As said before, form follows function. Couple tips: Do your feet get cold easily? Mine don't so I don't have an issue there, but my feet do sweat easily so I have to "dress down" on the foot warmers and put heavier stuff on the body. If your feet feel chilly, wiggle your toes a lot. Sounds silly but the friction and circulation will help warm your feet and increase circulation. If you do feel chilly, stand up. It makes the heat go through the body rather than vent out the horizontal planes of your legs or more if you lie down. The increased calorie consumption produces more heat, plus, warm air rises in the body too, hence the known importance of keeping your head covered and insulated since the heat rises out of the top of your head. But your shoulders are often overlooked. Heat also leaves from the top of your shoulders. I've frozen my hands several times, last time was second degree so my hands are very sensitive now in cold weather. Even cold water running on them can occasionally be very uncomfortable. Here's someone who says layers=comfort. Also, you don't need dedicated outer wear. Things like flannel lounging pants fit under jeans nicely, or sweatpants will go over them. The old "winter woolies" as I call them, aka long underwear, union suits, etc are great, but again, if you get warm, regulate the temp. Don't overheat or you'll freeze easily. This can be a problem when you go inside. With top layers, they come off easily, but if you go into 70°-80° temps and have long underwear under several layers, you'll overheat, sweat and damp clothes are COLD clothes. You may need to change socks or underclothes if you do sweat. The biggest thing is to use common sense. If you get cold, go inside or get more clothes. Eat well. You will likely burn more calories cranking out more heat. Stay hydrated. Never thought I'd be one to say this, but it is true, avoid alcohol in cold weather. It doesn't warm you up in reality, it can cool you down. (Hence a cold beer on a hot day!! LOL) Warm beverages rather than hot are also better. And believe it or not, your state of mind will make a difference. If you think you'll get cold, you will. Not thinking about it will help. Extremities are the first things to freeze of course, so watch your fingers, toes, hands, feet and yes, your nose and ears.

Now that Austin has been walking for the last few months I never wish twins on anyone again! LOL...he and Seth are only 5 months apart...but when Austin's feet hit the floor running he has matured 5 months! The 2 of them keep me running all day long!My partners in crime! I used to think how fun twins would be....uh-uh, no more! They keep me laughing too....but more running and no-no-ing! One would be enough for ya Steph.....Grant will need extra attention too!

Hi all, the OP here, sue36, thanks for the great advice about going to see job sites! You wrote: Most guys in construction have "idiosyncracies". Actually, I think most people do. Is it something that could materially affect the job, relates to honesty and hard work, or is just annoying? Yes, I agree that most people do--I certainly have them! In my original post, I was trying to be succinct (because I usually write a lot and didn't want to overwhelm in the initial post), and I used that term instead of going into more details. I actually meant idiosyncracies about how they ran their business, more than the men themselves. From what one described, it sounded like he had way too much on his plate already, and one of his references confirmed that. So yes, you're right--I should keep in mind that aspect of whether it's material to doing a good job. (just curious, what specifically do you have in mind when you say your BIL "can be a pain" to work with? I don't mind if someone's grumpy--it's about when he gives me that "don't you worry your pretty head little lady about all this, let me handle it" message when I ask a question that makes me wonder.) Hi newyorking, thanks for weighing in about this ( GCs are used to doing multiple bids and not getting jobs - its just the way it is.). One of my best friends said something similar, adding that for some, doing the bids might be practice that they need to get better and better at estimating. I honestly don't know if that's true--or how many manhours it is that a GC puts in to do a bids. Part of the bid process is for them to come with their subs to go through the job site, so certainly that is some hourly time that they aren't compensated for. Hi texasredhead, were you responding to my original posting, or to one of the others? You did point out some key things to keep in mind--do you think I should continue to interview more potential GCs if I do already have an architect who's done a plan (for new walls and roof) and a KD who's done the kitchen layout? I am curious about the comments that implied that license- and reference-checking would be done after the bidding. I was thinking that I wouldn't even invite someone to bid whose references I hadn't checked or whose license I couldn't confirm. Do you all normally do those steps after the formal bid process?

At my old business(a kennel) I used scent in various ways. I kept it super clean as a smelly kennel will turn customers away in a heartbeat. I did use those plug in scent things from Bath & Bodyworks. I loved the Eucalyptus Mint for the kennel training room. My clients always commented on how fresh the place smelled. Then I also planted scent producing plants around, mostly because I liked them, but it ended up being a great thing for the business. I had 2 Daphne Odora in the parking area and clients went nuts when they were in bloom. Then by the training field I had Osmanthus Fragrans. They bloom twice a year and clients apparently still remember the scent. One of my former clients(who became a friend) called me just last week. She moved into a new house and was on her deck and smelled a blooming Osmanthus. She told me “I flashed back to training on the field at Wolfbrook!” If someone could replicate either of those scents I’d buy it.