Christmas, Chanukah, Quanza or whatever you happen to celebrate -- the holidays (as wonderful as they are) can be a time for stress! We know you need all the help you can get, and we are here to oblige. Take a moment to read through our cocktail party planning guide for a sure-fire, (almost) stress free hosting experience! Make a martini and let the good times roll. And if it is not the holiday season, that is ok too - host a party!

Creating a planning checklist for your martini cocktail party can be a huge help. Let's explore some planning ideas:

• Plan your guest list carefully. Of course you'll want to invite your best pals, but consider inviting some old friends that you've not seen in a while. If you'd like to make some new introductions of your friends that don't know one another, this is the perfect time. Usually 10 to 12 guests make for a swell cocktail gathering.

• Mail formal invitations, and include: time to arrive, brief details such as “martini menu and swanky hors d'oeuvres,” and by all means specify the attire! Pick a theme and stick to it—flapper dresses and zoot-suits? Skinny ties and poodle skirts? Or even, slinky black dresses and tuxedos? Have fun; after all, it's a party. You should certainly follow up by telephone, but an unannounced cocktail party invitation is always welcome. Remember to mail them well in advance to make scheduling easier on your guests.

• Choose the area for the cocktail party. Make sure the space is large enough, provides comfortable seating, plenty of mingling room, and of course—a place to set up your martini mixing bar!

• Plan your menu. You'll be planning a classic appetizer menu, as well as a wonderful martini menu from which your guests will choose. If you really want to mix it up, you can even add a nice Cosmopolitan cocktail to the choices. Go the extra step and create a beautiful bar top menu for your guests to peruse.

• Create your martini shopping list. You'll need plenty of vodka, gin, vermouth, and gourmet olives to be sure. Depending on your martini menu, you might also include bleu cheese for hand stuffing olives, plastic olive swords (they add a dash of retro kitsch), and some fruit juices if you plan to include a Cosmopolitan martini.

• Create your appetizer shopping list. We'll be discussing some excellent martini party appetizer recipes shortly, but if you stick with your theme, you can't go wrong. A guest in a tuxedo can't resist a water-cracker and caviar. Wearing skinny lapels—you simply can't go wrong with tooth-picked cocktail wieners! You should plan on 3 cold appetizers, including a relish, and 3 hot dishes.

• Stock your martini bar like a pro. With the right tools at hand, you'll be ready for anything! Plenty of martini glasses, at least 2 cocktail shakers, a Hawthorne strainer, lint free bar towels, a stunning ice bucket with tongs, and toothpicks are among the minimum requirements for making a martini party truly successful. When mixing a martini, remember that presentation is important. Plenty of chilled martini glasses, lots of cracked ice, and cocktail shakers at the ready!

• Plan your décor. Once again, stick to your theme. A few pieces of the proper décor will go a long way! A retro bar mirror behind your martini bar is a classy touch. A couple of vintage (and cheap from a resale shop) Naugahyde chairs and a velvet pillow can transform a living room into a swanky martini shindig spot. Don't forget about lighting either…a dimly lit room is elegant and can add a touch of martini style romance.

• Plan the atmosphere. Cocktail lounge music is always appropriate! There is certainly nothing wrong with high fidelity of a compact disc, but we believe that the smooth sounds of Sinatra or the space-age bachelor pad sounds of Esquivel sound better on vinyl. While you are visiting thrift stores, pick up a phonograph.

• Practice mixing your martinis and cocktails. A few practice runs will help you develop a skilled eye for measuring and mixing while maintaining your mingling duties as host.

Remember that planning is the key to cocktail party success, but also remember the part about “fun” being the reason to have a mixer in the first place. Take the time to plan out the details and you'll be assured to enjoy your martini party as much as your guests!