SWAK — We are THAT Family

DIYP #34 Framed Letters & {SWAK Winners}

7:00 am Bykristen

{Keep reading for an important announcement!}

Do you need a fun kid-friendly activity for the long weekend?

Try a Valentine’s Bottle Cap Necklace. I tell you how over at Blissfullly Domestic.

And now for another super easy idea!

This is for all of you readers, watchers, passers-by of the weekly DIYP.

You can do this. And the possibilities are endless:

Grab some letters in the scrapbooking department of your local craft store:

I’ve been trying to figure out a way to use the cool metal letters I found on clearance:

Grab an empty frame. I found this one 90% off in the leftover Christmas decor:

S-p-e-l-l it out.

I just glued down the letters and stuck it in the frame:

I have a lot of old frames, so I could get out of hand with this little DIYP!

If you haven’t had a chance to visit the S.W.A.K. carnival, go now and read more than 150 inspiring love stories!

Or at least take a hint and go kiss someone! Happy Valentine’s Day.

P.S. Don’t miss next weekend’s project! I’m going to show you how I painted that little leopard lamp table!

SWAK Valentine’s Carnival Door Prize Winners:

Thank you to everyone for participating!

These winners were randomly chosen from The SWAK Carnival, Marriage Killers and Marriage Thrillers (plus the additional entries from the Door Prize Preview)! Whew!

If you see your name, please email me your mailing address within 5 days (or another winner will be chosen) and please put your prize in the memo to avoid confusion!

With A Southern Flair- ”His” & “Hers” Hand towels (Value $20) Winner: Proud Mommy

From *Me Tees-“My husband/wife Rocks” t-shirts (Value $50)

Winner: Moms Ministry & More

Bid My Cleaning- $200 gift certificate Winner: Striving to be More

Sorme Lip Gloss- (Value $10) Winner: Poop on Jelly

Sheila Wray Gregoire-2 audio downloads (value $10 each) Winners: Joy in the Journey, Tidy Mom

Pampering Beki- hand-stamped silver ‘Love’ necklace (Value $23) Winner: The Run Amuck

Sarah’s Blue Castle s="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">$20 gift certificate Winner: If I Only Had Super Powers

The IE Mommy-Chic Bud Earphones (Value $45) Winner: Mrs. Smith

4 Reluctant Entertainers “Married, but Not Engaged”book

Winner: Today’s Housewife

Decor To Adore- Vintage Valentine Corsage (Value $14)

Winner: BeckyJoMama

Things Remembered- Heart keepsake box (Value $25) Winner: Garibay Soup

14k gold Heart earrings (Value $25) yle="font-family:'times new roman';">Winner: Tales from a Shop*a*holic Mommy

Tote Bag-(Value $20) Winner: Extreme Housewifeing

Ring Watch by Jenni (Value $42) Winner: PS He Loves You

Ring Lipstick by Jenni (Value $22) Winner: Mommie Daze

“The Love Dare” book (Value $15) Winner: Books N Boys

“Better Love Now!” book (Value $20) Winner: Prayerful Driven Life

Congratulations! Please send me your address as soon as you can! kristenwrites@yahoo.com

Filed UnderDIYP, SWAK, Uncategorized 19 Comments

{S.W.A.K} Marriage Thrillers

7:00 am Bykristen

{Please leave a comment to be entered for one of these fabulous door prizes. All winners will be announced on the Valentine’s Day DIYP post on Saturday! Comments will close at 10 pm CST Friday night.}

With A Southern Flair-2 Monogrammed “His” & “Hers” Hand towels (Value $20)

From *Me Tees-a Matching His/Hers “My husband/wife Rocks” t-shirts (Value $50)

Bid My Cleaning- $200 gift certificate for house, carpet cleaning, (most of US)

Sorme Lip Gloss-sponsored by PS He Loves You (Value $10)

Sheila Wray Gregoire-2 marriage audio downloads (value $10 each)

Pampering Beki- a beautiful hand-stamped silver ‘Love’ necklace (Value $23)

Sarah’s Blue Castle $20 gift certificate to this great Etsy store! Check out her fun items.

The IE Mommy -A Pair of Chic Bud Earphones with Swarovski crystals in a collectible tin (Value $45)

4 Reluctant Entertainers is donating a copy of the book she co-authored “Married, but Not Engaged”. You can read more here.

