Keeping The Spark- Little Tips (Why the Heck are We Doing This?)

I hope, by now, you've read the Keeping The Spark -Little tips 1-3.
If Not... Check em out real fast.

Little Tip #1 - (send him a love note)
Little Tip #2 - (the 5 Second Kiss)
Little Tip #3 - (Spruce it Up!)

Several of you have e-mailed me asking...

• Why we are doing this?
• Don't I know that we deserve special treatment too?
• Don't I think these little romantic actions should work both ways?
• What if he doesn't notice?
• How long should I keep doing this before I give up?

Well of course we deserve to be treated special!
But remember.. we are not only doing these things for him...
we are doing these things for us too!
I know that I feel soo much better about myself, I'm more productive, I have more pep in my step, when I am put together and looking nice.

Even if it's a little pair of sexy lace panties and a lacy bra under my t-shirt and jeans, it helps.
It's fun! Kind of like I have a little secret.
Try it! I bet you'll agree!

These little steps usually won't make our man turn around and do a 180 degree change over night. But trust me... he will notice!

We have to remember who we are dealing with...
We are dealing with men. Men are different than we are!

Most men do not spend nearly as much time as we do over-thinking things.
Men think in the moment... they don't analyze each and every action, they don't look for the hidden message in every conversation as we women so often do.

I promise, they DO indeed notice our little actions!
But our men fall into the same ruts we often do.
Between work, bills, money, obligations, fatherhood, and life in general, They often find themselves going through the motions day to day, just like us!

It doesn't take much work to bring that spark back, or keep it burning brightly.
But it DOES take effort!
That, dear ladies, is what we are doing...

We put so much effort into being a great mom.
We out so much effort into being a good housekeeper, good friend, good daughter, etc etc etc...

Doesn't our relationship with the Man-of-Our-Dreams deserve at least the same amount of effort?
If he doesn't seem to notice our little actions right away, don't despair... Keep on doing them!!
Wait and see....

Change doesn't usually happen over night, but it is soo worth it in the end!

Up next...
Little Tip #4... (Date Night!)

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Extreme Comfort Casserole! (Tater-Tot Casserole)

Sometimes you just need the extreme comfort of a good, easy to throw together, casserole.
This one fits the bill!
It's super-easy to make.
And even easier to eat!

I have never found a man who didn't inhale this dish!
The complete recipe can be found HERE

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Keeping The Spark- Little Tip #3 (Spruce it up!)

OK ladies...
Remember when you were first married?
Remember how different things were?
Remember when you had the time, and desire, to look "special" for the Man-of-Your-Dreams?

Did you go to bed wearing his T-shirt and your funky and cozy fuzzy socks?
Did did you run around the house the next day in that same t-shirt and your favorite old ratty sweat pants?

I doubt it...

We wanted to look appealing to our man.
We wanted him to notice us.
We wanted him to think we were hot!

Somehow, over time, life took over...

Between cooking dinner, helping with homework, breaking up fights, cleaning up dog puke, and grocery shopping, looking good and appealing slipped further down our list of "whats important".

Who has the time anyway??
Well... You Do! thats who!

Today's Little Tip....

Take a minute to spruce it up!Slip on a cute nightie instead of that T-shirt before bed.
Lose the sweats and T-shirt for something a little more special.
No... I am NOT talking about mopping the floor in your Ball Gown and pearls, But take a few minutes to make yourself look a little sexy.

It takes 10 seconds to put on a coat of mascara and lipstick.
Its just as easy to pull up a pretty pair of lacy panties as it is to pull on those old cotton holey undies.

How bout a squirt of his favorite perfume on your neck?
That doesn't sound so hard does it?
Pull down that pony-tail and brush your hair before you come out of the bathroom in the morning.
We are NOT talking about anything difficult or too time consuming, girls!
Just a little something different than the rut we often find ourselves in.

And remember! Your not just doing it for him!
Your doing it for you too!
I know I feel better about myself when I look a little less like a Zombie.
It puts a little"perk" in my step!
You will to!

Today's Mission!!

Do each of the three Little Tips!
#1 Stick a little note that says.. I love you! somewhere he doesn't expect it.
#2 Kiss That Man!! (the 5 Second Kiss!)
#3 Give him something to look at! (that's today's tip!)

Coming up next....
Why in the Heck are we doing this?????
Stay tuned!

