The Ultimate Date Night Book

The Dating Divas created this awesome book and will be having a FLASH SALE on Valentine's Day! It will only be $18.50! Use code VALENTINE

ONLY $18.50!!!

Valentine's Day: A Guide to Lingerie

Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to get a new outfit for the bedroom- especially if you haven't added to your collection in a while or are just needing to start.

If you're skeptical about lingerie, here are some great reasons to try it out:

• It can help get you in the mood
• It helps increase the anticipation
• It helps increase desire
• You can feel sexy
• It adds a little variety
• It will get him more excited
• You can feel beautiful
• You can feel "dressed up"

If you're thinking, but I'm not one of those tiny girls with huge boobs that should wear lingerie, then get that thought out of your head. Those girls are very few and far between. Your husband married YOU. Your husband is attracted to YOU. YOU need to show that you love and appreciate your body how it is. YOU need to take control and give yourself some positive messages about how you look. Embrace the Muffin Top (we all have)!  Plus size women still look sexy and can order lingerie. Be daring and try some out!

I've been ordering most of my lingerie through Yandy for a couple years now. I love them because it is good quality, inexpensive and usually take about 3 days for it to arrive at my house and their return policy is great if something doesn't work out.

If you're having a difficult time knowing where to start, here are some descriptions and links to help you out.

BUSTIER

$9.95
NOTE: Yandy usually includes the garters, underwear and stockings

• Intended to accentuate curves.
• May have a little extra help and support in the bust line
• Tend to push the breasts up and together to create cleavage
• Note: May take a bit of time to get adjusted and sized once you receive it
• Prices start at $7.95

CORSET

$23.95

• Intended to give a smooth line
• Cinch in the waistline to suck in the tummy
• Note: May take a bit of time to get adjusted and sized once you receive it

BABYDOLL

$35.95

• Flowing and feminine
• Open over stomach
• Some have supportive underwire, others don't
• I think these are great for when you're pregnant and your belly just needs space, but you still want to feel dressed up
• Prices start at $4.95 at Yandy

CHEMISE

$19.95

• No buttons, snaps, velcro or zippers. Easy on. Easy off.
• Looks like a very short dress or long shirt
• Can be fitted or loose at the waist
• Usually a delicate fabric
• Great if you're a bit self-conscious of your mid-section
• There are longer gowns too
• Prices start at $5.95

ROMPERS

$27.95

• Basically like a one-piece swim suit with a lot less fabric or coverage
• Great if you want to be a tease
• Take good care of it or else you'll be untangling it whenever you want to wear it
• Prices start at $13.95 at Yandy

DRESSES

$37.95

• Great for dressing up to go out
• Simple sexy

Bra & Panties

• Simple and easy
• Basic coverage
• Matching
• $20 Sets at Yandy

Bra Top Sets

• The top is a bra, the bottom could be a skirt or thong or boyshorts or fishnets etc.
• The bra isn't a supportive, every day bra
• Prices start at $5.95

Pasties

• Just covers a small area in the middle of your breast with adhesive

Teddys

• Usually a thin lace or silk fabric
• Generally cut in a shape hugging V-shape to minimally cover breasts and crotch

Costume Lingerie

• Great for variety or role playing or fantasy fulfilling etc.

Don't forget Robes and Shoes, too.

What's your favorite style of lingerie and why?

The Game of Love

{via}

If you missed out last year, make sure you create your very own Game of Love for Valentine's Day (It's in 24 days, by the way!).

You can just use a flat sheet so you can put it on your bed whenever you're ready to go if you don't want to use a fitted sheet. Then, create your own game board. The number of squares will be the number of "moves" you'll have to fill in. Basically, you come up with some moves to get him in the mood, tease each other a bit and have some fun. You don't have to wait until Valentine's Day to give him this gift, either.

In case you're wondering, here are The Official Game of Love Rules:
1. The player will roll a die, but the highest number can be 3 (so divide by 2 or the game goes too fast!)
2. Each square has a 1 1/2 minute time limit
3. No getting carried away- you have to stop at 90 seconds and roll again (the hubs might fight you on that one)
4. Only one person "plays" your role is just the game "facilitator"
5. The Final square is "Score" and you can't skip ahead (if ya know what I mean)

You can steal some ideas from Monica here or this list:
Shoulder rub
A little peck
-1 piece of clothing
1st base (pic of base)
Strawberries/Grapes
I love you because...
Head massage
Forward # spaces
Lose a turn
??? (roller’s choice of what you do-but remember you are doing it for the other person) 
French please!
Love the ladies (whoever rolls this the girl wins ;)
Choose your lotion (back rub…)
Mini make-out
Foot rub
2nd base
Outfit choice (you choose what the other will wear)
Back one space
Music
Free touch
+1 piece of clothing
Whipped cream
Sexy dance
XOXO…
Kiss every inch
???-your choice
Look, but don’t touch…
Forward two spaces
I love you because...
Trace/Draw on me…
Talk to me
9x8-3=??
I like mine French
"Head" massage
Close your eyes
3rd base
Chocolate pudding
Lose a turn
SCORE!!! (make sure this is last. I may have made my game go a bit odd and required lots of arrows to ensure this was last...)

