Bring On Lemons

George Washington Chopped Down the Cherry Tree - Mark Otto Chopped Down the Dead Tree in our yard. Not such an exciting day at our house today, but some good came of it. Played the organ at church, accompanied the choir, sang with the choir, had help from a good friend with a tough piece of offeratory music (thanks Jim), then helped teach Sunday School. Then...had some friends over for lunch, did some additional painting in the house, and THEN...Mark went to work chopping down (sawing I guess I should say) the dead tree in the yard. I was convinced the tree would fall on one of the kids, so he brought it down instead. It was fun seeing the kids stacking wood, and we ended up meeting one of our neighbors and the project created some make shift seats around our firepit. The tree damaged a bit of the fence, but we found out it was OUR fence, so the apologies were much easier. That's all folks...now off to bed for a busy week ahead. Tomorrow begins with coffee! (tomorrows writing...

Yup...once a geek always a geek. I lost the braces and glasses long ago (still chubby though), but the geekiness isn't quite as easy to get away from. We are planning this wedding with a reception to be held at the Lighthouse Inn in Two Rivers. The name of the hall within the facility is called the Seymour Althen  Banquet Facility. Every time I think about it, I say to myself..."self, don't you think you should know who Seymour Althen is or was since he is indirectly involved in your wedding?" and then I get busy and I don't get back to it. The children are playing in the yard and I have a few moments to myself this afternoon. I suppose I could take a nap or do laundry, but the geek in me is urging me to figure out who Seymour Althen is. Would you like to come along with me on this little quest? The first thing I found was a post on ancestry.com confirming that Seymour died in 1975 and confirmed that I had the right Seymour (more popular name than you might th...

Many of you know that I love love love to eat at the Lighthouse Inn in Two Rivers. I love it so much that we celebrate birthdays there (yes, even for the children), stop for ice cream cones for no particular reason, would go no where else for a business lunch, AND we are celebrating our wedding there in August. There are so many reasons to love the Lighthouse Inn and for those of you who may not have caught previous posts, here are a few things I appreciate the most: * courteous staff - they go above and beyond [the waitresses are amazing and a certain bartender (Janelle) is just as wonderful - the experience resembles stopping at a friends house where they remember you versus just being another number] * clean facility - the exterior and interior of the facility are both clean and well maintained. Even the aquariums are free from finger prints! *amazing food - I can honestly say that I have NEVER had a bad meal at the Lighthouse Inn's restaurant/The Water's Edge. My per...

Oh yes...I believe we have thought of everything to make our wedding day a success. We even thought our guests might enjoy a special treat toward the end of the evening. Of course, the Lighthouse Inn was happy to oblige ( http://www.lhinn.com/ ) and  here's the scoop: We decided we wanted to serve either a hearty appetizer or pizzas between 9-10pm the night of our reception. Jean from the Lighthouse Inn who had initially helped with booking the event put me in touch with Steve Becker to work out the details. Now, I'm getting ahead of myself, but I must tell you that Steve is fabulous. He is patient and smart, and he's funny too. A few months ago my Aunt said that he and I resemble each other enough that you might think we are siblings...so I guess Steve is a hottie too (he's going to kill me)! All joking aside. Steve called me a week or so ago and asked if I had ever tasted the Lighthouse Inn pizza. I admit that I eat there at least twice a month but I have never ha...

Since this week the topic on the tip of my tongue seems to be families, I thought I would tout all the great activities we have right here in Manitowoc County. If you are from here, you might find some new ideas to try and if you aren't from here, COME VISIT! Manitowoc Marina - take a walk out to the lighthouse, check out the sailboats, power boats, and even some kayaks from time to time. And if you're into fishing, bring along a pole and join the many fisherman bringing in the big one from the pier and docks surrounding the marina. The marina even has a gift shop and full service boat facility - a relaxing place for boaters and non boaters alike! (stop in for an ice cream treat at the ships store and say hi to my friend Kelly!) [ http://www.manitowoc-marina.com/ ] The Lincoln Park Zoo - animals, exhibits, an education center, and a playground make this the perfect afternoon treat for the entire family! Learn how you can help conserve and be better to the world and animal...

