Where do I begin? Much to share and catch up on. But I’ll begin with a simple HAPPY NEW YEAR! Although the year has started with devastating events, I have a very good feeling about 2025.

One thing I will share about this year is that it WILL involve more time here on the blog. I’ve said it before, but we’re actually going to make it happen. In addition to blogging here, I’ve created a Substack you are welcome to join. If you’re unfamiliar with the platform, it’s a little new but it’s an exceptional way to read blogs. I’ll be posting for the first time soon and have plans to introduce myself to kick it off.

NEW TEAM MEMBERS

A lot happened in 2024, including the hiring of four new team members. In general, I would not recommend hiring four new people at once, but these four women arrived in my inbox with exceptional experience or potential. It was a no-brainer and have so enjoyed having them as new members of our team. As you might imagine, I’m spending a lot of time pouring into them and exposing them to the Simply Organized way of doing things. It’s taken a lot of effort and time, and it will continue throughout this year as we continue to refine processes.

These four were strategic hires because of their locations. We are constantly turning away potential projects based on them not being located in our service area. If you aren’t familiar with the Bay Area, the commute is a real thing. We are based in the Danville / Alamo area, so if someone needs help in San Jose or on the Peninsula, getting me or my team there takes long commute times. And much as I want to help everyone, we can’t do it. BUT we can hire and train new team members and begin building a team around them. So that’s exactly what I’m doing.

We now have team members on the Peninsula, in San Francisco and in Piedmont. And business is definitely picking up in two of those three locations. Very excited to see the growth.

My goal in 2025 is to have lead organizers managing all of the projects in-person, while I am working in my office and overseeing the projects. I’ll still be heavy handed but just not in person. If this business is going to grow and serve more families, it’s going to require less Sam time in person and more Sam time in the office. More hiring, more training, more business building, more marketing, more content creation.

And being in the office full-time will then also give me more time blogging!

Those who have been here all this time know the blog is the heart of this business and something I LOVE doing.

Soon I will make some team introductions.

LOTS OF PROJECTS

I have SO MANY projects to share with you! Just this week I wrapped up a year long project in this wine room…

This project, which I will elaborate on in its own blog post, took a while due to the refrigeration unit and the modifications to two sections. The holes in the wall were already here.

I worked with the Invintory app to organize this cellar and it was such a fun process!

We decluttered this 4-car garage last month…

The decluttering phase took a few days and the family did an exceptional job letting go of so much stuff. We had to get through the declutter in advance of new cabinetry being installed soon. Look forward to sharing more details.

I recently installed a wall of beautiful shelving for a local therapist. She wanted to update their staff room and it looks so much better in here!…

( Elfa material )

This is Elfa Decor shelving in birch – so beautiful! The Container Store has been doing a great job updating the look and feel of their Elfa material.

We unpacked one of the most stunning homes I’ve ever had the pleasure of working in. Truly, a masterpiece!…

Their garage is a space I’ll be revisiting soon.

That’s just a small sampling. More shares to come!

DECLUTTERING MY OWN HOME

Every January I spend the week between Christmas and New Years decluttering every last space in my home. This week tends to be very quiet with work so it’s always been the best time for me to pour back into myself and our home. This year I touched every single space and it felt amazing!

My closet was the first space I hit. I added these drawer sets, which are currently on sale, and they made the biggest impact…

( Elfa drawers )

Previously, I had a very old dresser in the back of the closet. I needed more drawer space and these are a perfect solution for me. We are renting this house so I was not about to build-out something custom. These are great for renters or for those who don’t have the budget just yet for a custom build.

My office was the last spot I hit. I organized EVERYTHING and even got through all of my paper scanning. One whole bag of shredding is behind me. Very happy to have a clean and organized office for this New Year…

UPCOMING VIDEO CONTENT

Last year I also had an amazing brand partnership that brought me back to my beloved garage wall, which is still living its best life. The brand wanted to shoot the video with the garage wall behind me. I am so not an in front of the camera person. I LOVE being behind it, so this was very much out of my comfort zone. This involved some major filming equipment. I was impressed and it was fun to meet the film crew and learn about their equipment.

I’m looking forward to seeing the video and as soon as I have it I’ll share the product with you. It’s truly genius.

OUR (SUPER)NOVA

We are thoroughly enjoying life with this little furball, who will be three this year…

It’s hard not to take photos of her. All of our phones are full of Nova and we love it! She still loves being very close to the fireplace…

She’s the best girl and we are grateful to have her as a family member. She’s spoiled will attention.

THE HOLIDAYS

The fall and holiday season passes too quickly. We made the most of the time this year and filled our months with lots of traditions. One of my favorites is taking the kids to the symphony. This year the movie was Elf and it was such a fun time…

A holiday isn’t complete without seeing the iconic 2-story gingerbread house at the Fairmont in SF…check out these stats. Unreal!…

Anytime I can spend time in the city, I’m there. And I spent a ton of time there in December.

This was a first for me and so beautiful, I saw a candlelight symphony. They performed Coldplay music and it was incredible!…

Hope you had a great holiday season and that your new year is on track to be a great one.

I’ll be back soon with more – miss all of you!

xo,

Sam