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DECEMBER 2017 www.katconstructionllc.com (612) 326-1122
The Best Family Gathering
of the Year
Every time the holiday season rolls around, I feel lucky that my wife and I have so much family right here in the area. It certainly turns Christmas Eve into a big operation, with my mother- and father-in-law, my wife Lori’s brother and sister and their families, and our three boys all joining us to chow down and spend some quality time laughing and catching up with one another. In that sense, it’s not too different from Thanksgiving, aside from the added bonus of exchanging gifts and watching our little nieces and nephews practically tremble with excitement and the holiday spirit that always comes with Christmas when you’re a small kid. The holiday sort of takes on a different character when your kids grow up — my youngest is 18 now — so it’s fun to see the small children get all jazzed up and fully invested in all the Christmas magic.
sure they almost always knew what they’d be getting before they unwrapped their stash on Christmas Day. Luckily, they always humored us, pretending to be surprised even if it was something they’d seen in the closet weeks before.
I’ve tried to dissuade my wife from. I’d be fine with a hassle-free artificial tree, but I’ve made no headway towards that goal so far. “I’m trying to be environmentally conscious!” I tell her, to no avail.
But, much like Thanksgiving, the real reason I look forward to Christmas isn’t a new pair of socks or the persistent smell of pine around the house. It’s the excuse to get everybody together and hang out. I’m grateful that we’re all so close and yet still manage to have a good time with one another. Well, that and the couple of days I get off from work for Christmas as business slows down at the year’s close. I can’t
“I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than kick back with family, open a few presents, and eat some delicious food together.”
It reminds me of when our sons were small. Back then, the main holiday tradition wasn’t baking cookies or hanging tinsel — it was trying to keep the boys from hunting down their presents before we could manage to wrap them. I don’t know whether we were bad at hiding the gifts, or if they just had a natural spy-like sixth sense for spoiling surprises, but I’m pretty
There is one ritual, however, that’s carried over from those days. My wife and I still head 20 miles away a couple weeks after Thanksgiving to pick out a tree to chop down and tie to our car. Back in the day, this was a welcome tradition, with the kids tagging along to help us choose the perfect holiday decoration and sip on hot chocolate, but these days it’s one that
think of anything I’d rather do than kick back with family, open a few presents, and eat some delicious food together.
–Keith Thompson
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www.katconstructionllc.com
Crammed?
In her book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” Marie Kondo gave us a transformative method for decluttering our homes. Based on feng shui principles and Kondo’s own study of organization, the KonMari Method has led thousands of devotees to new heights of tidiness. Kondo instructs participants to assess each of their possessions, item by item, category by category, and then dispose of those that do not provide joy. It’s touted as a simple, though not easy, guide to long-term organization. IS YOUR CALENDAR CHRONICALLY
What would happen if this approach were applied to your calendar? Entrepreneur Christina Wallace calls her 10-month experiment in doing so an “unqualified success.” Most of us could benefit from trimming our jampacked schedules. Those various calendars synced to our phone, each emitting noisy reminders about the upcoming hour’s plans, aren’t exactly harbingers of harmony. Get a jump-start on your organization resolution by applying the KonMari Method to your calendar. STEP 1: ASSESS First, envision the life you want to lead. Next, assess all the items listed on your calendar within a two-month period. Organize each commitment according to categories — social, work-related, doctor’s appointments, etc. Be thorough. Including each commitment, no matter how minor, is the key to this process. STEP 2: JOY TEST Do these commitments bring you joy? Are they part of your ideal life? When you look at “Lunch
date with Margot” from last week, are you reminded of her unfriendly comments about your waiter and her negative attitude toward your renovation ideas? Consider each commitment and its impact on your joy. Of course, not all commitments will live up to the joy standard. You may not love your annual check-up, but it is important for your health. When you encounter non-negotiable items like these, consider the long-term impact they have on your well-being. STEP 3: DISCARD Put an end to commitments that are not bringing you joy. This might mean having tough conversations with clients or friends. No one said the KonMari Method is easy. Decluttering entails getting rid of items that do not pass the joy test. STEP 4: APPLY! Follow through. Cancel commitments and long- standing obligations that are not benefiting your
life. Have the difficult conversation. Apply the joy test as new commitments come up.
By considering each commitment and its impact on your life, you will make room for those that bring you joy. To read more about the KonMari Method, check out Kondo’s “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and its companion book, “Spark Joy.”
