Yes, you. Not the person sitting next to you or behind you. Hope you’re doing well!

I’ve been blogging for two and a half years. In that time, I’ve read quite a bit about passive income, investing, retirement planning, and saving money. These are all very important, but then I thought, what about work life balance?

That’s when it struck me. Why do people try and rush through their bucket list when they are close to kicking the bucket? Why don’t I carve out some time to actively check off bucket list items now? This is not an excuse to ignore the items I listed above. This is just my personal attempt at balancing my life because lately I’ve tipping too much to following money related agendas.

I invite you to join me on this bucket list challenge. I’m starting off small with the hopes of tackling bigger ticket items after I get things rolling. Was there a place or event around where you live that you always wanted to visit or attend, but you always put it off till “one day”?

Last weekend I checked off visiting the Renaissance Faire. I’ve been wanting to go for years but always put it off. It was a small win, but it felt great to take action on balancing my life and checking off an item from my bucket list.

What’s in it for you?

Take a short break from building your empire
Check off one item on your bucket list
Use the momentum to make more positive changes
Showcase the uniqueness of your area
Perhaps stimulate your local tourism industry
Share with others and hopefully inspire them to do the same

If you choose to accept this mission, you have two weeks to complete it. Take a week to write a post about it and post it up by June 7th. Also send me a link so I can make a round up and link to your post. I will post my round up on June 10th.

I know this may not be your usual post topic, but stepping out of your comfort zone does wonders for the soul. If this is no interest to you, no hard feelings and I wish you the best in your endeavors. Finally, if you need my assistance with anything you are working on, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Stay Inspired!
Buck

Taking a step back, I shouldn’t be surprised as I was trained from when I was born to follow the tried and true formula of life. But what if we have it wrong? What if we were chasing the wrong thing?

Learn about David Choe, the Facebook mural artist that took FB stock instead of a $60,000 payment. Money changes everything, but he may have had the right formula all along.

Update: I may have been overly excited when making the podcast. The correct figure is $200 million, not $500 million. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Special Mention:

Barbara Walters David Choe Interview

Thumbs Up Trailer (not suitable for work)

Thank you so much for listening. Please do leave any comments, questions, and suggestions. If you haven’t already, please stop by iTunes to leave a review, good or bad. Don’t worry, I can handle the truth.

Click Here To Leave A Review For The Podcast

Thanks again, have a great weekend, and

Stay Inspired!
Buck

A few weekends ago I made my way to Santa Monica’s Bergamot Station and attended the Pregnancy Awareness Month 2013 event.  Hundreds of parents were treated to tons of vendors, samples, and demonstrations.  However what grabbed my attention this time was the celebrity dad speaker panel.

I was treated to the celebrity dad insights and anecdotes of Eric Dane, Ian Ziering, and Balthazar Getty.  The panel was hosted by our good buddy Robert Nickell of Daddy Scrubs and deftly moderated by Kevin Frasier from The Insider.

I half expected Ian Ziering to be the class clown from his 90210 days.  To my surprise, he tugged at the heart strings as he recollected tearing up with his daughters.  Eric Dane was McFunny instead of McSteamy as he kept the crowd in stiches with his one liners. Balthazar Getty advised us to encourage our little ones’ desires by not saying no to them unless absolutely necessary.  Finally, Daddy Nickell spoke about leaving a legacy as two of his daughters currently work for his company.  He also mentioned ages 0-3 are the most critical times for child development so parents have to be especially diligent at this time.

Final Thoughts

PAM co-founders Alisa Donner and Anna Getty wowed attendees with great speakers, products, and prize giveaways.  Congrats on pulling off another fantastic show!  Special thanks to Dr. Greene for fielding my question about organic foods, warning me about pesticides, and the Dirty Dozen.

For more information, visit Pregnancy Awareness and EWG’s 2013 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.

Stay Inspired!
Buck

It was a beautiful summer like day. I have to admit I was a little nervous as I was finally going to visit the Renaissance Faire. I’ve been itching to go for years, but have always put it off for another day. Well that day is here. I’m not going in costume, but I am looking forward to the passionate faire goers who will be decked out in full garb. More power to ya! God Save the Queen, Huzzah!

