Category: Marriage

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Adulting How To Life Marriage

3 Honest Steps to Building A Post-Marriage Life As Well As You Can

post-marriage life

Marriages end for many reasons, and it can be hard to build a post-marriage life if you don’t know where to begin. However, the truth is that when this process takes place, it can take the wind out of your sails. It’s best to consider moving forward when you can and focusing on building a healthier life after it. Yet it’s not always clear how to achieve this, particularly if your life has been entangled with someone else’s for many years.

First, finding your self-confidence and your new normal is important. This latter part can take some time to get right, but now you have the freedom to seek it. But, what does that mean in the long run? It’s not always easy to tell.

Luckily, there are honest steps you can take to avoid making conflict or difficulties worse, focus on you and build a better tomorrow. This may take some time, but the effects will be so worth it.

Building a Post-marriage Life

1. Find A New Direction

Finding a new direction can seem tough, but actually, it’s the direction that can sustain you through most things. This might involve switching careers, going back to school, finding a new hobby, or simply prioritizing your health and fitness.

2. Keep It Professional

Unfortunately, this process isn’t easy, and it can bring up a whole host of tough emotions. It’s best to stay professional, avoid emotional outbursts, and avoid subconsciously ‘punishing’ the other party through your actions. Additionally, make sure that you focus on the process rather than proving yourself or getting vindication.

This can aid you in certain practices, like when applying for sole legal and physical custody, or even giving yourself the space to heal and open yourself up to new experiences. This approach can save you plenty of unnecessary challenges.

3. Use Your Support Structure

It can be tough to do it alone, so using a support structure to help you is advisable. Schedule regular coffee dates with a family member or friend just to vent. Of course, taking the time to listen to their venting in return could also be appreciated.

Perhaps you need someone to help you store your belongings for a time as you move homes. Little favors like this, if confidently asked for and paid back in the future, can help you get closer to your support structure. Plus, repaying the favor can stop you from feeling bad about needing a little help.

Navigating Post-Marriage Life

With this advice, you can begin building that post-marriage life as well as you can. In a few years, you’ll no doubt be glad that you went through the experience.

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Adulting Gifts Holiday Marriage

4 Truly Thoughtful Gifts For Your Valentine

Thoughtful Gifts For Your Valentine

Giving gifts is a way for you to show appreciation, love, pride, happiness, and warmth towards another individual. Giving a gift to someone is a chance to show them just what they mean to you. This means you have to find truly thoughtful gifts for your valentine.

Sometimes, practical gifts are needed, such as a car, money, or household items. But, once the basics are covered, choosing gifts that are really thoughtful, and bought with the particular recipient in mind, are the best gifts that you can give. 

Valentine’s Day is a day that not everyone celebrates, but it is important to know that if you are planning on giving a gift, it should only be something generic. This means that instead of (or along with) flowers or chocolates, you should give something truly meaningful.

Think of the person that you are buying for, and choose something that they would love. If you are looking for some ideas to get your gift-giving going, then here are some ideas to think about.

Thoughtful Gifts For Your Valentine
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***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Thoughtful Gifts For Your Valentine

1. A Basket Full of Favorite Things

If you want to give something that is really thoughtful, you can create your own gift basket to give. Choose things that you know they will love such as their favorite candy, beer, wine, or magazines.

It could contain other things that you know they would love like a new book from their favorite author or decor that matches their home. It could contain something personal to them like a stylish vape pen or an item that will help them with other hobbies.

When you have thought of them and only have them in mind, it will be a gift that means so much to them.

2. Experiences

If you know your valentine well, then you will know how they like to be shown love the best. One of the ways that they might like to be shown love is through experiences or spending quality time.

When you spend quality time together, then it will be what they really value. So, instead of a physical gift, you could get them the gift of an experience that you could do together.

It could be that they have always wanted to do something like hike a particular mountain or jump out of an airplane. You could even think about getting tickets to an event or a live show that they have always wanted to see. The gift of an experience helps to keep on giving because it is an experience that will last a lifetime in their memories.

3. Personalized Gifts

A personalized gift is about creating something that is one of a kind, just for them, that couldn’t be for anyone else. It could be a print with the lyrics from your wedding song, a framed map of the city where you met, or something else unique to your valentine.

4. A Bottle Of Something Special 

Another great choice for a Valentine’s gift would be a bottle of liquor. With services like The Bottle Haus, you can get liquor delivered directly to your loved one and you’ll be able to choose from a massive variety. You will be able to find the perfect choice for whoever you’re buying for, regardless of their tastes. We recommend doing a little research though, particularly if you’re spending a little more on one of the best brands.

