You probably already know this but it doesn’t take much to inspire me.  If you were to ask my husband, friends or family, they’d all tell you (likely while chuckling at the very thought of it) I’m quite easily inspired.  

I look for the beauty all around me; in people, trees, flowers, the rising and setting of the sun and anything else I encounter in the world.  I’m also inspired greatly by you.

Emails I receive from many of you daily (even if I can no longer reply to them all) continue to keep the fire burning and inspire me to do better and to be better.  

Then there are times when I’m inspired by the least likely suspect: People who leave rude, vulgar or unkind comments. 

It might seem odd to be inspired by those who come across as incredibly rude or those who leave unkind and vulgar comments, but that is exactly what inspired today’s post.  A few days ago, I received this comment from someone clearly not a part of this club and just passing through:

“You ladies are only lying to yourself. LOL. Stepford Wives over here. Keep swallowing all that $%@! pretty soon it won’t smell so bad, since you’ll be drowning in it…” (I’ve taken the liberty of replacing the profanity in her comments with characters instead.)

It wasn’t for a couple days before I saw the comment but chose to respond in spite of the attacking nature of it.

“Sorry you’re a Stepford Wife. I can’t join you in that, however, because that simply isn’t my life. I do, however, love being married and adore my husband to pieces. You and I just have two very different lives…and that’s okay. That’s what makes the world go round. Wishing you the best!”

Her response to that comment: “Right so happy that you spend all your time online bragging and posting a response to everyone on here…not buying your $%@!. Get a life. Anyways I gotta get ready to go to the park with my kid. Marriage is awesome and sometimes we want to run for the hills….However people who act like things are perfect are the ones living in denial…much like you. I stay clear of people like you who present an image and feel the need to get fulfillment through social media. Desperate if you ask me…but then again I’m a realist. Tata stepford wife!”

My second and final response to her shared something I believe greatly and every bit of science and research has supported: Happy marriages are only possible if both spouses make a moment-by-moment choice to be happy.  Happiness, no matter how we slice, is a choice.  Couples who are genuinely happy make a decision to love, honor, cherish, respect and be grateful for each other daily.  These are their personal decisions and they are rewarded handsomely for them.

It’s that simple.  And yet incredibly difficult for many.

I then closed my response with something I believe to be worth repeating here: “I do not believe perfection in marriage exists. It can’t because it involves two imperfect people. But there are happily married couples all over the world and I’ve traveled to 6 continents to meet and interview them. Perfect they are not. In love and happy after decades and decades of marriage…they most certainly are.  Wishing you the best and so happy we can agree that marriage is awesome (and never perfect).”

Marriage cannot and never will be perfect but you have the power to make it perfect for you…and just flat out amazing!  You have the power to create the marriage of your dreams each and every waking moment of your day.  I’m enjoying my journey.  What about you?

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

THE NEW YORK TIMES® BEST-SELLING BOOK: It’s been described as, “Like Eat, Pray, Love but not down on marriage.” Make sure to check out the Happy Wives Club book.  I had the great honor of traveling to 12 countries on 6 continents, interviewing couples happily married 25 years or more, with 1 mission only: to find out what makes marriages happy…and keeps them that way.  It’s a marriage book like none other.  Guaranteed.

Have you been wanting to go on a date with your spouse but, unfortunately, it’s not been in the budget as of late?  Rest assured, you’re not along.  

A few weeks ago, I received a comment on a new date ideas article I’d posted asking if I could create a list of date ideas that could be done with little to no money.  

I assured the HWC community member I would, and because of that, we all benefit!  

After going through every popular date night post on this site, and narrowing it down to the ones that could be done for free or very little money, this list was composed.  

Some of these are date ideas submitted by you on our HWC community page.  Some we found while scouring the web.  And the rest are all home grown ideas.

So without further ado, here are: 

25 Frugal or Free Date Ideas

1. Take a Free Fitness Class.  Have you noticed that nearly every new fitness studio has a “first class free” special?  Many of them even have 2 week free passes.  Take them up on their offer! 

You’re never committed to buy anything and they just gave you at least one free date with your honey.  Workout together and then come home and get washed off together (I’ll let you decide what that means).  And if you want to stay in, while still getting in a great workout, have fun with a little Sexercise.

2. Kid-Free Slumber Party: Make a cozy pallet for you and your spouse on the living room floor [with] lots of blankets, pillows, snacks, and movies. We call it a ‘slumber party.‘  It’s a little silly, but super fun and makes us enjoy the little things in life.

3. Fill the Bucket (list, that is). Last week, I met a man in his mid-70s who put on his bucket list 40+ years ago to travel to more than 200 non-US cities in his lifetime. He was at #182 and was hitting the road this summer to travel to another 10 more. Talk about inspiration! Grab a couple notebooks and write down all the dreams you hope to accomplish before you ‘kick the bucket’ and decide together which ones you will tackle first (and which ones you can do for free).

4. Fake Vacation. Virtual vacation, anyone? Short on time, short on money, can’t get away? Love this idea HWC contributor Paula Rollo came up with when she and her hubby were in a similar predicament last year.

5. Make Love Under the Full Moon.  Now, if you have neighbors who can see into your backyard or if you’re in an apartment, it may be best to just open the window in your bedroom.  But for those lucky enough to have a private backyard, pull the comforter off your bed, grab a bottle of wine and two glasses, and take your date outside.  You have just a few more times to catch a full moon before the year ends so take advantage now.

6. A Moment in Time  Seal your time together by constructing and burying a time capsule. Gather memorabilia that symbolizes your love for one another. A wedding invitation, saved wine cork, concert/plane ticket, copy of children’s birth records, meaningful photos, love letters and anything else that is unique to the story of your love.  Do one of the other date ideas here and take pictures to remind you of this summer.  Be sure to include a note to the capsule’s future retrievers.

7. Got a pickup truck?  Make some good use out of it! Load it up with tons of hay (if you have some available), sleeping bags, some snacks and a bottle of wine.  Lay down the tailgate and just enjoy looking up at the stars and talking. And if there is a concert series or sporting event nearby, why not pull your truck right up to that?

8. Create a DIY Photoshoot:  When’s the last time the two of you were in the same photo? Using your tripod or Apple photo booth, snap pics together in various rooms of your home for memories you’ll never forget.

