areas, and open areas to run. Pack a lunch and enjoy the outdoors with a picnic on tables in a designated eating area. Watch the kids safely play as you sit on the picnic bench. There are also well kept walking/running paths that encircle the space.
4. Connolly Park: This park is more than a dog park. Connolly has wide expanses of land with a beautiful gazebo and a large playground for kids, as well as a fenced area for large and small dogs. The trees during spring and summer are bursting with color. It’s a pleasant place to come and relax for an afternoon. One of the best things that you won’t want to miss is Woofstalk. It’s a fun event where locals get together and bring tents, coolers, and of course, their dogs to have a great time in the park for a time to share the love of pets.
5. Laurel Acres Park: This park has one of the highest reviews in the area with hundred who have placed their vote. Overall, its a pleasant place to spend an afternoon with the entire family, pets included. The dogs will love the fenced in area, and the kids have their choice of three different playgrounds. There’s also a nice central pond that is home to many ducks. Near one of the playgrounds, there is a large grassy hill that the kids love to run up and down for games. It’s extra fun in the wintertime to sled down the hill! Other than that one hill, the area is generally flat. It’s one of the top parks in the area.

As the weather gets nicer, you’ll want to spend more days outside. Pack up a lunch, and head over to the nearest park to spend some time in the sun while all the little ones in your house get their energy out. There’s nothing better than a house full of happy and tired kids and pets.

Tri-State area is the best. It’s like getting to live in New York City, without having to deal with the constant traffic, noise, and expensive rent. You still get to eat all of the great food, see all of the games, and have the peace and quiet of the suburbs. No matter where you go, you can always spot a former Tri-Stater. Here are ten signs you grew up in New Jersey!

1. Chain Pizza Isn’t Pizza: We all know what pizza should taste like, and it’s nothing like a chain pizza restaurant. The sauce is all wrong, the cheese is bland, and the dough isn’t nearly as delicious. Everyone knows that you’re supposed to fold the slice!
2. Summers Were Spent on the Jersey Shore: You had to make the summer trip down to shore, or it wasn’t really summer. It doesn’t matter what beach you landed on, the only thing you need is a chair and some waves. You can’t imagine living hours away from a beach at any point in time.
3. Trains Are A Normal Mode Of Transportation To You: Most folks have never taken the train, but you’re a pro. You know where all of the stops are and how long it’ll take. Why in the world would you ever try to drive into NYC? That’s ridiculous.
4. The Jets or the Giants: You have a strong affinity for one or the other, and there’s no way that you’ll ever pull for the other team. Friendships are made or destroyed over things like this.
5. That Line Between North Jersey and South Jersey: Everyone knows that there’s a clear distinction between north and south Jersey. They might as well be 2 different states. We have different accents, we call things different names, and we have different food. To set the record straight, it’s called a “sub” or a “grinder”  and not a “hoagie.”
6. Everyone Knows What “Going To The City” Means: Are you “going to the city” this weekend is not referring to Trenton. Everyone understands that you are talking about NYC. There’s no need to say the full name of the city when everyone gets it.
7. People Outside the Tri-State Think You Have An Attitude: Why do people think you have to constantly smile all the time? If you travel outside of the tri-state area, you may get some feedback that people think you’re rude.  It’s not an attitude–it’s called “honesty.”
8. You Have That Italian Friend: Everyone has that Italian friend with the traditional parents and family. You pray that you get invited over for dinner. They may be loud and in your face, but it’s the best kind of friend out there.
9. Not Knowing How To Pump Your Own Gas: The most you know about pumping gas is what side the gas tank is on. You’ve never had to stand outside in the freezing cold and pump your own gas. It’s a blessing and a curse, because you’re somewhat bewildered when you travel out of state.
10. Sandy Makes Your Cringe A Little: There are parts of NJ that are still recovering from the 2012 Hurricane Sandy. There was over $30 billion in damages, and over two million people left without power.

Why wouldn’t you want to live in a place where you can have all of the action at your fingertips? You are a short drive from the beach, have NYC in your backyard, and the best food around. Jersey is the best place to live–and we’re not being biased, just honest.

For centuries, societies around the world have viewed women as the weaker sex. Social decorum gave them strict parameters to abide by, leaving women as objects of beauty whose only job was to tend to the home. Over the years, mavericks in every field burst out, paving the way for women to pursue whatever dreams they had.

