#resources and tools

[nmgtechnologies-blog]

Covid-19 Resources and Tools for Online Businesses |

Coronavirus has spread globally, leaving businesses in the private and public sectors to struggle for arrangements of resources.

Within a few weeks, a surprising and phenomenal crisis has engulfed the world: Coronavirus has spread globally, leaving businesses in the private and public sectors to struggle for arrangements of resources.

[teaatelevenses]

of textures and beginnings.

I am such a sucker for textural design. Maybe it has to do with my roots--I probably would have never gotten into graphic design if it hadn't been for a friend's hacked copy of Photoshop, and an online world full of people making inspiring fanart. I fell in love with creating visual reinterpretations of stories, and mashing together the typography of song lyrics with collage-like imagery of colors and textures. Granted, I never thought of it in those high-design terms. I was simply excited by the ability to make things on my computer. And man, did I make stuff: wallpapers, web banners, lj and myspace layouts, and on and on, each featuring characters, stories, and songs that peaked my interest. I know, I know. They were humble beginnings. :) I was actually kind of afraid to admit it in many of my college design classes (you got interested in design by making fanart?? Blegh). What can I say? Sometimes the design field can be uber-pretentious. Fortunately, in one of my classes this semester, my professor asked us all that great question: how did we get interested in design? And about half of the class' first delving into design had to do with making silly wallpapers and fanart-like things. One of the girls even admitted that she was an ultimate Buffy fan. So great! It was a really fun class as we reminisced and laughed about our early design days. And what was intended to be a short post giving you a list of textural links has now developed into quite the trip down memory lane! Sigh. I'm such a rambler. Well, without further ado, here are some of the awesome places I've found to grab free textures for your work--whether it be high design that would do Rand and Hoeffler proud, or fun stuff that tickles your imagination and yours alone. Whatever it is, be creative. Make something. And take joy in it! Design Reviver's 300 Vintage Textures and Brushes Roundup - Extensive, awesome, very useful. Textures and brushes used in above image from this list.CG Textures - Photographic collection of textures. High-res images available.Resurgere @ Deviant Art - Lots of interesting textures and stock images.StockXchng - The free version of iStockphoto: slightly less interesting images than its counterpart, but hey, they're free! Some useful textures as well. Do you have any other staples that you know you can always turn to? Share them in the comments!

[teaatelevenses]

hassle free eyelashes

This may be completely shallow, but when I find a product that actually works well I have to share. Yesterday while shopping at Target for my cousin's birthday present, I came across Covergirl's Exact Eyelights mascara, and on a whim I bought it because my current Physician's Formula mascara has been less than satisfactory. The gimmick behind this mascara is it comes in four colors that you choose the mascara that will compliment your eye color: brown, blue, green or hazel. I was stoked to see that they didn't leave out us mixed up hazel-eyed people. I went ahead and bought it, applied it and was very happy with the results. I'm not really sure if the color compliment it promised was very effective, but after using the ineffective brush of Physician's Formula, I was thrilled with a smooth, lash-by-lash application that you get with a Covergirl brush. One disclaimer, however, I was blessed with inheriting my father's long, naturally curled, full eyelashes and therefore don't look for mascara that's going to make lashes longer and fuller than ever before. This mascara is basic, no clump, smooth application, just-improve-what-you've-already-got mascara. So if your looking for showstopping lashes, this mascara is not for you, but if you want low-maintainence, hassle-free lash coverage, this is the stuff. Covergirl Exact Eyelights is $6.99 at Target and comes in Black Pearl, Black Ruby, Black Gold, and Black Sapphire.

