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Payback Time: Splurging Theme

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On Tuesday, I suggested providing inexpensive yummy food for your Payback Time investing club. Today I’m going for the full opposite, 180 degrees, diametrically opposed idea of creating a gourmet spread filled with specialty ingredients and using careful preparation.

http://www.atwoodlakeresort.com/atwoodlakeresortimages/index-1.htm

http://www.atwoodlakeresort.com/atwoodlakeresortimages/index-1.htm

Here’s why: the entire point of Rule #1/Payback Time investing is to become independently wealthy. Ssometimes we need to remind ourselves what we’re working towards.

louboutin-1

Christian Louboutins: LOVE.

An evening of only the finest will give everyone a taste of what their goal. Furthermore, if you are someone who likes to cook and serve special dishes, wealth means being able to do so because it will give you options – so you’ll enjoy this even more.

Some of the following ideas are from my decadent Casino Inspiration menu, and the rest are new. Remember, this is about what is meaningful to you. If wealth means fine chocolate to you, buy some. If it means pretty plates and lots of flowers, focus on that. And if it means saving, use yesterday’s ideas ;)

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Payback Time: Saving Theme

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With Payback Time coming out today, lots of investing clubs are going to want to discuss the book (already the number one bestseller on amazon.com from presales alone!). Having people to talk to about your ideas, to check your numbers with when you’re analyzing a company, to talk to out loud about why you think a company is a good or bad bet can not only ensure you’re investing in Rule #1-worthy companies, but also force you to stay vigilant with your math and articulate your reasons for investing. Nothing like peer pressure to force you to get something done. (And I am a master procrastinator, so I know.)

procrastination

Ha! I couldn’t resist.

What do you need at a meeting like that? Food. And themed food is always better than non-themed food, in my opinion. Every day I’m going to post a new theme idea for investing clubs and book clubs to throw fantastic Payback Time meetings.

The first idea: This book is about saving money and then making money with the money you’ve saved. Continue the theme of the book by saving your money on food. Don’t buy expensive ingredients, don’t put out the caviar for your investing club, and don’t spend time (remember, wealth = time) elaborately cooking. Save by buying inexpensive ingredients and put out yummy classic food that’s beautifully presented.

www.smacnyc.com/home.html

www.smacnyc.com/home.html

It’s a gathering, not a dinner, but you don’t have to be limited to finger food. A nice mix of appetizers and easy-to-eat food with a fork works when your guests are settled into the couch.

  • Mac and cheese. Everyone loves it, and it’s cheap cheap cheap and tasty tasty tasty. Buy the old fashioned bad-for-you kind and give everyone a guilty pleasure they don’t get enough of.
  • Spinach Salad with Slumped Mushrooms. Rachael Ray recipe for under $10.
  • Nachos. Chips and cheese melted in the microwave, salsa for dipping on the side. Done.
  • Spinach-Artichoke Dip – either make your own or buy from Trader Joe’s (if you have one near you). Party classic, and it can also go with the nachos.
  • Chex Mix. Obviously.
  • My dip and veggies.
  • Potato chips with toppings
  • Deviled eggs.
  • Chocolate French Toast. For dessert.
  • Brownies from a box. Which are the best kind anyway.

Of course, there are tons more ideas for yummy inexpensive easy party food for a Payback Time party – these are a few to get you started. Now go play!

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    Wealthy in Time

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    Tim Ferriss, who wrote The 4-Hour Workweek, has a great eponymous blog subtitled “Experiments in Lifestyle Design” – which is a fantastic way of saying that you aren’t locked into your life. When it’s time to change, change.

    http://www.themillionairesecrets.net/how-to-change-your-life-in-21-days/

    http://www.themillionairesecrets.net/how-to-change-your-life-in-21-days/

    Mr. Ferriss posted video of Rolf Potts, who wrote Vagabonding about long-term travel, giving a speech about principles of travel that also apply to life at home. His primary idea is to think of wealth as time – time to do exactly what you want, time to spend with loved ones, time to enjoy yourself. I’ve always thought of having financial wealth as a tool for creating time and options, and his point just skips the middleman. Wealth = time. I recommend watching the video, it’s worth five minutes of your day.

    I’m particularly struck by this thought right now, I think, because I’m about to graduate from grad school and trying to decide what I want to do with myself. There’s a world of possibilities and huge change is intrinsic to every option. It’s just one of those times in life, which seem to come along every few years for me, when a huge upheaval is circumstantially necessary – and I’m actually feeling pretty ready for it.

    For me, wealth and time means being able to spend time with people I love doing something I love – which is, many times, having people over and cooking for them. It doesn’t have to be a huge deal, and (while I know I spend lots of money and time on special little ridiculous tablescapes becauase I enjoy it so much) all you need is some food on a plate and people you like to have a great evening. Simplicity works and baggage just weighs you down; not only in design, but in the rest of life.

    dad

    In this vein, my father’s book Payback Time is coming out tomorrow, and the entire point of the book is that we can all create enough wealth for ourselves that we don’t have to depend on anyone else and can do whatever we like with our time.