Before I became a parent, I would hear all these stories about how parents were judgmental of one another. I guess I didn't "get it" because I didn't understand the whole parenting dynamic - for example, I remember vowing to myself that I wouldn't bribe my children. Guess what? YES, I'll give them a cookie as we walk into the grocery store in hopes that it will keep things peaceful long enough to accomplish all of my shopping. YES, I'll get them to leave the park by promising we will stop for ice cream on the way home (it's much easier than dealing with a tantrum and carrying two toddlers away from the swing set). There are more than likely parents out there who are judging my parenting..."if only she would show those kids that she is the boss.... " "if she wouldn't spoil them..." "why a cookie instead of a carrot, doesn't she..." blah blah blah These parents aren't wrong...but neither am I. What they don...

the biggest salary in the world doesn't mean anything compared to the ability to bring a smile to someone's face. This Facebook post says it all. It cost less than a dollar and the result was priceless. If you would like to learn more about how you can quickly send a personalized card, watch this video and let me know when I can get you signed up:  https://www.sendoutcards.com/crystalcasavant/ The gift of a smile is priceless!!!

Are you in a relationship and wondering if you'd be better off alone? Are you alone and wondering if you'd be better off with someone? Isn't it the same story about girls with straight hair getting perms and girls with curly hair buying expensive flat irons? Or is it...??? (I seriously wish I could find a picture of my permed mullet from the 80's to put right here...kid you not, THANKS MOM!) Here's the answer - being comfortable alone is just as important is being in the RIGHT relationship. If you are in a relationship with someone who is not truly your partner is frustrating. If that is where you are at, it's true that you would be better off alone. If you know you are the only one you can count on, you won't be let down. If you have someone who SHOULD be helping you that isn't...you'll be constantly frustrated and feeling let down. What am I talking about? I have some experience in relationships and until recently I would have told you I only h...

Today was one of those days where I had my mind set on what I was going to do. The first thing that needed to be done was a thorough spring cleaning of the entire house. I'm an all or nothing gal, so it wasn't a two hour task, it was a seven hour adventure. Had you drive by before 2pm today you would have seen one hideous looking woman with a mop, a pony tail, and a pair of sweat pants - - - she looked awful and smelled even worse. That's why the doors were locked - no one needs to see that! I even turned down a few offers for coffee - now that's a serious 'bad hair day' sort of day! Then I got the text I needed - it was a dear friend who just wanted to know if she could stop in to chat. She also offered to bring coffee (which may indicate that I have a problem - but I digress) - I asked her to give me twenty minutes so I could toss on make up (by this time I had already showered and gotten into some presentable clothing). She obliged me and we spent four ho...

P lease join me to experience an exciting line of herbal and botanically-based health, beauty and wellness products that are pure, safe and beneficial. Friday, May 4, 6:00pm Lovely Hostess: Crystal Casavant 1417 Hawthorne Ave. Two Rivers, WI Call or text to reserve your spot: 920.645.7529 Presentation by: District Manager Michelle McClelland         Refreshments and prizes available and feel free to bring a Friend. Can’t make the date?   Let me know and we can set something up! Ask about the amazing Business Opportunity available from Arbonne!

Planning a wedding is fun - kid you not...I'm having a blast! If you Google wedding planning in Manitowoc County you are directing to a site called: Wedding Wire ( http://www.weddingwire.com/c/wi-wisconsin/manitowoc/wedding-planners/15-vendors.html ) and there are NO wedding planners in this area. So first of all, there is a need and second of all, it's a fairly profitable endeavor. The going rate for a wedding consultant or wedding planner is  15-20% of the total wedding budget. This means, if your wedding costs $15,000 the consultant would be paid: $2,250-$3,000. A consultant can offer as much or as little guidance as necessary and may want to offer help with building a wedding website as well as arranging the wedding itself. Relax...I'm not planning on increasing what we offer at Relax Consulting. Just a random thought. I do have to say that if has been less than three weeks since Mark's proposal and I am proud to announce that *Invitations and Response Cards hav...

