Last week was truly a whirlwind. I had planned to finish this post on Saturday evening, but it just didn’t happen — as sleeping sounded a lot more enticing. But I figured since I already had this post mostly done, I’d go ahead and post it today for those of you who have written in to say the Peek Into Our Week posts are one of your favorite posts of the week. 🙂
Last week began with the She Speaks Intensive. I was so blessed to be there. Not only did I get to have amazing coaching from people like Michele Cushatt, but I also got to meet and become friends with hilariously funny and oh-so-inspiring women like Kathi Lipp (pictured above).
Renee Swope was our small group facilitator. She’s a wealth of wisdom, insight, and experience. Not to mention that she’s such a beautiful woman — inside and out. If you’ve not read her book, A Confident Heart, you should. I was so blessed by it!
These two women were one of the biggest highlights of the whole Intensive. We met the first day and there was instant connection between us. Honestly, I felt like I have known Ruth from Living Well, Spending Less and Angie from Finding Joy in Everyday MOMents pretty much my whole lives — even though I’d only met them on Sunday and we said goodbye on Tuesday. They are such dear, dear women.
The day after I got home, Kathrynne and I had fun working together to create a birthday banner for Erika, my assistant. I’m not very artistic by nature, but we had a blast working on it together.
Kathrynne also decided to see how high of a Citiblok tower she could build.
And the week wouldn’t be complete without a batch of Cinnamon Rolls, would it?
I spent Friday and Saturday in Austin, TX, with my agent and a brilliant app developer. Guess what we were doing? Yes, we were brain-storming and working on a prototype for the brand-new Money Saving Mom® app.
I cannot wait to unveil it later this year. You all are going to love it. I failed to get any pictures of this trip, but you can just imagine all of us hovered around laptops and iPads for two days and that gives you a pretty accurate description of what it was.
We did take a few breaks so I could experience some of the delicious Austin food (I ate my first kolache — so, so good! And I also tried my first bites of calamari, too, which was surprisingly good.), but then it was back to work again.
Sunday our church family was so sweet to have a belated little celebration for Jesse and my 10th wedding anniversary. They honored us with a cake, a special prayer time, and showered us with cards. We’re so blessed with many wonderful friends who love us and care about us.
So that was our week in a nutshell. Did anything interesting or exciting happen at your house last week?
Ashley - Embracing Beauty says
I am so so so so very sad that I missed out on the SheSpeaks Intensive! I had made plans to go, set aside money, and simply skipped over the sign up for it until it was sold out. 🙁 Maybe next year! I’m glad for you that you got to go…and visit my neck of the woods! If I had known you were going we could have got together for coffee or something!
Marion says
I am from Austin. We love kolaches! They are very easy to make just take a while b/c they are a yeast dough and have several steps.
I hope you got some Tex-Mex while you were here. We have the best hands down. You came on the prefect weekend! I hope you got to soak in some of the beautiful Texas “winter” weather!
Debbie says
Austin is such a great foodie town…I just moved away from Austin after living there for 11 years and miss it terribly. Glad you had a chance to visit!!
Risa says
Love these updates. An app?? Woohoo!! I’ll be looking forward to that! 🙂
JOYce says
Kolaches = Slovak. Fair amount settled in Texas? Kolaches were a norm in SW PA…fair amount of Slovak population plus the National Slovak Society there used to share ethnic recipes in their newsletter. Remember as a child growing up, similar sharings would be in the Sunday paper food section. And neighboring heritage festivals abounded with yummies. 🙂
The recipes here might interest though thoughts of the author abound in the “cookbooks” ~ see if a local or state library system has similar, would be a good thing.
http://www.amazon.com/Czech-Recipes-Cookbook-State-Winning/dp/0978901207
JOYce says
and Happy Belated Wedding Anniversary!
