5 Love Languages- Physical Touch

September 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Today we will talk about the love language of Physical Touch. If you would like to look back on the other love languages you can find them here: Words of Affirmations, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts and Acts of Service.

When people hear that their spouse’s love language is Physical Touch often times they automatically think sex. Physical Touch has many other areas than just sex. Therefore today I am going to list some ideas. Now I realize some of these sound real school girlish however these little touches can make a big difference!

- Hugs and Kisses anytime of the day

-While standing next to your spouse casually put a hand on their back

-Cuddling

- Holding hands in public or private

-Tickle and/or play wrestle

- Play with their hair

-Massages

-Touch them as you pass them

- Touching under the table (Feet touching or hand on leg)

-Pat their butt as you walk by

- Sit close to each other

Although this list of ideas may seem silly take a look and see how much you are doing  these things. If your spouse’s love language is Physical Touch it is important that you incorporate some of these things into your daily life. You want to make sure your partners love tank is full!

What are ways you make sure your spouse’s love tank is full?

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5 Love Languages- Acts of Service

September 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Over the past week or so we have been talking about the Five Love Languages. We have already talked about: Words of Affirmations, Quality Time and Receiving Gifts. Today we will talk about Acts of Service.

Acts of Service is where you do a “task” for your spouse that helps them. This love language can be a little bit harder for some people to give. The main thing about Acts of Service is that you are being selfless. But you also may need to figure out what Acts of Service your spouse would enjoy/appreciate the most.

Some things to keep in mind:

-Make sure you are communicating with your spouse! You may think you are being helpful, but actually make your spouse feel like you are taking over something of theirs or doing something they enjoy. If you wash the evening dishes thinking you are helping, yet your spouse enjoys doing it as a destressor in the evening then you are not performing Acts of Service.

-You can offer to help your spouse do something instead of taking over the entire task. Spend some time together and get it done in half the time.

-Do even the small things (putting their cell on the charger, taking out the trash) without mentioning that you did it. Remember it’s about being selfless!

- If your spouses love language is Acts of Service make sure to thank them for the services they do for you! Since we typically automatically try to show love in the same way we like to receive it this means your spouse is trying to show you that they love you!

Try to ask your spouse what you could do for them that day or week. Often times if your spouse needs your Acts of Service they will let you know! You can also do creative things to find out where they would like your help. During the 12 days of Christmas I did for Ryan I used Acts of Service for the “10 Lords Leaping” (See picture above). You could also ask, “If there was one task you wished you never had to do again what would it be?” Not that you have to do it from then on out, but you would know they would appreciate it each time they did not have to do it.

Go figure out what Acts of Service your spouse would appreciate most, then get after them selflessly!

Share below the ways you find out what Acts of Service your spouse would enjoy the most.

 

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5 Love Languages- Receiving Gift Ideas

September 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

When our spouse’s love language is receiving gifts we should not automatically think of large, expensive gifts. There are many small, meaningful things that are included in the receiving gifts category. Today I am going to share some ideas with you!

- Your spouse feeling down? Give him this box of sunshine!

-  Tell your spouse that they are the bomb with this little gift.

- Buy a pear and tell them you think you two make a good pair! or any of the following: You are the apple of my eye. You are my main squeeze (lemon/lime). You’re as cute as a pumpkin.

- Purchase a book that they have wanted.

- Create a collage of photos of important events/moments for them to display.

- Put together a book of inspiring quotes for your spouse- hand written by you.

- Pick them a wild flower.

- Give your spouse a gift card and tell them they get to choose something for themselves.

- Use your talent to make them something: Painting, scarf, mosaic, a yummy treat, etc.

- Make your spouse their favorite meal or take them out to their favorite place.

- Drop a small gift off for them at work.

- Sneak a treat into their lunch/bag .

Gifts come in all sizes! Get creative! People who have the love language of receiving gifts enjoys when the gift is thoughtful.

Know someone with the love languages of words of affirmations or quality time? We have ideas for them too!

What is something your have given to those you know with the love language of receiving gifts? Tell us in a comment below.

