The weather has been pretty bad lately, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have a good time. There are plenty of fun indoor activities to do in Austin, too! Read on to get some ideas for your next chilly, rainy day. 

1. Jumpoline Park. It’s just as much fun for adults as it is for kids. Bring the kids or go with your adult friends— you’ll have a great time either way! Plus, you’ll get a workout while you’re having fun bouncing around so it’s a win-win. 

2. Blanton Museum of Art. This fantastic art museum never gets old. Check out Line Form Color, one of their rotating exhibits, before it disappears on March 4th. With influences of Minimalism, hard-edge abstraction, and new globalization, you’ll love seeing the creativity of these post World War II artists. 

3. Visit a brewery. It’s Austin, so this had to be on the list, right? Spend the afternoon at 4th Tap Brewing Co-op, Thirsty Planet, Twisted X Brewing Company, or another one of the incredible breweries in the city. Bonus points if you opt for Thirsty Planet or Twisted X— they both focus on giving back to charities! 

4. Experiment. Have kids who are bouncing off the walls? Entertain them with one of these  “science experiments that are basically magic.” They’ll love the glow-in-the-dark “magic mud,” lemon volcano, fireworks in a jar, and making candy that looks like glass. Lab googles optional.

5. Netflix and takeout. If you’re reading all of the above and groaning, this one’s for you. Everyone deserves a lazy day every so often! Check out this great list of 6 shows and their takeout pairings (think Black Mirror with lo mein, or Grace and Frankie with gyoza dumplings) and then cozy up on the couch with someone you love. 

 

Which one of these will you be trying first? 

If you’re ready to move to a new home in the Austin area that you love spending rainy days in, hit reply and let’s talk about how I can make that happen! 

 

Best,

Crystal

Not sure what you’re doing for Valentine’s Day yet? I’ve got you covered in this email, whether you’re spending the holiday weekend with your partner, your children, or your friends. Wishing you a day of happiness with all those you love most. 

1. Goat yoga. I honestly can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with cute goats, yoga, chocolates, and alcohol. Head to ATX Goat Yoga on Sunday, February 11th for goat yoga, beer, wine, and chocolate covered strawberries. They have 4 classes throughout the afternoon so pick the most convenient time and get your sweat on! 

2. Made With Love Mercantile. Goat yoga not your style? Spend Sunday afternoon shopping and drinking local at this fest of artisan vendors instead. Support local artisans and browse edgy Valentine’s Day cards, macrame, wood pieces, leather work, art & collage, handmade patches, and more.

3. Valentine’s Day Concerts. Spend your holiday evening jamming to talented tribute bands to Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, The Talking Heads, and Bee Gees at Hotel Vegas. Get your tickets here. 

 

As always, if you know anyone interested in buying or selling in the Austin area, I’d love to help them out. Hit reply and let me know! 

 

Happy Valentine’s,

Crystal

Ah, February. The month of love. The heart-shaped candies are in the stores but don’t worry, this email won’t be getting gushy.  

There are plenty of non-Valentine’s Day related things to do in Austin (I’ll save the Valentine’s Day happenings for another email!) so grab your calendar and check out the list below to see what you can get into in this incredible city this month.

1. Carnaval Brasileiro. Always wanted to go to Carnival in Brazil? Well, it’s not Brazil but it’s the closest you’ll get to it in the USA. Carnaval in Austin is one of the biggest Brazilian Carnaval celebrations outside Brazil. Think costumes, music, drinks, and Brasileiro-style samba, right here in your city.

2. Austin Marathon & Half Marathon. Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to get fit and healthy? Here’s your chance! This premier race attracts almost 20,000 runners from around the world to Austin’s downtown (and if you’re not ready for anything over ten miles, there’s also a 5K!) and includes live music, a beer garden, and a finish line festival.

3. Oyster Festival. This festival on the Seaholm Lawn just sounds like you can’t miss it, doesn’t it? You’re right, you can’t! Try all the different kinds of oysters the ocean has to offer while enjoying live music on the lawn.