9. Become Cook-Off Champions! Have you ever been to a restaurant proudly displaying a plaque that read, “Winner of the (So and So) Cook-Off” and thought, “I could make this better!” Well, here’s your chance!

Scour the web for award-winning recipes for chili, cheesecake, carrot cake and anything else you think you and your spouse could make well, and spend the night perfecting that award-winning recipes (think Bobby Flay’sThrowdown).

10. At Home County Fair. When was the last time you attended the country fair? My favorite part: candy apples! So while you might not cover the ground of your backyard with peanut shells or sit on haystacks, you can do almost everything else (use this at-home county fair date night checklist idea list) – including make homemade caramel apples!

11. Have a breakfast picnic.  So romantic!  I’d never even thought about this but it makes so much sense.  Hardly anyone is out early at the local parks and you’ll enjoy the lovely light of morning as you sip your steamy lattes, munch on some fruit, take a stroll or just sit around and smooch.  (“One thing to remember,” Kris “Kroll” Woods who submitted this idea reminds us, “The ground is dewy, so plan ahead for shoes, towel for the table, etc.)

12. Good Ole’ Fashioned Fish Fry. Bet you never thought about this one! This is especially fun if you don’t live in the south and have only seen a fish fry on television. In the south, when you tell folks you’re having a fish fry, everyone you know shows up! But there’s nothing better than a fish fry for two.  

Fried catfish, hushpuppies, everything your heart desires.  You can even go all out and purchase one of those red and white checkered table clothes and a “fish fry apron.”  There’s no limit to your fish fry night of fun and if you’re feeling fully southern, try this ‘smack your mamma good’ peach cobbler to cap off your evening of fun.  I’ve been craving some good ole’ fashioned southern food (yams, mac & cheese, greens, cornbread), so if you’re in Southern California and decide to do this, please invite my husband and me for a double date .

13. Play Librarian.  Drive to your local library and once inside, walk up and down the aisles looking for books that remind you of your school years.  Bring as many back to the table and share with each other your various stories of why each book made an impression on you.  Books, like music, have a funny way of sending us down memory lane.  And your spouse will love learning even more about you.

14. Rediscover the Newlywed Game! See how well you really know one another. If you can, have homemade or really inexpensive prizes for every correct answer.  You can check out some fun questions here.

15. Create a Homemade Spa. The simplest, most relaxing date ever.  Pick up some lightly scented candles (lavender is a good choice), a CD with tranquil music and a bit of oil for your couple massages.  Fill the bathtub with warm water and bubbles and treat one another to a nice soak followed by a relaxing massage.  If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try giving each other facials or scrubs.  And if you’re really feeling generous, give each other manicures and pedicures.

16. Write out the story of how you met (and fell in love): Better yet- video tape it! Your kids and future posterity will be so grateful and it is so fun to go back and read (or watch) years down the road. It’s amazing how much we all later forget!

17. Trilogy Movie Marathon. Who knew there were so many trilogies out there?! The Lord of the Rings. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Mission Impossible 1, 2, and 3. The Mighty Ducks (not kidding, there really was three). Get out a huge bowl, pop some of your favorite popcorn, stream or rent the movies, make your own movie theater Icees (oh yeah, these can be made at home!) and enjoy the best date night at the movies ever!

18. Service For Two  Sometimes when things aren’t going the way we want them to in life, we get SO involved with worrying about ourselves that we forget the very thing that we can do to help us feel better: serve others!  If you want to feel closer to your spouse, do something for others with your spouse.  Sounds a little crazy, but IT WORKS.  Even small acts of kindness performed side by side with your spouse can bring you closer together and help your marriage be more fulfilling.  Don’t believe it?  Seriously.  Try it.

19. Take a Walk on the Beach, Lake or Riverwalk.  If you live near a beach, lake, stream or riverwalk, this is perfect for you – the stereotypical “walk on the beach” isn’t actually cliche at all.  Some of the greatest memories I have with my husband are holding hands walking along the water somewhere in the world.

20. Create Your Own National Holiday. Did you know there is a Married to a Scorpio Support Day? Yep, it’s November 18th. What about No Socks Day. Uh huh…May 8th.  Last night, we were at a Pan-Asian restaurant and they were promoting the upcoming National Noodle Day (October 6th for all you noodle lovers).  So why not create your own national holiday, mark it on your calendar and celebrate it each and every year?  It’s not too late to declare tomorrow National Lazy Day?

21. Exchange New Marriage Vows. There is something incredibly sacred about vowing to love one another til’ death do you part. And the many commitments between your first words and that final line are something worth celebrating.  Sit across from each other and set the timer for 60 minutes.  You can use a dictionary, the computer, and anything else that will inspire you to write the best vows.  After they’re done, spend time reading it to one another and then toast with a glass of champagne (or apple cider).  My husband and I renewed our vows in front of friends and family for our 10th anniversary and it was simply the best.

22. Strip Scrabble. SO happy my Scrabble-loving mother didn’t discover this while we were kids! The rules are simple: The spouse who cannot score higher than the other must remove an article of clothing. If a spouse ‘challenges’ a word and wins, s/he can put an article of clothing back on; if s/he loses, s/he must remove an article of clothing. Winner may make any one request of the losing spouse (make it a good one ).

23. Take a Nature Hike.  My husband and I lived just a couple blocks away from one of the most picturesque hiking trails in California for years before we actually laced up our shoes and decided to ascend the rugged terrain.  One of our best dates ever.  We walked for hours.  Ever since then, we’ve been finding hiking trails all over the world and take the opportunity to climb one as often as we can.  You can discover more than 50,000 trails here with some undoubtedly in your neck of the woods.

24. Sunrise, Sunset.  This date will get your spouse excited first thing in the morning and ensure you end the day that exact same way.  Pre-pack a bag with your morning coffee or tea, bagels (or whatever you and your spouse enjoy for breakfast) and have it ready to go. Check SunriseSunset.com to find out exactly what time to set your alarm for (or you can just pretend you’re still a teenager and stay up through the night).  Set the alarm before sunrise but don’t let your spouse know what you’re doing.  Then when the alarm goes off, help him get dressed (sleep still in the eyes and all), grab his hand and the pre-packed bag and head to your nearest park.  Watch the sunrise together while enjoying your coffee and pastries.  Then do it again…this time that night…and fill the thermos with hot cocoa or red wine this time around.

