Our Antique Fair Adventure: Day 2 of the Wandering Auctioneer

I LOVE my job. So after spending lots of time yesterday & early this AM talking to land owners & show organizers....we changed our plan again. The BEAUTY of this is: every time we change it, it gets better, it means more, we REALLY get to meet people & appreciate them, their cause, their ideas. GOD IS GOOD...folks.

We started this thing KNOWING that some people were going to think we were CraZy; that some people just wouldn't like it one bit; & some people might not get it. In fact... these very things made me try to find a way out of it at least 3 times since the idea came about.

I die daily. Die in my courage & I have to muster it back up. Die in my ambition & have to re-motivate myself. Die in my FAITH regarding this IDEA that God won't let me let go of  & have to TRUST that he's not letting me let go of it for a reason. BUT PRAISE JESUS he gives me the STRENGTH to get it all back.

We developed our idea & as we were REALLY goin' back & forth about what to do (amongst Christie wrestlin' with her little one about snowcones & popcorn & me tryin' to help my hard-of-hearin' Daddy understand my 4-year old over the phone....God sent us a few angels. I walked back to the picnic tables on Granny McCormick's Field & told Christie that I'm gonna have to buy my Daddy another box of bullets & a steak dinner for the temper tantrum my sweet, precious little girl was throwin'- we made friends.

I guess they overheard us talkin' about our pretty final plan & Hector the Collector & Ye-Yea's (over at Tin Star Field) go check them out!!) wanted to be a part of it. I know it may not seem like much, but it gives me a little shot of reassurance that I'm not wastin' my time & spinnin' my wheels.

Then...this sweet precious lady...a disciple of Christ really...just touched me & Christie. There was A LOT of things we talked about from the medical industry, doctors, & OBAMAcare to "not shinin' our light on more light, but shinin' in the dark places." She told me to keep on with what I'm doin', that it was good, & that she would be prayin' for me.

Needless to say what we are doing is good & we have ALREADY met SO MANY wonderful people! & BELIEVE ME...there is much more to come. We KNOW we will be holding 2 different auctions on Saturday. THIS Saturday. The first will start at either 11AM @ the FAMOUS ZAPP Hall! It's a WANDERING AUCTION & stay tuned for MORE details.

The other will be Saturday evening at Chelsea's Meadow in Round Top, Texas! It will be at 5:30PM. There will be delicious food & they already have some really cool items. There's no buyer's premium at either one. Come on out and support both of these gals fightin' like heck to KICK CANCER'S BUTT!!!

BUCK UP BABY!! Come out to these auctions & keep checking back for more details!

Heather Kaspar
TXL#17037

Our Antique Fair Adventure: The Wandering Auctioneer Day 1 Recap

Good Morning Lovelies!!

Me & the gals have been thinkin' & we have decided & started implementing a VERY grassroots/guerilla/out of the box marketing campaign for Buck Up Auctions.

Let's just say it has a little somethin' to do with little ole me, my dear sweet workin' girl Christie, a wagon, & a portable PA system....and charities, several different charities. I'll have more details for you later this evening (or tomorrow morning).

We spent ALL day yesterday in the fields of Warrenton & Round Top talking to landowners & vendors & we've got more work to do today.

Just keep an eye out for us, if you are walkin' around. PLEASE like us on FACEBOOK: Buck Up Auctions & find us on INSTAGRAM: hdskaspar. Follow up & keep up with our journey.

A Couple of other things....

A SUPER cReaTIVe lady brought the beginnings of this idea to me, we tweaked it & turned it to make it make sense to us. Then we went out & talked to vendors & organizers & BY THE GRACE OF GOD he has turned it into something SO MUCH MORE than what I thought.

We talked about this idea in February & I wrestled with it since then. I crawfished in & out of it. BUT the Good Lord WOULD NOT LET ME TURN IT LOOSE. It even got to a point where I didn't know how much I really wanted to do it anymore, but that I HAD to do it. Now....just one day in.....I am SO thankful I forged forward.

FOLKS...this is DIFFerENt. It is....but it's a GOOD different & I hope ya'll have as much fun with it as we do!

Many, MANY blessings & BUCK UP BABY! I'm sure glad I did!