Decor To Adore- a beautiful Vintage Valentine Corsage from this sweet Etsy store (Value $14)

Here are a few more door prizes that were donated locally (so there isn’t a link):

Things Remembered- A beautiful heart keepsake box (Value $25)

14k gold Heart earrings (Value $25); An Adorable Tote Bag-(Value $20)

Ring Watch by Jenni (Value $42), Ring Lipstick by Jenni (Value $22)

The best-selling book “The Love Dare” from the Fireproof movie (Value $15)

Awesome marriage book “Better Love Now! Making your Marriage a Lifelong Love Affair (Value $20)

Welcome to the last day of the S.W.A.K. Carnival! It’s been so inspiring reading your love stories. Please continue to read the posts, it’s worth the time! I enjoyed your comments so much on the Marriage Killers post yesterday and found some valuable marriage advice!

I’ve only been married once, to one man.

And although we’re creeping up on fifteen years, my experience is limited to my current (and only planned) marriage. I know not all men are the same and they all love differently. But I think God designed men from the same overall blueprint.

I think universally there are some things we can do to bring a thrill to our marriage.

You know, besides walking around naked all day.

Take Care of Yourself
One of the best things we can do for our marriage is taking care of ourselves. I think diet and exercise are important for our own health, but I’m talking about more than that. I think it’s vital that we feel good about ourselves. I think it offers our marriage a huge boost when we like who we are: physically, mentally, spiritually and even professionally. I think getting dressed everyday, showering, and feeling good about ourselves is important in our marriages. I want to look good for my hubby. I’m not saying I don’t have pajama days every once in a while, but I find it’s a lot harder to stay depr
essed when I take care of myself.

Have Fun Together
I love laughing with my hubby. Some of the best moments are the unplanned ones where we are carefree and silly. I think we need to remember to have fun! Nothing thrills my hubby more than when I give way to a schedule and get playful. Have fun together!! Hold hands, tickle each other, take bubble baths, kiss, laugh, go on walks! Let him paint your nails. Try his favorite hobby. Remember. Recapture. Refocus. Make memories. Sometimes the best thrill is to put aside our heavy responsibilities and troubles and rejoice together.

Time Away Together
I think this is a given marriage thriller! I love sneaking away with my man. Nothing recharges our marriage like the quiet and serenity of the two of us together. But if you’re like me, babysitters are costly, dates are infrequent and vacationing alone is rare. Plan it. Budget it. If you don’t, it won’t happen. My hubby and I attended this marriage conference last weekend. It was only three hours and $30 (which fit into our budget and schedule). It was just what we needed. And if it comes down to it and you just cannot ‘get away’, try Date Night in a Minivan!

Time Away Alone
Time together is vital, but so is time alone. I think too much time alone can yield itself to a marriage killer, but we all need to develop self-interest. My marriage has changed just in the last year because I’ve changed. This blog is a part of that transformation. Finding my voice and pursuing what I love (writing), has completed me. My hubby has supported me, encouraged me and challenged me to discover this part of me. It has enhanced our marriage because it has enhanced me. Find something for yourself outside of being a mom and wife. Do it for you! And allow your husband the same freedom.

Just Do It
Now you know I can’t talk about marriage thrillers without going here. Sex and intimacy are crucial for a healthy marriage. They just are. I know for some wives, sex is a chore. If you struggle in this area, invest in some good books, talk to your doctor, work on it. Do it for your marriage, for yourself. When this area of life is healthy, it’s easier to handle life’s up and downs together. When this area is suffering, it only heightens life’s hardships. God gave sex to a marriage to be the icing on the cake. And when it comes to cake, who doesn’t like the icing?

Kindness and Respect
I think this is a given and then I hear the way some women talk to and about their mates or I read blogs that dish out dishonor. We all have times in our marriage when it gets hard. It’s one of the aspects of a good marriage-one that’s worked through the difficult times. Putting your spouse’s needs before your own is a sign of generosity. It is a tender reminder of respect and kindness. And it’s in the little things we do: like greeting our spouse at the front door and bringing them their favorite snack…just because. It’s also in the way we respond to each other and how well we listen. Sometimes this common courtesy is missing and it leaves an ugly hole in our homes.

Inviting God into Your Marriage
This is the greatest act of intimacy. God created marriage and He created wife and husband for each other. He belongs in our marriage. We’ve all heard that one out two marriages end in divorce. These statistics are reduced to .5% of marriages that pray together. There’s something holy and beautiful about praying with your mate. It is a strengthening bond in a marriage. And it is thrilling to reach this level of intimacy. The day my marriage nearly ended was very painful. I truly believe God saved it because we turned to Him. He showed us how to love one another.

