Anna Hoke at last year's Home Show.

Anna Hoke at last year’s Home Show.

Welcome to March where I am “marching” to a furious pace. Though it may be soupy outside seemingly at a weather lull with an indecisive transition of winter and spring, my life is in full force. March is probably the busiest month of the year for me. First it kicks off with this March edition, which is the largest and most popular edition as it is the Official Home (and Outdoor) Show publication for a second year in a row. We are so thankful to Southeast Alaska Building Industry Association for working with the magazine and choosing us to be the official publication for the event.

This year we are excited to announce that we will be contributing 5% of our March edition ad sales from SEABIA members and Home Show vendors back to SEABIA as a way to give back to the organization. Hand in hand with the March edition is obviously the Juneau Home Show, which has expanded this year to include an outdoor section, effectively changing the name of the show to the Juneau Home and Outdoor Show. I love participating in the Home Show, where Southeast Living Magazine has had a booth the last three years and we are excited for our forth. The Home Show is where the magazine made its debut, Happy 3rd Birthday to us! As a vendor and committee member of the Home and Outdoor Show, I see the massive amount of work put into this annual event, by committee members, SEABIA members, and vendors. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes from marketing, planning, networking and executing.

It’s very impressive to see businesses and community members come together and create such a wonderful, informative and educational event. Another fun thing that I got to be involved in and is new to this year’s Home and Outdoor Show is the “Ugliest Bathroom Contest” organized by SEABIA. Entries were submitted for a chance to win a bathroom remodel. The top five photos submitted on Facebook to the SEABIA page with the most votes will then be entered for final voting at the Home and Outdoor Show wine tasting event on Friday March 7, 5-8pm. I am so excited to see who wins the remodel, and if you are too and are over twenty-one years of age, come to the wine tasting event and place your vote! Lastly on the Home Show front, In the midst of all the show excitement, don’t forget about daylight savings time on March 9 to “spring forward!” Later in the month is a local event that I also put a lot of time and effort into, on and off the field; which is the Shamrock International Soccer Tournament. The soccer tournament happens mid March each year with teams from Juneau and teams traveling from Whitehorse and Petersburg. It’s a whirlwind weekend tournament that is a lot of fun and a great networking opportunity for adult soccer players in Juneau and Southeast Alaska. And lastly, March 20 marks the Spring Equinox. I’ve had enough of winter, though I might dabble in a little spring skiing but I’m ready to move onto spring and then summer! If I don’t see you at the Home Show, or the Shamrock tourney, I’ll see you in April Southeast Alaska!
• Anna Hoke is the graphic designer and owner of Southeast Living Magazine. She can be reached at anna@seakliving.com.