3 Truly Thoughtful Gifts For Your Valentine

Choosing a thoughtful gift for your valentine is easier than you may think. Use these tips to make this Valentine’s Day the best one yet.

What are some other thoughtful gifts you could give on Valentine’s Day? Tell me in the comments!

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Adulting Family Activities Home How To Life Marriage Our Family Parenting

How to Have a Happier Family Life

How to Have a Happier Family Life

Whether your family life is already blissfully happy or you feel like you have room for improvement, it is always worth thinking about what you could do to bring harmony and happiness to your home. There are no downfalls to having a happier family life. Instead, you will find that it makes your home life blissful, which is something everyone should strive for.

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Ways to Have a Happier Family Life

Improve Your Work-Life Balance

It can be tough to find the right balance between work and family commitments, but it is something worth trying. The less stressed and burnt out you are, the happier you and your whole family will be at home. This leads to more quality time you will be able to spend together.

How do you achieve a better work-life balance? Start by looking at your schedule and crossing out at least one commitment that isn’t really essential. Use the spare time you’ve created to have a family movie night or a trip to the park.

Do this every month and soon you’ll have a more streamlined schedule and a better work-life balance.

Live Healthily

Looking after yourself and your family is vital for everyone’s happiness. That means making a real effort, as a family, to eat healthy nutritious meals, exercise, and spend time talking about your feelings.

If one of you is going through a tough time healthwise, you should all band together and offer support. This might include having family therapy sessions, looking into sober living homes, or just clearing time to be together non-judgementally. The healthier you are, the happier you will all be.

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Practice Discipline

Discipline is important in families. Children need to be taught boundaries, not just for their own sake, but for the sake of the family as a whole.

Discipline can seem like a scary word, but it really isn’t about punishment – it’s about knowing what is expected of you and learning how you can stay calm, keep the peace, and do the right thing.

Disciplining your children in this way will give them healthy boundaries and healthy boundaries will lead to a happier life. When children know what is expected of them, everyone will be happier.

Listen to Each Other

As a family, it is important that you all take time to communicate with each other in the good and bad times. Listening, in particular, is a really important skill to learn.

The more your family feels heard and respected, the more they will open up and the easier it will be for you to solve your problems together. Of course, it’s also important to share your triumphs and revel in each other’s joys, too.

Be Flexible

When you have a busy family life, it’s important to be flexible if you want to avoid arguments and live a life with less misery, If you’re too rigid and inflexible, it will cause many arguments and end up with no one doing what they want.

Obviously, some commitments can’t be moved, but if it doesn’t need to be set in stone, don’t put it there. This will make life much easier and happier for everyone.

With all of these tips, you are well on your way to having a happier family life. What are some of the ways you create a happier family life? Tell me about it in the comments!

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Adulting How To Learning Life Marriage Parenting

How To Do Right By Your Family

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Making long-term life decisions can be a very tough task, no matter how old or experienced you may be. Life is unpredictable, and 2020 is perhaps one of the crowning examples of that. However, it’s important to figure out how to do right by your family by coming to the best decision.

These long-term decisions could be anything from where you should live to where you should send your children to school. Even though making the decision might be stressful, it’s important to do it in the right way.

If you find yourself in a situation where you know you’ll be taking care of your parents as they age, have a discussion with your partner and parents to determine how to approach your combined futures. Caring for older adults in the same home may require moving to a new home or using a company such as Home Elevator Service to install an elevator in your existing home to help with mobility and independence. Regardless of what you decide together, communication is essential.

You can’t simply do what other families are doing. Remember that what is right for most people may not be right for you and your family.

While this article may offer insight and give tips, you still have to figure out for yourself what is best. You can only define that for yourself, but the following principles may help you along the way.

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How to do Right By Your Family

Consider all Options

Determine which risks are involved with each decision. No matter how small the risk is, each decision you make carries one. Then, you have to consider how those risks might express themselves and how you can limit them.

If you can achieve that way of thinking, then odds are you’ll be more forthright in coming to a conclusion.

What’s Right For Them Now, And In The Future?

It’s important to consider what might be right for your family now and in the future. Those two things aren’t always so apparent. However, thinking along a timeline can help you make those decisions.

Perhaps you might wish to move but if you wait a year, you can have better options. Maybe waiting a year will give you a chance to find a good school for your kids.

It could be that you wish to move to a rural area, but when your children become teenagers, what if they need to find a job? Questions like this can help direct your actions.

Consider Your Finances

When you are trying to do right by your family, you have to think financially, too. After all, you have to be able to support them.