First up, Gypsy Jeff dazzled us with his juggling and witty banter. He defied death by juggling fire and sharp instruments. Finally, he encouraged all of us to pursue our passions and dreams and quit our day jobs.

Circa Paleo

Next up I journeyed to faraway lands as a Gypsy, a Keltic , and a Viking. I was entranced by unique and beautiful music performed by Circa Paleo. Jenny explained the nuances of each piece as she expertly guided us along the way.

Food Court

For lunch, I chowed down on a delicious, barbaric turkey leg. It was mouthwatering after I added spices and barbecue sauce. I topped it off with a huge serving of yummy curly fries soaked in ketchup. Don’t worry, I only indulge once In a great while.

Final Thoughts

There were tons of games like throwing knives, axes, spears, and even using a bow and arrow. You could also dunk a wisecracking jester and test your strength against a mighty giant. The queen paraded with her court a few times and I even spotted fairies and demons.

As the fair wrapped up I was treated to an impromptu band performance. Wanderers from faraway lands gathered like moths to a flame as the percussion and wind instruments harmoniously played together. Their energy was magical as everyone danced the day away. I felt brotherhood, merriment, and open hearts. The world needs more events like this one. Interestingly, some people carried mock weapons, but everyone carried a mug. Drinking and fellowship are more important than warfare.

Thanks Kristen for a wonderful escape to fantasy! For more information, visit Renaissance Pleasure Faire and Circa Paleo today.

Stay Inspired!
Buck

Special Mention:

SPI 064 : Podcasting for More Exposure, Leads and Money (My SMMW13 Presentation!)

Why the Rock Is the First Pro Wrestler (or Athlete) to Become a Movie Star

Settle Your Confidence Debt Tony Stark

Pain & Gain Trailer

Fast and Furious 6 Trailer

GI Joe 2 Trailer

Thank you so much for listening. I hope you liked the new format. Please do leave any comments, questions, and suggestions. If you haven’t already, please stop by iTunes to leave a review, good or bad. Don’t worry, I can handle the truth.

Click Here To Leave A Review For The Podcast

Thanks again, have a great weekend, and

Stay Inspired!
Buck

Stay Inspired!
Buck

Youtube Sensations – Where Are They Now? infographic

The majority of divorces that go through in England and Wales are never going to be enjoyable or monumental occasions.  Of course, there are always exceptions to any rule!  Though divorce is usually the only course of sensible action left to take when things have hit rock bottom and reconciliation signs have vanished.

Advice will be required from divorce solicitors in dealing with all the legal aspects but experience in dealing with the mentally and emotionally roller-coaster ride is usually necessary.  Divorcing as easily and simply as possible is often what most parties will agree on and the following tips aid when pursuing a quick divorce.

Are you prepared for divorce?

This debate that may have been going on in your mind for some time, can lead to endless sleepless nights.  The following should help in the decision process for both you and your partner:

• Ask yourself if it’s finished with no way back no matter
• Have you attempted marriage guidance counselling
• Counselling for yourself
• If you’ve not already told your partner consider how you will
• Temporary separation test; can go a long way in sorting things out, re-evaluate and quietly contemplate the relationship
• Rather than the blame game, look at your role in the relationship
• Consider financial implications
• Considered all alternative solutions
• If you’ve children have you considered the effect on them

Once you’ve gone through the above and still require a divorce it’s time to call a solicitor

Dealing with the emotions

Whether you are instigating the divorce or the one most against it, the following tips with dealing your emotions in this arena will help:

• When talking to your spouse stay calm, further rows will not help
• The above rule applies when talking to others who are fond of your spouse
• If children are involved refrain from speaking about this, or if pushed to the limit, bad mouthing your spouse in front of them
• Physical exercise is a great way of working off any pent up aggression or ‘wound up’ feeling
• Stay off the drink and all other substances that can block out emotion
• Seek out an experience divorce solicitor
• Forget about revenge and think of life after the episode has concluded

Emotions can wreak havoc and you need to ensure that you are eating well and getting a good sleep.  Problems you foresee may seem upsetting but you really will get over them and deal with them efficiently with good advice.

Guilt is understandable, especially when children are involved but it’s only a temporary process and will be worth it if it’s at this stage.

Friends & Family

These people know you more than you think and in many cases keeping friends and family from both sides will make the situation more manageable.