I Love Oprah - now that I got that off my chest we can move forward. But really - Oprah's Life Class this week talks about The One Thing You Have to Let Go Of. There are several things we have to let go of, and I'm not always 'captain obvious', so sometimes I go about things a bit backwards. If you have a hard time narrowing down your list to determine what you have to let go of, I recommend making a list of things you would Never Never Never Never - Not in a Million years - Never Never Never let go of. Once you have that list, it will make it easier to figure things out. This goes for personal possessions, tasks at work, etc... Example 1 - I want to clean my office. Instead of deciding what I should get rid of (ie: donate), I make a list of things that I cannot live without: The motivational poster that brings me joy each day, my computer, the discs with the children's pictures, my favorite coffee mug, Seeing Red Cars by Laura Goodrich, Quotable Women coffee tab...

I've been working on a book and thought I'd tease you a bit today with a few of the opening paragraphs - enjoy! (your feedback is welcome) ~Crystal A story about the power of love and a positive attitude – ANYTHING is possible with a dream! “Why are you always smiling?” people often ask, and I’ll tell them a bit of the truth, but the whole truth is a long answer filled with a menagerie of stories, characters, places, and challenges that ultimately boils down to the power of a love, a positive attitude, and a desire to succeed no matter what the cost. I.                     Strength and Dedication Between 1880 and 1930, more than 27 million people made the journey from around the world to Ellis Island. Some were looking for work in the United States; others were trying to escape the unrest in their own country. Jeanne Maurice boarded the LaTouraine steamship at the Havre with ...

Eloping sounds like Heaven right now! It's very important to me to get married in my church and to be surrounded with friends and family - truly it is. On the other hand, I am shocked at how much everything costs. My parents house didn't cost as much as this wedding is going to (granted that was 45 years ago - but still - you see my point). The dress price wasn't bad, but the under garments, accessories, and alterations really add up. Then you have the cost for the meal which increases drastically if you want to offer two types of meet...or even more drastically if you want to offer a sit down meal instead of a buffet. Well, too late to change our mind on the dress (mine at least), but the invitations are going to cost almost as much as my dress and hypothetically I could just call these people instead of spending the money on the printing, mailing, postage, etc...and my time to hand address everything. I don't know how people do it - I'm overwhelmed and I just...

I love having children that enjoy coffee as much as I do - what I don't love is when they assume it's decaf and drink my entire cup of coffee at 7pm. It wasn't even both children...it was just one...and he's usually very chatty, but tonight takes the cake. I may need a drink (as in a stiff one with whiskey in it) so I can tolerate the caffeinated boy who is bouncing around the house chatting uncontrollably. May your paths be abundantly filled with lemons, sugar, sunshine...and decaf coffee ~Crystal

It Doesn't Get More Transparent Than This! For years, I would avoid letting people see me without makeup on. I still cringe at the thought of leaving the house without feeling "put together" (ie: no sweat pants in public and at least lipgloss and mascara). So - this is what you are NOT seeing: I'm showing you this because I want to tell you what a fabulous experience I had tonight with two lovely MaryKay ladies and my dear, beautiful, friend - Heather. We laughed, we learned, we lifted one another up and talked about our strengths and our beauty. And then... I tried a new lip color, a new foundation color and technique, and check out those eyes (notice you couldn't see them in the first picture?)! We were under no obligation to purchase anything and we gained so much. New friendships were forged, ideas were exchanged, and we left feeling beautiful and appreciated. Now that's priceless! If you are interested in having your own evening...

