No blog post today

I was working on a blog post but it turned out to be more involved than I had thought, so I'm taking the day off and I'll be doing some more research. But I will be including:

Interesting days

Today - Roast Leg of Lamb Day, Cosmopolitan Day and Love’s Baby Soft Day 

Tomorrow - No Socks Day, Iris Day and Free Trade Day 

Next Monday - Accounting Day and Chicken Dance Day

June 7 - Chocolate Ice Cream Day and VCR Day

The month in review - April, 2018

Week ending April 6:

Monday - "Did you miss Saturday's Business Acceleration Workshop?" It's ok, I recorded it.

Tuesday - "Don't leave the water running. Or why I'll never do dishes again!" Just don't do it!

Wednesday - "Believe in Yourself Even When No One Else Does" From Harvey Mackay.

Thursday - "Harnessing Behavioral Psychology for a Rich Life #TBT" From The Art of Manliness.

Week ending April 13:

Monday - "The Whole Truth About your 401(k) Plan Taxes, Fees and Depressing Returns" My opinion on what Dennis Beckman taught at the meeting I missed.

Tuesday - "SendOutCards Transformation" Some of the announcements made this week.

Wednesday - "How to Make the Best Beef Jerky in the World" From The Art of Manliness.

Thursday - "Dead ant, dead ant... #TBT" How to kill your Automatic Negative Thoughts.

Week ending April 20:

Monday - "Same delicious brownies! New lower price!" SendOutCards has lowered the prices of their world famous brownies!

Tuesday - "I don't know what to write about!" That can be a problem when you're writing a daily blog post.

Wednesday - "Saving for a down payment?" Advice from my friend, Jennifer Seidelman.

Thursday - "Just a spoonful of creativity… #TBT" From my SendOutCards blog.

Week ending April 27:

Monday - "Goals - Achieving Greatness" The topic of the day at our networking lunch.

Tuesday - "10 Cheap Date Ideas She’ll Actually Love" An article from The Art of Manliness.

Wednesday - "Super Saturday" SOC event coming up on May 5th.

Thursday - "Build Your Wealth: Graduate from a Paycheck Mentality to a Net Worth Mentality #TBT" Another article from AoM!

Interesting days in review:

Your weekend guide to interesting days - April 7, 2018

Your weekend guide to interesting days - April 14, 2018

Your weekend guide to interesting days - April 21, 2018

Your weekend guide to interesting days - April 28, 2018

Your weekend guide to interesting days - May 5, 2018

This week

Sunday - World Wish Day, Zipper Day, International Dance Day and Pinhole Photography Day

Monday - Honesty Day, Independent Bookstore Day, International Jazz Day and Oatmeal Cookie Day

May will be Deck Safety Month, Military Appreciation Month, Lupus Awareness Month, Golf Month, Hamburger Month, Bike Month, Photo Month, Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Barbecue Month and Get Caught Reading Month!

Tuesday - World Asthma Day, Lei Day, School Principals' Day, Purebred Dog Day, Poem on Your Pillow Day, Mother Goose Day, New Home Owners Day, International Workers' Day and Executive Coaching Day

Wednesday - World Play Your Ukulele Day, Baby Day and School Bus Drivers Day

Thursday - Paranormal Day, Two Different Colored Shoes Day, Lumpy Rug Day, Garden Meditation Day and Password Day

Yesterday - Firefighters’ Day, No Pants Day, Petite And Proud Day, International Tuba Day, International Space Day, Star Wars Day, Renewal Day and Candied Orange Peel Day 

Today - Cartoonists Day, Free Comic Book Day, Join Hands Day, Hug A Shed And Take A Selfie, Revenge of the Fifth, Infidelity Hurts Awareness Day, Wildfire Community Preparedness Day and Hoagie Day

Next week

Tomorrow - No Diet Day, Lemonade Day, No Homework Day and Beverage Day

Monday - Roast Leg of Lamb Day, Cosmopolitan Day and Love’s Baby Soft Day 

Tuesday - No Socks Day, Iris Day and Free Trade Day  

Wednesday - School Nurse Day, Receptionists Day, Lost Sock Memorial Day, Third Shift Workers’ Day, Donate A Day’s Wages To Charity Day and Moscato Day 

Thursday - One Day Without Shoes Day, World Lupus Day, Stay Up All Night Night and Mother Ocean Day

Friday - Twilight Zone Day, Eat What You Want Day and Public Gardens Day 

Saturday - Train Day, Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Odometer Day, International Nurses Day, Nutty Fudge Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Fair Trade Day and Limerick Day

Next month

May 29 - Biscuit Day, Learn About Composting Day, Put A Pillow On Your Fridge Day and Paper Clip Day

May 30 - Loomis Day, Water a Flower Day, Mint Julep Day and Senior Health & Fitness Day 

May 31 - Macaroon Day, No Tobacco Day, Web Designer Day and Save Your Hearing Day

June will be Camping Month, Dairy Month, Iced Tea Month, Soul Food Month, Country Cooking Month, Great Outdoors Month, Candy Month, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month and Audiobook Month 