[teaatelevenses]

The importance of Hacking 101

Of the six houses I have frequently stayed at over the last few months, four have wireless networks (and the fifth is getting one in the next few weeks). As laptops, and thus mobility, become more standard in homes, more people are naturally turning to wireless networks. And luckily each of those I've been using have been password protected. Wonderful! ...or so I thought. via Unpluggd Lifehacker recently posted a few blogs on how simple it is to crack WEP password-protected networks. That link will show you what child's play it is...scary, right? Apparently password encryption aint enough these days. Hence the importance of knowing some hacking basics...you can take measures to work against it! Here are the steps Unpluggd suggests you take to keep your network secure:

1. Use WPA2 network password encryption whenever possible: WEP is child's play. WPA is still crackable, but a bit more difficult. WPA2 should keep those hackers at bay unless you're housing vital information for a billion dollar case. 2. Update your router to the latest firmware: Updates tend to emphasize more security and added features to keep those baddies out. Especially if your router only currently supports WEP, a firmware update may add on that WPA2 at no extra cost. Say a hacker does slip in. Take these measures to avoid bigger headaches down the road: 1. Password your network shares: You don't want them sniffing through your stuff. Password protect folders that you're sharing over the network for an extra layer of added, easy protection. 2. Play it safe with monthly antivirus and spyware checks: Chances are network hackers are looking to put something icky to steal your information. If you're on wireless, make it a habit to do monthly checks to ensure your computer is running malware free. 3. Backup data: If they're just there for trouble, they're looking to destroy your system. Backups are important since hard drives die anyway, so have a solution ready in case the worst happens to well... happen.

I know, I know. This stuff is so buh-oh-ring. But set aside a little bit of time to check out your network settings. Backup your files at night so your computer works whilst you sleep. Most antivirus and spyware equipment can be set up to run at a certain time: schedule it to run once a week when you're normally busy with other things. Anybody have any other tips for keeping your tech healthy and well-functioning (and free of scurvy digital pirates)?

[teaatelevenses]

writer's block: banging my head against a wall

In the life of the aspiring writer, writer's block is an inevitable fact of life. I just have to ask why when I have no time to write (i.e. during a semester of school), I have tons of ideas, and then when I have all the time in the world, the well of ideas runs dry? I have all this desire and time to write, work on that best-selling book every aspiring writer wants to write, but no original ideas. I feel like the universe is laughing at me. Working on the ideas I've already started, I feel completely insecure. Being kind of a book snob, I don't want to write anything I would never consider reading myself, but can I really meet my own standards? Are these stories worth telling? Are they redundant or cliche? Has it all been done before? This is paralyzing me. Just browsing through the website Writer's Block Help has already at least made me feel better about my insecurity. Just reading the Creative Writing Quotes has encouraged me to keep trying. There are solutions on this site for almost every kind of writer's block, whether you're just terrified of not living up to your writing heroes (like me) or you're idea tank is running on empty. There are writing prompts just to get you writing something, suggestions of where to go for inspiration, and even a list of creative writing contests. My own usual remedies:

If my story were a movie, what music would be on the soundtrack? Listen to that music.

Read the books that make you want to write or the authors that are your heroes. I love Ian McEwan's writing style in Atonement. He has a way of putting words together so they just look and sound pretty. The Chronicles of Narnia also help because the magic is in C.S. Lewis' words.

Sometimes writing on paper the old-fashioned way instead of at my computer helps to. It's good to feel the act of writing with a pen. It feels more intimate, like I'm a part of the writing process.

Whether your writing songs, books, poetry, or designing furniture, websites, ads, stationary or painting for your own pleasure, what do you turn to when you need an inspiration boost? What's your creative Red Bull?

[teaatelevenses]

something new sunday: doing your freelance taxes 101

The number one thought that goes through my head on this subject? HELP!!! (accompanied by visuals of panicking, drowning, and a somber suit representing the IRS knocking on my door) I'll be honest, I think freelancing is a pretty sweet gig. But there are some things about it that are not so sweet. Taxes/finances probably ranks at the top of this list. With no large company taking your hand, asking you to fill out forms, and reminding you when tax season is, freelancers are completely on their own in navigating a very confusing world of rules, paperwork, and ulsers. I recently sat down and had a good long conversation with my accountant, and wanted to share with you guys some of the awesome info I got. This post is divided into three sections: the basics, exemptions, and some practical tips.REMEMBER: this post is only meant to be an introduction/springboard. Don't take these tips without a grain of salt. Make sure to talk to a tax professional about your individual situation.

