With the holidays comes a MASSIVE amount of stress - you can try all you want to reduce it by cooking things in advance, taking the time off work to properly prepare ... even putting your foot down about how many people you'll invite to your party. Sometimes it helps, other times, it doesn't. With all the pressure to prepare a perfect Thanksgiving dinner, it can make you feel as though you're playing ball on running water. Or like you want to curl up and hide, as the case may be.

Here are some simple ways to reduce the stress of hosting Thanksgiving dinner.

Looking for the perfect Halloween treat for your party? Maybe something delicious and chocolaty, but also creeeepy? How about chocolate spiders! They're crunchy and fun -- and would be believe ridiculously easy, too? We've included a recipe and a how-to video below. These little guys are just too cute and funny not to make. Here are two versions of this simple Halloween recipe.

Doctors have removed a teen's stomach after a liquid-nitrogen cocktail ruptured it. The cocktail actually exploded inside of Gaby Scanlan when she drank it at her 18th birthday party. Basically she's lucky to be alive. Liquid-nitrogen cocktails -- did you even know this was a thing?

Seriously, though, this is scary stuff. The cocktail is one of those crazy-fun treats that become trendy before people realize how dangerous they can be. (See also: 4 Loko.) Here's the 411 on this ill-advised cocktail -- why it's being used for drinks and what kind of damage it can do to you.

They sure do drink a lot on Mad Men, don't they? They sure do. That's a television series with a whole cast full of pickled livers. I swear, someone drinks something in at least every scene. Just seeing the words Mad Men makes me crave something amber and ambrosial in a snifter. Makes me want to drink a whole bottle of Cabernet with my kids' leftover meatloaf. Makes me want to down dirty martini after dirty martini until I can't stand straight.

What were we talking about again? Oh yeah, lots of drinking in Mad Men. And now someone has gone and stitched together the most incredible tapestry of a Mad Men video ever. It's even better than Don Draper Says "What." Here is Slacktory's supercut of every on-screen drink in every episode of every season of Mad Men, ever. Don't worry -- somehow they squeezed it all in in under five minutes.

The 2012 presidential debates are here! The presidential debates are here! Are you planning to watch? You could watch them alone and shout at your television in privacy. Hey, that's cool. Do it all the time myself. But isn't it even more fun if you have a few friends over? I think a debate party is in order.

We've given you ideas for Republican-themed food and drinks and a Democrat-themed menu. But let's amp up the fun even more with some ideas for games, themes, and more.

The first presidential debate is less than a week away. Are you excited? Planning on having a few friends over to cheer on your favorite candidates?

Here are a few food and drink ideas to please the palates of your favorite Republicans. And we've got a menu for your Democrat friends, too. Stay tuned tomorrow for even more debate party ideas.

Are you ready for the first presidential debate on Wednesday? Why not turn the evening into a party -- have a few friends over, put out a little spread, mix up a few drinks. I mean, debates can get a little dry sometimes. But not if you're watching with your crew!

We've pulled together a few food and drink ideas with a Democrat slant. But don't worry, Romney supporters. We've got some fun Republican party ideas for you, too.

In the meantime, feast your ideas on these blue-state snacks and drinks. We think President Obama would approve -- but would the health-minded First Lady?

Oh for the love of Adam and Steve! A restaurant in an uber-gay neighborhood in Manhattan supposedly backed out of catering a gay wedding because catering the gays is "bad feng shui." Barrett Greene and Thomas Eng planned to have their rehearsal dinner at Amber Village and then have the restaurant cater their wedding reception. All seemed fine until the manager they were working with said they might have to move the event to a sister restaurant.

Okay, no problem, the couple rolled with it. But then allegedly the senior manager put the kibosh on the wedding -- and fired the manager who planned it! Not only that, he never returned Barrett and Thomas' $750 deposit. And worst of all, the senior manager supposedly said a big group of gay parties would be "bad feng shui" for the restaurant. WHAT?