“I make my own holiday cards by mounting favorite photos I’ve taken. And I always write personal notes using a fine-tip old-fashioned fountain pen. To stay calm and watch my weight during the holidays, I like to indulge in all sorts of flavored teas. That’s much better than nibbling away on treats.” —Sarah Ferguson, 48, the Duchess of York
“I have an annual holiday ladies’ night. I set up my bedroom so we can relax while each of us gets a 30-minute massage, a mani, and a pedi. Then we decorate the tree and eat while wrapping gifts and sipping mimosas!” —Latashia DeVeaux, 30, Los Angeles
“To avoid getting financially stressed out, I try to think of meaningful gifts and make what I can, even if it means uploading pictures to Shutterfly.com and having them framed and shipped through Art.com. A picture doesn’t cost as much and is worth more in emotional currency than an impersonal gift.” —Jennifer Conlin, 30, Madison, Wisconsin
“I’m from Chicago and planned a big Christmas party at my parents’ home in Boston. Believe it or not, I used an Excel spreadsheet to divide up duties! Each sheet detailed exactly what each person had to do and all the contact, budget, and any other information they needed. It worked great, and the party was a hit.” —Renata Breggstone, 34, Chicago
“If I’m going to a party, I make sure I work out before I go. Even 20 minutes is better than nothing; it’s fitness in the bank. Then, when you get to the party, you can say, ‘I’m going to have a little slice of pumpkin pie. And it’s OK because I’ve already worked out.’” —Valerie Waters, 42, Los Angeles–based celebrity trainer for actress Jennifer Garner and model Cindy Crawford
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