Maybe you could consider debt discharge with DTSS Restoring America’s Freedom. This could help cut back on monthly payments.

Additionally, you may want to consider finding a new job in a new area. If jobs are hard to come by in that area, you can consider making money online. You could start a blog, find freelance work, or find other remote jobs.

You can’t wait until after you’ve made a long-term decision to think about finances. Whatever is the best way forward, planning financially will help you. You have to be able to balance that alongside your perspective timeline.

Staying Unapologetic About Your Choices

There are no one-size-fits-all solutions for all families. What works for your family may not work for another. This is why it’s important to stay unapologetic about your decisions, and instead focus on what’s right for your family.

Studies show that families who stop comparing themselves to others tend to be happier. By staying unapologetic, you will be able to avoid the comparison trap. When you begin apologizing and explaining yourself, however, it can make you feel differently.

do right by your family, making long-term decisions, help making decisions, family decisions, big changes for families

Balance Needs, Priorities, And Benefits For All The Family

To the extent that you can, it’s important to balance the needs of all of your family members. Perhaps you wish to move to an area near a brilliant art school, but it requires an hour’s commute to reach anything else. This will be inconvenient for you, and can also cause problems for your teenagers.

Maybe you’re considering a move, but the unpredictability caused by Covid makes it best to wait. Whether this is due to a lack of job prospects or concerns with schooling, it is important to consider.

Another priority to consider is your extended family. If you are close to them, consider how often you would be able to see them. This could be an important factor that should be discussed.

When you balance the needs of your family, you can come to the best compromise. You may not be able to make everyone happy, but it’s important to consider all aspects.

Remember That You are Doing What is Best

Be confident in your ability to do right by your family. As long as you follow these tips and consider all aspects of the decision, you will be just fine. It’s normal to question yourself but, at the end of the day, know that you are doing your best.

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Adulting How To Life Marriage

3 Special Things to Do For Your Husband Right Now That Will Draw Him Closer

Things to do for your husband, marriage, how to make your marriage stronger, grow closer, relationship, keep the spark alive, how to connect with my husband
Things to do for your husband, marriage, how to make your marriage stronger, grow closer, relationship, keep the spark alive, how to connect with my husband
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Life can sometimes get busy and stressful, and you may end up feeling a little disconnected from your husband. He sometimes feels the same way when life becomes overwhelming. In times like these, it’s important to a few special things to do for your husband.

This isn’t to say you should interfere with your wellbeing to try and please him. Instead, it means looking for ways to draw the two of you closer so you both feel connected. It can strengthen your relationship and help you get through the stressful times together while also ensuring your marriage lasts.

Men can be quite an annoying puzzle to unlock, though. They’re very straightforward, but a little confusing at the same time. As easy-going as the majority are, it can be quite difficult to unlock them and get them to smile sometimes! The good thing, however, is that it’s not exactly the most challenging thing to do in the world.

Let’s say that you’ve got your man locked in and he’s all yours. That’s still not enough, though, right? You can be head-over-heels in love, but you still need to work on things and continually improve your lives individually and collectively.

If you’re standing still in this world, then you might as well be going backwards. You should always be looking to keep that spark alive and that fire burning. If you’re wondering how you can keep him obsessed with you and keep him comfortable with being around you, then here are a few things you can do:

Allow Him To Open Up

Men notoriously do not talk about their problems. They also don’t really talk about things they like either – they’re an odd bunch who prefer to stay quiet and stoic.

Obviously, they’re not all this way, but the majority like to stick to their guns and be stubborn with their feelings. More and more are opening up, but a lot still want to keep quiet. If you allow him to fully trust you with his words and let him open up, then there will be a lot more value and love between the two of you going forward. 

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Laugh Together And Share a Good Sense Of Humor

A couple that can laugh together is a couple that is destined to last. By no means is it set in stone that every marriage will contain jokes and laughter, of course, but it certainly helps. Laughter is said to be the best medicine because it can change your mood and the way you view someone. If you can make each other laugh, you’ll stay in love with each other. 

Get Him A Gift Every Now And Again

Doing absolutely everything for them will not increase the levels of attraction and love for one another. It might work for the first couple of months, but that kind of behavior wears thin. That doesn’t mean you can’t do it every now and again, however.

You could get him a video game, a new outfit, or a new electronic he’s been eyeballing. A sentimental gift is a good option, too, or maybe he’s talked about wanting to grow a beard with a beard growth kit.

Whatever you can think of that would make him happy and excited, go with it. The gift itself isn’t the main aspect here – it’s that you listened to them and chose a thoughtful gift.

