Keeping The Romance Fires Burning

Romance [verb] to seek the attention of someone, especially by use of flattery, to seduce, to woo

When life gets busy and time runs short, romance often takes a back seat. We mean to do the sweet little things that we used to do, but we get distracted and forget. Or we remember the days when we had time to plot out elaborate ways to show our love. But work, schedules, family, obligation take over.

It can even leave you yearning for a sappy, commercial Valentine's Day card.

Fixing the romantic drain is actually very easy. And quick. And good for you. [wink, wink.]

Write a little love note (it can even just say "I love you"). Hide it somewhere your partner won't find right away, like a purse, wallet, coat pocket, etc. Then, later in the day, text your partner to look in the hiding spot. Feeling elaborate? Hide movie or concert tickets instead.

Do you have a special place? Where you first met or got engaged? Go there. If you can't actually get there, recreate it. Your favorite vacation was to Mexico? Go get margaritas or take tacos to the beach.

This website getromantic.com has 100 more ideas, both little and big, that can bring back the romance to any relationship. Have fun!

Clearing The Clutter

Spring has come early this year, and with it, the desire to organize!

I have 4 young children and work from a home office with 2 businesses. My life feels far from organized.

I confess that I dream of an organized home. I page through catalogs that promise to manage my house. I look through websites that offer complete systems to create order. I go to stores and seek out products that will make my life easier, simpler. I think up ways that should keep my family and business on track.

Then, I have days when I want to pitch everything I own and just start over.

Before and After:

My suggestion to help you get organized: find a friend to get organized with! It would be great if that friend wanted to come over and clean your house for you, but that probably won't happen. (On the off-chance you do have a friend that likes to clean, send 'em my way!)

My friend and I have started taking before and after photographs of our cleaning and organizing projects. We will then email or text the photographs to each other. This works because we get to see the improvement from the start of the task to the end, offer suggestions on what might work, get suggestions of things we should do, plus we get the validation of our friend seeing the hard work we put into it and cheering us on. Which is really the biggest reason of all. (Because most husbands won't notice, which is a different matter entirely....)

If you like websites with real cleaning/organizing advice (not one of those silly "clean these 30 things every day" types) here is one to try: modernmom.com What's your favorite website for advice?

Tanner | Modeling Headshots

Tanner loved getting his modeling headshots done, in true form for any young man that is thinking about modeling! And he was such a ham to work with that day!

Carrie & Jose | Wedding

Carrie and Jose's wedding was a multicultural event for us. Jose's entire family only speaks Spanish and most of Carrie's speaks only English. However, on the day of the wedding, there were no barriers between the families. Even those that could not make the trip were included, through Skype. We loved seeing the Mexican traditions that were incorporated into the day.

The wedding ceremony was done in both languages, as were all the speeches at the reception.

Carrie and Jose worked hard to make sure that both families were represented and respected. Not being Spanish speakers ourselves didn't even cause us any worry. The day went smoothly, and the photographs were easy-peasy, with some translating from Carrie (and an app that Chris had downloaded to his iPhone). It was a beautiful day and a wonderful group of people!