25. Game Night Circa 1990.  What board games were you playing 24 years ago?  If you or your spouse are too young to remember, change the “circa” to any year you’d like.  We know those board games exist somewhere.  In the attic, maybe the closet or basement.  Wherever they are, break them out and enjoy game night like you’re kids again.  And if you’re up for it, try a sexy game night (definitely put the kids to bed for this one).

If you find that once the bills are paid, there’s never enough money to set aside for dates with your spouse, here’s another great resource for you: 5 Great Ways to Start and Replenish a Date Night Fund.

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

THE NEW YORK TIMES® BEST-SELLING BOOK: It’s been described as, “Like Eat, Pray, Love but not down on marriage.” Make sure to check out the Happy Wives Club book.  I had the great honor of traveling to 12 countries on 6 continents, interviewing couples happily married 25 years or more, with 1 mission only: to find out what makes marriages happy…and keeps them that way.  It’s a marriage book like none other.  Guaranteed.

Looking for something great to do this weekend?  If you have kids, call the babysitter or drop them off at grandma’s house and enjoy one of these easy and fun date ideas.

1. Play a Game of Strip Monopoly
This is the one time when you won’t mind losing and neither will your spouse!  When you land in jail, there’s no need to pay or roll to get out.  And that pesky little “get out of jail free” card that never seems to come up until after you’ve paid to get out of jail no longer matters. 

Just take off an article of clothing and that will provide you jail freedom.  Land on your partner’s property with three hotels?  Don’t claim bankruptcy, just remove an article of clothing per hotel.  Make up the rules at the start of the game and just make sure they include taking off enough clothes that you’ll both be naked by the end of the game.

2. Go on a Restaurant Tour
Don’t settle for a dinner date at one restaurant, make a day of it.  Map out five new restaurants you’ve been dying to try and then go to each one.  Have an appetizer at the first restaurant and then walk or drive to the next one. 

Have a second appetizer there before continuing on to another restaurant for your main course.  At the fourth restaurant, enjoy dessert and then go to a final restaurant for some after dinner drinks. (If there’s a band playing at your last location, even better!)

3. Explore Your Own Town
How many times have you passed that museum as you drove around town and not stopped?  You probably have fine art right in your backyard and don’t even know it.  What about a Japanese garden nearby?  Explore the sites of your own city and you just might be surprised to learn how cool it is to be right where you live.

4. Couples Chopped Challenge
Love the Food Network show, Chopped?  Yeah, my husband and I do too.  Look in your cabinets, fridge and freezer and create a mystery basket with four ingredients.  Trade baskets and then get to cooking.  Each is charged with creating the best tasting dish possible using all four of the ingredients in their basket.  (Don’t have any baskets?  Improvise.)  Then judge each other’s dishes based on taste and presentation.  And then enjoy a good laugh as you sit down to a meal of your own concoctions.

5. Create Your Own At-Home Book Club
How often do you and your spouse read a book together?  Do you like fiction?  Does he like nonfiction?  Does he like sci-fi while you like romance?  What about finding a book you both will love?  GoodReads gives 18 great suggestions and you can see their reviews here.  And another book I believe would have made their list had it been out when it was compiled is the Happy Wives Club.   And don’t let the name fool you.  Men are loving this book just as much as women.

6. Take a Weekend Trip to Another Country (no passport required)
Is there a place you’ve both been dying to visit?  Don’t wait until you have the time or money to travel to the other side of the world, find your little piece of Italy, France or China right in your home town.  This one will take a bit of research but you’ll be surprised to know how many restaurants and sites are right in your background that are replicates of landmarks from other countries – possibly even ones you want to visit.  Looking to visit Florence, Italy, perhaps?  Go on Yelp.com and look for the restaurant in your area that is the most authentic.  Then call and talk to the owner and let them know you’re looking to recreate a Florence weekend in your own town.  Go into the restaurant when you know they’ll be there and ask them to point you to every local site that reminds them of home.

7. Become a Connoisseur
Ever wonder what people are doing when they’re sniffing or swirling their wine around in the glass, looking to see if it’s got “legs”?  Well, wonder no more.  Go into your local wine bar and tell the sommelier you want to know everything there is to know about wine. (Be prepared to be there for some time because if you ask a sommelier that, they’ll be bringing you wine for hours!)  Have no interest in wine?  No problem.  Think about something you both are interested in learning about and set out to become a connoisseur of that.

Looking for more ideas you don’t see here?  Maybe some stay-at-home date night ideas?

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

THE NEW YORK TIMES® BEST-SELLING BOOK: It’s been described as, “Like Eat, Pray, Love but not down on marriage.” Make sure to check out the Happy Wives Club book.  I had the great honor of traveling to 12 countries on 6 continents, interviewing couples happily married 25 years or more, with 1 mission only: to find out what makes marriages happy…and keeps them that way.  It’s a marriage book like none other.  Guaranteed.

I was celibate for nearly eight years before marrying my husband.  So let’s just say that after we said I do, the phrase “getting back on the saddle” took on a whole new meaning. 

I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t know what I was doing…seriously.

Almost eleven happily married years later and there are days when I’m still a bit clueless.  And since I know many of you also feel the same way on some days, I’m sharing with you five things I’ve employed in my own sex life that has worked magic and I’m hoping it’ll do the same for you. 

Give this 5-day challenge a try and enjoy amping your sex life up to the next level.

5 Days & 5 Ways to Better Sex in Marriage

DAY ONE: Exploration.  We humans can be a bit arrogant.  We think we know far more than we usually do.  As we age, our bodies and hormones change. 

What sent you to the moon and back ten years ago may not even cause a tingle in your little toe today.  That’s okay.  No, it doesn’t mean something is wrong with your marriage or the romance is gone. 

It could simply be your body telling you it’s changed a bit and it’s time to begin exploring it once again.  There are many ways to do this.  The Hot/Cold game is my personal favorite (when he touches you in a place that sends shivers up your spine, say “hot, hot, hot”). 