 

Every time I write these emails I get a little reminder of how great this city is. If you’re looking to buy or sell within the area, hit reply and let’s talk about how I can help! 

 

To Austin,

Crystal

We all know how difficult it can be to keep a New Year’s resolution.

It’s caused some of us to eschew even setting them in the first place. But I still think setting resolutions can be a great way to set the tone for a year and a great step towards creating the life you want. 

That’s why I’ve put together this list of tips to help you keep your resolutions this year. And even if you don’t keep them, you can use these to at least get you a little closer to them. 

1. Make your resolution about the journey instead of the outcome. Of course, the outcome is the thing you want. But whatever the outcome is, whether it’s lose twenty pounds, move to a new city, quit sugar, save a certain amount of money, or read fifty books, the outcome will mean more if you focus on enjoying the journey. 

The outcome might be out of your control: you can’t force the pounds off, force your body off of sugar, or make your house sell in five minutes. But you enjoy every step of the process of getting there, and your life will improve for it. 

2. Set short goals along the way. Speaking of enjoying every step of the process, set small goals along the way to your bigger one! Breaking your resolution down into smaller chunks will make it more realistic and manageable to achieve. 

For example, if losing a certain number of pounds is your goal, try breaking it down by setting goals for eating certain types of foods (ex. Eat 2 servings of vegetables per day, then 3 servings, then 4 servings as time goes on), spending more and more chunks of time working out (ex. Start with a twenty minute workout, then thirty, then forty, etc.), and getting a consistently adequate amount of sleep.  

You’ll get closer and closer to your goal as you break it down into small chunks along the way. 

3. Schedule time to meet those goals in your calendar. Block off a chunk of time each day right in your calendar to work on your goal. Making it a part of your daily routine helps make making progress on your goals a habit. 

4. Celebrate your victories! You don’t want to celebrate in a way that conflicts with your goals (like a shopping spree if your goal is to save money, or a cheeseburger binge if your goal is losing weight) but think of creative ways to treat yourself when you hit certain milestones, like a trip to the movies or a relaxing bubble bath. 

 

Is one of your resolutions moving within the Austin area? If so, hit reply and let me know! I would love to help you find your dream home. 

 

Happy New Year,

Crystal

Can you believe 2017 is coming to a close? 

I always think a nice way to end the year is by taking a moment to recognize what you’re thankful for this year. Today, I want to tell you that I’m thankful for you, for being part of this wonderful community and reading all my musings. 

In the meantime, while you’re thinking about what you’re thankful for, I’ve rounded up a few great events happening in the area for New Year’s. Check out the list below and get excited to end 2017 on a high note.    

1. Noon Year’s Party. Looking for a family-friendly New Year’s celebration for the little ones who can’t make it to midnight? Try the midday Noon Year’s Party at the Lake Travis Community Library! Enjoy hats, noisemakers, a children’s musician, snacks and a noon toast to the new year. The best part is, you can still go out to a more adult-friendly party later!

2. Gatsby party. The Omni at downtown Austin is hosting an upscale, roaring 20’s themed New Year’s celebration featuring a cast of all-star DJs, a casino speakeasy, hors-doeuvres, and an open bar. 

3. Barrow Brewing New Year’s Eve Party. This annual party features dancing, live music by local band the Blessed Union of Blues, and catering by Hencho en Queso included in the ticket price. Your first two drinks and a champagne toast are also included! 

4. New Year’s Day Yoga Celebration. It doesn’t start until 4 pm, so you can still enjoy the parties the night before. Start 2018 off on the right foot with this special yoga practice to call in intention and love featuring a live DJ. 

 

Whatever your New Year’s plans are, I wish you a joyful rest of the year with the ones you love most. 

 

Cheers,

Crystal

The holiday season can be such a fun, wonderful time full of making memories with the ones you love most.

It can also be crazy, stressful, and unfocused when it comes to work. It can be hard to stay motivated and keep up with deadlines when your in-laws are visiting, you have plans to decorate gingerbread houses, you’re busy online shopping for gifts, or you can’t stop thinking about those holiday parties.

