Marriage Monday: Things Happy Couples Do

Dr. Jim Walkup, LMFT discussed seven things that happy couples are often found doing.  Click on over to read the full article here. (Or copy/past the link found at the bottom.)

Spend time together. 
It's crazy how fast this one can slip away. Our time is pulled in a bunch of different directions and sometimes if we don't make it a priority to focus, to spend one on one time together our interest and devotion can fall away. It's an easy one though!! Schedule it in. Take off together. Carve out some time. However you can.

Know your partners love language.
It's common we love the way we want to be loved and those signals are missed because our partner doesn't see or understand it the same way. Invest a few minutes and figure out each others love languages.

Committ to 20 second hugs, twice a day.
Physical touch can do wonders for those endorphin's!

And I love his parting point. Focus on what you want to see more of. Compliment instead of criticize. Put your efforts into positive changes instead of digging deeper and cementing the negative.


Click the link to read the rest of this great article!
You can find his full article by Dr. Jim Walkup on the Huffington Post here. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yourtango/7-normal-things-happy-cou_b_6290514.html?ir=Women&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000046




Find my other Marriage Monday posts here.

Marriage Monday: Potent Power for Good

"Marriage provides an ideal setting for overcoming any tendency to be selfish or self-centered...pure love is an incomparable, potent power for good, and the foundation of a successful marriage." 

-Richard G. Scott

Find my other Marriage Monday posts here.

Marriage Monday: Nothing Complicated & Wedding Anniversary

"There's nothing complicated about reviving or enhancing your fondness and admiration. Even positive feelings that have long been buried can be exhumed simply by thinking and talking about them. You can do this by meditating a bit on your partner and what makes you cherish him or her. When you acknowledge and openly discuss positive aspects of your partner and your marriage, your bond is strengthened. This makes it much easier to address the problem areas in your marriage and make some positive changes."

-The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman, Ph.D

Find my other Marriage Monday posts here.

My hubby and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary on Saturday. 

January 10, 2002

2014 Reading Review

I love doing year in reviews because I really do go over and over my books several times a year. Whenever anyone asks for a book recommendation I can't sit by. I have to throw a suggestion, or 5 into the ring. Plus I really love comparing my reading year by year. So while I realize this is mostly for my own benefit, I hope you enjoy it too.

Cranberryfries 2014 Reading Stats 

Total Novels Read: 75
Pages:  22604
Young Adult: 16
Children's/Middle-grade fiction: 8
Non fiction: 3
Adult fiction: 13 
Romance: 14
Historical Fiction: 8
General Fiction: 13
Mystery: 3
Fantasy: 9
# of those that were audio: 35
# of those that were rereads: 3 
Longest: When I Found You
Shortest: 12 Angry Men
Most out of my element: Flash Boys, Water for Elephants or Life in Motion
I'd most recommend to anyone: Princess Bride
I'd most recommend to adults: Attachments or The Rosie Project (some) or Stephanie Perkins series (Anna, Lola, Isla)
I'd most recommend to teens: Unspoken
I'd most recommend to kids: Encyclopedia Brown, Pet Wars or The Inventors Secret
Funniest: ?
Hardest to finish: Jungle Book or Life in Motion
Best Romance:  Maybe Someday
Favorite Author for me this year: Rainbow Rowell or Colleen Hoover
Most people would enjoy:  The Winners Curse
Most read author this year: Sarah M Eden


My Top 10 (in no order) of 2014:

• Maybe Someday 
• The Rosie Project 
• Anne of Green Gables
• Since You've Been Gone
• Attachments
• Isla and the Happily Ever After
• Me Before You
• Flash Boys
• Hold Me Tight
• The Rent Collector

You can see my past years here: Yearly Book Goals or by year 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

Friend me on Goodreads Debbie Cranberryfries. 

Marriage Monday: Love Demands Action

Love demands action if it is to be continuing. Love is a process."

-Marvin J. Ashton

Find my other Marriage Monday posts here.