business time

is it really past the mid-february mark already?   wow.  so that means we only have 16 shopping days left until my birthday!   we better get shopping, ya’ll!
<div

class=”statcounter”><a title="web counter"

href=”http://www.statcounter.com/free_hit_counter.html&#8221;

target=”_blank”><img class="statcounter"

src=”http://c30.statcounter.com/2891649/0/ce7f3d92/1/&#8221;

alt=”web counter” >
i filed our taxes yesterday.   i’m VERY pleased to report that we will indeed be getting a refund despite my fear that this whole self-employment racket would wreak havoc on us.    the amazing news is that now that i can actually write off part of our loft as a home office, we actually made out OK.  i mean, our refund is half of what it was last year, but considering i made more than half of my 2011 income from "1099 miscelleaneous income",  i’d have to say we made out pretty good.   i was actually right on target in terms of paying in my estimated taxes, and i paid them all on time, so it looks like i won’t be penalized.   OH THE JOY!   

now:  officially, i have moved out of being a Sole Proprietor and i am a Partner in a newly formed LLC starting.. oh a few days ago.  this is big business, because now all of our personal assets are protected and separate from all of our business dealings (we even have a hefty insurance policy to protect us, just in case!).     if you have no idea what i’m talking about, you’re lucky.  it’s a hot mess trying to figure out all the pros and cons and ins and outs of creating and expanding a business and now we feel like we are FOR REAL dudes, FOR REAL.  we even have a hot website that has actually generated ONE WHOLE LEAD for us, and it’s only been live for a few weeks.

I have to say:  business is good.    we just finished one project that was actually quite fun, and for the first time we created and edited a video deliverable on top of our normal powerpoint report.   i downloaded a free trial of final cut pro and fancied myself an editor for a few days.   it’s amazing how creative i get to be now… and PEOPLE ARE PAYING ME FOR IT.   wtf?   yes.    we just launched an online project that will be in the field until next week, then we will be writing a big fat report on that one.   in the interim, we are pitching our BIGGEST PROJECT YET.  the profit margin on this one would be amazeballs if we actually landed it… but even if it gets scaled back, i think we will still be sitting pretty.  assuming we get it, that is.    we also have another pitch in the works, though not as big, but it would still be a great win.   FINGEEES CROSSED!

so.   although i’m always anxious about booking more and more projects because of the nature of what i do, we definitely have good momentum and have been expanding and fortifying our network in a really nice, organic way and i feel really good about our 2012 potential.   so – yay!

~~~

in remodeling news:   we are waiting for a final bid on the 1,000 things we want to get done so we can prioritize and make decisions and get started, already.   the plan is to basically add a lot of sq footage and potentially increase our total sq footage from 1600 to maybe 2100.  in the process we will be technically be adding a room & a closet, so our place will then be 3BR vs. 2BR.  which will ultimately increase our resale value.   the best part:  LOTS AND LOTS of closet space.   our plan will still be pretty open with our coveted high ceiling in the living area, but there will be less openness and more storage.   we saw the same work done on a loft across the hall from us and it looks so great, but still manages to feel open and light.   we’ll also be potentially adding a murphy bed in the "guest room" and potentially re-doing our bathroom.   my mother-in-law is all over it, so i’m just letting her and aaron hash it out.   basically this:   tell me when i need to get out of the house and tell me when it will be done.  THANKS!

what else?    we booked tickets to bon iver at the santa barbara bowl in april; we have an influx of visitors coming in march & april; i had a great time in chicago and SF — and got to meet a favorite favorite in chicago!!  [Prima Facie]!!   it was so cool meeting her IRL!    she is even prettier in real life skins!   amazing.   super sweet but totally raw and awesome, just as i thought she would be.      i also got to see my mom, stepdad, sister and neeecees.   so great to have a little weekend getaway in chi-town with them.     

did i mention only 16 shopping days left until i move into the business end of the dirty thirties?   oy.  lord help us.