7 Creative and Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Your First Anniversary. 

Your first year of marriage is one of wild changes and steadying love — and when it’s time to mark that milestone, dinner reservations just won’t cut it. You don’t need grand gestures or expensive gifts to make the day unforgettable. What you need are ideas with meaning, memory, and momentum. The kind of celebration that deepens the bond, sparks laughter, and says, “We’re in this.” Here are seven ideas that ditch the clichés and create something personal — something built to last.

Are you ready to learn about the 7 Creative and Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Your First Anniversary? Come on in and let me tell you about them! 

7 Creative and Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Your First Anniversary 

Create a Couple’s Playlist That Grows With You

Music hits differently when it’s tied to a memory. That song that played on your road trip? The one from your first slow dance in the kitchen? Start your anniversary with a collaborative playlist. One of you adds a track, then the other responds — back and forth until you’ve got a year in sound. The tradition? Add a new song every year. Over time, you’re not just curating music — you’re building a time capsule of rhythm, emotion, and inside jokes. Let it grow and loop every year like a living audio scrapbook.

Recreate Your First Date — With Upgrades

Think back to that very first moment: what you wore, what you ate, where you went. Now reimagine it through the lens of everything you’ve shared since. If your first date was casual, make it fancy. If it was awkward, make it hilarious. Add inside jokes, custom touches, or playful reenactments. Bonus points if you revisit the same location and write each other a note about how it felt then versus now. This isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about showing how far you’ve come in just one year of partnership.

Write a Shared Anniversary Journal Entry

You’ve had 12 months of new rituals, random conflicts, strange habits, surprise joys. Capture all of it. Grab a blank notebook and, once a year, write an entry together. What changed? What made you laugh? What did you learn? Write separately, then read to each other over wine or takeout. Year by year, that notebook becomes a relationship ledger — honest, raw, funny, maybe messy — and deeply yours. It’s the kind of tradition that sneaks up on you and becomes priceless.

Gift an Experience, Not a Thing

Skip the presents. Choose presence. Whether it’s a cooking class, a cabin weekend, or a hammock afternoon with no phones — give each other a shared moment you’ll both remember. Experience-based gifts create richer memories and often deepen connection faster than physical items. This can be as simple as watching the sunrise from a new trail, or as elaborate as booking something you’ve both always said you’d try. One rule: commit fully. No phones, no multitasking. Just memory-making.

Make Something With Your Hands

Forget buying something — make something. A mixed-media collage. A hand-lettered quote. A ceramic bowl that’s slightly lopsided but full of story. DIY projects aren’t about the result, they’re about process. You’re laughing together, getting messy, building something that sits on the shelf and quietly says, “We made this when we were one year in.” Bonus: if you do it every year, you’ll end up with a home full of imperfect art that maps your whole marriage.

Build a One-Year Time Capsule

Grab a small box. Toss in movie tickets, photos, receipts from wild nights out, handwritten notes about things that made you laugh or fight or cry. Seal it up. Add a date to open it — maybe your 5th or 10th anniversary. A time capsule captures not just what you did, but how it felt in the moment. It’s a freeze-frame of your real life. Whether it’s silly or serious, curated or chaotic — it becomes a gift to your future selves.

Send Holiday Cards That Mark the Moment

Your first year of marriage is filled with photos, moments, and little wins that deserve to be seen. Instead of burying them in your camera roll, design holiday photo greeting cards that become a keepsake. With personal photos and a heartfelt message, you’re not just updating friends and family — you’re creating a small memento that marks the beginning of your new life together. Using an online platform, you can easily upload your own images, choose themed templates and layouts, and add foil accents or festive text to make your cards stand out. It’s a creative way to turn your first year into a shared celebration. 

One year down. And so many strange, sweet, meaningful ones ahead. However you mark this first milestone, make it yours. Skip the pressure to “get it right.” The only thing that matters is that the moment feels like you — your rhythm, your weirdness, your love. Whether you’re journaling, playlisting, printing cards, or just holding hands on the couch — if you remember it, it counts. If you both smile at the memory, you nailed it.

7 Creative and Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Your First Anniversary Discussion 

Did this list inspire you to make sure to create an extra meaningful first anniversary with your spouse? If you’ve been married longer than a year, how did you celebrate your anniversary? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

Discover a wealth of insights and inspiration at The Homemaking Wife, where every woman’s journey is celebrated with tips on marriage, productivity, and personal growth.

15 Ways to Have a Successful Marriage. I’ve been married to my husband, Nathan, since 2008. Which seems like a lifetime ago at times. But then again, I’ve known people who have been married for over 50 years, and in this day and age, it is one hell of a milestone. 

This made me stop and think about what makes a successful marriage. Because I’m here to tell you that neither of us are perfect. We are human. We screw up and hurt each other. A lot. There are times he loves to be right, and I’m just stubborn. Humans are imperfect, messy, and emotional.

I’m sure we can all make a list of faults we have. But that doesn’t help anything. The point is, nobody is perfect, and marriage is hard work. 

I also had no clue going into my marriage what it really took to be successful. Somehow when I was young, I thought just getting married meant living happily ever after. Nobody told me how much work went into staying in love and being successful. 

I also learned that just because it isn’t the magical fairy tale I expected, it doesn’t mean marriage isn’t an amazing thing. It is an incredible partnership that I wouldn’t trade for anything, because it has helped me grow into the wife and woman that I am. I honestly love how much that being married has taught me about life. I am always grateful for that.

Which is what really inspired me to write this 15 Ways to Have a Successful Marriage post. Are you ready to learn about how to have a successful marriage? Come on in and let me tell you about it! 

15 Ways to Have a Successful Marriage 

Learn to Apologize 

Apologies build trust. Because when you own your mistakes, it means you’re mature enough to admit when you’ve screwed up and are aware of the need to change it. 

Apologies are hard, because it really is owning your own bad or toxic behavior. It is far easier to point out someone else’s behavior and mistakes than to take responsibility for your own. 

Oftentimes it takes an apology on both sides, because people tend to think that one bad choice from their partner will justify a bad choice from them. Two wrongs don’t make a right! 

Choose Peace Over Being Right 

Marriage isn’t about constantly being right or wrong. That is a black and white way to look at it, and is a great way to destroy a marriage. 

Sometimes there isn’t a right and wrong answer or solution. Sometimes it is understanding that neither is wrong, while hearing each other at the same time. 

I think being heard is one of the best ways to create peace in a marriage. It really isn’t about being right or wrong, it is about hearing your husband or wife, and understanding their feelings, and doing it without judgement. 

Turn Toward Each Other 

Turning toward each other is a simple act of being thoughtful and considerate. It shows that you care and want to hear what your husband has to say. It is an amazing way to give them your full attention, especially when they are having a bad day or struggling with something. 

You can also ask what you can do to help, or just give them your full attention while they vent. 

This is an amazing and seriously simple way to show your husband that they are a priority, that their emotions are valid, and that you care. 

Be Appreciative 

Expressing gratitude to your husband is powerful, and I think one of the most understated or even underrated ways to maintain a successful marriage. Saying thank you and showing gratitude tells your partner that you’re not taking them for granted. 

The best part is that when your husband does something you’re grateful for and you show that gratitude, they are likely to keep doing it. Couples always want to please each other, so showing that gratitude is a way of telling them they’re doing it right. 

Never Go to Bed Angry 

This is advice that I’ve been hearing for years, never going to bed angry. Which is something I agree with. I will tell you that I never sleep well when I go to bed angry, and it really screws up the following day because I wake up in just as bad of a mood as I went to bed in. Why ruin two days? 

I am also superstitious in that, I don’t want an argument or nasty words to be the last thing I ever say to my husband, and I can’t take it back. Keep this in mind when going to bed angry. Is pouting, calling each other names, or whatever other angry words between you the absolute last thing you want to have said to each other? I will be the first one to say, I would likely feel guilty for the rest of my life. 

