Marriage

50 Fun & Romantic Date Ideas

Over the weekend, Kris and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary!

(I spent a whole day telling people it was this coming Tuesday before I realized I had the date wrong …. whoops!!)

Anyway….

For our anniversary, my mom offered to watch the kids while we escaped for the weekend. So we left them behind, hopped in the car, and drove down to the beach just the two of us.

It’s been forever since we went on a real date so we had a *lot* to catch up on. We played laser tag, went to a hockey game, and caught a live comedy show. We took TWO naps and ate the best pizza I’ve ever had in. my. life. And that’s just a few of the things we did!

After 4 years of marriage, I’ll be honest - I kind of forgot how much fun dates are! But our weekend away got me thinking about all the other dates I still want to go on (plus a few I want to go on again!). Here’s what I came up with:

+ go to an escape room

+ ride in a hot air balloon

+ light a bonfire & roast marshmallows

+ lie under the stars in the middle of a field

+ take a ballroom dancing class (the choreography to Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” video = *so* romantic!)

+ rent a jet-ski

+ play laser tag

+ watch a live comedy show

+ karaoke at a bar full of strangers

+ have a picnic wherever (by the lake, in a meadow, on the living room floor)

+ try a new restaurant

+ take a nap

+ road trip together

+ attend a murder mystery dinner

+ attend trivia night

+ spend a day at the lake

+ go to a hockey game

+ sign up for a couples massage

+ make it a group date and go bowling

+ visit a chocolate factory

+ go to a lantern festival

+ watch a live band

+ soak in a hot tub surrounded by candles

+ go ice skating

+ pick apples at the orchard

+ pick strawberries at the patch

+ see a magic show

+ go to a carnival

+ sign up for a food tour

+ take a limo to a 5-star restaurant

+ visit Broadway on Tour

+ hold hands on the boardwalk

+ sign up for a cooking class

+ make a handwritten bucket list together

+ daydream about your future house together while wandering through Pottery Barn

+ play Twister

+ get tickets to Cirque du Soleil

+ arrange a surprise romantic dinner (candles, ice water in a glass bottle, background music)

+ wander through a new city

+ roam through a bookstore

+ try couples yoga

+ dance in the dark to a Bryan Adams song

+ draw portraits of each other (Kris and I did this once and I could not. stop. laughing!)

+ bury a time capsule together

+ create a romantic scavenger hunt for your partner

+ attend a masquerade ball

That’s it for now! What are some of your bucket list dates? Or the most romantic date you’ve ever been on?! Tell me about it in the comments!

With love,

Lace

P.S. This list actually only has 45 ideas BUT 50 Fun Dates sounded better, ha! So I’ll be adding a few more soon :) Also, the photograph on this page was taken by Sharon Ashlie Photography in North Carolina - she’s one of my absolute favorite photographers!

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The Secret to Staying Crazy-In-Love

Hi friends!

Sometimes I can't get over how much I love Kris.  Like, really love him.  And it's not just the everyday, comfortable kind of love.  It's the kind where your heart beats faster when he walks in the door.  The kind were you sneak kisses in the middle of a crowded room or bite your lip because he's just. so. good. looking! 

It's that twinkly-eyed love you just can't get enough of. 

Even after 10 years, I'm crazy-in-love with my husband.  It's still exciting and fun and a little insane sometimes.  And after all this time, I think I finally figured out the *secret* to staying that way.

Want to know what it is?

You sure you're ready for it??

Okay ... 

The secret to staying crazy-in-love is this:  EFFORT.

Ugh, it's annoyingly simple, right?  But it's the truth!  Kris and I both put so much effort into our relationship.  We take the time to tell each other how much we care, to talk through our struggles, to give each other what we need.  We apologize when we should, forgive our imperfections, and make time for each other every single day.  And every one of those things takes effort.

It's not a perfect system.  There are times when we let each other down or things feel a little one-sided.  Luckily, the other one is always there to pick up the slack and get us back on track.  It's a mutual thing and I think that's why it really works.

If you're struggling to stay crazy-in-love, here's my advice:  Figure out what your partner needs and give a little more effort in that area.  Actually, give a LOT more effort.  Try to do this even if you feel like the other person isn't giving enough.  And if you need a little help, stick around for our 30 Day Happy Marriage Challenge later this year.  It's (almost) guaranteed to get your relationship back on track :)

With lots of love,

Lace

P.S. If if you're completely lost and not sure what your partner needs, snag a copy of The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman - it's on our upcoming Summer Reading List and will help you figure out how to love your partner in the best way possible.  Good luck!

*Photography Credit*

The image(s) featured in this article were captured by Pineland Photography.

Shout Out to My Husband

Hi ladies!

Do you ever give your husband a hard time about things?  I do ... all the time!  But I also let him know when he really makes my day.  Like lately, he's been tossing my towel in the dryer while I'm in the shower,  Then he brings it to me when I'm done!   I step into this warm, cozy towel and I feel like I'm at a spa or something.  It's seriously the nicest thing, especially at the end of a long day.  And the best part is that I never asked him to do it - he just does it on his own!  Just in case he reads this post, thanks babe! 

What's something nice your husband does for you??  Or something nice that you wish he'd do?!  I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

With love,

Lace

13 Common Themes in Every Happy Marriage

Hi all!

