Embrace imperfection. De Laurentiis makes regular appearances on
the Today show, and "doing live TV helped me realize that it's
OK if things aren't perfect," she says. One way to be
comfortable with "good enough" for a big occasion is to
demystify it. "At the end of the day, the holidays are no
different from any other get-together with your family," says De
Laurentiis. "I think it stresses people out more, but truly, any
time you're with your family is special. That's really how you
have to treat it." If the perfectionist in you can't relax,
direct those energies toward a project with a strong chance of
success. "If you don't feel comfortable cooking for a lot of
people, get a catered meal and make a simple but special
cocktail, and you can still look like a star!"  Carve out
recharging time. She's got a book to publicize, shows to tape
and a new baby, but De Laurentiis puts a priority on finding
time to recharge. (The key is tuning in to what truly works for
you. Does a spa day sound like a scheduling heada