Be Kind 

Kindness goes a long way in life, and it isn’t any different in your marriage. 

You’re supposed to be a team. Marriage is a team sport. Repeat that with me. Marriage is a team sport. 

Nathan said something last January around my birthday that was really hurtful. He claimed it was a joke. Well, jokes don’t make people cry. Jokes also likely are not going to be remembered almost a year later. But unkind words that hurt are often remembered long after the moment has come and gone. 

I always say, if I can remember how it made me feel a year, or even five years down the road, and it isn’t a pleasant memory, it wasn’t a kind thing to say. Stop and think about that. Will your unkind words and how they made your partner feel be remembered years down the road? Be aware of your words and the impact they have on others. 

Always choose kindness. 

Prioritize Your Husband 

Do you make your husband a priority? If not, you should be doing it. The best investment into any marriage is time. Which is easy to lose track of, now more than ever. 

Life gets busy, and it is easy to forget about time with your husband, but it is an absolute necessity. You should never feel alone when standing next to your husband. He shouldn’t be feeling it either when you’re next to him. 

If you feel that, you need to be making him and time with him a serious priority. Like it jumps to the top of the list immediately, level serious priority. 

Not spending enough time together can lead to infidelity and sow seeds of distrust within both or your hearts. 

Break the Routine 

I’ll be the first to admit I actually struggle with this one. Routines are something I thrive on, because it keeps me sane. Routines are helpful in so many ways. 

The problem is, when it comes to routines in relationships, they equal boring. Routine means stagnant and boring, which can often lead to resentment. This is especially easy to have happen in longer relationships. How do you surprise each other? How do you do something different? 

How to break the routine? Try having sex in a new place. A quickie in the garage, for example. Or bent over the kitchen counter during a midnight run for a snack. Have sex in the morning instead of at night. 

Go to a new restaurant you’ve never tried. Give role playing a try, like meeting a total stranger at a bar or restaurant and talking to each other. Do something besides dinner and a movie for a date night. Surprise your husband when he gets home from work with a night in you’ve planned, and already got a babysitter for the kids. 

Think outside the box a bit, and break the routine. You’ll be amazed at how memorable these moments are, and just how necessary they are as well. 

Be Honest 

Be brutally honest. Let’s be honest here (pun absolutely intended), if you have to censor yourself in any way, you are not in a good relationship. You should be comfortable having uncomfortable conversations. Because they are necessary for the growth of any relationship. 

Honesty really is always the best policy. 

Manage Issues with Maturity 

Y’all are adults, so act like it. Don’t be petty and stupid when it comes to an issue, argument, or anything else. I feel like this one should be obvious, but it isn’t always the case. Especially if you are someone who got married young. Handling issues with maturity and grace may not be as obvious as it is to others. 

Handling issues with maturity means that you don’t do things like bring up the past, do anything out of spite or revenge, react from a place of anger and hostility. 

This is really something that gets easier as you get older, but that doesn’t make it any less important all the time, no matter how long you’ve been married. 

Communicate 

Seriously, communicate. Communicate, communicate, and then communicate some more. Keep going, even if it feels like overkill. Neither of you are mind readers, and if you expect your other half to be one, you’re going to be greatly disappointed. Which is why communication is essential. 

Remember that without communication, absolutely nothing changes. There isn’t even a chance to make it change, so you have to talk about it. 

Close Your Ears, Eyes, and Mouth 

When I say close your ears, eyes, and mouth, it means you need to be quiet. Meaning you don’t need to go running to anyone else, your friends, your mother, your co-workers to run your mouth about your partner and how terrible they are, or the problems that you’re having. 

If you have time to complain to others, you have time to communicate with your partner and work on things. 

You also don’t need to be looking for greener grass elsewhere. You need to be busy watering your little patch of grass. Successful marriages and any kind of relationship are successful because two imperfect people refuse to give up on each other. Don’t go looking for greener grass. 

Be Supportive 

Marriage is a team sport, and you should be supportive of each other. This means nurturing both your marriage and your individual identities. 

Always make time for yourself, as well as time together. Everybody needs their alone and self-care time. For me, this is reading, and for Nathan, my husband, it is playing video games. 

Being supportive also means being a safe space, a sounding board, a cheerleader for your spouse. They should be able to vent about their day if necessary, to ask questions about a conflict, or even to just get support and know they can handle a challenge. 

Praise Your Partner 

Positive reinforcement just feels good for anybody. But especially for your spouse. This goes back to the communication aspect. Praising them is communicating that you like something, or want them to do it more. 

It is also just good to help build them up. I always compliment my husband when he picks out a piece of clothing I think looks really good on him and tell him why I like it. For example, his butt looks really good in a specific pair of jeans. Or a shirt compliments his skin tone. 

I also make it a point to express gratitude when he does something to help me out, like I forgot to eat dinner while working and he saves the day by bringing me something on his way home from work. 

I always say praise over criticism. It is just a simple way to find positive things your spouse does, and mention them. 

Concentrate on the Good 

Concentrating on the good is absolutely essential to any successful relationship. 

If you don’t believe me, when you drive to work tomorrow morning, strat looking for red trucks. Just focus on noticing any and all red trucks in traffic during your commute. Then notice how often you start seeing them when you aren’t looking for any red trucks in traffic. Pretty soon that is going to be the only thing you see when you’re driving. 

Concentrating on anything is exactly that way. What you focus on grows, and so why not concentrate and focus on the good things. If you focus on the bad, that is all you’re going to see, and it is honestly going to make you miserable. 

You have a choice to focus on the good or the bad. Focus on the good parts of your spouse, and pretty soon you’ll see a lot more of them. 

15 Ways to Have a Successful Marriage Notes 

Marriage is seriously hard work, but it is absolutely worth it in the end. I am not the same person as I was when I got married, and I am beyond grateful for that. I’m also grateful that I found my person to grow and grow old with. Life is a crazy ride, but that is part of the fun, in my opinion. 

If I’ve learned anything along the way is that marriage really is a team sport, but that doesn’t mean we lose our individual identity. It also means that we should be working on ourselves as well as our marriage along the way. Because there needs to be growth in all aspects of our lives. Everything works together. 

15 Ways to Have a Successful Marriage Discussion 

Have these 15 Ways to Have a Successful Marriage helped you at all? Are there any of these that you struggle with more than others? Tell me about it! Especially if you have any advice on how to handle a specific area that you’ve struggled with along the way. I would love for you to share your personal experiences, if you feel comfortable with it.

How long have you been married? Is there any specific year that you found to be the hardest to handle?

Do you have any advice to add to this? I want to hear your ideas and suggestions!

Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You. I have been married to my husband, Nathan, since 2008. Which isn’t a short amount of time. Thinking back to the early days of our relationship, and even now, I have been thinking about signs that our relationship is successful. Are we still serious about each other? What does that mean? Are there signs? 

That is what prompted me to write these 20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You. Being in love and being married is one of the most amazing things in the world. I’m always amazed at how much I can care about another human when I look at my husband. 

When you pay attention, there are clear patterns and behaviors that say he is serious about you. These apply when dating, as well as through the entirety of your marriage as well. 

Are you ready to learn about the 20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You? Come on in and let me tell you about them! 

20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You 

He Shares Future Plans with You 

When men are serious, they will discuss the future, plans and goals with you. Dreams and aspirations are important for everyone to have, and if you are important to him, you will be included in those. 

He’ll talk about a life together. This means a home, moving in together, or moving somewhere else together, career goals, money goals, having a family, adopting a pet. Basically everything you two can do together. 

