Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Communication, Laughter and everything in between

It's an amazing feeling when you don't feel well and have to work all day, to know that once you get home from work, someone is there to take care of you.
It takes teamwork to accomplish things... like eating a giant lollipop!
You've heard before when I said how silly it is when the Aussie gets sick- lying in bed all day like its the plague. He's always asking how I manage to function when I'm sick... because things still need to get done, after all the world doesn't stop just because I don't feel well. Its nice to know that while I worry about getting things done all he worries about is what he can do to make me feel better.
I will say time and time again that it's communication and laughter that make a marriage; but today its the warm hugs and soft kisses on the top of my head that make my marriage!  Its putting a fresh glass of water next to the bed every night before bed. It's being tucked in before he leaves for work early in the morning.
All too often I hear married couples laugh at the expense of their spouses and quite frankly, it makes my blood boil! There are so many great couples out there that work together to make a great team.
When the Aussie and I got married we made a pact that the two of us would work through it all and nothing would be too hard to take on because we'd have each other to balance the load. When I think about the stories other married couples tell me, I find myself feeling sorry for them. They laugh at the faults of their partners, the look to commiserate with others and I cant help it... I pity them. How unfortunate that they entered into a union with someone that they don't treat well. You'll never find me telling you that the Aussie isn't good, that he doesn't do something. We're a team, and if you cant count on your spouse, who can you count on?
Part of marriage to us was joining our lives to have one life together.  When we exchanged vows we took on each other's strengths and weaknesses; the good the bad and the ugly. His faults are my faults, and my undesirable idiosyncrasies are his. His determination and strength became mine and my desires and passions became his. Though we may not have been married for as long as some others, we like to think that no matter what- its us against the world.
So take some time today to appreciate all the little things that make your relationship unique to you. Ours may not be perfect, but its perfect for us.
It's all the little things he's done, I've done, and we've done together that make up the meaning of the ring he put on my finger. He's my superman <3





Monday, January 27, 2014

10 unique paper first anniversary gifts

The toughest part about getting gifts for each other once you're married is finding something that you can live with too! The first anniversary can be one of excitement for most couples. The Aussie suggested that we remain true to the traditional wedding anniversary gifts. How sweet right? So far we've gotten to two, and I must say it can be difficult to determine what to get him that falls in the correct category and is creative... so here's my list of ideas for the first anniversary gift- paper

1. Make coupons like I suggested here 
2. Frame a picture (it counts if you print it on picture paper!)
3. Purchase tickets to an event, concert, movie, whatever strikes your fancy
4. Create a shadow box filled with tickets from an event you've attended in the past, with a picture or two from the event.
5. Write a good old fashioned love letter. This is also a great way to remind your better half why they're so important to you after that first CrAzY year!
6. Write the words "I love you" in multiple languages on one sheet of white lined paper. Use one pen and just write until the page is full. Once that's done, take a red colored pencil and write "I Love You" across the page and frame it. The Aussie found it really cute. You can also make a smaller one if you think its too large on a regular piece of paper. This can be a bit time consuming so you can click here to order one from me and save yourself the time.
7. Take a mason Jar and fill it with 365 quotes on love. One for each day of the year until your cotton anniversary. I'll admit, this one took A LOT of time to find 365 good quotes, to copy, paste, and cut. Or you can order one from me, and all you'll have to do is give it to your spouse!
8. Cut your wedding vows, or your wedding invitation and put them in a clear bulb to hang some place you'll see often. Not just on your Christmas tree.
9. Find a book of meaning (the older the better!) and write something personal to your spouse from your heart.
10. Fill all the walls in one room, or the mirror, or his/her car, or windows, (you get the point) with sticky notes of all the reasons you love and adore him/her. Don't forget to include some reasons why the past year as a married couple were wonderful.

I also wrapped everything in newspaper and construction paper. I realize that tissue paper and wrapping paper  are both paper, but it seemed more fun this way! 

I'd love to hear some other ideas out there on the paper anniversary and to see if others still follow the traditional gifts.

Good luck!

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

how to "Light that fire"

I asked the Aussie what comes to mind when I say "Valentine's Day" his response- "Its another day I get to show you how much I love you a chance to make it like the first year. I think it's another day you make me very happy and lucky"

I was expecting a typical "excuse for women to get flowers" or "a commercialized holiday" and was ready to roll with that! I'll take the extra sweet answer though.

So every year the Aussie and I say "no gifts" and every year we sneak around each other for weeks trying to accomplish our secret little gifts for each other to show we care. We both try not to spend too much on each other, but I enjoy spending time creating something for him. I typically break out my craft supplies and come up with something new and fun to express my love and what our relationship means.


One year I made:
Lovers Coupons... who doesn't love coupons!

All home made and tailored to our relationship 

and of course with a picture of us <3 it is Valentines Day after all.
You can order a custom made coupon book here


Another year I came up with a fun game to play...

It's the little things that keep the fun in our relationship Its so easy in the hustle and bustle of the everyday world to forget to take time to enjoy each other as husband and wife.

I've even made a bouquet of condoms to send to his work. So while all of the men were sending flowers and the girls were oo-ing and ah-ing over their flowers, I won the "cool wife" title.
Every year I make  chocolate dipped stuffed strawberries for him as well. That always puts a smile on his face! I'll upload a how to on that when we get closer to the big day!

Its not all about the physical stuff don't worry :) Last year I got him tickets to see Blue Man Group too. This year however, I fear I may be stumped... well for now at least. What are some creative and fun ways to show the special someone in your life that you appreciate and want to celebrate them?
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Monday, January 20, 2014

The Silent Wife?

I'm very fortunate to have such a close family. My cousins are like siblings and my aunts and uncles are like additional parents. I used to wonder if when I found a husband he would be open to the closeness, or if there would be trade offs for holidays and the dreaded balancing act that so many couples have to endure each holiday.
Because the Aussie moved here without his family, it made for an easier transition for us in that department. My family took him in on our third date (Easter at my cousins house, that's a story for another day!) and since then I now find myself questioning who they like better!

All kidding aside, I know its hard for him to not have his family with him, to have the quick phone calls, or to help figure the tough stuff of this marriage thing with. I know I can pick up the phone and say to my mother " What was he thinking?!? And while he could pick up the phone and call my parents for the same thing, I know its not the same. So it was great when his father came over in August, and amazing when his mum came over for Christmas (again, stories for another day!) But again, the bitter sweet emotions I felt on his behalf when we dropped his mother off at the airport left me feeling like for the first time- I can't fix this for him.

The tears that strolled down my cheek were I guess partly for me- after all, I had just spent two weeks in small quarters alone with her- but mostly for him. She said to me that this would probably be her last trip to the U.S. A small part of me wanted to shake her and say "HOW could you say that?!? Think that?!? Believe that?!?" ok- a large part of me. The worst part is that he doesn't know that.

I do not- repeated- DO NOT keep secrets from the Aussie- about anything....I know that by telling him something like that he would be filled with guilt and possibly regret.
So there I stood, crying like a fool at 4:00 a.m. in the airport and he couldn't figure out why it was affecting me so much.

So let me ask you this... Is it ok to keep something like that from him? In my defense I'm choosing not to believe that this is her last trip here.

white stocking for her first(and last?!?) Christmas with him in  8 years