Posts about Work-Fun-Life Balance

5 Tips to Host a Super Bowl Party On a Budget-image

Super Bowl LIV is the perfect excuse to host a party and get together with family, friends and neighbors. Last year, 111.9 million people  tuned into the big game, so we can only assume that this year will be just as big! Whether you’re a football fanatic, or just looking forward to funny commercials and delicious food (who’s with me?), these tips will help you host a budget-friendly Super Bowl party sure to leave your guests impressed.   Here are 5 tips on hosting an awesome Super Bowl party on a budget! Tip #1: Recruit a Super Bowl Party Co-Host Party planning should be fun, but it can become stressful and expensive if you take it all on yourself. Instead, try recruiting a friend to be your Super Bowl 51 co-host. Not only will this split some of the costs associated with the party, but it will also lighten the workload. You don’t want to be the only one stuck cleaning up after your guests leave! Not to mention, friends make the party planning process much more enjoyable. Tip #2: Make Party Snacks from Scratch Can we all agree that a Super Bowl party wouldn’t be complete without something to snack on? Yeah, I thought so! While it may be tempting to order in pizza and call it a day, it won’t be so easy on your wallet. Instead, quickly whip up your own Super Bowl snacks, appetizers, and dips to save a bit of dough.  You can easily find simple recipes on the web that won’t take a lot of prep time if you plan ahead. If you’re hosting a kid-friendly Super Bowl party, get them involved in a fun baking activity! The kids will love showing off their team spirit with fun sprinkles and decorations, and everyone else will enjoy the end result! Tip #3: Buy in Bulk Save money on your Super Bowl party and head to your local wholesaler to buy party essentials in bulk. Think: plates, napkins, flatware, paper towels and the like. While you may not need 24 rolls of paper towels for just one party, these types of things are great to have on hand for everyday use, and of course for future parties! If you’re looking for Super Bowl-themed place settings and plates, skip the gimmicky (and super marked up) team-specific options and head to your local dollar store to find solid colored plates and flatware in your team’s colors.  When you’re stocking up on the essentials, don’t forget to pick up Super Bowl-friendly snacks, appetizers, and mixers. Big bags of popcorn and potato chips are always popular, and tortilla chips are paired well with salsa and guacamole. By taking advantage of the deals found at your local wholesaler, you won’t have to worry about running low on snacks or supplies, and you’ll be able to get the bulk of your shopping done in one place — a win-win! Tip #4: Bring Your Own Beverage is Best Now that the food is covered, your guests are going to need something cold to wash it all down. Unfortunately, buying soda, water and other drinks for a crowd can add up and cost a pretty penny. Ease the cost burden by asking your guests to bring their favorite beverage, and offer them cups and ice. This way, you’ll know that everyone has something to drink, and you’ll save on one of the costliest aspects of hosting a party. After all, you’re guests will probably be relieved that they can pick up something quick on the way, and don’t have to worry about preparing a dish! Tip #5: Save Big on a Big Screen Let’s not forget about one of the most important elements of a good Super Bowl party: the TV.  If you’ve been thinking about buying a new TV for the game, but don’t want to spend the big bucks, fear not! You can buy open box and refurbished big screens at a fraction of retail prices, so you can save cash without sacrificing inches (or 4K). The best part? You’ll be able to enjoy your purchase long after Super Bowl 51 is over. So get your fan gear ready and channel your inner-team spirit because with these tips, planning a budget-friendly Super Bowl party will be a breeze! Emily, www. blog.blinq.com  5 Tips to Host a Super Bowl Party On a Budget  

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Prioritizing Wants and Needs for Better Balance-image

When I used to hear the statement "Work-Fun-Life- Balance " I would immediately conceptualize this picture of a person who has it all together. They would dress in neutral colors with a Zen-like appearance and everything about their life would be so simple, neat and organized. They had all the answers. Then I realized, there is absolutely no one that I know that has this aura about themselves. “Work-Fun-Life- Balance ” can be perceived differently by each person and can therefore be approached differently too.   Though I do have challenges at times with prioritizing certain tasks, I do not have any trouble with prioritizing golf and running. I make it a priority to spend time on the things that I like and need to do. My job and career have become the transporter to my destination…which is my ‘me time’!  I work hard so that I can have fun and relax later.  My objective in life is to do what I need to do, so that I can do what I want to do. I believe having a  balance d life requires you to identify the things that we WANT and NEED.  Take the following examples:             I want to be a great Leader, therefore I Need to read, identify my strengths and weaknesses and continue to gain knowledge and put that knowledge to use with my staff, as well as being present and offering valuable feedback in Leadership Team Meetings.           I WANT to play good golf and score in the low 80's or lower, therefore I will Need to practice at the range, take lessons, invest in a good set of clubs, accessories and golf gear.           I want to be a great Husband and Father, therefore I will need to be attentive to my family and spend quality time with my wife and kids.           I WANT to finish the New York Marathon in less than 5 1/2 hours, therefore I will NEED to train, eat properly, make the majority of scheduled practice runs, get enough sleep, and recover well.    Keep in mind, there are weekly tasks that we need to complete that we do not like, but we have to do those tasks in order to fulfill the WANTS we desire.  I do not like participating in runs over 6 miles, but I know I have to get those in for practice in order to achieve that time in a Marathon. I do not like reading boring books on theories or concepts, but I know they have information in them that can be vital to my development and growth. Therefore, I try to make the acts I need to do more pleasurable for me. For example, I might go out on the balcony and smoke a cigar with a cocktail while I read or listen to the book. I try whatever will help me to look forward to doing the necessary tasks of life.   In terms of the tasks that I WANT to do, I love practicing and playing golf. I find it so relaxing hitting balls on the range at night, so I make this a major priority because I know I will not be happy doing anything else unless I get my golf time in. It is imperative. My wife and I also enjoy doing Thursday night wings and beer for our date-night, along with Saturday night dinners, movies, parties with friends, etc.  We make sure that we have time to discuss the kids, finances and other family items. Every now and then she also will come out to the range and hit balls with me in addition to participating in weekend runs with my running group!   Personally, I feel that having a “Work-Fun-Life- Balance d” life simply comes down to identifying the WANTS in your personal and professional life, and applying the time it takes to do the things you NEED to do.  If there are tasks you do not like doing, you will have to create an environment that would make that task fun and relaxing.  Why not get the most out of life? You are only blessed with one.

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