Nathan and I still do this, even to this day. Because goals evolve and change. They may change for you when the kids are grown, or your family is still growing, or you want a career change. There are a number of reasons goals change, and that is great. Change can be a wonderful thing. Talk about it together. Share what you want the future to look like, and he will too. 

He is Gradually Spending More Time with You 

How much time do you two spend together? Is your communication healthy? When a guy is serious about you, he naturally wants to spend more time with you. Which I think is true for women too. We naturally gravitate toward people we want to be around. 

Are you comfortable together? Are you both happy spending time together? Do you ever lose track of time when you are together? These are all good signs! 

Your Opinion Matters 

He doesn’t hesitate to seek your advice in troubling situations or any other time. He values your advice and listens attentively to what you have to say. 

Observe his body language when he’s listening to you. Is he serious when you’re speaking? Is he nodding his head? If the answer is yes, then he values your opinions. 

Observe simple or trivial things as well. Like if he wants to know how a particular colored shirt looks on him, for example. 

He Enjoys Long Conversations 

He enjoys long and deep interactions and conversations with you. You can talk endlessly about everything under the sun, and talk every day. Even if you can’t see each other, you have amazing conversations on the phone. 

Here are three important things to think about: 

• Who initiates the contact? 
• Does he call you or do you call him more? 
• Does he call and/or text regularly? 

If a man puts effort into talking to you and interacting with you everyday, then you are clearly very special to him. 

You are a Priority 

When a guy likes you, he will make you a priority. That means you are most likely the first person he talks to in the morning and the last one he talks to at night. I’ve heard many people say, think about the person on your mind first thing in the morning and last at night. That is who you’re meant to be with, and I firmly believe that as well. 

Just to clarify here, making you a priority doesn’t mean being clingy or needy in the relationship. You both should still be independent people. Think of it like wearing two hats. You wear one as yourself, and you wear one as a wife or girlfriend, and both compliment each other beautifully. 

When he makes you a priority, it means he is there when you need him. Even when life gets busy, as we all know it does, he still makes sure you know how much you matter to him. You shouldn’t have to fight for his attention and time. 

He Rarely Skips Commitments 

When a man is serious about you, he will take commitments seriously. It may be as simple as going out to dinner despite being dead tired. Unless something urgent comes up, he rarely cancels plans last minute. 

If he goes on a trip, he’ll text you when he gets there and when he makes it home, just so you know he is safe. If you ask him to do something specific, he makes sure to keep that promise. 

If you find that happening, canceling plans last minute or not keeping simple promises, he is definitely taking you for granted, and that is not a good sign. 

He Introduces You to Family and Friends 

We all know this is a big one. When a man introduces you to his family and friends, he is acknowledging your relationship and the fact it is a thing. 

If he takes you frequently to family gatherings, he is definitely thinking about a future with you. When you meet his family, he makes sure that you are comfortable. His family also treats you like you’re part of the group. 

You’ll likely hear some interesting stories about him along the way. 

He Wants to Meet Your Family and Friends 

He wants to meet and get to know your family and friends as well. 

You’ll clearly see he wants to make a good impression and is nervous about what they’ll think of him. When he does meet them, you should see him making a serious effort to be part of the group and have a good time. 

No guy goes through this trouble and effort if he isn’t serious about you. 

He Makes You Happy 

At the end of the day, he just wants to see you happy. He wants you to smile. 

This may be planning a surprise, getting you a gift, or simply making a joke to get you to laugh. 

This right here is one of the biggest things for me. My husband still makes me happy, and would do absolutely anything to get me to smile, especially when I am in a bad mood or complaining about something. He constantly wants to alleviate my stress for me. 

He Misses You 

If his friends have ever mentioned that he can’t stop talking about you, you can be sure he loves and misses you when you are not around. 

Nathan always texts me during his trips to tell me about how it is going, what he is doing, and anything else he deems important to share. At first I thought, go away and enjoy your time away. It is supposed to be fun. But it shows that he misses me and wants to share his joy and fun with me by telling me about it all. 

This is also an opportunity for me to cheer him on and encourage him to have fun. It is all about perspective, and I love that Nathan still misses me even now, after all these years together. 

He Says “We” Frequently 

The words “we” and “ours” are big words when it comes to a relationship. Those words mean a relationship, that you’re together for the long haul and not just a quick fling to pass the time. 

This also makes it clear to others in conversations that he is no longer single, or interested in going back to being single. 

I remember the defining moment for me when Nathan and I were dating, and it was getting our cat, Tigger. A co-worker mentioned that was a big step, buying a permanent thing together, or community property. It wasn’t mine or his, it was ours. We have a cat. 

He Respects Your Space 

Relationships are going to require adjustments from both sides, especially in the beginning. If he is in it for the long term, he’s not going to force you to move faster than you want to. 

He respects personal space and your need to adjust into the relationship before pushing it any closer. 

Respecing your space also means you have time for yourself and the things that make you happy. It isn’t about being together at every waking moment. It is about being able to be individuals, being able to recharge your batteries, and take care of yourself. 

This also means being able to have other relationships, with family and friends, without needing to be there and controlling the whole thing, or becoming jealous that he isn’t the only person in your life. If you don’t have space in your relationship, that is a red flag, and you need to pay attention to it. 

He Tries to Resolve Arguments 

No relationship is going to be without fights and disagreements. Despite being married for as long as I have, they still happen. Humans are emotional, messy, and make mistakes often. 

But if he is serious about you, he will try to resolve differences instead of escalating them. 

The biggest thing I’ve noticed is we both need to be heard. Listening goes a long way in arguments, and allowing each other to be heard. There isn’t always a right side and a wrong side. It isn’t black and white. 

You aren’t Just a Fling 

He doesn’t treat you as a fling. What that means is, he talks to you consistently. Not just when he’s bored, and then disappears until he’s bored again. 

When he is serious, he will maintain regular contact. 

He Trusts You 

Trust is the foundation of any relationship. 

When he trusts you, he’ll share not just the good things, but the bad ones with you. This includes fears and insecurities. 

He’ll open up about his past as well. 

I should also note that if he has spoken about deeply personal things too soon, like right after you started dating, there is something fishy. Would you open your heart to someone after only knowing them a week? If you wouldn’t equally share when he does, it is probably too soon. 

What that means is, if he’s opening up too quickly, he is luring you in with/for sympathy and it should be a red flag. Because women tend to stay with a man, want to fix them, and be better because of that sympathy. Which can turn into an abusive relationship, and you don’t deserve that. Don’t ignore the red flags, please! 

Opening up shows trust, absolutely, but that is earned. Earning trust takes time. There is no getting around that fact. 

He Shares His Interests 

He voluntarily shares things with you, like how his day went, what his hobbies are, and includes you in his interests. 

A great example of this is, if you know nothing about football and he is a fanatic, he will be more than happy to explain everything to you. 

He also wants to share your interests, hear about your day, and learn about your hobbies. 

One of my favorite things to do with Nathan is read each other’s favorite book. You can learn a lot about someone just by reading their favorite book. Which could be a neat opener, and conversation starter. 

He is Curious about You 

He is curious about your preferences, likes and dislikes. But being curious isn’t the end of it. He remembers these things. 

Examples of this are, your favorite color, vacation spot, brand of purses, These may seem like silly and frivolous things, but small details are important. Remember the phrase, “the devil is in the details.” It means he pays attention and keeps mental notes of things that are important to you. 

He is Patient 

On your bad days, he is patient with you, listens to your rants, and comforts you. He doesn’t judge you when you’re in a bad mood, or even a little snappy. 

I like to say that it takes the patience of a saint to deal with me, and my husband absolutely has that. Even now, I’m always amazed at how patient we both are with each other. 

