This post is part of the Happy Wives Club Blog Tour.  Want to learn more?  CLICK HERE!

I am far from the perfect wife.

There are (many) times when my husband comes home that I have no idea what I will be making for dinner that night.

I don’t greet him at the door with a smile every day.

I keep things inside far too often and then pick a fight over something stupid and trivial.

And, if you’ve read my twist on keeping romance alive, you know my nightwear is less than 5 stars.

Yes, I am certainly not the perfect wife, but I DO love my husband.

And, even with all my faults, I know that he loves me.

From the time when we just started dating in college and he helped me study for exams, to the moment I decided I wanted to become a stay at home mom, to starting this blog, he has supported me.

In those darkest moments, when all you can do is wait and pray, he has held my hands and prayed with me.

He has made me laugh when I didn’t think it was possible.

For these reasons, and too many more to write, I will always love my husband.   And, although I may not be the perfect wife, I look forward to working towards being a better wife in 2014, and for many years to come.

I am excited to join Fawn Weaver, the founder of the Happy Wives Club, in the Happy Wives Club Blog Tour, promoting her new book, where she shares the best marriage secrets the world has to offer.   Travel the globe with Fawn and discover the secrets for yourself! You can get a copy of the book here, or through Amazon.

The post Happy Wives Club Blog Tour — Not the Perfect Wife first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

If you’ve been a regular reader here, you know that until recently I always had a Thankful Thursday post.  While I still share what I’m thankful for each week on the Facebook Page, I’ve decided not to stress about a weekly commitment here on the blog.

But this week, Mama Kat’s prompt to write about something you’re thankful for came at just the perfect time.

I’ve been dealing with sick kids.  The house is a mess.  (When is it not???)  No one seems to want to eat what I cook for dinner.  I’ve got a list of things I want/need done a mile long.

Everyone’s been tired, cranky.  I yelled at the four-year-old.  I mean really yelled.

It’s been a week of not feeling good enough, just trying to make it to the next day.  I’m struggling.

Tuesday was a low point.  And I went to bed dreading having to get up and do it all again the next day.  Having to face my parents when they came up as planned the next day.

And then, as I forced a smile on my face, and pretended everything was okay while they visited, my husband walked through the door.

In the middle of the day.

Totally unannounced.

My first thoughts?  Is he sick too?  Did something happen at work?

I jumped straight to the negative.  That’s where my mind has been focused lately.

I never thought that he’d just come home to surprise me, because he knew I’d had a rough couple days.

What am I thankful for?  My husband.

Sometimes I lock my feelings away, make the mistake of not opening up to him, not telling him what’s on my mind.  I make the mistake of thinking I’m alone in this.

And then he does something like this.

And I know he is there if I just reach out.

The post Thankful Thursday 11/21 first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

Okay, so you’re married.

Gone are the wine-and-dine dating days where you both are trying to win the other one over.

Just how do you keep the romance alive as you go about the day to day routine?  Between dishes, laundry, and paying the mortgage, how are you going to keep that spark?

My husband and I have made it 10 years now, and I want to share with you how we are keeping the romance alive.

1.  Have kids.

What husband doesn’t get turned on by hearing about the latest potty training issues, sitting on a half-eaten lollipop, or seeing a toy-littered living room?

2.  Date Night.

Who needs candle light dinners and dancing?  We’re talking dinner where you only need to worry about feeding yourself, not getting a couple wiggle-worms to eat.  And then it’s off to the grocery store — where the romance continues beneath the florescent lights as you present a coupon for that athlete’s foot spray he’s looking for.

3.  Chocolate.

Buy the good stuff, and then put it somewhere safe.

No, you’re not hiding it…  Just making sure it’s still around when you need it, say after the kids are in bed and you’re setting up to settle in with that hunk of burning love snoring under the covers.

4.  Sleepwear.

You know the kind, the kind that says, “Come and get me, big boy.”

What guy can resist a short bathrobe covered in cartoon animals?

5.  A sense of humor.  Because when the only wine you two get to share is the kids whining at the closed door when you try to catch a moment alone, a sense of humor is what’s going to see you through.

What’s one of your tips to help keep that marriage spark alive?  Leave a comment with your words of wisdom!

The post Keeping Romance Alive first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

10 years ago I spent the morning getting my hair pinned and sprayed like never before, sipping a frozen coffee drink, and painting my toenails blue.

10 years ago I slipped into my mother’s wedding gown, stepped into new white heeled sandals, and put in my grandmother’s pearl earrings.

10 years ago I walked down the aisle on my father’s arm and saw tears in his eyes.

10 years ago I stood before my family, my friends, and God and vowed I would love you “in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”

10 years ago we started on this journey.  There have been good times and bad, sickness and health, and 2 beautiful children added to our lives. 

Thank you for those 10 years.  There is no one I would rather spend my life with.

Happy anniversary!

The post 10 Years Ago… first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

I’ve been wanting to ask my husband to do a guest post for Thankful Thursday for a while now…  And when I read this prompt from Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop?  I had to jump on it!  The prompt?  Bacon.

You see, last night we saw a commercial for mayonnaise.  The commercial claimed that mayo made a B.L.T. better.  My husband jumped on it, “No, it’s called a B.L.T. because bacon is the most important part of it.  In fact, if you want to make it better, you add more bacon.”

So I asked him to tell me a little more about bacon, which I’m finding is something that men rate right up there.

Here are a few of his random bacon thoughts:

I like bacon.

I don’t get it as often as I’d like.  And when I do, I have to share it.  After all, the kids like bacon, too.  But sharing is okay.

Bacon is the one thing they put on salads to trick you into eating salads when you’re really just after the bacon. 

There aren’t many things that bacon don’t go with.

I’ve decided, next time I goof up around here, I’m making him bacon for dinner:  flowers to apologize to women, bacon for men. (I’ve also decided he still owes me a Thankful Thursday post…)

So this week, thanks for bacon!

***

What food product are you thankful for?

And, if you have your own thankful post, come link up with us!

Linked up this week with Black Tag Diaries, The Fontenot Four

The post Bacon: One Man’s Thoughts first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

Confession time:  My husband’s feet scare me.

Don’t laugh!  I’m serious!

They are scaly, dry, cracked…

Over our married years he has tried several different foot lotions and creams (per my request), but none of them seem to do much good.

So when Dermagist contacted me and asked if I’d like to review one of their products, I jumped at the chance to receive a complimentary bottle of their Foot and Heel Revitalizing Cream.  (Yes, I received this lovely bottle FREE for writing this review.)

My husband has had an opportunity to use it for the past 2 weeks.

The results?

His feet are definitely less scary!

You’ve seen the results…  But what is the product like to use?

First, I have to say I love it’s smell!  You can definitely smell the eucalyptus in it.  Love it!

Want to hear what my husband had to say?  “It absorbs into the skin faster than previous products I’ve tried.  It has kept my skin from being so dry.  It smells good and it doesn’t feel greasy, unlike many products.”

Want to try Dermagist’s Foot and Heel Revitalizing Cream for yourself, or maybe one of their other skin care products?

Dermagist has offered a giveaway to my readers to try a Dermagist product of your choice!

Interested?  Enter the giveaway below!

U.S. residents 18 and older only, please.  If you have won a Dermagist giveaway in the past,  you are not eligible to win.  For further giveaway terms, please check our entire giveaway guidelines.

This giveaway ends Monday, May 27, 2013.

Giveaway ended.  

(As mentioned previously in the post, I did receive a bottle of Dermagist’s Foot and Heel Revitalizing Cream to review.  This did not affect the opinions in my review.) 

The post Dermagist Foot and Heel Revitalizing Cream first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.