Back to Life {plus a bit of organizing}

Yesterday was the big audit. Could have been worse and could have been better. Thankfully the amount owed was less than what we anticipated. Unfortunately money doesn't grow on trees and we still owe a decent chunk to the state. PHOTOGRAPHERS did you know we are not a service and considered a product? Sales tax must be paid on ALL amount received if the client receives photos in the end regardless of form. That means a XXX amount for a wedding fee must be sales taxed on FULLY not just on the album, etc. Oh yes, you heard me right. Crazy town! Anyhow, now I feel like I can get back to life!!! I have been drowning myself in numbers trying to make sure I had all X's and O's in order. Needless to say I have been a bad wife, mama, housekeeper, friend, blogger, etc. I truly believe my office space reflects it all. It's a mess and so was brain. Ha. The images were even taken AFTER all tax related items were put in a bag for the audit. It's still a mess, but I have full intentions of giving it and the rest of the house a complete do over today. The ONE thing that has remained in order, which is not normally the case, it the insane number of cords that sit on my desk, husbands night table, and floor. The people over at MOS Organizer were kind enough to send over a couple of MOS cable organizers to see what I thought. As you know I don't do too many reviews, but they caught me on a day I thought I would go mad with clutter. Oh, and I may have sucked up my third iPhone cord into the vacuum. I must say it ROCKS!!! The MOS uses tiny magnets to clip on whatever cord you need to stay put. I now know where to find them and they stay off the floor plus they look kind of neat. Win-Win!!!!

*tomorrow I plan on sharing KJ's surprise birthday party!!! I am officially back in blogging business. Missed you all!!!

Hi

I can't believe it has been a whole week since I have blogged. Granted I am one to miss a few days here and there, but a whole week? Crazy. Well, time is what I do not have as of now so blogging and eating went out the window. I kind, sort of. I am hoping after our Monday audit I will feel more like myself and not be drowning in numbers any longer. Normal wok load of photography and decorating is rather fun on a normal day, but throw in countless hours of staring at the computer and old tax records, etc one can start feeling a bit loopy. I think audits should be done in the fall by the way, after normal tax season. It's just a lot all at once. Another thing I planned poorly for is little man's birthday. He turns 6 on Saturday. He has NO idea!!! We are throwing him a little surprise party. Mostly just family since our budget is currently none existent till we see what happens on Monday. I still want to make it fun and special. I know he wants everything to be blue and red so that is the idea. I am also having Staples print out huge images of him from every year and hang them around the house. The copies turn out amazing and for so cheap!!! Will share more next week. So I am off to see what I can find locally to make a fun party on the cheap. You know me I normally go way overboard on birthdays so this is a doozy for me. Ha.

The Little Things

Well, last night was a huge fail. Didn't sleep a wink. Boo. Have quite the day ahead too. Anyhoo, Ellie and KJ every few weeks love to make art for neighbors. They stick them in mailboxes just in case they had a bad day. These happen to be for our weekly marriage group that we host. They even made a sign that said "art for sale, free". It's one of the many things that I love about them.

Good Finds

So sorry for the lack of posts. This month has been quite the whirlwind and not in the best way. I for one have had some sort of crud for the last 3 weeks. Yesterday I got two shots in the behind hence the energy to do a post. Ha. We also found out that photography is considered a product not a service. That means we have missed an intricate part from our taxes every year {other photographers be warned}. Needless to say we have taken notice in the form of an audit. Awesome. So as I don't sleep well at night and continually hand it over to God I am sure we will be better for it in the end. Living simply may even take on a whole new meaning for us. Anyhoo, enough of my pity party here are a few things I have seen around town that caught my eye...

Greystone Antiques had this adorable little bunny lamp. I bought it for Ellie's room. It was only $30.00 so I plan on selling her current lamp and break even. It also reminds me of Erika. Which is where Ellie got the brilliant idea that we should have bunnies live in our yard too. Fun. Fun.

I spotted this pretty little garden stool at Home Depot. It would make for a great little side table.

I also came across this outdoor chair at Lowes. It is SO comfortable. Love the texture and the price wasn't bad at under $70.00. Could easily see these surround a low fire pit in a yard. I know these are all instagram repeats so I thought I should throw in something new and different...

Is this table from World Market not divine? It's currently on sale too. Hoping to use it in a beach house that I am working on. Think it would be great flanked by two chairs.

The Process {one image}

When I help someone decorate a home my mind goes into over drive and not in a good way. Ha. After the first initial meet my mind literally soaks on it till I have a clear cut plan. This could take a mere day or much too long in my opinion. If it's a home that steers from my normal ways of decorating it could even lead to restless nights. I REALLY just want that person to LOVE it... of course. Once it "comes" to me then I can get to work without a care in the world. Am I crazy or what? Once we are at the end and that certain someone is happy as can be then it makes it all good. In most cases an image can set me straight. For a home that I am helping with now this image instantly put my mind at ease. It's so simple and doesn't show much, but I now have a plan that is currently in process. What is your decorating process? Hope it goes better than mine! Ha. Teach me your ways!!!

Image taken from The Houses of Veranda