He Loves your Quirks 

We all have certain quirks, oddities, and goofiness that makes us unique, and oftentimes less than perfect. Which is great. Perfect isn’t an attainable goal. If he truly loves you, he embraces your quirks and doesn’t mind them. 

In fact, he likely secretly finds your quirks to be cute. 

He Supports You 

He is your strongest pillar of support. Your rock. If you are in trouble, he will be there, right beside you. 

He motivates and encourages you to follow your dreams, become the best version of yourself, and keep pushing forward. 

Nothing makes him happier than to see you succeed. 

20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You Notes 

When you find someone like this, it is a true gift. You have an incredible partner going through the journey of life with you, and you can be incredibly successful together. 

Don’t ever settle for anything less than you deserve. 

When I go back and read these 20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You, thinking about both the beginning of my relationship with my husband, and now, I feel gratitude. I am always grateful that I found my person who is a great example of these traits. It always makes me strive to be the best wife I can be as well, because he is so amazing. 

We work together as a team, and support and love each other through the good and bad. 

20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You Discussion 

Have these 20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You helped you with your relationships? Are you in a good relationship with someone who exemplifies these traits? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

8 Ways to Build Trust in Your Marriage. Trust is essential in any relationship for it to be happy, healthy, and successful. But it can be a touchy subject to discuss for couples as well. Because it is scary. Especially when it comes to talking about if there is trust, or if this is something that needs to be worked on. 

A lack of trust puts a huge strain on any relationship. When building a relationship, trust is one big part of the foundation. Take that away, and cracks in the foundation will happen, causing it to become weak and start falling apart. Nobody wants that in their marriage! I certainly don’t want to see it happen to anyone either. 

When there is trust in a marriage, both partners feel safe and secure. That means both can be themselves, express feelings and emotions, and build each other up. Here are my favorite 8 Ways to Build Trust in Your Marriage! 

Honesty 

I feel like this one should be obvious, but it still needs to be stated. Without honesty, there is no trust. It cannot exist! 

Honesty isn’t just telling the truth though. It runs so much deeper than that in a marriage. It is about the ability to be open and honest about everything, no matter how big or small, and no matter how difficult the subject is. 

Honesty means that you can talk about absolutely anything. I think far too often most people are guilty of omitting something or simply skipping a necessary conversation altogether because it is a difficult or uncomfortable one. Is this lying? No, but it doesn’t qualify as honest or trustworthy either. 

Stick to Your Word 

If you say you’re going to do something, do it. No excuses, no lies, no nothing other than direct results and promises kept. It is that simple. You say you’ll do it, do it. Follow through and be reliable. If you can’t do it, don’t promise to do it and then fail. 

When you stick to your word, it gives power to your words. Remember back in the old days when a handshake and a promise was as good as a legal binding contract? Make your words count that same way in your marriage! 

Little Stuff Matters 

Little white lies add up to bigger lies. If you are lying about the small stuff, why would your partner believe you’re telling the truth about the bigger stuff? 

White lies are tiny chips at the foundation of trust in a marriage. They are like cavities. They start slowly as plaque, and slowly eat away at the tooth, until it is rotting, has holes, and needs to be forcefully removed entirely. 

Consistency 

Be predictable. Be dependable. Show up for your marriage! Consistency is one of the best ways to build trust. 

There is no room for anything else in a marriage. 

Things don’t always go according to the plan, and that is okay. But if a change is going to happen, it needs to be communicated and understood by both parties. 

Neither of you are mind readers. Don’t expect your partner to be one! Use your words if you aren’t able to be consistent at all times. 

Talk About the Hard Stuff 

I think that building trust requires some discomfort, and I’m pretty okay with that. I would rather talk about things than simply sweep them under the rug because it is uncomfortable. It isn’t always easy to bring these subjects up in conversation or get them started. 

This is difficult because every person is different, and they come from different backgrounds and perspectives. It is a great opportunity to learn more about your partner, because it requires good listening and communication skills. 

It isn’t just about discussing the hard stuff and being uncomfortable either. It is about learning who your partner is and why they feel the way they do about a subject. It is an opportunity to learn about their background and understand their perspective. You don’t have to agree with them, but it is still important to understand why they feel a specific way. 

Be prepared to be uncomfortable!

Don’t Be a Detective 

If you are looking for something wrong, you’re going to find it. When you look for problems, you’re guaranteeing yourself to find problems. Sit down. 

I’ll be the first to admit that I used to do this all the time, and I was disappointed every single time because I found the problems I was looking for. That came from my background of an abusive childhood. 

Part of building trust is seeing the best in someone instead of the worst, and making the conscious choice to focus on that instead of the negatives. 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn more about your partner. But also ask from an open minded place. There is nothing that will make your partner shut down faster than answering questions when it feels like an interrogation. 

Don’t Play the Blame Game 

Playing the blame game is like playing hot potato, only with blame, and that doesn’t build trust. It builds anxiety and hostility. No passing blame back and forth. 

Take responsibility for yourself and your actions. Because otherwise there is no actual problem solving going on. It is just arguing for the sake of hearing yourselves talk or yell. 

Keep in mind that there are two people in your marriage, and neither of you are perfect. Mistakes will be made. There is no avoiding it. I’ve been married since 2008, and guess what? We both still make mistakes. 

It is crucial to take responsibility for your own mistakes and things that happened. Hold on to the hot potato instead of passing it off to your partner! 

Move On 

There is a reason that the windshield in a car is so big, and the rearview mirror is so small in comparison. There is no use holding on to the past and the mistakes that were made. Mistakes should be a lesson, not a life sentence. 

Moving on from mistakes and problems is vital to building trust. You can’t change it. What you can do is learn from it though. Remember that the best apology is changed behavior. 

8 Ways to Build Trust in Your Marriage Notes 

Working on your marriage and building trust is an amazing thing. But never stop working on yourself at the same time! I always strive to be the best wife, while also striving to be the best woman that I can be right along with that. They really do go hand in hand, and work together. 

Trust is one piece of the puzzle in a marriage, and that marriage won’t function well without that piece. 

8 Ways to Build Trust in Your Marriage Discussion 

Do you have trust in your marriage? Is that something you need to work on? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

All marriages face ups and downs, it is inevitable. Having been married to my husband since 2008, I can tell you that this is absolutely true. 

One of the biggest downs in a marriage is a lack of romance, and that is always a problem. Life gets in the way, we move from the honeymoon phase to being mundane and boring adults and just going about daily life with no real excitement or intentions. 

The key to a long lasting and happy marriage is romance. You have to keep the romance alive in your marriage. It is important to never stop dating your husband. But flirting is also essential to any marriage. 

Flirting makes you or your husband feel special, wanted, and needed. It shows that you’re still interested in them and excited about each other. 

Here are my favorite 7 ways to flirt with your husband. 

Leave Notes for Him 

I’m not talking about just a simple I love you note either. Feel free to spice it up, be explicit about what you want when he gets home from work that night. 

Leave it in his wallet, pants pocket, or even in his vehicle. That way when he’s leaving for work, he will find it and be excited to come home and see you after work. 

Part of romance is the excitement of anticipating something coming later that night when he comes home or after the kids go to bed. 

Kiss Him 

Greeting him with a kiss, a real and passionate kiss will certainly bring some excitement. It also tells him that you are genuinely happy to see him and excited to spend time with him. 

Be intentional about it. He’s not your grandmother, so go for the lips, add in some tongue, push him up against a wall, however you want to show him that you want and need him is perfect. 

Touch Him 

Rub his back, his side, or even his butt as he walks by you in the house. I think it is incredibly sexy when my husband does chores in the house, so I make it a point to touch him as he is. A nice smack on the butt with a sexy smile says a lot. 

Touch lets him know that you appreciate him, but it also speaks volumes to desire and anticipation. 

