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Ahead of the Game: Let’s Talk Taxes…

01/27/2012 in Organizing, Reminders, Vendors, What we're Doing by Lindsay | No comments

Guess what I’ve already filed?? 

Yep, you guessed it…  My 2011 taxes.  Look who’s on the ball!  (It’s me, it’s me!)

For the past few years, I’ve taken my tax info down the street to HR Block, simply out of convenience, to have one of their employees quickly chew me up and spit me out.  “See ya’ next year!” they’d say with a smile as I wrote a large check for their data entry, and moseyed out confused as to why my fairly simple tax return was so expensive.  Not this year, readers.

THIS year, I changed it up.  I’m using a firm to prep my taxes who was highly recommended to me by blog regular + close friend, Loren S.  They don’t advertise – they rely on word of mouth.  (And, we like that!)  They’ve done such an excellent job with my taxes this year, and really handled me with care.  So, I want to help ‘em out a little.

siegel & siegel, p.c.

Siegel & Siegel, P.C. is a small, family-owned firm that was started in the 1950′s by Abe Siegel.  All three of Abe’s sons became CPAs and all worked there (and still do).  Josh Halpern, my new CPA (um, do I sound fancy pants or WHAT?!), is the newest addition to the group.  He started working there in 2007, and has been a CPA since 2009.  Josh is a Georgia Bulldog (which I didn’t hold against him), and an all-around really awesome guy.

Siegel & Siegel provides accounting and tax services for individuals and small businesses.  This includes compilations (another way of saying financial statements), as well as tax services.  Many of their business clients are service-oriented (doctor, lawyer, dentist, real estate), but they can also work on any small “closely-held” businesses.  Josh had no problem at all helping a little guy (girl) like me with my super-simple tax return, either.

Clients like Siegel & Siegel because of the personal attention they receive from the firm.  They don’t have young staff for partners to hand over their clients to ”to be worked-up” and then passed back for a quick check-over and a signature.  They do the work themselves, and they each know their clients issues/ business versus having to find the staff person who worked on that client (larger firms are like this) to inquire about what is going on.  They do not bill solely based on time, so they are happy to take calls and respond to e-mails.  (Even I know that this is very old school – and I appreciate it.)  Siegel & Siegel considers itself to be a “vintage firm.”  The kind where you receive the personal attention you deserve.

Siegel & Siegel’s office is located in Sandy Springs near Roswell Road and Hammond, close to Breadwinner Cafe.  Give Josh a call.  He’s a great guy (I absolutely vouch for him), and he will very thoughtfully walk you through your taxes.  I sincerely appreciated the care with which he explained everything to me, and the speed at which he prepared my return.  If you’re looking for some tax help this year, I highly recommend Siegel & Siegel. 

P.S. Tell Josh that the Q+DD sent you!  We don’t get a kickback or anything (I can’t even imagine what it would be if we did…), but it would be nice to know that we were able to help out a really great, small business that we believe in!  :)

xx, L

Siegel & Siegel, P.C. – Josh Halpern
140 Hammond Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
404.252.6667 ext. 106
joshua@siegelcpa.com
www.siegelcpa.com

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Trend Alert! Toomers Rolls

10/25/2011 in Out of Town, Sports, Trend Alert, Vendors, Where we're Shopping by Lindsay | No comments

ATTENTION all Auburn fans: A friend of our dear friend, M. Reynolds, started an awesome company that you need to know about – Toomers Rolls!

But first, I need to give everyone else a little Auburn 411…

The intersection of Magnolia Avenue + College Street in Auburn, which marks the transition from downtown Auburn to the university campus, is known as Toomer’s Corner.  Hanging over the corner are two massive old-growth oak trees, and whenever there is cause for celebration in the Auburn community, the trees are festooned with toilet paper.  (Oooh, I like the word “festooned.”)  The TP rolling of oak trees started in the early 1990s after the power lines were moved under ground.  Traditionally only used as a way to celebrate football victories, in recent years it has become a way to celebrate anything good that happens concerning Auburn.  (www.wikipedia.com)

toomer's corner

Here’s the Q+DD on Toomers Rolls:

Toomer’s scarves were developed by an Auburn graduate and her Georgia Tech pal from business school.  They are made out of soft “scarf-like” material that will keep you wrapped in spirit while watching an Auburn game…home or away!
 
