Last call!

Huntsville Barbecue just donated a $50 gift certificate for a door prize! There are MANY more like this! Come for the prizes, come for the classes, come for the good times and come for each other! Today is THE LAST DAY FOR THE EARLY BIRD PRICE!!
http://smithstix.com/events/item/root/2012-northern-utah-marriage-celebration

The apple for the day is: get tickets to this! ha ha :) OR walk up behind your spouse and just hug or hold them for a minute. (make sure they aren't stressed or busy and wouldn't appreciate it) And since I didn't post one for yesterday, here is another. Express specific appreciation for something they do all the time. Example: for going to work, school, making the bed, fixing dinner, keeping the kids safe and clean, for their optimism. But be specific and genuine!

text some love

The apple of the day is: send your spouse a sweet text. . . tell them they are a hottie and you can't wait to see and kiss their face. :) (just an idea...:))

appropriate interruptions. :)

The apple for the day is: while talking to your spouse, interrupt yourself and tell them what a hottie they are or how much you love their smile and then keep talking. :) That's all. :)

Seasons change.

Marriage is a lot like buying a house. When the seasons change you get surprised by what comes with it. Sometimes flowers pop up without you planting them and sometimes weeds do too.

Our job is to enjoy the flowers and work together to take care of the weeds.

Lets just remember the life is hard. Be kind to each other. Some days it feels like that is all you've got.

The apple for the day is: take a walk together. Enjoy the cooler weather or take a water bottle if it isn't cool yet. Hold hands and tell your spouse something you appreciate about them. -the walk doesn't have to be long, just go. Happy Friday. :)

what helps?

So the other day I had accomplished "things". I know I did.

Then afternoon hit. Me and the kids ate early because they were "starving".

The house was a disaster. -dishes everywhere, clutter everywhere. the kids were driving me and each other nuts.

Zach was late.

I gave each child their designated area and activity and I found a couch and parked it.

Then I got a text.

"great day at the office. see you in 27 minutes.....and i CANNOT wait either. you are my whole world becca nielson-I LOVE YOU!!!"

Wanta know what I did? cleaned the house.

I think I was still sitting on the couch when he got home, but i was reading a book to the kids. He told me I was a "total hottie" when he walked in too. :) ( I had done my hair-rare. )

Interesting what a nicely written text did. He didn't know he was going to come home to an exhausted wife and a messy house. It was like his text gave me the benefit of the doubt...like he knew life was good at home, with me. It motivated me to get off my rear. And he came home to a much better situation.

It just goes to show that kindness does make a difference and a lot of times the person who issued the kindness does benefit too.

wahoo!

Wasn't Conference AWESOME?! Gosh, it seemed like after every talk was over I said, "that was a great talk! I'm going to need to read that one again!" :) Loved it!

Did anyone else think that there were a few "apple a day" talks? I did!

Small and simple things matter!

Elder Scott's talk was seriously the sweetest thing. I could tell how much he loved his wife, and how much he misses her.

It is so interesting to me that when we loose someone we love, the good times mean more and the little things that we did for them and they did for us, mean more. What a great reminder!

What are you going to do today for your spouse? My apples for the day are:

I will be sticking some notes in some random places, like his lunch, his journal and his shirt pocket. I am a lucky girl, he should know that by now, but it feels good to keep telling him. :)

Oh and I'm not too surprised to see that others thought the Allen James photography deal was awesome! There are three spots left as of this typing! 10 people can have it! Leave a comment and send me an email! (it's the post below...)

Happy Monday!

one liner

I love "one liners". No, I'm not thinking pick up line, just a quick line that I can remember.

Over the weekend one came to mind that I am going to do better with this week....

"Be quick to compliment and slow to criticize". Susan Tanner said that.

Don't you love it!? So, because that is what I'm working on, I thought I'd pass it along! :)

Happy Monday!

Lucky Week!!!

I really should have dedicated all of March as "Lucky March" but I didn't think about it much before now. :)

I love it when I think about how lucky I am! What a nice thing to think!

That is really the goal of lucky week. You want to feel lucky, be lucky and make others feel lucky!

(especially your spouse!)

The apple for the day is: think or write some things about being married to your spouse or about your spouse that just makes you feel lucky. If you write them, you can give them to your spouse. Think or write until you honestly feel like the luckiest person to be married to your spouse!

I am lucky to be married to Zach because he such an awesome dad!

try really hard. :)

The apple for the day is: write notes! Hide them, post them around. Tell your spouse how awesome they are! There doesn't have to be a reason!

Have I mentioned I love conversation hearts?

mommy said...

