As the holidays begin, I wanted to pass these tips along to you. Enjoy the spirit of the festivities.

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. as for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies or pralines in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

OKAY I'M READY TO PARTY. WELL WHO'S HAVING THE PARTY!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah - who's turn is it??? ROAD TRIP!!!!!!

but I like carrot sticks Tara....

I'm having it Pat ... ready to grill?

There's no trees falling over due to ice here ! Still shorts and T-shirt weather !

Wooohooo! Boom can I come to your house?

Bring on the Christmas goodies!!

Timmmy you can have all the carrot sticks as long as there are RumGlitters!!!!

Anytime Tribs --- the party starts when you get here!

RumGlitters ---- yipppeeeeeee!!!

Some day, Boom, some day....

Good night ya'll!

I need to find a good recipe for RumGlitters

Love the rules LOL!!

Rum Glitters!! LOL!

THIS is GREAT!! And I am glad to know that I am living right!! My doc doesn't think so, but I think I'm skiddin' in just right!!

I'M MORE THEN READY TIMMMY!!!!!!!

Boom, I was hesitant to open this thread, I thought it was gonna be one of those:

eat a salad before you go so you won't be so hungry.

skip the butter on the potatoes and "season" for taste...BLEH

skip the dark meat, it's fatty

skip the turkey dressing, instead, put some carrots in the turkey bum...

you know the drill...oh and "don't drink, alcohol has hidden calories."

bleh...I'd rather skid into the grave healthy, but with a few extra love handles than to eat tasteless bleh food...!

timmy, i buy those little baby carrots...i snack on them at work, however, i admit, i dip them in low fat ranch dressing...LOL! (ok, i smother them with it...)

Tink - I like'em with real blue cheese dip

Timmy...YUM...

Hey!!! I love carrots too but given a HoLiDaY BuFfEt with carrots and RumGlitters.....

I'll take RumGlitters every time

You're only supposed to eat that way during the Holidays!!!

I always eat like that

now I know where I've been going wrong

LOL Roy, you and me both

Love the guidelines Boom!!
I am practicing them as I type!!

Oh and...BTW, isn't it supposed to be "Bourbon-Glitters"???

Tara, thanks!!! Now I don't feel so bad for eating those brownies and washing them down with egg-nog a little while ago I will feel bad when I look at the kids with disgust when W.H.N. ask "Who ate the brownies?" but, I'll get over it Have to start dinner but first, there is a piece of baklava that keeps calling my name. "Coming my sweet."

Can't wait for dessert