Coming from a divorced home, I know that marriage is hard.  Sometimes things just fall apart or don't work out.  But from the moment my now-husband proposed, I knew I wanted ours to be a forever thing.  So I started observing the people around me and studying their relationships.  I listened to their conversations, how they speak to each other, how they interact and how they react.  I took mental notes.  And I paid a lot of attention to my own relationship in the process.

Over time, I realized there are common themes in every unsuccessful marriage:  resentment, blame, indifference.  But there are commonalities in the successful ones, too.  And gradually, I came up with a list of things I think set happy couples apart:

1. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This is so important!  We all need to feel seen and heard by the people we love.  And it's such an easy thing to give our partners.  Say hello when he comes home.  Look him in the eyes and smile.  Put down your phone and pay attention for a minute.  Some people think hatred is the worst thing; I think indifference is worse.

2. AFFECTION

It's obviously important to love your spouse.  But you also have to like them.  Even more important, let them know that you like them.  People like to feel liked!

Affection is easy in the beginning. You're infatuated and in love and can't get enough of that person.  But over time, our affection naturally dwindles.  The key is to find ways to hold on to it.  That's where this next theme comes into play ...

3. COMMUNICATION

Talk about the good things and the hard things.  Tell him what you need and what makes you happy.  Tell him why that thing he did last night was frustrating for you.  And then listen.  Listen to his needs and wants and frustrations.  Be open to his feedback and remember that it's okay to argue sometimes.  Talk it out until you find common ground!

4. Effort

There is no such thing as an effortless marriage.  Even happy couples have to work at it to make it last!  So make sure you're prioritizing your relationship and always do a little more than what's strictly necessarily.

5. FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness is a cornerstone of all successful relationships.  There will be times when your spouse lets you down.  Times when he says or does something that upsets you.  Don't hold on to that hurt and resentment.  Take the time to process what happened, then find a way to let it go. 

6. LAUGHTER

Happy couples laugh a lot.  They try to see the humor in what might otherwise be a frustrating situation.  The other day, my husband opened the cabinet and realized all the popcorn was gone.  At first, he was a little miffed and told me so.  I laughed and said, "well you drank all the beer!"  And then we both started laughing because guess what?  I don't drink beer!  Just like that, everything was back to normal!  Keep the little things light and save your serious arguments for the big things.

7. PASSION

Your spouse should be the one person that sets your soul on fire.  After ten years of friendship, dating, and now marriage, I still feel a little giddy every time I see my husband.  Part of it is our natural chemistry.  The other part is the huge effort we put towards keeping that passion alive (see theme #4 above)!

8. PERSPECTIVE

We are conditioned to believe the grass is always greener on the other side.  But every marriage, even happy ones, have little pitfalls and hard times.  Remember:  just because you have a bad day doesn't mean you have a bad marriage. 

9. PRAISE

Be genuine and generous with your praise.  Tell your spouse how much you appreciate him.  Recognize the things he does for you and your family.  See the things he does right instead of focusing on the things he does wrong. 

10. RESPECT

Happy couples respect each other.  When they do argue, they avoid blaming or name-calling.  There are times when I'll affectionately call my husband a "dumb-dumb" (he does the same to me) but it's only during lighthearted moments.  During arguments, name calling is 100% off limits.  At the end of the day, you have to respect your partner and your marriage.  Remember the golden rule and treat your spouse the way you want to be treated.

Along the same lines, pay attention to the conversations you have about your spouse.  Think about how your partner would feel if he was listening in.  Would he feel loved?  Respected?  If not, steer the conversation in a different direction.

11. Spontaneity

As the years go by, most couples fall into routines that rarely change.  That's just life!  But it's so important to keep things interesting in your marriage.  Pick a random spot on the map and take a road trip.  Make a candlelit dinner at home.  Leave a note in his lunchbox.  Try something a little outside of your comfort zone in the bedroom.  You might just have fun!

12. TOUCH

Make it a point to touch your spouse every single day.  It could be a hug or a kiss on the forehead or a hand massage.  It could be something more intimate.  Whatever you choose, remember that skin-to-skin contact is part of every healthy marriage.  Sometimes I don't notice how tense I feel until my husband hugs me.  Immediately, my shoulders relax and I let out a breath that I didn't even know I was holding.  That's the magic of touch.

13. UNDERSTANDING

There will be times when your husband says something hurtful or lashes out.  He's a human being just like you.  Instead of reacting or taking offense, remind him that you are on his side.  And once he's ready, talk about what's really going on.

I know this article is called 13 Common Themes in Every Happy Marriage.  But if you've made it this far, you deserve a bonus theme!  So here it is (drum roll please) ...

BONUS:  SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

Nothing spells disaster for a relationship like one partner taking on most (or all) of the responsibilities. When you're married, you're part of a team.  So pull your weight - and if your spouse is lagging behind, ask him politely to pick up the slack ;)

Even if you are already in a happy relationship, I hope this list helps you through the hard times.  I hope you remember to like (not just love) your spouse and to praise his efforts.  I hope you can forgive him when he inevitably does something wrong.  And I hope you find a way to push through with the knowledge that there will be good years and bad years and that it's all worth it in the end.

Wishing you all the happiness in the world,

Lace