The hap-happiest season of all.
Right?!
Except for the stresses that seem to accompany so much of that hap-happiness.
memories of a sad holiday from the past, shopping for the perfect gift(s), wrapping, parties, missing people who can't be close this year, class presentations, church programs, community outreach, traditions that can't be missed, food that can't prepare itself, obligatory relative visits, holiday drama, the greed, the lack of finances to get it all done, spending the finances that don't exist just to get it all done...
It makes my heart race just thinking about it.
And what is the one relationship that often suffers when we get stressed?
The relationship closest to us.
The relationship with our spouse.
So I decided I'm gonna step it up this year and I want you to join me!
Because it's the holiday season and stress is inevitably going to rear its ugly head, I am committing to love on my bae every day, even if I don't feel "in the mood."
Here's the challenge:
- Download and print off the chart HERE.
- Place it somewhere you often look so you won't forget but preferably somewhere your hubby won't see
- Choose an activity a day from tomorrow until Christmas (or if you start later you could just go right on up until the New Year)
- Take pride in checking something off a list, even if it's not the bon-bons that are complete, or the 4th child's BIG present that was purchased
- Watch your man smile, it'll feel even better than checking something off of that holiday list
You will see the activities listed below in a little more detail because there really isn't that much room in those little squares on the chart and I tend to be a little wordy, ahem. I'll have to "code" some of them on the chart and you may need to look back here often to figure out what I'm referring to.
Alright, here it goes....
1 - Write a lipstick message on the mirror (make it flirty ladies!)
2 - See how many times you can squeeze his bootie throughout the day before he turns his frown upside down
3 - Text him an encouraging message sometime between lunch and when he gets home
4 - Pray for him in the morning and then tell him how you prayed for him
5 - Bring his coffee to him in the morning while walking like you are going down the runway at a fashion show
6 - Warm up his towel in the dryer while he is taking a shower
7 - Give him the most passionate kiss while he is walking out the door to work. Neither of you will be able to get it off your mind for the rest of the day.
8 - Pick on each other's cute little habits that you love (this is NOT the time to bring up things that BOTHER you!)
9 - Try to notice something he regularly does around the house and see if you can do it for him before he can get to it. *For example - I'm pretty good at regularly washing our bathroom towels, but not so good at replacing them, so actually replacing the towels would be huge for my man! I feel the need to embellish on this for a second though. It's only because I hate to use the brown ones in our bathroom because they don't match and we only have one set of gray ones and I can't have mismatched ones, and we have a slow dryer and sometimes the kids get home from school and dinner has to be made and bedtime comes and Josh is walking around with a wet face and hands searching for a towel before I even realize I forgot the dryer went off...what can I say, I've got issues...)
10 - Write a love note in his parking spot with sidewalk chalk that he can see when he pulls in after work.
11 - Text a selfie to him and tell him you can't wait until he gets home.
12 - Plan an at-home date night. We love these! And if you have a Colony like us you really can't afford not to have these, right? You can save dinner until the kids are in bed. Watch a movie or play a game. Get creative.
13 - Give him a shout-out on social media about an amazing quality that you admire and respect.
14 - Stick a love note in his briefcase, or in my case, a guitar case, so he sees it sometime that day.
15 - Initiate intimacy at an inconspicuous time.
16 - Try to remember one of your fondest memories together and remind him of it.
17 - Put the spatula down, look him in the eyes and sincerely ask him about his day when he walks in the door. Greet your man when he gets home for goodness sakes!
18 - Go by his office just to deliver a kiss. If your schedules don't allow it, send him a virtual kiss.
19 - Slip a list of his top 10 qualities on his dash that he will see when he gets in his car.
20 - Every time he pops in your head throughout the day, tell him. You could call and just say "I was just thinking about you" and hang up, or just text him every time. I promise he'll love it!
21 - You remember email? Well, write him a sexy (or sweet) email that he'll find the next time he's bogged down with cleaning out his inbox. What a pleasant surprise.
22 - Choose one day not to argue. Just one day ladies. If you feel the urge, just "shake it off" and move on. I understand it is very difficult to live with some of your men, but do it for them, just this once...I actually just prayed for you right now. I believe in you!
23 - Hold hands as often as possible throughout the day.
24 - Figure out what his love language is and apply it.
25 - Give him a special stocking full of fun things for the two of you. You can wait to give it to him on Christmas night or find another quiet evening to give it to him. I'm pretty sure he'll enjoy it whenever you give it to him.
26 - You'll have to be proactive on this one. Write him a LETTER. You know, in the mail. You might need to google the address and figure out how to address an envelope again, but it'll be fun.
28 - Ask him what his favorite meal is and attempt to make it for the family that evening. You read that right, at least attempt it. You can laugh about the disaster together over pizza if it doesn't go as planned. It's all about making memories together!
29 - Kiss him like you mean it. Every time you kiss your man today.
30 - When he gets home allow him to unwind for a few minutes. Try not to give him any honey-do's until he has mentally entered back into the "family man" from the "business man". If it doesn't happen today then let him off the hook. Just today. You get to check something off YOUR list by giving him grace on HIS.
31 - Find a night to make out in front of the Christmas tree.
OK, my list is done. Let's get to printing, checking off and loving our way through this holiday season:)
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