~~~ Holiday Weekends The Easy Way ~~~ Vero Vine ~~~ Vero Beach, FL

Much of this is no brainer. You have done it before but it is easy for us to forget and try to be a super-human-party-planner-do-it-all-yourself. If you do all of the below instead, everyone will still have fun, including you.

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1. Share the work and pot luck: You prepare the main dish, and ask other guests to bring a dish, sides, and/or dessert.

2. Think bigger and have extra: More food and drinks than you need always. Leftovers are better than running short.

3. Lots of tid-bits available: Have munchies before the meal, veggie platter, cheese and crackers, and/or dips, this will keep you from having to field food questions and offer you time to focus on other things.

4. Prepare food a day ahead: Cook food in advance whenever possible, which leaves less chance for mishaps and more time for fun.

5. Get set up early: Set the table before guests arrive; it will make them feel comfortable and reduce last-minute stress.

6. Light clean as you go: Clear countertops and load the dishwasher when you find a free minute. This will save work later in the evening and keep your kitchen uncluttered.

7. Keep it casual: A low-key vibe is most comfortable. Remember, your guests are likely to enjoy themselves when you are having fun.

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Stacy Cook

Community Director at Vero Vine

Stacy Cook, founder of VeroVine.com, & VeroFoodie.com is a results driven, business development professional with more than 20 years experience in the digital marketing world.A unique combination of entrepreneurial spirit, programming expertise, marketing genius, creativity, vision and people skills has enabled Stacy to garner experience in a multitude of digital organizations.His emphasis has been in early-stage start-ups and he has been programming, managing and developing new ways of "using" computers since his high school days in Lexington, Kentucky.

Stacy was a Computer Lab Administrator for the University of Kentucky's MLK Microlabs AND ran his own website development/management firm while still in college.While earning his BS in Telecommunications at UK, he became a New Media Developer at Mikrotek ISP; performed Internet Marketing & Development for Host Communications/Total Sports, the NCAA AND was Vice President of Development for iHigh.com, a venture-funded start-up providing real-time sports statistics to media and internet users.

Since graduating, Stacy founded Edit-X in Denver, Colorado.At that time, Edit-X was THE most innovative software on the market, combining CMS and Ecommerce in a single software package.Edit-X became known as the most trusted resource for advanced online business development and has played crucial roles in a multitude of other internet businesses, including the largest privately held online dating sites and companies. Successful management of the online dating businesses gave Stacy access to tens of millions of dollars of new clients and marketingwork, propelling Stacy and his company into the Fortune 500 world.

After moving from Kentucky to Denver, Colorado and on to Miami, Florida, Stacy decided Vero Beach was the ideal spot to plant his feet and grow his family.He has lived in Vero since 2011. When not coding; marketing; chasing children:Ava, 16, Aden 12 & Myla 9; or promoting Vero Beach via Vero Vine and Vero Beach Foodie; Stacy enjoys the Arts, dabbles in photography, enjoys Vero's nightlife with his wife, dreams of snowboarding and runs his family all over the Treasure Coast exploring the new & cool.