I had been putting off working on some home repair projects that were in dire need of being finished. The main reason I was putting them off is that I find that if I stop doing my daily household work (i.e., cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.) no other family member is going to do it for me and so, I end up doing twice as much work.

When my husband finally questioned why I wasn’t finishing any of the bigger projects, such as painting the family room walls, I responded that I just wasn’t up to taking on the extra work knowing that I would have to stop in the middle to fix dinner, or do the laundry, or take care of the dog.

It took some convincing, but I do believe he finally understood what I was talking about. He promised to help as long as I did the painting while he wasn’t occupied with work or something else and I agreed. Coordination and cooperation between spouses, that’s the key.

So, this past Sunday, after asking my husband what his plans were for the day, I tackled my painting job. While I was doing that, he cleaned the swimming pool, then came in and started dinner. By the time I was finished cleaning my brushes and putting away the ladder several hours later, dinner was on the table.

You’re probably wondering why I am writing this, but the point of this post is to let everyone know that if couples work together to accomplish things, big or small, they can make each other feel good. I felt such a sense of accomplishment for finally getting the painting done and I didn’t feel stressed about having to stop and make sure dinner was ready. I felt that what I was doing was appreciated by my husband enough for him to want to take over some of my usual duties in order for me to get the job done.

Sometimes, spoiling someone can be as simple as letting them know they’re appreciated.

Mother’s Day is fast approaching and chocolate is one of the best ways to a mother’s heart. Someone mentioned today about a lady who said, “When I die, if there’s not chocolate in heaven, then I don’t want to go there.”

Some of the best chocolate is World’s Finest Chocolate Plus, the cool part is that you can add a digital photo for MOM for FREE. They also have a bunch of other unique Mother’s Day gift idea starting at $9.95. Just make sure you order by April 30 to ensure delivery by Mother’s Day!

We have all seen the commercials where the long legs of the beautiful actress are used to gain attention to the product being sold. You say you have no idea what product they are selling? That is because, if you are like me, you are looking at the shoes. I absolutely love shoes. I consider shoes a form of art. There are so many shapes of shoes and just thinking of all the different textures gets me excited. If you want to have a fun shopping trip, go together to shop but concentrate on shoes. Try on wild ones. Have fun with it. If my husband wants to spoil me, all he has to do is go with me to the shoe department of my favorite department store. Spoil your wife/husband with a trip to buy new shoes/boots, they will feel special and you’ll love how they look.

There are so many ways to say “I love you” without ever saying the words. Have you tried any of these?

Say “I Love You” with food. While making breakfast this weekend, cut heart shapes out of the pancakes or waffles. The kids won’t be the only ones to enjoy the message.

Use time in the car to talk, and don’t forget to listen! Turn down the radio and use the opportunity to let others in the car know you think they’re special. Try phrases like, “I’m glad we’re together” and “I think you’re special”. These words not only tell others that you love them, but also serve to build their self esteem, especially to kids.

Take a walk together. When is the last time you spent time together, just walking? This is a way to not only promote health, but also a feeling of closeness.

Use hand signals or sign language. Every night since our daughter was very little, we’ve blown kisses, crossed our arms over our hearts and given a thumbs up as a way to say “I Love You”. We use these same signals whenever one of us is leaving another, whether it’s to go to school or off on a business trip.

Write a note. Slip a little love note into a lunch bag or briefcase. What a nice surprise to the recipient in the middle of the day! Is your spouse traveling? Send a text message, let them know you’re thinking of them.

Do you have non-verbal ways of saying “I Love You’?

I enjoyed entertainment by a comedian on Saturday. We were just about rolling in the floor because of his antics. He gave so many examples of raising children that struck our funny bones that we wondered if maybe he had once lived with us. He also told a story that got me thinking. You may or may not have heard about Larry Walters, a 33-year-old man who decided he wanted to see his neighborhood from a new perspective.

Larry went about achieving his dream in an unconventional way but he was able to see his neighborhood from up in the clouds. You might want to check out his story by searching the terms Larry Walters and lawn chair. It is an odd and enlightening story. He got into trouble with the authorities but said that he felt it was worth the fines and hassles. When asked why he pulled his stunt, he replied, “you can’t just sit there.”

I wouldn’t recommend putting your life in danger but there are times when you have to step out of your comfort zone to keep your relationship with your spouse fresh and exciting. Spontaneity might surprise you. Do you think you would like to try to catch a fish? Would you enjoy ballroom dancing? There are times when we should do things just because we shouldn’t just sit there.

I asked my eleven year old son, if he had an assignment in school to write about how he would spoil me, he replied that first he would ask me what my “perfect day” would be, and then he would help me do whatever that was. Isn’t that sweet?

So then, of course, I set about thinking what I think would constitute a perfect day. I would enjoy waking up and going out for a full breakfast (good coffee, cheese omelet, fluffy pancakes or belgian waffles, crispy bacon, more coffee), followed by a long browse at the bookstore, then catching a matinee movie before heading home for an uninterrupted nap and then a good dinner. I also really enjoy taking road trips with my family. Packing up the van after breakfast, with a thick magazine to read on the way and heading to a park or a zoo, that’s a perfect way to spend a beautiful Spring day.