Even when your relationship is going well, it’s important to devote time and effort to keeping it that way.

Don’t let your marriage lose it’s spark by becoming complacent. Try out these ideas of things to do for your husband to draw him closer. You’ll see how well they work, and your husband will truly appreciate the gestures.

Things to do for your husband, marriage, how to make your marriage stronger, grow closer, relationship, keep the spark alive, how to connect with my husband
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Adulting Marriage Parenting

The Relationship Challenges New Parents Face After the Baby Arrives

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Parenthood can test the strength of many relationships. According to Psychology Today, numerous studies show a decline in marital satisfaction for new parents. Couples often find themselves arguing about money, disappointed in losing their freedom and spontaneity, and too exhausted for any type of intimacy. However, it’s important to open the lines of communication and have patience with each other as you adjust to your new roles as parents. With these helpful tips, you can reconnect with your partner or spouse and still have time for your little one.

**Emily Graham is the creator of MightyMoms.net which offers a wide range of info tailored for busy moms — from how to reduce stress to creative ways to spend time together as a family. She believes being a mom is one of the hardest jobs around and wanted to create a support system for moms from all walks of life.**

How to Ease the Relationship Challenges New Parents Face

Call a Meeting

For the first several months after your baby is born, it might seem like you and your partner rarely see each other. And when you do, it’s all about the baby. Although it’s great that your wee one is your top priority, there are other things in your life that matter too. So, make arrangements to have a brief meeting once a week over coffee in the kitchen or a glass of wine before bed to get on the same page about finances, household chores, doctor’s appointments, and other family issues. If you take a few minutes to talk about these things once a week, you won’t find yourself bickering about them later. Talking about these things at your meeting will also allow your date nights to be free of these types of discussions.

Schedule Date Night

Speaking of date night, it’s important to make plans with each other once a week as a couple if possible. Date night doesn’t necessarily mean getting a babysitter and going out on the town (though that’s great, if you can swing it). As Kindred Bravely explains, a date night — even at home after the baby’s in bed — can give you the opportunity to spend time together and strengthen your bond. Ordering takeout and snuggling on the couch while watching a movie is a simple date night idea that will help you stay connected with your partner. Put date night on your calendar and treat it as a regular appointment; don’t cancel unless your really must.

Give Each Other a Break

You are both really tired, so give each other a day off. Plan one Saturday a month where your partner is completely free of any baby duties. Then, they should reciprocate on another day where you can have a baby-free day off. This type of “me time” will allow you to sleep in and then handle your errands, relax with a pedicure, or just veg out on the couch binge-watching Netflix. A true break will give you the opportunity to recharge your batteries, and you’ll find yourself becoming a happier and healthier parent and partner.

Meld Your Parenting Styles

According to Verywell Family, couples often disagree on parenting choices. Maybe you think the baby should nap on a specific schedule every day, while your partner firmly believes the nap schedule should be more flexible. Instead of arguing, you need to communicate and negotiate with each other to figure out what’s best for your family. Try your best to avoid criticizing and playing the blame game. If you begin to repeatedly argue about how to raise your baby, don’t snap at each other all the time or start to feel resentful. Instead, Everyday Health recommends taking a parenting class or seeing a counselor to learn how to meld your parenting styles.

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Final Thoughts On Relationship Challenges New Parents Face

Having a baby is wonderful, but becoming new parents can also be exhausting and damaging to your relationship as a couple. A lack of sleep, little or no sex, and conflicts over parenting strategies and other issues can leave new parents feeling disconnected and drained. According to the American Psychological Association, if you are not satisfied with your relationship with your partner, it can also have negative mental health consequences on your children. However, by communicating openly and carving out couple time, you’ll be able to build an even stronger relationship and become the best parents you can be.

**Photo via Pexels

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Adulting Marriage

A Letter To My Husband

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**This letter is what I wrote to my husband for Day #1 of The 30 Day Marriage Challenge**

Hey you,

Life hasn’t always been perfect or easy for us, has it? We always make it through, though, and come out stronger than before. It’s what we do.

That’s the reason I know we are meant to be together, babe. No matter what life throws our way, we get through it together. No matter the obstacle, we stick together and never stop loving each other.

a letter to my husband, husband and wife, marriage

We never give up on us.

Each bad time we go through is worth it. The good times make everything worth it. Your touch, your smile, your laugh, the way you care about me and take care of me… how did I ever get so lucky? How could I ever give it up?

When I’m with you, I know that whatever happens, you’ll take care of me. You’ll keep me safe and help me through anything. When you are around, I know that I matter.

