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Thursday night was a bit of a riot. I don’t know if it was a sugar rush from the cookies and icing or what, but I literally had to steal a whistle (that resembled a tiny red recorder) from Ginger in order to rally the troops. Laughter filled the air at GNO from every corner of the room.

But this table was one of my favorites.

They win the prize for being the rowdiest table of the bunch. They were laughing loud and enacting all sorts of shenanigans. But that’s not why they were one of my favorites. It because only two of these ladies knew each other before they walked in and that’s typically not the case. Most women who attend our girls nights come with at least one friend.

It takes guts to walk into that room full of laughing women all by yourself.

But these ladies did it. Some were …

(image: Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune)

We’re not a big TV watching family at all, but during the Olympic games we look like a family of couch potatoes. We’re glued to the TV for the one hour before bedtime, and every extra minute the boys can manipulate after that. The hard work, dedication, and beautiful competition displayed by the Olympic athletes from around the world is such an incredible inspiration. The boys just think it’s a fun family tradition.

But I know it’s teaching them such valuable lessons.

The courage of these athletes astounds me. Their innovative routines, speed, tricks, jumps, spins, and insane risks make them vulnerable to experience such huge failure with the eyes of the watching world fixed on them. Listening to their stories of lifetimes of injuries, rehab and endless training all to get to this moment is awe-inspiring, in and of itself. Then add to that, the intense …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspiration Inspirational Women Love In Action Loving Others Roadblocks in Life The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

On Thursday night, we threw a “Sponsor Love” party with the Evelyn Kershaw Salon to show our appreciation to all of our incredible HeartStories GNO Sponsors. It was a delightful evening to mix and mingle, while getting a fabulous conditioning treatment and blow out. (I promise to share all the pics soon!) But these two somehow made it off to the side. They were out of the main room with all the hubbub, in a completely separate, quiet area.

For a party person like me, I kept wanting to fix it.

I wanted to drag that chair into the middle of all the others so Alison could feel all the “sponsor love”. But, of course, things were working out for the best, way beyond my party planning understanding. It turns out that these two needed that quiet room. They were both at the right place, at exactly the right time. They were exactly …

by Crystal Gornto Inspirational Women Loving Others Loving Yourself The Journey Through Life Leave a comment chat

A while back I was invited to my first-ever ornament exchange Christmas lunch with this group of gorgeous ladies. They thought it was funny that I’d never been to one and that I had no clue what I was supposed to do. But the story goes, that I’ve always kept very strict boundaries around my work days and kept any socializing strictly for the evening. I have, of course, known that it restricts me from deeper relationships with some friends and apparently, some really fun get-togethers. But that’s been part of the price I’ve been willing to pay. This year, in an effort to say yes to more things that bring me life, I RSVP’d to this little shindig, knowing that it was the week of GNO. (the shortest & fastest week of my month) But somehow I missed the big picture that I would be out-of-town 10 of the …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Love in Friendship Loving Yourself Priorities Leave a comment chat

After I arrived in Orlando for the wedding of my niece Rebecca, my sisters and I were walking through a parking lot downtown. The sun was shining and a beautiful breeze was blowing through our hair. Right at that moment, we saw the reflection of our little crew in the glass on the side of a building. We were all walking, almost in sync, in line, side-by-side. It was like a seen from a funny movie, just before some ridiculous heist attempt. We laughed out loud saying, “Look out! Here comes The MOB Crew!”

And thus, The MOB Crew was born.

My sister was the Mother Of the Bride and we were her crew. Throughout the wedding weekend, we had her back. Whatever she needed, whenever she needed it, we got it done. We got it done with a whole lot of laughter and a little MOB pizzazz (*waves jazz hands*). At …

by Crystal Gornto Girl's Night Out Inspirational Women Love In Action Love in Family Love in Friendship Priorities The Journey Through Life 1 comment chat

Before the homecoming game on Friday night, families were meeting all over town at fun restaurants, happening patios, and up at the Railyard, to tailgate before the game. I had mixed feelings about all of it. I was waffling back and forth. The party side of me wanted to be part of the fun scene with the loud music and all the energy before the game. The tired-Friday-night-mama side of me was exhausted from the week and wanted to lay low with close friends. After much deliberation on group text, we ended up at a neighborhood pavilion with pizza, on couches, while the kids played in the empty field nearby.

Laying low with friends for the win!

I’m sure we missed a fabulous time at all the tailgate parties. But we found refuge and rest in the easy conversation gathered around pizza with mis-matched paper plates watching the spectacular sunset. We caught …

by Crystal Gornto Love in Friendship Loving Yourself Priorities Leave a comment chat

Courage & connection, the only way we’re going to make it

One different little choice

A toast from The MOB Crew

Gather for rest