Compliment Him 

Before he leaves for work, tell him how handsome he looks and how much you want him. 

You can also tell him that you want to see more of him later. Or that his clothes look good on him, but you are looking forward to taking them off of him later. 

Be creative with compliments. They don’t have to simply be “you look nice, babe.” When my husband buys new pants of any kind, the first thing I notice is how his butt looks in them, and I will tell him that. What do you notice about your husband? Have you told him how much you enjoy that? 

Text Him 

During the day, send him a text to let him know that you are excited about spending some alone time with him tonight after the kids go to bed. 

Tell him something specific you want to do, or have him do to you. You can be as explicit as you want here, as that will add to the excitement. If you aren’t normally direct, this is a perfect opportunity to catch him off guard and show a different side of yourself by doing so. 

Dress Up 

Dressing up (or down) can easily become a focal point. Wearing something different, showing a little more skin, or simply wearing nothing can be very exciting. This shows him that you made the effort just for him, and he won’t be able to take his eyes off of you. 

Order a new lingerie set and set it aside where he won’t see it, and then surprise him with it one night. Order him some new and different underwear as well. Dress up together and have some fun with it. 

Hold Hands 

Holding hands while sitting on the couch, walking through the grocery store and planning dinner, or even while in the car. That simple physical touch shows love, compassion, and intimacy. 

7 Ways to Flirt with Your Husband Notes 

One of my favorite aspects of this list is how simple all of these things are to do. They don’t take any extra time or effort. But the result for such little effort is huge in terms of keeping the spark alive within your marriage. It is the best return on your investment, in my opinion. 

A lack of intimacy and romance are easily the biggest reason that marriages fail, and I don’t want to see that happen to anyone. Marriage is hard work, but totally worth it. 

7 Ways to Flirt with Your Husband Discussion 

Has this post helped you in any way? What are some ways you flirt with your husband? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

5 Signs You’re a Controlling Wife 

5 signs you’re a controlling wife. Are you a controlling wife? If so, why? That is the question that I really want to address here, and help you set yourself up to be the best wife instead of a controlling wife. 

Why are you a controlling wife? If you suffer from any (or all) of the 5 signs that you’re a controlling wife, there is a reason(s) behind that, and it may not be what you think. 

• You always have to do things your way. 
• You freak out if things don’t go as planned. 
• You struggle with anxiety. 
• You get upset if people have a different opinion than yours. 
• You are never wrong. 

Why You’re a Controlling Wife 

I didn’t trust my husband 

Now there was no true reason for not trusting my husband. It was all based in my background. I grew up in an extremely abusive home, being raised by a classic narcissist. I spent the first thirty years of my life living in survival mode, and breaking that cycle to transition from surviving to thriving was a serious struggle. 

Trust is a very difficult thing when you’ve been abused in any way in the past. Turning into the person in charge and doing the controlling is a survival technique. Because when you were abused, you were the weak one who was being preyed upon by someone bigger or stronger who saw you as weak and an easy target. 

If you’re in a healthy relationship, you don’t need survival techniques, you need to thrive. You deserve to thrive. 

It is still a struggle even today, simply because I am still healing from years of abuse that were ingrained in my head. Old habits die hard, and I have to focus on breaking them daily. Cycle breaking is difficult, but certainly not impossible. 

Lack of humility 

It is really easy to think you know best and your opinion is the only one that matters when you are a controlling wife. For me, part of this stemmed from being raised by a narcissist and not trusting my husband. 

But here’s the thing… Marriage is a partnership, a team sport. If you’re controlling, you aren’t even allowing for compromise. Or to hear your husband’s opinions. That isn’t a partnership, that’s a dictatorship. 

Anxiety 

My anxiety was from constantly living in survival mode and waiting for shit to hit the fan and explode constantly. From an early age, I never knew what would set my mother off on one of her angry hate-driven rages aimed straight at me for something I said or did wrong. 

It is also significantly easier to think about what could go wrong instead of what could go right. I think that is easy for every woman out there. 

When you start feeling anxious, stop and do two things. One, list three things that you’re grateful for. Gratitude is just good for your mental health, no matter how you look at it. Two, for every one thing you think can go wrong in a scenario, list off three things that can go right in comparison. This is a great way to train your brain to see both good and bad and how to evaluate them, instead of just being completely focused on the negatives. 

Does giving up control mean you’re a doormat? 

Are you going to have to give up opinions, become submissive, let go of dreams and goals, just to avoid being a controlling wife? 

No! Say that with me, no! 

Giving up control does not mean you’re handing over control to your husband. Read that again. That doesn’t mean you have to make any kind of sacrifice in your life. Remember how I said that marriage is a partnership and not a dictatorship earlier? Giving up being a controlling wife means you’re willing to transition from being a dictator to being a partner, and nothing bad can come of that! 

Control is abuse 

Control is a form of abuse, and it doesn’t matter who is the one trying to control the other. I will never control my husband’s life or his choices, but that certainly doesn’t mean I’m going to submit and allow him to control mine either. 

Just because you give up control doesn’t mean you start allowing yourself to be controlled instead of being controlling yourself. As I said, control is a form of abuse, and it is worth repeating. 

When I realized that I was a completely controlling wife and wanted to change that, it meant that I made a conscious effort to talk to my husband, and listen even more than I spoke. It required problem solving, and not simply giving directions. 

When I gave up control, it meant that I made the effort to find compromise when I disagreed with my husband. No more “my way or the highway.” Or, “happy wife, happy life.” Those phrases were coined for controlling wives. 

Look In the Mirror 

If you are a controlling wife, you need to look inside at yourself. Which isn’t fun, I’m going to be the first to admit. But you have to answer for yourself why you’re a controlling wife. 

For me, this was an easy question to answer. I lived in survival mode and didn’t know how to love myself or to trust my husband. 

Once you answer that for yourself, it is time to start making changes. You can’t change anyone’s behavior, actions, choices, or responses but your own. You are absolutely in control of your own actions and choices. It is time to start making a conscious choice to take positive actions within your life. I strive to be the best woman that I can be and love myself. 

By striving to be the best version of myself and loving myself, I don’t need to be controlling. Because I’m not an easy target for someone else to abuse me ever again. I refuse to allow myself to ever be a target again. 

I wasn’t the only person my mother abused. She abused my dad and tried to control him when he was alive. He submitted to her and remained quiet simply to keep the peace. I realized that wasn’t the kind of wife that I wanted to be and it was time to break that cycle. 

I still have opinions and voice them 

Giving up control didn’t mean submitting to my husband and doing what I was told. Far from it! Because I’ll never be a well behaved woman, in that regard, and I’m perfectly happy with that. 

It meant that I voiced my opinions, but I also gave my husband the opportunity to do the exact same thing, then find the happy medium that makes both of us happy. In a marriage, both partners need to be and deserve to be heard. I’m not married just to smile and do what I’m told. There was a shift into my marriage becoming a partnership when I made the choice to stop being a controlling wife. 

Making that shift also meant my husband had more of an opportunity to thrive. It built trust and made him feel safe to voice his opinions and start working with me to find compromises when necessary. He knew that he could have a differing opinion than I did and feel safe to voice that. 

Realizing when I got older that my dad never had that opportunity when he was married to my mother made me sad. But at the same time I’m extremely proud that my own husband has those opportunities and doesn’t have to stay quiet and submissive just to keep the peace in our household. That was a pretty big step in breaking that cycle of being a controlling wife. 

Signs you’re a controlling wife and how to change that 

You always have to do things your way 

You’re not perfect or always right. Understanding this and being willing to hear other options and alternatives is the key here. If you’re passionate about something, fight for it. But know when to pick your battles and when to listen and find a compromise. 

