10 tips for getting the most out of the holiday season:

10. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table
knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave
immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

9. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You cannot find
it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000
calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an
eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have
two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

8. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy.
Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed
potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

7. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or
whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car
with an automatic transmission.

6. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your
eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's
food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

5. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's.
You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the
time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while
carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

4. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted
Christmas cookies or pralines in the shape and size of Santa, position
yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming
the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you
leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

3. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you
don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three.
When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

2. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory
celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

1. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get
up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start
over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Happy Holidays, y'all!