While I didn’t do that well with the first two weeks of this challenge, I do believe I give my husband lots of compliments. He’s hot and he’s a great guy! I love giving him compliments.

Our husbands not only need to know that we love them, but they need to know what we love about them.

What makes your husband special? Why do you love being your husband’s wife?

52 Weeks to A Better Marriage

This week I’ve included a free printable and I want everyone to print it out and complete it!

Take some time to really think about why you love being married to your husband. What qualities does he have that you absolutely love?

With Valentine’s Day coming up, we start thinking about what to do or get for our spouses. Yes, Valentine’s Day is the day of love but it shouldn’t be the only day of love. Should we only be showing our spouses love one day a year? Spouses should be doing things for each other throughout the year to ensure both each other feel loved.

Let’s take this time to really express our feelings. Sometimes verbalizing our feelings isn’t easy or the words don’t come out the way we want them too. By writing down our feelings we are able to take the time to really think about what we want to say and make sure it comes across the way we want it too.

You can download the above printable here: 10 Reasons I Love Being Your Wife

If you missed the first three weeks of the 52 Weeks to A Better Marriage challenge you can find them here:

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

To find more marriage tips, be sure to follow me on Pinterest!

The post 52 Weeks to A Better Marriage (Week 4) + Free Printable appeared first on The Classy Chapter.

My week was pretty hectic so this goal wasn’t accomplished every day. It will be a work in progress for me. There is nothing more important in your life than your health and your marriage. Both need to be made a priority and I’ll be actively working on it. Slow and steady wins the race, right?

I have however been trying to do something nice every day and ensuring my husband knows he is loved.

52 Weeks to A Better Marriage (Week 3)

This week I’d like to focus on compliments. A great compliment can really turn an ok day into a great day!

I think that there are times when us women forget that while it’s nice to receive a compliment we should also be giving them out to our husband. I know it’s a little awkward at times to give a man compliment but trust me he will appreciate it!

So the challenge this week is to give your spouse a compliment every single day. Tell him he looks handsome before he goes to work or just say something that you love about him. A small compliment can go a long way!

I don’t give my husband compliments very often but when I do it always puts a smile on his face! If there is one thing I know about men, it’s that they like to know they are wanted and appreciated by their spouse. Men can’t read our minds so we need to verbally let them know how much we love them.

If you missed the first two weeks in this series you can find them here:

52 Weeks to a Better Marriage (Week 1)

52 Weeks to a Better Marriage (Week 2)

The post 52 Weeks to A Better Marriage (Week 3) appeared first on The Classy Chapter.

What is it with women talking bad about each other? I totally get it in high school, but I’m talking about grown women!

Aren’t we supposed to support each other and help each other succeed?

Woman vs. Woman: Why the Competition?

I think there are a few main reasons why women like to compete against each other instead of supporting each other.

First and foremost I believe women have been taught not be aggressive with men. They shouldn’t speak their mind, offer up an opinion or give any push back at all. When women get around other women they feel empowered, it’s their moment to voice their opinion and not hold back.

Some, not all, are insecure. If another woman is doing better than they are it makes them feel unworthy.

The biggest reason, in my opinion that women compete with each other, is that they are not happy with themselves. They’re having problems within their marriage, money issues and generally not happy.

So, how can we start supporting each other instead of competing against each other? 

Here are my 5 tips!

1. Self-Reflection: If you find yourself constantly talking about other women, you need to take some time to do some self-reflection. What is the real issue at hand? Why do you have such an issue with that person? Do you even know the lady you are talking about?

2. Success: When other women succeed we all succeed! Successful women are paving the way for other women.

3. Sisterhood: Women just get each other. Another man won’t understand why you are annoyed with your husband, that you are feeling bloated or are just having a bad hair day. Be that trusted sister to another woman and the bond between women will grow!

4. Be a Positive Influence: Set a good example for the young ladies in your life. Don’t ever let your daughters, nieces or any other little girl hear you talk bad about another woman and don’t tolerate it being done in front of you.  Teach them young that it’s not okay to talk bad about other women.