You freak out if things don’t go as planned 

I was once the person who wanted to do everything in a single day. I would plan three days worth of outings and activities to cram into a single eight hour day. Then I had a full meltdown when I failed to do everything. 

If I planned it (because I was always right and we did things my way), I was dead set on accomplishing it, and it felt like I was a total failure if I didn’t do it all. 

Being flexible is part of learning your own limitations and working with it. Things will never be perfect, but that doesn’t mean they are miserable or that you’ve failed. This is a shift in mindset, and with that shift comes the ability to be more flexible. 

You struggle with anxiety 

I struggled with anxiety until I became a prepper. Emergency preparedness is focused on having a plan and the skills to put that plan into place when things happen. This allowed me to shift how I responded to things happening in my life, which is absolutely something I can control. Controlling my own responses through prepping is also far easier than trying to control another person. 

When I learned how to control my response, I found my anxiety went down. I also focused on gratitude and a much more positive attitude. One of my favorite phrases is, “what you focus on grows.” What do you want to focus on and grow? Anxiety and negativity? Or something more positive? You have your answer, so you know where to shift your focus! 

You get upset if people have a different opinion than yours 

Everybody is going to have a different opinion than you do. That’s okay! The world would seriously be boring if everyone agreed with me, or you. 

When you are controlling, that differing opinion feels like criticism or a personal attack on who you are at your core. Which never feels good, I know. It is hard to hear without taking it very personally. 

Being willing to hear other opinions (you don’t have to agree, we can all agree to disagree when necessary), is a sign of strength and confidence. 

You will also start to realize which opinions matter and which ones don’t. An example is, my husband’s opinion means everything to me and I want to hear it, even if I may not like it. My favorite person’s opinion matters because I know that just like my husband, he’s looking out for me. Everyone else, well, they really don’t matter and I have come to understand that. Knowing which opinions to really hear and which ones to ignore is also important. 

You are never wrong 

Forgiving people who think they’re never wrong has always been a challenge for me. Because it means they lack the ability to take any kind of responsibility for their actions, and I have no respect for that. 

I’ll be the first to admit when I’m wrong and you should be doing the same. Because it makes your words that much stronger and more impactful. It also builds both trust and respect, because you have the capability to admit when you are wrong and be humble about it. 

5 Signs You’re a Controlling Wife Discussion

Are you a controlling wife, or were you once one and have changed? What steps did you take to change? Is it time to start making those changes within yourself? Did these 5 signs you’re a controlling wife help you? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

I have been married to Nathan since 2008, and that’s a pretty healthy chunk of time. Anyone who has been married for a long time knows that marriage and daily life can become boring and monotonous. Life gets in the way, and we forgo romance for practicality. 

The key to a successful marriage is to stay engaged with each other and bonding. Making time for each other is essential! Here are my favorite 8 bonding activities for couples. 

Cooking and Eating a Meal Together 

I will be the first to say that I love making dinner with my husband. My favorite recipes can be found here. We all have to eat, so why not capitalize on that need and enjoy interacting with each other? 

Marrying Nathan is actually what inspired me to learn how to cook and start doing it well. So my time and memories cooking with him will always hold a very special place in my heart. 

I also have a very strict no phones during dinner rule, because that is our time together, and nobody gets to interrupt that. Which I also think is essential to any relationship. 

Cleaning Together 

Just like with cooking, chores around the house allow you to work together and interact with each other while maintaining an organized home. 

One of Nathan’s love languages is acts of service. Meaning he loves to help and wants to constantly. He is always offering to help me around the house, especially when I can’t reach things, as I’m almost a foot shorter than him. 

Reading Together 

Nathan and I are both avid readers, and you can find our favorite books here. We take time a couple of times a week to read together. Sometimes when my eyes are hurting, he’ll read to me. Or I’ll pick up a book that I know is a favorite of his so I can discuss it with him later. Right now I’m listening to the Lord of the Rings series on audiobook and following along in the actual book that belongs to Nathan. 

This is so much fun because it is a quiet time without interruptions, and gives us something fun to talk about when we are done. We both really enjoy talking about our books, even when we are reading two totally different books. 

Bathing Together 

We all have to shower daily, right? Why not cash in on a wonderful opportunity to spend time together? My favorite part about this is the fact we can’t take our phones into the shower with us. So it is literally the most perfect opportunity to enjoy some distraction-free communication together. 

Plus it can lead to other bedroom activities, if you should so choose. Sometimes it does for us, sometimes not. But either way, it is a great opportunity to just spend time together. 

Planning Together 

When couples set future goals together, they have something to both look forward to and work for. This just feels good. Because planning our future is important, and it also reminds couples that they are in a relationship together. 

Marriage is a team sport, so reminders that you’re in it together is essential. 

Enjoy Each Other’s Hobbies 

What does your husband enjoy that you can try to do with him? What is your favorite hobby that you could teach your husband about? 

Engaging in each other’s hobbies doesn’t have to be a constant thing, but giving it a try and showing excitement and a willingness to learn about something that is important to each of you is essential, because it shows you care about your partner. 

Nathan loves Legos, and I really don’t know much about them, to be perfectly honest. One day I purchased a small Lego model of the Star Wars character BB-8. I still have it in my office, actually. We sat down at the kitchen table and he taught me how to put it together. He probably could have done it in three minutes, but it took me a solid twenty. I’ll never forget how patient he was with me, and showing me how to do it, and helping me find the pieces needed. It is still one of my favorite memories of us together. 

Being Intimate 

This doesn’t just mean sex. Although that is an important aspect of any healthy relationship. Intimacy includes sex, but shouldn’t be limited to that. It also means kissing, cuddling, massage, and general touch. 

Intimacy is so important because it is another way that we show love to each other. 

Sharing Memories 

It can be a lot of fun to spend some time walking down memory lane. I don’t think we do it often enough, to be honest. Memories remind us of events in our past, but they also invoke the same emotions and feelings we experienced during those moments. 

A great example is, if you read about me putting a Lego set together with Nathan earlier. Talking about that, I can still feel those same great emotions as I typed that part out. Taking that stroll down memory lane with your partner will do the exact same thing, and can remind us of some amazing times and experiences we’ve shared. 

It can also teach you things about each other, even after many years of being married. Sometimes memories are kept tucked away in our minds, that we don’t share until just the right time, and we learn something about our partner. I still learn things about Nathan and his past as time goes on and he shares a memory with me. 

8 Bonding Activities for Couples Notes 

My favorite part of this list is that none of these things are complicated. It is easy to do when we go about it with intention and purpose. 

Bonding together as a couple is essential for any healthy relationship to survive, but not just to survive, to thrive as well. Which is something we all should be striving for, to thrive in our marriage and continue growing together as a couple. 

I hope this post has inspired you to make certain you’re bonding with your husband or partner and making sure you continue to have a successful relationship for many years to come together! 

8 Bonding Activities for Couples Discussion 

Do you and your partner do any of these bonding activities with any consistency? Or is that something you need to work on together? Has this list helped you with ideas? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

You should be thanking your husband every single day. He should be thanking you too, but I’m here to focus on you right now. 

Saying thank you is a way to show both gratitude and kindness. The world needs a lot more of that in general! But we can all start at home, with thanking our husbands. 

7 simple ways to thank your husband daily will result in a couple of amazing things. One, you’ll start noticing more of the wonderful little things he does everyday. I think that is essential for the survival of any marriage. Two, you’ll find that voicing your gratitude is often reciprocated. 

When you strive to be the best wife, you’ll get the best husband in return, because you’re setting the example and showing him how much you love and respect him. He knows how amazing that feels and will want to give you the same thing in return. 

Here are my favorite 7 simple ways to thank your husband daily. 

Send Him a Thoughtful Text 

Remember when you first started dating and you’d text each other all the time? Get back into that! Instead of asking him to do something like stop by the store on the way home or to start dinner, send a surprise text. 

