My hubby and I have been married 14 years.
We have three children.
I think we have a great marriage. We communicate well. We fight fair.
But I want it to be even better.
And it starts with me.
Busy schedules, demanding children, job pressures and selfishness gives our marriage a beating. And we have to fight to keep it healthy, to keep it passionate.
I entered this New Year wanting to initiate more time for us. I want to capture moments to remind him that before all of this, there was just us. The two of us.
I was flipping through January's Woman's Day Magazine and a title caught my attention "Lock Lips with Your Husband."
Reading the blurb, I learned that there is an actual chemical released when you kiss called The Cuddle Chemical. It produces a euphoric feeling. And an unplanned passionate kiss increases the chemical.
Now, let's be honest. I kiss my hubby everyday. A peck here. A smooch there. But a knock-his-socks off K-I-S-S? Well, there's dinner and a toddler pulling on my leg, a ringing phone, and endless homework. And not to mention the utter exhaustion I feel at the end of the day.
Well. You know. It's hard.
So, besides entering the marriage challenge at The Diaper Diaries, (go check it out, it's not too late to join and it's off to a great start)
I'm issuing my own personal Kiss Challenge for myself. For 30 days, starting Feb. 1st, I'm planning to passionately lock lips with my hubby. To block out all distractions for a few minutes and lay one on him.
I think just this one simple act will speak volumes to my man.
{You can secretly join in too if you up to some serious smooches}
The days leading up to Valentine's Day (Feb. 11-13), I will be having a little S.W.A.K. carnival. I want you to link up a post honoring your hubby anytime during those three days. It can be how you met, your first kiss, what you're doing to celebrate Valentine's Day, or about your own personal Kiss Challenge.
For several days, I will be sharing some of my marriage secrets, my fau paxs and what I've learned.
Grab the button and share it with your readers.
You might also want to stock up on some chap stick. I'm just sayin'.
P.S. I'm planning on giving away some helpful marriage books and items (you have to link up at carnival to be eligible) and would love to give away some Valentine's inspired gifts during the carnival. If you have a store and have something that speaks volumes of love, email me and I'll feature your store during the carnival. *UPDATE* I have 16 door prizes so far (including a gift certificate for $200!) So, keep them coming!
Tell me what you think....can we join together {on Valentine's Day} to honor our hubbies in some way?
You DO NOT have to join the Kiss Challenge to link up to the Valentine's Day carnival!
Food for the Soul:
Song of Solomon 1:16 "[ Beloved ] How handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant."
136 comments:
I'm in! Button is in my sidebar!
What a fabulous Valnetines Day challenge!
I'll be thinkin on what I will share...
Blessings!
Megan
I'm in! I linked to your blog too...great challenge! Oh and thanks for telling me about the IC7:5 Challenge..I'm participating in that one too!
We are doing the 40 day love dare at the moment..and only on day 9.. I am not sure I can add the lip lock challenge on top LOL.. but will consider it.
Sing. Me. UP!!!! I heart kissing my man! And anything to make our marriage stronger is a plus in my book!!!
I'm in! Thanks for the fun challenge!
I'd love to say I was in for that kiss challenge, but because we swap work/kid minding schedules there are often days in a row where we see each other only for minutes at a time. I'd have to wait up until he got home in the middle of the night in order to plant one on him some days!
But its a great idea (I'll just be mindful to swap spit with him a bit more often) and I'll definitely be "in" for the 'I ♥ my hubby' carnival.
Great idea!
What a great idea! I'm taking a button and will join in the carnival. =)
I put your button on my sidebar and will be joining in for the carnival. I will try to do the kissing challenge too. But, we have been having a rough winter of viruses here. The amount of sickness is starting to get to me and I'm not doing much kissing right now. Just trying to get everyone healthy!
My husband thanks you. ;-) Your button is on my sidebar.
My hubby and I started this thing were we try to kiss for at least 6 seconds before falling asleep. It's amazing how LONG 6 seconds is when you'd rather snarl at each other! But on the flip side it's not long enough on other nights!
Count me in on this challenge as well.