Square One

Where do I start?Do some research and find a tax pro. Seriously, spend the money on an accountant. It is the most worthwhile investment you can make: Firstly, freelance taxes are a mess and a half. You really want someone who does this all day everyday on your side. Secondly, tax laws can change, sometimes even within a few years. Hire an accountant who will keep up with these laws for you. Thirdly, a good accountant can help you compare your exemption options and help you get more money back from the government than you would have on your own. Fourthly, you don't want to get audited. Really. How much can I expect to pay?If you made under XXXXXXXXXX, nothing. If you made more than that, 15% goes to a self-employment tax (aka social security). 15% more is a federal tax. So, in total, you can expect to pay about 30%. Now remember...that's 30% of what you made AFTER you take out expenses. More info on that below.How much you owe your state will depend on where you live. California has no specific self-employment tax that applies to me, so I can expect to have to pay a few hundred dollars annually---very little, compared to the federal taxes.How often should I be paying taxes?Like everybody else, you'll file your taxes annually. But, unlike everybody else, you're not getting taxes taken out of each paycheck, so you should plan to send the IRS an estimated amount of taxes quarterly. These important dates are April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. (For January taxes, cut off your income/expenses on December 31).Um, really?Yes really. Unless you relish the idea of having to pay thousands of dollars every April. Are you a dedicated enough person to keep all that money on-hand in your bank account, yet not spend a cent of it? Yeah, neither am I. Do yourself a favor and estimate your taxes every quarter. How do I pay these quarterly taxes?Go to www.irs.gov and download a 1040-EF form. Fill out Voucher 3. Talk to your tax pro, and use some of the suggested exemptions below to estimate how much your income minus expenses amounted to. Calculate 30% of that number, and mail a check in that amount to the IRS. (Photocopy the form and the check for your own records). Do I hafta?Yes. Even if you've slipped through the cracks and not paid taxes for a while (as it's sometimes easy for people working independently to do), there's a VERY good chance that you are eventually going to get royally screwed. Or IRSally screwed. The point of this post is not to shame you or chide you into staying paid up. You should simply know better.

Types of Exemptions

Okay, let's talk some silver lining here. Because if you're like me, your head is spinning at the idea of losing 30% of your income. Since you're self-employed, anything that you spend on your business is deductible. My accountant's words of wisdom were:

"Every time you take out your wallet, ask yourself how the money you're spending relates to your business. Get in that habit, and you'll be amazed at how much money you save. ANYTHING that moves your business forward is deductible."

Here are some general categories that you should consider: Supplies and EquipmentThere's the big expenses (new computers, new software, printers, etc), and there's small expenses (printer ink, paper, pens)...any of these things that you use for your business counts. So let's say you're looking to buy a new video camera: if you use it to record a few promotional vlogs, or you get paid to film a friend's wedding, guess what? Business expense. Monthly billsCell phones. Internet. Use them to run your business? Then heck yes they're deductible. Some situations even allow you to deduct a portion of your rent and utilities---but these rules can be sticky and you should definitely talk to your tax pro about it first. The basic rule of thumb is that you must have a space used solely for work (ie. not your bedroom or living room), and it must have a closable door. Figure out the portion of your floor plan that this room occupies, and that's the portion of your utilities/rent you can deduct. TransportationAnytime you drive to meet a client, or pick up supplies, write down your mileage! You can take that off too. There are two basic ways that this works:A. Standard mileage rate: a certain number of cents per mileor B. Actual expenses: including auto insurance, gas, repairs, etc.Which one will work best for you? If you're haven't purchased a new car, it's most likely that you'll get more money back on option A. Talk to your tax pro to be sure. ResearchThis one's quite possibly my favorite: because if I buy something at the grocery store that has good design, it can count as research for my business. I KNOW RIGHT. I'm totally buying more pretty package products. The best way I would suggest to keep track of this is to separate out your products at the check stand into two bills. Otherwise, you're going to have a mess keeping track of everything. Of course, other things can count as research write-offs: every time your purchase something, ask yourself if this thing is research in any way. My unprofessional advice though is to NOT go overboard. It's way less of a mess to only claim things you really can prove are research than to get audited in the end. Most sucky. Self-promotionThe cost of business cards, your website, etc etc. This one's pretty simple to remember, since it obviously and directly relates to your business. OutsourcingIf you hire someone else to help you complete a job for your business, the amount you pay them with is deductible. Just make sure that they provide you with an invoice. Make a note of what check number you pay them with (DON'T pay with cash...you always want to have documentation of your payment). Things that are NOT business deductiblesThese are often called personal (or in official tax lingo, itemized) expenses, and my knowledge in this field is quite hazy. But a few basics for freelancers in this category are: charity and tithing, car registration, health/dental/renters insurance. They only count if they add up to more than $5,000 annually. So, keep track of them: but don't expect to use them to get out of more taxes.