"Hey daddy? Mommy thinks you're cute".

Have you ever sent compliments to your spouse via your children? You might even be able to do it over and over with them same or different children and send a few compliments their way. If you have older kids, try bribing them to take the message. Then it might just come as a shocker and probably a good laugh later! (I am laughing at the thought of those of you with teenagers! good times!)

Well, try that for an apple!

First date of the year!

Are you one of those couples who thinks about your beginnings and giggles? If it is a fun idea to do something you did when you were dating, then do it!

Some of mine and Zach's first dates were:

* playing a basketball game, making homemade pizza and smoothies.

* dinner at Wingers'

* a Recycle Percussion concert

* studying at the library

* making art...for our gen ed. art class

If it isn't a fun idea to repeat some of your first dates. Then recreate. Do something you wish you had done.

* most guys wish they could have gone swimming...

* most girls would have loved to go dancing...

* most everybody loves a good dinner...

Have to stay home...

have dinner, dance and then have a shower...

dance, shower, have dinner...

Oh, you figure out the order! :)

These would be some sweet conversation starters...

*why did you ask me out?

*why did you say yes?

*why did you keep asking me out?

*why did you keep saying yes?

*why did you ask me to marry you?

*why did you say yes?

Happy New Year!!!

The apple for the day is:

Make out with your spouse! :) Okay, in addition to the kiss at the end of the night, tell your spouse what you are looking forward to this New year with them! Tell them how wonderful they are and the things you are excited about.

I can't think of a better way to start off than with a kind word and some optimism!

Happy New year!!! Have fun tonight!

say it!

The Apple for the day is: If you can't say something nice, don't say it at all...If you have something nice to say, don't keep it inside...SAY IT! Say anything nice that comes to your mind! Your spouse needs to hear how awesome they are! Be grateful....it's fun!

and see, you can learn something good from movies! :)

how sweet it is!

Look at these faces! I love this picture. Who taught them to do this? You guessed it! Zach.

What a wonderful way to show gratitude! Involve the kids in thanking your spouse. Take them out back/front, cut a flower and bring it in. You can whisper all the sweet things in their ears that you want them to say!

or there is also coloring a picture or making a treat.

I'm pretty sure there is nothing better than hearing "this is for you. i love you".

Spooky Spouse

It is Saturday. You are probably busy like I am doing Halloweenish things. While you are at it, leave some spooky sweet notes about.

Dear Zach,

I love your stinkin' guts

you make me vomit

you are the scum between my toes

Love,

Your Spooky Wife

name that movie :)

some of you are more creative than me. what are some "spooky" notes you can come up with?

not sure what to say?

try these:

"thanks for working so hard!"

"I'm glad you are home. I love it when you are here."

"you are adorable"

"man, I am LUCKY!"

"I just LOVE you!"

The apple for the day is: If you want to say something nice, there is NO REASON to not say it! Be nice to your spouse, flower them with compliments today! Don't let a moment pass you by.

quick and easy

The Apple of the day is:

first thing when you see them today (or talk to them, if you aren't going to see them)

give them a kiss and tell them how awesome they are and how much you love being around them!

Think about it and be sincere. :)

It's not about...

...the FROG!

When we were camping a few weeks ago we went for a hike. We passed a river and we spotted a frog. The kids were so excited to catch a frog and to watch him jump and swim!

When I got home and was looking through our pictures I realized I did not get a single picture of the kids! I only took them of the frog!

I am an analogy person so bear with me!

How often am I so focussed on what I am doing that I forget who I am doing it for? When we caught the frog, it wasn't for the frog, it was for the kids. What did they learn from the experience? Did they enjoy themselves?

The same is true with everything in life. We need to remember the purpose behind the things we are doing. Why do we take the kids to school? Are they learning that it is okay to be angry at our family when we are late or that we can yell when they can't find their shoes? It isn't about what we are doing but what we are teaching our kids when we do it.

Life is about individuals and loving and really, it isn't about the frog but what we do when we catch it. :)

Even though this was kind of more about parenting it totally relates to marriage too.

The Apple of the day is: when you are with your spouse today or tonight, stop and think about how this time could be made better. Do they need to know how awesome they are? Do they need you to tackle them to the floor and kiss them? Do they need a good laugh? Enjoy your time, even if it is for a moment!

It's in...

the little things.

What are they though? What are the little things for you and your spouse?

hugs, kisses, notes with lunch, a favorite treat and a conversation a text that says I love you?

The apple for the day is: do as many of these as possible! It is the little things that matter! Make it a point to show your spouse you love em'! Have a great day!