Try: 

• I’m grateful for you. 
• I’m thinking about you!
• Thank you for taking out the trash this morning. 
• Thanks for being an amazing husband. 
• You’re the best. 

When was the last time you sent your husband a text like that? If you can’t remember, there’s no better time than now to send one! 

Write Him a Note 

Go old school with pen and paper. Texting is great, don’t get me wrong. It’s how I tend to do things more often than not. But there is something seriously amazing about a handwritten love note. 

Write your gratitude down on a sticky note and put it somewhere as a nice surprise. Or simply say, I love you. 

You can put it in his vehicle, on the refrigerator, mirror, in his wallet, or on his pillow. Little reminders that you love him and are grateful for him make a huge impact and show him that he’s loved and a priority in your life. 

Turn Dinner Into a Date Night 

I love date nights with my husband. They are so much fun, because I love how excited Nathan gets about taking me out and spending time with me. 

But here is the amazing thing. You don’t have to go out to turn a simple bland boring night at home into a full date night. If you have kids, put them to bed. Then do everything just like you would on a date night. 

Dress up, put some effort into your hair and makeup. Light candles, use the good plates and sit at the table and not the couch, and drink from wine glasses. No tv, no phones, no interruptions. Just you, your husband, amazing food, and some quality conversation. Then cuddle together while you watch a favorite movie. 

It is such a fun and amazing way to surprise your husband! 

Write “Thank You” on the Mirror in Lipstick 

This is a great way to surprise your husband. I highly doubt he’ll be expecting this. 

You can also find other ways to really get creative in how you say thank you. This will add to the wow factor and can make it more meaningful to do something outside the normal and boring. 

Tell Him You’re Grateful 

Sometimes the words “thank you” can become a bit boring and monotonous. We say thank you to be polite often, like when someone holds the door for us, or when someone says bless you because you sneezed. It’s an automatic habit to say thank you to certain things, right? So the actual meaning and impact of those words are often lost. 

Try saying “I’m grateful for you” instead, because it is different. That can show a lot more intention and have a bigger impact than simply saying thank you. 

Have a Conversation 

I talk to my husband every single day, as I’m sure you do too. But the problem is, when was the last time you had a real conversation? One that didn’t revolve around mundane daily stuff like kids, dinner, bills, or errands needing done. It is way too easy to fall into that trap, because life happens. 

One of the best ways we can show gratitude is simply to listen. Remember when you were dating and you would hang on every word that he said? Let’s get back to that! 

Find Each Other’s Love Language and Use It 

If you don’t know your husband’s love language, you need to learn it! Seriously. This can absolutely make or break a marriage. 

We all have our own love language, and if you don’t know what your husband’s is, it is literally like speaking a different language. This doesn’t mean you don’t love your husband, it means you aren’t loving him the right way. Because your love language and his may not be the same. That is why knowing each other’s love language is essential. 

Once you do know his love language, use it, and use it every day. This is one of the ways I strive to be the best wife everyday. 

7 Simple Ways to Thank Your Husband Daily Notes 

One of the things I love about this list is that they’re all really easy to do! It takes such a minimal amount of effort on your part, yet can have an absolutely amazing impact on your marriage and your husband. 

Showing gratitude and saying thank you simply feels good to do! I always want to make my husband feel like he’s the best, because he is. Lifting him up and making him feel good is important to me. 

7 Simple Ways to Thank Your Husband Daily Discussion 

Do you say thank you to your husband daily? Has this list given you new ideas and ways to say thank you and express gratitude? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

Marriage is hard work, we all know this. I’ve said it before because it is true. Marriage is definitely not an easy thing. But it is such a rewarding thing that brings me a lot of joy. 

The fact my marriage brings me so much joy (and I hope yours does too!) is something I don’t think is talked about nearly enough. It is work, but it is absolutely amazing at the same time. 

Life and marriage aren’t about the big things. It’s about the little things that we can do for each other, to show how much we care, or to simply make each other smile. I find these things not only fun, but I love going about them with intention. 

Here are my favorite 7 Ways to Improve Your Marriage Daily! 

Cuddle 

Cuddles are just good for the soul. Wrapping your arms around each other and just taking a moment to forget about everything else except being together in that moment is the best feeling ever. 

Life gets busy, as we all know. And unfortunately, simple things like cuddles and physical touch can become really easy to ignore. If physical touch is your love language, this can really hurt. 

The big thing here is to be intentional about it. It isn’t just a quick hug or pat on the back and keep going. It is about completely stopping to focus on each other and being in that moment. This doesn’t mean it needs to be long or drawn out. The key here is going at it with intention and focus, not allowing ourselves to be distracted in that moment. When was the last time you took that time and were intentional about it? 

Look Into Each Other’s Eyes 

There is nothing better than when I look into Nathan’s eyes and I am the sole focus. There is a smile and sparkle I see in his eyes, and I love when they’re just for me. When was the last time you made it a point to really look into your husband’s eyes? 

It’s a choice to stop and really intentionally take the time to look into each other’s eyes. I think far too often we use technology and distractions as excuses not to do things like this. But distractions are everywhere. The question is, are you willing to say no to distractions, or do you use them as an excuse? 

Have a Conversation 

When was the last time you and your husband just sat down and had a conversation? What to do for dinner or the kid’s activities for the week, or bills don’t count either. We talk to each other throughout the day, I know. I talk to Nathan about whatever needs taken care of just as much as any other couple do. 

But when was the last time y’all had a real conversation? Conversations that are focused on each other, no distractions, just listening to each other and learning something new or profound about each other. My guess is, you may be struggling to remember the last time this happened. 

I say you may be struggling to remember the last time because I’ve been there many, many times. It is far too easy to get distracted by the day to day stuff, and ignore the need for a real conversation. 

Acknowledge the Difficulties the Other is Facing 

We all go through things, and it isn’t always something that affects the other person. Because of that, it can be really easy to feel like you’re facing it alone. Marriage is supposed to mean that you don’t have to face tough things alone, because you’re sharing it with your husband, and he’s sharing things with you as well. 

Actively listening to each other and acknowledging the struggle that each of you may be facing is a big deal. Because you’re showing your husband that you’re there for him, you hear his struggles, and you can empathize and offer support. He should be doing the same thing for you. 

There is no “I” in marriage. It is a team sport, so it is essential to be there for each other, and make sure that neither of you face difficult times alone. 

Ask “Is There Anything I Can Do For You?” 

This is seriously one of the most powerful things you and your husband can ask each other! It is such a simple question, yet it shows so much love and support for each other. It is one of my favorite questions. 

It doesn’t have to be a huge need either. I’m short, like shrinking under 5 feet tall as I get older. Reaching the top shelves in my kitchen is considered dangerous for me to attempt. When Nathan knows I’m planning a meal or to work on developing a new recipe while he’s at work, he’ll ask me what I need to make it. Then he’ll get out all the pans, pantry ingredients, and whatever else I need before he goes to work. 

Sometimes a need can be as simple as that, or even just a hug. I have commented several times about how few hugs I’ve had lately because time just doesn’t allow me to see Nathan for more than a few minutes at a time. Summer is the worst for this, so I find myself asking for extra hugs when I need them. 

Asking this question reminds each of us that we’re in this together and are willing to step up and help when needed. It is one of the easiest ways to make each other feel loved and supported. This is easily my favorite tip in the 7 Ways to Improve Your Marriage Daily.

Be Honest About How You’re Feeling 

Being honest builds trust, and shows that you respect each other. This means both the good and the bad. 

If you’re feeling exhausted or overwhelmed for whatever reason, tell him! 

If you’re happy, express gratitude and appreciation, or simply say thank you for something your husband did for you. 