If you want to spoil someone and you aren’t sure where to begin, try asking them! Ask them to describe their idea of a perfect day, and then do your best to make it happen. Of course, if your husband is like mine and his answer to that question is “having peace and quiet for a whole day”, you might have to spend his perfect day out of the house! Putting together a whole day of favorite activities can be a great way to make someone feel like they are getting spoiled.

Mothers spend their days working hard for their families. Some work outside the home while others spend their days with their children. Either way, moms are doing everything they can to create a comfortable home for their spouse and kids and mold their children into strong, independent human beings. Being a mom is a year-round, 24/7 job with little to no time off for vacation, personal days or sick leave. Even so, the benefits of being a mom are too numerous to count.

As an adult, I find it very rewarding to find the perfect Mother’s Day gift for my mom. I know her tastes, her likes and dislikes, and can afford to purchase gifts that I am confident she will enjoy. But, how can young children make the day just as special for their mom? With Dad’s help of course!

Moms of young children don’t necessarily want or need expensive gifts (although they certainly won’t turn those down) to make them feel appreciated. Simple things can make a Mother’s Day special. Simple things like breakfast in bed, a foot massage, and my personal favorite, home made cards and gifts from the kids. Once I received a framed piece of my daughter’s artwork as a gift and it’s still one of my most cherished gifts.

With dad’s help, children can help with cooking the day’s meals. Having a day off from the daily duties of housekeeping and cooking and simply being given time to just relax for the day can make any mom of any age feel extraordinary. Kids can perform many duties around the house such as sweeping, dusting and making a bed. Will it be up to mom’s standards? Of course not. Will mom appreciate the effort? Absolutely!

With some effort on dad’s part the kids will be allowed to feel like they’ve been a significant part of that special day with very little expense. Mother’s Day; a day for everyone to feel special.

Now that March is turning to April and the snow is finally melting in Eastern half of the U.S., women’s thoughts will soon be turning to sandals. We can finally pull off our boots and our thick socks and slip our feet into all kinds of strappy, thong-y, letting-our-feet-breathe sandals. Aaaahhhhh.

But first, we have to get our feet ready. We have to have layers of thick winter skin pumiced off, cuticles pushed back and nipped, and our toenails buffed and polished so that they look pretty and soft. And that, gentlemen, requires a pedicure.

Surprise your wife or girlfriend with a gift certificate to a nail salon for a relaxing pedicure and I promise she will be thrilled. Dads, don’t even hesitate when she asks “what about the kids?” Just tell her “the kids and I will be fine, don’t worry”, and send her out the door.

She will return with a smile on her face wearing disposable flip-flops and sporting lovely toes and feet. Make sure to compliment her on how pretty her feet look, say something nice about the color of the nail polish. Want to score even MORE spoiling points? Tell her you’d like her to go buy a nice new pair of sandals to show off the pedicure.

And Dads, don’t forget to give her newly pedicured feet a massage after the kids go to bed

Tonight I got home from a long day of life and my wife and children were in bed. My wife and I had agreed that we weren’t going to spend any money this Valentine’s Day. That doesn’t mean you don’t give a gift to your wife for Valentine’s Day. It just means that you have to be more creative in the gifts that you give her. Tomorrow I’m going to give her a CD mix and redo the ones I gave her previously that have gotten scratches. Should be a nice touch.

However, I’ve wanted to do something more. When I got home tonight the house was quite the mess. See the pictures to see what I’m talking about.

Bathroom Before

Living Room Before

Kitchen Before

In popped the perfect idea. Clean the house. What better Valentine’s gift or any gift could my wife wake up to than a clean house? So, I went to work picking up all the crap my children had spread throughout the house. The bathroom was a particular joy. My children had enjoyed themselves so much in there I couldn’t even walk into the bathroom because there was crap everywhere. I’m sure my wife was looking forward to cleaning it up tomorrow, but instead she’ll have a nice Valentine’s surprise when she sees it all cleaned up and organized. For good measure I also did all the dishes and put the laundry in. Here’s the after shot:
Bathroom After

Living Room After

Kitchen After

Now I just wish that I could get a picture of my wife’s face tomorrow when she sees it all clean. The amazing thing is that seeing her happy actually turns out to be a great gift for me too.

It’s close to Valentine’s Day.
Well, make that painfully close to Valentine’s Day, if your a guy without a gift for your special someone.
There are still easy gifts to snag. Here are some easy picker-uppers:

• Flowers
• Picture frames
• Chocolates and candies
• Restaurant reservations

It’s not necessarily the timing that matters for Valentine’s Day… it’s the availability. If you don’t move on things early, you’re left with the scraps left by other guys, who move a little quicker than you.
On Valentine’s Day, it’s survival of the fastest.

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