Happy Balumtine'th Day!!

It's Lovey Day!!! One of my favorites...especially because of this guy...




Also, I throughly enjoy surprising Husby with his Clue Hunt...even if he didn't really like this years. :)

He had to answer questions like "What song did I dedicate to you on the radio?" and "What is my favorite movie of all time." He also had to make me a Valentine's Day craft...how cute is this? (sorry crappy cell phone picture!)

Overall he earned 45 out of a possible 60 points!!!! *cheering, clapping! His points determined his Valentine's Day goodies...

0-10 Points = A Card
11-20 Points = A new Book
21-30 = Two "Dirty Dishes" free weeks
31-40 = A week of his favorite dinners
41-50 = A Massage
51-60 = $50 towards new Clothes

He did pretty well, and only missed receiving his last present! I think he still made off pretty good though! :)

OH!!! He did great for me too...well...I took the day off and we spent it together. I got lunch at one of my favorites...Fuddruckers. (Oh yeah, I am that simple.) Then we hung out and did some other stuff then headed home. I was promised a homemade dinner of my choosing. I chose Homemade Pizza, but then we had pizza the night before, so that changed things. About two months ago I came across a yummy recipe from Martha Stewart Living for Homemade Chicken Pot Pies...BINGO. So he had his meal,  his shopping list and got to work!! Here are some pictures from the evening...

One of my favorites from the evening... watching Husby cut up raw chicken. His face is priceless. He has the same face when washing dirty dishes! ha!

Here's  Husby creating the oh-so-yummy sauce.

Wahhhh-laaa...all prepared and ready to pop into the oven...

And look at that deliciousness!!!! It was so yummy. Husby did an amazing job!

Thanks babe for another great Valentine's Day...I couldn't ask for a better Valentine! :)

Date Night - in a jar

So, about a week or so ago Husby mentioned he felt like we, meaning our relationship, was hitting a rut of sorts. Falling into some boring routine. So he wanted to jazz it up a bit with a regular "Date Night." Isn't he a stud for coming up with the idea!!!

Sorry, I couldn't resist using another JamesVanDerMeme! :) Oh, and I meant Husby was the STUD...not this guy...heehee.

So I thought, how can we take this a step further and add some excitement and spontinaety to the situation?

What about a "Date Night Jar?!" Husby seemed perplexed at first but quickly fell inline with the idea!

So I decided that we would each come up with a list of 10-15 things that we could do for around $25 that could be either random, fun, something we have done before or not. So we each whipped up a list and it was funny to see the similarities in some of our ideas!

So then came Wednesday...my night off. Husby heads to church for small groups and it's just me and the pups...although Olive spent most of her time in her crate for jumping on my chair and stealing some chicken off my plate at dinner time, cause I walked away to help Husby with something. GRRRR. Never steal food from a woman on a diet! :P

Anywho...I sat down with my new Silhouette SD Craft Cutter....*cue angels singing* and began to build an idea.

btw...I had lots of plans for this evening...

• make a date night jar.
• make some flower headbands, rings and such.
• work on some of our favorite picture digital albums.

I only finished the first one...because my SD cutter...well it has a learning curve, i.e. condition the mat so your paper won't stick repeatedly, download updated software so you can actually cut fonts like you are supposed to. After about an hour and half I finally was ready to begin work on my jar....sheeessshh!

*warning, pictures are crappy...at this point I didn't care...*


So here we are...I picked an old plastic container that housed some rocks for vase filler... 

I then took some decorative packing tape that I picked up at Michael's like forever ago for $.25 each!

Then I used the Silhouette to cut some black strips of paper to wrap around the container. And get this...they were straight and I didn't have to cut them by hand!

Then I went back to the cutter to cut out the letters for "date night." I used the font "suede" which is one of my favorites right now. Yep, you can follow that link and download it yourself for free-heeee!

Then I cut out my envelope for the back of the container to house the list of "activities."

Then I cut out all the jumbo numbers that would sit inside the jar. This is what we will pull out to determine our activity for date night!

Then, I was all done!! Here's the crappiest picture...sorry! I sat it on top of our cable box in the bedroom.

So, here's how the "Date Night Jar" works.

Date Night rolls around, or we sit down to plan out our week...and we head to the "Jar." One of us pulls out a number...

See, so like we got "#8." Then we turn the "jar" around and we find our list of activities...

So it looks like we are taking some "House Tours." Yeah, we like to do that...visit model homes and dream about what our HOME could be many, many, many years down the road. :)

Then we cross that number off the list and set "#8" aside and go on our happy little "Date Night."

