​It’s November 23rd, 2023, Thanksgiving Day, and you’re hosting.
 
As you scramble to read recipes and negotiate oven timing between your turkey and sides, your guests start to arrive.  You run to the front door for some quick pleasantries but leave the hosting to your spouse as you quickly retreat back to the kitchen.  

​In it’s never ending quest to give us shows we didn’t know we needed, Netflix launched Tidying Up with Marie Kondo earlier this month.  Was it a coincidence that a show geared toward keeping your home clean debuted in unison with your new year’s resolution to get your life in order?  I’m gonna go ahead and say that the folks at Netflix planned that one pretty carefully.

Have you ever seen The Bachelor or The Bachelorette?  If not, here's an overview:  It's a dating show where the the entire season leads up to the star of the show, an attractive single person who just hasn't found love yet, proposing to another attractive single person who just hasn't found love yet.  What's interesting about it, other than the drama created when a bunch of strangers are cut off from the world and offered free booze, is that we've seen a lot of marriage proposals.  And almost all are pretty much what you'd expect them to be - "I've loved going on this adventure with you.  I'm so happy when we're together.  I love how smart and funny you are.  I can't imagine my life without you.  Will you marry me?"

Before popping the question, a list is given.  The star of the show tells their soon-to-be fiancee all the reasons why they've fallen for them, and then asks the question we've been waiting 11 episodes to hear.
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Wouldn't it be weird to just start with the proposal?  "Hey thanks for coming, wanna get hitched?"  In remodeling though, this is kind of the way most people do it.

Happy New Year!

The new year brings with it change.  We all resolve to do things differently than we did last year - to grow.  The busiest month at the gym is January, right?  But why isn't April as busy, or July, or October?  One reason is that change is hard.  Another might be because the change isn't for you.  Did you join the gym because you really, deep down, wanted to?  Or is it because you feel like you probably should because that's what other people do?

Nobody can actually live a minimalist life, right?  The practicality of daily chores just gets in the way - especially around the sink.  You need a convenient place for soap, and scrubbers, and paper towels.  The clutter is inevitable, so you should just resign yourself to living with it, right?  

We're making progress...here's just one picture of the kitchen:

Do you remember that commercial from a bunch of years ago?  You know the one where the couple is walking through a huge, fancy studio listening to a pretentious architect talk about his accolades.  Then they get to his office, he says, "So what can I, do for you (the I is dripping with condescension).  They say...

In case you can’t tell, the dapper gentleman in the clip art is reviewing a contract to remodel his kitchen.  He’s never remodeled before, but is excited about the potential.  At the same time though, he’s nervous; he is making a large investment that will impact how he lives in his home, and potentially how and when he can sell it.  However, he doesn't know enough about the remodeling process to know what to ask. Luckily for you, you’ll never be like that guy because you have me.  ​