June 1 - Doughnut Day, Say Something Nice Day, Go Barefoot Day, Fish and Chip Day, Leave The Office Earlier Day and World Milk Day

June 2 - Rocky Road Day, Rotisserie Chicken Day and Trails Day

June 3 - Cancer Survivors Day, Chocolate Macaroon Day, Insect Repellent Awareness Day, Chimborazo Day and Repeat Day

June 4 - Hug Your Cat Day, Tailors Day, Old Maid’s Day, Thank God It’s Monday Day and Cognac Day

June 5 - Running Day, Sausage Roll Day, World Environment Day, Hot Air Balloon Day, Moonshine Day and HIV Long-Term Survivors Day

The week in review - May 4, 2018

Monday - "Finding Fulfillment in a World Obsessed With Happiness" From the Art of Manliness. "In recent years, there’s been a lot of books and blogs put out on how to become happier. But what if searching for happiness actually results in unhappiness, and to get happiness we need to be looking for something else?"

Tuesday - "5 Reasons Why Your First Home Should be an Investment Property" From my friend, Jennifer Seidelman.  "If you’re young and you’re looking to purchase a new home to live in, maybe you should consider turning your first home into an investment property. While most people wait until after they’ve bought their first or second home to begin investing in real estate, you could start much sooner than you think. We’ll explain why jumping into the real estate investing game might be a good idea."

Wednesday - "Super Saturday updated" Coming up tomorrow! "We will be moving our Super Saturday in Modesto to the first Saturday in May, so we can take advantage of this event going on in LA on that day."

Thursday - "The South’s Best Butts #TBT" Another from AoM...and it's not what it sounds like! "The South’s Best Butts is part cookbook, part travelogue."

Interesting days

Today -  Firefighters’ Day, No Pants Day, Petite And Proud Day, International Tuba Day, International Space Day, Star Wars Day, Renewal Day and Candied Orange Peel Day

Tomorrow - Windmill Day, Cartoonists Day, Free Comic Book Day, Join Hands Day, Hug A Shed And Take A Selfie, Revenge of the Fifth, Infidelity Hurts Awareness Day, Wildfire Community Preparedness Day and Hoagie Day

Next Friday - Twilight Zone Day, Eat What You Want Day and Public Gardens Day

June 4 - Hug Your Cat Day, Tailors Day, Old Maid’s Day, Thank God It’s Monday Day and Cognac Day 

The South’s Best Butts #TBT

This post was originally posted last year:

Since this month is Barbecue Month, this seemed like a timely post. This is an article from The Art of Manliness: 

Podcast #298: The History of BBQ and Becoming a Backyard Pitmaster

Southern BBQ is a uniquely American food and depending on which part of the South you’re in, you’re going to get a different answer as to what “true” Southern BBQ is. Despite the differences, one thing that unites Southern BBQ is its unabashed love for the humble pork butt. My guest on the show took a tour of the South to find BBQ joints that were taking this traditional choice of meat and doing new things with it, while sticking to the roots of Southern ‘que. His name is Matt Moore, he’s our food contributor here at AoM, and his latest book is The South’s Best Butts: Pitmaster Secrets for Southern Barbecue Perfection. 

Today on the show Matt details the history of BBQ and why pork is a staple in the Southern variety. He then explains what exactly a pork butt is (and no, it’s not the rear of a pig), and why it’s such an ideal meat for smoking. Matt then shares how and why BBQ flavors and techniques differ across the South and highlights a few pitmasters who are adding new takes to this traditional dish. We end our conversation by going through the step-by-step process of smoking the perfect pork butt.

Your mouth is going to be watering after you hear this show.

Show Highlights

• The inspiration for Matt’s search to find the perfect pork butt
• The history of BBQ
• Regional BBQ differences across the south
• Why is the pig the primary meat found in BBQ?
• The secret formula to cooking great BBQ
• What is the pork butt?
• The versatility of the pork butt, and various ways to prepare it
• How to buy a perfect cut of meat at the store
• Dry rub vs. sauce
• Traditional smoking vs charcoal vs gas and wood chips
• The “Texas crutch” method
• Matt’s preferred method of serving up pork butt
• The ideal side dishes for a BBQ dinner
• Secrets for cooking finicky beef brisket

Resources/People/Articles Mentioned in Podcast

• Skip Steele and Bogart’s Smokehouse in St. Louis
• Heirloom BBQ in Atlanta
• B-Daddy’s BBQ in San Antonio
• AoM’s Smoking videos
• AoM’s Grilling Week videos
• Matt’s articles for AoM

The South’s Best Butts is part cookbook, part travelogue. Matt does a great job telling the stories behind some of the South’s best BBQ while simultaneously providing killer recipes so you can smoke the perfect pork butt. This is a great addition to your cookbook collection.

