Here's something to celebrate: A bit preparing can make your up coming get together a lot more fun and significantly less work-there's even a strategy to allow it to be lucrative. here really are a number of hints on how:

• Have a creative dress code or make the get together black-tie formal.

• Think outside the dining room. Try drinks on the patio or dessert in the garden. The unexpectedness of an unlikely location can add flavor to the meal.

• Make interesting place cards by writing each guest's name on a leaf, a cookie or a lottery ticket.

• Make your centerpiece unique. Use potted plants or a goldfish bowl. Cluster candles around it.

• Background music and ambient lighting help create an inviting setting.

• Keep celebration favors in the same theme as the rest of the party-such as seed packets for a garden celebration.

• Take advantage of conve-nience items such as pre-chopped vegetables or rotisserie chickens.

• To inspire conversation, give guests cards labeled with topics, such as "Favorite Vacation" or "Best Childhood Memory."

• Make the house smell festive. I always put a few cups of inexpensive red wine in a pot and simmer with cinnamon, ginger, rosemary and black pepper.

• Appoint get together photographers. Use a digital camera and download the pictures while the entertaining is still going on.

• Have a celebration that's practical and even worthwhile. Allow it to be a direct-selling soirée. That is, join the long-standing American tradition of the one-on-one sale of a product or service in someone's home, especially as part of a social gathering.

You and your guests can browse through the latest books, cookware, cosmetics, toys, games, financial services, pet items or scrapbooking supplies, just to name several products and services. Hosts receive plenty of perks, free merchandise and discounts.

Often, the products are hard to find anywhere else-even on the Internet. Many people appreciate the service aspect. They can shop at their leisure and there is no need to seek a salesperson.

If the idea appeals to you, you can learn a lot more from the associations that many sellers belong to. For example, The Direct Selling Association (DSA) is a major trade industry group. Members adhere to rigorous ethical and professional conduct guidelines.

If you like giving parties and meeting new people, you may even want to generate it your career.