Wrapped around a replica of a cardboard toilet paper roll + featuring fine stitching mimicking toilet paper perforation seams, these scarves give a nod to Auburn University’s famous winning tradition while preserving the delicate Toomer’s Oaks!
 

LK + I are Texas fans, but since Texas is in a different conference we feel like we can jump on the Toomers Rolls bandwagon! 

who's got school spirit??

We just love scarves (esp. scarves worn in summer), we totally support small businesses, we think toilet paper is v. necessary, and we’re on-board with anything M. Reynolds is about!  (P.S. She’s the adorbs model on the far left of the photo above.)

Get your Toomers Rolls here, War Eagles: GO AUBURN!  Follow Toomers Rolls on Facebook!

And, good luck this season!  :)

xx, L

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A Weekend ‘o Festivals.

04/25/2011 in Festivals, Inman Park, Reminders, Suburbs, What we're Doing by Lindsay | 1 comment

Y’all are going to have a jam-packed weekend ahead of you!  So start planning NOW. 

As you know, Camp Dance is this weekend + I’m sure you’re all super pumped for it!  If you are looking for plans during the weekend days, I strongly recommend that you check out these two exciting festivals!

1 – Smyrna’s Spring Jonquil Festival
(April 30 & May 1, 2011)

The Jonquil Festival is located on the beautiful Village Green in downtown Smyrna.  It will showcase arts + crafts by more than 150 artists/ crafters from across the country.  The event also offers fun for the entire family to enjoy with continuous entertainment, a children’s section + a wide selection of festival foods.  The show will draw a crowd of around 15,000 people.  Hours are 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday + admission is FREE!

More information + directions to Smyrna’s Spring Jonquil Festival here: Spring HAS Sprung!

And (THIS IS EXCITING NEWS), just guess who will have a tent at the Festival….

J. Rishel Woodworks!  You will not want to miss his tent!  Justin is an amazing woodworker – so be sure to look out for him!

my j. rishel woodworks cutting board

Read more about J. Rishel Woodworks here: Got Wood? (Ahh, couldn’t resist.)
J. Rishel Woodworks’ Etsy Page here: Buy Some Wood! (Not nearly as funny…)

2 – Inman Park Spring Festival
(Also, April 30 & May 1, 2011)

Inman Park Spring Festival takes place in one of Atlanta’s oldest + most scenic neighborhoods.  First developed in the late 1800s, Inman Park is home to many historic homes + parks.  The Festival began in the early 1970s as a means to attract attention to gentrification efforts that sought to revitalize the community.  Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the festival offers something for everybody.  Music, kids activities, a Tour of Homes, a marvelous street parade, an artists’ market + some of the city’s best people-watching. 

inman park festival parade

I’m a serious fan of this Festival + blogged about my love affair w/ it last year…please review here: I Heart the Inman Park Spring Festival.

More information + directions to the Inman Park Spring Festival here: Inman Info!

This is going to be SUCH a great weekend.  Enjoy the festivals, festival-goers!  :)

xx, L

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Welcome to Atlanta, J. Rishel Woodworks!

11/12/2010 in Gifts, Guilty Pleasures, Holidays, L+L Report, Vendors, Where we're Shopping by Lindsay | 4 comments

With the holidays around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what you are going to put under your tree or beside your menorah for those special someones who have been on their very best behavior all year long…  (Like me!)  So, please allow me to introduce you to J. Rishel Woodworks.

One of my closest girlfriends, Michelle (Flounder), + her husband moved from NYC to Atlanta a few months ago.  Michelle’s husband, Justin, is a former high school History teacher + marine (Happy Day-After-Veterans-Day, Justin!) with an incredible talent for woodworking.  In New York, he got serious about his woodworking and quickly started receiving paying projects.  Upon moving to Atlanta, Justin set up an Etsy page + now his hobby has become a full-time gig. 