GREAT challenge. One of those things we mean to do but don't. I'm in. And thanks for letting me know about the other challenge, too: I'm in on that as well. ;-D
Great idea! Linking on my site too.
I am so in on this.
I will TRYYYYYY!!! After almost a year of nursing baby #2 (who still doesn't sleep through the night) I am not even sure I still like my husband (ha ha). Our marriage definitely needs a spark so I will TAKE that challenge, God help me!
Thanks so much for the shout out!! I can't remember what week it is, but this is actually one of the challenges. WE are going to have some happy hubbies around America with all this attention :)
it's for a good cause after all ..I'll need to load up on my "lip plumber by Sorme" it's good stuff..if you want I'll throw that in for an extra "gift"..let me know.
Great idea! I can so relate to the whole balance between children and hubby---the children usually scream loudest:)Have a great day!
Lori
I'm In I could use some good smooching with my hubby He has been very very busy lately I may have to corner him LOL :D Now to make a Swak post for the button :D
BC (Before Kids) I made this a habit to do every day. Sadly, this has gone by the road side. Thanks for the reminder of how important this is! Time to bring back the smooching.
It is SO GOOD to hear a Christian woman talk about bringing back the passion on our marriages. And even better that you are issuing a challenge! I'm all in and so excited. The hubs and I have had a rough go of it lately so this all comes at just the right time...
GREAT idea! Count me in!! :)
this is a super cute idea. I do kiss my DH quite often, even passionately, maybe i should try to take it a step further. LOL! thats where my trouble is.
trisha
momdot.com
I think that's a sweet idea. I haven't locked lips with my husband in years (eek)...it's a nice reminder to do so.
What a sweet idea! I am ashamed to say that I have no need to join in on this one, since I made a vow to do it every day when we got married.
I hope you keep on track after the 30 days are up!
BTW -- I LOVE LOVE LOVE your new bloggy look! It rocks!
What a sweet idea! I am ashamed to say that I have no need to join in on this one, since I made a vow to do it every day when we got married.
I hope you keep on track after the 30 days are up!
BTW -- I LOVE LOVE LOVE your new bloggy look! It rocks!
Wow, what a great idea!!!
p.s. I found you through MomDot.com
Just found your blog! Love what I see so far. I think I'm gonna try the lip lock challenge! Should be fun! :)
Amy
I love this! What a wonderful idea - to honor our hubbies - they deserve it. I will be joining up!
Consider yourself linked! This is a fun one & I can't wait for Feb.1st! I may not wait. I also enjoyed reading everyones comments on this! I know my husband will thank you for this challenge, but if I get pregnant, I better win something & I'm coming after you! ~ Dana
Hmmmm this will be an interesting carnival! I wonder how many babies will be conceived from this carnival! :)
I'm in. My marriage could use a little spark to get us jump starting again. This reminds me of the woman who gave her hubby 365 of intimacy for his 40th birthday. It was just on Oprah. This is just a milder more realistic version. Great Idea!
I like this :-) My hubby's birthday is Feb. 12. Our first date was on Feb. 13 . . . . our daughter was born six years to the day later. So while I juggle two birthday's and Valentine's Day every year, it is still a magical time. Am grabbing the button as I speak . . .
How FUN! :)
What a great idea! I love the way you 'do good and not evil' to your husband in your blog. You're a fine example of a Proverbs 31 woman and I'm proud to join you in the challenge and the carnival!
i'm in! i already signed up for the 1cor challenge and your carnival sounds like lots of fun!!! great idea and sounds like great prizes.
Sounds like a good idea.. I'm going to sign up!
Oh fun! I love to see couples give a little peck in public; Im not talking teenagers making out, but the ones you can tell have been together a long time. And the seniors get me every time. Its too darn cute! What a fun challenge. Hubs will like this one. ;) Grabbing the button...
I think I have no choice but to join the Kiss Challenge, because Greg read this! But he wants to start now as he will be out of town on Feb 1. He keeps asking when he's going to get his kiss!
What a wonderful idea! I'm in!