5. No Jealousy: There is always going to be someone prettier, smarter, more organized or more successful. It’s life! Take that jealous energy and use it to enhance your own personal strengths.

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My goal last week was to make the better every day since that’s a big one for my husband. I gave it a good try but did not get around to making the bed every day.

I will tell you that the few days I did make the bed, he was extremely happy! Seeing your spouse happy really does make your heart happy!

52 Weeks to A Better Marriage (Week 2)

My husband loves affection. When I hug him, kiss him or just snuggle him on the couch he feels loved.

Sounds easy enough to do right? Give your spouse some affection.

Well for me it’s easier said than done. I’m not a super affectionate person so I really do have to make it a point to give him the affection he needs. He doesn’t need much, but just a little something to let him know I love him.

This week I’m going to continue working on making the bed every day and I’m going to add in giving him some dedicated time.

Sometimes life gets in the way of giving our spouse the time and attention they deserve.

Your challenge this week is to carve out 30 minutes every day that is 100% dedicated to your spouse.

Spend 30-minutes talking to each other, go for a walk together, snuggle on the couch, take a quiet drive or anything else that will give the two of you some quality time.

Spending some time together each day will give the two of you a chance to reconnect. It’s also a nice break from our hectic lives.

If you missed week one you can read it here: Week 1 of 52 Weeks to A Better Marriage

Do you spend quality time with your spouse every day?

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Sadly, I know several women who settle for less than they should.

When picking the man that we will have kids with and spend the rest of our lives loving, we should be picky. Every man should have certain qualities and while your list might differ than mine, there are 20 I think every man should have!

20 Qualities Every Man Should Have

1. Be a Good Listener – Your partner needs to be able to listen to you to understand your wants, needs and any concerns.
2. Has a Sensitive Side – Of course, we don’t want a man that’s a cry baby but he also needs to show some emotion.
3. Loves Animals – If a man loves animals is probably safe to say he has a soft side.
4. Loves Children – If you want to have children then the man in your life needs to love children. You don’t want to end up with a man that can’t stand being around kids.
5. Love Adventure – If he’s up for anything then you know the two of you will always have a good time.
6. Has Morals – Pretty simple, morals are important.
7. Is Open-Minded – Having an open mind is a great trait! He’ll be open to change and new ideas.
8. People Love Him – If other people love him then chances are he’s a really good guy.
9. Enjoys Learning – Life is one big learning experience. He needs to learn in every aspect of life in order to grow.
10. Will to Help Others – If he’s willing to help others chances are he truly enjoys people and doing for others.
11. Wants to Please His Partner – A good man wants to please his wife. This will come in handy in more than one way!
12. Has Close Friends – A man with close friends is a good thing! He is able to keep long-term relationships.
13. Enjoys the Outdoors – He doesn’t need to be super active but getting out and enjoying some fresh air is a good thing. He’ll probably enjoy playing outside with the kids.
14. Has Patience – Marriage and kids require patience.
15. Good Hygiene – Pretty self-explanatory.
16. Has Ambition – He wants to better himself, achieve goals and make a better life for his family.
17. Has Hobbies – It’s healthy for couples to have their own hobbies. Encourage the man in your life to pursue his hobbies.
18. Team Player – This shows he can work well with others.
19. Treats His Mom with Respect – A good man know’s how to treat his mom.
20. Can Cook – Obviously this isn’t a must but it sure is sexy when a man can cook! Not to mention helpful on those nights when you’re busy with the kids.

What qualities would you add to this list?

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A few months ago, my husband said something to me that really stopped me in my tracks.

He told me that he didn’t always feel loved and didn’t always feel like a priority.

Seriously, who wants to hear that? I know I don’t! My intentions have never been to make my husband feel like he has to compete with anything else in our lives.

This year, I’m committing myself to improving my marriage. Each week, I will be putting up the different things I’m doing to make sure my marriage stays a priority!

