Planning a holiday party is a way to bring together friends and family under one roof for good food and great company. Here are some ways to plan the perfect party, from beginning to end.

The number one thing you can do to plan the perfect party is to start a few weeks before your event. Plan out the menu far in advance and do a trial run to test the recipes and time it takes you to set everything up. This will save you a lot of time and energy on the day of your party. And be sure to enlist friends and family to help you carry out the event, including asking them to bring some of their own signature dishes to share. In terms of decorations, think about what color or theme you'd like to do, and carry it out in thoughtful ways -- like a bowl filled with Christmas ornaments, different colored glasses, or beautiful votives. And last but not least, ensure instant merriment by setting up a table with pre-made drinks. This will guarantee that guests relax and kick off the party at the onset.

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If you're anticipating a large crowd, you might want to consider using disposable serving ware. You can choose eco-friendly options, including items made from recycled paper and plastic. This step can save you a lot of time and effort, especially during cleanup.

An easy way to keep your sanity while hosting a party is to know what tasks to delegate, and who to delegate the tasks to! Learn to lean on friends and family -- including kids -- to handle some basic chores that will let you focus on more important things, like keeping your sanity intact! For example, kids are always eager to do something that keeps them busy, especially when they're outnumbered by adults. So let the little ones be in charge of checking coats (you can even have them pile them up on the spare bed in the guestroom). And ask a friend or family member to take care of the last-minute touches on the tables, like lighting candles or filling water glasses.

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Depending on what you're serving during the holidays, you can freeze food and reheat later for some quick and easy dishes in the future. But, how good are you at gauging when to thaw or when to just throw out? Here's an easy way to know exactly what to do when you're freezing food. Before you put it in the freezer, label the food container or wrapper with the following information: the food, the date you put it in the freezer, and the expiration date. As a rule of thumb, turkey meat can last 4-6 months; and stuffing, soups, cranberry sauce, cakes, cupcakes, and pies can last 2-3 months. This easy system takes out the guesswork, especially when you've got a crowded freezer.

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