"Tis the season to lose your mind?" Not necessarily. If you strike the right balance between work and play, you can actually enjoy the holidays! These six tips for hassle free Yuletide entertaining will make your guests merry and leave you with enough energy to relax and have fun yourself. After all, what really matters is spending time with family and friends and being in the moment - before you wonder where it went. As the legendary John Lennon wrote so wisely: "Life is what happens while you're busy making plans."

So my friends plan to enjoy! What follows are a few simple ways to help you do just that and be the hostess with just enough most-ess.

Slobs R Us!

The saying goes, you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family. That's why every Thanksgiving, you make your Grandma's crowd-pleasing secret gravy recipe even though it ends up staining your favorite linens and shirts. Fear not these stains that binds us, coast to coast, slob to slob and gravy stain to gravy stain! Tide with Acti-Lift technology is here to the rescue when the dirty deed is done! That's right, it'll lift those dry stains off with ease days after so you don't have to ruin your holiday feast trying to clean that stain pronto. You can find Acti-lift technology in all your favorite Tide varieties. My fave is the multi-tasking, Plus Bleach Alternative, Mountain Spring scented variety. Say that three times fast!

Shake Don't Stir

If you'd rather not stir so much by refilling everyone's drinks all night long, have guests help themselves with these simple manicure-friendly options:

• Make large batches of your favorite holiday concoctions and place them in decorative pitchers so guests can re-fill on their own.


• Fill your fridge with single serve drinks that guests can grab and chuck so no muss to clean up later either.

Pimp the Pumpkin

Looking for an inexpensive and manicure-friendly way to add some decorative pizzazz to your holiday table? Look no further than your favorite pumpkin patch or the squash section in your local market. Pick different sized pumpkins, acron and butternut squashes then grab your kids (or borrow some from your friend or neighbor who would love a break!) and let the scooping begin. Save the tops for keeping the heat in and fill with your favorite side dishes like stuffing, gravy, apple or cranberry sauce any dips or whips. Not only will these servers look pretty on your table they'll also leave virtually no clean up afterwards.

Aroma Therapy

Why do realtors bake up a batch of cookies in the oven before showing a home to prospective buyers? Because the scent of a fresh-baked sugar cookie makes people so happy that they are predisposed to liking a home, regardless of its little flaws. This trick will work for your home too and your guests will like that you've made them dessert.

Break Bread

Everyone you invited has showed and the party is rocking. With lots of people in close quarters, something's bound to break. Whether it's a dropped wine glass or crashing dish. First use a hand vacuum or broom to sweep up the large pieces. Then break out a piece of fresh bread and press firmly to pick up remaining chards. Please throw out pronto and don't leave it on your counter - we don't want Fido thinking it's a treat for him! Oh yes, and if I were you, cut the droppee off from any further imbibing or eating!

Of course if you're lucky enough to be going out to celebrate be it at a family, friend's or a restaurant here's an easy, sanity saving way to deal with any of those 'accidental' spills, drips and all else in between courtesy of my Tide buds!

Clean in a Clutch

Carry the handy dandy Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover to save you and your loved ones from stained clothing embarrassment and disaster. It's about the size of your mascara, so will fit nicely in your clutch, purse or pocket to quickly rid clothing of stains that can remain if not treated pronto. So if you find that yummy wine has missed your mouth and hit your lovely blouse take aim with this magic mini. Then do yourself a favor the rest of the eve - drink clear libations so you can be both 'accidental' and stain free!