My girlfriend works at Lifeway Christian bookstore and she showed me 40 Day Dare today. It looks like a powerful book for any marriage (it is not easy). But I went home with Sheet Music by Kevin Lehman. You might want to use that as one of your giveaway books.
I stumbled across your blog on momdot.com. Love the SWAK carnival! Great idea!
ok I just came here from somewhere..lol..I dont remember where from...I think Janis...lol..
Button is posted and I am in...and you SO just described my husband and I only we have been married 18 years and 3 teens...ARRGGHHHHH!!! and we also have beeen thru it...
Kelly
I love this idea! I tried to add the button but it is too big for my sidebar. Any suggestions?
What if your hubby "doesn't do kissing"? Seriously though, I'm all for it and would LURVE to join in, but my hubby hasn't asked for, tried to, wanted, etc a kiss since BC. Our oldest is 11y now. How pathetic am I? *sigh*
Oh well, I guess I'll just bring him a cup of coffee each day instead. THAT he does like! Way to a man's heart is through his stomach, right? ;-)
Count this Aussie wife in! There will be lips locking all around the world. Wait... if you listen closely you might even hear the sound... :)
Thanks for the hot idea for this cold winter!We'll see if hubby notices a difference. :-)
Current family rule: Say "I love you" & smooch at least once daily, hugs for all kids (picture my hubby PICKING UP with his big man hug each of our 3 sons-ages 20, 18, 15 - who are taller than he is - love it!).
I think this is a great idea I have button on my blog
shopannies@yahoo.com
Absolutely joining! Why shouldn't my husband get 2 minutes of the best of me every day!? I am putting the button on my blog! Yeah! :)
i'm in!!! i've got the button on my sidebar & i'm ready to play!!! :)
Oooh! I want to play! During a study of the book "Every Heart Restored," our class leader gave us the challenge of kissing our husbands passionately before he left for work every day, just to remind him what he had to look forward to at home. I have gotten out of that habit, but with your challenge, I hope to get back in! About to put your button on my blog!
i'm so in! love this idea!!! :)
Sounds like FUN!
I'm THERE and luvin' it!
I'm adding the button to my side bar. Looking forward to this challenge! Thanks for the push to keep it alive!
Oh count me in! What a great challenge! :)
Somedays I feel like I can't kiss enough anyway. I'm in!
What a wonderful challenge! But, how about for those who are single? I mean, I have a boyfriend...but we are not married...
Your swanky sweet button is in my sidebar. Looks like fun! Also, doing the I Cor. 7:5 Challenge!
Deborah @ Comfort Joy Designs
comfortjoydesigns.blogspot.com
comfortjoydesigns{AT}gmail{DOT}com
Ok, I'm in. Not sure if I'll see my husband during the whole time though. Hopefully. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I'm in!!
Wish I could join in on the Kiss Challenge, but unfortunately, my husband is in Iraq and it's kind of hard to lay one on him from such a distance. But he will be coming home on leave at the end of Feb. and I promise there will be lots of kissing going on!
Such a cute idea! I'm definitely in for the carnival and the button is on my crazysubmarinelady blog. Unfortunately my husband is somewhere on a submarine and I just don't think he'd appreciate my involvement in the kiss challenge without him.
Ok, I'm going to try and remember to do this. But how do I put the button on my blog?
What fun! I can't wait to start!
I'm in! Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife call it the 3second rule. Every day a three second kiss.
Great idea! Thanks for the encouragement.
Wonderful encouragement! I'm in!
Awesome! What a great reminder to make our marriage a priority! I am definitely in, am taking a button, and will be linking up Feb. 11! Thanks for doing this!
I'm in!! my husband won't know what hit him :)
What a great idea! I put your button on my sidebar, I would love to join in!
I really LOVE this idea!! And what a great way to get everyone to put a spark in their relationship just in time for Valentine's Day!!
Krista
Too cool! I'm crafting a post about my husband, just for the occasion.
This sounds like too much fun to pass up! I posted something today, and have another post in the works.