All for under $25 and planned with a little twist of surprise.

So what do you think of our little idea and craft project?!



Pin It

*blushing*

April writing...

I got bragged on over at the Husby's blog! :P Figured I would share it here too, since I already planned on blogging about two of the special things he mentions in his post.

Here comes the sweetness!

"I want to take a minute and brag on my wife, so bare with me as I am a little sappy.

This job is extremely difficult and when you add your life outside of the job it becomes extremely difficult to concentrate at work. Concentration is essential while at work because at any given moment this job can become deadly.

My Wife and I have always talked about this and my wife does a great job trying to shield me from as much minutia as possible, while still keeping me informed. She is also extremely understanding about my sometimes annoying habits. I have a whole schedule I must follow before going to work. I get in the shower at the exact same time (if I am late it throws everything off). I then go into the bedroom and get dressed the exact same way. (if I don't I will forget something, like the other day I drove all the way to work without my gun...might need that), then I get all my stuff, kiss the wife goodbye and go to work. This drives her nuts, but she realizes it has to be done.

That is just one thing of many things that she puts up with and doesn't complain (very loudly at least). Lately she has done a couple things that have been very special in helping me start my work day off right and helping me to relax at home.

One day she came home and showed me a cut out of a shamrock. She told me she hid several of them around the house in places that I routinely go to. She then gave me a piece of paper that was like a price sheet. Some of the things on their were 1 shamrock for a kiss and several other things, but the best ones were 12 shamrocks for a bubble bath drawn by her and 14 shamrocks for a 20 minute message. So I spent several weeks looking and running into these shamrocks. I found one in my wallet one day when I went to pay for something at the store. It immediately brought I smile to my face. It was so nice to have her draw the bubble bath for me to take 30 minutes by myself relaxing.

The final thing she came up with has been a highlight of starting my day and it benefits her too I think. She bought these crayons that are erasable and she put them in a cup and they sit in the shower. The first day she put them in there I took a shower to get ready for work and I was surprised with a picture and several different things written on the wall in these erasable crayons. So every night when my wife showers before bed she will write some encouraging, lovey-dovey words on the wall for me to see when I shower. I have started to write her love notes back, so when she showers before bed she will feel loved like I have felt.

What a great way for me to start off my stressful work days. Thank you My Heart for thinking about me and making my day start off right."

Just too sweet. I love doing stuff that makes him smile...he is more than worth it! I'll post more later on the details of the "Shamrock Hunt" and "Shower Graffiti Project."

Couple quiz...

April & Cory writing...

I saw this on another blog and I thought it would be alot of fun to do for Valentine's Day weekend! :P

I added my answers and then had Cory answer his separately...we shall see how we line up! :P

Add it to your profile or blog and link to it in the comments section! Can't wait to read!!

What couple from a movie or TV show are you most like?:

ME: I think Jim and Pam from The Office...we are fun and silly with each other...and we had the whole "best friends" before marriage thing working for us!

HIM: Gary and Allison from Gary Unmarried...just cause of how we bicker with each other.

Do you have a song?:

ME: Ehhh, I wouldn't say it's OUR song...but there are two songs that we danced to at our wedding...so I guess we do.

HIM: Yes. But I don't know it.

What is it?:

ME: "Amazed" by Lonestar and "Love of My Life" by Michael W. Smith & Jim Brickman.

HIM: It's the one we danced to at our wedding, but I don't know what it is :)

First movie you saw together in the theatre:

ME: Alone? I think it was "Pearl Harbor."

HIM: "The Wedding Planner."

Who said I Love You first?

ME: He did.

HIM: I did.

Where do you eat out at most as a couple?

ME: Fuddruckers. (It's my favorite!)

HIM: Fast Food restaurants...in general.

Who is better at handling money?

ME: I think overall, I am. He tends to get grouchy about money when it's not there. I am a saver and he is a spender.

HIM: She is.

What was the first meal that your wife ever cooked for you?

ME: I remember it was Chicken Spaghetti...cause I was trying to be all susie-home-maker and make one of my Mom's best recipes.

HIM: Mac N' Cheese and Barbeque Chicken.

If your spouse was a cartoon character which one would he/she be?

ME: I would have to go with Mighty Mouse...my sweet super hero in a tiny body :)

HIM: Lucy, from Snoopy...cause she is always keeping Snoopy out of trouble.

How many boyfriends/girlfriends did your spouse have before you?

