We all know that the 4th of July weekend usually means gathering with family and friends, barbecues and fireworks. It’s a wonderful time to get together and enjoy some great food and wonderful company.

It’s also one of the best times to show our pride in our Country and extend our thanks for all of those who keep it safe. As we enjoy the long holiday, we will be keeping in mind all of those who have served our Country in order to secure the freedom we are celebrating. To our troops serving at home and abroad, as well as their families who sacrifice so much – THANK YOU!!!

In the spirit of the holiday we’d like to share this fun and easy recipe with you. It’s a great way to show your pride in the red, white and blue while enjoying something delicious! And don’t forget to check out this link for fireworks safety if you’ll be putting on your own show this weekend -

Fireworks Safety

Summer Berry Trifle

Serving this traditional English dessert in a glass pedestal bowl shows off its impressive layers of ladyfingers, pudding, and colorful fruits. If you don’t have one, a regular glass bowl will also do the trick.

Ingredients

• 1 package (3.4-ounce) instant vanilla pudding
• 4 cups fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries), washed and hulled, plus extra for garnish
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 24 to 36 ladyfingers

Instructions

1. To make the fillings, prepare the pudding according to the package directions and chill it.
2. Slice the strawberries, if you’re using them, then toss all of the berries with the lemon juice and the 1/4 cup of sugar. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow the berries to release their juices.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, whip the cream, vanilla extract, and remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar until soft peaks form. Set aside.
4. To make the layers, set a layer of ladyfingers, around 7 or 8, on the bottom of a large, clear serving bowl (ours was 4 quarts). Top with the berries with half of the pudding.
5. Add another layer of ladyfingers, another third of the berries and juice, and the rest of the pudding. Add a final layer of ladyfingers and berries. Top with the whipped cream and a berry garnish.
6. Refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. Serves 8 to 10.

Throughout the economic downturn of the past couple of years we have seen a merging trend. It seems that everyone is getting back to the basics. Rather than spend money on lavish luxuries, clients are focusing more on the day-to-day functionality of their home and making more practical choices.

Rather than bringing the remodeling industry to a standstill, this trend has taught those willing to listen that they also need to get back to the basics. By making some changes in how we operate on a daily basis and listening to clients’ when they spoke of affordable, yet quality materials, we have been able to adhere to the changes in the market and maintain our standards of quality and service.

The strangest thing about these “back to basics” changes is that we have seen their affect on every facet of our lives, not just business. One very valuable lesson that most seem to have take away from this time of tightening belts and pinching pennies is that the basics can be fun, exciting and bring us closer together. Activities such as picnics, biking, nature walks and hikes have become all the rage recently. In an effort to find recreation and entertainment without the expense, Americans are getting back to the basics of life and spending quality time with family, friends and nature!

Recently Brad and his 13 year old son, Sean decided to get back to basics with a hiking trip in Palm Springs. After a 2 1/2 mile tram ride they set off on an adventure through the Mount San Jacinto State Park. This pristine wilderness covers more than 14,000 acres with 54 miles of hiking trails and offers beautiful scenery and tons of activities. Below is a photo of Brad and Sean as they set off.

If you have a “back to basics” story you’d like to share please do so in the comments. We’d love to hear what you and your family are doing. And, as always, if you’re looking for a back to basics, or any other remodel please give us a call at 714-558-1094.

Have a great summer!

As many of you know, Brad and I were out of town from May 13th through the 21st for the Remodeling Big50 Awards and Leadership Conference in Alexandria, VA. We had an absolutely wonderful time and learned more from the experience than we ever expected!

Though we were unable to attend the networking meeting on the 13th, we were able to attend several of the fantastic Conference seminars lead by Featured Speakers Rich Armstrong, Kristin Binford, Bill Collier, Craig Durosko, Bob Gallagher, Marty Gould, George Hedley, Jeff Tobe, Mark VanDeWege, and Liz Wilder. These courses provided us with a fresh look at the Remodeling markets around the country as well as an introspective look at what we are doing right and wrong within our company.

We found areas in which we are very strong and also identified those which need some work and have committed ourselves to focusing on those over the next few months. We have definitely come up with some “Big” ideas which will be implemented in our marketing and customer service later this year. You will be seeing some of these changes coming up, so be on the lookout!

Brad and I also wanted to thank each and every one of our clients, trade partners and colleagues for your support over the past 20 years. While we work hard to earn our reputation, it is the trust and respect we truly strive for. Thanks to all of you we have had a wonderful year and can’t even begin to tell you how much we appreciate you!

Yay! Spring is finally here! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the  flowers are budding…and my house is a mess!

I’m not sure what it is, but something about the winter months turns my home into a packrat heaven. It’s as if we are unable to throw anything away during this time. Of course, the accumulation of holiday gifts, cards, school papers, outgrown clothing and more are the real issue.

My solution? Garage Sale Time!!! Tomorrow morning I will be happily sitting in the sunshine in my driveway and getting rid of a ton of clutter that I don’t need, while making a bit of money to boot. Even the kids are getting involved and will each have their own “store” of toys that they have chosen to sell. And, whatever is left will go immediately into the van for drop-off at a local charity.