I’m in love with you and this crazy life we have built together, babe. I love the way we grow together, learn together, and change together. Instead of letting life’s obstacles pull us away from each other, we always do it all together.

I wouldn’t want to go through this journey without you. You’re my best friend and my soulmate.

I never want to experience anything without you by my side. And those rare times when you aren’t there with me, I spend my time wishing you were there to share the experience with. It’s all I want in life.

More than anything, I hope I make you happy. I hope you never find yourself regretting our life together, or even wishing you could be somewhere else. I hope you always know how much I love you, even on the days when I’m being difficult and unreasonable.

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Thank you for all that you have given me… beautiful children, the chance to experience true love, a happy life, a full heart, the home we live in, and all the other things you have provided for us.

You are an amazing husband, daddy, and provider. I love how hard you work for us, and I appreciate it and am so grateful always.

I love you babe, and I’m so excited about the rest of our lives.

XOXO,

Your Wife

**This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.**

The day I gave him this letter we had a relaxing day at home, and I pulled out this game (not really a game… more of an activity, I guess?) that I bought for us. It was so much fun and really got us talking and laughing together with nothing but these simple cards. It’s a memory that will stay with me forever.

What would you write in a letter to your husband or wife? Tell me about it in the comments!! Better yet, join my marriage challenge and write them a letter for day 1!

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Marriage Printables

30 Day Marriage Challenge: 30 Days to a Stronger Marriage

30 day marriage challenge

A marriage can never be too strong, so I have created this 30 Day Marriage Challenge for ALL couples… ones who are at a good place in their relationship and those in a marriage that needs a little work. You don’t have to be in a bad place in your relationship to strive to make the marriage stronger.

I created this 30 Day Marriage Challenge to be a better, more attentive, intentional, loving, thoughtful wife. Will you join me in this challenge? If you want to be a better wife or husband, download the free printable and start tomorrow! It doesn’t matter what day you start on, as long as you start with day one and cross the days off as you go on.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

30 Day Marriage Challenge

1. Write a love letter to your partner. 

In the letter, tell your spouse whatever you want them to hear. Tell them how much you love them, what you love about them, where you want your relationship to go, your hopes for the future, etc. Just speak from your heart. If there are specific issues within your marriage, you can even write about those, too. Try to keep the letter positive, even when addressing issues. You can read the letter I wrote to my husband HERE.

2. Make your partner’s favorite meal.

Does your husband or wife like breakfast or dinner better? Maybe they prefer brunch? Whatever it is, cook their favorite meal for them! Do the prep work, the cooking, and the cleanup. Let them know you are thinking of them and want them to enjoy their meal without any effort on their part.

3. Clean the house on day three of the marriage challenge.

Everyone loves a clean house, but sometimes, it’s just hard to get it cleaned (especially when you have kids) and keep it that way. For me, this means stressing about how messy the house is but never getting the time to clean the house. I’m sure it’s the same way for my husband. For this challenge, clean the home for your partner. Don’t make them do any of the work, and let them enjoy having a clean house (even if it’s just for a day). They will feel less stressed as they settle in to relax. 

4. Plan a date night out. 

Take care of all the details for a successful date night. If you’re on a budget, search for free options in your area. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a fun night or evening out. Just make sure you plan something that your spouse will enjoy. Don’t forget to make a plan for a babysitter, if needed, too.

5. Tell your partner how you feel about them. 

Don’t just say, “I love you,” to your partner. Go in-depth and pour your heart out. The goal is to make sure your spouse knows how important they are to you.

6. Thank your partner for all they do. 

Does your husband or wife work hard to provide for your family? Is your partner a stay-at-home parent who handles raising the kids and running the house? Does your spouse work super hard to update the home or keep everything maintained? Whatever your husband or wife does for the family, let them know how grateful you are. You can tell them by saying it aloud, or you can do something special like make them a card or buy a small gift.

7. Turn off electronics for the night. 

Give your spouse your undivided attention by turning off all electronics. When you don’t have the distraction of electronics, it will help you focus your attention on them without occasionally looking down to check your text messages or Twitter feed. It’ll stop the chime of your phone from interrupting a conversation or cuddle session, too.

30 day marriage challenge

8. Tell your partner three things you love about them. 

I always appreciate hearing what my husband loves about me, so I assume he would feel the same way. You can make your partner’s day by telling them the things you love about them. On day number eight of the marriage challenge, spend some time thinking of meaningful things you could mention.

9. Wake up early and have coffee together on day nine of the marraige challenge. 

Sometimes early mornings are the only time my husband and I have together. I’m often tempted to sleep in while he gets ready for work and heads out, but it’s always a good time for bonding when I wake up early with him. Having a cup of coffee together in the morning makes both of our days better.

