Simple Secrets to Help Strengthen Your Marriage

May 18, 2012 By Meredith Hansen

One key to a lasting, healthy relationship is to put effort into it daily. Most people believe that they need a romantic getaway or an expensive dinner to get the passion back, but the truth is small efforts make all the difference.

If you’ve been feeling a little distant from your partner lately or you want your relationship to remain healthy and satisfying, implement at least one item from the list below every day and your relationship will thrive.

  1. Get physical every day. Physical connection is really important in a marriage.  Every day make an effort to hug, kiss for 7 seconds,

    Read More

Filed Under: Marriage Success Secrets, Repair Your Relationship, Strong Marriage, Weekly Love Tip Tagged With: , ,

Too Much Distance in Your Marriage?

May 11, 2012 By Meredith Hansen

All relationships ebb and flow. Sometimes couples can be completely aligned and emotionally in tune with one another, and other times a great deal of distance can exist between them.

This natural rhythm of distance and closeness is not something to worry about if you’re usually able to recognize the pattern and work through it.  But if you and your spouse are not able to quickly identify the distance and find ways to reconnect, you may eventually end up feeling more like roommates or co-parents than passionate lovers.

Use the list below to determine if there may be too much distance between you and your honey.

THERE MAY BE TOO MUCH DISTANCE IN YOUR MARRIAGE IF:

  • You can’t remember the last time you passionately kissed your spouse

    Read More

Filed Under: Marriage Success Secrets, Repair Your Relationship, Weekly Love Tip

Super Mom

April 6, 2012 By Meredith Hansen

It isn’t easy having it all and/or doing it all, but many modern women think they can and should.

Unfortunately, over the past few decades our society has regularly depicted an unrealistic image of a ‘supermom’ that tends to leave most women feeling inferior or not good enough.  This picture usually highlights a chic woman easily balancing her children, husband, and work all while looking fabulous.

In today’s demanding world, it’s easy to accept these standards and believe that you must measure up.  Women often set high expectations for themselves and when they don’t meet their own expectations their self-image and self-esteem often suffer.  In order to avoid the negative effects

Read More

Filed Under: A Healthy You, Strong Marriage, Weekly Love Tip Tagged With: , ,

Spring Clean Your Life

March 23, 2012 By Meredith Hansen

Spring is often that time of year when we clean our house from top to bottom. We sort through old clothes and other household items, clean out the backs of closets and dark corners that are typically avoided, remove dirt, dust, and other build up, and give our homes an overall cleanse. By the time we’re finished (with this commonly dreaded experience), we feel lighter, happier, cleaner, and relieved.

So wouldn’t it be great it we did this in our personal lives as well?

As humans, we all have a tendency to hold on to past hurts, emotional pain, unhealthy relationships, and destructive patterns. The familiar in our daily lives can easily become comfortable and rather than make a change for the better, we often stick with what we know, even it if is hurting us.

Read More

Filed Under: A Healthy You, Weekly Love Tip Tagged With:

How to Cope with Wedding Planning Stress

March 7, 2012 By Meredith Hansen

Brides go through an enormous amount of stress while planning their wedding. Staying on top of the all the details involved in one magical day can be enough to make any sane woman feel insane at times. From booking venues and vendors, to whittling down the guest list, tracking response cards, and creating seating charts, the wedding “to do” list never seems to end. On top of this, you have responsibilities at work, need to maintain your friendships, and recognize the importance of keeping the romance alive in your relationship.

Sometimes it can just feel like too much. Don’t worry there’s help. You don’t have to continue feeling frazzled, frustrated, and short-fused. Follow the tips below to bring balance back into your life, so that when your wedding day arrives you walk down the aisle feeling refreshed, excited, and emotionally present.

  1. Schedule personal time. This means, quiet time just for you. Every week look at your planner and carve out at least one hour for you. Use this time to read a book, get a facial or massage,

    Read More

Filed Under: Getting Married Tagged With: , ,

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Tips

February 14, 2012 By Meredith Hansen

Are you looking for some simple ways to add romance to your Valentine’s Day celebration?