Once that is all out of the way I’ll be able to tackle the rest of the spring cleaning with less dread. We’ll spend the rest of the weekend cleaning out gutters and spouts, touching up some paint, cleaning dead plants and weeds out of the flower beds, changing out the air filter and smoke alarm batteries, and touching up window caulking. Next, we will make a list of larger items that need to be handled by the professionals such as scheduling the annual A/C maintenance, replacing any torn or damaged screens, power-washing the exterior of the house and other small repairs throughout the house.

Here are a few tips courtesy of www.organizedhome.com that can help put some spring into your spring cleaning:

• Schedule a family garage clean-out. Create efficient storage for sporting goods, camping equipment, recreational vehicles, and garden tools. Reward the team with dinner at a pizza parlor.
• Inspect, clean and repair outdoor furniture.
• Tour house exterior and grounds. Make a list of any needed seasonal maintenance.
• Inspect the roof for winter damage: leaks, missing or broken shingles or tiles. Arrange for any needed repairs early; roofing contractors can be hard to find during summer’s construction season.
• Use a sunny Saturday to scrape, prime and paint peeling spots on trim or woodwork. You’ll protect wood against Summer’s heat and moisture–and prevent a more difficult paint job come fall.
• Clear away any remaining dead foliage and weeds from beds and lawn.
• Changing seasons, changing clothes. Hold a family wardrobe check as you bring out warm-weather clothing. Sort winter clothing for discards and donations before you store.
• Hold a garage sale! Declutter house and garage to turn trash into cash. Build your yard sale savvy here.
• Wash windows inside and out.
• Move furniture and vacuum beneath it.
• Arrange for a spring inspection of cooling systems. Don’t wait for the first hot day!

If you find that you have some projects that need a professional’s touch give us a call at 714-558-1094. Happy spring!

We just wanted to take a moment to tell all of you who voted for our blog in the “Best Construction Blog” competition THANK YOU! The voting for the competition lasted for two months and we finished in third place. This is even more amazing to us when we consider that we were unaware of the competition until two weeks before it ended. We rallied the troops and you, our loyal friends and readers came through for us as always. Below is an excerpt from the Construction Marketing Ideas Blog which hosted the competition:

“The Best Construction Blog and Forum contest has concluded and the voting results are in, but what do they mean?

Obviously, results from what essentially is a “get out the votes” competition provide a different perspective than we would discover from an independent judging panel.  They suggest, for example, that Bobby Darnell (http://www.buildingnewbusiness.com) in Atlanta has mastered the art of online viral relationships and networking, while Michael Stone (http://www.markupandprofit.com/blog) has the most enthusiastic and loyal followers, certainly judging by the positive comments associated with his votes.  Burgin Construction Inc. in California (http://www.burginconstructioninc.com/blog) , meanwhile, has proven that a local construction business can be a contender in an international competition.”  Click for More

Once again, thank you for your support not only in this competition but in our business in general. The true mark of a great company is not the company itself, but its customers and colleagues. And, we truly have the best of both!

Earlier this week we learned that the Burgin Construction Blog has been nominated for the Construction Marketing Marketing Ideas Best Construction Blog Competition! 39 blogs from across the nation were nominated for this competition and voting ends at 5pm on Sunday, February 28th, 2010. This is a huge honor for our company and it shows us that we are providing a service to our readers that they find informative as well as entertaining.

I have to say, I don’t think I’ve been this excited in a very long time! While Burgin Construction is a fantastic organization that has been honored for their outstanding service and workmanship many times over the years, this nomination is more dear to my heart. I truly love working for this company and enjoy reaching out to our friends, colleagues, and clients each week through the blog. And, before I very blatantly begin to beg for your votes in the competition, I want to thank each of you for taking the time to read our blog and providing your feedback. It is really a highlight of my week and I look forward to being able to share this communication with you for many years to come! Now the begging will commence 

To vote for the Burgin Blog as the “Best Construction Blog” please go to: http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com/the-best-construction-marketing-blog-competition/ and check off Burgin Construction, Inc. (we’re the 9th one down), fill out the info, and then submit. The only information you have to provide is your name and email address and if you don’t choose to be contacted by them or be on their mailing list you will not be. They are a highly reputable group and strictly adhere to their privacy policy.

Thank you again for all of your support!

For many years now we have been a proud dealer for DeWils Custom Cabinetry. Their quality and wide array of styles are the things that drew us to them in the beginning and are what have kept us as a partner with them for so long. And, just when we thought they couldn’t possibly have anything else up their sleeve, we received notice of some amazing new offerings! New door styles, Calypso and Sifton add two completely new elements to the Horizon and Designer lines and a brand new set of profiles introduce raised beveled panels on NINE new door styles in the Designer line.

As if that weren’t enough, DeWils has gone above an beyond to give their customers what they’ve been asking for – White Paint Finish! The “Just White” finish is three coats of white catalyzed paint finish and is available in all three lines on maple and red oak materials. It’s a timeless classic that will turn your home into a work of art!

