Are you an artsy-craftsy, do-it-yourself kind of person who enjoys working on handmade projects that add a delightful personal touch to gifts, decorations and special occasions? Me neither. Knowing that, my hubby will be super surprised when he finds a bunch of clever, homemade Valentine greetings tucked into his sock drawer, lurking in his laptop case or dangling from the shower head. (Or maybe not, since he is reading this right now.)
January 28, 2013
Arts and Crafts
January 23, 2013
The Things That Matter
"Many people think that the secret to reconnecting with their partner is a candlelit dinner or a by-the-sea vacation. But the real secret is to turn toward each other in little ways every day."
John Gottman,
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
"I used to get so mad at you because you left the tops off of everything. Now, when I reach for the juice and the cover falls off, I smile and think, 'Oh. She's been here recently. She's in my life. I'm so glad.'"
John and Linda Friel,
The 7 Best Things Happy Couples Do
"Ninety-nine percent of the time, people don't want your advice, your evaluation, your opinion, your critique, or your solution to their problems. They just want you to listen and understand their feelings."
Ellen Kreidman,
Light His Fire
"The old standbys are still important. Be thoughtful. Do special favors. Lavish loving attention. Be playful. Show enthusiasm. Look your best."
Pat Love,
The Truth About Love
"We need someone to pay real attention, to hold us tight, to come very close sometimes and respond to us in an emotional way that moves us, connects with us. Nothing compares with that."
Sue Johnson,
Hold Me Tight
"He loved all of me. He accepted everything about me. He listened to me. He never judged me. He never asked me to become something I wasn't. He never pushed me away from my dreams. He loved me unconditionally, and that's why I married him."
Alisa Bowman,
Project: Happily Ever After
January 20, 2013
Helpful Resources
I've added a new page to this blog, with a guide to helpful resources. These are high-quality sites with expert knowledge to answer your questions or help you find more information.
The topics include tips for date night, better sex, solving common problems, finding a marriage counselor, getting help for domestic abuse, and more.
January 16, 2013
Learning and Practicing Responsible Honesty
Our parents were right—Honesty really is the best policy!
Honesty is in the number one spot on my list of the most important ingredients in long-term relationships. Honesty provides the basis of trust, intimacy, and lasting love. It's easy to fall in love with another person without knowing how honest they are, but it's difficult to stay in love with another when we discover they are dishonest about things that matter. To trust one another at a deep level, we must know each other deeply. Deep knowing can only come from a lot of honest disclosure over time.
January 12, 2013
Most Popular Posts of 2012
Top Five Most Viewed Posts of 2012
- Jealousy is Not Romantic
This post has 32% more views than the one in second place. Jealousy is a powerful emotion that touches nearly everyone at one time or another. It can wreak havoc in a relationship. It's no surprise that so many people want a better understanding of it. - Words of Wisdom
Here is a page full of quotations from experts and other smart people who have wise things to tell us about love. - Showering Together? Really?
I didn't think it was a good idea, but I could be wrong. - Better Blogging
Although inspired by all the marriage (and other) blogs I read, this was so far off topic I didn't expect many people here would care. But it seems that everyone wants to be better at blogging, and that's a good thing. - Do You Look Good Naked?
Yes, you do!
Top Five Most Commented Posts of 2012
- Does This Dress Make Me Look Fat?
Some people loved this, but for others it struck a raw nerve. - Some Things I Love About You
My anniversary card to my husband of 27 years. - Up! Down! Left! Right! This! That!
Practical advice on eliminating those petty arguments from your marriage. - Showering Together? Really?
This is the only post to appear on both lists. I have learned that a lot of people find my blog by using "showering together" as a search term. - Living a New Life
Starting a new year, I wrote about how being more mindful can help us get the most out of life. - Can You Affair-Proof Your Marriage?
This one tied the previous post for fifth place. Infidelity is one of the worst things that can happen in a marriage. Here is some practical advice on avoiding it.
January 8, 2013
Sex By Appointment
What do busy people do when they want to makes sure they get something important done? They make an appointment!
January 4, 2013
Valuing Your Marriage
What's the value of your marriage? I have a friend who says you can always determine what's important to people by looking at their check register. How do they spend their money? If you look at your check register what would it say about the importance of your marriage? What percentage of your income is allocated to your relationship?