• Start planning well in advance if you want to put on a holiday party people will talk about for years.Ryan McVay/Digital Vision/Getty Images
  
  You versus holiday hosting. It's that time of the year and you better get your game face on because your opponent will not be easily defeated. Burnt pie, sibling rivalry, drunk uncle, ugly gifts, the defensive line goes on and on. Well, it's GAME ON!
  
  

Pre-Game Warm Up

• Stock up, clean up, and catch up before the guests arrive. Stock up on food stuffs to avoid running to the market every other minute to purchase ingredients for the hors d' oeuvres or the main dish for the holiday spread. Restock the bar and chill the wine. Clean up the house to make it presentable and you won't have to worry about your judgmental sister-in-law seeing dust bunnies hop across your wood floor during cocktails. Catch up on all the extra little errands that the holidays entail in order to focus all of your time and energy on your friends and family. Have all the gifts wrapped, cards mailed, and decorations up, leaving you relaxed and excited about enjoying your guests.
  
  

Watch Last Season's Game Films

• Talk over the things that went well and the things that bombed at last year's hoopla. Ask your close friends (the ones that will give you the straight story) how the menu went over, the playlist, the gift exchange. What about the guest list? Was it a good mix of personalities or should certain individuals be given the boot this year?
  
  The devil is in the details. If you pay attention to all the things that were incredible about your previous parties and dump the few things that didn't work, each year the blow out should just get better and better. Reviewing the previous years' successes should also ease your anxiety about holiday hosting and reassure you of your skills.
  
  

Play to Win

• Organize the party's events to keep everything moving and prevent boredom. If it's a sit down dinner affair, use place-cards to create the best personality combinations around the table. Aim for people that will keep each section of the table lively and engaged.
  
  Planning a white elephant gift exchange? Buy and wrap a few extra gifts for the Lazy Larrys who always forget those small details. If you're hosting a holiday game night, consider having several different game tables going. Perhaps one geared for the younger crowd and a couple for the adults. Provide plenty of food throughout the party. There's nothing worse than hungry party-goers who get cranky because they're waiting for you to roll out the spread. Always have a dish you can grab from the freezer in case the quiche you planned on serving comes out of the oven a little overbaked. Watch the crowd and make sure that anyone who may have had a little too much holiday cheer has a safe way of getting home.
  
  

Post-Party Cool Down

• Clean up after the guests leave by assigning tasks to your family and the place will be tidy in a flash. Have a bunch of reusable containers on hand to stick the leftovers in and share. If you've been nice and not naughty this year, use the cash Santa left in your stocking and hire someone to clean up the party aftermath.
  
  

Acknowledge Your Victory

• Schedule a mani-pedi for the next day, or a spa day to unwind and de-stress from the party planning and hosting. Congratulate yourself for providing a wonderful memory for yourself, friends, and family. More holiday hosting on the agenda? Refer to the top of the list.