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JANUARY 2026 860.613.6290 ROBERTCWHITE.COM PopVentures & Property Management How Small, Intentional Moments Create Big Improvements Everywhere
Last May, I had a realization that felt both obvious and mildly embarrassing: While I spend a lot of time with my family, most of that time is with all four kids at once. Picture a swirling cluster of energy, soccer schedules, sibling debates, missing shoes, and someone forever asking, “What’s for dinner?” It’s quality time … but sometimes in the same way that a crowded elevator is quality time. So, I decided to fix it. And because everything sounds more official with a name, I invented something called PopVentures ... one-on-one outings with each child. Nothing fancy required. No plane tickets. No color-coded itineraries. Just intentional time together doing something that speaks to that kid’s interests. The very first PopVenture was with my 9-year-old, William. I took him to a pet store, mostly because he loves animals, and partly because it’s the closest thing to a zoo that’s free. We spent over an hour with him draping snakes around his neck, admiring axolotls, and bonding over the shared family policy of “absolutely no pets.” He walked out grinning. I walked out relieved we hadn’t accidentally purchased a lizard. Later came a PopVenture with James (age 11), a die-hard New England Patriots fan. I surprised him with a trip to Buffalo Wild Wings on Monday Night Football, Patriots
vs. Giants. (His cousin is a Giants fan, which added an enjoyable layer of family rivalry.) We walked in and immediately counted what felt like 50 giant TVs, all tuned to the game. The hardest thing to do was decide what screen to watch. James didn’t miss a single play ... not even during restroom breaks, since even the bathroom had TVs. The Patriots clobbered the Giants, James gloated appropriately, and I learned that when your kid loves football, sometimes the best bonding moment is simply providing unlimited screens and chicken wings. With my 15-year-old, Evelyn, the adventures have been more automotive. We head to an empty parking lot, practice driving, and then follow it up by stopping at a gas station convenience store to rate their snack selection and pick something up. (It’s a weird tradition we started on a trip back from one of her soccer games last year.) Her confidence is growing each time, and so is my appreciation for modern braking systems. David, my 13-year-old, once got the royal PopVenture treatment: a surprise trip to a fancy steakhouse. He dressed up, I drove, and he tried not to look too excited that he had outranked his siblings for the evening. Tonight, he and Evelyn are getting a “Duo” PopVenture: go-kart racing, likely followed by dinner. They don’t know it yet, but I fully intend to lose gracefully. Or try.
David and Evelyn at a recent “Duo” PopVenture
What I’ve discovered after a few months of PopVentures is this: The grandness doesn’t matter. The time is what matters. The anticipation is what matters. The simple act of saying, “This moment is just for you,” is what they remember. And here’s the surprising part: Planning these has become fun for me, too. I love coming up with something they won’t expect. I love that they look forward to it. And while I’m sure we’ll choose activities together one day, right now I’m enjoying the creativity challenge. This whole experiment reminded me of one of Robert C. White & Company’s core values: Endlessly Improving.
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Built-in custom cabinetry and shelving are popular trends in home design and remodeling. They increase a house’s value and storage space. However, custom carpentry costs have soared, making DIY built-ins the only affordable option for many homeowners. If you envision a wall of custom bookcases but can’t afford a carpenter, here are three guidelines for DIY success. Sketch Your Vision Start with a sketch showing the dimensions of the shelves, sides, footers, headers, and trim for your bookcase. For a pair of open bookshelves, your shopping list should include four sheets of 3/4- inch medium-density fiberboard (MDF), 2x4 scrap pieces to serve as vertical spacers between bookshelves, oil-based primer, semi-gloss paint, sandpaper, and 1–2 tubes of caulk. Before you start, consider painting the wall behind the bookshelves the same color as planned for the shelves. Measure and Cut A typical width for bookshelves is about 12 inches, with 4–7-inch footers and headers, and 2-1/2-inch trim pieces. Cut shelves and side pieces parallel to the longest dimension of the MDF. Use a miter saw to cut each 12-inch piece to the desired lengths for the sides and shelving. Next, cut two scrap-wood spacers as long as the planned distance between shelves. Begin assembling your bookshelf by standing each side piece on its side, using clamps to attach the shortest spacers to the bottom of each side piece. Place the bottom shelf on top of the spacers and drive finishing nails through the sides to secure them in place. Repeat the process with each shelf. The Grand Finale The last shelf piece is the top of the bookcase and should lie flush with the sides. Attach a final support piece across the back, touching the bottom of the last shelf piece and lying flush with the backs of the bookcase sides. Stand the bookcase upright and use screws or metal brackets to attach the support piece to studs in the wall. Attach the footer and header strips to the top and bottom of the bookcase to achieve a more finished look. To make your creation appear more substantial, you can attach 2 1/2-inch strips of MDF to the front of each side piece and shelf. Sand the raw edges of the MDF, caulk the seams, and cover your entire creation with an oil- based primer. Then, top it off with two coats of semi-gloss paint. Now, step back and appreciate your creation. You’ve achieved a master-carpenter look on a bargain budget! CREATE CUSTOM BOOKSHELVES WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK Built-In on a Budget
Smart Meets Stylish Design a Fun and Functional Mudroom
Quiz for the Day: What room in a house is seldom mentioned in property descriptions but causes boundless headaches and stress if absent?
