How to Prevent Common Christmas Disasters

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With a little forethought, you can avoid many embarrassing, annoying, and downright dangerous holiday mishaps.

To complete this How-To you will need:

Emergency gifts
A drink limit
Kiss-avoidance strategies
Graciousness
Fishing wire
A computer with internet access
Orange and lemon rinds (optional)

Step 1: Buy extra gifts

Have wrapped, unisex gifts on hand in case you forget someone. This is also useful if someone gives you something that cost twice as much as what you gave them: Just say, "And here's your other gift!"

Tip: Pick things you can use if you don't give them as gifts, or stuff that can hold until next year.

Step 2: Find your drink limit

Figure out how much alcohol you can drink at the office Christmas party before you're at risk of doing something you'll regret. Then stick to your limit.

Step 3: Dodge a kiss

Avoid an unwelcome mistletoe kiss by saying you have a cold -- or feigning a cough or sneeze as the person closes in on you.

Step 4: Be gracious, but vague

If someone gives you a lousy gift, simply say, "Thank you." If you pretend to like it, you may get more of the same next year.

Step 5: Keep pets safe

Prevent an emergency trip to the veterinarian by keeping sweet treats away from dogs and cats. Chocolate toxicity is the most common holiday-related illness for pets. Poinsettias are also poisonous to your four-legged friends.

Step 6: Secure the tree

Keep kids and pets from knocking over the Christmas tree by securing it with clear fishing line attached to the treetop and a ceiling hook.

Tip: If you have a cat, scatter orange and lemon rinds on the tree skirt; most cats hate citrus scents.

Step 7: Get last-minute gifts

Don't panic if you still need gifts and even the drugstores are closed: Just go online, order a gift, and print out a photo of it. On your way out when you realize you've forgotten someone? Pick up some movie passes or a gas gift card.

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• HomeFamily
• preventing
• christmas
• disasters
• problems
• holidays
• hosting
• cooking
• dinner
• parties
• throwing
• giving

[siannacooking4fun]

My cat ate the orange rind....

[prettyinpunk03]

"and here's your other gift!"

i about died with laughter when I heard that...oh wait this is the internet...i meant to say, I was ROTFLMAO.

[nunoyobiznis]

1:05... i don'y think that gift was THAT bad... it would make a cute decoration ;)

[friendlybeanrocks24]

Umm.

[makeupbyhannah100]

WIN FREE SEX...

did i get your attention???

[Rikigals]

@prettyinpunk03 ROTFLMAOCIHNBTD!

[DuhEnlightenedOne]

BEst way to prevent Christmas disasters is get rid of all your friends and family that expect gifts. If you want a gift, get a damn job and buy the gift yourself.

[thelovelyleaf]

What about spraying lemon juice around the bottom of the tree?

[thelovelyleaf]

Those shit I don't have a hand or something blah blah blah are so old..

[Rover7898]

*SHIT* I dont have a computer with internet access

[StarleePie47]

I've had a cat for 4 years. And She never knocked down the tree.