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Ann Malmberg

Celebrating Unconventional Anniversaries

Celebrating Unconventional Anniversaries

By Connection6 Comments

If you’re like most couples, you probably look forward to celebrating your wedding anniversary each year. And rightly so – another year of marriage is definitely something to toast to.

However, if you’ve been married for more than a few years, you’ve maybe found that wedding anniversaries are kind of like birthdays: at a certain point, it seems like only the big milestone years justify a big celebration; the in-between years sort of get downplayed or lost in the shuffle. But is 11 years of marriage any less of an accomplishment than 10? Not really, right?

Instead of falling into the habit of celebrating less as the years go by, we’d like to make the case for celebrating more. Why? Well, for starters, celebrations are opportunities to connect as a couple. The rituals and traditions that form out of regular celebrations become a touchstone in your relationship that strengthens your bond. Not only that, but celebrations help you focus on the positives – in life and in each other.

Unfortunately, you only have one wedding anniversary to celebrate every year, but it doesn’t have to end there. Here are some unconventional anniversaries and occasions to consider adding to your celebration calendar. Read More

August 21, 2024
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4 Ways to Be A Better Friend to Your Spouse

4 Ways You Can Be a Better Friend to Your Spouse

By Relationship Basics6 Comments

Have you been a good friend to your spouse lately? This might sound like a silly question – you’re married after all. But hear us out: sometimes we forget to give our partner the same consideration and courtesies that we give our friends. Whether it’s a byproduct of seeing each other almost every day or being each other’s “default” person, it’s not uncommon to start skipping over the small kindnesses that normally characterize friendships. While this can be pretty harmless on occasion, falling into this habit continuously can erode the sense of mutual respect, care, and affection between you.

So how can you be a better friend to your spouse? Keep reading. Read More

August 14, 2024
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5 Biggest Mistakes of Busy Couples

5 Biggest Mistakes of Busy Couples

By Resilience6 Comments

Everyone is busy to some extent, right? In today’s world, it’s almost a badge of honor – the busier you are, the more productive you must be. While we know this isn’t necessarily true, there’s something to be said for the sense of accomplishment that can come from doing all the things. But the truth is, it can come with a cost – and it’s often your marriage that ends up paying the price.

Want to avoid this outcome? These are the biggest mistakes busy couples tend to make. Read More

August 7, 2024
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4 Realistic Ways To Add Spontaneity to Your Marriage

4 Realistic Ways To Add Spontaneity to Your Marriage

By Connection, Quality Time2 Comments

Do you and your spouse like to fly by the seat of your pants, or do you like to plan things out and know what’s going to happen? Or maybe you’re a combination of both. Wherever you fall, the realities of day-to-day life often favor planning ahead. While it might not seem like the most practical way to live all the time, spontaneity can have a positive effect on your marriage. It fosters a sense of playfulness, strengthens your bond, builds flexibility, and combats complacency. If you’re looking for some realistic ways to add more spontaneity to your marriage, keep reading. Read More

July 31, 2024
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Staying Strong Through Hard Seasons

Staying Strong Through Hard Seasons

By Resilience3 Comments

Are you going through a hard season of marriage right now? Or have you come out on the other side of one?

It’s become pretty common to talk about marriage in terms of seasons. It’s actually a fitting way to frame the ebb and flow of your life together. Of course, this insinuates it’s not always smooth sailing, and if you can’t attest to that now, you’ll likely be able to at some point in your marriage.

When you’re in the thick of a hard season, it can seem like you’re navigating uncharted territory without a map. Where do we go from here? Are we the only ones going through this? Will things get better? It can feel isolating and discouraging, but you’re not alone.

In order to normalize your experiences and help you feel more prepared, we’re sharing some of the common hard seasons you might go through in your marriage, along with the keys to staying strong throughout them. Read More

July 24, 2024
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5 Keys to Breaking the Defensiveness Cycle

5 Keys to Breaking the Defensiveness Cycle

By Conflict, Relationship Basics9 Comments

Defensiveness in your relationship can be a vicious cycle. One of you makes a comment. The other person gets defensive and responds critically, causing the other person to get defensive in return. The longer this cycle continues, the harder it is to talk through issues and be open, authentic, and vulnerable with each other. So, how do you break out of this pattern? These are the key things to keep in mind: Read More

July 17, 2024
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5 Signs You Need More Time Apart

5 Signs You Need More Time Apart

By Relationship Basics11 Comments

As a married couple, you probably spend a significant amount of time together, and that’s a good thing! Feeling highly connected to each other is a crucial part of a healthy marriage, and it’s hard to build that sense of intimacy when you don’t get to spend much time together. Across this very blog, you’ll find a multitude of posts detailing ways to prioritize togetherness, boost connection, and spend more time together. This begs the question: can you have too much of a good thing?

Surprisingly (or not), the answer is yes. As with many things in life, it’s all about balance. While high levels of closeness and connection can be a good thing, it needs to be counterbalanced by a sense of separateness as well. So how do you know if you need a little more time apart? Here are five signs to look for. Read More

July 10, 2024
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Making a Game Plan for Family Events

Making a Game Plan for Family Events

By Family & Friends3 Comments

Family reunions, holiday gatherings, Sunday dinners, special occasions. For most couples, family events are a normal part of your life together. Whether you’re nervously meeting each other’s family for the first time, or you’ve known them forever, whether you get along great or there’s some tension, whether you see them weekly or every few years, one thing is certain: navigating family events isn’t always easy.

It seems straightforward enough. Go to said event, spend time with family, go home. But families in general are rarely that simple. Complicated dynamics, unspoken rules, outspoken relatives – these are just a few of the factors that can lead to awkward moments, tension, or even conflict with family members and even your spouse.

While you can’t predict or prevent everything that’s going to happen, you can make a game plan to ensure you and your spouse are on the same page. Here are some things to consider before, during, and after the event. Read More

July 3, 2024
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4 Different Ways You Support Your Spouse

4 Different Ways You Support Your Spouse

By Resilience5 Comments

Supporting your spouse seems like a given, right? Maybe your wedding vows didn’t express it in those exact words (or maybe they did), but the central tenet remains: the lifelong commitment you’ve made to each other includes supporting each other through whatever life throws your way.

When we think of supporting someone, we often associate it with them being in a weakened state or in a time of need. In marriage, that can certainly be the case. Other times, supporting your spouse can take a much more subtle form.

Are you appreciating all the ways your spouse supports you, or missing opportunities to support them? Let’s explore the wide range of ways you can support each other throughout your marriage. Read More

June 26, 2024
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4 Surprising Ways You Invest In Your Marriage

4 Surprising Ways You Invest in Your Marriage

By Resilience4 Comments

When you think of investing in something, what comes to mind? If money immediately pops into your head, you’re probably not alone. It’s true – investing is often associated with finances. But in this post we’ll be talking about what is arguably the most important investment in your life – your marriage!

When you get married, you’re investing all you have into that commitment – financially, sure – but also on levels much deeper than that. Energy, time, emotion, love – you put all of those eggs into the basket that is your marriage. You’re banking on a lifelong commitment and a future together.

So what does this look like in the context of everyday life? Here are four surprising ways you invest in your marriage: Read More

June 19, 2024
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