The tips below should be considered before explaining the situation and the reasoning behind the divorce:

• Support from them will be invaluable at times
• Family ties may require you to get together now and then
• Don’t let them feel they have to take sides
• Try and become friends and stay in touch, many couples get back together after time apart
• Children will want to see both of you and not feel pressured by either of you
• Plan for reactions from your children, family and friends, it may not be what you expect

These tips should help you consider and reflect on what you say about your spouse in relation to the divorce.

Telling Friends & Family

A good tip is to tell your family and friends who you are most in touch with sooner rather than later.  Your partner will most likely want to tell their friends and family but don’t count on this.  Telling people sooner will allow you to take a bit more control of the situation.

These tips should help you out in this area:

• Stay calm and kind but firm and begin by stating you’ve something personal to discuss with them
• Ensure they are not already going through a stressful time themselves before burdening them with your news
• Try and ensure no one can over hear, especially children who may be affected
• Don’t be negative about the reasons behind the situation and break the news as gently as possible
• Acknowledge the reaction you get, it may not be what you expect
• If they become emotional or angry refrain from getting heated

Emotions can be complex and other peoples more so.  When you’ve broken the news to others allow time for them to digest the information, they may need it.  You will also need time and have a serious think to if you ever want to see them again.

Blog Rat Race

Similar to a job that no longer suits you, I find it difficult to “get out of bed” and blog. Lately, it feels more like work or a chore. I’ve been ignoring this feeling and just getting by, but I feel I need to devote some time and energy to finding a solution. If not, Buck Inspire will go the way of Betamax, Borders, and Blockbuster. Leaning on my relatively successful IT career and combining it with what I’ve learned in the personal finance space, I discovered I’ve been carrying a lifelong problem that is severely hampering my blogging efforts. I’ve been carrying huge confidence debt.

Holding Myself Accountable

Many personal finance bloggers started their blog journey to hold themselves accountable to paying down student loans or credit card debt. Thankfully, I’ve never had that issue. But I just realized what prevents me from living a more fulfilling life. I am burdened by low self-confidence. The only exception is my IT career. Since I’ve put in more than 10,000 hours, I’ve gained confidence through longevity and building on successes along the way. Using my IT experience as a guide, if I somehow persevere and continue putting in the time to blogging, I may finally gain the confidence I so desperately seek. But how can I speed up this process?

Specific Actions

Drawing on personal finance blogs, I must take action with specific goals and hold myself accountable. I’ve been sabotaging myself, by being very vague with my future plans and chalking it up to being content with my life. I don’t plan to get rid of this positive attitude and turn into a stressed out yearner. I am however, just trying to combine the best of both worlds. I want to be happy with where I am, but also continue to strive for more. It will take some effort because it is like having your cake and eating it too, but with hard work, discipline, and balance, I believe it can be done.

Talk Is Cheap

A while back, I talked a big game speaking about getting over your greatest fears. Talking about something is only half the battle. However, if you’re not careful, you could delude yourself into thinking that you did take action. I am mostly a glass is half-full kind a guy. But being too content with half a glass of water means you’ll never seek to fill the cup.

If You Don’t Stand For Something, You’ll Fall For Anything

One of my biggest problems is not standing behind my work. I too often forget that when I do something and confidently stand behind my accomplishments, good things always happen. Like I said before, my lack of confidence forced me to always choose the easy, least confrontational way out. I’ve always been a status quo kind of guy. But now that I am a father and a husband, I want, I need to be more successful.

You – Fear + Confidence = Success

The most successful people in life are confident. You need confidence to succeed everywhere. Without it, I’ve struggled in the stock markets, in my career, and in relationships. The only thing I could rely on was getting lucky, pardon the pun. To be more confident, one has to get past their fears. If I get past my fears and my confidence grows as a result, I should become more successful. When I started blogging, I’ve used my anonymity as a shield for questions like these. “You do what in your free time? You make no money with it? Why are you wasting your time? Your writing is pointless. You are boring. You have no audience. You suck!” I don’t talk about controversial topics and don’t really get into income reports so why am I still hiding? Just like huge financial debt, my huge confidence debt is embarrassing and hard to accept at times.