52 Weeks to A Better Marriage (Week 1)

Sometimes the smallest things really do mean the most.

Almost every morning my husband makes me a pot of coffee, yet I don’t even think he knows how much I appreciate it. He leaves to work before I wake up and it’s nice to start my morning off with fresh coffee the minute I wake up.

He also opens the car door for me every time I get in. If I’m walking ahead of him, he will make it a point to speed up his walking just so he can get to the truck and open the door for me.

These are just a few of the sweet things he does for me. The list could really go on and on.

However, it got me thinking…what do I do for him? Sure I take care of the kids and cook but those are things I’m going to do no matter what.

My husband loves when the bed is made. Personally, I could care less if the bed is made. More times than not this means the bed is never made! It drives him nuts that he has to fix the sheets and blankets before bedtime.

This week, I’m going to make it a point to make the bed every single day. It’s small and kind of dumb, but it will make him happy and that’s what matters.

Your goal this week: Find something small you can do for your spouse that will put a smile on their face. If your marriage is facing some struggles, this is a must read post!

Week 2 is live now! 52 Weeks to A Better Marriage: Week 2

Download your free printable and let your husband know why you love being his wife!

Make sure to check out the post on how to fix a marriage that’s having trouble!

The post 52 Weeks to A Better Marriage (Week 1) appeared first on The Classy Chapter.

My husband and I were trying to decide what to do one Saturday afternoon. He kept rattling off suggestions and I was vetoing every suggestion he had. Finally, in an annoyed voice he asked me “What makes you smile? What do you enjoy doing?”

At first I was annoyed! How could my husband not possibly know what makes me happy or know what my hobbies are? Then I realized besides taking care of my family and spending time on the internet, I didn’t really have any hobbies anymore.

What happened to me? What happened to the energetic girl that was up for anything?

She was lost.

Learning How to Put Yourself First

Remember, putting yourself first doesn’t make you a bad person. You are not a bad mom or a bad wife just because you take the time to take care of yourself. In fact, taking some time for yourself just might make you an even better wife or mom.

Here are a several tips to help you learn the art of putting yourself first.

Reconnect with Friends – If anyone can understand what you are going through as a woman…it’s your friends! Take some time out of your life and reconnect with your friends, keep those relationships strong and healthy. Yes, it’s great to hang out with our friends while the kids play on the playground but it isn’t the same as getting some good quality time with your girlfriends.

Keep Your Doctor Appointments – We rush our kids to the doctors for every little thing. We baby our husbands when they are sick. But we don’t focus on ourselves when we are feeling under the weather. News flash! Our health is just as important as our husbands and our childrens. If we don’t keep ourselves healthy how can we possibly keep up with the daily demands of being a wife and a mother? Let’s all make this a priority!

Enjoy a Spa Day – For a lot of women a fancy spa day just isn’t in the budget. I know that spending hundreds of dollars at a fancy spa isn’t in my budget! Good news! There are plenty of salons that are affordable. Every couple of months spend $20 to $50 and do something for yourself. Get a pedicure, massage, your hair colored or anything else that will make you feel good about yourself.

Take Up Exercising – What better way to take time for yourself than exercising? Some might be thinking, BORING! Obviously, this option isn’t the most exciting but it can do wonders for you. Exercising helps you take out aggression, gives you energy, keeps you healthy and makes you feel great about yourself!

Implement the 30 Minute Rule – This is a must in my life. Every day after my husband comes home from work, I take 30-minutes all to myself. I go into our bedroom, lay on the bed and watch one of my shows. Thirty minutes isn’t a long time, but it’s something that’s just for me. It helps me unwind from my day at home with the kids. It gives me energy to get through the rest of the evening.

What do you do to make time for yourself?

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Now, don’t get me wrong I love my husband so much but sometimes balancing work, the home, kids, your own personal time and your marriage is stressful. In fact, sometimes the smallest issues can put a major strain on your marriage. I personally believe that all marriages are going to have good times and bad times, but it’s how you handle the bad times that make your marriage stronger.