If you want some toys go here. If you want to find some new, affordable lingerie go here. It could be a fun tradition to get something new (at least) every year.

Has anybody tried out this game? 

Did you actually make it through?

7 Great Ways to Destroy Your Marriage Over the Holidays

A friend of mine wrote this on his blog.
Make sure your priorities are straight this Holiday Season!

'Tis the season of holiday stress and strain. Are you worried that you might actually make it through the holidays with your marriage intact? Fear not!! Here are 7 ways to guarantee that your marriage will suffer this holiday season, and crash and burn for the new year!

1. Go to as many holiday activities and family festivities as you possibly can. As long as you are busy and don't take time to enjoy the season with your spouse, nothing else matters. Busy, busy, busy!
2. When you are with your parents and family, ignore your spouse. Christmas is about family, not your spouse anyway, right? If you want to add some spicy stress goodness, make sure you discuss politics whenever possible. Or how bad your sex life is. 
3. Talk with your family and friends about your marriage problems, especially your spouse's issues. Christmas is about sharing, so share away. This inconsiderate openness will surely deal a holiday blow to your marriage. 
4. Buy whatever you want. It's Christmas time! This is what credit cards are for. I mean, debt is a great way to screw things up in your marriage, so spend away.
5. Make your traditions more important than your spouse's traditions. Nothing says "I love you" during the holidays like sharing in each other's traditions. So make sure that you laugh off your spouse's silly old traditions. Add a little sarcasm or good old fashioned contempt, and your marriage is sure to suffer!
6. Don't talk about concerns or issues that may arise. The holidays are no time to discuss issues! Bottle it up and let it explode at a later, more inconvenient time. 
7. Don't take time for yourself. The holidays should be about sacrificing you own sanity and health for others. Plus your irritable mood will rub off on your spouse. There will be plenty of time to relax next year after the divorce.

If this post sounds a bit too close to reality, it may be time to reconsider your priorities. Or maybe a little therapy...

Merry Christmas, and have a Happy New Year!!

-The Marriage Doc

The 12 Lays of Christmas

Have you heard of Love, Actually? Cher posts some amazing ideas based around romance on a budget.

She posted a great idea called The 12 Lays of Christmas a couple years ago. If you are tight on money this year or if you just want to spice things up a bit, head over there and check it out. Basically, the idea is to have sex every day for 12 days leading to Christmas. Now, who wouldn't want that?! She has a great printable to go with each day so head over there and take advantage of this free idea!

Halloween Costume Sale

The Halloween Costumes are on sale over at Yandy.com. If you want a sexy costume for next year or for your husband's private viewing pleasure, head over there and score a great deal.

It could even be fun to dress up in something like this while you're going about the mundane tasks around the house and see how he reacts- or something like this under your clothes to surprise him with at bedtime once the kids are in bed. Happy Shopping!

Mother's Day is Coming

Mother's Day is coming up in 2 weeks!

I love that my husband celebrated Mother's Day for me before we even had our own children. You don't have to be a mom to enjoy the day and be spoiled. Men, this is a hint. Take advantage of the day. Pamper yourself. Ask for something special. Enjoy special time with your hubby.

How do you typically celebrate Mother's Day? 

Looking forward to anything special?

Get Lucky

Who's getting lucky on St. Patty's Day?

Check out a few of the options over at Yandy.

You can still get your order in time.

Showing Love

I love Valentine's Day because it gives me an extra chance to go out of my way and do something romantic for my husband. So often, people have the stereotype that men must provide the romance in a relationship, but it's great to break free from that expectation. I'm sure your man will love it, too!

{via}

For tomorrow night, I made our very own Game of Love (inspired by here), gave our bedroom a romantic face lift and got a new outfit to try out. Thanks to Pinterest, I also made a deck of cards with 52 Reasons Why I Love Him. I'm generally not a very creative or artsy person, but sometimes I try to give it a shot. Luckily, he always appreciates the things I do for him.

Speak to your husband in his love language and he'll love whatever you do.

Do you have any Valentine's Day traditions?

What are you giving your hubby?

P.S. Don't forget to enter the giveaway for Tiani through tonight at midnight!

Happy New Year

New Years is always a great opportunity to get dressed up (in more ways than one) to welcome in the new year.

Husband and I are just laying low this year at home, but after the kids go to sleep I plan to spend some extra time taking care of myself. I find that it makes me feel a lot better- touch up the makeup, fix the hair, get rid of any food and booger smears that may have come my way and dress up a bit.

What are your plans?

Any resolutions to improve your relationship this coming year?

Enjoy welcoming in 2012!

Don't forget today is the last day to get And They Were Not Ashamed for $4.99 and it's the last day to get $20 off both The Dating Divas' Books.

Be Still

Christmas is upon us. Be still. Pause. Be present with the ones you love. That is, after all, the gift Christ has given.

