It's your party, and your time to shine

Whether you're hosting a cocktail party, holiday lunch or an elaborate dinner celebration, put on a happy face. It's a party! And it's something that can give you great pleasure. Today's entertaining is about having fun, enjoying yourself, connecting and sharing good times with friends. With a budget large or small, for business or for pleasure, entertaining is about taking time to enjoy each other's company. Gone are the days of having to impress, so relax. With a few general rules of thumb, setting the stage for a great party starts with you!

Tip No. 1: The most important tip of all is to remember that entertaining should be fun for you and your guests. Adopting a relaxed attitude not only calms your jitters but puts your guests at ease too. Entertaining is never effortless, but with a little planning, organization and confidence you will develop your personal style for creating successful parties from beginning to end.

Tip No. 2: Choosing a theme around an event or holiday will help you to design your invitation, food menu, decor and entertainment. Pumpkin Carving Party, Football Impromptu, Christmas Tree Trimming Party ... be creative.

Tip No. 3: Stick with recipes and ideas that suit your abilities and interests. This is not the time to try a new recipe. If you are a master at grilling, have a barbecue; if by chance you are a baker at heart, then host a ladies afternoon tea or luncheon complete with an array of decadent cupcakes. Choose your menus according to the time you have. Menus for grand occasions or a special event need more time and organization. When you are pressed for time or must entertain on short notice, there are still plenty of choices for party foods. You don't have to prepare everything you serve. If you know of a deli, market or bakery that makes a better potato salad or lemon tart than you, definitely buy it. It makes no difference. The idea is to offer your guests the best. Make lists for shopping and preparation; forgetting items or starting to cook a dish too late will only bring on anxiety. Stay ahead of the game!

Tip No. 4: Organize all your equipment and serving pieces well in advance. Setting the table the night before the event, placing your centerpieces and floral arrangements around the house allows you time for last-minute details the day of your party. If nothing else, it allows you the opportunity to appreciate the setting you have created, and gives you time to relax.

Tip No. 5: Cocktail parties should start at six and end around eight p.m. If you start any later, say at seven o'clock, be prepared to serve dinner. Cocktail parties should have at least six offerings of hors d'oeuvres, including a vegetarian option. Provide a full bar and figure five glasses of wine per 750ml bottle. It is good to have at least two wine or cocktail glasses per guest, as people tend to lose their glasses as they walk around.

Tip No. 6: The host is responsible for making introductions to guests that do not know each other, so pay attention and work the room. Mingle. Mingle. Mingle.

Tip No. 7: Please do not use plastic or paper plates unless you're hosting an event for thousands! Pull out the stashed wedding presents and personalize your party with your own platters, bowls, plates, trays, and glasses. And don't put floral arrangements on a tray with food; flowers belong in a vase.

Tip No. 8: Place subtle scented candles around the house don't forget the powder room and replace those dreadful white high wattage light bulbs with more flattering low wattage pink or peach. Also, have fun with Christmas lights. You can drape them in imaginative ways or bunch them together in a glass bowl with shiny Christmas ornaments.

Tip No. 9: During the winter season, it is always nice to have children or an assistant help guests remove their coats upon their arrival. A welcome celebratory gesture is to offer a tray of the "festive cocktail" upon arrival. Guests will take a sip or two and/or eventually trade for their choice of drink.

Tip No. 10: Music makes a party and it is so easy these days to create the mood with a variety of music systems CD player, MP3 player, iPod, etc. When choosing music, remember your theme. You are the choreographer of the party. Set the stage lighter conversational music, lively sexy music, or dance music and party tunes that inspire shouts of joy and spontaneous dancing. If your party theme evokes performing artists, look into hiring a fortune teller, belly dancers, palm reader or a small acrobatic troupe.

'Tis the season, and it's your party, so put on your party hat and celebrate the magic of the holidays, enjoy!

Rhonda Carano oversees the advertising, public relations and corporate image of Reno-based Eldorado Resorts, LLC, which includes hotels in Reno, Nevada and Shreveport, La. She also is the co-proprietor and vice president of Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery in Healdsburg, Calif., and co-owner of Vintners Inn, a hotel in Santa Rosa, Calif., and the Sonoma County restaurant, John Ash & Co.