ME: He had...1...2...3...4...5...6...? Wait...7. Yeah I am going with 7.

HIM: 2!

What is your idea of a perfect date?

ME: Well I'm split...either doing something completely NEW or something old, tried and true...like dinner and a movie. I'm simple really. There must be FUN and FOOD though!

HIM: Going to dinner and going to a sporting event.

What physical feature first attracted you to your spouse?

ME: His smile...what a charmer.

HIM: Her face.

Where was your first date?

ME: I don't know that we had a first date per say...more like a couple of going outs and in the middle of that we became boyfriend and girlfriend.

HIM: I want to say we went to dinner and ice skating.

What is your spouses favorite show?

ME: Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Holmes on Homes, Castle, Bones and Criminal Minds.

HIM: LOST.

What is your favorite show?

ME: I would have to say I have many, but currently I am loving LOST, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Ghost Whisperer, Ugly Betty, and Criminal Minds. All time fav is ER.

HIM: Castle.

What is your dating anniversary?

ME: September 3rd, 2000 I think.

HIM: Oh, I have no idea...probably May of 2001.

If you could go anywhere on a second honeymoon, where would you go?

ME: I wouldn't mind going back to Mexico...but to mix it up...maybe Australia, Hawaii or Ireland.

HIM: Australia.

What surprised you about your spouse after marriage?

ME: How neat he is...for a guy...he is pretty neat. I was also a little surprised about how much of a morning person he is. Total opposite of me!

HIM: Her hatred for breakfast.

What's the best thing about being married to your spouse?

ME: Always having my best friend around. Being able to be my goofy self and having a partner in crime. We can laugh about anything and our communication makes me so proud! He just...completes me and is everything I need!

HIM: Her cooking dinner and the fun we have together.


NOW, share yours!!

How we do Lovey-Day

April writing...

Our Eslick Valentine's Day history...

Once upon a time a boy began dating a girl, who felt it was just as important to spoil the guy on Valentine's Day as it was to spoil the lady. Thus began, our Valentine's tradition...

Every year I prepare a clue hunt for Husby. It's different every time. One year it was all clues that had to do with our relationship...one year the clue where centered around pictures. I even did a video clue hunt one year. (That has probably been my favorite one so far...)

...lemme e'splain...

My cousins were in town for a while, and with their creative genius, my goof sense of humor and my sisters desire to be in front of the camera, I created different clues and ways we could act them out. So it was Husby's job to watch the clues one-by-one and then go find the present...that year it was love coupons...(which I realized are basically useless as a gift for him, cause he never cashes them in....hmmm)

Anywho...the kicker to this video clue hunt was that I decided to secretly video tape him while he watched and did the clue hunt.

Oh...boy was THAT priceless! As much as I love to show off that video...I mainly do it with choice friends as not to embarrass poor Husby too much..(there may be some minor nose picking and silly little quirks shown on screen!) It's a great addition to the many keepsakes we have throughout our relationship!

So...like I said...each year they are a little different. I look forward to the clue hunts every year and I have a ball putting them together.

This year I have another "theme" in mind for my hunt...but I won't spill those beans just yet! I don't want to ruin the surprise for Husby!

So that's how WE do Valentine's...and for those feminists out there...YES, Husby takes very good care of me as well! In fact it took me a few years to make him believe that he didn't even need to SPEND a dime on Valentines...I told him he could make me something, or even cook dinner for me. I am a really simple gal; and easily pleased! (He is lucky in that regard!) He's not hugely creative; so for me to expect a clue hunt from him would be a bit far fetched, but who knows! He has surprised me in the past. (there was that one time he made maple pork chops...YUMM!!) And I have been completely satisfied with his many Valentine-loving-gestures from the past!

How do YOU do Valentine's Day?

Word.

April writing...

Husby showed me this blog on his Google Reader tonight...I was grasped by her words and the truth of it all...I wish more woman would understand the truth that this blogger hands out so honestly! Thank you Dispatcher for sharing...I pray more woman hear these words!

"I remember when you called me this morning. The words you used when I asked you how you knew the male that just threw you out of the car and took your purse and phone were "He used to be my sex friend". Do you remember me asking you what a sex friend was?

I'm going to be honest with you - I already knew what it was. I wanted to hear you say it out of your own mouth. I wanted you to hear yourself speak the words as you told me he was a friend that you had casual sex with. You quickly rolled right over saying that 'it was a while ago tho' and even tho you and him hadn't had any sex in the last year he came for you today because he wanted some. I believe those were nearly your words. Do you remember the tears that you were crying as you recounted the moment's that he was trying to have sex with you in the car that he was giving you a ride home in? Even though you were saying no, he wasn't listening. When he finally came to - From his 'gotta get some' state of mind, he was angered you were actually denying him pleasure!

