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"Spirits are bright, bells are jingling, and it has already been eight, crazy nights \u2013 the holidays must be upon us.\n\nFor most of us, starting around Thanksgiving, our weekends are packed with shopping, wrapping and of course \u2013 holiday dinners and parties. And even though we might feel spread thin from the packed schedule and far too many commitments, the holiday magic has a way of keeping things merry and bright. The good tidings and cheer shouldn\u2019t be interrupted by guilt \u2013 from eating at least \u2013 as your Bubby will still talk your ear off about how you don\u2019t visit enough.\n\nGo armed with holiday spirit and ten tinsel-time tips for surviving the onslaught of get-togethers.\n\n1. Get party pampered\u2026\u00A0Even if it\u2019s just a good old gathering at a friend\u2019s house, use the get-together as an excuse to hit the salon. Get your hair blown out, finally treat yourself to a well-deserved manicure or maybe just plan your regularly scheduled roots touch-up that day. Getting glammed up will set you up to feel super-fly all night and less likely to over-indulge.\n\n2. Dress for success\u2026\u00A0Now\u2019s the time to whip out that LBD that you triumphantly scored outlet shopping on Black Friday (a little holiday gift to yourself). Feeling fabulous starts with dressing the part and will perfectly complement your Christmas coif or Hanukkah hairdo. Try picking out something fitted as well, and you\u2019ll want to work the room, not scour the room for treats.\n\n3. Snack attack on track\u2026\u00A0You definitely don\u2019t want to be the guy or gal at the party gnawing on a granola bar from home, and that\u2019s definitely not expected. What you can do is munch on a healthy snack beforehand. Aim for 150 calories or less, such as 2 Fiber Rich crackers with a Laughing Cow Light cheese wedge, or a Gnu bar. The invite might read \u201CCocktails for Christmas\u201D but it\u2019s fairly reasonable to assume there will be at least some noshes for the night, so don\u2019t arrive ravenous. Plus, if cocktails are the only item on the menu, it won\u2019t hurt to have food in your stomach before a night of drinking.\n\n4. Know before you go\u2026\u00A0If you know beforehand that there will be food at the party, decide if the offerings will be your dinner. If yes, stick to the \u201C4 napkin rule\u201D \u2013 fill up 3-4 napkins worth of appetizers throughout the party and then stop \u2013 and no munching when you get home. If temptation is too fierce, make solid plans for after the party. Be it a fun dinner reservation at a favorite place or date night \u2013 just you, your couch, Will Ferrell (as Buddy the Elf, of course) and a portion-controlled organic frozen dinner, such as an Amy\u2019s or Organic Bistro meal.\n\n5. Delay your way\u2026\u00A0No matter what, a good trick is to delay your eating from the start. When you walk in and saunter over to the bar area, grab a bottle of water instead of a cocktail and a helping of appetizers. This way there will be less time to overdo it, and you will be proud of your restraint from the beginning. If you are at a holiday dinner and manage to skip the\u00A0hors d'oeuvres\u00A0altogether, it will leave you more room for flexibility at the dinner.\n\n6. Protein packed\u2026\u00A0If you are going to indulge in appetizers and munchies at the party, stick to the veggies and proteins like shrimp cocktail, chicken satay or sushi (not fried or drenched in mayo!). Again, stick to the \u201C4 napkin rule\u201D and only help yourself to four servings eaten off of a napkin or cocktail plate. Not allowing yourself to pick and pop in your mouth will help you to keep track and be mindful.\n\n7. Hold on\u2026\u00A0These events are the place to whip out your (seemingly impractical) but fabulous clutch. Keeping it in your clutches all night, along with a drink in the other hand, will help you to avoid snacking for the sake of keeping occupied. Gentlemen (and some ladies!), sparkly handbags might not be your thing, but keeping a drink in one hand and the other one free for firm, friendly handshakes could go a long way at the company party.\n\n8. Chat it up\u2026\u00A0Remember why you\u2019re there \u2013 it\u2019s a party after all! Even if it\u2019s a work event, it\u2019s a great opportunity to relax a bit and enjoy the office crowd. Or maybe it\u2019s a yearly get together with gal pals that is sadly becoming one of the only traditions you\u2019re able to keep where everyone actually is able to make it out. Make the night about conversation and connection \u2013 not cocktails and confections.\n\n9. But be careful about mixing it up\u2026\u00A0Visions of sugarplums might be dancing in your head but don\u2019t let them boogie on into your beverages. Beware of the super sweet drinks! It\u2019s really cute that your gracious host spent weeks coming up with her \u201CYuletide Poolside Patron Margarita\u201D but her themed drink goes down way too easy. One too many of those babies and you\u2019re simultaneously belting out \u201CMele Kalikimaka\u201D and gorging yourself on pineapple upside down cake among many other treats from the dessert spread. Stick to wine, light beer or vodka mixed with club soda and limes. Pick something refreshing that you will sip slowly.\n\n10. Good list, bad list, who cares\u2026\u00A0Above all else, it\u2019s the holidays after all. If you make it the \u201C5 napkin rule\u201D or indulge in your pal\u2019s\u00A0\u201CYuletide Poolside Patron Margarita,\u201D don\u2019t go home and worry that Santa will be skipping your house this year \u2013 and certainly don\u2019t crunch down his cookies with a gulp of his milk. Instead, tuck yourself in, rest snug in your bed, and maybe play a few extra reindeer games the next day.\n\nHealthy holidays to all, and to all a good night!"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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