Client Spotlight: Meet Dayo Edwards of DayoSense Catering

February 2, 2021

Enjoy this Q&A between Suzanne and our dear friend & client, Dayo Edwards of DayoSense Catering:

Dayo (pronounced “Dah-yo”), let’s start with your beautiful name. Tell us about its meaning, and what it means to the naming of your business, DayoSense.

My name is Dayo, pronounced "Dah-yo", and it is a Nigerian Name that means Joyous Arrival. No, I am not Nigerian, however, my parents were on a mission to make sure my Sister and I both had names with purposeful meaning.
When I created my company of DayoSense 15 years ago the meaning seemed to take on a life of its own!! All my life my mind has always worked different especially when it comes to logistics. I have so often been able to turn complicated puzzles of information into simplicity so I could teach others. I started saying, "It makes Dayo-Sense" when I’ve solved something in a unique way. But then more and more when we bring food to events I would see the joy on clients and guests faces as we served them. Bringing Joy to the Senses is my ongoing theme as we prepare to serve the public. Even more so, the senses we serve are not just sight/smell/touch, but also the sense of Family/Unity/Peace/Humor.
DayoSense is all of these things!

Inauguration 2021 - Women in Living Color

January 29, 2021

The beatific array of vibrant colors on display among the women in attendance during the Biden inauguration is a visual feast, and signals an escape from the gray doldrums of 2020. Did they coordinate with one-another, or were they all sympathetic to the idea that they needed to gather together to form a dazzling rainbow of sorts? With one arresting image, we can see a shift towards excitement and hope.

Thank you, Ladies, for helping us look forward to 2021!

Mercer Island Historic Teacher's Cottage

November 28, 2020

The history of Mercer Island is as fascinating as the state it resides in (did you know that Washington state first granted women the right to vote in 1883, and in 1910 included women’s suffrage in its constitution – a full ten years ahead of the nation?). Believe it or not, if you look around Mercer Island, you can see some genuine historical landmarks. Take for example the Lakeview (Sunnybeam) School. Here’s an excerpt from the Mercer Island Historical Society’s website:

In 1918, King County School District No. 191, which included Mercer Island, voted to issue local improvement bonds to build Lakeview School, replacing the original south end building (which seated only nine students, according to county superintendent records). The new school featured well-lighted classrooms, a projecting portico, and an ample school yard. To attract teachers to the remote location, the district also built a small teachers' cottage on the grounds. Lakeview School is one of the few in the state to have retained the original teacher's cottage. Similar structures once numbered in the hundreds, reflecting a progressive reform advocated during the tenure (1913-1928) of State School Superintendent Josephine Preston, who made Washington a national leader in the construction of rural teacher's cottages.

Vannin' with Shannon

November 27, 2020

Vanlife culture has exploded in recent years with many Covid conversions hitting the road now. Shannon’s vanlife dream was born out of her passion for renovation and the deep determination to become a homeowner, as well as the desire to reconnect with our natural surroundings and explore.

Nomadic culture is drawing appeal – especially among Millennials and Zoomers - with its emphasis on modest living, sustainability, and the freedom to travel. Shannon found these principals aligning with her own values and decided to make the major transition into tiny living by converting a ProMaster cargo van. The completed home on wheels will feature a substantial solar power system, full wet room and modern finishes.