Long Relationships

I’m in a bit of a goofy mood, so bear with me. Oh, and this goes for a good, healthy marriage. (Or, you might argue, an idealistic one. Hehe.)

1. It’s a bit easier to get free sex. (Yeah, let’s get this one taken care of.) You don’t even have to leave the house.
2. Cuddles and snuggles and all that fun stuff.
3. Having someone to talk to and share things with.
4. Having someone you can shower love on. (I love having someone I can show love and devotion to as much as I want.)
5. Having someone who will be there for you through the tough times.
6. Massages. Mmmm.
7. ‘Just because’ presents and surprises.
8. Another mind and set of hands to help you through different projects. And someone whom you can help.
9. Having someone there to celebrate good times with you and be proud of your accomplishments.
10. Loving and being loved.
11. Healthy competition.
12. This is said to be a bad thing, but I think it can be good: Getting comfortable. Being with someone who knows what you look like naked, knows at least some of what you like, knows your bad habits, and loves you just the same.
13. Because if your relationship is healthy, you’ll move out of the rosy glow stage, the honeymoon stage, and on to the deep, lasting love stage, and that’s a wonderful feeling.

***This post is part of the Long Relationships 100 Comment Contest. Click on the link to find out how you can win.***

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks

Since flying to Australia and moving in with my (now) husband, I have experienced a lot of firsts. I used to make a big deal about firsts because new experiences are so special to me. They still are special to me; I just don’t make as big of a deal about them.

Today I decided to share some of my firsts with you. Feel free to add some of your firsts in the comments section.

(Be warned - a lot of my firsts have to do with food.)

1. My first kiss. On the day I arrived in Australia.
2. Seeing “Ass” used as a menu item name.
3. Visiting a sex shop for the first time.
4. Trying (and absolutely loving) sushi.
5. My first legal alcoholic drink. (And getting drunk for the first time.)
6. Go to New Years Eve fireworks.
7. My first freelance writing job.
8. First time swimming in the ocean.
9. Trying a cookie with jam for the first time. (Actually not too bad.)
10. Going to my first writer’s conference.
11. Trying Japanese for the first time and loving it.
12. Trying Mongolian for the first time and loving it.
13. Having a book send to me to review for the first time.

***This post is part of the Long Relationships 100 Comment Contest. Click on the link to find out how you can win.***

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks

There are certain times in a relationship that you should know certain things. After a year of marriage, I have learned a thing or two…

1. Five of his favourite foods: lemon meringue pie, lamb, oysters, chicken parmas, Mongolian bbq
2. Sometimes you go to bed angry. Your marriage survives.
3. His clothing sizes. (Roughly. I don’t know exacts.)
4. It’s important to check in every now and then about how things are going in all areas.
5. His favourite colours: blue and green.
6. Personal time is important.
7. Three of his favourite bands/performers: ACDC, Tarot Suite, Tommy Emmanuel
8. Give and take, reach and withdraw.
9. At least five of his good/bad habits. (Nah, I’m not going to list them.
10. You may always love them, but you don’t always like them.
11. Three of his favourite television shows: Dr. Who, Torchwood, Top Gear
12.
13. When he wants a cuddle and when he wants to be left alone (though I sometimes ignore them…)

***This post is part of the Long Relationships 100 Comment Contest. Click on the link to find out how you can win.***

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks

As you know, I’m holding contests both here and on Fiction Scribe because I’m celebrating my first wedding anniversary. It’s more than that, though, because I have been waiting for a reason to hold a big contest on my sites for a while.

I love holding contests and giving things away. I love giving people presents. That’s why on this week’s Thursday Thirteen, I thought I would talk about the…

1. Seeing other people smile.
2. How I feel when I hear/read people say, “Me? But I don’t win anything.�
3. I just plain love giving things away. I wish I had a million dollars just to spend on presents for other people.
4. Making other people’s lives easier (in the case of giving money/gift certificates).
5. I have a lot of joy and love in my life and I like the feeling of giving back.
6. I like making other people happy.
7. Often, people who deserve it don’t spoil themselves very often. I like being able to give those little luxury things they wouldn’t buy for themselves.
8. Everyone needs a little more chocolate in their lives.
9. You don’t get a lot of things for free these days and a lot of people work too darn hard for what little they do get.
10. Giving is definitely a good conversation starter.
11. Have I mentioned how much I like giving people presents?
12. I like showing people I care.
13. Good karma.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks

***This post is part of the Long Relationships 100 Comments Contest. Check out the link to find out how you can win.***

As my anniversary draws closer, I can’t help but think about all the things I would like to give my husband. But, like many people in the world today, money isn’t exactly something we have a lot of. I would love to give my man ‘the world’ but reality keeps me from doing everything I want.