I just had an opportunity to nominate a female mentor for the Manitowoc Chapter of Women in Management. I am certain that this post is going to embarrass my humble friend (and nominee), but she truly is a mentor to many and deserves credit where credit is due. Below is my submission for the award: I would like to nominate Olivia Gaeth-Brey for the WIMI Mentor award. By definition, a mentor is:   a   wise   and   trusted   counselor   o r   teacher.   Boy does Olivia fit that bill! Olivia is the office manager at Advanced Family Chiropractic in Manitowoc and she also owns her own business called OH! Photography. She is so much more than either of these titles imply. She is a young, vibrant, vivacious young woman who brings smiles to many people each day through her positive attitude, great smile, sense of humor, and her photography. Olivia has every reason to be crabby and negative. Her husband passed away unexpectedly within two y...

New website is up with new logo - your thoughts? http://www.relaxconsulting.com/

I like hot coffee, spicy foods, and warm weather. I hate maps and I'm convinced that GPS devices were invented for people like me. I cannot even fold a map back up right much less read one. When today's instructor started talking about HeatMaps I was thinking it would be a great time to re-apply my lip gloss and then he grabbed my attention when he explained that a heat map isn't really a map at all (at least not by my definition). Bare with me while I digress a bit. In my professional life I write fiction, but also write policies, procedures, compliance and security reports, business plans, requests for proposals, grant requests, etc...and you put hours and hours of work into some of these complex documents. You turn them in, and you hope for the best. In the case of grant writing, you can consider yourself successful if you receive one out of every ten grants you go for. That leaves you constantly asking yourself: **Does anyone actually read the entire thing? **Wh...

Not sure if this should be on my personal blog or the business blog - either way, here goes: I had a fabulous networking opportunity today...actually, the entire day thus far has been filled with networking and opportunity. Here's how things have gone (keep in mind it's not even 3pm so there are more opportunities yet to come) - 9am - stopped at a fabulous chiropractic office to chat with some very nice ladies and enjoy the scenery and ambiance (picture a pond, a water fall, and a real live mallard swimming in the pond). If you are looking for a great chiropractor in the Manitowoc area - check out Advanced Family Chiropractic  http://manitowochealth.com/  - during that visit I was able to chat with the talented Olivia Brey from OH photography (talk about talent folks):  http://www.facebook.com/ohphotos/info  Olivia is as inspirational as she is talented and it's such an honor to consider her a mentor and friend. 9:30am - met with Steve and Tom from SCORE counse...

I have hurt feelings - and they were hurt by none other than our resident mouse. Logic tells me that he probably scurried in while I was mowing the lawn. The children were in and out that day and he could have simply been looking for a safe and quiet place to hide from that nasty lawnmower. Illogically, I take his presence to mean that my house is dirty and that I'm a terrible mother. It's not like I propped the door open for weeks with a little 'welcome' sign advertising cheese, crackers, and sugary cereal...but for some reason, my feelings are really hurt because the little bugger is here. I canceled everything this afternoon so I could clean the house from top to bottom. Sadly or gladly (not sure which yet) I found 4 mouse tirds on the pantry floor and none on the shelves, behind the fridge, under the stove, or any where that actual food is kept. He seems to have checked out the recycling and that was it...that reassurance didn't stop me from going through ...