Merry Christmas, dear love birds.

Christmas Lingerie

Most men go crazy over something red in their woman's bedroom wardrobe. Christmas is a great time to find good deals on holiday and basic red lingerie.

Yandy has an assortment of lingerie and costumes for everyone and most are 50% off right now! {There's free shipping for orders over $70 and same day shipping so you have time to get these before Christmas. Returns are easy and delivery is discrete.}

They have this for $119 and this for only $19.95 and whole variety of items in between. You could even slip something like this under your dress for the annual Christmas party and give him a nice surprise when you get home. This would also be perfect for spicing up The 12 Lays of Christmas.

Remember to find something that accentuates your best features, have confidence in whatever you wear and enjoy taking control. Most women said wearing something sexy and acting flirtatious helps boost their libido so give it a try!

How do you best enjoy wearing lingerie?

What tips do you have for those that are a bit shy about it?

Costume Lingerie (and a sale!)

Hello ghosts and ghouls! I hope you had a fabulous and sexy Halloween! Last year I blogged about Halloween being a great opportunity to spice thing up in the bedroom. Costumes and specialized lingerie can be intimidating purchases, especially if they have a high price tag. Yandy is having a post Halloween sale with prices up to 80% off, a perfect time to try shaking things up if you ask me! Yandy offers discreet billing and shipping making it my favorite lingerie go-to.

It certainly does not have to be Halloween to play cops and robbers. This sexy little number, originally $53.95, is on sale for $37.77! I love a good deal.

How often do you change up your lingerie routine? Is it the price tag that prevents you from trying something new or embarrassment? Maybe it's just easier to get right down to naked?Have you talked to your husband about lingerie?

Benefits to Lingerie:

• Lingerie can make you feel sexy and help you to get "in the mood."
• Lingerie can help you feel more confident and comfortable. If you have a part of your body that you feel self conscious of, cover it up with a cute negligee!
• Taking the initiative in purchasing lingerie can show your husband that you are interested in and care about sex. It's a great way to show him you think about and enjoy your sex life!

What are some benefits of lingerie you've noticed in your marriage?

Remembering 9/11

I was reading an article on NPR about a wife who was able to speak to her husband on he 105th floor for about thirty minutes before the south tower fell and he passed away. The two had known each other since they were 16 and were 50 when he died. She spoke of how he wanted her to live a full life and kept repeating "I love you" in their final phone call.

My heart aches for those of you that lost loved ones and others in the events of September 11th and those that followed.

Take time today to show how much you love those around you.

Say I love you.

Hold them close.

Do an activity they enjoy.

Think before saying harsh words. Is it really going to matter in the grand scheme of things?

Take time to reflect and ponder on what's important in life.

Happy Father's Day

Whether or not your man is a father yet, take some time to show him how much you really care about him today.

Tell him how grateful you are for him.
Appreciate all he does.
Give him a chance to do something he loves and enjoys.
Show him how much you love him.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is a great day to celebrate womanhood whether you have children or not.

Hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!

I'm hoping to be able to relax a bit and not have to worry too much about cooking, cleaning and/or children.

Did you get or do anything special for Mother's Day? What's your idea of a thoughtful gift?

Easter

"He is not here, but is risen."
Hope you have a wonderful Easter with those you love.

Happy Valentine's Day! And a WINNER!

Happy Valentine's Day, Loves! Did you know this is my favorite holiday? Oh really?... How'd you know? I'm so glad we could do a little Valentine's Day Giveaway today and am so pleased to announce the winner. Including the anonymous email entries I received, there were a whopping 132 entries! We may just have to do this again sometime :)

The winner was an anonymous email entry and has asked that I keep her name private. I have contacted her via email so check your inboxes :)

In case you missed it, here's what she's won:

A pretty in pink Siri by Lelo. Babeland.com offers the Siri in pink and purple. Lelo designs high-end toys in discrete packaging. The unoffensive design puts to rest any discomfort or hesitation that a first time toy user may feel. Many of the reviewers on Babeland.com's site have named the Siri as their favorite accessory. It's rechargeable, sleek, quiet, and cute.

Here's what they say about the Siri on Babelands website:

Shake hands with Siri, and you may never need to meet another clit vibe again. A beveled shape for targeted clit vibration, six pulsation and speed options (controlled by an intelligent microprocessor, no less!), intuitive controls, and Lelo's quality construction and materials make for a perfect storm of pleasure. And as with all Lelo vibrators, Siri is rechargeable and nearly silent, so you can enjoy it anytime, anywhere. Cup it easily in the palm of your hand, and the rest will come as easy as Sunday morning. Comes with a one-year warranty against breakage or defects.

I hope you all have a fabulous Valentine's Day! Thank you again for participating in the giveaway and for all of your kind words.

xoxo,

Gwen

Valentine's Day Giveaway!

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Valentine's Day Wish, Simply Livly

Is this hint too bold for you, dear husband? Isn't this necklace from Simply Livly gorgeous?!