So I thought I’d send you something a little different today: 5 quick tips to improve your productivity, focus, and motivation during the happiest time of the year…so you can get the most out of your workday and spend the rest of your time really enjoying the holiday, not thinking about all the things you didn’t get done!

1. Don’t sacrifice sleep. Yes, there are so many exciting things happening this month that you might not want to sleep (or you might feel like you don’t have time— late night gift wrapping, anyone?). But this is probably the most important thing you can do to stay on top of things. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep every night. I promise, your productivity will skyrocket the next day! Have trouble sleeping? I recommend making your bedroom (and the hour before bed) a tech-free zone.
2. Prepare for the big tasks. Diving in right away can be overwhelming. Take the time to survey beforehand what’s needed, and break the project into smaller, more manageable parts. Bonus points for delegating some of those parts!
3. Use technology to help you. It’s 2017. That means that there are tons of apps and plugins out there to help you focus and boost your productivity. Try SelfControl to block yourself from mindless midday Facebook scrolling, Noisli to reduce stress and get in the work zone, Trello to organize your to-dos, and Google Mail Checker to easily manage multiple email accounts.
4. Break up your day into blocks of time dedicated to different tasks. According to The New York Times’ Daniel J. Levitin, if you want to be more productive and creative and to have more energy, science shows that you should partition your day into project periods. Your social networking (and email) should be done during a designated time, not as constant interruptions to your day.
5. Write your “why.” Stick with me here. Why do you go to work everyday? What are your work goals? What are your life goals? Who are you working for and what are you working towards? Write your why on a card, piece of paper, or post-it note and place it somewhere you’ll see everyday at work. Motivation and energy go hand in hand, so when you’re feeling sluggish and unmotivated, take a look at the card to remember why you do what you do. My guess? You’ll feel inspired to get back to it!

 

If one of the things on your to-do list is “move,” hit reply and let’s talk about how I can help you find your dream home in the Austin area.

 

Wishing you a happy & focused holiday season,

Crystal

Thanksgiving is over, and that means one thing: Christmas sales in every store, Santas on every corner, and the kids counting down the days until Christmas Eve. It may not snow much here, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some traditional winter fun.

As always, there are so many exciting things happening in Austin next month. So mark your calendar for some of the dates below and get ready for an exciting month ahead.

1. Holiday Sing-Along & Downtown Stroll. Start the season right with a tree lighting and stroll through downtown starting at the Texas State Capitol on December 2nd. Enjoy live music and dance performances, photos with Santa, caroling, and a special night market.
2. Blue Genie Art Bazaar.Shop thousands of locally made artisan gifts at this Austin holiday season staple. It’s fun and family friendly, and open from Black Friday through December 24th. Open to last minute shoppers and planners alike!
3. Trail of Lights. Head to Zilker Park from December 9th to 23rd for the 51st annual Trail of Lights, a celebration of memories, fun, and community. They’re kicking off the season on December 2nd with a festive “Fun Run” (costumes welcome!) before the grand opening and the party continues throughout the month with Cap City Music Night featuring Austin artists, a movie night, and more.
4. Winter Wonderland at the Circuit. Experience Santa’s workshop, vendor village, a petting zoo, ice skating, carnival rides, portraits with Santa, and more at this winter wonderland celebration at Circuit of The Americas. Fun for the whole family!

 

Wishing you the happiest of holiday celebrations with all those you love. As always, If you’re thinking about moving to or within the Austin area or know someone who is, hit reply and let’s talk about how I can help you find your dream home that you’ll love celebrating the holidays in for years to come.

 

Cheers,

Crystal

Fall really is one of the best times of the year. Now that Halloween is over, we’re heading into one of my other favorite holidays— Thanksgiving!

This week, I’m sharing a few fun things you can do to get into the spirit of Thanksgiving. Grab a friend, your kids, or your partner— there’s something on this list for all ages!

