Holiday anxiety

Once again, the holidays are here with Passover and Easter (and Eid, which just was). As with the winter holidays, it is a time for family and friends to gather and break bread or Matzah. Also, like the winter holidays, it takes a lot of planning and prepping. It's like planning a dinner party, only you might have to include family members who are not on your favorite branch of the family tree.

 The 4 main steps to planning a dinner party…

1.    Make the guest list.

2.   Pick the date and time.

3.    Send the invites. — Kate Arends, WitandDelight.com

4.   Plan the menu.

For some planning a dinner party can be anxiety-producing. It's a 22-person seder at my mom's apartment and no wonder she crashes the next day. Keep anxiety at bay with the 5Cs from Kim…

1.    Casual ambience

2.   Comfortable for all

3.    Collaborate (que…Potluck)

4.   Conversation flowing (and the drinks)

5.    Clean-up with care (some clean-up can happen the next day) — Kim, FeedMyFriends.com 

The seder at my mom's is potluck. Everyone brings a side dish or a dessert, and my mom provides the brisket and salmon. Also, consider using bamboo dishware that can be recycled, so you have fewer dishes to do. When it's not the Holidays consider some alternatives to a dinner party— cocktails with light bites, afternoon tea with finger food, a late-night dessert-only gathering, etc. Off and on for many years I did a ladies' tea each year so all my girlfriends could mingle and meet each other. I hope this year to have another "Ladies' Tea".