Making it Happen

So, all those deductibles sound pretty awesome, right? Right. But in order to get them, you have to be willing to put in a little work on your own. Okay, it's kind of a lot of work. But I think you'd agree that the money saved could be well worth the effort. First step: get organized.This means a lot of different things for a lot of different people. If many of your expenses are business related, you should really consider having two bank accounts and/or credit cards: one personal and one business. It will help immensely with keeping things straight. Get a system going.Figure out your best system for keeping track of your expenses. Excel, Quicken, GoogleDocs, and Mint.com are a few options. Just make sure that there's a way to denote your expenses, that it's something you can keep up with on a daily basis, and (especially if it's electronic) back it up periodically. Keep your records, and your receipts.Generally, you only need write-ups of your purchases. But in case the IRS decides to come after you, you will need your receipts to prove that everything is as you claimed it to be. If you don't already have one, start a binder for 2009 where you can easily drop in pertinent receipts for each month. Get in the habit of printing out records of online transactions. It doesn't have to be super organized and tediously documented: you most likely won't need these receipts. But it's much much MUCH better to be safe than sorry. Should I charge my clients taxes up front?Well, you're responsible for paying taxes in the end. And your clients are accustomed to paying taxes on everything else. It only makes sense to let them know you're a responsible person to hire.A seemingly tricky question (as submitted by @iamampersand) is whether you charge your state taxes or your client's state taxes. Since you are the one responsible for paying the government, it's necessary to go by your state's tax laws.

Any more questions?

Feel free to ask in the comments! If possible, I'll try to pass along your question to my accountant, and get you some feedback. Have any tips for how you stay organized? Please share them too!

[teaatelevenses]

Happy Gift Giving

Wow, it's been quiet around here. But I promise we have good reasons for that. On top of our normal work and Christmas craziness, Ash and I have been working diligently together on a Christmas project that I'm sure we'll share with you as soon as Christmas is over and the gifts have all been opened. Until then, shhhh...you never know which special someone's parents or grandparents are reading this thing. Anywho, it's not super comprehensive, but here's my Christmas gift guide in case you're still scrambling. These are my go-to gifts when it comes to Christmas or birthdays, but I think all four of these are especially suited to Christmas since they all have to do with baking, hot beverages or wintery activities like reading. So without further ado, follow the link for gift ideas! Coffee Cozy by Wayside Violet Jessica behind Wayside Violet hand knits these awesome sleeves for to-go cups. Last year I bought every coffee lover in my life one of these, and they were a huge hit. They come in an array of colors and some have pretty embellishments like the bow above, or you can buy one without, which are just as awesome. Scone Mixes from Lindy's Delights You may remember these mixes from this post way back when Lindy started. These scone mixes are put together by Ash's wonderful mom, and they are the best scones I've ever had. Bonus: If you buy this for one person, their family will also love you after trying them. Coffee Mug from Anthropologie Okay, so this one isn't on the Internets for purchasing, but if you just so happen to live near an Anthropologie consider yourself in luck! These mugs are very affordable, which is why you should consider yourself in luck since you're standing in Anthropologie with an affordable product in your hand. They are all monogrammed with different color combinations but same basic design...so pretty. Your Favorite Book Okay, so don't completely ignore the tastes of the readers on your list, but choose a book that you love that you think lines up with the books they love too. Books are my favorite gift to give. I think they are more thoughtful in a way, especially if it's a book that your sharing with them, one you loved and want them to experience too. P.S. No, I didn't finish my novel in one month, but I got to just over 24,000 words, and I think I'll keep messing around with it!