Final Thoughts

I continued typing and podcasting in my bat cave. Ironically, when I did leave my lair, good things happened. BlogWorld LA was amazing, the PF BlogWorld LA Meet Up with PT Money was awesome, and last but not least the Wisebread Five Year Anniversary party was a blast. Everyone I met was warm and full of passion. Don’t really know what I’m afraid of. Is it the unknown or just my insecurities getting the best of me?  Recently when I go to baby events, I get educated, entertained, and I get some much-needed fresh air, too.

Special thanks to Lee (Tossing It Out), Crystal (Budgeting in the Fun Stuff, Joe (Retire By 40), Dominique (Your Finances Simplified), Andrea (So Over This), Khaleef (Fat Guy Skinny Wallet), Sandy (Yes I Am Cheap), Joe (The Free Financial Advisor), Robert (The College Investor), Sam (Financial Samurai), and Pat (Smart Passive Income) for inspiring me to Let Go.

Finally, I love watching movies and I often use pivotal scenes to boost my confidence when the going gets tough. My apologies to Robert Downey Jr., but here’s my rendition of Tony Stark facing Congress and me facing my greatest fear.

I am Buck Inspire.

Have you already faced your greatest fear? Did you become more successful when you did? If not, what’s holding you back? Would love to hear about it, one way or the other!

Stay Inspired!
Buck

The cost of being ironman infographic by katiemalcolm.

Last weekend I was all excited to visit the poppy fields in Lancaster. Sadly we didn’t get to see any because of this season’s uncooperative rain. The good news is I was treated to a fun filled day at the 22nd annual California Poppy Festival.

Arts and Crafts

With over 200 arts and crafts booths, there was something for everyone. The busiest and most eye-catching booth featured some of the most amazing wind vanes I’ve ever seen. Blocks of people where drawn in like months to a flame. Finally, the prices were out of this world. Possibly more than 80% off when compared to national chains like Home Depot or Lowes.

Lancaster Zoo?

I’m not sure who had more fun seeing all the furry animals, Baby Buck or myself. There was a camel ride, a gigantic tortoise, colorful parrots, and even possums. The petting zoo featured all kinds of adorable fuzzy creatures too.

Safety Classes

Not only did we have loads of fun, we left a little smarter.  I learned about what I need to pack in my emergency kit in case of a disaster. CERT gave a demonstration on how to turn on and off my gas line and my electrical circuit breakers. Every person needs a gallon of water a day for 10 days. Finally I was all shook up at the LA fire department earthquake demonstration. We were loaded into a small class room, watched a video about earthquake safety, and felt the power of a 3.5 earthquake, courtesy of the Shakey Quakey van.

Final Thoughts

This was my first road trip to Lancaster and I have to say I had a blast. If you ever make it out there, or visit the Poppy Festival next year, here are some tips to make a fun time even better. Make sure you bring a lot of water to keep yourself hydrated. It was a summer like day and you should also bring sunscreen and a hat to protect your scalp.  There were tons of free parking in an empty field and a free tram service to take you into the park ala Disneyland. But make sure you remember where you parked. Use canopies and buildings as landmarks because when the dust kicks up it felt like we were in the middle of a desert. If you don’t have your bearings right, you will waste precious time searching for your car.

Thanks Jeff for a great time and for more information about the California Poppy Festival, visit http://www.poppyfestival.com today.

Stay Inspired!
Buck

I was very mistaken to think my interviewees would jump at such a flexible and time generous interview. On the contrary, this would lead to a lot of back-and-forth until I finally locked down a time. Euvie suggested I not be so open-ended and give very specific time windows. It sounds counter intuitive, but I finally applied this method at work.

I needed assistance from my vendor and emailed them to set up a meeting. I told him I had a morning meeting on Tuesday, but I’m pretty open for the rest of the week. Someone queue the crickets chirping. The next day I applied Euvie’s technique. I fired off a follow-up email and said from Wednesday through Friday I am available at 10 AM PST and 2 PM PST.  I concluded by saying I hope one of these times works for you. A few hours later, my vendor emails a meeting request with one of the times I suggested. Voila!

Final Thoughts

I thought flexibility and generosity trumps rigidity and scarcity. I have a lot to learn about business. Euvie theorized that by setting specific meeting times, you come off as more professional and most of the time the other party will take the meeting request more seriously. Most people would take a moment of their time to accommodate your request. Although originally suggested for booking podcast interviews, as you can see, it can be successfully applied in any work environment.