    I’m devoting BB&B this week to a series of menus based on Payback Time, from an elaborate dinner to appetizers for someone who would rather spend their precious time doing something other than cooking. Investing is usually a solitary activity, but talking about ideas with other people can not only make it a lot more fun, it can generate ideas you might not have ever come across. At it’s heart, this blog is about doing what you love, and I hope these ideas will inspire you to find the time (and wealth) to do what you love.

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    Raspberry-Lime Skinny Margaritas

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    photo-4

    I’ve been trying to invent a margarita that doesn’t have any real sugar and actually tastes good. It’s been so tough, guys: I’ve been working on it and working on it . . . and working, and working some more because you really never know when a little tweak will make a drink far better and the only way to know is to taste every single test cocktail multiple times. Quality control is serious here at BB&B. Don’t let anyone ever tell you throwing parties isn’t terribly hard work.

    Lime juice is stultifyingly sour, and there’s no way around needing a sweetener if this drink is going to taste good. I used Splenda as the sweetener, but please use Stevia or Equal or whatever your sugar substitute of choice is – or if you want a little real stuff, go for the honey or agave syrup. Whatever you like best.

    photo-2

    Furthermore, if you’re a regular follower you know that I like cocktails stiff and tart. I used 2 teaspoons of Splenda in mine, and it made for a tart drink but still very quaffable. If you prefer sweeter cocktails, start with 3 teaspoons and keep adding until it tastes ridiculously yummy to you.

    Raspberry-Lime Skinny Margaritas

    • 4 raspberries
    • 2-5 teaspoons Splenda
    • juice from 1 lime
    • 2 ounces (1 shot glass) good silver tequila
    • 4 ounces (2 shot glasses) sparkling water

    Place raspberries in a sturdy-bottomed glass and add the Splenda. Muddle together with a muddler or the back of a spoon.

    photo-1

    Add lime juice, tequila and sparkling water and mix thoroughly. Pour into a pretty glass, if you like that sort of thing, and enjoy.

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    Brainstorming Dinner Party Decor

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    My dad will be visiting next week to do press for his new book, Payback Time, which is coming out March 2 (click here to pre-order on Amazon – sorry to plug it, but I’m excited!).

    We’re going to have some wonderful family friends over for dinner, and I’m brainstorming my table design. I’m not really sure what I want, exactly. I don’t want it to look girly, but I do want it to look pretty, and I feel in the mood to spice up the table with a print by wrapping vases.

    Snippet and Ink

    Snippet and Ink

    Like these vases, I’m almost feeling a simple and elegant black and white theme, on a white tablecloth with fluffy white flowers and black placecards. It’s a sophisticated color scheme and it won’t compete with the food. A little cold, though?

    I have lovely ice blue- and pewter-colored placemats that go really well with my dark wood dining table. I could design around them, with silver candlesticks and maybe chocolate or bronze wrapping on the vases, fluffy white flowers, white napkins with chocolate placecards tucked into them. It would be a color scheme similar to this inspiration board, though less embellished wedding and more birds nest with blue eggs and white accents.

    Snippet and Ink

    Snippet and Ink

    I love that lightish bronze color of the birds nest.

    I’m going to see what wrapping paper is on offer at the paper store and go from there . . .

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    Truffle Boxes from Etsy

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    A while ago I mentioned making truffles for your guests as a dessert or party favor, and using the box in which you place them as a placecard holder.

    It can be hard to find any little boxes at all, though, much less cute ones, so I found some pretty boxes from Etsy sellers on which you could either write a name or perch a placecard (click on the photo to go to the Etsy shop).

    box1

    paperacorn

    nowchan

    nowchan

    DelightfulEccentric

    DelightfulEccentric

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    Breathable Chocolate

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    http://news.discovery.com/tech/breathable-chocolate-in-time-for-valentines-day.html

    http://news.discovery.com/tech/breathable-chocolate-in-time-for-valentines-day.html

    A scientist has invented an inhaler that places small particles of chocolate on your tastebuds when you breathe it in – apparently giving you the taste of chocolate for one calorie. It’s called Le Whif. My favorite part is this chick who looks like she’s nonchalantly sucking on her extremely normal inhaler. “Oh no, I’m not smoking. I’m just inhaling the taste of chocolate from my Le Whif.” Were they trying make it sound French and therefore extra klassy (with a k)?

    Would this really satisfy a chocolate craving, or would it seem like an empty pleasure? I adore the taste of chocolate, but so much of the pleasure is from the texture, the presentation, the mix of flavors, and the melting – my God, the melting!

    On the other hand, I’m off sweets right now (New Year’s resolution) and I wouldn’t mind a taste of chocolate that’s guilt-free. Wouldn’t mind that at all. AT. ALL.

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