Connect With Matt Moore

Matt’s website
Matt on Instagram

Interesting days

Today - Paranormal Day, Two Different Colored Shoes Day, Lumpy Rug Day, Garden Meditation Day and Password Day

Tomorrow - Firefighters’ Day, No Pants Day, Petite And Proud Day, International Tuba Day, International Space Day, Star Wars Day, Renewal Day and Candied Orange Peel Day

Next Thursday - One Day Without Shoes Day, World Lupus Day, Stay Up All Night Night and Mother Ocean Day

June 3 - Cancer Survivors Day, Chocolate Macaroon Day, Insect Repellent Awareness Day, Chimborazo Day and Repeat Day

Super Saturday updated

Coming up this Saturday! I've created a Facebook event to go with this:

We will be moving our Super Saturday in Modesto to the first Saturday in May, so we can take advantage of this event going on in LA on that day.

There have been a lot of changes in SendOutCards since the beginning of April and here's your chance to see how these changes will apply to you; whether you're a SOC Referral Partner, a customer or someone who's just curious.

Here's the description from Eventbrite:

This is AWESOME!  This is gonna be all about our AMAZING NEW business!  Super Saturdays are now going to referred to as "Business Acceleration Workshops" going forward! A major shift will be taking place, creating a NEW Day and TRANSFORMATION at SendOutCards with MAJOR developments, enhancements, and updates!!

Join us on May 5th either live in person or on the LIVE STREAM from wherever you are to be informed, educated, and updated on what we know at this time! This is ONE event you do NOT want to miss! Bring your guests! Bring your team! Get Your Tickets NOW! 

We will be doing a NEW opportunity presentation for the first 45 minutes.
YOU CAN GRAB A LIVESTREAM ticket as well if you can not physically attend!  ALL tickets will receive recording!  

If you want your team and check to grow, then fill your car and bring people to this "Business Acceleration Workshop"!

Invite a guest! 

This will be a great Saturday event complete with an opportunity meeting for you to bring your guests. The excitement in the room of everyone sharing their experiences will definitely get them fired up! We will also do some system training and general training on how to build your NEW SOC business. Get all of your questions answered on the BRAND NEW SOC TRANSFORMATION from the LEADERS! This event will be fantastic wherever you are in your SOC experience.  New people, people using the system, and those who are building!  

We will be covering all of the newest enhancements and giving you some amazing ways to build your NEW  SendOutCards business.

I'll purchase the ticket to the Live Stream, all you have to do is show up starting at 8:30 for coffee and donuts. The presentation will start at 9:00 and will run until 1:00 and will be held at my apartment. I'll be glad to send you the address if you're interested.

We will be holding a prize drawing and you will receive an extra ticket to the drawing for each guest that you bring with you.

See you then!

Interesting days

Today - World Play Your Ukulele Day, Baby Day and School Bus Drivers Day

Tomorrow - Paranormal Day, Two Different Colored Shoes Day, Lumpy Rug Day, Garden Meditation Day and Password Day

Next Wednesday - School Nurse Day, Receptionists Day, Lost Sock Memorial Day, Third Shift Workers’ Day, Donate A Day’s Wages To Charity Day and Moscato Day 

June 2 - Rocky Road Day, Rotisserie Chicken Day and Trails Day 

 

5 Reasons Why Your First Home Should be an Investment Property

Here's another post based on an article that Jennifer Seidelman linked to in her blog:

If you’re young and you’re looking to purchase a new home to live in, maybe you should consider turning your first home into an investment property. While most people wait until after they’ve bought their first or second home to begin investing in real estate, you could start much sooner than you think. We’ll explain why jumping into the real estate investing game might be a good idea.

I actually think that might be a good idea. You tend to be able to be more flexible when you're young and it'll enable you to start building your net worth that much sooner. I've written about net worth a few times, most recently here, and real estate is one of the best ways of building your net worth.

So, what are the 5 reasons?

1. You’re Young
2. Real Estate Is Cheap
3. You’ll Have Another Source of Income
4. FHA Loans
5. Changing Demographics

Under #4 FHA Loans they talk about buying a 2, 3 or 4 plex to live in, while renting out the other unit(s). This is actually what I'm thinking about doing now, although I'm considering a larger unit...maybe an 8 plex. There's a 16 plex for sale in Modesto by the college that I'm going to look a little further into. And since I'm a veteran, I may be able to get into it with no money down and a lower interest rate.

If you're looking to buy a home in the Portland or San Francisco Bay areas, whether for investment or as your home, reach out to Jennifer!

Interesting days

May will be Deck Safety Month, Military Appreciation Month, Lupus Awareness Month, Golf Month, Hamburger Month, Bike Month, Photo Month, Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Barbecue Month and Get Caught Reading Month!

Today - World Asthma Day, Lei Day, School Principals' Day, Purebred Dog Day, Poem on Your Pillow Day, Mother Goose Day, New Home Owners Day, International Workers' Day and Executive Coaching Day

Tomorrow - World Play Your Ukulele Day, Baby Day and School Bus Drivers Day

Next Tuesday - No Socks Day, Iris Day and Free Trade Day 

June will be Camping Month, Dairy Month, Iced Tea Month, Soul Food Month, Country Cooking Month, Great Outdoors Month, Candy Month, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month and Audiobook Month 

June 1 - Doughnut Day, Say Something Nice Day, Go Barefoot Day, Fish and Chip Day, Leave The Office Earlier Day and World Milk Day What better way to kick off Dairy Month?