 

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5 Love Languages- Quality Time

September 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Some of our spouses have the love language of quality time. We do things like have dinner together and spend some time on the weekend together, but what else can we do?  Today I will be giving you some more ideas!

-Cook together

-Volunteer at a charity together

- Go play lazer tag

-Take a day road trip and chat the whole drive

-Plan a picnic together at the park, your own backyard or in your living room

-Play a game at home

-Go out for a desert and talk about your day

- Go for an evening stroll

-Carve a pumpkin

-Play a game of bowling

- Have a scavenger hunt

-Do a puzzle together and chat it up

- Find funny videos on Youtube to watch together. A good laugh with you spouse is always great!

-Workout together

-Star gaze on evening

- Make a gingerbread house

- Show up at your spouses work for a surprise lunch

There are many ways we can spend quality time with our spouses. Sometime it might require time to be set aside or some preplanning, but it is totally worth it. If your spouse’s love language is quality time fill up their love tank with some of these ideas. Also, Dating Divas have a great archive of all kinds of dates. Dates at home or going out, with kids or no kids. Such a great resource!

Check out the post of ideas for Words of Affirmation.

We want to know: What do you do to spend quality time with your spouse? Leave a comment below letting us know!

 

 

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5 Love Languages- Words of Affirmations Ideas

September 7, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Awhile back I did a post on a list of ideas of things you could do for your spouse if their love language was Words of Affirmation. You can check out that first post here. Since that post I have had some people asking me about the ideas and asking for more. Therefore, over the next week or so I will be doing a post for each of the 5 love languages! Today we will start with some more ideas for Words of Affirmations.

-Put a note on the inside of a cereal box.

-While on vacation (yes with your spouse) send a postcard to your home address for your spouse to get when you arrive home. Tell them how much you enjoyed the time/experience together.

-Write a short story for them or even a short book. It is ok if it is stick figures!

- Make them an exploding box with notes and pictures.

- Leave a note on the inside of a lid. (Ryan and I take groceries to work each week for our snacks so sometimes he finds notes in them.)

- Have the kids do a questionnaire about daddy/mommy then give it to them. Here is an idea, but you can use it anytime not just Father’s Day!

-Make a short video clip telling your spouse what drew you to them.

- Create a handmade card and write a love note inside.

- Email or print a picture of you and your spouse. Tell them why you like that picture so much. The memories you created, the fun you had, how hot they look, etc, etc

- Send out a private Facebook message to some of their closest friends and ask them to leave a random comment on your spouses wall telling/reminding them why they enjoy having them as a friend.

- Praise about your spouse to others while they are around.

-While laying in bed at night tell them you are so grateful to have gotten to have another day with them.

- Write an original (or find one that describes the situation well) poem to your spouse.

- Ask your spouse how they are doing on achieving their goal they are working towards. Then, encourage them to continue to work towards it.

- Write an encouraging quote or one that describes your spouse so they can use it as a bookmark.

-Make a coupon that says: “Let me tell you what I think of you…” Let them redeem it when they need a pick me up.

- Call their office phone/cell phone when you know they won’t answer and leave them a message encouraging them to head into their day strongly.

There are so many ways to show love to your spouse through Words of Affirmation! These are just a few! Feel free to leave a comment or message me personally to talk more specifically about Words of Affirmation.

What are some ways you speak your spouse’s love language of Words of Affirmation? Leave a comment below to share!

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A Week of Making your Spouse Feel Special

August 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Do you ever get in a rut and run out of ideas on how to make your spouse feel special? Is your spouse needing some extra love? While on Pinterest a few days back I found someones great idea that I thought I would share with you today! It is called:

7 Ways in 7 Days to Knock the Socks Off Your Spouse by Prettiful Designs

The idea is simple! Each day has a title and you are going to do that each day for or with your spouse. It can be smaller things or you can make them bigger plans. I like this idea because it hits all 5 of the love languages!

