Book excerpt: Just the thought of the holidays can be overwhelming: the decorating, the shopping, the entertaining, and the extra commitments (not to mention the extra calories). Fortunately, Surviving the Holidays For Dummies offers expert tips to help you make it through the holidays in one piece — with your friends and family marveling at how you do it all! This specially created ebook is divided into four parts that guide you through the holiday process. We can't help you with every holiday happening (and we would never claim to be able to do so) but we can help you plan and prepare for what should be the most wonderful time of the year. So whether you're having trouble getting in the holiday spirit or overwhelmed by all the shopping and entertaining, we've culled tried-and-true content from many of our bestselling titles to bring you this fun, approachable ebook to survive — and thrive — throughout the Holiday season. You'll start with tips and hints for avoiding as much holiday stress as possible and discover how you can get a head start on holiday shopping with gift ideas and, of course, Dummies product suggestions. Next up you'll find out how to entertain like a pro and host a stellar bash — from choosing a date and planning a menu to making your holidays flow smoothly with handy, must-have to-do lists. Plus, you'll find easy-to-follow recipes for drinks, appetizers, main and side dishes, and desserts and that will make you the talk of Tinsel Town. And what would any holiday be without a bit of overindulgence? If the holidays leave you feeling drained and in need of a recharge, we've got advice for how to quickly recover, both mentally and physically. We've even included a lighthearted Part of Tens. In this section, you discover what you should (and shouldn’t) do during the holidays. 'Tis the season to enjoy the holidays with a little bit of help from For Dummies.