Resolutions

We all have them, even if we don’t want to tell anyone else because we might jinx ourselves, like wishing on your birthday candles. But for reals, what are your resolutions for 2023?

CHIC (Pearl)

I’m resolving to get outside! After three years mostly cooped up by COVID, it’s time to enjoy all the food and parks and wonders that Silicon Valley has to offer. In fact, I started a list of all the new spots that have opened up since everything shut down, and I can’t wait to start checking them off. But don’t worry, I’ll still bring my mask along and make sure my vaccinations are up to date. Better safe than sorry, especially when you’re having fun!

GEEK (Kevin)

My new year’s resolution is to spend more time on fun projects around our house and our clients’ homes. One of the joys of our real estate work is helping sellers prep their properties to get the highest value and guiding buyers through the maze of inspections, repairs, and upgrades that come with making their new homes feel like they’ve lived there for years. I’m looking forward to dryer months ahead!

The Day After Christmas

The day after Christmas — or Boxing Day — doesn’t have anything to do with the sport of boxing, but it does have a lot in common with other sports. Here’s what we mean…

CHIC (Pearl)

For me, Boxing Day is a foot race to the stores to return doubled-up or unwanted gifts and to take advantage of deals that inevitably pop up the day after everyone opens their presents. Even if I don’t have anything to return or a particular item on my mind, I love the rush of a good sale and the flurry of people emerging from their holiday haze. Look for me at the mall the morning after!

GEEK (Kevin)

Recovering from an onslaught of family and feasting is more like a lazy game of golf on a Sunday afternoon. It takes a little time dragging yourself out of bed and getting into the swing of the game. But once you do, it’s all downhill from there. So maybe it’s more like going up a ski lift and coming down the mountain. As long as there’s hot chocolate at the end of the journey, I’m there.

Over the River, Through the Woods

AAA estimates that about 113 million people will travel for the holidays, with more than 100 million of them traveling by car. That’s a huge increase of 3.6M travelers over last year, and the latest sign that we’re growing more and more comfortable with post-pandemic living. But it could only take one viral surge to turn an entire industry on its head again. How are you getting to grandma’s house this year?

Giving or Getting?

Around this time of year, the age-old question returns: Is it better to give than to receive? Sometimes, it depends on the gift — and who’s doing the giving!

CHIC (Pearl)

It’s no contest. Giving gifts is always better than receiving them. I usually have my holiday shopping done in June because I can’t help collecting things that my friends and loved ones would enjoy. It doesn’t need to be anything extravagant or expensive. The thought truly does count, as long as you put some thought into it. And the look on their face when they open the gift always makes you feel better than when you open another hand mixer from Aunt Joanie.

GEEK (Kevin)

Dude, who doesn’t like presents? They say it’s the thought that counts, but I’m the kind of guy who loves a good white elephant exchange. Everyone comes away with a gift, and more often than not, it’s something you’d never expect to use but ends up as an integral component of your life — like a new toothbrush rack or a bedazzled beer koozie. There’s also something about tearing into that first perfectly wrapped gift on Christmas morning. It smells like victory.

Pivotal impact

Right here in Silicon Valley, the innovation capital of the world, thousands of foster youth are falling through the cracks. 75% of foster youth in Santa Clara County are performing below grade level, and 47% receive special education services — compared with 12% of the general population. Meanwhile, foster youth supported by Pivotal graduate from college at 10x the national average.

Do these numbers convince you to give?