Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing a very happy Thanksgiving to all of our American readers. And special wishes to those who are far from home and family.

- Heather and Dan

Labels: holidays

posted by Heather and Dan @ 11:29 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Wine for Thanksgiving Turkey

If you are off to meet the inlaws (or worse, the soon to be inlaws) for Thanksgiving, then you don't need any more stress. And the snobbery around wine makes for just that added extra bit of worry.

So here's some relaxed advice about turkey and wine, from the Wine Lover's Page:

• DRINK WHAT YOU LIKE. Turkey is a tough match, because it offers both white meat (often bland and sometimes dry) and dark meat (rich, earthy and gamey, distinctly my preference) on the same bird, and it's hard to find a single wine to match them both. Simply set up something extra-special to celebrate the holiday. Don't fret about perfection in wine-and-food pairing for this feast; just enjoy the holiday with an exceptional wine for its own sake.

You can read the full newsletter post here.

If you are looking for holiday advice, we have a post from last year here. Hey, it worked for us!

And remember: nothing makes a worse impression on the inlaws-to-be than being a drunken tool. Except if you are being a drunken tool and driving a car. That's definitely worse.

Happy Couples, Happy Planet!

Labels: holidays, life

posted by Heather and Dan @ 8:17 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Rules to improve your relationship

Every girl what has ever hung around a grocery store magazine rack, knows there is always a lot of good saucy, sexy stuff in any copy of Cosmopolitan Magazine. Because of that, I can only assume that this publication is sometimes dismissed as "fluff". Yet, this little post is a reminder that terrific information can be found in many and varied places - and this month's Cosmo is no exception to that fact.

In the November issue, there is an article that outlines some really good advice. The “22 best relationship tips ever" covers everything from communication to intimacy to sex...all the kinds of stuff couples planning to get married should be talking about. Six of these rules are outlined in an online article stemming from a discussion between Cosmo Editor in Chief, Kate White, and Dr. Dale Atkins, author of "Sanity Savers: Tips for Women to Lead a Balanced Life".

In brief, their tips for couples for couples to strengthen and improve their relationships include:

1. Change it up - act out of character, avoid getting into ruts
2. Talk it out - communicate, really listen and acknowledge each other's feelings
3. Be tolerant - "everybody has their stuff and you do to", don't focus on the negative
4. Make time for each other - like the ad says, "Just do it"
5. Continue the courtship -do the things you used to do when you first met -- take walks, go for coffee, have dates, hold hands
6. Steer clear - pay attention to what doesn't work and avoid doing it again. Remember your partner can't read your mind, so for this you have to go back to rule number 2.
   

All really good advice and definitely worth exploring in detail with your partner no matter what stage of your relationship you are in. Whether you are engaged to be married and looking to start your life together off right, or whether you've been hitched for years, every relationship is worth examining and giving attention to. Take the time to do it.

Happy Couples, Happy Planet!

Labels: love, marriage, premarriage questions, recommended, relationships

posted by Heather and Dan @ 9:43 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

So many ways to celebrate your wedding generously

While snooping the web for some inspiration, I stumbled across a site that I think will be a fantastic resource for certain couples out there hoping to add something non-traditional, and (dare I say it?) very modern to their Big Day.

The IDoFoundation.org is as site for socially minded brides and grooms. It encourages them to "celebrate generously" as in finding ways to help others while still having a fabulous wedding. I LOVE THAT.

They have sections of the site entitled, "gift registries that give back", "wedding favors for charity", "charitable invitations" and you can even offset your wedding's ecological burden on this beautiful planet by purchasing Carbon Credits if you are so inclined. Wow! (Just how "green" is your wedding going to be? You can start by calculating your emissions at terrapass.com)

We are always asking couples to think beyond the excitement and the glamor of the wedding ceremony and reception and focus on the life they are building together. It seems like the folks at the IDoFoundation think similarly. We don't begrudge anyone the wedding of their dreams (providing they have the pocketbook for it), but why not have a wedding that is magically breathtaking AND that reflects your values? My grandmother used to say,"Start as you mean to go on".

Think about it. Every little bit helps.

Happy Couples, Happy Planet!

posted by Heather and Dan @ 8:44 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Fabulous new look!

