March 31st
Home
Martha Stewart
When I hear the word Easter great things come to mind: spring, colored eggs and chocolates. I remember -when little- waking up on Easter Sunday and finding the beautiful baskets my parents had prepared for me and my siblings. It was a magical day and the family dinner was always exquisite and extremely important too.
I still have fond memories of how all the family got together to help with the dining table arrangements and decoration. At the end, we all sat in the beautifully garnished table and enjoyed the delicious meal knowing it was prepared with lots of love!
For those of you who need some inspiration for creating a beautiful Easter Sunday table, here are some ideas. Voila!
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
February 27th
Home
Canadian House & Home
I’ve been considering for some time creating a home office. These pictures from Canadian House & Home are getting me inspired! How about you?
Canadian House & Home
Canadian House & Home
Canadian House & Home
Canadian House & Home
Canadian House & Home
February 26th
Personal Finance
Levo League
Taxes season has arrived. Yes, we understand how unpleasant this could be. However, knowing the basics can make this process less painful. Here are some tips from our friends at Levo League:
- 1040EZ: An alternative to 1040, it’s the fast and easy (as the name implies) ideal form if you have no real estate assets or tax shelters (see below).
- Tax shelter: When I first read this term, I imagined a fort made of tax forms. In actuality, a tax shelter is a financial arrangement made to avoid or minimize taxes; for example, offshore companies.
- W-2: This is the form filled out by employers and sent to you. You need this to do your taxes.
- W-4: The form you complete, usually the first day on the job, for withholding purposes (i.e., how much you want taken out of your paycheck).
- IRS: The bad guys (just kidding!). The IRS is the U.S. government agency responsible for tax collection and tax law enforcement.
- Tax Evasion: Being sneaky–AKA, intentionally avoiding paying your taxes, and if caught, you can be subject to criminal charges and substantial penalties.
- Tax Audit: When the IRS investigates to see if you’ve paid the right amount on your taxes, that’s called an audit, and it’s another reason to make sure you’ve got your numbers right.
Get Your Materials
Before you sit down to do the deed, gather up the goods. You’ll need the following…
- Proof of income (W2 forms, 1099 for independent work or investment income)
- Receipts (medical expenses, business expenses if you’re self employed)
- Forms (IRS forms can be downloaded here for free)
Get Your Tools
The IRS encourages e-filing. If your income is less than $58,000, you may be able to file with one of the 20 tax software companies that make their products available for free. There are also options like Turbo Tax and H&R Block, which you can use to file. Some are free, and others range between $30 and $150.
Carve Out Some Time
Taxes take longer than you think, and it’s worth it to triple check everything. Errors and miscalculations could result in having to redo your submission or, worst-case scenario, a tax audit.
According to CNN Money, the number one mistake people make when prepping their taxes is making errors in their Social Security Numbers. The second is not doing the right math. Redoing the whole thing because your scribbled out your Social Security Number and your “3″ looks like an “8?” Don’t let this happen to you. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.
Ask for Help and Stay Calm
Although the title of this post suggests doing your own taxes, don’t be afraid to reach out! Below are some of the best resources around.
- Your parents – they won’t put you on hold (hopefully) and they can be a great resource for a quick question or two.
- IRS Tax hotline – See, the IRS isn’t all bad! They have a toll-free hotline you can call for help at 1-800-829-1040 (I wonder what their hold music is like…).
- Taxpayer Assistance Centers – If you want to get personal tax help, this is the place. Bring an ID and get ready for some real deal tax tutoring. You can find the one closest to you on the IRS site.
You’re going to figure this out, but in order to get better, you’ve got to try. You have until April 15, but getting them done early will take the stress off. Hang in there and before you know it, you’ll be finding a big fat tax return in your mailbox. (Via Levo League )
February 26th
Home
T Magazine – The New York Times
Classic English coziness meets minimalist rigor for a style that is both timeless and of the moment in the interior designer Rose Uniacke’s London home. (Via T Magazine)
T Magazine – The New York Times
T Magazine – The New York Times
T Magazine – The New York Times
T Magazine – The New York Times
T Magazine – The New York Times
February 25th
Fashion
refinery29
Grand chandeliers fit for the palaces of French royalty softly lit designer’s visions setting a romantic ambiance. Jason Wu had his girls in gowns walk around his Phantom of the Opera-esque version; Tory Burch kept things posh at the Pierre for her uptown woman; and Ralph Lauren took a trip to Aspen via Moscow with his staghead candelabras. (Via The New York Times)
Photo credit: Richard Drew/Associated Press | The Ralph Lauren 2013 Collection is modeled. Rustic antler chandeliers line the runway.
Photo credit: Reuters | Model poses in Zac Posen’s Fall Collection with a candelabra chandelier behind her.
February 24th
Social Media
Imagine a place where professional women could get advice, inspiration and the tools needed to succeed. Well, no need to look further. The Levo League has come to our rescue.
Levo League produces “smart content for smart women.” They offer career advice from how to negotiate a raise or conduct a meeting, to how to dress for an interview. It ultimately aims to host generation-defining discussions of critical issues relevant to women in the workplace.
Research says that women today are still paid only $0.77 for every dollar paid to men. And African American women and Latinas get even less. This is one of the many reasons initiatives like Levo League should be supported by all women. We encourage our readers to visit Levo League pronto!
January 6th
Home
Photo: One Kings Lane
For those of you with a more traditional aesthetic, One Kings Lane has curated some pieces inspired by Downton Abbey. One Kings Lane is one of my favorite online places to look for stylish furniture and home goods at discounted prices.
