Projects

Starting a LLC!!

By Diana

Alright!! Never thought that this would be something I would do, but here I am :) I decided to do this because I could no longer work for the company I was with and because I am working on a project I am secure enough right now to do this while I work out my long term plan. But this is supposed to be all about this project not the next one!

The first thing I did was think about a name and looked to see if it was taken. It wasn’t and neither was the domain so I decided that was it. I then looked into what it would take to start an LLC. I found several sites that would do it for you and the fees were all about the same, around $500 – $600. Those websites offered all kinds of services, but I didn’t feel comfortable with just going forward with that. I decided I would be better off starting with an accountant, not a bookkeeper a proper CPA.

To find my accountant I decided to be super simple, I googled accountants and looked for one close to my house. It tuns out that I really lucked out because he happened to be one that I had used several years ago, before I did my own taxes and he was actually supposed to be on vacation and just happened to stop by the office. I mean, things just fell into place with this and to be honest I am super happy with my choice. He was able to see me that day so I went over and we started the process.

He did all the paperwork for me to start the company and BEFORE we did that we talked about what I was expecting to bring into the business, what equipment I had to move to the business and all kinds of helpful stuff. Once he heard everything he explained the benefits to becoming an S Corp so that was what we did.

Once we were done I cane home and started to gather my items that were basically for business. These are things like my Macbook, printer, and all those things you would expect. I did this as homework while I have been waiting for my EIN number so that I can go get a business bank account. Now, I am lucky enough to have resources, my brother and dad, to fund my little startup. This is something I am also very grateful for. Neither even hesitate to help me out with a good chunk of money to keep me afloat until I could produce my first invoice.

So that is where I am, I am waiting to get my bank account and a debit or credit card for it. I really hope it comes tomorrow because I leave on Sunday for good chunks of time where I won’t be able to move forward very easily.

Hopefully I will be posting again tomorrow when I can get a bank account :)

Day 135 – Day of Blues

By Diana

I painted my braces for my desk!!!  I know, slow and steady :)  Just have to finish sanding the beast and also try to decide how high and how long it is going to end up being.  I want to redo my picture situation before I decide how long to make it.  I will also have to spay another coat I think, but for now it is looking very good.  Let me go set it up right now to show how it will look :)

I just got done playing with the puppies and then Dime got sick so now we won’t do it so close to their dinner time.  I only took them out because Nickel was staring and talking at me.

Paul came over today and brought me some Panda Express.  Then we had some Chili’s for dinner.  Chili’s is really slacking.  I don’t like this new menu and they just didn’t do very good today at all.  I feel like I talk about food a lot in my blogs, but oh well :)

Tomorrow Carlos and Paul and I are going to see Amy Schumer.  I am excited, I really hope it is good.  I am not sure how well rested I am going to be for the show, I am going to try to take a nap.  Monday I have a doctor’s appointment and luckily it is at like 10 so I should be good to go :)

I also managed to make a meeting this week with our insurance person and I won’t be here.  Now I need to reschedule for like Monday or Tuesday – ugh :)  This is the life of the traveler.

I am so ready to get into the shower, but after I take a shower I just want to lay down and it is a bit early for that even for me :)  But the doggies are doing it!  ha ha ha

Alright, off to clean the person and then maybe take in a movie on Netflix or maybe start my new book :)  Goodnight all!!

The blue braces!
The blue braces!
The blue braces!
The blue braces!

The Real Starting Point

By Diana

Today I went ahead and made my weight loss goal. I am 5’2″ and I currently weigh 190 pounds. I want to weigh around 125 pounds – that is a 65 pound weight loss.

That sounds crazy to hear, I think if you know me it might sound crazy to you that I feel like I need to lose that many pounds. Well, it is what it is. 125 pounds for someone my height is not going to be skin and bones. When I was in high school I weighed around 115 and I always thought that I was a little fat. I don’t ever remember being “happy” with my weight, with a crazy flip side that I don’t feel this fat. Right now, I do. I know I have gone overboard with my diet the last couple months and I feel the consequences. Which is why I am laying it down like this – after I just ate some ice cream…

I was supposed to start working out this month and I did the treadmill once. That was it, just once. Why – I don’t know. I just lack motivation so much that it feels like it cripples me.

I have to start making progress in the downward direction before I get too far gone. I hope to be able to post updates that are positive on here and not more sob stories. I may try to find a doctor to see if there is something that I might be qualified to take to help, but that will be secondary to actually working at it. If I don’t see results when I try then we will go that route because something might be wrong.

The Tiny House Project – What is it??

By Diana

The tiny house project is an idea I had a little while ago to build a tiny house on our property to rent out. That was about a year or two ago, but now the idea has changed to be a house that can be rented like a hotel. So many of the people I watch on YouTube are staying in Airbnb instead of hotels. We even have a person here at work who lives far away and come down and ends up staying in hotels and he hates it. He hates having to pack up to go home for the weekend because they don’t cut any slack for longer staying folks. Anyway, the goal is to write a business plan for this and see if I can convince someone to invest.

I will post updates as I have them, but so far I did email my builder and did not get a response from them. I would rather use them since I have used them before, but now I am going to just find someone who wants to do it.

Stay tuned :)

The Workouts

By Diana

The Workouts

By Diana

Day 87 – The Day of the Desk

By Diana

Today was a great day!!  My brother Carlos came over today to help me and my dad make some progress on my desk.  It’s not that he is an expert, but it was some much needed motivation.  I also made sure that I could get the treadmill down to start my running on April 1!!!  I made a calendar and got my sticker up and am just excited.  The only thing I didn’t do today that I should have was washing my bed clothes.  I am going to give in and get a second set and be done with it.

I got my dad to help me this morning to get the door off of the cage in hopes that Dime will actually seek refuge in there from when Nickel is beating up on her.  I think she has been in there several times and Nickel has pulled the bed out several times so I just don’t know what to do with these crazy beasts :)

I now have a lot more sanding to do on the desk, which is fine, but it is hard work.  I need to get me some more masks so I don’t die from all that dust.  Thank goodness it is a soft wood or I would not be able to handle it.  I am going to add a page just for the desk project so I can keep better track of that.  Here is a link to the Projects page and just look for: Wooden Desk.

I can’t remember if I had said, but yesterday I got my new lens for my iphone and I can’t wait to start using it.  April will definitely  be the time since I will be doing the photo a day project.  Oh that reminds me I should probably move that to that page too :)

Now, some pictures :)

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Wooden Desk Project - Top with mounts
Wooden Desk Project – Top with mounts

The Story of the Wooden Desk

By Diana

I wanted to explain the desk project here, I am going to back date this so that it shows up at the bottom of the project, but in reality it all started about 7 years ago.  I had it on the old website – a bit more information, but I will try to just remember.  I got the wood from a place just south of Waldo and it was just long planks.  They were rough planed and the bottom of course was just the tree, bark and all.

I got them home and did nothing with them for like 4 years.  I finally started on it and basically stripped all the bark off the bottom and I sanded it by hand on that side.  My brother and dad helped as usual on all my projects :)  Then we started on the top.  Sanding and sanding and sanding.  We broke the sander my dad had for like 40 years and went through so many belts.  Then came time to put the planks together.  It didn’t go as well as I had hoped.

I got Carlos over here last weekend to help get some additional motivation to get it done.  I also got the pieces to mount to the top so that I can secure it to the wall and ceiling.  It won’t be on the floor at all.  I am so happy it is coming along so well.  Here is the album.

Wooden Desk Gallery

By Diana