For more information, visit Timelapse Strategies today.

What makes your meeting requests more effective?

Stay Inspired!
Buck

Featured By

What advice would you give your 17 year old self?

Stay Inspired!
Buck

I have been following Pat Flynn for a few years. His laid-back and down-to-earth personality plus his incredible strategies and podcasts make him one of my favorites. Although I’m frugal to a fault and never spent a penny on iPhone apps, when his new Snippet book was released, I was compelled to check it out. For a measly $2.99, you get to ride along with Pat on his amazing journey and preview the latest multimedia experience. A Snippet is a new publishing platform that combines text, videos, and pictures. It runs eight to nine chapters, each about 1000 words, and the combination of all of these formats creates content like you have never seen before.

Let Go chronicles Pat’s well-known story of how he transformed from an architect to new media sensation. I’ve heard the story a few times, but you get a deeper connection with his journey because of poignant interviews with Pat, his wife, and even his dad. Fun and easy to read texts combined with motivational quotes in picture form ties everything seamlessly together.

Pat’s Snippet price point is affordable to everyone. Once again proving money isn’t his main goal. I believe this is why he is so successful. He gives away his best stuff for free or close to free. This includes his very personal journey from what he thought he should be doing for a career to what he was meant to do.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for step-by-step strategies to be the next great A-list blogger, don’t buy this book. However, in the grand scheme of things, this Snippet is even more important. The goal is about having the proper mindset for success. Without it, all of the strategies, techniques, and coaching will do you no good. I am not a Pat Flynn or Smart Passive Income affiliate, but I encourage you to get Let Go today. For me personally, it was a nice way to pay Pat back for all his amazing content I devoured through the years. On top of that, I got to see where publishing is headed (Snippet), experienced Pat’s journey in a more profound way, and reminded myself that without the proper mindset all the success tips in the world can’t save me from mediocrity. By far, the best $2.99 I’ve ever spent.

For more information on Let Go by Pat Flynn, visit Let Go today.

Stay Inspired!
Buck

After more than a year at my current job, I’m stepping out of the background and taking the lead on a handful of projects. One in particular has been a thorn in my side for months. I am installing a new piece of software throughout the company. However, it crashes one of our newest desktop model.

Some of my teammates have given me some good natured ribbing. This model has baffled our vendor’s engineering team for weeks. I finally got a solution. Upgrade to their latest version and the crashes will stop. I gleefully informed the team and proceeded to install on some test machines. Things were going smoothly as the software installed fine. I proudly emailed the team that we are now in the clear.

The next day I noticed one of my test machines had crashed. In my haste and my excitement for finding a fix, I forgot to observe the machine after a reboot. I rebooted a second machine and it also crashed. I was embarrassed to fire off another email to halt the use of the so called fix, but I had to prevent my teammates from bringing down any production machines.

Here’s where the fun starts. After I sent out my email warning the team not to use my fix, I get a phone call from one of my teammates asking for help on another issue. As we were working together, I overheard another teammate say, “Can you believe all those emails Buck is sending?” A ruckus goes on, but my phone goes mute as the person on the line cuts off the conversation before my other teammate can put his foot in his mouth.

As I sat there in silence, I wondered, “Am I getting hated on? This is what I’ve been fearing all my life? This isn’t so bad. If I were in his shoes I would begin to question my competency as well.”

Ironically the fear of getting hated on was worst than the actual hating. What is that phrase? Nothing to fear but fear itself? It’s so true. Perhaps my self esteem is now strong enough to handle it? Whatever the case may be, here are some thoughts that crossed my mind.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Who am I to think that everyone around me will only have positive thoughts about me. It’s probably my insecurity raising its ugly head. Honestly, if I were him, I would have felt the exact same way. I also have to remember his negative opinion about me has no bearing on my self worth and I shouldn’t run with it and beat myself silly.

I can’t please everyone. With all the different personalities, styles, and priorities, is it realistic to think that everyone would get along all the time? I should take this incident and motivate myself to do even better in future projects rather than crumble and lose confidence at the first sign of doubt. There are times when you are at the mercy of third-party vendors. If there is a lesson learned, I need to do my due diligence even though a solution was found after weeks of frustration.