Sweet Treat Sunday- Give your spouse a sweet treat! Maybe even make it yourself :)  (Love Language: Receiving gifts)

Massage Monday- Give your spouse a massage yourself, a certificate to get one done, or take a class together to learn how to massage!  (Love Language: Acts of Service, Quality Time and/or Physical Touch)

Touch Tuesday- Touch your spouse all day long! Hold their hand if you haven’t in awhile. (Love Language: Physical Touch)

Woo Him/Her Wednesday- Do something that you know will woo your spouse- that is for you to figure out! (Love Language: Acts of Service, Words of Affirmations)

Thank Him/Her Thursday- Thankful Thursday people. Haven’t you heard of this before?! ;) Thank them at some point, or several times in the day. (Love Language: Word of Affirmations)

Fun Activity Friday- Do something fun! Don’t forget this is something your spouse would consider fun. (Love Language: Quality Time)

Sweet Nothings Saturday-Tell or write sweet nothings to your spouse on this day! (Love Language: Words of Affirmations)

Not only will this week make your spouse feel special, but I also think you will enjoy it as well! If you are anything like me you love dowsing your spouse with love!

Tell us below what are some ideas you have to knock the socks off your spouse in 7 days!

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Mr. & Mrs. Coupon Book

June 5, 2012 by 5 Comments

The Mr. & Mrs. Coupon Book from Day Spring is one of the wedding gifts that we received. (Thank you Kassie and Riley!) We enjoy this gift a lot! It has coupons for every Love Language that you can give your spouse. I like getting it out every now and again to put a coupon out for Ryan. Some coupons are simple like “Redeem this coupon for a kiss.” Others take more planning such as: “A special dinner for the two of us…coming your way” or “Adventure Day-Let’s go someplace we have never been before.”

The coupon that I have used that has been my favorite so far is: “I want to bless you today, and here is how:…. ” Ryan appreciated that one a lot too.

Each coupon has a scripture on the back of it that goes along with the coupon. This gift is a great idea for newlyweds or for any couple wanting to make sure they show their spouse they care for them in a unique way! Like I said before it covers all 5 of the Love Languages which I think is awesome! You can get yours today by clicking the link below!

Share below some unique ways you show your spouse you care for them?

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Five Love Languages: Words of Affirmation

April 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Ryan’s primary love language is words of affirmation. Sometimes it gets hard to figure out different ways to be encouraging and tell him how great he is. I have done some creative thinking and even Googled some ideas before. Today, I thought I would share some of the things that I have done and some ideas I still plan to use.

Have friends or family write good qualities about them then, share the notes.

Describe how your spouse is like a certain character in a book or movie.

Make a small journal of things you appreciate that they have done throughout the week.

Tell them often that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to.

Write a note to your spouse encouraging them about their dream or goal.

Email your spouse an inspiring quote.

Leave a note in their lunch.

Put a quote on the mirror for them to see.

You can even write a note on a piece of toilet paper square and float it on top of the water in the toilet!

Start a notebook where you write them each week where the focus is about the positive things in your relationship.

Easter: Put quotes, verses, or little notes in each egg for them.

Valentines: A poem that is cut into puzzle pieces to give them throughout the day.

Christmas: 12 days of Christmas with a note for each day.

Get them a little treat and leave a note with it.

Tell them again what drew you to them when you first met them.

Put a sticky note on their computer.

Buy or make a coupon book with encouraging things and where you can fill in blanks about them. Leave them everywhere!

Remind them often with words how great of a spouse they are for you.

Place a note on their windshield if you are leaving before them.

Tell your spouse why you are thankful for them.

At dinner on Friday tell them what you appreciated about them that week.

Give them a report card of straight A’s on their good qualities (I am a teacher- I can’t help it)

Remember the special times like your engagement, wedding, or special trip and tell your spouse what your thoughts were at those moments.

Tell them that they are the  bomb.

If you know your spouse’s love language is words of affirmation try some of these things out! They will love to receive these gifts!

Leave a comment below to add ideas for those whose love language is words of affirmation.

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5 Love Languages Challenge for Newlyweds- Week 5

March 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment
You can check out all the previous weeks challenges to get caught up if you would like!
Here is week 1, week 2, and week 3&4.
For the week 5 challenge I received an email that said:

Ask friends and family members to contribute words about your husband. E-mails, written notes—bring them together and present them to him in a ceremony to celebrate him.

