If you are reading this blog, you are likely to be the sort of person who wants to be a good host, throwing lovely parties and entertaining guests.  Unfortunately, you (like me) may suffer from a compulsion to be "perfect."  Congratulations.  You have identified the surest way to set yourself up for failure.  No person or event will ever be perfect (no matter what you see on TV or in the magazines). Life just isn't made that way.

So give yourself a break.  Do prepare and try to foresee the big problems. But remember that no guest worth having will be upset with the little omissions and mishaps that are part of life.  So what if there's dust on the TV or the edges of the pizza burn or the dinner isn't all ready at the same time.

Life will go on.  And you might even have a funny story to tell at your next party!