Final Thoughts

Now that I finally tasted Haterade, something I tried so hard to avoid, I hope to free my writing from always being vanilla, politically correct, and safe. I really have been flying below the radar for too long. Fear just plays tricks with our minds and paralyzes us from reaching our full potential.

How do you handle being hated on?

Stay Inspired!
Buck

Am I In the Wrong Profession?

Stay Inspired!
Buck

A few weeks ago I had the good fortune to get invited to a corporate suite at a Laker game. Since I am a huge basketball fan, this was a must see. Although the purple and gold are battling for their playoff lives, let’s hope for the best. It hasn’t been easy to watch at times, but thankfully here are some tips for you if you ever need to visit the Staples Center.

Go Metro

Rather than fight Friday rush hour traffic, I drove myself to the nearest Metro park and ride station. Things have changed since I last rode Metro a year ago. You’re required to use a TAP (transit access pass) card and paper tickets are no longer sold. Since I left my TAP at home, I needed to buy a new one for a dollar. This move makes it harder for people to get a free ride as the turnstile opens when you swipe your TAP. In the past, riders could just board the Metro with the fear of ticket inspection the only prevention to getting a free ride. The good news is I didn’t have to stress about traffic and I even enjoyed a little nap.

Shop for Parking

You can pre-pay for Staples Center parking for $20. As you drive farther away, you will notice the parking prices dropping from $15 to $10. If you don’t mind walking a few blocks, you can save yourself a whopping 75% and pay just $5.

Staples Center Cuisine

Part of the perks that come with the corporate suite is the mouthwatering food. We enjoyed barbecued pulled pork, tacos, wraps, and pastas for the main course. We were topped off with an open bar and decadent cakes. The Staples food preparation team spared no expense. Since the Lakers were playing the Wizards and winning handily for three quarters, I have to admit the food became the main attraction.

Final Thoughts

If you can beat traffic, I recommend getting to the game early so you can experience Cirque Du So-Lakers. When the Lakers’ starting five is announced it was a sight to behold. The place went dark, music blared, lights shown bright, and Lakers highlights flashed by on a giant circular screen that extended from the roof to center court. It was glorious. Now if they could just sneak into the playoffs. The Kiss Cam is always fun as you see couples of all ages acting like giddy lovebirds. The whole place would erupt in laughter if the Kiss Cam accidentally captured two people who weren’t together. The Laker Girls mesmerized the crowd with their dance numbers. Apparently the Laker Girls are available for sponsorship. During one number, they changed to Carl’s Jr. costumes. After their routine, the announcer boomed, “Brought to you by Carl’s Jr!”

Finally, visiting the Staples Center gives you a glimpse of how the 1% lives. You could be rubbing elbows with A List celebrities and with all the security and ushers around, there is a velvet rope feel. The vendor I visited slapped two suites together. All told, they must have dropped 10 grand for the evening. That number boggles my mind, but if they sign a large contract or sale, the Staples Center marketing fee is a drop in the bucket. Must be nice.

Stay Inspired!
Buck

Featured By

Stay Inspired!
Buck

Cuts of Beef infographic by sounas.

Start Early

Just like preparing to move into a new home, it is advantageous to start cleaning way before the party date. We procrastinated and ran out of time. We managed only one hour of sleep the night before, ran errands and cleaned up until guests arrived. Thankfully the good company and adrenaline powered us through.

Shop Around

We tried two different 6 foot folding tables. One was from Walmart and one was from Target. The tables were basically the same. How many ways can you make a folding table? The Walmart one looks slightly better due to the speckled white color used for the tabletop. The Target one is a boring gray color, but we used a tablecloth anyway.  The folding mechanism for the legs are exactly the same.

The only key difference is the carrying strap of the Target one is a little bit more padded with an extra strap to hold it in place when not in use. The deal breaker is the price. The Walmart one is $45 while the Target one was on sale for $35. Target wins this round for providing basically the same table for 22% off.

Ice Ice Baby

We were going to make a final Costco run on Sunday morning to grab a bag of ice.  You can’t beat 20 pounds for $2.19. Sadly Costco is closed on Easter, one of the few days of the year they take the day off. This unfortunate timing cost me 63% in savings as I was forced to buy a bag at Vons for $5.99. If you have a Costco membership and you need to buy ice, you can’t go anywhere else.

