Laura's Strengthening Marriage Blog

2/23/11 UPDATE — All Couples Photos for the annual Anniversary Inn giveaway have been posted on the Couples Photos Page. Congratulations to Chris and Shelby for winning the random drawing. We had over 100 entries this year! Thank you to everyone for sharing your fabulous photos!

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We’re excited to announce our annual Valentine’s Giveaway to the romantic Anniversary Inn. Just send us your favorite photo of you and your spouse for a chance to win a FREE one-night getaway to the delicious Anniversary Inn of your choice, in the suite of your choice! (Valued up to $289!)

Contest Details

To enter the drawing, send us your favorite husband/wife photo by Tuesday, February 15th, 2011. Even if you’ve sent us a photo before we’d love to see your new favorite photos. All new entrants will be added into this drawing.

All photos will be posted on our Couples Photos page. So, send us your uncropped, 300 dpi/high res photo with your first and last names, and how many years you’ve been married. You can see all the fabulous couples photos we’ve previously received here. Continue reading “Valentine’s Giveaway to the Anniversary Inn with Your Couple Photo” »

Christmas is only getting closer…still wondering what to get your hubby?

RomanticMarriages.com offers a fabulous, all-inclusive “Merry Christmas Deer” romance kit!

“We noticed that during the Holidays our husbands were the last to get some of our time and attention, so a few Christmases ago we each decided to change that. Now our husbands are more excited about what they are getting for Christmas than our kids!” (Founders of RomanticMarriages.com)

Continue reading “What to Get Your Santa-Honey for Christmas!” »

In honor of celebrating 19 years of marriage with my sweetheart, here are a few wedding anniversary traditions to consider for your own celebrations.

• Get your rings cleaned.
• Go out for a special breakfast, lunch or dinner.
• Watch your wedding video.
• Go through your wedding photo album.
• Write down your “How We Met” story or review it!
• Review and revise your lists of the top 10 things that make you feel loved.
• Get away for an overnight stay. A favorite place is The Anniversary Inn! Fans of StrengtheningMarriage.com can even receive a fabulous 25% discount!
• On your special getaway take the book 365 Questions for Couples and/or the Table Topics Couples Edition to get to know each other even better!
• Have a special couple portrait taken. Chek out the many fun Couples Photos on StrengtheningMarriage.com!
• Make love as many times that day (or week, or month) as the number of years you’ve been married (whichever is more doable! : )
• Go for a nice romantic walk some evening…be sure to hold hands though!
• Get some pretty flowers. You gotta have flowers! (…unless your wife is an anti-flowers type! : )

We welcome you to share your anniversary traditions and/or other marriage traditions here! Continue reading “Wedding Anniversary Traditions” »

You have just four more days to enter to win either a “Loving Wives Club” membership or a “Merry Christmas Deer” kit. You just need to send us an email at Laura@StrengtheningMarriage.com to enter your name. Learn more here, then send your email today!

Hey Guys! My husband had a great suggestion for men’s gift-giving this Christmas! … Be Thoughtful!

How? How about getting your wife’s Christmas gift before Christmas Eve! It’s amazing how “when” the gift was purchased might actually mean more to your wife than “what” was purchased. The earlier you purchase the gift the more it says, “I’m thinking of you” and “You’re important to me!”

Continue reading ““Give the Gift of Thoughtfulness”” »

Great Gift Ideas for Him!

It isn’t everyday that you find great, fun, and respectful gifts that enhance the intimate relationship of marriage.

Love2Romance.com is one of those great places to find ideas and motivation to strengthen the intimate connection between husband and wife.

Loving Wives Club

RomanticMarriages.com

You’ll love the Love2Romance “Loving Wives Club!” The “Loving Wives Club” makes it easy for you to keep your husband more emotionally connected to you! They provide monthly digital romance prompts sent via email to help you inject fun and playfulness into your relationship.

Continue reading “Loving Wives Club & Romantic Christmas Gifts” »

The Anniversary Inn, my favorite couples getaway, is holding their annual “Christmas at The Inn” event December 1st – 3rd where you can reserve a romantic one night’s stay in any of their beautiful themed suites for only $159. This is a once-a-year opportunity to get an incredible price on a night’s stay in the exquisite Anniversary Inn.

Continue reading “Romantic Christmas Gift Getaway for Your Honey” »

Some time ago the author of the upcoming book Famous Family Nights asked me to write a little bit about Family Home Evenings (FHE) in our home to be featured in a book with other “famous” LDS personalities. (I think she’s stretching the “famous” thing just a bit! : ) Famous Family Nights is now available on our Strengthening Marriage Online Store. I’m sure it will provide many ideas and insights into making family nights even more enjoyable and valuable for the whole family. But most of all I think it will relieve everyone to see that FHE can be a challenge sometimes for anyone! Continue reading “Famous Family Nights — New Book-Contribution” »

How long has it been since you wrote your sweetheart a love letter? With recent news of Governor Mark Sanford’s “extramarital emails” I couldn’t help but wonder how his life would be different if he had invested the same time and energy into writing love letters to his wife.

Certainly it can take more effort to feel those romantic feelings toward one’s spouse when many years of marriage have passed, but it is simply a matter of where we put our time, effort and attention that counts, for love is an action. Feelings follow–not lead. Continue reading “Love Letters” »

I just have to tell you about these very cool marriage shirts! What a fabulous idea! (I might just have to copy the idea someday.)

How cool would it be for men and women to promote marriage, and proudly confess their love and devotion for their spouse! Definitely check these out! Continue reading “My Husband Rocks! (MHR Shirts)” »