DAY TWO: Lube it or lose it.  “To lube or not to lube…that is the question.”  Well, maybe that wasn’t the exact line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet but close enough.  I’ve never quite understood why lubricant is such a taboo subject and why there’s an entire cohort of people who think using it means there’s something wrong with your sex drive.  Hogwash. 

As I’ve inched closer and closer to 40 years old, my body composition has changed.  And not just as the years go on but daily.  Depending on my hormone levels, there’s no telling what might be going on in my body.  Lubrication takes the guessing work out.  But you have to find the right lubricant for your body.  Personally, I love Wet Synergy and Wet Platinum.  I purchase them from the local CVS or Walgreens.

Many like the lubricants with a “cool tingle” or “warming” effect.  For me, those cause me to laugh (at the most inopportune moments) because it gets either too hot or too cold in a very special place.  Bottom line: find one that works best for you and don’t be afraid to try it. 

DAY THREE: Get out of the bedroom.  I know the bed is a fabulous place to make love.  It’s comfy with fluffy pillows.  But too much of the same thing could become, well, a little boring over time.  If you’ve got kids, find a time and place when you won’t be distracted (I remember reading an article years ago and laughing about Tim McGraw’s comment about he and his wife, Faith Hill, ducking into closets around the house).  For us, we have a 22-year old in the house who would be mortified to think we were having sex in our bedroom (and she’s told us as much).  So we’re quite stealthy.  We have locations she doesn’t know about and we use them…often.

Trying a new location can make all the difference in the world.  But don’t take yourselves too seriously.  Making love should be fun.  If you end up falling over because you decide to test out a closet and trip over a pair of shoes or if you slip in the shower, it’s okay.  Laugh it off.  Lighten the mood.  Just have fun with it!

DAY FOUR: Think sensual thoughts.  Nothing gets me going quite like thinking about my husband -and the times he sends my body into a frenzy- while he’s still on his way home from work.  Poor guy.  He walks through the door and I’m like a cheetah pouncing on its prey.  I remember doing this on a plane home one day and when he picked me up from the airport, well, let’s just say it was a pretty long ride home.  It seemed to take forever!  And he couldn’t get me home fast enough. 

Send your husband flirty texts throughout the day.  Remind yourself of the last time you and he had mind-blowing sex.  Replay that again and again until you see him.  And then, once you see that beautiful smile, let all the things we discussed from days 1, 2, and 3 take over.

DAY FIVE: Create a sensual playlist.  Music has a way of transporting us in time like nothing else.  It can cause us to visualize things we haven’t seen in years.  Create a playlist of songs that cause you both to want to tear each other’s clothes off.  But don’t forget, if you’re playing it on your cellphone, put that thing on airplane mode to make sure your phone doesn’t start ringing at the worst time possible.

I’m sure you’ve noticed, each of the five days of this challenge I’m suggesting you make love.  Yes!  And I’ll tell you why.  The more you make love, the more your body will crave it.  And the more your body craves it, the more you and your husband will take the time to continue to explore what it takes to make your body rock.

If your schedules won’t allow this to be done in five days, try making it a ten-day challenge.  But don’t stretch it too far out or you miss the bonus effect of “make love more, want more.”

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

THE NEW YORK TIMES® BEST-SELLING BOOK: It’s been described as, “Like Eat, Pray, Love but not down on marriage.” Make sure to check out the Happy Wives Club book.  I had the great honor of traveling to 12 countries on 6 continents, interviewing couples happily married 25 years or more, with 1 mission only: to find out what makes marriages happy…and keeps them that way.  It’s a marriage book like none other.  Guaranteed.

When I wrote the post on the top 20 stay-at-home date night ideas a couple months ago, I had no idea how popular it would become.

To date, that post has been viewed more than 1.5 million times – making it the most popular on our site. Whoa!

This past weekend, I thought I’d challenge myself to find 15 more creative and cheap stay-at-home date night ideas.

I knew it would be tough because the first time around, I spent quite a while looking for the best and most creative on the web.  

Was I able to find any awesome new ones?  Were there some still out there I missed?  Well, I’ll let you decide for yourself.

This new list doesn’t replace our Top 20 on the Web so if you haven’t seen that one, definitely check it out.

But if you’ve seen that one and are looking for even more options, here are 15 more creative and cheap stay-at-home date nights.

Between these two lists, I’m fairly certain we’ve found the Top 35 stay-at-home date nights on the web.  And if we missed any super creative ones, please drop those off in the comments section below. Inquiring minds want to know!

1. Become Cook-Off Champions! Have you ever been to a restaurant proudly displaying a plaque that read, “Winner of the (So and So) Cook-Off” and thought, “I could make this better!” Well, here’s your chance!

   Scour the web for award-winning recipes for chili, cheesecake, carrot cake and anything else you think you and your spouse could make well, and spend the night perfecting that award-winning recipes (think Bobby Flay’s Throwdown).

   And if you’re feeling really good about your dish by the end of the night, enter a local contest (like this) to show off your goods.

2. At Home County Fair. When was the last time you attended the country fair? My favorite part: candy apples! So while you might not cover the ground of your backyard with peanut shells or sit on haystacks, you can do almost everything else (use this at-home county fair date night checklist idea list) – including make homemade caramel apples!

3. ‘Color Me Mine’ at Home (Create a Personalized Mug). My hubby would love this one! Coffee runs through his veins for sure. Purchase inexpensive white mugs, pick a sharpie, draw on it, bake it, and enjoy “the best part of waking up is (fill in brand) in your cup.”

4. Create Your Own National Holiday. Did you know there is a Married to a Scorpio Support Day? Yep, it’s November 18th. What about No Socks Day. Uh huh…May 8th.  Last night, we were at a Pan-Asian restaurant and they were promoting the upcoming National Noodle Day (October 6th for all you noodle lovers).  So why not create your own national holiday, mark it on your calendar and celebrate it each and every year?  It’s not too late to declare tomorrow National Lazy Day?

5. Night of Bubbly. How many fun things can you think of that involve bubbles? Bubble bath, champagne, bubble wrap, homemade soda, super-sized bubbles – everything that comes to mind, get it and have a night filled with bubblelicious fun. Because bubbles make everything better!