I recently sat down w/ Justin to chat a little about woodworking.  Here’s the Q+DD about how J. Rishel Woodworks came to be:

“I got into woodworking because I couldn’t afford a nice coffee table in college and decided that the only thing stopping me from making it myself was a little know how.  So, after some trial and error I managed to create a functional, however unattractive table.  When I moved to NYC, I had about six months to kill before I started teaching and thought that a good way to spend my time was to hone my skills.  I spent many, many hours reading books and magazines about woodworking and watched hours upon hours of woodworking shows on TV.  Over the years (between 2005 and 2010), my skills improved and my knowledge expanded.  My work became more sophisticated evolving from tables to beds, cabinets, a chuppah, and more.  Although I don’t yet consider myself a master and still have quite a bit of learning to do, I have grown significantly over the last few years.”

“Schools weren’t hiring when we moved to Atlanta and I had to find a way to generate some income.  I decided that in order to reach a wider marketplace my work had to become smaller and more packageable.  So, cutting boards, candlesticks, ring boxes, toys, and so on are now my primary focus.  Larger work is still very doable and desirable, but would have to be local.”
 
“As far as the woods I enjoy working with, I like classic wood types like walnut, cherry, maple, and oak.  I enjoy the fact that they’re American grown.  All woods have their own unique characteristics and colors which make them all beautiful and useful.”

What a great guy, huh?  A handful of Justin’s projects are below:

Sushi Trays - Walnut

Cutting Board - Cherry, Ash, Maple + Walnut

Rocking Horse - Ash + Walnut

Ring Boxes - Maple

Lamp w/ Double-Helix Twist - Ash, Cherry, + White Oak

Candlestick Holders + Ring Boxes

Oval Dining Table - Walnut

Keepsake Box - Mahogany

Vanity Table - Maple

Cutting Board + Cheese Set - Mahogany, Cherry, Oak, Ash + Maple

Bistro Table - Walnut

It’s easy to see how unbelievably talented he is. 

I recently commissioned Justin to make a large cutting board for our kitchen that could sit out on a daily basis, but was also functional.  (It’s actually the cutting board in the second picture above.)  It is absolutely gorgeous!  And, it has definitely made our new condo feel even more like home.  Slick wouldn’t let me cut anything on it for the first three or so days we had it out on our countertop.  True story.

Justin’s pieces are handmade, excellent quality + very well-priced.  They are perfect for the holidays + as a special gift for almost any occasion. 

SHOP HERE!
J Rishel Woodworks’ Etsy Page:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/jrishelwoodworks

J Rishel Woodworks is dabomb.com

Take it from Slick + me – we’re serious J. Rishel Woodworks fans!

xx, L

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Oh, Holy Cake Balls!

11/10/2010 in Chocolate, Gifts, Guilty Pleasures, Vendors, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 3 comments

Our friend college friend/ sorority sister/ Atlanta buddy, Jen, has been VERY busy lately…

cake ball queen!

B/c she recently started an amazing cake ball company (with the cutest name I’ve ever heard)!

Look – just look – what she’s been baking!

These babies don’t just LOOK gorgeous – they taste incredible!

Here’s the Q+DD on Holy Cake Balls! from its adorable website:

Whether you refer to them as cake balls, cake truffles, cake bites or cake bon-bons, these itty-bitty decadences are the latest trend in sophisticated dessert.  A combination of baked cake, frosting and a velvety exterior, cake balls are a melt-in-your-mouth, bite-sized craze.  Cake balls have elevated dessert to the next level.  Indulge in them at your next birthday party, wedding, anniversary celebration, baby shower or corporate event!  Our cake balls are also a great way to show your clients how appreciative you are.

We make custom orders!  If there is a flavor combination that you don’t see, please make your special request.

Please note:  The Holy Cake Balls! inventory is not stockpiled.  All cake balls are made-to-order, so please allow seven days advance notice when placing an order.

We are now accepting holiday pre-orders!