Besides, as much as he jokes about being God, I don’t think he’d want the world.

But, just for fun (because I already bought his presents), I thought I would list off…

1. A trip to Venice. He has actually been there and has told me on a number of occasions that we should go there together.
2. A trip to Canada. We have a friend there who we would love to visit!
3. A new car. Our car is nice and all, but I worry about my man and would like to get him in something nice, safe, top of the line… That sort of thing.
4. A house. The man and I want a place of our own so bad. It would be wonderful to stop paying rent and actually own a place.
5. A new mobile phone. Let’s just say I hate his phone more and more every day.
6. A workroom. In our house, of course. His own work space where he could be as noisy and messy as he wants to be.
7. The latest, best model computer
8. An Ipod with as much memory as they come with these days.
9. All the books he doesn’t have by Larry Niven, Graham Hancock, and his other favourite authors.
10. A maid. Admittedly, this one would probably be for our mutual benefit. Ha.
11. A personal masseuse. At least until I learn more and stop sucking at massage.
12. All the latest, best camera equipment. He’s an awesome photographer.
13. Time. As much as he wanted whenever he wanted.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks

Yep, I’m someone who loves flowers (even though I’m allergic to some of them) and appreciate them whenever I receive them. I have received them in the past mainly as an ‘I love you’, but there are plenty of other things you can say with flowers…

1. “I love you.”
2. “I’m sorry.”
3. “Just because.” (One of the best reasons, in my opinion.)
4. “Get well soon.”
5. “Will you marry me?” (Hopefully a ring is included, too.)
6. “Congratulations on [accomplishment."
7. "Happy birthday/Valentine's day/other holiday."
8. "Congratulations on [getting married/having a baby].”
9. “Because I screwed up…”
10. “Thank you.”
11. “To make your day brighter.”
12. Secret admirer/anonymous flowers to say “someone cares”.
13. (Courtesy of my husband) Send dead flowers to say the relationship is over.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks

As my marriage grows longer and my husband and I truly settle into life with each other (sometimes it takes longer than you think it will), the subject of children comes up every now and then. While we both know we want to have children, there are still a lot of things to think about before we actually have them…

1. Finances! Nappies may be what everyone tells you are the biggest expense, but there are clothes, toys, bedding, beds/cribs, car seats, prams/strollers, food/formula (if you’re not breastfeeding… You get the picture. Go out there and actually start pricing things. Ask people how many diapers they go through in a week.
2. Time off work. Who is taking it and for how long?
3. Day care. If both of you are planning on going to work, then you need to set up day care for your baby.
4. Emotional impact. Are you prepared to have someone in your life you need to put first no matter what?
5. Sibling rivalry (if you have had children before/have step children).
6. Physical impact. Little sleep for new parents isn’t just a nasty myth going around.
7. Responsibilities. Who is going to take care of what? Time will be a valuable commodity as more time is taken to care for the child.
8. Relationship impact. Is your relationship strong and secure enough to go through a time of less attention paid to each other?
9. Space. Is the baby going to sleep in your room? For how long? What if you have more children? Do you have enough space for everything?
10. Medical things. Don’t let it be a huge surprise when it comes your partner disagrees about medical care or immunizations.
11. Names. You never know who your partner might want to name the child after…
12. Maturity. It may seem strange (or insulting) to say, but are you mature enough to raise another human being?
13. Baby registry and shower. This might be as important as other things, but it will come up.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks

A friend of mine gets all the credit for this idea for the Thursday Thirteen.

I have never left a message on the bathroom mirror, but it sounds like fun and I might just have to have a little fun with it this weekend…

Happy Thursday Thirteen!

