utility functions for handling optional HTTP parameters
diff --git a/utils.go b/utils.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7d6e66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils.go
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+package utils
+
+func MaybeString(original string) *string {
+	if original != "" {
+		return &original
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func MaybeInt(original int) {
+	if original != 0 {
+		return &original
+	}
+	return nil
+}