Help Them Help Themselves

When the first party goers trickled in, I was waiting on them hand and foot making sure their cups were always full. When the party was in full swing, my wife and I were too preoccupied. Sadly, we had extra refreshments and snacks in the refrigerator and pantry, but because we were so busy, we didn’t get a chance to replenish supplies. I underestimated my ability and free time to wait on guests.

To avoid his situation the future, just leave your snacks and refreshments wherever possible so that they can help themselves. Your supplies will do no good hidden in the back of the refrigerator or stashed in the pantry. Plus, you have more important things to do than serve chips and drinks.

In-Laws Manpower

If your in-laws are available, make sure to get all hands on deck. Mine came over a day early to help prepare some of the food, clean, watch and take care of Baby Buck. You can never get enough good help.

Defer Photography

I found the party to be eerily similar to my wedding. However, can you imagine the bride and groom taking pictures?  Serving, introducing, mingling, playing games, and cutting cake is a full time gig.  We should have asked someone to be our photographer for the day.  We missed taking pictures of all the guests with the baby of honor and the baby game prize winners.  We were too distracted with thinking of questions, asking them, and tracking winners.

Near the end of the party, savvy party goers requested pictures with the birthday boy. This photo op should have been taken of all the party guests because Baby Buck was one of the main attractions. There were times when he was taking a nap and not available. Be aware you only have a limited time to snap photos of everyone happy and awake.

Home Cooking

If you know your way around the kitchen, there’s no substituting cooking for your guests. They’ll appreciate the extra TLC and you going the extra mile especially if the food tastes delicious.

Costco Picture Printing

One of the biggest hits of the party were Costco printed thank you cards. We selected a particularly cute picture of Baby Buck, added a little thank you note, and printed them at Costco. Make sure you go early because people love pictures and you don’t need the extra stress waiting in line to print as time is winding down.

Share the Wealth

My office mates are great as they always share food with each other. After the guests went home, we discovered we had way too much food and cake. Rather than waste it, I brought the goodies to work. Everyone wins, Kumbaya!

Final Thoughts

Kids are messy. No matter what you do, they will find a way to leave their mark. Just roll with it and clean it up as best you can. We had some stains in the carpet from cake or chocolate. Thankfully we dabbed the stains with water and got most of the color out.

I also have a bad habit of replaying moments where I could have been funnier, wittier, or more charming. I guess I wanted to give the best performance possible and make sure all my guests had a good time. I also vented to a friend that I was worried that my guests from different times and places wouldn’t get along. He made a great point saying if they were my friends and I invited them, most likely they would have many things in common and would get along just fine.

There I go being a control freak again. Bad Buck! What’s done is done. I can’t turn back time. I need to only worry about the things I can control. Finally, trust that your hard work will pay off. Remember to breathe, relax, and have fun!

Do you have any party hosting tips you’d like to share?

Stay Inspired!
Buck

I buzzed around the store and stocked up on my $20 worth of goods. With taxes, my total came out to be a little over $22. I politely handed over my five dollar coupon and saw the cashier ringing out my new total as 17 dollars and change. I was happy as a clam. Why are clams so happy?

Anyway, after the euphoria wore off, I dug a little deeper. I had two items that could actually be cheaper at more specialized stores. I bought some oil because my door was squeaking. I also bought some scotch tape on sale. The 3 in 1 oil was $4.49. The scotch tape was on sale. Buy one get one free for $4.19. I checked Home Depot and was shocked to see the same 3 in 1 oil for $2.98. At Office Depot, their Scotch tape was $1.56. In the end, I only saved about $2.50. I’m sure if I took the time to go to the other items, my savings would shrink even more.

Kudos to Walgreens for making me feel ecstatic about saving $5 off of a $20 purchase. But since their items were marked up to begin with, I pretty much broke even. If you take the time to buy all clearance and on sale items, I’m sure you can stretch that $5  coupon even more. No free lunches?

Stay Inspired!
Buck

Here are some great round ups and carnivals that featured my posts. Sorry for the delay and thanks again!

Stay Inspired!
Buck