What are some other things we can do to add strength and health to our marriage? I can’t wait to hear from you!

The S.W.A.K Carnival is being sponsored by The Date Night Planner. This is a very helpful tool to help you plan a fantastic date night with your sweetheart! Go try it!

Filed UnderSWAK, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

{S.W.A.K.} Marriage Killers

7:00 am Bykristen

{The weekly carnival Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You will return next Thursday!}

{Please leave a comment on today’s post for your entry for one of these fabulous door prizes. All winners will be announced on Valentine’s Day}

With A Southern Flair-2 Monogrammed “His” & “Hers” Hand towels (Value $20)

From *Me Tees-a Matching His/Hers “My husband/wife Rocks” t-shirts (Value $50)

Bid My Cleaning- $200 gift certificate for house, carpet cleaning, (most of US)

Sorme Lip Gloss-sponsored by PS He Loves You (Value $10)

Sheila Wray Gregoire-author and speaker, marriage audio downloads (value $5 each)

Pampering Beki- a beautiful hand-stamped silver ‘Love’ necklace (Value $23)

Sarah’s Blue Castle $20 gift certificate to this great Etsy store! Check out her fun items.

The IE Mommy -A Pair of Chic Bud Earphones with Swarovski crystals in a collectible tin (Value $45)

4 Reluctant Entertainers is donating a copy of the book she co-auth
ored “Married, but Not Engaged”. You can read more here.

Decor To Adore- a beautiful Vintage Valentine Corsage from this sweet Etsy store (Value $14)

Here are a few more door prizes that were donated locally (so there isn’t a link):

Things Remembered- A beautiful heart keepsake box (Value $25)

14k gold Heart earrings (Value $25); An Adorable Tote Bag-(Value $20)

Ring Watch by Jenni (Value $42), Ring Lipstick by Jenni (Value $22)

The best-selling book “The Love Dare” from the Fireproof movie (Value $15)

Awesome marriage book “Better Love Now! Making your Marriage a Lifelong Love Affair (Value $20)

Welcome to the S.W.A.K. Carnival. Please link up your love story posts here and continue to visit all the great blogs. I’m still reading and feeling very inspired!

Even the best marriages, have difficult times.

There aren’t perfect marriages, just like there aren’t perfect people.

Jesus was the only perfect person and he never married. Maybe that’s why He stayed perfect. I’m just sayin‘.

There are several things that kill a marriage. We all know the obvious, like being unfaithful and lying.

I want to talk about the less obvious:

Using the words always and never

We have a word graveyard in our home. There are a few banished words (for adults too) that have been laid to rest. The words always and never are powerful words and are rarely true. How often do we say, “You always do ______” or “I never get to ______.” These words allow for gross exaggeration and put people on the defensive. May these words R.I.P. in your marriage.

Keeping Score

We are all naturally selfish people. It’s our nature to put ourselves first. But when we marry, we are to become one flesh, not two halves. Putting the needs of your spouse before your own will only help your marriage. I think playing this game will kill a marriage: “You can go here, if I can go there,” or “You can spend this if I can spend that.” This forces us to keep records to make everything fair (which is impossible). Put the other person first. Give and it will be given to you.

Putting your children first
I love my children. They are my heart. But they are needy little people and they are not afraid to voice their demands (or commands). It is easy to put kids first because the squeaky wheel, well, you know. And as a mother, it is natural to meet our children’s needs. I think moms must be very careful because seeds of resentment and jealousy can grow during these hectic years when we feel pulled in every direction. In those moments, I have to remind myself that I am a wife. And if my marriage is suffering due to lack of attention, so will my motherhood.

Lust and pornography

This is a big one and I could write many posts on what I’ve learned by reading some fabulous books about the way God created men (and after being married to one for 14 years!) Men are visual. And this is a temptation for probably 95% of them. I believe many more struggle with this issue than the church or wives know. Talk with your spouse. Be transparent, loving, forgiving. But know that this isn’t a part of God’s plan for a healthy marriage. And there is freedom and healing.

Money
Early in my marriage, 95% of our disagreements centered around money (which is funny considering we didn’t have any). This battle was frustrating and exhausting. We worked through numerous issues, got on a budget (which I recommend) and we made the decision to share our money and have nearly equal input. (I defer to my hubby because he’s more knowledgeable in this area). We also agreed not to spend a certain amount without telling one another. If this is an area you struggle in with your mate, I highly recommend Dave Ramsey’s program.

