Today's Boston Globe offers a nice companion read to Christine Canabou's recent advice on how to stay sane while going home for the holidays. Correspondent Mary Mulkerin Donius offers the following recommendations:

• Make a plan. Then cut it in half.
• Freeze extra meals.
• Shop by theme.
• Schedule. Schedule. Schedule.
• Develop a signature gift.
• Do one thing differently.
• Do a little at a time.
• Remember how you decorated.
• Stick to what you know.
• Stop trying to be perfect.