Political Roast & Early Act First Knight

I have a fundraising auction coming up this coming Monday in Aransas Pass. I was contacted by a sweet little lady that is part of the Rotary Club there. The Spanish & Science Club Network is allowing them to hold an auction during their Local Political Roast Event, which will be held at the Aransas Pass Civic Center from 6pm-9pm. They are working to raise money for a program called EARLY ACT FIRST KNIGHTS, which is a character building curriculum for public schools.

The most updated information I have is as follows:

Politicians being roasted are:

Jack Chaney, Aransas County Commissioner & Joe McComb, Nueces County Commissioner

The BAKED items that will be auctioned off will be baked by several LOCAL celebrities including:

Ex-Mayor

Currenty City Council Member

Citizen of the Year

Retired District Judge

Engineer From Ony

Care Regional Medial Center PR Specialist

City Manager

Local CPA/Business Owner/2011Citizen of the Year

Chamber of Commerce CEO

Early Act First Knight Supporter

& HOPEFULLY 1 very special MysTerY celebrity!!

When I lived on the coast I was a mentor at one of the local schools (Middle School & High School). I had several friends that were also part of the mentoring program & when we would run into tough scenarios we'd talk with each other about how to BREAK through to our mentee OR try to figure out WHAT they were needing from us. 

Let me tell you... It was tough sometimes. Here are a couple scenarios: A 5th grader is constantly in ISS & when you go and visit they are blank. They don't really want to talk to you. They keep their head down. There is a TOTAL lack of motivation. As the school year goes on...you find out that their parents give this child weed....mainly so they don't bother them. As a mentor you go through the proper channels, but KNOW that this child will already have a battle to overcome, that they should have never even been subject to. 

Here's another: A child with a mother totally out of the picture. Her father has limited presence, but in another state, with his other family - that the mentee only gets to go visit. She has a hard-working aunt that works to support the entire family, so isn't home much. Her uncle doesn't have hardly any interest in her & this middle-schooler doesn't understand it. She has a hard time making friends & seeing her worth.

Last one: A Freshman in high school, that WANTS to DO GOOD. They have an older sister that dropped out of high school at 16 because she was pregnant. The mother has a new boyfriend (that the student doesn't get along with). The student is struggling with their grades. They report drug activity that they saw after school, but their identity somehow gets exposed, so they are now being threatened. Another student threatens the pregnant sister after school & threats of physical violence are voiced. 

I bring these scenarios up because they are REAL. FIRST ACT KNIGHTS is a character-building curriculum that teaches students about HONOR, INTEGRITY, HONESTY, KINDNESS, COURAGE, & SO MUCH MORE! ALL kids naturally want to DO GOOD and make people PROUD of them. Early Act First Knight can be their outlet!

EarlyAct FirstKnight® (or EAFK) is a groundbreaking character education program for elementary and middle schools from Knights of The Guild. Sponsored by Rotary Clubs, EAFK motivates and teaches children of all backgrounds to become civil, service-oriented people during their most formative years.

Here are more links to learn more about Early Act First Knight:

http://www.eastcoasteafk.org/index.php/features

http://www.eafk.org/EAFK/EarlyAct_FirstKnight.html

http://www.anderson1.k12.sc.us/domain/878

https://redbluff.pasadenaisd.org/news/early_act_first_knight

I hope all of my friends down South can make it out to this event! Who doesn't like a good roast? I'm not positive where you can get the tickets, but I'm sure the Aransas Pass Civic Center OR the Spanish & Science Club Network (look at the bottom of the web page) can point you in the right direction!! BUCK UP BABY & THROW THOSE HANDS UP! This is SUCH a needed program for our schools & together we can raise enough $$$$ to keep it going & MAYBE get it into MORE schools!! GOD BLESS!

Clear Out The Barns! Dust Off Those Collectibles! Accepting Consignments!!

Hey Friends & friends of friends!!! Buck Up Auctions is holding its 1st General Consignment Auction of the year on March 1st @ the NEW Ledbetter Fire Hall (301 West Labodie St., Ledbetter, TX)!

We will BEGIN accepting consignments on February 9th! PLEASE see the flyer & call to set an appointment! We have no problem coming out to look at items, answering questions, & helping you however we can.

Some people have been asking: "Well what kind of items are you takin'?" At a general consignment auction, just about anything goes.... Anything from tractors and trailers to chandeliers...

Anything from coins & currency to hog traps....

Anything from ammo to costume jewelry....

Anything from diamonds to tires...

Anything from antiques to fishing reels...

