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Renee Schulz

Smiling young couple friends hanging out in cafe cropped to show only faces

Nurturing Friendships Through All Seasons of Life

By Family & Friends2 Comments

There was a time in your life – maybe not even that long ago, or maybe you’re still in it – when spending time with friends came naturally and with minimal effort. With just a simple call or text, you could meet up with hardly a moment’s notice. You saw your friends often, with little planning required.

At some point, things change. People move away, get married, focus on careers, have children. You have more responsibilities, demands on your time, and are simply busy with your own lives. It gets more and more difficult to stay connected. That being said, those friendships outside of your marriage are still important, even when they take more effort. Let’s explore some tips and reminders on nurturing those relationships no matter what season of life you’re in. Read More

February 21, 2024
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3 Valentine’s Day Traditions Worth Starting

By Connection, Quality Time4 Comments

While Valentine’s Day should be all about the love, people often are divided on how to celebrate. Some *love* this holiday. They love the traditions that come with it. Weeks ago they put out the heart-shaped decor around the house and started crafting the classroom valentines their kids will hand out, just like they used to when they were in school. Days ago they picked out a red sweater to wear to work today and picked up heart-shaped candy to put out on their desk like they do every year. When they get home, they’ll look forward to the annual romantic dinner paired with a gift from their partner.

Others, well, not so much. They think this day is full of traditions of overspending, consumerism, and inauthentic expressions of love.

Regardless of where you fall, there is value in tying tradition into the holiday. Valentine’s Day can be a great way to remind yourselves to do things for your relationship because well, it’s tradition! We’ve got some different types of traditions worth starting. They might not all be realistic to do this year, but bring these up with your partner and decide what traditions you want to start – and maybe you already have some that fit these suggestions. Read More

February 14, 2024
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Couple holding hands while strolling on road in woods

5 Cheap Date Ideas with a Twist

By Quality Time8 Comments

Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Do you have a date night planned? If you’re like most people, you’re probably trying to prioritize where to spend your hard earned cash and a big fancy date might be something you skip out on. You might think of dates as a non-essential, something you won’t notice you’re missing out on, something you’ll be fine living without. And its true to an extent. Dates aren’t one of those essential line items in the budget like food, housing, childcare, etc. You’ll be fine without the weekly or monthly date night out on the town. However, if you go too long without spending intentional time with your partner, you will feel that and the longterm impact is a big one. Read More

February 7, 2024
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5 Things to Consider Before Venting About Your Spouse

The Complexities of Forgiveness

By Conflict10 Comments

I forgive you. Is forgiveness as simple as saying those three words? Occasionally, it might be. Other times, it’s much more complicated.

The truth is, forgiveness is a crucial part of a lifelong marriage. You will inevitably experience and inflict hurts in your marriage. Without forgiveness, however, your relationship can become brittle and bogged down by the anger and resentment of those past wounds. Learning to embrace the various aspects of forgiveness opens you up to the possibility of peace, growth, and even a stronger marriage.

While the benefits of forgiveness seem straightforward enough, forgiveness itself can actually be quite complex. Let’s explore some of the reasons why. Read More

January 31, 2024
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5 Ways Curiosity Improves Your Marriage

Start Feeling Happier in Your Marriage- Part 2

By ConnectionOne Comment

Last week we posed the question: Do you feel happy and satisfied in your marriage? We acknowledged that the answer is not always simple, and that there are many dynamic factors that affect how satisfied you and your spouse feel with your relationship. While they can seem beyond your control, the good news is that you and your spouse actually do have a say in almost of all of them. Here are five more ways to start feeling happier in your marriage. Read More

January 24, 2024
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A happy couple sitting together on the floor

Start Feeling Happier in Your Marriage- Part 1

By Connection7 Comments

Do you feel happy and satisfied in your marriage? This might seem like a loaded question. On one hand, “yes” seems like the correct answer, but in reality, things can be a bit more complicated. Perhaps you don’t feel happy at the moment, or you’re going through a tough season. Maybe you’re usually pretty content, but have definitely experienced your ups and downs together.

The truth is, there are many dynamic factors that affect how satisfied you both feel with your relationship. The good news is that you and your spouse have control over almost of all of them – you’re not just passive passengers along for the ride. Need some examples? Here are five ways to start feeling happier in your marriage. Read More

January 17, 2024
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Couple Sitting on Deck Chairs and Kissing

Closing the Gap Between Expectations and Reality

By Relationship Basics8 Comments

Some say the key to avoiding disappointment is to keep your expectations low. Some even go so far as to say just don’t have any expectations at all. In some cases, this might work. Maybe your spirits have been crushed by your favorite sports team too many times to count, and you can’t simply invest any more emotional energy into getting your hopes up. Or perhaps you avoid reading any reviews of a movie you’ve wanted to see so that your own reaction isn’t swayed by your expectations.

When it comes to relationships, however, having expectations can be healthy. They help to set a standard for what is or isn’t acceptable and provide a baseline for holding yourself and each other accountable. They have the potential to push us to be a better partner and to grow as a couple.

You could say there’s a sweet spot for expectations in marriage, a balance between aspirational and attainable. Unfortunately, getting into this “zone” doesn’t always happen naturally. Sometimes it can seem like you’re both doing everything you should be, but there’s still a gap between expectations and reality. How can you bridge this gap? Let’s explore. Read More

January 10, 2024
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Couple talking on the shore, woman's hand on man's back

5 Daily Moments That Make or Break Your Connection

By Connection16 Comments

When it comes to feeling connected to your partner, what are the main factors that play into that? You might think of things like whether or not you’ve recently had a fight or how much quality time you’ve gotten to spend together lately. Those things certainly contribute to it. But there are also several small moments throughout every day where you have a choice: you can capitalize on the opportunity to connect – or you can let the moment pass. While your relationship certainly isn’t doomed if you occasionally choose the latter, choosing one over the other consistently is bound to have a corresponding, cumulative effect on your marriage. Here are five daily moments that can make or break your connection over time: Read More

January 3, 2024
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Couple warming hands by the fire in front of cabin surrounded by snow

Our Top 5 Blog Posts of 2023

By UncategorizedOne Comment

It’s time once again to reveal our most popular blog posts of the past year. We love seeing which posts pulled you in and resonated the most. This year, you were most interested in ways to keep your marriage fresh, maintaining relationship rituals, validating each other, and apologizing sincerely. So here are the top five blog posts of 2023, all rounded up in one place. Let’s count them down. Read More

December 27, 2023
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Happy Couple Hugging

Learn These Things About Yourself to Become a Better Spouse

By Connection, Relationship Basics5 Comments

It’s often said that in order to love someone else, you need to love yourself first. You might think just involves having a healthy sense of self-worth and generally liking yourself as a person, and that is part of it for sure. But truly loving yourself goes deeper than this. It involves really understanding who you are – the good, the bad, and everything in between. And although it’s somewhat counterintuitive, looking inward can actually improve your marriage. It’s true! Here are three key areas in which learning more about yourself can make you a better spouse. Read More

December 20, 2023
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