Category Archives: Out and About

Ah taxes!

January 23, 2013

Last week I attended an event put on by Etsy and Outright here in Seattle. It was called the Lowdown on Taxes for Etsy Sellers. I RSVP’d as soon as I found out because there were some things I needed to know about this year’s taxes and also about the taxes for this new state I’m living in! Is this topic fun or what?

I was going to meet up with a fellow blogger but plans fall through (this being sick season) so I dragged Walker along. This was good and bad. He was nice support getting there (I’m not always completely comfortable walking at night alone) but I think he held me back a bit from networking (basically at all). Ok I guess I should say I held me back by using him as an excuse to not talk to anyone.

Here I am in a room full of Etsy admins and Etsy sellers and I just sit in the back of the room and quietly take notes and leave before any interactions could/were made. I wasn’t a complete failure though. I did chat with one of the ladies putting on the event and I got an accountant referral (something I was hoping for) and I chatted with another woman at the bus stop and on the bus going home. Maybe I’m just better one on one. A room full of new people can be intimidating for me, maybe for a lot of people.

So maybe I didn’t meet many new people but I did walk away with a bit more knowledge about both my federal taxes and state taxes. After about a week of feeling completely overwhelmed by it all the fog is starting to clear and things are making sense. Finally! I knew it would happen which is why I gave myself some time away from them before jumping back in. I had clarity today and I’m feeling good! Taxes I’m ready to take you on!

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A bakery treat

January 22, 2013

I had some business downtown the other day and on my way I noticed these delicious treats in the window. On my way home I decided to splurge. I chose a coconut cream pie bite and a peanut butter chocolate cupcake. I patiently waited until I was home to indulge. I was especially happy that one of my treats came in the super cute and tiny boxes. They were both equally delicious. I hope I have business downtown again soon!

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The salt lick-oh my

January 18, 2013

I didn’t have any particular place in mind but when I was in Austin I was going to eat barbeque-somewhere. The day before I left I called my friend Katie to remind her of my arrival and she said they already had a trip planned to the Salt Lick to say goodbye to one of the grad students in her department. Perfect! The Salt Lick isn’t the best barbeque in Austin but it’s got the best atmosphere by far and honestly most of the time the best bbq is the bbq I’m eating at the moment.

We were with a group of about 15 physics students and I invited a few friends of mine along also we were quite the crowd. My friend made me a birthday cake and I was super excited because I told him how Walker wouldn’t let me put 29 candles on my cupcake so he brought 29 and lit it up! It warms my heart when friends do such nice things for me. I’ll have to do something extra nice with he and his girlfriend come to visit us here. Hehe.

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-the cake maker

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-the cakemaker’s girlfriendDSC_1189

-my friend KatieDSC_1195

-my birthday sparkling juice! (I would drink this every year on New Year’s but I couldn’t get a bottle in Seattle but I happened to have an older one in Austin that I left when I moved-my mom had mailed me 3 bottles last year since you can only buy it in Michigan-hahaha-oy!)DSC_1206

-29 candles!DSC_1208

-can I blow them all out at once?  DSC_1212

-deep breath!

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-yes I can!!DSC_1213

I just love my birthday month and I was so blessed to get to continue the celebration with friends!