6. Good Ole’ Fashioned Fish Fry. Bet you never thought about this one! This is especially fun if you don’t live in the south and have only seen a fish fry on television. In the south, when you tell folks you’re having a fish fry, everyone you know shows up! But there’s nothing better than a fish fry for two.  
   Fried catfish, hushpuppies, everything your heart desires.  You can even go all out and purchase one of those red and white checkered table clothes and a “fish fry apron.”  There’s no limit to your fish fry night of fun and if you’re feeling fully southern, try this ‘smack your mamma good’ peach cobbler to cap off your evening of fun. 

7. Spend a Night in Italy. Love this date night idea from AskMen. A night in Italy might include homemade pizzas, a bottle of Chianti, gelato, and an Italian-themed movie such as Life is Beautiful or The Italian Job. You may even want to take it one step further and make it a night in Italy in the 1950s, in which case you should dress and decorate accordingly and watch Roman Holiday or The Talented Mr. Ripley.

8. Dine Al Fresco. This one can be done in your front yard, backyard, or if you’re feeling adventurous, set up dinner in a center medium of a non-busy street. (Technically, dinner on a street median isn’t stay-at-home but I saw this here and thought that sounded like too much fun not to include!)

9. Fill the Bucket (list, that is). Last week, I met a man in his mid-70s who put on his bucket list 40+ years ago to travel to more than 200 non-US cities in his lifetime. He was at #182 and was hitting the road this summer to travel to another 10 more. Talk about inspiration! Grab a couple notebooks and write down all the dreams you hope to accomplish before you ‘kick the bucket’ and decide together which ones you will tackle first.

10. Strip Scrabble. SO happy my Scrabble-loving mother didn’t discover this while we were kids! The rules are simple: The spouse who cannot score higher than the other must remove an article of clothing. If a spouse ‘challenges’ a word and wins, s/he can put an article of clothing back on; if s/he loses, s/he must remove an article of clothing. Winner may make any one request of the losing spouse (make it good ).

11. Trilogy Movie Marathon. Who knew there were so many trilogies out there?! The Lord of the Rings. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Mission Impossible 1, 2, and 3. The Mighty Ducks (not kidding, there really was three). Get out a huge bowl, pop some of your favorite popcorn, make your own movie theater Icees (oh yeah, these can be made at home!) and enjoy the best date night at the movies ever!

12. Dancing with the Stars. YOU be the judge in this season’s Dancing with the Stars! With free printable score cards and a championship bracket from the fabulous ladies over at The Dating Divas – watching the show just got more exciting!

13. Chocolate Tasting Night. Okay, so this is probably more for you than for your hubby but what can’t a ton of chocolate make better? Purchase tons of unique chocolates, use this awesome tasting mat printable and have a blast. But remember what happened to the kid in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory that ate too much candy… Pace yourself, my friend.

14. Fake Vacation. Virtual vacation, anyone? Short on time, short on money, can’t get away? Love this idea HWC contributor Paula Rollo came up with when she and her hubby were in a similar predicament last year.

15. Catch a Sunrise (or sunset). The date doesn’t have to end just because the night did. Wake up super early, pull the blankets off your bed (or out of a closet) and create a makeshift breakfast picnic while watching the sunrise. Check SunriseSunset.com to find out exactly what time to set your alarm for (or you can just pretend you’re still a teenager and stay up through the night).

I’m pretty sure this is it for the Top Stay-At-Home Date Night Ideas list. But if we missed any that you think are better than our Top 35, make sure to include it in the comments below.

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

There is a picture that sits on the corner of my desk.  It is more than a decade old yet captivates me anew with each glance.

The backdrop of the image is a bit messy.  A wooden bar top with a small white plate, red cloth napkin, used silver fork and some sort of watered down beverage.  Clearly, the background is not what draws me in every time I sit down to write.

It is his face.

The face of a man who chooses to overlook my flaws each and every day.  The smile of a man who continuously encourages me to become the best version of myself.

He has the cutest ears.  The same ears that have been there to listen to me fully and intently for longer than I can remember.  His large hands cradle my small ones with tenderness and an acknowledgement that one of his greatest strengths is his gentleness.

His love for me is palpable.  No one looking at this photo would miss that.  But what I see every day when I glance up from my desk are his eyes.  Those beautiful, dark brown eyes, slightly turned downward at the outer corners with laugh lines encircling both sides.

Looking into his eyes, I see grace.  I am a work in progress but he doesn’t seem to mind.  

When I allow to-do lists and business-related affairs to consume my day and forget momentarily that the best use of my time is that which focuses on my family, faith, and community, he reminds me gently.  Grace.  

Those times when my thinking and speaking happen in one singular action and he just smiles. Grace.

When I have a challenging day and collapse into his arms with tears streaming down my face, he’s always there to hold me for as long as I need. Grace.

What I see when I look into my husband’s eyes is love, respect, honor and adoration.  His humility shines through illuminating all else.  But above all things, when I look into his eyes, I see grace.  Enough for today.  More than enough for tomorrow.

QUESTION: When you look into your husband’s eyes, what is the most awe-inspiring thing you see?

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

THE NEW YORK TIMES® BEST-SELLING BOOK: It’s been described as, “Like Eat, Pray, Love but not down on marriage.” Make sure to check out the Happy Wives Club book.  I had the great honor of traveling to 12 countries on 6 continents, interviewing couples happily married 25 years or more, with 1 mission only: to find out what makes marriages happy…and keeps them that way.  It’s a marriage book like none other.  Guaranteed.

Few things make my husband feel more special than a well thought out surprise.  

I’m not sure why a gift is better when it comes as a surprise rather than something expected, but over the years I’ve discovered the response is definitely different.

If I’m passing the local frozen yogurt shop and call to see if he wants something to go, he’ll always say yes and will be incredibly grateful to receive it.

But if I stop by the frozen yogurt shop without telling him, and then surprise him later in the evening (right about the time his sweet tooth kicks in), then presto chango: I’m the greatest wife in the world!

Depending on what your hubby enjoys, you’ll want to come up with your own surprises.  But here are few ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

20 Fun Ways to Surprise Your Husband

1. Create a music video for him.  Even if you don’t have a artsy bone in your body (hand raised here), you can do this!  

Free sites like Animoto.com and Slide give you all the tools you need.  The only thing you have to do is take the time to pull together some of his favorite photos and select the right music. 