Find the Menu + Pricing Info here:  GIMME CAKE BALLS!

Oh Oh Oh!!  Almost forgot!  Holy Cake Balls! offers a Q+DD cake ball on their menu!  How awesome is THAT?!

The Quick + Dirty Dirty
It’s no secret that the Q+DD girls were voted by Creative Loafing as Atlanta’s “Best Local Bloggers” AND that their blog was voted Atlanta’s “Best Local Blog”… but who knew their accomplishments would inspire a Q+DD-themed cake ball?!  These hot pink and black treats are made in their honor!

We LOOOOOVE cake balls!  :)

For some reason, though, ours don’t turn out nearly as amazing as Jen’s…  Order from Holy Cake Balls! today!

Website: www.holycakeballs.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/HolyCakeBalls
Twitter: @HolyCakeBalls

xx, L

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Welcome to Atlanta, Loews Hotel!

04/05/2010 in Event Space, Events, Hotels, Midtown, What we're Doing, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | No comments

Last Wednesday, I was attended the Grand Opening of the Loews Hotel in Midtown Atlanta. 

It was a pretty upscale affair with a dedication ceremony + speeches galore.  (Don’t worry, I was wearing my fancy pants…) :)

Loews Hotel - Atlanta

After the 3D ribbon cutting, we were invited to a delicious lunch in the hotel’s grand ballroom.  Not a big fan of hotel food, I have to say that I was very impressed with our meal.  The food was yummy, the service was close to phenominal, the hotel was gorgeous – but really all anyone could talk about during the lunch was the centerpieces on our tables!

(Not the greatest pictures I’ve ever taken, but you get the idea…)

Created by Atlanta’s Event Design Group (http://www.eventdesigngroup.com/), the centerpieces were constructed out of recycled e-mails!!  How creative is that?!  We loved their unique design, too. 

Kudos to Event Design Group for their Earth-friendly works of art!

And, a very warm welcome to the Loews Hotel!  I have a feeling we’re about to become v. close friends… 

xx, L

Loews Hotel – Atlanta
1065 Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.745.5740
www.loewshotels.com

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Kinda Cool

04/02/2010 in Random Musings by Lindsay | 2 comments

I realize that this is not new and sexy news…at all…but I recently joined the eBay community.  I sold a really great purse and a North Face jacket a few weeks ago – my first sales on eBay ever!  Now, I’m kind of addicted to looking up auctions and brainstorming what else I don’t use anymore that I can sell.  A couple of days ago, I was bragging to a friend of mine about my recent sales, and she told me about this new auction site started by Emory grads.  I’m into the whole “keeping it local” mindset, so I perused the website and I think it looks kinda cool… 

happy to support your local business (it's the Austin in me...)

It’s called WAVEE.com and here’s the Q+DD:

WAVEE.com is a new online auction site that four Emory grads launched in November 2009.  Wavee allows consumers to maximize their dollars while competing with other shoppers for massive discounts on electronics – all you need is an Internet connection and you can do it from anywhere.


The concept is simple, you join the Wavee community and buy credits for 60-cents a piece and you’re ready to start bidding.  Using your credits you’ll bid against other shoppers for the item of your choice at a very low price (typically 70-90 percent off retail).  It is an auction, but if you don’t win the new item you can reinvest the money you spent bidding to buy the item at retail cost.  So, there is no risk involved.

In March, the company added even more value to every dollar spent by launching a new rewards store, giving consumers the opportunity to earn points that can later be redeemed for products in the store.  In honor of the launch, Wavee is offering everyone 20 free credits to use for auctions on the side.  Here’s the code: ATLFREE202.

Check it out and let me know what you think.  Good luck!

xx, L

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I’m an Artist!

03/30/2010 in Dunwoody, Parties, What we're Doing by Lindsay | 3 comments

(Not really.  Well, not at all…)  But I pretended that I was on Friday!

monet has nothing on me...