Withholding sex
Wives: Please read For Women Only: What You Need to Know about the Inner Lives of Men. I think it is an essential book for every woman and I think it is a MUST READ for every woman. Check it out from the library, borrow it, buy it for $10. It completely changed the way I understand men, specifically my hubby. I learned how men think, what they retain, what they need, why they need it….and this information is based on hundreds of men, like our husbands. So, if you use sex in any other way in your marriage then the way God created it, it’s wrong and utterly damaging. Or if you don’t make yourself available to your husbands, you are making his life very challenging and you may even weaken his resolve for purity. And of course, your hubby needs to read this version For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women.

What have I left out? What do we need to watch out for that is destructive to a healthy marriage? Talk to me. (Friday we’ll be talking about Marriage Thriller!)

The S.W.A.K Carnival is being sponsored by The Date Night Planner. My hubby and I discovered a new restaurant with this interactive program. We are keeping track of some fun local spots. Check out this awesome tool!

Filed UnderSWAK, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

The S.W.A.K. Carnival

7:00 am Bykristen

Thank you for joining me today for the S.W.A.K. Valentine’s Carnival. I can’t wait to read your posts! (If you need info about the carnival, please click on the button).

It’s also the day for some fabulous door prizes! Please visit the following links and bookmark the sites. {Some of the door prizes will be given away today to people who link up a post, the others will be given away on Thursday and Friday, where you can enter by leaving a comment. ALL DOOR PRIZE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON VALENTINE’S DAY).

With A Southern Flair-2 Monogrammed “His” & “Hers” Hand towels (Value $20)

From *Me Tees-a Matching His/Hers “My husband/wife Rocks” t-shirts (Value $42)

Bid My Cleaning- $200 gift certificate for house, carpet cleaning, (most of US)

Sorme Lip Gloss-sponsored by PS He Loves You (Value $10)

Sheila Wray Gregoire-author and speaker, 2 marriage audio downloads (value $10 each)

Pampering Beki- a beautiful hand-stamped silver ‘Love’ necklace (Value $23)

Sarah’s Blue Castle $20 gift certificate to this great Etsy store! Check out her fun items.

The IE Mommy - e="font-family:'times new roman';">a pair of Chic Bud Earphones with Swarovski crystals in a collectible tin (Value $45)

4 Reluctant Entertainers is donating a copy of the book she co-authored “Married, but Not Engaged”. You can read more here.

Decor To Adore- a beautiful Vintage Valentine Corsage from this sweet Etsy store (Value $14)

Here are a few more door prizes that were donated locally (so there isn’t a link):

Things Remembered- A beautiful heart keepsake box (Value $25)

14k gold Heart earrings (Value $25); An Adorable Tote Bag-(Value $20)

Ring Watch by Jenni (Value $42), Ring Lipstick by Jenni (Value $22)

The best-selling book “The Love Dare” from the Fireproof movie (Value $15)

Awesome marriage book “Better Love Now! Making your Marriage a Lifelong Love Affair(Value $20)

I’m about halfway thru the Kiss Challenge. (This is a personal challenge I issued for the month of February to passionately kiss my hubby once a day).

It’s been fun.
My hubby has enjoyed it and he certainly hasn’t given me any lip.

If he had, I would have smacked him.

It’s also been challenging. Besides being out of town a few days, there have been a few times when I had to make myself kiss my hubby.

Shocking. I know. Especially since he’s so sexy.

Normally, if I was having a bad day and that last thing I wanted was a physical lip-lock session, I went with that thought.

But since I’ve committed to this challenge, on those yucky days, I pushed past those feelings and decided to be selfless. I was amazed at how quickly I relaxed, stopped thinking about my day and enjoyed it.

I am married to a good man.

He is my best friend. He is my favorite person in the world.

I love living my life with him. He knows me better than I know myself.

I pray my children share their lives with the soul mate God created for them.

Finding him is the greatest discovery of my life. Keeping him is the reward.

But. It is not easy.

After being married nearly fifteen years, I’m happy to say we’ve conquered some pretty heavy challenges. We’ve weathered some significant storms and are stronger because of them.

But taking the time to kiss, to hold hands, to engage every day is important. Crucial, even.

I have 15 more days of kissing.

No, that’s not right.

I have a lifetime.

The S.W.A.K Carnival is being sponsored by The Date Night Planner. This is a interactive tool to help you plan a fantastic date night with your mate.

http://www.viddler.com/player/e30be9db/

I can’t wait to be inspired by your stories!