1. Turkey Trot. This Austin tradition is a 5-mile run/1-mile walk to benefit Caritas of Austin, an organization that works to end homelessness in the city. Get competitive or bring your kids for a more relaxed family jog. Either way, you’ll work up an appetite for all the turkey and pie you’ll be eating later.

2. Make something sweet. It wouldn’t be the holidays without something sweet to munch on, would it? Try this easy Harvest Caramel Corn that’s creamy, sweet, and salty all at the same time. The whole family will love it!

3. DIY. Crafty people, I haven’t forgotten about you. Decorate for the holiday with these fun, Thanksgiving-themed crafts including fall foliage place cards, a fall leaf garland, woodsy candles, and a pinecone centerpiece.

4. Santa on the Terrace. Forget the usual Black Friday mad dash for TVs and bring the kids to City Terrace to get free photos with Santa overlooking a great view of the city.

When you’re done gorging yourself on candy corn and crafting the perfect place card, hit reply and let me know how I can help you or someone you know with your home buying or selling needs in the Austin area.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Crystal

You’ve probably heard that the spring real estate season is the best, haven’t you? Yes, spring is a great time to buy a home, but what most people don’t realize that fall is, too (and I’m not just saying that!).

Below are 4 reasons why fall is actually an ideal time to buy a home.

1. Sellers are exhausted. Sellers who put their homes on the market during peak spring and summer season are usually ready to cut you a break by fall. The unrealistic optimism of April has worn off, and they’ll be more willing to reduce the price.

2. There’s less competition. Since spring is supposed to be the high season for real estate, competition for homes falls after summer. This means that you can negotiate and potentially get a great deal. Especially since many sellers are motivated to sell before the holiday season!

3. You can take advantage of tax breaks. There’s nothing more glamorous than a tax break, right? But trust me, you’ll be happy to have that extra money in your pocket. You can take property tax and mortgage interest deductions for your entire year’s income, regardless of when you close on your home. That can make a big difference in what you end up paying Uncle Sam at the end of the year!

4. It’s perfect timing for year-end sales to decorate your new home. Everyone loves a good Black Friday and day after Christmas sale. It’s even better when you can take advantage of those sales to outfit your new place! Appliances, cookware, carpets, and more all tend to go on sale in the fall— and can make a big difference for your wallet.

Thinking about taking the leap and buying a new home in the Austin area? Hit reply and let’s talk about how I can help you find your dream place!

 

To your new home,

Crystal

Is October anyone else’s favorite month? It may not be crisp and cool here yet, but there are still plenty of fun fall activities to do. 

This week, I’m sharing a few fun things you can do to get into the spirit of October. Grab a friend, your kids, or your partner— there’s something on this list for all ages! 

1. Go pumpkin picking. Barton Hill Farms is a local favorite, with good reason. Every weekend in October, they host a Fall Festival & Corn Maze with plenty of fun for kids, live music, farm animals, and of course pumpkin picking. 

2. Bake pumpkin bread. Put those pumpkins you just picked to good use with this pumpkin bread recipe. It’s so easy that even I can make it— which is saying something!

3. Take a hayride and paint a pumpkin. Elgin Christmas Tree Farm is officially open, and they’re hosting October Farm Fun every day from October 6th through Halloween. Enjoy the hayride, mini pumpkin decorating, picnic areas, hay jumps, and pumpkin photo ops.

4. DIY. Crafty people, this one’s for you. Decorate for Halloween with these fun, eerie DIY craft ideas including a Jack-O’-Lantern candlesticks, a cat face garland, lace-wrapped candles, and witch hat bottle toppers.

5. Monster mash all night at HighBalloween. The Highball is hosting the party of the year on October 29th from 9 PM to 2 AM. Enjoy music, costume contests with prizes, specialty drinks, tons of candy, and even a photo booth!

 

When you’re done gorging yourself on pumpkin bread and putting up that cat face garland, hit reply and let me know how I can help you or someone you know with your home buying or selling needs in the Austin area.

 

Happy Halloween-ing,

Crystal