Remember that y’all signed up for better and for worse when you got married. That means sharing both the good and the bad. Effective communication means talking about the things that are meaningful in your lives. 

Make Each Other Smile 

Making each other smile just makes you feel good! Why wouldn’t you want more of that in your life? I know I do! Making each other smile brings both of us joy, and helps to ward off stress. 

This can be as simple as making your husband coffee in the morning, telling a funny joke, or even a random extra spontaneous hug. Making each other smile is one of the most powerful ways to build a stronger marriage. 

Nathan will randomly lick my forehead when we’re hugging, and it makes me squirm. Because, seriously, who licks someone’s head? I know, it’s totally weird, but it makes me laugh, just because it’s so random. Then he tells me that I have a flavor. He does it just to make me laugh, and I love that. 

Another favorite is whoever goes to the grocery store will randomly pick up something that isn’t on the list that we know the other loves. Nathan picked up gummy worms, for example, last week. Didn’t say a word, just picked them up and let me find them when he came home and I was unloading the bag to put it all away. It is so simple, yet thoughtful and really made me smile. 

Making each other smile doesn’t need to be some giant production. Simplicity is key, in my opinion. But taking the time, especially when it is unexpected, is something that isn’t easy to forget because it makes you feel so good. 

7 Ways to Improve Your Marriage Daily Notes 

One of my favorite aspects of this list is that it isn’t overly complicated. Starting with these simple daily actions can make a huge difference in not only building a stronger marriage, but contribute to your overall happiness. 

7 Ways to Improve Your Marriage Daily Discussion 

Do you and your husband practice these habits daily? Is there a place where you can improve on this list, or something you want to add that you do? If these 7 Ways to Improve Your Marriage Daily have helped you, let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

I’ve been married to my husband, Nathan, since 2008. That’s a pretty significant chunk of time, and it isn’t always easy. Marriage takes work, and lots of it. There are times when I want to smother Nathan with a pillow because he’s irritating me. And I swear that in those moments, he goes out of his way to do the best job at it that he possibly can. 

The fact is that it happens to everyone. No matter how much we normally get along, there will be times your husband is infuriating, and you’ll do the exact same thing to him. Why? Relationships are emotional and messy, and it is just human nature. 

However, instead of smothering your husband with a pillow, (I know, it sounds great in your head at that moment!), let’s focus on growing and learning in these moments, and taking a much healthier and more productive route to reconnect and maintain your sanity. 

The key to a successful marriage is to love your husband, even when you’re struggling to like him. 

Don’t Take Yourself, or Your Husband, Too Seriously 

Life is short! Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself and each other. Allow yourself the ability to make mistakes, say stupid things, and then learn from it. 

There was a day where Nathan made one of the dumbest demands I’d ever heard come out of his mouth. It took some serious self-control not to tell him just that, but I instead simply walked away. Later he came and apologized, as he should have. He absolutely took the high road on this one, and I both respected and appreciated it. At that moment, as we were talking about it, I started laughing, because his demand wasn’t even something he could actually do, and I pointed that out. 

Minus the apology from him, this wasn’t even worth a discussion. We both just laughed and kept right on going. If you can’t laugh at your own stupidity and own it, as there is usually plenty to go around from both partners, what is the point of life? Nobody is getting out of it alive, so lighten up and laugh when the moment presents itself. 

Chill Out 

Relax, take a hike, do something that will calm your mind and body. When a couple can find ways to relax, they are far less likely to get irritated by little things. You know the old phrase, “don’t sweat the petty things, and don’t pet the sweaty things,” really applies in this instance. Chill, and just roll with things. 

Take a minute to simply breathe. Taking that time gives you the opportunity to be more mindful in that moment, instead of being so mad that the censor between your brain and your mouth has a complete failure. 

Remember how earlier I said I had to walk away when Nathan said something dumb? That moment allowed me the time to breathe instead of telling him just what I thought about what he had to say. Because I’m here to tell you that without taking the time to breathe, the censor between my brain and my mouth really does fail, and that just makes things worse more often than not. 

Be Mesmerized by His Eyes, Again 

Eyes are the window to the soul. Looking into your husband’s eyes will remind you that he is your husband and not the span of satan. Looking into his eyes is a great reminder that he’s still a human, he’s your husband, and he’s the person you love. 

Always remember who he is, and why you married him. He’s not there just to make your life miserable, despite feeling like it at that moment. He’s there to be part of the journey we call life, and he’s picked you to take that journey with. Look deeply into his eyes and remember that. 

Hopefully he does the same to you when you’re having one of your own moments where he wants to smother you with a pillow. 

Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Ears 

Laura over at Cycle Breaker Parents said once that every single behavior tells us something, and that is something that has stuck with me ever since. When you stop talking and listen, it becomes easier to see what your husband is trying to tell you through his behavior. Because I guarantee the answer isn’t just to irritate or infuriate you. There is something deeper behind that. 

But too often we forget to shut our mouth and open our ears to actually find the root of the problem. Are you striving to be the best wife you can be, or is your husband feeling like he’s not a priority in your life? Is he taking care of himself properly? Is he being given the time and encouragement to do so? 

Every behavior tells you something. The real question is, are you open to seeing it and hearing the deeper message behind it? 

Relive Old Memories 

Stop and think about why you fell in love with your husband. What attracted you to him? What was your favorite date night you’ve had? Why was it so special? What are the qualities that drew you to him in the first place? Some of my favorite memories with Nathan are meals that we’ve made together. 

All of these things were the foundation and building blocks to your relationship, and ultimately to your marriage. Taking the time to remember these things will also serve as a reminder that your husband is still a person, and should still be the person you love. 

Take a look at old pictures, think about the memories, and remember the feelings those events evoked in those moments. One of my favorite memories is an old picture from when I was first dating Nathan, taken at the coast. It was an amazing trip. Some ten years later, he wanted to go back and take another photo in the exact same place, the exact same pose, everything. It was so sweet, and something I love looking back at. 

Think about your own memories like that, and enjoy them. 

Reorganize Your Priorities 

Is your husband a priority in your life? Have you two developed bad habits or do you have a healthy relationship? Sometimes we need to take a step back and evaluate these things. If they aren’t working, well, let’s fix it. Remember that a successful marriage isn’t two perfect people. It is two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other. 

Sometimes when I start fighting with Nathan, it is because I don’t feel heard or listened to, and I have to break out the fair fighting rules so that it becomes a safer discussion for both of us, as I tend to become angry when I don’t feel heard. That is something that has really helped us over the years. 

As I said earlier, every behavior tells you something. So the question is, do you need to reorganize your priorities because your husband doesn’t feel like he’s at the top of that list? That can be a huge catalyst for behavior changes, and you may need to stop and reorganize your priorities. 

Cuddle Up 

Sometimes when you’re not happy with your husband, this tip seems close to impossible. I get it, because I’ve been there. Nathan always wants to be cuddly when he knows I’m not happy with him, and I’m not always the most willing to accept that display of love and affection. 

But it is absolutely necessary to cuddle together. Physical touch is not only a love language, it is the building block of strong and long-lasting bonds. Sometimes this is one of the best reminders that your husband is still your husband, no matter how much he irritates you at times. A good cuddle session can rekindle those feelings, evoke great memories, and just remind both of you how much you love each other. 

Discussion 

Marriage is hard work, as I’ve said before. But it is certainly worth repeating. There will be times you don’t like your husband because of something he’s said or done. It’s going to happen, no matter what, because nobody is perfect. Don’t expect perfection, or you’re going to constantly be very disappointed. But the key is to love your husband, even when you struggle to like him. 

As with everything in life, everyone is different. Some of these tips may or may not work for you. Have these tips helped you in any way? Do you have any suggestions to add? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!