If you are planning on crafting something for Mom this year - you'd better start now. Mother's Day is Sunday, May 13th so you have just about a month. If you are looking for some great ideas, check our local gift shops and thrift stores. If you have young children, start cutting up those old magazines and make Mom a collage in the shape of a heart with a poem written in the middle. There's ideas all over the place - just don't forget that special day. If your mother is singing with the angels, this is a great time to adopt a mother or grandmother from a nursing home or assisted living facility. It's never a bad time to appreciate someone and share some sunshine and a smile. May your paths be abundantly filled with lemons, sugar & sunshine! ~Crystal

Many of us love giving compliments but bristle at the thought of receiving them. Here's my down and dirty compliance lesson when it comes to compliments (and yes, there is intentionally only one RULE if you will when it comes to receiving them). Giving Compliments  *Be sincere *Be specific "you're so nice" is to generic...this is much better "I appreciate how you _____________" (or "I love your floral bag vs. nice outfit) *Look them in the eye - a compliment without eye contact feels like manipulation Receiving Compliments *Say Thank You For some reason, we feel like we need to return the compliment - THIS IS NOT A TENNIS MATCH MY FRIENDS! If someone tells you that your hair looks nice and you say - "thanks - so does yours" you are rejecting the compliment they gave you and giving them a half hearted and insincere compliment instead of being genuine and sincere. This little compliment volley is what you want to avoid. Lo...

This post is multi-purpose - it will help me go through my to-list, help me be organized, and will also tip readers off to some amazing people and businesses in the area - so here goes: August 11th is the official wedding day and we've chosen a 3pm service time, 4:30 cocktails, and 5pm sit down meal. We didn't want anyone waiting around wondering what to do or wasting their time between the church and reception, so we hope this time-frame works for all. For similar reasons, there won't be any rehearsal. Several of those standing up live out of town and we hate to inconvenience anyone making them drive twice. The Church: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church was so helpful and even assisted with arranging for special music, musicians, and gave me a hand out to help with making arrangements:  http://goodshepherdlcms.com/   - I feel so blessed to be getting married in the church I was baptized and confirmed in! ##date confirmed, organist confirmed, violinist to be confirmed ton...

What a gorgeous morning. It's brisk (37 degrees without the wind), but the sun is trying to break through the clouds and the lake is an amazing shade of blue and the contrast between water and sky is breath taking! There were a few years that I didn't live on this particular lake, so I feel very blessed to be back in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. In fact, my house is so close that you can hear the waves; a comforting sound to my ears. There's plenty going on around town today - I had an opportunity to chat with some other mothers when I dropped Carmen off at school this morning, and then there were the usual suspects hanging out at Red Bank Coffee (inside Schroeder's Department store), a fun group of children when I dropped Andre off for his gymnastics class, and then I even had time for a shopping trip to the Honey Pot to visit with some friends and pick up some great rain boots (every farmer's fiance' needs a pair of floral rain boots suitable for the barn and the ...

I've been walking around with a smile on my face and a secret "in my pocket" as they say...and it's official...I can tell the world now and I really want the world to know: I have been blessed with the opportunity to marry the most amazing man - last Saturday night (at 12 minutes to midnight on the eve of April Fools Day) Mark asked me to marry him - and yes you romantics out there, he got down on one knee to do it!!! We are planning for a July/August wedding. For those of you who don't know Mark well, I'll hit on the high points: -he is incredibly handsome with amazing green twinkly eyes and a smile that lights up a room -he has a fabulous sense of humor and can make me laugh so hard that I can't catch my breath -when he walks in a room my heart skips a beat -when he hold my hand or kisses me, I hear choirs singing -he works from sun up until the wee hours of the night - he is the hardest working man I know -he is compassionate with th...

Betty Brinn's Children's Museum  http://www.bbcmkids.org/  is hosting a Weebles Around the World exhibit and they were looking for children and families to participate in some video taped events, commercials, etc...and we've been accepted. Can't wait to head down there in a few weeks with the kiddos! Weebles were a favorite of mine as a child - my cousin Lynn and I could play for hours, laughing and singing the weebles wobble but they don't fall down tune...fun times! I'm super excited to be part of this upcoming event! May your paths be abundantly filled with lemons, sugar, and sunshine! ~Crystal