Love coffee? Check out this coffee subscription box that I love!

10. Compliment your spouse.  

I think many spouses forget to compliment their partner. We become so accustomed to seeing that person every day that we sometimes take them for granted. If your husband looks especially good today, tell him. Likewise, if your wife’s hair looks great, let her know. Whatever it is, tell your spouse when they look good.

11. Get dressed up for your partner.

You don’t have to go as far as a suit and tie or fancy dress (unless your situation calls for that), but look good for them! Put on an outfit you know they love on you, do your hair, and wait for them to get home for the day. They’ll be thrilled to walk in the house to their partner looking put-together for no reason at all, and you’ll feel good about yourself, too.

12. Talk about your favorite memories together.

Spend some time reminiscing with your spouse. Talk about all of your favorite memories that involve the two of you together. For my husband and I, these talks go back to the beginning of our relationship. We love talking about the things we did before we had kids, and it reminds us of who we were when it was just the two of us. 

13. Give your partner a massage.

Everyone likes a massage, and the physical contact will make you feel closer to one another. Who knows, maybe they’ll return the favor. Want to make it even more special? Use massage oils! You can find them with essential oils or scents that help with relaxation, like lavender massage oil. **click the link for the one I use.**

14. Kiss your partner first thing after work. 

I’m a stay-at-home mom, and my husband works a full-time job. I’m always happy to see him when he gets home from work, but lots of times I’m in the middle of changing a diaper, breaking up a toddler fight, cleaning a mess, doing dishes, or cooking dinner. I’ll shout out, “Hey babe!” and continue doing what I’m doing while he gets settled. It isn’t until he comes to me that I kiss him some days. With this challenge, I’m going to kiss him the minute he walks through the door. Making it a priority means I’ll stop whatever I’m doing, greet him at the door, and give him a big kiss.

15. Praise your spouse. Marriage Challenge Day 15 

Did your spouse fix something around the house or make the kitchen look amazing? Did they help you wash the kid’s stroller that you’ve planned to do? Are they playing a game with the kids? Praise them for it. 

Adults appreciate praise just as much as kids do, but adults don’t give it to one another as often. Tell your spouse when you think they did a good job. 

16. Send flirty text messages throughout the day. 

My husband and I used to do this often when we were first dating/living together. Not so much anymore, though. Now we (or I) send messages like, “OMG, WHEN ARE YOU COMING HOME?! THESE KIDS ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY!!” There’s nothing flirty about that, and it’s probably making him dread the moment he walks in the door. For day 16, I will make it a point to send him flirty text messages instead and avoid the negative texts.

17. Bake your partner’s favorite dessert.

If you can’t bake or don’t have the time, you can buy your partner’s favorite dessert. It’s all about the thought here and letting your spouse know you’re thinking of them. Go out of your way to put a smile on their face.

18. Plan a movie night and watch your spouse’s favorite movie.

Yes, watch their favorite movie even if you hate it. Prepare your spouse’s favorite movie snacks, get comfortable, and settle in for a night of your partner’s favorite movie.

19. Pack your spouse a lunch and slip a love note inside.

Just a short, cute little message to let them know you are thinking of them, even if it just says I love you.

20. Give your spouse two hours of alone time.

During these two hours, they get to do whatever they want. Take the kids (if you have kids) and get them out of the house.

21. Create a playlist of your special songs. 

Remember the song you first danced to when you were dating? Or the song you used to listen to in the car while driving around? Add those to the playlist! Add your wedding songs and whatever other songs are meaningful to your relationship. Ours aren’t all love songs, so don’t feel like the whole playlist must be mushy, slow songs.

22. Take over a task you know your spouse doesn’t like. 

If your husband or wife is in the middle of doing dishes and you know they hate that chore, take over. Tell them to go sit down and let you do it for them because what better way to show that you care about the things they like or don’t like? If my husband did this for me, he would be taking over bathing the babies, for sure.

23. Surprise your spouse with their favorite treat or drink. 

My husband LOVES Slurpees from 7-11, so I’ll be making a trip to 7-11 for a Slurpee on day 23 of the marriage challenge. I might pick up a Snickers bar, too. The treat and drink don’t have to be anything fancy, just something you know your spouse will appreciate and enjoy.

24. Spend time just kissing.

That’s it. Nothing complicated here. Cuddle up on the couch or lie in bed just kissing.

