Like most everyone else, we are looking back over the past year and thinking about what we are thankful for. And, while we are always thankful for our customers, employees and trade partners, that is more true this year than in any other. The economic issues that country and our state have faced have cost so many a great deal. Thanks to YOU, we are still here after 20 years and we want each of you to know that you are greatly appreciated!

Here are the things that some of the Burgin Construction team members are thankful for this year:

“I am thankful for my family and friends. In a year that has been filled with struggles they have all been there for me more than I could have ever expected.” ~Rhonda

“This year I am most thankful for our employees and trade partners. They have all pulled together to make our company look great and to provide our clients with the very best in service and quality.” ~Brad

“I’m thankful for my wife and our new baby boy. It’s been an eventful year and I’ve learned that family is the most important thing.” ~Eddy

“I am thankful for the many opportunities both personally and professionally that have come my way this year. I am truly blessed to have the network of friends and colleagues that I do, many of them through Burgin Construction.” ~Shannon

“I’m most thankful this year for my friends and family who are always there for me.” ~Tom

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.

Though the recent weather may not give the impression that winter is on its way, the calendar is a stark reminder that winter, and the accompanying holidays, are fast approaching. Many people are making their holiday travel arrangements now and, if you’re like me, your home is going to end up being the hub of the excitement during the next few months. You’ll be entertaining on an almost weekly basis once Thanksgiving gets here and won’t have time to come up for air until late January. Also, if you’re like me, you’re currently finding a ton of small items all over the house that need attention before this whole crazy holiday things hits. From general maintenance (can’t have the heat going out on Christmas Eve!) to some simple facelift items (a dab of paint here, some new caulking there) there are many things you can do to keep your home beautiful and safe during the winter months. Below are a few tips that can help save you time and money as well as ways for keeping your home safe the whole year through.

For more detailed items such as finish carpentry (moldings, casings, etc.), new cabinet hardware, new plumbing fixtures, new doors, ceiling fans, extra outlets, lighting, tile/grout repairs, grab bar installations, deck and patio cover work and much more give us a call at 714-558-1094 for a consultation!

Make sure you print out your coupon from the weekly blog email we sent for a special offer on the above services! (if you didn’t receive a coupon please let us know and we will send one out to you asap!)

T Have your heating systems inspected by a qualified service professional at least once a year including lubrication and cleaning, replacing filters, a check of belts and thermostats and having vents cleared of obstructions, as necessary.
T Make sure window air conditioners do not allow cold air to sneak through or around sides, top and bottom. Local hardware stores can provide covers and other easy, low-cost ways to keep that cold air out.
T Caulking around windows and other openings can stop the cold air invasion dead in its tracks. A warmer home and lower utility bills can result.
T When using a portable electric heater, keep flammable materials – bedding, clothing, draperies, rugs and furniture at least three feet away, even if it has safety features such as cut-off switches or heating element guards.
T If you use an electric blanket to keep warm on a cold night, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and make sure you turn it off and unplug it when it’s not in use.
T Install a smoke alarm near bedrooms and on each floor of your home. Test it monthly to ensure it is working properly. Be sure and change the batteries in your smoke detectors once a year.
T Install a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm near bedrooms and on each floor of your home. Know the symptoms of CO poisoning: headache, fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
T Have your fireplace chimney and flue inspected each year and cleaned if needed. Open the flue and use a sturdy fireplace screen when you have a fire. Burn only untreated wood; never burn paper or pine branches-pieces can float out the chimney and ignite your roof, a neighbor’s roof, or nearby trees.