Throw a wickedly perfect party

Kimberly Kennedy's mastery of all things domestic won her top honors in the reality show "Wickedly Perfect." Now she's put that perfectionism into a book, "The Art and Craft of Entertaining" (Atria Books, $26).

Kennedy, a lifestyle contributor to CBS' "The Early Show," is inordinately focused when it comes to entertaining.

This is a woman who keeps a party planning journal, designates a bulletin board for items that might inspire her and makes her own handmade invitations; her book reflects that thorough approach.

Serious hosts will find plenty of useful information here.

Besides the expected recipes, menu suggestions and centerpiece ideas, Kennedy provides a guide to matching wine with food, a list of flowers available by season and even instructions for building your own buffet table.