2. Give him a ‘just because’ gift.  Don’t worry, you don’t have to spend much money to come up with a creative gift he’ll love.  We’ve come up with 35 cheap, fun and unique gifts for you already.

3. King for a day.  Spend an entire day anticipating his wants.  This will blow his mind!  What is his favorite breakfast?  What would he love to see when he comes home?  If he wrote down his perfect day for you, what would be on that list?  Think about that and then do as many things on that list as possible.

4. Dedicate a song to him on the radio.  An oldie but goodie he’d never expect!  This one will require some planning (and possibly an hour of calling over and over to your local radio station) but think about how much you’ll make him blush when he hears his name over the airwaves.  Just make sure he’s listening to the radio when your dedication comes on.

5. Make a love trail.  If you’ve got little ones at home, you’ll need to get creative here so they don’t pick up the trail you attempt to leave behind.  Use rose petals, Reese’s Pieces (think E.T. phone home) or whatever he loves to lead him to a special place where the two of you can be alone. 

6. Exchange an obligation for a date.  I love this one!  Ask him to do a mundane task like picking up milk from the store.  Then surprise him at the store with tickets to a movie he’s been wanting to see (or tickets to anything) and whisk him away for a special date night he never saw coming.

7. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.  Throw a dinner party and invite his favorite people to come celebrate him with you – for no particular reason.  It could be your in-laws, his closest friends, colleagues or whoever he’d enjoy having dinner with and who love him enough to celebrate him (even when it’s not his birthday).

8. Turn your husband gratitude list into a keepsake.  You’ve written down all the things you love about your hubby, right?  Great!  Now, take that list and turn it into a beautiful gift for him.  If you’re like me and haven’t been bit by the “creative bug” just Google the term: Free Printable and you’ll get plenty of DIY options.

9. Repair his beloved, well worn objects.  I need to do this one!  My husband has a green army jacket that’s 30 years old.  I keep threatening to throw it away but for some reason that hideous thing ranks high on his list of things to keep.  So if your hubby has something like that, this idea just might do the trick (for your sanity and his happiness). 

10. Tuck a sexy love note in his pants pocket (or anywhere you know he’ll find it).  Write a sexy note (preferably in red ink – meow..) letting him know how much you look forward to seeing him later that night.  He’ll be hot and bothered all day and breaking every traffic law to get home!

11.Lather him up and help him shave.  By careful with that razor!  But this can be loads of fun.  And if he likes a close shave, even better.  As you reach in close to make sure not to nick him, all he’ll be able to do is stare into your eyes, look at your nose, lust after you lips.  Good luck getting him to let you leave the bathroom after you’ve finished!

12. Dinner under the full moon.  Did you know there are sites that tell you when the next full moon will take place?  Pick a date and then set up dinner for two outside in the beautiful moonlight.

13. Take your hubby on a passport adventure.  This one, we usually do with friends, but you can tailor it to just you and your hubby.  Create passports.  Choose the countries you will visit.  Most of all, have fun! 

14. Plan a surprise getaway.  There’s no need to break the bank.  Sign up for local deals from sites like Living Social or Groupon and enter “travel” as something of interest to you.  Every time there is a travel deal, you’ll get an email.  You may have to delete 100 of those emails before the right one comes but give it time and you’ll find a deal you can’t refuse.

15. Try any one of these 74 simple things to brighten his day.  After a tough day or week, there’s nothing your hubby needs more than a little sunshine.

16. Fall in love with his hobby.  Well, maybe not fall in love forever…a day is good.  Is there something he loves to do that you use your “hall pass” for every time he mentions it?  This time, just go with it!  Take up his hobby for a day and show interest in something he loves.  Who knows, you might figure out exactly why he loves it so much.

17. Touch but don’t taste. Men love to be touched but don’t always want it to lead to sex.  I know that goes against popular beliefs but there are times when he just wants to be held.  Stroke him.  Hold him.  And if he wants to go a little further, by all means…

18. Surprise him with lunch at his job.  Sync up your lunch time with your hubby’s and make him (or pick up) his favorite lunch and take it to his office.  If you’re not able to stay to enjoy it with him, leave it with a sweet note that makes him smile from ear to ear.

19. Get a little flirty.  There are so many ways to get flirty with your husband and one of my favorite bloggers, Sheila Wray Gregoire, gives us six ways here.

20. Spice things up.  In the bedroom and outside of it, here are 5 great ways to spice up your marriage.

QUESTION: What fun ways have you surprised your husband in the past?

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

THE BOOK: It’s been described as, “Like Eat, Pray, Love but not down on marriage.” Make sure to check out the Happy Wives Club book.  I had the great honor of traveling to 12 countries on 6 continents, interviewing couples happily married 25 years or more, with 1 mission only: to find out what makes marriages happy…and keeps them that way.  It’s a marriage book like none other.

This morning, I was taking inventory of the past couple years and how much this site has grown.

Did you know there are five of us (and a host of contributors) who work on providing content for you on HappyWivesClub.com, as well on our various social networks?

Our content and Twitter manager, Annett, is probably the busiest (in part because she’s also a home-schooling mama of two, an awesome wife and an Olympian who is a coach for Beachbody®).

Christin handles the administrative work and media.  Angela creates those fabulous graphics you see all over the place with our URL on them.  My sister, Christy Joy, and I take care of our incredibly active Facebook page.  And Karen excitedly pins throughout the day on Pinterest.

And of course, I’m here every day writing a post, responding to your comments and emails, editing a contributor post, creating graphics for the posts or connecting with this community on social media.  

I feel so grateful and fortunate to be able to do this and the marriage book so many of you purchased, and the one I am turning into my publisher on Friday, has kept it all going.  

I want to make sure I’m always engaged no matter how fast life is moving.  But I also realize I need to take some of my own advice and do what I’ve been suggesting to you for years: slow down and enjoy some extended downtime with the family.

So for the first time in four years -since this club launched- I’m taking a sabbatical.  I will return on Monday, September 15th renewed, reinvigorated and ready to continue sharing this positive message about love and marriage around the world.  The team and I will keep the embers burning on social media, just not here.

As I was thinking about what to post for our very last article this summer, I realized I’ve never done a recap of the most popular posts on our site.  If you’ve missed any of these, make sure to check them out.  They’re scorching hot for a reason (a very good reason, I hope ).