What Our Clients Are Saying... “This was my first time replacing my roof, so I was not sure what the process would be. KAT construction explained in detail each step. The whole process only took a few weeks. I can say I am satisfied with the results. I will be using their services again.” “KAT Construction kept me informed as they spoke to my insurance company and went over the damage on my roof with the insurance adjuster. I was approved to get my entire roof replaced. I appreciate them taking care of all the details for me. I would recommend.”
–Katherine V.
–Jackie H.
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Call us today! (612) 326-1122
Worried About Your Roof This Winter?
At KAT Construction, we know better than anyone how stressful and chaotic winter damage to your roof can be. Here are a few tips to keep the top of your house together this season.
It should trap heat inside the house, but not necessarily in the attic. For this reason, it’s important that your attic is constantly ventilating, maintaining a temperature only 5–10 degrees higher than that of the outside. If the buildup of snow and ice on your roof becomes a serious problem, hire a professional to clear it off, otherwise you may be looking at a total collapse. It goes without saying that this is a job you absolutely should not do yourself, as it can be extremely dangerous and lead to serious injury if you slip and fall on the ice. Enlist a Professional’s Help Of course, before it gets really cold and snowy, it’s a smart idea to have a team of experienced professionals inspect your roof and attic to
Prevent Ice Dams During the winter, you house is constantly giving off heat. When this heat escapes through the roof, it can warm the snow on top, forcing it to melt and slide down the slope of the roof. Often, the water will refreeze before it hits the ground and form a dense pile of ice on the edges, trapping even more water on your roof. Not only is this a vicious cycle, but the weight of the combined water and ice can cause major leaking damage. To avoid this, make sure that you clean your gutters regularly. Spring and late fall are ideal, but less icy days during the winter are a prime opportunity, as well. In addition, have a professional check the insulation in your attic. Laughing Corner
ensure they stay structurally sound throughout the winter. Call the experts at KAT Construction at (612) 326-1122 today, and get peace of mind knowing you have a solid roof all winter long.
COOKIES Christmas Star
Ingredients
(Recipe inspired by elanaspantry.com/star-cookies.)
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2½ cups blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
• • • •
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
• •
½ teaspoon Celtic sea salt ¼ teaspoon baking soda
5 tablespoons agave nectar or honey
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions 1. In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. 2. In a small bowl, mix coconut oil, agave, and vanilla. 3. Mix wet ingredients into dry. 4. Roll out dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper until ¼ inch thick. 5. Refrigerate for 1 hour. 6. Remove top piece of parchment paper and dust dough with almond flour. 7. Cut out cookies with a small star cutter. 8. Using a metal spatula, place stars on a parchment-lined baking sheet. 9. Bake at 350 F until edges are lightly browned, 5–8 minutes.
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8833 79th Street Annandale, MN 55302
www.katconstructionllc.com (612) 326-1122
INSIDE This Issue 1 • 2 • 2 • 3 •
Christmas With the Whole Clan Go KonMari on Your Calendar Client Testimonials Worried About Your Roof This Winter? Christmas Star Cookies Is January the Best Month for Disneyland?
4 •
IS JANUARY THE BEST MONTH
for Disneyland?
January isn’t known for much — broken resolutions and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, mostly. But if you’re looking to escape the cold or take your family on a post-holiday adventure, next month might be the best time to travel to the Happiest Place on Earth. The Best Crowds According to Disneyland’s own figures, the first full week of January through the middle of February is the slowest time of year at the park. Visitors report never spending more than 15 minutes waiting for a ride. The Fourth of July, however, finds visitors waiting over two hours for Star Tours and Splash Mountain. In Winter, Disneyland closes a little earlier. But if you have young kids, this won’t affect your plans much. They often close rides for maintenance
during this time, but never more than one or two at a time. With all the open options, you won’t feel robbed. Let’s Talk About the Weather Does January sound cold and rainy? Don’t worry. The average temperature is still a balmy 66 degrees, and January gets just as much rainfall as peak months like December (winter break) and March (spring break). Check weather reports since the rainfall varies greatly depending on the temperature of the ocean that month. But bear in mind, Disneyland is the No. 2 theme park on the planet, raking in 18 million visitors a year. It wouldn’t attract such huge crowds if the weather wasn’t theme park-worthy 99 percent of the time.
So, what’s the best month to visit Disneyland? It’s a trick question. The real answer is whatever month you go. Disneyland is magic! But if there’s a month that’s better than the rest, we’ll say it’s January.
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