Preparing for the unexpected—and taking little mishaps in stride—are the mark of a good host. Here are a few of our recent holiday foibles and how we handled them (or wished we had!).

Unexpected extras? If you have kids, you probably have one of those little bench-attached plastic picnic tables, so have someone haul it in and set it for the kids. If you're worried about scratches or a mess on your floor, put an old sheet or beach towels underneath. And if you're short on matching china, younger kids are completely happy with paper plates (and it's much safer for the kids and the china).

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Gravy disasters? Always buy a few jars or packets of gravy mix to have on hand in case of burned gravy or not having enough pan drippings to make a sufficient amount of gravy. Trust us on this one!

Who's a vegetarian? If you find out at 2 pm that Bobby's new girlfriend is a vegetarian, don't worry. Most vegetarians are completely happy to enjoy the side dishes. If you're still concerned or if it's possible a vegan might appear at your table, we love one team member's idea of keeping a frozen vegan or vegetarian entrée on hand. If your guest decides not to eat it, you can always serve it as a side dish or keep it frozen for another holiday.

Too much to do? What host doesn't have too much to do in preparation for a holiday! If you assign dishes for other guests to bring, it will reduce your stress immensely. Here are some suggestions:

• Delegate dessert. Assign someone to bring the pumpkin pies and whipped cream or, if you like to make your own pies, have them bring an alternate dessert.
• Assign sides and appetizers. Veggies and dip are easy, popular, and transportable. Or let a guest surprise you with a special appetizer. For side dishes, have a guest bring a gelatin dish, green-bean casserole, or sweet potatoes. Ask that anything that needs to be reheated arrive in a serving dish that can go in the microwave for easy reheating.
• Send off the sodas. One team member confesses to forgetting to purchase soft drinks on a few holiday occasions. This is a great assignment for guests who don't like to cook or cash-strapped college kids.

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