1. Clara Barton: Clara was a self-taught hospital nurse during the American Civil War. In her early years, she was an an educator and a patent clerk. After the Civil War broke out, a group of wounded soldiers came to Washington D.C. where she was living at the time. To help the war efforts, she decided to nurse as many soldiers as possible. Her efforts to help the army went beyond nursing, and she began providing supplies to the soldiers. There were times when she would place herself in harm’s way by going out onto the battlefield to help the men. After the war, she opened an office to help families find their missing loved ones. There were many who were prisoners of war or who had died without any information on them.A doctor recommended that she take a break from her work, so she decided to go to Switzerland. This is where she was introduced to the Red Cross. Upon returning to the USA, she opened the American Red Cross, which continues to benefit countless lives across the country.

1. Marie Curie: She is a Polish and French physicist and chemist who was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize. And, even more remarkable, she received two Nobel Prizes in two different fields of science. Marie was an avid researcher and wrote numerous articles on her scientific findings. She spent a large portion of her studies on radiation. Her first Nobel Prize was in 1903 in Physics for her and her husband’s work on the “radiation phenomena”. She found that tumorous cells decreased after being exposed to radiation. The second Nobel Prize was awarded to Curie in 1911 in Chemistry for her discovery of the elements radium and polonium. She greatly expanded our understanding and knowledge of how elements interact and influence one another. Her scientific findings laid the groundwork for modern medicine.
2. Sarah Breedlove: Sarah was the first self-made millionaire woman, and she was African American. Sarah was a business savvy entrepreneur who saw a need that she knew how to solve. African American hair follicles need to be treated differently than Caucasian hair follicles. The beauty treatments of the time left African American women’s hair dry and brittle, and it would continuously break. She developed a method to transform brittle, lackluster hair into long, luxurious hair. Sarah created Madam C. J. Walker, complete with shampoo, pomade, and other products to create “The Walker Look”. Her efforts not only gave many African American women confidence and beauty, but she greatly advanced all women as serious contenders in the working world.
3. Jeannette Rankin: The early 1900s were a volatile time in American history. The first World War is here, the Great Depression, and the women’s suffrage movement were all in full swing. Jeannette lead the charge by becoming the first elected official to hold federal office in the USA. She was elected from Montana representing the Republican party. She was influential in initiating the 19th Amendment, which made it legal for all women to have the right to vote. She was a pioneer in Congress and the political spectrum. Rankin successfully shed light on the woman’s perspective in a typically male-dominated arena, opening up countless doors for other women.
4. Valentina Tereshkova: Tereshkova was a Russian cosmonaut, engineer, and politician, who was the first woman to go in space. During the 1960’s, American and Russia were in a race to space. Both countries were challenging each other’s dominance and wanted to reach the moon before the other. Valentina was chosen out of 400 others to join the Russian space program. She was in space for three days and took significant photographs of the horizon, which was used for scientific advancements. She paved the way for women in science all around the globe.

Regardless of what area you are looking, you’ll find a remarkable women who took bold steps to blaze a path for others. All areas of work are valued, and everybody should have the ability to choose what passion to follow. These women saw that and fought so others could go even further.

In our modern workforce, more and more people are taking work-from-home positions. It’s attractive to stay in the comfort of your own home. It also saves you time and money because you don’t have to fight the daily commute. Even if you don’t have a work-from-home job, having a home office is helpful for paying bills and everyday needs. Just because you live in an apartment doesn’t mean you can’t have a home-office. Use a little creativity, and put together your home office in your apartment with these tips.