The week that you are talking about, we will be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary. We went through the three kids stuff, one finished with college, one in college and one in high school. You are soooo on the right track. A big healthy kiss is a wonderful way to remind one another to slow down for a minute and remember what you have. I could write many stories about my husband. This is a great idea.
♥, Susan
This looks like fun. =) I'm in.
Thank you for updating the sidebar button. It fits great for me now.
I LOVE it! I think I'm going to join the KISS challenge too but first things first... I've added your SWAK button to my blog. I was going to anyway but after reading about the purse giveaway I thought I'd better get my hiney in gear and get it added NOW. =0) But I love the idea and will be posting about it soon too.
Now to get hooked up with the KISS challenge....
I love the kiss challenge! I've been kissing my husband more lately already! I just can't blog about it too much, because my husband reads my blog, and I don't want him to know what's coming.
I'm SO in! I'm going to go put the button in my sidebar now. Glad I found your blog!
I'm in !!! I just need to figure out how to post your button on my blog. My husband is spectacular and I can't wait to share more about him with you all!
I'm in. I've written lots of posts about my husband. I'll work on it later tonight. :)
I also posted your button.
What a great challenge....exactly what we need right now. I am really feeling the need to focus on my wonderful husband, and this post has given me some creative inspiration (which can be hard to come by with everything else I have on my plate).
Thanks for the Challenge....my Chris will be thrilled!!!
I'm totally in for the kissing challenge and the carnival. :) I've been very marriage strengthening oriented lately. I'm about halfway through the Love Dare challenge which has been awesome. :)
add the button to my own page and will think about what to share!
glad to find other women who are proud of the men they married and love them fiercely!
I already know what I'm gonna share. This a great idea.
Got the button and I'm joining the challenge! Thanks
Button has been added to my blog! The hubs will LOVE this challenge!
The spirit of this challenge is right up my/our alley! We have been asked, while spending a leisurely Saturday in the book store "Are you married?" We looked at the young man asking the question and answered "Yes!" He then asked "To each other?"
Someone has to set an example of a happy marriage, it might as well be us.
Oh yes baby! Who wants a losing weight or reading so many books challenge? (although I like those too) I am SO IN! I've got the button and I'm on board. Oh yeah, my hubby is going to love you for giving me this idea....and maybe me too, oh wait, he already does! lucky me
What a fun idea, I'm in the button is up!
Sounds like a lot of fun! Your button is on my blog at justformeandyou2.blogspot.com
Love it! I'll have one happy happy husband!
I have your button up and running!
I'm in! Just this morning my hubby cornered me for a hug...he held on for a long time...I thought that was strange. As I went back to making lunches he said, 'I'm supposed to hug you for at least 20 seconds to help you relax.' I thought he was kinda cute.
I am totally doing this!! I am on day one of The Love Dare (I started a seperate blog to journal how it goes and im excited!) and i am doing lots of things to try to nurture my marriage... I am also doing the 1Cor challenge although I haven't posted about it yet...
Alright, I'm in. Even if it is spreading the flu (one of my kiddos currently has the flu so hopefully none of the rest of us will get it!)
:0)
Sounds like fun!
~robin
I'm in. I have the carnival button up on my sidebar. :)
Love this! I don't have a blog--but I subscribe.
sylviarj@yahoo.com
What a great idea!! I grabbed the button... This made me cry. I haven't kissed my husband in a year and it will be another year before he'll be home - he's in the military. I'll have to delay my "kiss" challenge, but I'll get to it...it will just be delayed. And he IS wonderful...still such a wonderful leader and family man - even from "abroad"...
I am in! Such a wonderful challenge!
I love this! It's so sweet and I am already planning my post.
Here is a link to my blog with your button in my sidebar:
http://creativedomesticity.blogspot.com/
Thanks
Tammy
What a GREAT idea!! I put your button on my sidebar a while ago, guess I forgot to leave a comment! LOL
~Tidymom
Sure, I'll jump in!
What a great challenge! Cant wait to get started!!!
Okay, I'm in too! :o)
I am SO in! I just found your blog through WFMW at Rocks in My Dryer and subscribed right away! You remind me of my husband's family: three active, creative, always-into-trouble boys :)
PS - have your children ever bungee-jumped off their bunk bed with string tied to their underwear? Just wondered...