SWAK Valentine’s Carnival Participants

1. Angie
2. Apron Strings Aflutter
3. Life At The Circus
4. Sandra (I Know He Loves Me When…)
5. Shara
6. Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe
7. Tara @ Feels like Home
8. Hadley
9. <
a href="http://mutheringheights.blogspot.com/2009/02/100-things-i-love-about-my-husband.html" target="_blank">Muthering Heights
10. Carol @SheLives
11. Upstatemomof3
12. D…My Life Is Based On a True Story
13. Normal to Natalie
14. Mayangelstar
15. Nise\’
16. Kelly@Kelly\’s Krazy Kids
17. Jesica (At least we can laugh…)
18. Heidi (How I Spell S.E.X.Y)
19. Wilma (part 1)
20. Heather
21. Amy
22. Gwyn
23. Natalie–He Had Me at His Hair
24. Franticallysimple
25. Dawn @ PSHelovesyou
26. Edie @ lifeingrace
27. Don\’t Start None…There Won\’t be None
28. Comfort Joy Designs
29. Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates
30. Jenny & The Irishman
31. Tanya (In the Dailies)
32. Proud Mommy
33. Sandra (past first impressions)
34. Sarah @ Short Stop (The Moment I Knew)
35. Alicia (from StuCo to Subs)
36. KLee (what\’s your real name?)
37. Andrea
38. Amber@theRunaMuck
39. Kristin @ StrivingToBeMore
40. Alicia @ CrazySubmarineLady (His Valentine\’s Day Date)
41. Laura
42. BooksnBoys (unashamedly bragging)
43. Nikki
44. Cheryl
45. Janice
46. Mommie Daze – One Look
47. Thoughts By Kim
48. Lynn @ Rohal Call
49. Jen – 10 Years & 100 Reasons
50. Mrs. Nurse Boy
51. Jenn
52. Christy
53. Jenny 867-5309
54. Colleen – Mommy Always Wins
55. Kiy @ RC&T;
56. Kimberly Kovach
57. Becky Jo
58. TV Watching Mama
59. The Porch Swing
60. Kaycee(my truck guy)
61. Andrea @Under Grace & Over Coffee – Still Twitterpated
62. The Happy Houswife ~ Opposites Attract?
63. Mishababy
64. Amy
65. Krista @ The Little Things
66. Jerri Ann
67. IE Mommy
68. Robin
69. Tidymom
70. Runningamuck
71. Rita
72. Emily O.
73. MyLinda
74. rachel@justanotherdayinparadise
75. Amanda – Garibay Soup
76. Heather @ Sugar \’N Spice & Mostly Nice
77. Christy Klein

78. Jessica Dietzel
79. Kyleigh
80. Christin
81. Bubba\’s Sis
82. Wani
83. Vanderbilt Wife
84. the Animator\’s Wife
85. Debby @ Bringing up boys
86. Rachel
87. Leanne – My Man
88. Cathy (Love of my Life – Sometimes)
89. Monica @ Daily Dwelling
90. april
91. Lisa @ Cheerios Underfoot
92. Tasha @ Hectic Calm
93. Audrey
94. Grateful for Grace
95. Amber @ Classic Housewife
96. The Miss Elaine-ous Life
97. Sarah @ Prayerful Driven Life
98. Such The Spot {Darcie}
99. Lisa @ The Berry Patch
100. Gwyn
101. Poppyseed@Sugar \’n Spice
102. Wilma PART 2
103. Crayl (Aaron)
104. Cheri @ What is it Now
105. Lori @ Building our nest
106. Kama
107. Kat @ Daredevil Parenting
108. Sparkette
109. Lois Lane II
110. Heather @ Drivel and Whatnot
111. Paper Glue Etc.
112. Jen
113. Paula
114. Dawn@PSHelovesyou (Love can be painful..)
115. Charity@Four Now
116. JA@Gravity of Motion
117. Muthering Heights
118. Catherine
119. Modern Mama Diana
120. Nimmi
121. Superjaxster @ Blogging Jax
122. If Only I Had Super Powers
123. Mr. Nurse Boy…A letter to my wife
124. Sarah @ Short Stop (The Sounds of Love)
125. Melissa Griffin
126. Jenna @ Newlyweds
127. Kim @ Situationally Single
128. Happy Mamma
129. Greta
130. Jenny & The Irishman (Part 2)
131. Allison@Slice of Heaven
132. Sandy@Tales From A Shop*a*holic Mommy
133. Wilma ~Conclusion
134. Jennielynn
135. Julie from Inmates
136. purple moose
137. Dawn@PSHelovesyou (Love is juicy)
138. Tammy @ Creative Domesticity
139. Sarah Mae
140. Christy
141. Heathahlee (better late than never, right?)
142. Laura @ Decor to Adore
143
. { jamie }
144. Dana @ Composing Hallelujahs
145. Gin
146. Patti
147. Kris @ Sandhill Serendipity
148. Heather @ Want What You Have (My Great Love Story)
149. Natalie
150. Tabitha\’s love story
151. Traci @ Milk & Honey
152. Tater @ Life of a Tater
153. Tara @ Feels like Home (original link broke)
154. Regina