1. “Bedroom. You have five minutes.”
2. Xs and Os all over the mirror.
3. “I’ve seen you naked!”
4. “Get hot and steamy in the bedroom next if you’re interested…”
5. “Nice ass.”
6. Any picture of a naughty nature…followed by “Love, [your name]“
7. “I can write in chocolate body paint too…”
8. “You won’t need a towel.”
9. “Hey sexy!”
10. The beginnings of a grocery or to-do list.
11. Some of the lyrics to his/your favourite song.
12. “You need to change the baby’s diaper.”
13. “I love you.”

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks

Some of them are funny, some of them are romantic, and some of them are so lame you can’t quite believe they actually exist.

Pick-up lines.

Here’s a Thursday Thirteen to hopefully give you a good giggle. Happy Thursday Thirteen.

1. If I could rearrange the alphabet, I’d but “U� and “I� together.
2. Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?
3. You must be tired. You’ve been running circles in my mind all night.
4. When I saw you, I stopped breathing for a moment.
5. Can you help me? I seem to have been blinded by your beauty.
6. Do you want to drive or should I because I see us going places.
7. You must be the marketing executive of Nike, because you’ve got me just wanting to do it.
8. Hello. Cupid called. He says to tell you that he needs my heart back.
9. Excuse me, do you have your phone number, I seem to have lost mine.
10. It’s not my fault I fell in love. You are the one that tripped me.
11. Do you have a map? Cuz Honey, I just keep gettin lost in your eyes.
12. You’re like a dictionary - you add meaning to my life!
13. Excuse me, I’m a little short on cash, would you mind if we shared a cab home together?

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks

The other night my husband, even though we’ve been married quite a while now, was telling someone about how we managed to have a low cost wedding that people still talk about today. That got me thinking that it would be fun to put up a Thursday Thirteen list of tips and tricks that helped me have a low cost wedding.

My wedding actually cost less than $2000 USD, but I don’t care to do all the conversion rates, etc.

Happy Thursday Thirteen!

1. Don’t mention ‘wedding’ – prices go up when you do
2. Shop around for your rings
3. Buy your rings during sale season
4. Buy your wedding dress on eBay or other online sites (I bought mine on eBay and it’s gorgeous)
5. Buy your veil online
6. Borrow where you can – wedding cars, traditional things, time and help
7. Remember it’s your wedding and invite only who you truly want to invite
8. Make your own invitations
9. Use a CD and save money on an organ/piano player
10. Buy things in bulk
11. Ask around to see what resources you have in friends (My husband and I had a friend who had a membership to a wine cellar, were more than happy to donate the cars for transporting the wedding party, etc)
12. Have everyone bring their digital cameras and get a cheaper photographer or someone you know who can take great photos as the primary photographer
13. Have one splurge item – it’s your wedding! (Mine? My bouquet.)

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks

My husband and I are big foodies and love going out for romantic and exotic meals (when we can - thank goodness for all the local cultural diversity!). However, it’s always nice to have a romantic evening as well, and that calls for some special preparations…

Happy Thursday Thirteen!

1. An intimate space
2. More than one course
3. Small courses (full bellies aren’t the most romantic thing…)
4. Dim lighting (Did you know that there is a scientific reason dim lighting makes for more romantic spaces?)
5. Romantic, calming colours
6. Soft music in the background
7. Wine or champagne (otherwise known as ‘a touch of bling’)
8. Not your usual dinner dishes
9. Cloth napkins/serviettes
10. Aphrodisiacs (Now I’m hungry for oysters…)
11. A light but decadent dessert…
12. …preferably spreadable…(mousse, something with chocolate syrup)
13. Dressing in clothes that come off with little or no difficulty

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks

The relationships between close friends and those between lovers have long been the focus of many great stories (and celebrity rumors) through time. The dynamics of friend and lover relationships are so interesting to the voyeurs in all of us, it’s no wonder such names seem a little empty without the other pairing it.

This week I am listing some famous couples because I have experienced what many people have experienced - “there’s not one without the other”. While I don’t think of it as a bad thing, I am amused that when my name comes up, it’s usually paired with my husband’s.

(Has anyone else experienced this?)

Happy Thursday Thirteen!