For those of you who are regular readers, this will be stating the obvious, but I shall declare it anyway: WE HAVE A NEW LOOK! Shout it from the rooftops! (Can you tell the previous "shades of green" template was getting to me?)

Both our Online Marriage Preparation Program and this blog have, at long last, a new look and we are very proud of it. With the expansion of our program, we decided to put a little lipstick on the the design of our previous site... added a few bells and whistles, if you will. Check out the fancy flash tour!

We would love you to snoop around. We welcome any feedback you feel like offering on the look, the ease of use, or any glitches you encounter. We are also open to suggestions and ideas!

Furthermore, if you are so inclined, please feel free to send this link on to anyone you know who might be interested in what we do. (Does anyone know Oprah?) That is, do you know someone who is getting married or getting serious with their partner? They may be interested in checking out our program risk free. Why not send it on to them? Word of mouth is a very powerful thing.

Happy Couples, Happy Planet

Labels: about CouplesQuestions, service announcements

posted by Heather and Dan @ 9:18 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

For the hopeless romantics out there

It is the stuff Hollywood loves.

A man sees the girl of his dream on a New York subway. His heart starts to pound, his mind races, his palms get sweaty, his knees get weak and.... she gets off before he can talk to her. He knows knows nothing about her, not even her name, but he is compelled to track her down.

So what's a guy to do?

Set up a website, of course. Give details about the girl, the time, the place and enlist the help of the citizens of the world to track her down. This actually happened in NYC this week and you know what? It worked! He found her!

Now this may make some of you want to gag, but I love this kind of smaltz and personally think you must have a heart of stone not to at least admire the guy's moxy. Check out the story and a great little video of the interview on ABC.com.

Many would say that what Subway Man did was an incredibly romantic gesture - of course I know some of our more pessimistic readers will say that what he did was an invasion of privacy at best, and kind of a creepy stalking-like activity on the flip side, but I'm not focusing on those possibilities.

I'm focusing on the gesture.

What is the greatest romantic gesture you have ever done to show your love? What is the greatest gesture of love someone has ever made for YOU?

What romantic gesture will you do for your sweetie today. They deserve it and so do you. Take a chance! Have some fun!!

Happy Couples, Happy Planet!

posted by Heather and Dan @ 12:30 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Couples shouldn't dress alike. Here's proof.

An e-mail came through our inbox today that was so funny, irreverent and delightful that we immediately forwarded it on to friends and family. Then it dawned on us that someone had cut and pasted someone's blog and not given the link...for shame!! Bad Spammer. Bad!

We figured if we got this much enjoyment out of it, we should track down the blogger and right a wrong....well give that blogger credit, at least.

Here it is: The post in question, from the 15 Minute Lunch, evokes memories and, ok, a bit of humiliation to anyone who spent their formative years in the 70's....1977 to be exact.

Check out the post on the JC Penny catalog and have a laugh. E-mail this post to your sweetie so they can have a laugh, too.

Please Note: Though you may be moved by what you are about to see when you follow this link, you and your sweetie do not have to dress alike, ever. In fact we strongly discourage it.

Happy Couples, Happy Planet!

Labels: blogs we like, fun, writes better that us

posted by Heather and Dan @ 7:35 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Media learning

We were interviewed this afternoon for a local TV show, The Daily. And we learned something valuable.

Which is... always clean under the couch and the big comfy chair. The place was awfully darn neat and clean, but James the camera man wanted a different background, so we did an impromptu furniture arranging session.

And, holy Hannah! What a mess under the couch! Somebody must've shipped dust in from the Sahara. And there were long-missing books and toys that we'd given up on. The thing is we do clean under there, honest. But...

Now we take some solace from the book "Babyproofing Your Marriage" which notes that only dull women (with children, at least) have immaculate houses. Hey, they said it, not us!

In fact, they get at a very good point: once you have kids in the mix, something has to give. For most couples, the standard of household neatness is one of the first casualties. You simply have to set your priorities. If you try to keep up all the extracurricular activities or have a spotless house you will drive yourself and each other nuts.

Still, I do fantasize sometimes about how clean and neat everything will be when the kids are both in university!

Happy Couples, Happy Planet!

P.S. Ironically, as I type this Heather has just squirted soy sauce all over the white couch. Yes, I did say white. (The couch was bought several years before the children arrived. We're not that goofy!)