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Keeping The Spark- Little Tip #2 (the 5 second Kiss)

There are few things more intimate or more sexy than a good kiss.
Remember when you were dating?
The kissing... The Passion.... The Excitement...
You couldn't get enough... You could have, and probably did!, kiss for hours and been happy!

How long has it been since you and the Man-of-YOUR-Dreams kissed?
I mean REALLY kissed!

Not a peck as he leaves the house.
But a longer, more passionate kiss.
A kiss that says.... "I want you. I really want you"
A kiss that Makes him stop and catch his breath.
A kiss that makes him want to hurry home at the end of the day.

Keeping the Spark - Little Tip #3

The 5 Second Kiss.Today, when the man-of-YOUR-Dreams leaves for work,
Kiss him good-bye.

REALLY kiss him good-bye.

Close your eyes....
Hold his face in both your hands...
And Kiss that man!

Kiss for 5 seconds (count to yourself if you have to).
He'll be surprised...
He'll be intrigued...
He'll wonder what your up to...

And thats just where we want him!

Tip #3 is on the way!
Now.. Go KISS That Man!

and leave me a comment telling me about it!

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Keeping The Spark- Little Tip #1 - (send him a love note!)

As wives and mothers, we are so busy with
the house... the kids... the errands... the kids... the meals... the kids...
And , of course, the kids.

We pride ourselves in being good mothers, and often, in the process, we lose track of ourselves.
We are so busy in "Mommy Mode" that the "Me mode" kinda gets lost.

The the woman who he fell in love with, becomes the mother of his children.
And that is a wonderful thing!
Being a mother is one of the most important and most rewarding jobs in the world.

But who says we can't be both?
I know I was letting the romance fall to the sidelines a little bit.
I vowed to change that!

Keeping the Spark Little Tip #1

Send him a love note!Remember when you were dating? You sent him love letters didn't you?

How long has it been since you told the Man-of-YOUR-dreams how much he really means to you?
Have you told him lately that your proud of him?
Proud of his work ethic? Tell him so!
Proud of the father that he is to your children? Tell him so!
Are you proud to have him as your husband? your partner? your lover? Tell him so!
Tell him why you love him.
Tell him what he does that knocks your socks off.
Be as blunt or as flirty as you are comfortable with.

Our men need to know they are wanted and needed, just like we do!

Today...
Write him a steamy little love note.
Slip it in his briefcase.. or on the seat of his car... Or e-mail him if you have to.
Let him read it and give him something to think and smile about the rest of the day!

Come back here and leave a comment so I know I'm not talking to myself only! :)

Little Tip #2 can be found by clicking ---> HERE

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Keepin the Spark.

This weeks posts are gonna a little different than my "normal" posts.

I have been missing the Man-of-My-Dreams while he is working out of the country, and I have decided I am gonna try to make his first visit back home (in about 3 weeks) something he'll never forget. (he cannot access my blog while he is away, so I won't be spoiling any of my surprises or fun)

I usually steer clear of the romantic and/or sexier posts because this site has always been such a Mommy/family blog.
But the more I thought about it, The more I realized that romance and excitement is a BIG part of any family/marriage/relationship.
And, lets face it, after spending the day chasing after muddy kids and muddy cows, sometimes romance and keeping that "spark" alive accidentally slides further and further down our very full list of "to-do's"

Don't worry... I'm not gonna write anything too racy or unsafe for the whole family to read..
But Wives and Mommies?
You might wanna be sure to join in on the conversation that is to follow...
This is gonna be fun!

Keepin the spark #1 will be posted later today.

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Old Fashioned Corn & Potato Chowder

Brrrrrrrrrr!
It's cold around this farm!
And when it's cold, I get a hankrin for something warming, creamy, and comforting.

Tonight, I made a Big Ol pot of Good Old-Fashioned Corn & Potato Chowder.

Doesn't that look good?
Doesn't it look warming?
Doesn't it look comforting?

Nobody needs to know it is Souper-Easy to throw together.
I posted the complete recipe and directions on my cooking blog...
You can find it HERE.
Enjoy! ... and keep warm out there!

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Until I Became a Mother...

There were many things that I took for Granted.

1.) Spontaneity...

BK (before kids), I could hop in the car and go where ever I wanted, Whenever I wanted. Out of milk? Run and go pick some up! Feel like a going to a midnight showing of a great movie? Cool! Lets go! Feel like eating a pint of ice cream for dinner? Bring it on!
AK (after kids) It's, Where is the diaper bag? Is it nap time? Will they be cranky? Do I have bottles? Will I be home before their bedtime? Am I meeting their nutritional needs? Did everybody go potty?
There are NO easy quick trips anymore.