Answer: A mudroom.
A mudroom is a buffer zone against dirt, mud, slush, and snow. Beyond keeping your house clean and making it easier to enter, a mudroom provides extra storage and adds to the value of your home. A well-designed mudroom is also a stress reliever, freeing homeowners from worries about muddy floors, dripping boots, and raincoats. Some people create mudrooms by converting a closet or laundry room, expanding a garage, or enclosing a porch, while others add a small addition or bump-out to their house. The cost ranges from a few thousand dollars to convert a closet to $30,000 or more to create a new addition. Here are three essential features to make your mudrooms work well for adults, kids, and pets. Sitting Space A cushioned bench makes it easier for users to remove shoes and boots. Built-in benches that double as storage space anchor the design and make it easy to tuck seasonal gear, shoes, and boots neatly out of sight. While many homeowners yearn for the tidy, put-together look of closed cabinets for storing accessories and supplies, a combination of closed cabinets and open cubbies for easy access to oft-used items is a more practical design for this hardworking space. Also, inside those closed cupboards can be a good place for shared device charging stations, to keep the cords out of sight. Multipurpose Flooring Your mudroom floor will take a beating, so choose durable, easy- to-clean tile or stone flooring. Earth tones work well in this space, for obvious reasons! If your mudroom design will accommodate a utility sink, this is a welcome addition for cleaning dirty hands and footwear. Another good dual-purpose design is to convert your laundry room into a mudroom. Wall Storage Hooks and open shelves along the walls can provide needed storage for clothing, bags, and pet leashes. Line the shelves with colorful bins and baskets to expand available space and add visual interest. Consider labeling the bins to maintain order, and swap out the baskets as the seasons change. As you implement these savvy design features, you’ll soon see the benefits of containing the messes of day-to-day life.
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PopVentures started because I noticed something that could be better and decided to make a small change. Not a dramatic overhaul, just a simple shift toward a more meaningful one-on-one connection. And that tiny change has produced outsized results.
And as I’m learning from both my family and my work, when you focus on what truly matters, everything else improves right along with it. So, here’s to the small improvements — the little moments that make everything else work better. One PopVenture (and one property) at a time.
Property management works the same way.
Most of the time, improvement isn’t about reinventing a system or launching a massive initiative. It’s about small, intentional adjustments:
Happy New Year!
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Updating a process so communication is clearer
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Fine-tuning preventive maintenance schedules
• Anticipating a client’s need before they even voice it
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Finding little ways to deliver smoother service and stronger relationships
P.S. The “Absolutely No Pets” rule has been under attack from the kids ever since Evelyn, at age 7, shared the PowerPoint presentation she made ... “We should get a dog.” It was so good that we almost broke down right there. If they keep up the pressure (in appropriate, creative, and humorous ways), it’s possible the policy will be modified. And cracks are forming ... he doesn’t know it yet, but a little birdie told me that William is getting an Ant Farm for Christmas. Hey, you have to start somewhere.
Just like with PopVentures, the magic is in the intentionality of doing something regularly, thoughtfully, and with the goal of making the experience better for the people who trust us. Endless improvement isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress. It’s about showing up with purpose. It’s about creating moments (or systems) that matter.
Slow Cooker Birria Tacos
TAKE A BREAK
Ingredients
• 3 dried guajillo chiles • 2 dried ancho chiles • 1 medium onion, chopped • 4 garlic cloves • 1 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes • 3 lbs beef chuck roast • 2 cups beef broth • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp dried oregano • 2 tsp ground cumin • 2 bay leaves • 1 tsp salt • Pepper, to taste • Corn tortillas • Fresh cilantro and diced onion for garnish
Directions
1. Soak dried chiles in hot water for 15 minutes. 2. Process chiles, onion, garlic, and tomatoes in a blender until smooth. 3. Place beef in a slow cooker and pour the chili mixture over it. 4. Add beef broth, vinegar, oregano, cumin, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. 5. Cook on low for 8–10 hours or until the beef is tender. 6. Shred the beef using forks, then mix back into the sauce. 7. Fry tortillas in oil until crispy, then assemble tacos as desired.
Inspired by SimpleWhisk.com
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INSIDE
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PopVentures & Property Management
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Simple Steps for Crafting Your Own Custom Bookshelves
Function With Flair: Design Features for a Mudroom That Works
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Slow Cooker Birria Tacos
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An Accent on Style
The Chair Makes the Room
Designing a new room often ends with a task that can be the most enjoyable of all: choosing the right accent chair. This piece may serve various purposes, like providing extra seating, adding a pop of color, or creating a contrasting design. Making the right choice requires finding a balance between form and function.
A lounge chair invites users to kick back and enjoy. An armchair with comfy armrests suggests good conversation. For a smaller space, a side chair with a straight back and skinny legs works best. In choosing a design, feel free to bend a few rules by departing a little from your theme, such as adding a side chair with solid wood legs to a streamlined Danish modern theme. Now, with an accent chair that perfectly defines your living space, sit back and enjoy!
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