The nerve of him! Right? Yes, what he did was not right in anyway, but look at yourself!

Future Woman listen up!

If you want a man to admire you and love you and think that you are the world in their life then act like it!

1. Stop going out in flip flops and sweats and actually dress nice. Hide your belly button and put on a shirt over the boobs you are flaunting! For goodness sake, I have never met a respectable man that wanted his wife to look like a slut when they were in public! And I don't know any woman that wants her husband to see YOUR boobs.

2. Stop using words that would make even a sailor blush! There not pretty and to be honest (oh goodness my mother is coming out!) If your words are all 3 and 5 letters long... It shows what little education you really have! Do you want your future husband to think your stupid? Not to mention, the words are ugly and what you speak-you are! So they make you ugly!

3. Stop kissing and sleeping with every man you come in contact with! Your future husband DOES NOT want to know about the men you slept with before him! News Flash!! Most men want to believe that they are your one and only! They don't want their best friend asking them.. 'hey did she do that for you too?' They want to please you and not think there being compared!

4. and finally.. A sex partner is a cheap way of giving a portion of yourself away. You will never get this back. You will miss it and you will kick yourself over and over because you did not have enough respect and will power to wait for the man that you love. I know this because that is what most suicidal girls cry out to me! So learn from them please!

And because I have a feeling your mother's and fathers are not talking to you about this I'll just put it out there... Sex is between 2 people that love each other. That have over time developed a bond between them. They know not only each others first name but middle and last and date of birth and childhood secrets! They know where each other lives and what their favorite food is.

Neither one of them would (or have ever) hit the other or called the other bad names or said mean threatening things in any way to the other! And they do not cheat on the other! They value each other!

When true love happens an amazing thing happens: Sex becomes a gift! A special gift that God will bring to you and your partner and it will be something unlike anything you have ever experienced! It only happens once in a lifetime if your lucky!

If it's not --- Then you don't have it! I know this!!

There comes a time when you need to look in the mirror and realize that you are beautiful! Every one of you! That God made you and has something special planned that only you can help Him with!

The future women of this world have the power to change relationships for the better! Stop allowing men to use you for their pleasure! They count their encounters, they brag about them and your just another notch! Stand firm and believe in yourself enough to say NO!

I once met a boy that actually told me things that my Officer said later... were never to be said to a woman EVER! But it was about how they learned which woman were easy! Sweeties.. They pass that info around and their laughing about it!

Say NO to being a doormat! Say NO to believing that 'they need you' or your hurting them or they will go blind! Please the woman before you could see right thru there lies! They haven't come up with anything new in a long time! If the woman of the past could say NO then so can you!

Stand up for yourselves and leave the men that are rude or abusive towards you! Take a stand and tell your friends to be united! You have the power and you don't even know it!

Think of this: If all the woman stopped putting up with the crap that boys dish out and left the men that were idiots and held out for something better...... Those boys that were now alone?-I'm going to bet they would stop being such jerks and start being real men! If they were no longer able to treat woman like scum.

And for the record! I have learned that real men, the really exciting ones that we always dreamed of having. The ones that curl our toes and make us excited to go home every day, you know the ones. They call you to tell you they love you! They sneak a peak at your ToDo list and start completing it for you so they can have a few minutes with you! The ones that would never ask you to do anything illegal, or carry their weapons for them. I have a secret!

Those real men that we (as little girls) used to dream of being married to do exist! Some would say they are the boring or 'nerdy' ones that were in school. Maybe also the one's that weren't wrapped up in some type of clique. They are the ones that always did what was right. They went to school instead of gangs. They laid in bed and dreamed at night of a girl loving them like they saw the jock's in school or the 'bad' kid being loved. I know they exist because I have met them and they have begged me to introduce them to a nice girl with no drama!

You see, they like to make drama together - The nice romantic comedy drama that you see in the movies! They are all about that kind of drama! Please hold out for the best! They are holding out for you!

Something to think about - I once heard a man tell another female that he couldn't see himself kissing the girl he was on a date with, because he didn't want to kiss someone else's future wife!

So...The man you are kissing right now... is that your future husband? Or someone else's?"

Just wanted to say...

I love you Cory Jacob.