Anything from old doors, windows, and cabinets to western tack...

Anything from work boots to advertising pieces....

You get my drift...

Check out our website at www.buckupauctions.com.
Like us on Facebook HERE.

I am so VerY MUCH looking forward to this auction. I worked at one down in South Texas & just can't wait to give our people something to do & somewhere to go and get a FAIR price on their items & give the buyers a FAIR chance at buying some really GREAT items.

I'll be out poundin' the pavement the next couple of weeks, BUT call me. You guys can START bringing your consignment pieces to the AUCTION SITE starting February 9th. I'm going to develop a schedule of WHEN someone will be there on a REGULAR basis & we can always set up a time that works for all of us, by appointment. Please LIKE the Facebook Page AND program my number in your phone, so you can keep up to date on the who, what, when, & where of things.

DISCLAIMER: The images shown are not a representation of actual items that will be at auction. They are being used as a guide to show everyone SOME of the different TYPES of items WELCOME for consignments. These are not the only types of items being accepted.

BUCK UP BABY!! Come to the auction! Mark it on your calendars! Buy your sweetie somethin', make a little money on the stuff you've been meanin' to do something with. Cheers & call me! Heather: 979.421.0325 - Buck Up Auctions - TXL 17037.

RE-affirmed & Ready to Go!

This past Saturday was the annual RTC Education Foundation Round Up. The event was GREAT. We had GREAT auction items for the LIVE & silent auctions. The food was delicious. The music was toe-tappin' good & the caliber of people there were TOP NOTCH! A big THANK YOU goes out to all the donors and the FANTASTIC group of bidders we had. You guys truly made it FuN & a HUGE success!!!

Photo credit goes to Melissa Wickel!! Great Job! Lace Dress comes from Junk Gypsy Company & Turquoise Necklace from Brenham Saddle Shop.)

This auction also REaffirmed a few things for me. Unless you've gone into business for yourself before, it's hard for me to explain ALL the different thoughts that can go through a person's head like..... Did I make the right move? Can I hack it in a sea of other auctioneers? Can I hang with the best of'm? Will there be a FUTURE in this? 

Let alone all the specific BUSINESS things that go through your head & processing what you hear from other people in the industry: Am I being fair? Am I shortchanging myself? Is my image "professional" enough? Is it unique enough? Am I holding true to ME? Am I taking care of my voice?

WELL....you GREAT, WoNDerFuL people of ROUND TOP CARMINE.... You gave me a moment of reaffirmation. I won't go into every single little detail.... or conversation... or my epiphanies, if you will...

Let me just say that I had a few conversations, with several people, about a plethora of rAndOM topics. ALL of them were just what my SOUL needed, in JUST the right "areas of concern" that were millin' around in my mind.

I prayed a BIG prayer before that auction & the GOOD LORD delivered.

Folks...I have a couple auctions coming up. The next one scheduled thus far is a benefit auction for Dana Herzog Srubar. She is a young mother (early 30s) that has been diagnosed with breast cancer & has already started chemo treatments. The auction is February 22nd at Chicken Ranch Dance Hall in Nechanitz. Please shoot me a message or give me a call if you are interested in donating to the LIVE or silent auctions & please keep in mind when you are looking for something to do on February 22nd. Black Cat Choir will be performing. For all of you business owners & political candidates out there. Donating items & bidding on items makes for a GREAT PR campaign in these little small towns - where TV ad campaigns are non-existent.

Also....starting February 9th - We can start accepting consignments for the 1st GENERAL CONSIGNMENT AUCTION Buck Up Auctions will be holding this year. It is at the NEW Ledbetter Fire Hall (right beside the old dance hall) one block off of HWY 290 - ACROSS the Highway from Stuermer Store. I'll be blogging more about it later, BUT please mark your calendars to be there & PLEASE be thinking of a few items you may like to consign & get some money for.

Many, many BLESSINGS ya'lls way! Buck Up Baby! Come to an auction! Ask me some questions! Leave me some comments! Also...pick the picture you like best. I have to send one off to the National Auctioneer Association & I want to pick THE BEST! I appreciate all of it!

Startin' to Tackle That Mountain!

I've been wanting to do this for quite some time now & the week of Thanksgiving I took the first MAJOR step. Believe me....there were quite a few little steps I had to take to get to that point, but it's done.