Today was a down n dirty day for this girl and her family. We had to drop a few things off at the farm (owned by my boyfriend Mark) and once there, we didn't want to leave. I didn't get a lick of work done around the house or in the office, but it was an amazing day. If you want to skip the play by play, go ahead...but scroll down for the moral of the story. Play By Play: - arrived at the farm with a fruit smoothie for Mark (who never takes time for breakfast, so we were helping) - got to watch one of the silos being filled...amazing how all those gadgets work together - helped sweet the barn - helped feed baby calves - twins - they are the size of a medium size dog...adorable - loaded up a bull-calf for the livestock auction and sent Andre off to the auction (his idea) - ran back to town to get Carmen - ran home to let the chihuahua out - dropped cauliflower and broccoli salad off at a friends - back at the farm...found a baby laying out in the field - found a very ...

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I love RENT - and my kids love Rent, and my adorable daughter asked if we could watch Rent today while we were putting together new chairs for my office - gotta love her! There are so many profound things about this production, but just a moment ago I heard "You'll never share in love until you love yourself" and wow, isn't that the truth? I wonder if this speaks to any single folks looking for love? Just had to share... May your paths be abundantly filled with lemons, sugar, and sunshine! ~Crystal PS - today is national PB&J day - so if you aren't inspired to make anything for dinner tonight, whip out the peanut butter and jelly in observance of this special day!

Do you ever feel like you are going through the motions? Did you have a dream once but it's written on a cocktail napkin hidden at the bottom of your underwear drawer? Do you stop to think about your passions? Not sure what I mean? Let me explain... Remember that feeling when you met "the one"? (or the one you thought was the one) Some things that might jog your memory: -you wanted to spent every waking moment with them -you couldn't imagine what you would do if they didn't call you back -every dream included them -their touch, their kiss...it felt like a million dollars Take a moment today and think about what you are passionate about. Some of these questions may help you refocus: **Who do I want to spend my time with? **Where do I want to be in five years? **What do I believe in so strongly that my mind is unchangeable? **How will I make a difference? Now - here's your call to action - GET PASSIONATE! Get passionate about something and get...

Just a quick note tonight to remind everyone to stop judging yourselves. The examples go on and on but I'll name a few: -Letting your children play outside without a coat on because the coat is in the laundry, or you can't find it...does NOT make you a bad mom - it shows your children that it's okay to improvise! -Missing a day of work because you don't feel like getting out of bed but you aren't really super sick...does NOT make you a bad employee - it makes you human! -Wearing mis-matched socks because the dryer ate one of each pair...does NOT make you a fashion disaster - it makes you crafty, artistic, and fun! -Cussing when you stub your toe and using the F word...does not make you a literary failure...it makes you human (and if you don't make a big deal about it, your children will likely forget it quickly). There are enough people out there who are happy to judge you, point fingers, and kick you own a__...why do you want to do it for them? Cut yo...

Easter and Springtime bring such happy thoughts to mind - budding flowers, singing birds, warm lake breezes, and a time of rebirth for nature and the living things. I am thankful for so many things year round and I'm interested in hearing what YOU are thankful for this time of year. Please leave your comments before April 15th at noon. Please leave a comment answering one of the following questions: 1)At Easter/Springtime, I am thankful for: 2)My favorite Easter/Springtime memory is: 3)A Easter/Springtime tradition that is special to me is:

The truth is - you can drink fine wine out of either of the vessels shown above. Similarly, you can sail around the world in a personal sailboat or on a cruise ship. Each option has it's own pros and cons and there is a time and a place for the plastic cup and a time and place for the wine glass, etc... In the world of business, we think about the image of our product, ourselves, our clients, etc...or at least we should. We should strive to provide the best possible product, look our best, align ourselves with successful people, etc...This seems like a no brainer in the business world, but I challenge you to look more closely at your personal image. This is something my father said to me when I was very young: "Punkin, you should always put your best foot forward because you never know who you'll run into and where". This was very true last evening. There happened to be a very successful gentleman and his lovely wife sitting at a table close to where I was ...