Make it a great remainder of the summer!

Our Top 10 Marriage Posts of All Time

1.         2. 

3.         4. 

5.         6. 

7.       8. 

9.      10. 

P.S. This post, originally published August 4th, will be updated every few days so if a new one enters the top ten, we’ll make sure to let you know.  And don’t forget to share your favorite post with your friends.

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

THE NEW YORK TIMES® BEST-SELLING BOOK: It’s been described as, “Like Eat, Pray, Love but not down on marriage.” Make sure to check out the Happy Wives Club book.  I had the great honor of traveling to 12 countries on 6 continents, interviewing couples happily married 25 years or more, with 1 mission only: to find out what makes marriages happy…and keeps them that way.  It’s a marriage book like none other.  Guaranteed.

I bet when you saw that title you instantly thought this post was about sex.  Nope!  Well, maybe a little bit.  But not very much.

I may be of the minority in saying this but I am one that doesn’t buy into the thought that a man is controlled by his…ahem…endowment.  

Driving your man wild isn’t something that should be contained to the bedroom…or sex for that matter.  

Now, don’t get me wrong, I know men love it.  But let’s give them credit for being about more than just sex.  

Just as you want to be treated like a queen, his heart’s desire is to be treated like a king.  So let’s have fun with it!

Although there are so many things you can add to this list, here are 11 ways to drive your husband wild: 

1. Make Him Hot and Bothered.  I said this entire list wasn’t about sex, but I’m not crazy enough not to include at least one thing you can do to increase your hubby’s sex drive (and your own). 

2. Fifteen Seconds a Day Keeps the Blues Away.  They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away.  Well, fifteen seconds a day of this will keep the blues in your marriage far far away.  And increase that to forty-five seconds to set off some fireworks!

3. Turn Your Home Into a Post-It Heaven.  I’ll never forget seeing my mother write sweet notes to my father in red lipstick on mirrors all over their bathroom.  Now, that can be a messy proposition and was contained to one area.  Expand a little.  Make it cute.  Make it mushy.  Make it flirty.

4. Sharpen Up Your Flirting Skills.  There are SO many ways to flirt with your husband (think, sexy texts, playing footsie) and there is nothing like a man on a hunt.  Don’t fight it; they were bred that way.  Men love the chase!  Let him know you want him, desire him, but he’ll have to catch you. *wink* 

5. Call Your In-Laws Just to Say Hello.  When was the last time you called your in-laws, and not at the prompting of your husband?  Remember, these are the people who helped make your husband to be the wonderful man he is today.  Reaching out to the ones who brought him into the world (or at least raised him) will do more for him than you can imagine (this, of course, is assuming he has a good relationship with them and they’re not absolutely crazy ).

6. Do Something Brag Worthy.  Have you ever sat around listening to men talk about their wives?  I have some experience with this, and let me tell you, it’s actually quite cool!  Men love bragging about their wives so give them a reason!  Begin a Husband Gratitude List and put it in his pants pocket so he’ll find it when he least expects.  Wear a tee shirt in public that says, “I Love My Husband.”  Whatever it is, make him blush!

7. Kid Swap + Stay-At Home Date = Happy Husband!  Surprise him with an at-home date night.  If you don’t have children, this is super easy.  Turn the house into a fancy restaurant or spa and treat him to an awesome date at home.  If you’ve got kiddos, make arrangements for the kids to be away while the two of you have some one-on-one time.  When was the last time you did that?  

8. The Fun Dare.  This one takes some planning but it can be done!  Choose between 12 dates over 12 consecutive nights or spread it out over 12 weeks.  Either way, you and your husband will have a blast (and you can do this on a very tight budget).  For parents, this is definitely the time to use the kid swap.

9. Turn Yourself Into a Piece of Eye Candy.  Listen, I’m the first one to say lingerie is not my thing.  I find most of it too tight, too short, too itchy, and too everything else.  BUT, there is a time and a place for everything and that includes lingerie.  It took many years (ahem…8 to be exact) but I finally found some lingerie that serve as both eye candy to him and feel comfortable to me.

10. Get On Board the 10-Minute Express.  If you looked at no. 9 and thought, “There’s no way I’m putting all this into something little like that,” then this one is for you!  Most of us have a little extra jelly we’d like to not have jiggling so much (hand up in the air), but if that’s keeping you from showing off your body to your husband, try this!  

In just ten minutes a day, you can start toning those areas that need a little work.  US Olympian, Annett Davis, created this express workout exclusively for the women of HWC so we should all feel quite special!

11. Look Into His Eyes…and Smile.  This was so simple I had to leave it for last.  Have you ever looked at your husband in the eyes and just allowed the love in your heart to rise to the top and curl the sides of your lips?  Watch his smile expand as he looks into your eyes trying to figure out what you’re smiling about.  And even if he doesn’t ask…he’ll know.

QUESTION: This list could be SO much longer!  What are we missing here?  (Add to the list by posting in the comments section.)

Until Monday…make it a great weekend!

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

SAVE THE DATE: Bloggers, join us here every third Monday of the month for our fabulous link-up party! Join us August 19th for our next Marriage Mondays!

*Welcome to week 12 of this 12-week series based on the New York Times® bestselling book, Happy Wives Club.  Today, I’m concluding this series with one of the most important tips I’ve learned from the happiest couples around the world.*

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This past Sunday was a picturesque day along the sunny beaches of Southern California.  Venice Beach, a small community whose shore I run along almost weekly, was bustling with people. 

Beachgoers soaking up the sun, licking ice cream cones before that delicious chocolate and vanilla swirled goodness dripped on the pavement below.  There was nothing unusual about this past Sunday, until it was.

Out of nowhere, a sunny day succumbed to monsoon moisture usually reserved for the mountain areas surrounding Los Angeles.  The sunshine, abruptly interrupted by a storm that lasted no longer than fifteen minutes but brought with it a deadly bolt of lightning.

“Boom!” was the sound scores of people recalled hearing while describing to reporters the lightning bolt they witnessed.  The sound was immediately followed by mayhem on the beach.  Lifeguards swarmed the waters pulling out as many people as they could reach. 