Filed UnderSWAK, Uncategorized 101 Comments

S.W.A.K. Carnival {Door Prize Preview}

7:00 am Bykristen

{Please read this post to the end so you can find out how to get an extra chance to win one of the following awesome giveaways}

Well.

The kissing is going well.

Ahem.

That’s about all you’ll get from me.

My lips are sealed.

I’m so excited about the S.W.A.K. Carnival that starts tomorrow (Wednesday) . Don’t forget to get your post ready to link up. There aren’t many rules. It just needs to honor your hubby in honor of Valentine’s Day.

You can add the button if you’d like to your post. Please link back to my blog so your readers can participate. You don’t have to have a blog to participate, you can share in the comment section:

Please take a minute today and go visit these sites (you’ll be glad you did…keep reading). I appreciate the generosity of these businesses/people and in return, I’d love for them to get a lot of new visitors! (U.S. Shipping is included for all winners).

With A Southern Flair-2 Monogrammed “His” & “Hers”

Hand towels (Value $20)

From *Me Tees-Matching His/Hers

“My husband/wife Rocks” t-shirts (Value $42)

Bid My Cleaning- $200 gift certificate for house,

carpet cleaning

BidMyCleaning.com - Your online marketplace for cleaning services

Sorme Lip Gloss-sponsored by PS He Loves You

(Value $10)

Sheila Wray Gregoire-author and speaker,

marriage audio downloads, “Honey I don’t have a headache: Help for women who want to feel more in the mood” 45 min. (value $10 each) 2 copies

Pampering Beki- a beautiful hand-stamped silver ‘Love’ necklace (Value $23)

$20 gift certificate to a great Etsy store, Sarah’s Blue Castle! Check out her fun items.

A Pair of Chic Bud Earphones with Swarovski crystals in a collectible tin (Value $45) Donated by Th e f="http://www.iemommy.wordpress.com/">IE Mommy

4 Reluctant Entertainers is donating a copy of the book she co-authored “Married, but Not Engaged”. You can read more here.

A beautiful Vintage Valentine Corsage from etsy store Decor To Adore.
(Value $14)

Here are a few more door prizes that were donated locally:

Heart Keepsake Box-Things Remembered (Value $25)

14k gold Heart earrings (Value $25); An Adorable Tote Bag-(Value $20)

Ring Watch by Jenni (Value $42), Ring Lipstick by Jenni (Value $22)

The best-selling book “The Love Dare” from the Fireproof movie (Value $15)

Awesome marriage book “Better Love Now! Making your Marriage a Lifelong Love Affair (Value $20)

And I’m very happy to announce that the S.W.A.K Carnival is being sponsored by The Date Night Planner. This is a very helpful tool to help you plan a fantastic date night with your sweetheart! Go try it!

Quickly plan your activities including:

Dine Out: Choose a restaurant and make reservations
Dine In: Add recipes and put together the perfect menu
See a Movie: Get movie listings, local show times and buy tickets
See a Show: Find concerts and events in your area
Buy a Gift: Special occasion? Surprise your date with a present.
Other Activities: Take a walk on the beach or go to a museum, quickly add any idea to the date planner.
Click here for more.

Details:

The carnival will go live with Mr. Linky after 10 p.m. CST Tuesday night. This is your opportunity to link up a post honoring your hubby (however you interpret that). You will be eligible for the door prizes above by linking up.

The carnival continues on Thursday and Friday with some inspiring and informative posts on marriage. Door prizes will be given away on these days also. You are eligible for them, by simply leaving a comment. All winners will be announced on Valentine’s Day.

So, you have a chance to win by either linking up (late Tuesday) Wednesday or leaving a comment on Thursday or Friday’s post.

But you can earn an extra chance TODAY by visiting the door prizes above before the carnival begins. Please visit the stores and leave a comment and you’ll get an extra door prize entry.