“Distance lends enchantment to the view.” ~ Mark Twain
Massachusetts
Another Boston Romance
My love for Boston has returned. Not that I ever stopped loving it. But the winter makes it hard to remember that loving feeling. That special love for Boston feeling.
Like when I’ve been away on a trip. I’m on a plane and we start circling Logan and descend back into the city. No matter where I’m coming from or how much I enjoyed my trip, I am thrilled to be home. I see Boston with fresh eyes and get that loving feeling.
Each year when the warm weather returns, the city wakes up and blooms. When I was walking outside yesterday, I looked down an alley that would be very easy to miss. I saw this outdoor seating area. Empty, but waiting for people to arrive.
Imagine all the future people in this space over the next few months. Mixing and mingling. Talking. Eating. Laughing. Remembering. Maybe even falling in love.
It made me think about all the restaurants and cafes around the Boston area that have set up their outdoor seating for the season.
Then this morning, I found a listing on Eater Boston with 120+ patios officially open for 2016. They made the list, so I don’t have to. It’s a great resource for the season. Whether you’re an area local or a tourist visiting. I’m looking forward to going to a few of these places. Hopefully you will too!
Now That It’s Spring
Warmer weather is here and after a full week of clouds, cold and rain, I am ready to enjoy the sunny warm outdoors. Yay spring!
Did you know that this past Saturday, May 7th was World Labyrinth Day? People all over the globe “Walked as One at 1” in order to generate a wave of peaceful energy.
I didn’t get to do any labyrinth walking, but it got me thinking that spring is the perfect time to renew my Life List efforts, see #82, and walk some new labyrinths.
In case you’re interested as well, The Labyrinth Society‘s labyrinth locator helps you find a labyrinth in your area. It’s fun, relaxing and a walking meditation.
Also, I am so excited that with the arrival of spring, the open markets are all finally coming back! SoWa Open Market opened May 1st.
Take a look on the Massachusetts Farmers Market website for a listing of markets and when they are open for the season.
Copley Square Farmers Market opens tomorrow and Dewey Square Farmers Market opens next week on Thursday, May 19th. Dewey Square is easiest for me to get to, since it’s right outside South Station. I cannot wait for such easy access to just picked fruits and vegetables again!
Boston’s Latest Crafty Girl Craze: Terrariums
Spring is finally here. It’s National Park Week and tomorrow is Earth Day. So it’s the perfect time to think about all the beauty of the earth.
Many of us don’t want to only enjoy the beauty of trees and plants when we’re outdoors, but we want to bring the lush greenery inside as well. I’ve been blessed with a green thumb and have plants and trees growing quite nicely in my apartment. Tending my plants is very relaxing and a kind of meditation for me.
It seems that I’m not the only one who feels this way about plants, because a new zen trend that I see growing 😀 is terrariums.
Trident Booksellers on Newbury Street has a weekly “Plant Nite” where you can build terrariums and enjoy food and drinks. But it’s not the only place. Plant Nite, similar to Paint Nite, brings people together at different restaurant venues all around the Boston area where they can drink and go home with a terrarium.
Niche, focuses on urban garden supply and is located on Tremont Street in the South End. They encourage plant ownership and sometimes offer classes and workshops on terrarium building.
This Sunday morning, on April 24th, Shake the Tree, which is located on Salem Street in the North End, will be holding a terrarium building workshop along with mimosas and breakfast bites.
If you’d like to go west of Boston, on June 5th, Tovah Martin of Terrarium Wise will be speaking about terrariums and there will be a workshop as well. This event will be held at Brandt House B & B, located in Greenfield, Massachusetts and sponsored by the Greenfield Garden Club.
If you can’t make it to an event, or even if you can, maybe you’d like to wear a terrarium. Dara Cheek, of Hieropice, who I met at ASSEMBLED in Somerville, makes the cutest terrarium necklaces that you can buy from her Etsy shop.
You can also just make terrariums at home. West Elm gives a tutorial on making a tabletop terrarium. Sunset Magazine also gives some nice ideas for DIY terrariums.
Whatever way you choose to enjoy terrariums, you’re sure to have some fun!
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Flickr Photo Credit: Terrarium Workshop by Amy Gizienski
Tax Day: Tax Tips for Bloggers
*This post is not tax or legal advice. See full disclosure below.*
It’s Tax Day! At least for those of you not in Maine or Massachusetts. We have until April 19th to file our returns, because of Patriots’ Day today.
Back in 2012 and 2014, I wrote some posts with tax tips for bloggers. Since the subject of blogging income interests me and many readers as well, I thought I’d revisit the topic. There’s always a new crop of bloggers out there!
Generally, if you earn money blogging, that is considered income. You may have accidentally become an entrepreneur by turning your passion project into a job. Or maybe from the beginning, you wanted to earn money by blogging.
The way you think about your blogging work is key, especially when it comes to the IRS. Once you have the intent to make a profit and you treat your blogging like a business, then you may be considered self-employed.
While you may not be earning full-time money that you can live on, it doesn’t matter. You may be considered self-employed even with a part-time business. The threshold for earnings is surprisingly low according to the IRS.
You have to file an income tax return if your net earnings from self-employment were $400 or more. If your net earnings from self-employment were less than $400, you still have to file an income tax return if you meet any other filing requirement …
There are benefits to treating your blogging as work that you are doing for profit versus a hobby. Below is an IRS rule to remember.
In general, taxpayers may deduct ordinary and necessary expenses for conducting a trade or business or for the production of income. Trade or business activities and activities engaged in for the production of income are activities engaged in for profit.
If you are paying to eat at a restaurant, so you blog about your meal and you are earning advertising revenue on your blog, you might be able to deduct the cost of your meal as an ordinary and necessary expense for conducting the business of your blog.
These are just a few things to think about when you earn money from blogging. Below are links to some recent articles that go into more detail. You may find them interesting and helpful as well.
If you already filed for 2015, this post may come to late, but you can always start planning for next year!
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Tax Tips for Bloggers [Intuit Turbo Tax]
Travel Blogger Denied Tax Writeoff For European Backpacking Trip [Forbes]
Tax Time: What Bloggers Need to Know [Katy Widrick]
Business Expenses for Bloggers (What can I deduct?) [Brilliant Business Moms]
Taxes for Food Bloggers: Deductions. [Fervent Foodie]
The Blogger’s Guide to Tax Deductions [Kimi Who?]
Tax Filing Tips for Freelance Bloggers in the US, UK and Canada [Be a Freelance Blogger]
Home Office Tax Deductions for Small Business Owners [NerdWallet]
Favorite tax deductions of personal finance bloggers [PolicyGenius]
Blogging and Taxes – What You Need to Know [Making Sense of Cents]
Tax Tips for Freelancers in 2016 [Artisan Blog]
Blog Tip Thursday: Tax Tips for Bloggers, Part 1 [Healthy Living Blogs]
Blog Top Thursday: Tax Tips for Bloggers, Part 2 [Healthy Living Blogs]
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Disclaimer: While I am a Massachusetts licensed attorney, I’m not in private practice and not seeking clients. This post is not meant as legal or tax advice. Every individual has unique circumstances and questions. While I love comments on this blog and emails, no tax or legal questions will be answered here or via email. Please consult an attorney or accountant licensed in your jurisdiction for specific questions. The information contained in this post is for general informational purposes only and geared toward bloggers in the United States.
Photo: Image courtesy of Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