Tonight is an opportunity to slow things down and get romantic with your partner.  Below are some tips for adding romance and passion to your Valentine’s Day celebration that won’t break the bank. Pick one or two items on the list and you’re guaranteed to have a memorable night!

Romance on a Budget:

- Light candles – Candles can completely change the atmosphere.  They can shift the mood in your home from bright and every day to sexy, luminous, and romantic.  Buy a pack of small tea lights from the drug store or dig up any candles you have around the house and put them everywhere, make your home glow tonight!

- Music – Music is an extremely powerful tool for setting a romantic mood.  Go through your iTunes library and make a playlist of all the romantic songs you and your honey enjoy.  Set the playlist to repeat, so you don’t have to worry about the music ending, enjoy a slow dance or two together and allow the music to take you away!

Read More

Filed Under: Marriage Success Secrets, Weekly Love Tip Tagged With: , ,

Breakdown: Valentine’s Do’s and Don’ts

February 13, 2012 By Meredith Hansen

Looking to have a memorable Valentine’s Day tomorrow?

Read my Do’s and Don’ts for Couples and Singles…

SINGLE THIS YEAR?

  • Don’t sit home and feel sorry for yourself
  • Do call up some friends and plan a fun night together
  • Don’t call an ex because you’re feeling lonely
  • Do get out, mix and mingle, meet new people, and have fun
  • Don’t attribute your single status to being unlovable or not good enough
  • Do begin to identify exactly the type of relationship you would like to have (detail it out)

    Read More

Filed Under: Marriage Success Secrets, Weekly Love Tip Tagged With: , ,

How to ENJOY! Valentine’s Day

February 10, 2012 By Meredith Hansen

Do you feel the love in the air?

Or are you dreading February 14th?

Valentine’s Day is almost here and since this isn’t everyone’s favorite holiday, I want to give you some simple tips that will help you not only survive Valentine’s Day, but actually enjoy it!

The video below is filled with Valentine’s Day Do’s and Don’ts.  Whether you’re single or attached this year, it is possible to L*O*V*E this February 14th…

Read More

Filed Under: Weekly Love Tip Tagged With: , , ,

Technology Guidelines for Your Marraige

February 3, 2012 By Meredith Hansen

Modern technology allows us to stay connected to our loved ones throughout the day.  Anywhere, anytime we now have the ability to communicate, share, and update instantly through devices and programs like smart phones, iPads, text messaging, email, instant messaging, Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Four Square, and so on.  No matter where we are in the world or what time it is, we can always find a way to make a call, email a picture, or share our thoughts.  We are visible, accessible, and easily located.

As wonderful as this can and should be in maintaining a strong connection with your partner, advances in technology have also contributed to a new series of relationship problems

Read More

Filed Under: Marriage Success Secrets, Strong Marriage, Weekly Love Tip Tagged With: , ,

Are You in an Unhealthy Relationship?

January 20, 2012 By Meredith Hansen

Do you ever wonder if you’re in an unhealthy relationship?

This is a common concern that I address with many clients in my private practice.  Often successful, vibrant, interesting men and women report feeling unhappy in their relationship and worried that things have taken a turn for the worse.  They share that they don’t feel like themselves anymore, doubt their ability to make decisions, and report an ongoing feeling of anxiety (like walking on eggshells).

Unfortunately too many people in this situation ignore their feelings or are unaware of what these feelings mean.  Bright, competent individuals get caught up in the dynamics of their relationship and fail to see the toxic cycle they’re stuck in.  Hoping things will get better they cling to their partner, make excuses for bad behavior, and blame themselves for an argument gone bad.  Over time denial of personal needs and ongoing doubt leads to low self-confidence, poor judgment, over dependency on the

Read More

Filed Under: A Healthy You, Weekly Love Tip Tagged With: , , ,