(Fictional and non-fictional)

1. Adam and Eve
2. Anthony and Cleopatra
3. Mickey and Minnie Mouse
4. Zeus and Hera
5. Romeo and Juliet
6. Mother Earth and Father Sky
7. Neo and Trinity (added for my amusement)
8. Bill and Hillary Clinton
9. Oberon and Titania
10. Barbie and Ken
11. Marge and Homer Simpson
12. Bert and Ernie
13. Rhett and Scarlet Butler

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks

1. Candles. You can’t go wrong with candles. (Unless you do something like putting them under the curtains.)
2. If there is something annoying - flat pillows, scratchy blankets - fix it.
3. Get rid of clutter. Clutter not only gets in the way, it gives the bedroom a ‘busy’ feeling that can take away from romance.
4. Scents. Spray, candles, incense - do whatever you like as long as it’s subtle. Smelly rooms are not romantic.
5. Bring in a radio and play soft music.
6. Make the bedroom a sacred space. It’s not for television, it’s not for laundry, it’s not for anything but a private sanctuary for you and your partner.
7. Make sure the pictures on the walls are things both you and your partner like as well as things that are going to encourage romance. A picture of your parents isn’t exactly going to be encouraging.
8. Plants. Adding a plant can make things feel a bit exotic and make the room feel more full of life.
9. Going along with number six, take the television out of the bedroom. Studies have said (I’ll have to find the actual sources) that television in the bedroom leads to a decreased sex life.
10. Remember - red is good for an active sex life, but not for restful sleep. Pink is good for romance, but men aren’t exactly well known for liking pink…
11. Clean. No laundry on the floor, no stained pillowcases that need washing, no dust mites running around.
12. Close the door. Sometimes just closing the door can make a space feel more romantic and intimate.
13. Go through your knick-knacks. Things that are ‘cute’ or ‘childlike’ are things that could be hindering your romance without you even knowing it.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks

Through the ages a lot of people have had things to say about love. Today I’m giving you just a few of the things that people have said.

Feel free to add your own favourite love quotes in the comments.

Happy Thursday Thirteen!

1. I was nauseous and tingly all over. I was either in love or I had smallpox. - Woody Allen
2. An archaeologist is the best husband any woman can have; the older she gets, the more interested he is in her. - Agatha Christie
3. Love is grand; divorce is a hundred grand. - Unknown
4. When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car is new or the wife is.
5. I know that somewhere in the Universe exists my perfect soulmate — but looking for her is much more difficult than just staying at home and ordering another pizza. - Alf Whit
6. One good husband is worth two good wives; for the scarcer things are, the more they are valued. - Benjamin Franklin
7. If love is the answer, could you rephrase the question?
8. Men marry women with the hope they will never change. Women marry men with the hope they will change. Invariably they are both disappointed. - Albert Einstein
9. Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love. - Charlie Brown
10. What the world really needs is more love and less paper work. - Pearl Bailey
11. True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked. - Erich Segal
12. The perfect lover is one who turns into a pizza at 4:00 A.M. - Charles Pierce
13. That love at first sight should happen to me, was Life’s most delicious revenge on a self-opinionated fool. - Charles Boyer

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks

Happy Thursday Thirteen!

I thought I would do a little fun something today because I’ve been in a bit of a cheeky mood lately.

In my relationship with my husband, I have found that certain words and phrases often come out of our mouths. Whether he’s calling me a nickname, I’m calling him something, or there’s a couple lines we always say to each other, there’s repetition sometimes.

Here’s my list of thirteen things we say the most. If you do this meme, be sure to link to it in the comments. I would love to see what words frequent your household. Enjoy!

1. Me: “I was thinking…”
Him: “Congratulations.” (Said with a smartass grin.)
2. Me: “Smartass.”
3. Him: “You’re naughty.”
Me: “Yeah, but you love me.”
4. Him: “Who’s a silly girl?”
5. This isn’t spoken, but I think it’s funny. Whenever either of us ‘gets the other good’, we lick our finger and make a ‘1′ in the air. Point scored.
6. Me: “You have a fine ass.”
7. Him: “Spunkybum.”
8. “I kill you!” *(from ‘akhmed the dead terrorist’)
9. Me: “Was that rude?”
10. Him: “You my woman.”
Me: “And you my man.”
11. “Bloody hell.”
12. Me: “Wankers.”
13. “Guess what!”
“I love you, too.”

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens at Fiction Scribe, Write Anyway, and The Book Stacks