7 Ways to Fix Your Marriage

1. Quality Time – Drop the kids off with Grandma, hire a babysitter, barter with a neighbor or anything else within reason to enjoy some quality time together. The keyword here is quality! Don’t browse Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Don’t talk about the kids! Spend time holding hands, giving each other kisses and enjoying each other’s company.

2. Communication Without Blame – If something is bothering you talk to your spouse about it, but don’t blame your spouse! It’s easy to blame others, but all that is going to do is shut down the communication.

3. Intimacy – This should go without saying but when we get busy with life intimacy is usually the first thing to go. While you might not feel like you “need” the intimacy it really is about more than fulfilling a need. It’s about connecting with your spouse and making each other feel loved and wanted.

4. Remember The Reasons You Love Each Other – Turn this into an activity where you each write down all the reasons you love each other, then read over the list together.

5. Stop Second Guessing Everything – I strongly believe that sometimes the problems are in our own head. When we are stressed out we tend to over analyze everything which in turn makes us second guess everything. As long as there are no serious problems in your relationship (abuse of any kind) then just give your spouse a kiss and tell him or her you love them. Don’t second guess it!

6.  Make Your Spouse a Priority – There are times when my husband feels like everything, including the coffee maker is more important than he is. This is not okay! Make sure your spouse knows they are a priority in your life.

7. Learn Each Other’s Love Language – A few years ago a friend of my husband recommended we read called (affiliate link) The 5 Love Languages. Now I’m not going to tell you that this book was a “relationship saver” but it was really eye opening to see how different our love styles were. This has definitely helped us recognize that we each need something different.

The post 7 Things to Do When Your Marriage is Suffering appeared first on The Classy Chapter.

However, when it comes to his stocking…I fail..every year! I love buying him gifts but putting together a stocking for him, is downright hard!

This year, I put together a list of items I know my husband will enjoy seeing in his stocking. I hope a few of the items on the list help you create the perfect stocking for the man in your life!

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Men

What do you normally put in your husbands stocking?

Make sure to follow me on Pinterest for more posts like this.

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5 Ways to Love Your Spouse

1. Say, I love you! This is by far the easiest way to let your spouse know that they still mean the world to you. And I don’t mean a quick I love you as they walk out the door or through text message. Look your spouse in the eyes today and let him or her know that you love them with all your heart.

2. Do something special for your spouse. The great thing about marriage is you get comfortable with your spouse. The bad thing about marriage is you get comfortable with your spouse! We get in a rut, going about our daily routine, day after day that we forget to stop and do those small things that make our spouse feel special. Maybe you cook your spouse his or her favorite dinner, buy a small gift, leave a love note out for them or anything else that you know puts a smile on their face.

3. Plan alone time! Yes, we love our children but every married couple needs some quality alone time! Alone time gives you the opportunity to reconnect with your spouse and remember those wonderful qualities your spouse has that have nothing to do with being a good mom or dad. Make a pact to spend quality time together where you do NOT talk about the children! Ask each other questions, hold hands, kiss and just rekindle the love.

4. Show an interest in your their hobbies. Does your spouse like to cook, watch football, hunt, dance or knit? It doesn’t really matter what their hobby is but take time to show an interest. This isn’t to say you have to be 100% involved in their hobby, but you can have a vested interest. If your spouse likes to watch football, sit down and watch the game with him or her. Ask questions and try to learn what your spouse enjoys about this particular hobby! You just might be surprised at how happy your spouse will be.

5. Affection, Affection, Affection! I really can’t stress this one enough. Nothing tells your spouse you love them like physically showing your love. A simple kiss good-bye in the morning, snuggling up on the couch or any kind of affection can do wonders for a marriage. It’s amazing how many marriages lack affection and it’s even more amazing what affection can do to repair a marriage.

Affiliate Link If you want to take your marriage to the next level, I highly suggest reading this book!

What are your tips for loving your spouse?

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