I'm in. I just posted your button and a promise to tell all.
I am definitely in. I have an amazing husband and cannot brag about him enough. Or kiss him enough for that matter. Got the button on my blog and my lips puckered.
BTW, I didn't do this to get the KS purse, but I'd love one more entry!
Got the button and I'm in! Looking forward to the challenge.
Such a cute idea! I am definetly in!
This is a great idea!
Great challenge! I am in...what to write now?!?
Count me in! I started practicing the kiss challenge last week when you twittered about it. I'm looking forward to the carnival!
OK I love this. My husband and I rarely kiss and when we do it seems weird- we have been married almost 9 years, have 3 kids(the baby just turned 1) and we have been through A LOT also. Thanks for inspiring me to smooch a little more!!
Carrie
Count me in. The button is on my blog.
My husband is going to appreciate you very much. And he thinks blogs are a waste of time-ha!
I've put a button on my side bar and I'll be posting about my husband for Valentine's day! Thanks for the ideas and link to the Diaper Diaries.
Just found you...and have placed your cute banner on my blog.
I LOVE kissing my Honey..and anything that causes more kissing..well, it's great in my book!!!
Thanks!!!
Blessings,
Laurie
Brilliant idea!
I am so in! This one will be a snap! I am going to participate in the 1 Cor challenge too but I have to wait till my twins are over the flu & bronchitis.... but this one, no waiting at all! Have it linked to my site too!
Thanks for the fun!
Count me in though I am two days late... I will have to "catch up" by planting two on him today and two tomorrow or maybe three today. LOL He won't know what hit him. I put the link on my blog but I already posted yesterday, before I knew about this challenge about our first date and how we got together because Feb. 1st was the 25th anniversary of our engagement. Come read about it if you want, but I will link to that post in my post on Valentine week, too.
I am already on this one - yesterday I totally surprised him (and me!) He asked me if I was OK? :) I told him I was in love with him - he grinned. Can't wait till tonight!
I love what you do on your site you are a blessing to me!
Button is on my blog. I'm in for some kissing and giveaways!
Button's on my blog sidebar too and I put a link in a post! Love this carnival, can't wait!! XOXOXO
This sounds like fun. I'm in!
I'm in. I'll even keep it clean, just for you, dearest!
I want to donate a prize but I am either dumb or blind because I don't see your email addy anywhere???? on second thought...I'm probably both but I still don't see it :)
Can you contact me so I can donate a prize. I have you linked and your button at IE Mommy...this has been a fun challenge!
I am so in!! I'd love to dedicate a post to my wonderful husband!! :)
Grabbed your button....there are gonna be some happy hubbies this week, no????? :)
Suzanne
Grabbed the button. And I'm being honest here, lately I've needed a little motivation to kiss my hubs. He decided to grow a beard for winter. I'm not so into it. It tickles!!! But I am doing my very best!
What an excellent plan! I've grabbed a button too to add to my blog. I'm so in!
I've added your button to my sidebar and I'll be participating in this carnival. Thanks for the nudge to kiss the hubby a little more...he's gonna love it! ;)
I've grabbed the button and I'm in.
I have a SWAK post linking up to the challenge! Come check it out!
http://wanibug.blogspot.com/2009/02/bible-reading-sexy-talk.html
I love talking about my hubby! I'm so in! Already posted and have the link button set up. Can't wait to read other's stories as well. Stop by at http://ramblingsofahappyhomemaker.blogspot.com.
I grabbed the button, and I'm in!!! Visit www.thirstysouthernsoul.blogspot.com.
I'm in also! I grabbed the button and put it in my blog! Its there in all its pretty red and pinkness...along with my husband gushing writings!
I'm in. I grabbed the button and posted a link. Thank you for making me remind why I love my Prince Charming soo much.
Can't do the kiss challenge right now - but promise to do it when he gets home in April.
Great carnival Kristen - loved reading your post and the others as well!
I've got the SWAK button on my post! :)
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