Smart phones and helicopters captured rescues and CPR being performed all across the sand.  But for one young man, only 20 years of age, it was a little too late.  His body had already gone cold.

That 20-year old, Nick Fagnano, was someone’s son.  The surfer who remains in critical condition, at a nearby hospital as I write this, is someone else’s son; likely even someone’s husband. 

Speaking to several hundred wives at a marriage conference this weekend, I shared the story of a wonderful friend of mine whose husband –at the age of 45 and at the height of his career- boarded a plane in San Francisco headed for New York to promote his newest book to never be heard from again.  

A perfect picture of health ended on that flight with a pulmonary embolism.  Imagine how his young wife felt when, in anticipation of his call from New York, she picked up the phone only to be told by the voice on the other end that her loving husband was gone and she was now the sole parent of two gorgeous little girls.

A hush went through the crowd.  “You don’t even know if the husband you just sat with for lunch and who is now sitting in the husbands-only seminar will still be there when we leave this ballroom,” I told the ladies as tears began to stream down many of their faces.

The one thing that will increase happiness in your marriage today is fully grasping this truth: Your marriage is not forever.

We tend to take for granted that our marriage will last until the very end of our lives.  But I can give you a list of young widows I’ve encountered who would trade the remaining years of their lives just to get five minutes back with their spouses.  Five minutes to share all the most important things they wish they’d said while their spouses were still alive.

There are well over 100 million widows around the world and you know how many of them took for granted the spouse they loved would be with them until the very end?  I can’t tell you an exact number, but based on the number of women whose eyes began to swell up with tears this past weekend as I shared my friend’s story, I’d say a pretty large percentage.

Your marriage is not promised another day. Today could be all you have remaining together.  Think about this every single time you and your spouse part in the morning and be grateful every time you see one another again in the evening.  Now is all you have.  

Gratitude is the gateway to happiness and being grateful for the spouse you have -right here, right now, in this moment- has the power to change your marriage forever.

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

**NOTE: All the posts for this 12-week series have been compiled on this Pinterest board for easy selection.

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

THE NEW YORK TIMES® BEST-SELLING BOOK: It’s been described as, “Like Eat, Pray, Love but not down on marriage.” Make sure to check out the Happy Wives Club book.  I had the great honor of traveling to 12 countries on 6 continents, interviewing couples happily married 25 years or more, with 1 mission only: to find out what makes marriages happy…and keeps them that way.  It’s a marriage book like none other.  Guaranteed.

*Welcome to week eleven of this 12-week series based on the New York Times® bestselling book, Happy Wives Club.  Join me each week as I share 12 principles about marriage I’ve learned from some of the happiest couples around the world.*

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I’m always amazed at the number of husbands I meet who say in frustration, “I just don’t know what it is my wife wants from me.”

Sometimes we aren’t even certain what it is we want.  And in different seasons of our lives, what we desire might change.

To help, no matter what season you are in, try using these six keys consistently to help your spouse fulfill your every desire.

6 Keys to Getting What You Want from Your Spouse

1. Speak up. Whoever said to sweep things under the rug didn’t understand the idea of partnership and the intimacy required in a happy and successful marriage.

One of the biggest problems with sweeping issues under the rug is although things may seem pretty and put together on the surface, in order to continue sweeping more things under the rug, you have to actually lift it up.

And each time you lift up that rug to sweep more under it, the dust unsettles and you have to come face-to-face with the mess all over again.  Be honest.  Say what is on your heart.  It’s important to your spouse and your marriage.

2. Say what you mean but don’t say it mean. I’m not sure who originally coined that saying but it’s the perfect mantra for honest communication in marriage.

Timing is everything and today may not be the right time to say what is on your mind. You may not be in the right frame of mind to convey your feelings properly; out of love, from a place of vulnerability rather than aggression.  But just because today may not be the best day, don’t keep from sharing your heart soon.  It is the only way your spouse will know how to give you what it is your heart desires.

3. Acknowledge what they’re already doing right. One of the things I learned first in business and then carried into my marriage was this interesting truth: In order to get my staff to do better, I praised them for what they were already doing right. When I focused on what they did wrong, they quickly got discouraged and made more mistakes. But when I addressed the areas that needed improvement –at the right time- but buffered it on both sides with what they were doing right, they performed at their best.

That is just the way the psyche of humans work and that doesn’t just stay within the walls of business. In every area of life, especially your marriage. To get your spouse to do more, recognize what they’re already doing and praise them for that first.

4. Give without expecting anything in return. I know this might seem counterintuitive in an article about getting what you desire from your spouse. But it’s just the way the world works. We didn’t make it this way but it doesn’t change it’s how it works. When you give your all, expecting nothing in return, that is what comes back to you. It is when we begin giving with an expectation that we set ourselves up for disappointment.

5. Embrace the virtue of patience. Just because you give today, expecting nothing in return, doesn’t mean your spouse is all of a sudden going to begin giving you exactly what your heart has desired for many years. Nothing worth having happens overnight. But remember, this is the person you gave your whole heart to and pledged ‘til death do us part.’ So isn’t your marriage worth investing the time it takes to help your spouse understand how to please you?

Your spouse wants to give you your heart’s desire. If you ask them that question, you will find they will answer in the affirmative. But many will also say they don’t quite know what their spouse truly desires. And so it’s up to you –doing numbers 1, 2, and 3 of this post- to let them know and then help guide them there through love and patience.

6. Forgive and move on. Not one of us is perfect. Not you, not me. We all make mistakes. Your spouse is going to continue falling short in some areas, as will you. But the faster you can get to forgiving and return to focusing on what they do right, the sooner you’ll get your marriage to exactly where you desire it to be.  And the sooner your heart will be free to receive all the things it truly desires.

You don’t have to be the best communicator in the world to have a marriage that rocks your world.  Just make a commitment to share what it is that you truly want from your spouse so they can do everything in their power to make it happen.

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

THE NEW YORK TIMES® BEST-SELLING BOOK: It’s been described as, “Like Eat, Pray, Love but not down on marriage.” Make sure to check out the Happy Wives Club book.  I had the great honor of traveling to 12 countries on 6 continents, interviewing couples happily married 25 years or more, with 1 mission only: to find out what makes marriages happy…and keeps them that way.  It’s a marriage book line none other.  Guaranteed.