25. Take cute or silly selfies together.

You don’t even have to post them to social media if you don’t want to. Just have some fun and be silly together. You’ll find yourself laughing by the time you’re finished, and you’ll have a couple of new pictures with your spouse.

26. Plan a successful date night in for this marriage challenge. 

Come up with a fun idea for the two of you to do at home. It can be whatever you and your spouse like to do together. If you need date night ideas, check out my Date Night Ideas post.

27. Learn about your partner’s love language. 

I talk about learning love languages in my post: 11 Ways to Keep the Spark Alive in Your Marriage. It is essential to know your spouse’s love language to make sure you show love to them in the way they interpret and understand it best.

28. Ask your spouse what you can do for them. 

Simply ask what they need help with on day 28. This simple question can lighten their load so much. Plus, it’ll make them happy knowing they can count on you.

29. Lay in bed and talk.

When was the last time you did this? Just lay there, pretend you don’t have anything to do, and enjoy each other’s company. Talk about all the things you don’t usually have time for.

30. Work on a project together. 

This project could be big or small. Whatever you want. All that matters is that you work on it together.

**Download 30 Day Marriage Challenge FREE PRINTABLE here**

30 Day Marriage Challenge

So what do you think? Are you going to join me in this marriage challenge? I hope you do! Let me know in the comments, and we can work to hold one another accountable!

Categories
Family Activities Marriage Our Family

South Haven, Michigan – Things to Do

Things to do

If you follow me on Twitter you already know that my husband and I took a trip to South Haven, Michigan this past weekend. It is my favorite place on earth and as soon as my blog makes me rich (hey, I can dream, right?) I’ll be buying a beautiful home there.

I really do love everything about South Haven. The views of Lake Michigan, the clean beaches, the cute little shops in town, the food (oh, the food!!!!), the activities, and the people. The best part is the Lake Michigan sunsets, though. NOTHING in this world beats a Lake Michigan sunset.

South Haven Sunset
Even cloudy, it is still beautiful

People from all over the country visit South Haven. While we were there we met someone from Alaska and another person from Texas. We are lucky that it is less than a 2-hour drive from us, but if you are farther away than us, I promise you it is worth the trip.

We have begun to compile a list of places in South Haven we love and will return to as often as possible, and also a list of places that we weren’t so fond of. I’m happy to say that the “love” list is much, much longer than the other list.

So, if you are visiting South Haven in the future or even if you are just curious about Michigan’s little gem, this post is for you.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Things to do

Things to do in South Haven, Michigan

  • Watch a sunset over Lake Michigan. I mentioned before that there is NOTHING like a Lake Michigan sunset so, of course, this is at the top of my list. We sit above the beach on a waterproof beach blanket and watch the sunset over the lighthouse. It is so beautiful and so peaceful.South Haven, Michigan
    IMG_7879
  • Swim and hang out at the beach. This should go without saying when you visit a lake town. Get your floaties and boogie boards and head in. Don’t forget to bring a beach chair with you!

  • Try a new restaurant. Every time we go to South Haven we try at least one restaurant that we haven’t tried before. Our favorites are Clementines (for dinner), 3 Blondes Brewing (lunch and drinks), Black River Tavern (dinner and drinks), Golden Brown Bakery (breakfast and coffee), and Chomps Gourmet Hotdogs (lunch).

    We also tried Captain Lou’s, the Idler Riverboat, and Captain Nemo’s (yummy breakfast). Captain Lou’s is is right on the Black River and we got to watch a drawbridge lift up for boats to go through while sitting on their deck. We also tried Venezia Pizza but will probably try Brix Oven next time we go instead. We also want to try Maria’s next time, which is an Italian restaurant that we’ve heard a lot about.

    Clementines South Haven
    Clementines

    Black River Tavern. South Haven, MIBlack River Tavern

  • Go on a boat tour. There are a couple of different options for this. Right on Water St. there is a marina on the black river where they offer boat tours. You can do a daytime one or for $10 more per person, you can do a sunset tour. There is also the Michigan Maritime Museum which offers tours on a “pirate ship”.
  • Wine tasting. There were a couple of wineries I wanted to try but we chose 12 Corners this time. We loved it! My husband usually doesn’t like wine, and he says everything tastes like MD20-20 or something BUT he actually found a couple he liked at 12 Corners!

    It’s right on Pheonix St. and they have a large wine list. The price was $10 for 5 tastes and we got to take the cute stemless wine glasses with us. We also left with a bottle of Beach Cottage Red. Yummmm.

    I’ve been reading about their monthly Wine Club and I’m really thinking about joining… they ship!! I would probably make the trip every 3 months and pick the wine up but they have a bi-monthly shipping option.