I decided to send a group of people a message on Facebook explaining the challenge and asking them to write some words about Ryan. Throughout the week I started getting some messages back. I collected them all until Sunday rolled around. Then, I asked Ryan to have a seat and read them all to him.
Some of the comments below are what people said about him:

He sees the potential and goodness in others and encourages them to see it for themselves, too.

I am really impressed by how sincere he is with wanting to be a good husband.

He has the wonderful ability to inspire others to be the best person they can be.

You can see God working in your life.

As I read through these things that people said about him it made my heart warm and made me smile. Of course I think Ryan is a wonderful person! I married the man because I thought so! But to hear what other people think of him was wonderful. Another awesome thing was a lot of the things people were saying I totally agree with. It goes to show those are true characteristics of Ryan not just bias views of mine! :)
Ryan enjoyed hearing what others had to say about him as well. I forwarded the messages to Ryan so that if he ever needed a pick me up he could read them again. This week’s challenge not only allowed Ryan to feel loved, but it also showed me how fortune I am to have such an amazing husband and reminded me what a privilege it is to be his wife!
You can start your own love language challenge here!
We are such a fan of the 5 Love Languages that we are giving away free copies! Find out how to get yours right here!
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5 Love Languages Challenge Week 3 & Week 4

March 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Things have been a bit busy so I got a little behind on the blog posting but here it is now!
You can read Week 1 and Week 2 if you would like to see what happened before now.
Week 3

I received an email that said:

Scene of Him: Find a movie scene (or book/play) that reminds you of your husband and what he means to you. Show the scene and encourage him by comparing him with this character.

My first thought was, “Oh, no.” I am not the best with remembering names when it comes to well… menu items, restaurants, stores, books, movies, or actors/actresses. Needless to say I knew I was going to have to do some hard thinking on this one! I started thinking of movies we had seen recently and some of Ryan’s favorite movies. I am not a real movie buff either so it is hard for me to remember movie scenes.
For several days I am weighing my options here. Should I go with a movie or a book? I decide at least a movie I can YouTube some video clips. A few days later I start searching YouTube. I am just not having much luck. I remind myself this is called the “5 Love Language Challenge” so it is ok that it is a challenge this week. I am searching things like “great husband”, “awesome leader”, “hard worker” and “encouraging husband”. Nothing too great pops up.
 I then go to the triathlon side of things. I finally find a 30 second clip of this lady dreaming of swimming, biking, running. All the sudden her alarm goes off at 5am and she jumps out of bed to go train. I chose this video for the challenge. I showed the video to Ryan, pointed out that of course his alarm clock says 4:30am instead, and that he has been doing an amazing job of getting all his workouts in and that I was proud of him.
Week 4
My challenge stated:

Husband Journal: Each day this week write some thoughts about the positive things you observe about your husband. Read those thoughts each night or save them and present it to him at the end of the week.

This week was a bit easier for me! I can always come up with great things to say about Ryan. One evening when Ryan jumped in the shower I made this simple little journal.
Each day I wrote things in it about him. Monday: Told him I appreciated how many times he told me thank you for his note I left him that morning. Tuesday: Expressed how much I enjoyed running with him that morning, but also how grateful I am that he cooked dinner. Wednesday: Thanked him for taking care of my finger that I almost chopped off! Thursday: I let him know how coming home to the dishwasher started and dishes being clean was great. Friday: Told him he was so cute playing with his nephew and I know that he is going to be a great dad. Saturday: I wrote how much I enjoyed our cuddling and napping after our long workout. Sunday: I explained all the great things about the evening with him!
Of course during these two weeks I received emails that also gave me conversation starters. Some of them where:  Finish this sentence: “I wish we had the camera with us when…”, Something about you that I hope you never change is…, “Of the people you know, who seems to be most satisfied with his or her job?  What would be your dream job?” and several more.
Another two weeks of speaking my husband’s love language. Week 5, last week of the challenge, is coming my way and I am ready for it!
Remember we are giving away free copies of “The 5 Love Languages” by Gary Chapman! Check out the details here!
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