🙂
Erin says
Joyce,
I live an hour north of Austin and Central Texas has a HUGE Czech population. Kolache’s are a way of life! 🙂
Yay for the app!! I was looking just the other day to see if there was one. Can’t wait!
JOYce says
Sweet, Erin! My grandparents hopped from NY straight to PA and took side adventures to Hemet, CA and Winter Park(Slovak Gardens?), FL before landing back in PA. Those Slovaks, they be everywhere with their cooking/baking. Much goes straight to the hips. 😉
Amanda says
I would love to read a post someday (or maybe you already wrote it and I missed it :)) about how you manage trips away from your kiddos both logistically and emotionally. I have a little one, and I have my first couple of overnights away coming up, so I would love to hear how you do it!
Erin @ My Mommy World says
Happy Anniversary to you and Jesse! I attended your session this fall at Allume and I thought you were such a wonderful couple 🙂
Crystal says
Aw, you’re so sweet!
Tiffany says
I CRACKED up when you said that you ate your first kolache in Austin. I had NO idea this was a southern food! They don’t have kolache’s in Kansas? We have a Kolache Factory on every corner in TX. Too funny.
Crystal says
Well, apparently they aren’t too common because I’d never heard of them and I certainly don’t recall restaurants having big signs for them like I saw in Austin!
Sandy says
Wow! What a great week. Thanks for sharing. By the way, in the picture of you, Ruth and Angie, you look amazing!
Crystal says
It’s amazing what a difference a good camera can make, eh? 🙂
Sandy says
LOL! Oh, I think your husband would agree with me!
Sarah says
I have to comment on that CitiBlocks Tower, that is huge & you guys must have a ton of CitiBlocks to make something that big!! I ♥ CitiBlocks because they give my kids creative license to make & create whatever they dream at any given moment.
Also, can’t wait for your app!!
Crystal says
We have this HUGE tub — which makes it so fun to create!
Angie Ryg says
Dear Crystal,
My feelings ditto yours. What a blessing to have connected and I am thankful for this friendship. I am so bummed not to be able to be with you this weekend. I will be praying for you. And I am looking forward to getting together in the near future…I just wish it was in the super near… 🙂
Blessings,
Angie
Ruth says
Angie I am so sad you can’t make it this weekend but I know we will all meet again very soon! Love you both! xoxo
Heather @ My Kansas Life says
I find your success very inspiring! It’s wonderful to see the paths God can create for his children. Gives me hope that I’m following a path that is uniquely mine.
Becky says
Sounds like a busy week! I am a bit jealous that you were in my home state, only about an hour and a half from where I’m from, San Antonio!
Oh, and I am super excited about a Money Saving App!! Yay!
Crystal says
Maybe next time I’ll be hitting up San Antonio! I’m really, really excited about the app, too. More details to come in the not-too-distant future!
Lindsey says
I can’t WAIT
Lindsey says
umm… that was supposed to be I can’t WAIT for the MSM app to come out! I am so excited! I love your site… it’s changed the way we do just about everything at my house. Thank you so much! :]
Crystal says
Thank you so much for your kind encouragement! I’m so grateful that some of the things I’ve shared here have made a difference!
Tammy Skipper (@Tammy_Skipper) says
Not sure if you meant your church’s anniversary or your marriage anniversary, but either way, congratulations and may God continue to bless.
Crystal says
It was our wedding anniversary. I just realized I wasn’t very clear on that. 🙂 We were gone due to sickness and travel for the past few weeks so they waited to celebrate with us until we were well and back in town!
Erika Long says
SO glad you got to taste your first kolache. I grew up on them in the TX area. I need to get a recipe from my grandma to make some homemade 🙂 Looks like a crazy busy but good week!
Heather @ My Kansas Life says
Oh, why did you have to mention kolaches?! My mouth is watering just thinking about them…
Amanda says
I know! Now I NEED a cup of coffee and a kolache. Mmmmm…..
Victoria says
Looks like you had a cramped packed week full of celebrations.