I gave the company I work for my 30 day notice & for the first time in my working life....I don't have another JOB lined out, but I do have a PLAN & a mighty exciting one!

I won't lie. This is probably the SCARIEST thing I have EVER done....EVER.

I want to share a small piece of the journey that brought me to this point, b/c I'm well aware that some people will have their opinions & some...quite frankly....may not get it & that's okay. That's what makes this world go 'round.

My overall MAJOR plan is to pursue my auction career. I have a plan, but having worked with MANY businesses of all shapes & sizes over the last 7 years I KNOW that certain elements of that plan will have to change, happen sooner, happen later, happen differently, not happen at all... So for now, until I get more of the details panned out, I'm pursuing my auction career.

It has been a little bit of a mental roller coaster for me for several different reasons. Here are the MAJOR ones:

1) I have a VERY strong faith & I pray A LOT. This whole auction journey adventure all started while in prayer & for a while now - I knew I needed to act on it, but I didn't know how. I didn't know what I wanted to do EXACTLY. I didn't know how I'd help support my family. I didn't know how I'd replace my income. I did not know HOW.

2) It is hard, Hard, HARD to step out into the unknown. SO hard...& SO ScaRY.

3) I have dealt with NEGATIVITY for years now from all kinds of different personalities: prospects, co-workers, clients, bosses, business personnel, patients, families.... & for all kinds of different reasons like: money, power, work loads, territory,  protocols, end product results....or literally having NO interest in what you have to say. BUT - This step  COULD  mean managing negativity from some of the people that I LOVE most & it took me a little bit to MENTALLY PREPARE myself for that.

4) Knowing that IF I made this move there would be A LOT of change. Finances would tighten up. That means that life as we are living it - changes & we won't know exactly how - until we get the ball rolling.

5) Getting the support from  my husband & my uncle. - THIS was the scariest for me. I hold SO much weight in their opinions & NEED their support. I NEEDED them to hear the plan, see the plan, understand the plan, know why I want to take this HUGE step & have them aware of the way life COULD change - positively & negatively. I needed them to know that I wasn't just shootin' at this thing half-cocked. It went almost SPOT ON to what I expected. Once they had a little time to work through it - JUST LIKE I HAD TO - I had their SUPPORT. ONCE I HAD THAT - All that was left to do was ACT on it, so I did.

6) Right now the hardest part for me is finding out the WHERE & I'm workin' on that.

I have been BLESSED to have family & friends PUSH me & SUPPORT me & ENCOURAGE me. I am BLESSED to have professionals of the field offer their guidance, help, & support.

I am BLESSED. When I was praying that early, EARLY Sunday morning - wanting a change, wanting an option, wanting a way to love my husband, raise my children, & KNOW that if I worked hard I would be rewarded ALONG WITH my family. BECOMING AN AUCTIONEER was TOTALLY NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING, BUT - by God's grace I called my loud-mouth Daddy that told my Uncle Mele (even when I told him not too) & it opened up a whole new world of opportunity for me & totally unexpectedly. There is so much more out there than any of us would have ever thought.

I gotta tell ya! I know I've been a little dormant in the blogging world here lately, but it is some kinda tough to have a blog called BUCK UP BABY! when I KNEW that I needed to BUCK UP in a much bigger way. It is all a process. I truly think we are conditioned for what is to come. We are put in certain situations to learn from them & add a little something to our toolbox.

Well here's to more AUCTIONS, FAITH, BLESSINGS, & BUCK'N UP BABY! Prayers welcomed.

CALLING ALL AWESOME PEOPLE!

CALLING ALL AWESOME PEOPLE!

Calling all people that want to LEARN something!

Calling all people interested in the AUCTION WORLD...

Calling all people that want to learn a thing or 2 about small businesses...

Calling ALL CrEaTIve people :)!

I have a project. I have A PLAN. I have a NEED for some folks who need something too..... education, intern credits, something to do......good company. I can't pay much, but I buy good presents & keep cold drinks.

If you dig RESEARCH, marketING, BRAINstorming, BuYing things, Selling things, SURFING the web, hollerin' REAL loud....LET ME KNOW. If you know somebody....LET THEM KNOW.

Just wanted to throw this out there. It may be for ya......It may not.

EMAIL ME @: HDSKaspar.buckup@gmail.com

STAY COOL PEOPLE....it's hot out there & BUCK UP BABY....shoot me an email & let's do this ;).