jo burgess hannon

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What I’m loving March 2016

March 30, 2016 by Jo Leave a Comment

Time

I was watching a live webinar yesterday.  As the attendees were logging in, the facilitator mentioned his location and asked us to use the chat box to say where we were from. The sun had set earlier for he and the co-host as they were on the East side of the US, 3 hours ahead of my time zone. As I typed that is was 5pm and sunny, clear blue skies in Seattle, I appreciated the extra moments of daylight being added to the clock each day.  After the dark days of winter, I feel like I have been given a gift of more time even though each day still has the same 24 hours.

Internet Creatives

My daily life has become so connected to the web.  It is amazing to think that hundreds of us attended an Instagram training simply by clicking on an email link.  Through out the hour training, the hosts asked us participating to give a topic response in the chat box.  It was odd and exciting all at once, like being in the room together, to watch the chat box scroll at rapid pace through our brief, real-time comments.  It made me really appreciate the amazing, creative people in the US and what they are sharing for free with all of us.

 

before of coffee and end table
before of coffee and end table

Tools

It would hardly be a ‘what I’m loving’ post’ if it didn’t include some sort DYI tool.  Now that we have updated the paint, trim, doors, countertops of our house, I have fresh eyes to see that the furniture could use a little refresh, too.  Many years ago I custom ordered a coffee and end table for our family room. I picked the wood, the style of the legs, paint colors.  I even picked how much the pieces would be distressed.  At the time, my Mom was opened mouth wordless at the thought of sanding away fresh paint and making something brand new look old on purpose.  As a side note she never did get my taste in decorating. She wailed, NOOOO! as I told her I was going to paint the large oak dresser in my bedroom.

Here’s the tool I am loving: this book, The Nesting Place: It doesn’t have to be perfect to be Beautiful.  Myquillion Smith’s beautiful book has encouraged me to paint it anyway.  Its like a new voice in my head covering up the old, saying, “Since you don’t love it, who cares if you ruin it by painting it?”

What's old is new again
After: what’s old is new again

 

For the record, everything I was scared to paint has turned out great.  Even the fireplace bricks, right Honey? (Honey never mentioned he didn’t like painted bricks until after I had painted them…oops…now there’s a lesson in communication.) I’ll let you know on the bedroom dresser:  my Mom’s screech temporarily paralyzed me from action but it is still on the list.

PS.-The Nester’s book is on sale at Amazon right now.  For you digital readers I would recommend the hardcover book as the pictures are fabulous. Click here for the link

Full Disclosure: I have finally figured out how to become an affiliate Amazon partner.  If you buy the book from the above link, I think I might actually get paid a very small commission.

 

 

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What I am loving February 2016

February 29, 2016 by Jo Leave a Comment

Did anyone watch the Academy Awards last night? Did any winners surprise you?

seedless satsumas

I really enjoy the red carpet season and the Academy Awards seems to be best in show when it comes to fashion.  One program I love this time of year is the Fashion Police on the E network.  It is a fun re-cap of Hollywood’s best and worst dressed. Though I miss the humor that Joan Rivers brought, it is still enjoyable with her daughter Melissa taking over hosting duties. I have to give an honorable mention to my DVR for recording everything so I can fast-forward through all the commercials and long winded acceptance speeches and categories I have no interest in.

And speaking of Academy Awards, next on my list is a last year’s Best Picture nomination, the Imitation Game. Somehow I missed seeing this movie until just recently. It is about a brilliant mathematician in the fifties who helped crack Nazi codes. Like Bridge of Spies (one of last month’s favorites) I was again reminding that following your path, staying true to your plan, can lead to having a positive impact. It also gives pause for reflection on history of women in the workforce and gay rights. I’m pretty sure Honey might have slept through this one, too had we watched it together. With lots of talking and not a lot of action, it is one of the tamer war movies as far as battle scenes.