2.) Privacy...

Oh where do I begin?!
The bathroom, yes! The bathroom. Do you know it's been 14 years? FOURTEEN Stinkin years since I've gone to the bathroom uninterrupted. Gone are the quiet private times spent in the bathroom... Now it's "Mommy! Can you see my fingers under the door?" "Mom! Where are you?" "Mom! I can't find my brush!" "Mommy, are you going Poopy or Potty?" "Mommy, Your a big girl! Good Job!".
**sigh**

3.) Phone Conversations...

When I was a teenager (Way BK) I could spend hours on end talking to my BFF, Marlene. We would have long conversations about nothing... and everything.
Now (AK), Being on the phone instantly sets off a chain reaction of crisis moments, questions, and fights. I can't be on the phone for five minutes without someone or something interrupting me. **ugh**

4.) Warm Food...

I never realized how much better food is when you eat it while it's warm! It's been so long since I had a warm meal... Now I'm too busy filling plates, cutting meat into bite sized pieces, pouring drinks, and settling everyone down for the meal, that my food is ice-cold before I get to touch it.


5.) Smelling, and Looking Nice...

Oh the days that I used to actually look and smell nice! I took those days for granted.
There used to be a time (BK) that I wouldn't leave the house without my hair done and make-up perfectly applied. Now, I'm lucky if I have on matching shoes!
And smelling? well... It wasn't until I had kids that I started to view a morning shower as a luxury! I've gone from smelling like spring flowers to smelling like sour breast-milk, to smelling like a dirty sweat sock!
There are actually some days when I glance in the mirror before falling into bed, only to realize that I haven't looked in a mirror all day long! Not a pretty sight! trust me!


6.) Peace...

Between the music blaring, video games booming, little girls giggling, clumsy boys running, doors slamming, dogs barking, cows moo'ing, impromptu WWE SMACKDOWN fighting, TV's playing, teenagers farting, belching, etc... etc... etc... there is never.. EVER a moments peace... Ever!


7.) My Mother...

I realize now, that my mother is a Saint! She handled all of the crap that her children gave her, all the hardships and trials we brought to her, with so much more grace and dignity than I can imagine.
I don't know how she did it and ended up sane by the time we became adults! Lord knows I'm nowhere near sane! And I have a long way to go before my kids are grown!

Want proof on my mental instability?
Look at my list!
All of the things I complain about.
All my gripes.
All my ranting...

And I wouldn't change a thing!
... If THATS not crazy I don't know what is!

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The Redneck in Russia.

Ok.. so the Man-of-My-Dreams isn't really in Russia...
But "The Redneck in Kazakhstan" just doesn't have the same ring.
So, we shall deal with me being a little geographically incorrect, ok?

I may have been absent from writing, but I have been hoppin-busy around the farm.
Getting him ready to be shipped off to a strange new land,
Kids home for Holiday break,
Friends and family visiting for the Holidays.
Cooking, cooking, cooking.
Chasing random escaped cows.
Fighting the flu.
Crying in my beer and missing my man.

...yeah, it's been one hellova month!

Anyway...
My redneck is in a third-world country.
He doesn't speak their language.
He is not being welcomed with open-arms.
He stands out like a sore thumb.
In other words, he is just about as far from his comfort-zone as possible.

Everything has been new for him...
The food,
The language,
even the shower and toilet took some figuring out!

The food? well.. it's different, but "not bad", except for the fact that they serve nothing cold.
Drinks, salads, everything, is served at room temperature or hot.

The toilets are "simple troughs in the floor, or square".
Even the thermostat in the uber-expensive hotel room was funky and difficult to figure out.

There are many other "issues" going on that are making this trip more than a little concerning, and unsettling for the both of us.

And... well.. I DON'T like it!

As the wife, I am not dealing with it too well.
I am the one who makes sure my man is safe and comfortable,
I am the one who makes sure he is eating well,
I am the one who takes care of the "little things" that make life more livable.
And the fact that there is nothing I can do to help him out over there, is NOT settling well with me!

Helpless is NOT a feeling I am used to dealing with.

I'm sure it will all be ok.
I'm sure it will all work out fine.
I'm NOT so sure it will happen before this Texas woman sticks a fork in someones eye tho!

More soon...

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