For more information on these or other DeWils offerings, including custom stain matching, please give us a call at 714-558-1094.

Wow! It’s almost here! 2010 is just around the corner and, tonight, we will usher in a new decade. It has been quite a roller coaster ride this past year for us and for many of you as well, I’m sure. We’ve seen so many changes in the world from politics to technology and some major changes have taken place in the construction industry.

Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be touching on some of those changes and talk about what we expect remodeling and design trends will be. We’re looking forward to working with you all in 2010 and wish you a very safe and Happy New Year. See you in 2010!

It’s time to Deck the Halls and, with the help of Audra Miller from AW Dezynes, we have some tips to make your home perfect for the holidays!

Begin The Show Outside- Pre-lit artificial garland and topiaries will set the stage for the main event waiting inside. Ornaments hung randomly from trees and other plants can add a lovely touch and a large wreath is a must for the entry door.

Set Your Color Scheme- Choose from the colors that you already have in your home to make it easier to decorate. Once you’ve picked a couple of basic colors choose from gold or silver accents to help blend the scheme throughout the home.

Start, Don’t Stop, With The Tree- While the tree may be the focal point of your home it also sets the stage. Barren walls and shelves will downplay a tree, no matter how ornate. Utilize garlands and wreaths on walls, banisters, railings and columns then add simple touches such as hanging stockings, lit villages and other nick-nacks to shelves and mantles.

Time To Set The Table- Whether your place settings will be elaborate or simple, a few small touches will add sparkle and a bit of magic to your dining table. Tie thin gold or silver ribbon into bows around wine glass stems, use matching gold or silver garland ties as napkin rings and place a single ornament in each bowl that will match your overall theme.

Take A “Bow”- No, not a bow for all the applause (though your beautiful decorating may very well deserve one). We’re talking about ribbons, and lots of them! Use coordinating ribbon to tie around chair backs, wind up columns, wrap basket handles, tie back curtains, and top off just about anything else in your home that you’d like to add a bit of holiday cheer to.

These are just a few simple ideas that can help make your holiday decorating smash hit. However, if you’re like me, and just can’t seem to find the time to get it all done you’re in luck! Audra offers holiday decorating services for both residential and commercial clients. She can help ease the stress of the holidays for you by taking care of all the designing, decorating, shopping, installation, tear-down and storage! Her team will utilize your existing decorations, enhance those with a few added touches or create a complete yuletide makeover to create your own personal winter wonderland! Contact her at 714-904-7431 for more information and see examples of her holiday decoration projects at http://www.awdezynes.com/holidaydecor.nxg.

Earlier this week I was laid back and relaxed about the Thanksgiving holiday. Just my husband and I and our two girls. A nice, quiet, family Thanksgiving. I had planned out a simple menu with all the necessities and not a lot of effort required on my part. It would be a wonderful day with no hosting duties, nowhere to go and I was in complete control!

Then, my fantasy bubble burst. I ended up extending a last minute invitation to some friends of ours and their two girls. My Thanksgiving has now doubled in size and duties and, honestly, I’m a wreck! There are a hundred extra tasks on my list now for this week and a much larger menu. I have more cleaning and decorating on my to-do list and actually have to make sure everyone looks presentable at the table!

Don’t get me wrong; I’m happy, elated even, that we will have guests for the holiday. I come from a large family and Thanksgiving was always a HUGE event with more than 20 people each year. To me, it really isn’t Thanksgiving if I’m not making a huge meal, playing hostess and spending time with family and close friends. Though it puts more on my plate (literally and figuratively!), I’m very much looking forward to next Thursday.

In the interim though, I must put on the gloves and battle through the preparations and to-do’s in order to make this a perfect holiday for everyone involved. Here are some tips from Kohler and Susan Serra, CKD, CAPS – Susan Serra Associates, Inc. that can help make it easier whether you’re expecting a large or small group at your table:

Crowd Control- The crowd is at once fantastic to have around, and often, truth be told, in the way. Plan your seating strategy in advance.

Teamwork- Assistant chefs are our friends. Plan in advance what you may need help with. Be flexible. You may wish to assign tasks to a certain family member.

Plan Ahead- “Planning ahead and visualizing all of what you need and when you may need it, is a very big step toward stress-free entertaining.”

And just a few tips from me that always seem to help me maintain my sanity during holiday gatherings:

Make Lists- Lists can be your biggest asset when planning a gathering and will help you to ensure you don’t forget anything.

Allow Guests to Bring Items- Split the cooking and purchasing and it will save you time and money. Don’t require guests to bring anything (after all, you invited them!), but if they offer, jump on it!

Let the Kids Pitch In- They may not be able to help with much of the cooking  but they can definitely help in other ways. Ask them to do some of the special chores that we all try to get to when planning a gathering such as: wiping down baseboards, cleaning the fronts of cabinets and dusting. Putting them at the table with some crafts to do for decorations is a perfect way to keep them out from under your feet and get fantastic, cheap decorations for the meal! Have them create a centerpiece, place cards, and other cute items. You can get some great ideas from Disney’s Family Fun website.