Moving on to the next item. This time of year, fresh fruit, locally grown, is hard to come by. I often find myself reaching for seedless Satsuma oranges. They are sweet, delicious and add great flavor to my morning smoothies. I try to buy US grown produce and when possible pick what is in season from my area. Do you have a favorite winter fruit? Is it grown in the US?

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What I am loving January 2016

February 1, 2016 by Jo Leave a Comment

podcast44-drew

I’ve been meaning to write this post for about a week. So yesterday I figured I better type it up because I am sure for February I will have a whole new list of likes.

First, have you seen the movie Bridge of Spies with Tom Hanks? I saw it a couple of weeks ago. Here was the note I jotted down: ’the power of one to follow their dream instead of what they are told, the power of one.’ I found the message inspiring. Then this weekend, Honey and I were cruising our local Red Box selection and here’s what he said, “isn’t that the movie where every time I woke up Hanks was in the same room talking?” Apparently it didn’t have quite the same impact on him. And for the record, generally I am the one who sleeps through movies.

Next, I have a question for you ladies. Do your footie style socks slide down and bunch under your heal when you walk? I have tried many styles of no-show socks (as documented here) and all have this same problem. Recently I started using an inch of  fashion tape on the back of each sock. This works brilliantly to keep them place. It takes an extra sixty seconds to get ready, but so worth it. I wish I could just go barefoot in shoes. However, my feet get sweaty and I then I would have to deal with blisters instead of bunching. Ouch.

Moving on. How about podcasts? For the reader who might not know, a podcast is like a weekly talk show you tune into to hear. Only you don’t tune in, you download and play it. I use the native Podcast app on my iPhone and Ipad. Have you listened to Happier with Gretchen Ruben? I find her topics interesting and formed a girl crush on Drew Barrymore after listening to episode 44. Now Drew’s a woman with joie de vivre. Seriously, I want her to be one of my girlfriends. What are you listening to? Share them in the comments below. I am always looking for new ideas.

What are you loving right now?

 

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What I’m loving right now December 2015

December 17, 2015 by Jo Leave a Comment

At Thanksgiving this year, a conversation began while I was sharpening the carving knife before dinner. Every year Honey and our daughter like to pick out some sort of kitchen gadget for me. Sometimes its a stocker stuffer, sometimes it’s a gift under the tree. We had a few good laughs as we remembered some of the more unusual ones, like the rubber steamer bag/basket thingy. Yeah, I never used it. It just didn’t seem right to cook fresh vegetables in silicone.  Over the years, many of the gadgets have found their way to the Goodwill bag.

custom cutting board & favorite knife
custom cutting board & favorite knife

 

I really enjoy cooking and for me, part of the enjoyment is the chopping and dicing. Last year brought a custom made cutting board that has shown up in several of my online photos. Honey ordered it from a craftsman that rents a temporary space most weekends in the Wenatchee Pybus Public Market . With the board is usually my most used knife, a  Wusthof Classic Santoku . This wasn’t a gift, but its worth mentioning because a new cook in your life might love this knife, too.

Devoted Husky fan warming up homemade tomato soup and grilling sandwiches--love you Mamma Bo
Devoted Husky fan warming up the fresh tomato soup and grilling sandwiches–love you Mamma Bo

 

Even though there have been duds, many items have had staying power. The first addition to my Le Crueset collection, a cherry 5 1/2 quart dutch oven has been used over and over. The size has been perfect for my small family and I still use it 1-2 times a week. This pot might be why I never use my crockpot any more…or maybe I don’t use the crockpot because I need a screw driver to turn the broken nob and I never know if I am setting it on high or low.

Anyway, back to Thanksgiving; the electric knife sharpener has also been used over and over and again. Sharp knifes are the BEST kitchen tool. After advice from The Great White Hunter (Honey’s youngest brother who keeps his hunting, fishing and pocket knifes razor sharp) I received a  Chef’s Choice sharpener . Once you go electric, you will never go back to a wet stone or manual sharpener again.

What are you loving right now?

 

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Daughter of a truck driver who married a doctor's kid. Life, stories and attempting to age with grace.

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