1. What Are Your Needs for the Office: Each job requires something different of us. Our space needs to accommodate the task so we can be as productive as possible. If your work is mainly done with the computer, then having a small desk, a comfy chair, and a few slots for keeping papers should be sufficient. Fortunately, most of the jobs nowadays are all able to be done online, which cuts back on the need for extra space for papers and books. You can conference in calls and join online chats to collaborate on projects.
2. Find an Underused Space in Your Apartment: Everyone has that little area that could be better used. Even if you think you’ve maxed out your apartment space, there’s probably a space that has a purpose, but it isn’t used as often as you thought you would. Maybe you have extra furniture laying around taking up space. That is the perfect spot for a little desk and office area. Either put the things that are there now in storage, find a new place for them in the apartment, or get rid of them by selling or donating them. Now that you have cleared out some space, you need to think about how you are going to use this space.
3. Get a small desk: You want to be conscious of how much space you have to work with. Before you go to the store, measure out exactly how much space you have to work with. You want to consider having space for your office chair too. Generally, you want to have around 25 inches behind the desk to comfortably get in and out of the chair. If you’re in a tight spot, a swivel chair is a good option to allow you to get in and out easier.
   • If your space allows for a standard-sized desk to fit, then that’s great! But, if not, there are other creative work-arounds. You can find a larger floating shelf that has a good depth size, and attach it to the wall lower. This is excellent for saving floor space, so you don’t have to worry about bumping into the legs of the desk.
   • You can also make your own desk. Use a thin piece of wood, cut it down to the desired size, and mount it to the wall. You can stain or paint it to match the room.
4. Get organized: One of the most important features of the desk is how it’s organized. You want to keep this space clutter free to allow your mind to flow. Make simple and out-of-the-way paper folders to keep a few hard copies of important documents. You can have a standing file folder on top of the desk, or a small file cabinet on the floor underneath the desk for safe keeping. Keep a few pens, tape, stapler, scissors, and other office supplies nearby in a cubby organizer. If you’re going to have phone calls to field, make sure that the space is quiet. Likewise, keep the rest of the room presentable for webinar conferences.

Regardless of what you are using your office for, keeping the space tidy and organized will give you a productive workspace. Don’t forget to get a comfortable chair and keep moving throughout the day. Sitting can take a toll on your back, and having the right office tools can be helpful to keep back pain away. Last, just add a touch of color and some photos to personalize your at-home workspace in no time.

Holiday parties are so much fun. Parties bring out the festive decorations and all of the ugly sweaters! If it’s your turn to host for the holidays, don’t stress out. Keep things simple to leave stress behind. After you’ve invited your favorite people, start thinking about what items you’re going to need for the holiday bash. Before things get into full swing, go down this list to make sure you’ve covered everything.

Cook ahead: Have an idea of what you are going to serve, and prep the sides that can keep in the fridge for a day or two. Things like casseroles or cold sides are perfect for this. The day of the big party, all you need to do is pop it in the oven to heat which gives you more precious time to work on other things.

Ask others to bring sides: Divide up the work by asking your guests to bring something. People are happy to help, and it can give your table a fun blend of tastes. You may even find a new favorite recipe! If you do ask people to bring a side, make sure to give them some direction. If you tell everyone to bring what they like, you could end up with 3 mashed potato dishes. Instead, give guests a food group that you would like them to cover. Tell your aunt to bring a vegetable dish, ask your sister for dessert, and your friend can bring the rolls. That way everything is covered, but it also takes the stress off of you.

Clear off counter space: You love all of your little knickknacks and photos. They add your personality to the space, but they get in the way for the party. Counter space is always in limited supply with platters and plates everywhere. To open up more space, clear off as much as possible to give your guests more space. It can also keep your things safe. When the drinks get flowing, and hand gestures get bigger, you favorite vase could accidentally be bumped. Take a few minutes to walk around the house to safely pack your daily decorations. Keep them in the closet for safe keeping until after the party.

Don’t over plan: There is a fine line between not planning enough and over planning. When you have too many things on the agenda for the night, the party can feel forced, which is never fun. Instead of having a set itinerary, let the night flow organically, and have a few activities that people can pick up if they want to. Set out a few games, or have a holiday movie playing in the background. That way, people can choose what they want to do, and everyone will have a great time.

Keep it simple: Who doesn’t love having their house decked out in holiday cheer? But, don’t stress out about going overboard. Have some basics, and don’t worry about the rest. The more decorations you have, the less space you have for people to move around. It may look great, but people will be more concerned about spending time with you and friends. Don’t sweat it if the garland isn’t out. As long as there’s excellent food, great music, and the people you love, you’ll have a hit party.

Whether it’s a group of friends, or extended family and bunches of kids, these simple rules will always give you a fabulous party. The key is to keep stress at bay so that you can enjoy the party too. The number one thing to remember is that the party is about spending time with those that you love and less about all of the things. Pour yourself a festive cocktail, crank the tunes, and have a great time! Happy Holidays!