  • Beer tasting. So there are quite a few breweries in the South Haven area but we chose 3 Blonds Brewing. I read about them online and had to try it out.

    I normally am not a beer person but I couldn’t pass up on a beer tasting date with my husband. I tasted 3 beers that I LOVED, 1 that I really liked, and the others were IPA’s and apparently, I’m just not a fan (hubby is so disappointed in me). For you IPA lovers, my husband said the IPAs at 3BB are amazing!
    Three Blondes BrewingThree Blondes BrewingHubby @ Three Blondes Brewing

  • Paddleboard or canoe! You can rent these right on South Beach so it’s super easy and convenient.
  • Go shopping. There are SO many cute little shops on Pheonix St. and Quaker St. We always get souvenirs here and quite a few of our favorite restaurants are on the same street.
    South Haven, MI
  • Kal-Haven Hiking Trail. This is a trail that runs from South Haven all the way to Kalamazoo. You can bike or hike. There are so many beautiful stops along the way. I have never completed the trail because I am way too out of shape to hike 32 miles in one direction, but the South Haven part is beautiful.
  • Icecream. Buy your ice cream at South Beach (I recommend the Mackinac Island flavor) and then…
    Ice cream, South Haven
  • Walk to the South Beach Lighthouse. This is our tradition… on our first day, before we even check-in at the place we’re staying, we buy ice cream on South Beach and then walk to the lighthouse while we eat it. It’s so fun and the perfect way to get into relaxation/vacation mode.
    South Haven LighhouseIMG_7747
  • Go see a comedy show or a live band at the Black River Tavern. They have them on Saturday nights and they also have amazing drinks and appetizers. It was the best date night. We had the BEST time ever, laughed so much, and sang along with the band’s songs. Take me back!!

    IMG_7956
    I call this look “beach and booze”

    Things To Do In

You guys, seriously. Please take me back. Our 3 night, 4-day mini-vacation was AMAZING and MUCH needed. We only get away together once a year and while we thought about other places for this past trip (New York City), we couldn’t imagine spending our anniversary trip in any place but South Haven.

Have you ever been to South Haven, Michigan? If so, tell me about your favorite part! If you haven’t been, tell me what you would want to experience the most if you were able to visit. I’d love to hear about it!

**Click here to read about our wedding in South Haven

Categories
Marriage

South Haven Beach Wedding

Chris and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary this past weekend. We got married last year in South Haven, MI and the little town quickly became my favorite place in the world. We were able to have a small beach wedding at a very reasonable price.

As a kid, I dreamed of a big wedding but when the time came and the planning began, I panicked. My anxiety got the best of me and I started stressing out about the wedding before there was even anything to stress about.

I jokingly (kind of) suggested to Chris that we elope. He vetoed that idea because he wanted our parents and our kids, at least, to be at the wedding. BUT he didn’t completely knock the idea of not having a traditionally large wedding.

Researching Low-Key Wedding Options

I began researching some different options and decided that I wanted to get married in a beach wedding on Lake Michigan, no reception or anything. At first, I was worried about what everyone would think but then remembered, our wedding day is supposed to be about US and that would be impossible if I was stressed out and anxious all day.

I found a cute little bed and breakfast in South Haven called Martha’s Vineyard that offered a wedding package… 2-night stay and a private wedding (with a couple other perks as well) and went for it.

In the description on Martha’s Vineyard’s website, it stated that the wedding would be held at the bed and breakfast. I was okay with that but I reaaaallly wanted a beach wedding. I sent an e-mail over to the owner asking if it would be possible. She agreed and made all the arrangements. I literally didn’t have to do anything except bring the marriage license and look nice. Oh and bring the rings, of course.

The Wedding

A handful of our closest family members were able to make it to the wedding. Since we didn’t have a reception, we all went out to eat afterward.

This tiny little low key wedding was SO perfect for us. We have no regrets about our decision.

The wedding was so inexpensive, intimate and personal. Plus, we got to spend the weekend in a beautiful place. Having a 5-month-old baby, I didn’t want to be away for long and definitely didn’t want to travel far so a traditional honeymoon was out of the question, too. The South Haven wedding still gave us the chance to spend relaxing alone time together both before and after the wedding.

We loved it so much we are heading back this coming weekend to celebrate our marriage.

Did you choose to have a big wedding or did you opt for something smaller? If you aren’t married yet, what kind of ceremony do you plan on having? Let me know in the comments!


*If you want to know how we made it through the first year of marriage, consider checking out these posts: 10 Steps to Make Your Marriage Last, How to Keep the Spark Alive *