I was outside of the Perimeter almost all weekend.  I get disoriented OTP and I’m not obsessed with driving behind slow-moving minivans, but I will tell you WHAT – I would go back to Dunwoody absolutely anytime for Sips n Strokes!  We went for Loren (not Lauren’s) birthday and it was so much fun!

the birthday girl

Sips n Strokes is an instructional painting class.  Picture Bob Ross minus serious afro minus just sitting and watching him paint on TV plus a classroom full of women (and man – there was a singular man present) plus BYO wine + beer + snacks plus you leave with your very own work of art! 

Here’s the Q+DD on Sips n Strokes:

All you need to do to attend a class is visit the Sips n Strokes website @ www.sipsnstrokes.com.  Peruse the calendar and select a class you’d like to attend, keeping in mind that you paint something different in each class.  I attended a class where we were shown how to draw a pink flower.  You reserve a spot in the class (the Dunwoody location can fit up to 55 people) with your credit card.  Classes range in cost from $25 – $45.  You can cancel your reservation without being charged if you do it more than 24 hours in advance.  You pay for the class when you arrive for it.  You are instructed to select paints and sit at a stool in front of an easel with a canvas.  As you sit and watch the instructor, you following along with your paints on your canvas.  At the end of the class, you take your creation home with you!  It’s pretty simple.

Still not getting it?  Our night in pictures will help…











If you are looking at these pictures and think that what we did looks difficult at all, you couldn’t be more incorrect.  I went into the class with zero confidence in my artistic ability to reproduce what the instructor was doing on stage.  Believe me, it’s so much easier than it looks!  The instructor really walks you, step by step, through the process and Sips n Strokes employees canvas the store ready to help you if you need a bit more direction or assistance with your artwork.

Sips n Strokes is perfect for a girl’s night out, as part of a bachelorette party or shower, birthday party or for no other purpose than to just paint with friends!

Here’s the best news of all: They are opening a location in Buckhead soon!  So, throw on an apron + harness your inner Georgia O’Keefe and head over to Sips n Strokes for a class ASAP!  :)

xx, L

Sips n Strokes
Dunwoody Village Shopping Center
5525 Chamblee Dunwoody Road
Dunwoody, GA  30338
678.954.8399
www.sipsnstrokes.com

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Not Your Average Alterations

09/23/2009 in Guilty Pleasures, Midtown, Weddings, What we're Doing, Where we're Shopping by Lindsay | 4 comments

Over the weekend, I bought the most incredible Phoebe Couture dress for a wedding I am going to in October.  Two of my best girlfriends, Shauna and Stacy, wore Phoebe for their wedding rehearsal dinners and I absolutely fell in love with their dresses. 

Stacy's pretty Phoebe

Stacy's pretty Phoebe

Shauna's pretty Phoebe

Shauna's pretty Phoebe

So beautiful!  I just had to have one of my own.  Predictably, though, it needs a few alterations… 

I only trust my alterations to the fabulous Gizzelle James.  She is a Midtown-based fashion designer specializing in alterations, custom dresses, re-styling and wedding gowns.  Gizzelle is incredibly skilled, very personable and, frankly, totally amazing (we used to go to the same kickboxing class – she’s tough, too).   Gizzelle has helped me with emergency same-day alterations and correctly advised me on not needing New York hems on my beloved J Brands.  Although, she’s definitely not the cheapest in town, I always feel confident about the care of my clothes when I leave them with Gizzelle.  And, she’s a blast – I love chatting with her about fashion while she is re-working my latest purchase. 

Gizelle!

Gizzelle!

Here’s the Q+DD on Ms. James:  In 1991, she moved to Atlanta and started a custom clothing business.  Gizzelle built a steady client base by creating original designs and restyling vintage pieces.  In 2006, Gizzelle started her first ready to wear collection.  She appreciates the desire for beauty and luxury in fashion, and she says that her taste and design ability have led to collections that are both sophisticated and modern.  And – Gizzelle’s super-awesome and does fantastic alterations.

Give her a try – and let me know what you think!

xx, L

Gizzelle James Couture
814 Juniper Street, NE
Suite 301 (2nd floor)
Atlanta, GA  30308
404.872.1604
http://www.gizzellejames.com/

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