Labels: fun, happy unions, marriage, parenting

posted by Heather and Dan @ 8:04 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Choosing Music for Your Wedding Video

If you are getting married and planning to record the big event on video or dvd, the following may be of great interest to you. It's reprinted from Associated Content and apparently they know what they are doing.

We had someone taking video at our wedding (it was a rather casual affair to be sure, so this was not a professional someone...) and we have never seen it, let alone had the chance to think about the ins and outs of its post production audio. Sometimes I wish I had lined a professional up to do the job. Those of you who are more organized and are planning your wedding memories and keepsakes, read on.

Capturing the magic of your wedding on video requires the skill of a professional videographer. These professionals know how to showcase your special moments and present them in the most romantic manner possible. From the initial filming to the final editing, your videographer will create a video or DVD that you will treasure for years to come.

Part of the process that makes a wedding video special is the post-production phase where editors clean up the footage and add creative touches. Your wedding video will likely have several sections, commonly called "montages", that require music. The opening scene may incorporate photos of the bride and groom along with the wedding invitation, titles, and exterior shots of the wedding location. A transitional montage may occur between the ceremony and the reception with footage of the reception location, the cake, guests arriving, decorations, receiving line, candid shots of the bridal party, and so on. And at the end, a final montage will recap the day's events.

Each of these montages cries out for the perfect music choice. A perfect music selection for one bride may be a horrendous choice for another. Your involvement at this phase is key in selecting the music for your wedding video.

The best time to select the music is before the wedding because you'll be busy with your honeymoon when the editor is working on your project. Meet with your videographer and see what options they offer. Are you "a little bit country" or "a little bit rock and roll"? Do you want to use traditional music or something more eclectic? Would you like them to record your hired musicians and use the actual music from the day for the soundtrack? These questions will help you focus on the type of music and narrow down your choices.

Another consideration is if you have an overall theme you want to convey. For example, Nat King Cole's song, Unforgettable, is a popular wedding song with a variety of versions. Consider using the original version for the opening scene, an instrumental version for the transitional montage, and end with the charming duet with Natalie Cole.

Sounds lovely to me. Have a great time planning that wedding and don't forget to spend some time planning your MARRIAGE. Start today at CouplesQuestions.com.

Happy Couples, Happy Planet!

Labels: weddings

posted by Heather and Dan @ 9:13 AM 4 Comments Links to this post

Cold feet? Don't worry!

A conversation we just had on this average November evening in Western Canada:

Dan: "Holy Crap it's hot!"
Me: "Really?" Then, "Oh it must be, because I'm not cold at all."

This little exchange is one we have had many, many times before. Though, sometimes it plays out that I'm too cold and he's just right. We like to mix it up. That's just how we roll.

Though we differ completely on the temperature scale, we've never had an argument about it (my blessed husband is even kind enough to let me warm my feet -aka blocks of ice- against his at night). We always seem to work it out somehow and today we read that this difference in temperate just may be one of the contributers to a happy union. Yay!

Check out this tongue in cheek report from today's (ok tomorrow's) The Australian. The writer, Frank Divine, tells of his own experience and subsequent fact finding that has become the basis for this Opposing Thermal Attractedness Syndrome (OTAS)....OK I made that last bit up, but is sounded pretty good, don't you think? It's a good article that many happy couples will surely relate to. Why not read it together and have a wee chuckle?

Happy Couples, Happy Planet!

Labels: happy unions, Opposites, relationships, togetherness

posted by Heather and Dan @ 8:42 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Laughing together

Laughter is a HUGE part of our relationship. We laugh a lot and it really connects us.

We find each other pretty hilarious and we are not alone. In fact, About Marriage has a poll running on how much you laugh as a couple. You can find their article here (with a link to the poll). Not surprisingly most couples laugh together sometimes or often.

Laughter is a source of connection. It is fun (even a bit addictive) in its own right, and has all sorts of health and relationship benefits. It is a great stress reliever... especially important when facing the trials and tribulations of childrearing.

Sure, marriage is a serious commitment. But it can and should be serious fun, too.

Happy Couples, Happy Planet!

Labels: fun, relationships

posted by Heather and Dan @ 7:59 AM 0 Comments Links to this post