It seems like Cory has been working super hard lately...and I love him so much for his drive to work so diligently and hard for our little family! I hope that you enjoy your days off and your massage today! You deserve it!!

:)
143.

Living Dangerously in Marriage

April writing...

...a great reminder to challenge myself within my marriage relationship...I needed this.

Taken from...Simple Mom

“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” ~ Helen Keller

Creating intimacy between you and another person can be scary, even dangerous at times — but most everyone wants it; to not be alone as you journey through life. There are risks involved with intimacy — you could feel hurt or embarrassed.

The good news is that you can learn how to cultivate intimacy in ways that fulfill both you and your partner.

To begin, you must realize that you are responsible for you. Too often, people wait for their spouse to make the first move, to initiate the conversation, to walk over and offer the hug or shoulder to cry on. The problem with this strategy is that you have no control over someone else’s actions. All you can control is you.

1. Focus Your Attention

Intimacy begins with the simple things. Notice your partner, listen to them, and offer thanks when they help out in your world. Relationships struggle when one partner says things like, “You haven’t heard a thing I’ve said for the last five years” or “You have no idea how hard I work.” Long before you reach this point, take preventative action with the gift of attention.

2. Take Care of Yourself

Many people go into relationships looking for a way to be happy, complete, and whole. It’s the same mindset as believing that your spouse’s strengths will offset your weaknesses, and vice versa. There’s nothing wrong with believing this, in theory; the problem is that reality is often different than theory. What if you approach your relationship another way? Be happy, complete, and whole — and then have a relationship.

Depending on another human for your happiness sets yourself up for disappointment. Humans change, leave, do things we don’t understand. And they do these things without our consent. Depending on things outside yourself for happiness and wholeness is giving up control over your own life.

A word of caution here:

Growing stronger and learning to achieve happiness on your own can be hazardous to your relationship. As you grow, it puts pressure on your partner to do the same. And sometimes partners are threatened by this growth, so they resist the changes or run.

This is sometimes seen in the graduate school world. While the current divorce rate remains around the 45 to 50 percent range, in marriages where one spouse is in graduate school, the divorce rate increases. The reason? One partner is changing and growing, and the other may be threatened by the change.

We meet and fall in love with people who are about as mentally healthy (or unhealthy) as ourselves. Like attracts like. So as one of you grows and evolves, it’s important that the other partner grow as well for your relationship to survive.

3. Share Yourself

Be open with your spouse. Share how you view the world, what you think, how you feel. Talk about the significant things in your life right now. Reveal your worries, your fears, your concerns. I’m not saying you must share every deep secret in your life with your spouse, but let them in a little.

An unwillingness to share yourself with your spouse works against the goal of intimacy.

4. Throw Away the Score Card

Couples in conflict frequently keep mental score cards. They keep track of every unkind word, selfish act, and thoughtless gesture made by their spouse. In essence, they catalog every one of their spouse’s sins of commission and omission going back over decades. This leads to the obsession of having to get even.

In relationships where you feel you must get even, intimacy will be non-existent — guaranteed.

However, when you freely give to your spouse and allow them to be themselves, you’ll likely experience the intimacy you desire. This doesn’t mean becoming a doormat for others, or letting them take advantage of you. But when you release resentments and take an initiative to resolve things between you, you’ll often see the payoff of increased intimacy.

What are ways you and your spouse proactively cultivate intimacy in your relationship?

What does it look like?

April writing...

Saxony asked an awesome, thought provoking question on Facebook today.

What does it look like to respect your Husband?

Here's how I responded...

"I believe this is both a complex and simple answer. Here are my thoughts...Respect means to recognize the place of authority God has given your husband in the family. It means uplifting your husband, to his face, as well as to family and friends. You show respect by not seeking leadership or counsel from other persons, when you can talk to your ... Read MoreHusband. It means not fighting for leadership in the family. It's shown by not disregarding his words or feelings and by encouraging him. We can also show respect through our body language...alot can be said with an eye-roll or crossing of the arms.
Be patient, understanding and always communicate. An unspoken word roots bitterness in our hearts."

I would love to know what you think!!

How to STAY in Love...

April writing...

A fellow blogger on 20-Something Bloggers posed the question..."How do you stay in Love?"

I thought.

and thought.

and then I realized.

It's not some grand gesture, or working hard day after day...(although that all helps)

I believe, to stay in love, you must NEVER forget how to LAUGH.

(image via Flickr)

At the little things.

At the big things.

At the funny things.

and sometimes even the sad things.

Never lose joy in life, or the joy in life together!

What do you think it takes to STAY in love?