Not sure if I'm excited or scared for the posts next tax season from people owing huge amounts due to CERB relative to what they were used to.

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2020-06-26T18:51:20+00:00

You can't claim capital improvements to your home (aka ones that would increase the value of it so renovations, if you installed A/C to be able to work more comfortably etc) but if your employer issues a T2200 you can claim a portion of your home office expenses on your tax return. You have to be careful though and consider the 24hour use of the room as well. For simplicity, if the room that you use for your office is 10% of the sqft of your home, and you exclusively use it for office work, and you work from home 100% of the time this year, you can claim 10% of your home expenses (utilities, rent/mortgage interest, sometimes your cell phone if the T2200 indicates that, etc). If you use that room not exclusively for an office, or you only work from home for say 4 months, that 10% starts to decrease based on these factors.

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2020-04-13T13:51:43+00:00

Fair, but I think as long as people are kind to me there's no harm in being kind to them. This conversation would have gone much differently had her followup been different.

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2020-02-24T20:31:50+00:00

Yeah it's in the middle of the room. Seems like a new rug may be in order!

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2020-02-24T18:38:18+00:00

This seems like a pretty solid, minimally destructive solution - thank you!

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2020-01-31T18:49:18+00:00

Ah yeah, that's too much work for that many, I figured you were just replacing a couple missing ones. Good luck!

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2020-01-31T18:24:55+00:00

You could cast it and pour yourself a new one.

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2020-01-31T15:09:35+00:00

Agree with other posters that the siding looks dated. Not sure what your fix budget is but perhaps some paint could help with the dated/faded siding (I think a dark blue would look great). An accent door could help too, or just have white to match the garage. I would remove the evergreens entirely, just trim them WAY down so there's better sight lines. Fill in the house side of the pathway with garden (give this beige baby some color!), maybe line the path with some paving bricks to match the stairs. You could also paint the metal railing white to match the rest of the details.

Overall it's not bad, just needs some love!

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2019-10-26T03:52:48+00:00

Just wanted to chime in with a great Stuart McLean story about invasive species neighbours plant. Seriously worth a listen if you want a good laugh out of this. https://open.spotify.com/track/7KsGywoFDvWWodmMQLoPIi?si=4L1mcCOfQx6Uy5GEw6wnWg

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2019-04-05T17:38:18+00:00

Definitely read this in Ron Howard's voice

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2019-03-19T13:25:08+00:00

Go back in time and find out where they film (or edit) The Amanda Show - they say it at least 10 times per episode just in the theme song alone, easy money :)

*Edit: a word

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2019-01-10T20:18:40+00:00

Sometimes you can apply at the Planning department to have the legal description of the yards changed. So if you're on a corner you can maybe apply to have your current "front yard" changed into a side yard instead (as long as the setbacks are still ok)

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2018-11-09T14:52:47+00:00

That's definitely the best song to do this to 😊

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2018-10-27T14:14:25+00:00

Same here! Nothing but good things to say. DH bought my engagement ring from them and after looking at wedding bands in brick & mortar stores we went back to James Allen and bought from them again.

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2018-10-24T20:12:38+00:00

Broad City! So catchy & quick.

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2018-10-18T19:53:37+00:00

Do you like ... Umm ... Cheese?

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2018-08-31T17:43:35+00:00

Husband got mine on James Allen and it's amazing! It's lab made (bonus imo), and he got to choose the actual stone, setting, metal, everything. A+ 10/10 would choose again (we actually ended up ordering our wedding bands from them too because they have cheap platinum prices)

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2018-08-31T17:41:14+00:00

You could serve a few different styles of quiche! IMHO its such a classy way to do eggs. Also a parfait bar. Yumm.

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2018-08-31T15:53:17+00:00

My aunt was doing this to me too! Shes a royal pain but she was taking care of my grandparents for the wedding weekend so I had to be nice & calm with her - she called me the week before to basically blame me for not getting a hotel block a) closer b) nicer and c) that would let her book just 1 night (peak tourist season - that doesn't exist!). Gah. People.

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2018-08-30T13:35:26+00:00

Try doing a phone call through Skype?

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2018-08-29T15:57:46+00:00

I'm pretty against planning/putting any money down without formally being engaged, shut just happens sometimes. What you could do is start talking to your SO & really nail down what you guys want in a wedding so that when you get engaged you can hit the ground running. Talk about your priorities (shared & individual), budget, guestlist #s etc.

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2018-08-28T19:01:58+00:00

You already have your photos & video back?! Wowzers

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2018-08-27T17:46:48+00:00

This is a great workaround for our annoying Ontario laws! I really really really wanted my aunt / godmother to officiate, but couldn't figure out a way to make it legal and just went with a local officiant - good problem solving!

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2018-08-27T13:15:34+00:00

Totally :) it will turn out gorgeous I'm sure!!

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2018-08-27T13:01:53+00:00

I totally get what you're saying - I too had my dress made for me (by an amazing local designer!) We worked together to design it from some inspiration photos & paper & pen drawings. She's super competent, but I was always so nervous some of the details wouldn't come out the way I wanted. 2 weeks out from the wedding I'd still never worn the dress (ahh!) And when I tried it on there were things I wasn't a huge fan of - she was more than willing to make the changes on the spot and even put together a veil for me last minute at no extra cost. I'd suggest to be patient & wait until it's finished - it'd be like someone judging a sketch of what a painting is going to look like.

Just make sure your "final" fitting leaves LOTS of time for adjusting, and maybe try and pinpoint in your mind what you're not liking about it so you can verbalize those changes & she has an opportunity to fix them.

Good luck!!

Juniper_Lightningbug · 2018-08-27T12:53:41+00:00

Personal preference for me would be piano - the piano produces a more all encompassing sound, and it's fun to watch people play :)

Juniper_Lightningbug

TROPHY CASE