Wedding Cakes, Tea Cakes – whatever you call them, the Cookie Dough Exchange madness continues!
Remember – this week’s giveaway! If you leave a comment and share your favorite cookie dough recipe, you will be entered to win a Cookie Dough Exchange kit. Drawing will include all comments through the week and will be announced next Monday, 12/7.
If you want to know more about participating or even hosting a cookie dough exchange party, you can go to my website and sign up for my newsletter. There you will learn of my undying love for all things Cookie Dough and why a Cookie Dough Exchange is far superior to a plain ol’ cookie exchange.
This is another family favorite, and a Christmas tradition you might often see. They aren’t really cakes, but they are delicious.
Makes about 48
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup finely chopped almonds or pecans
1/4 teaspoon salt
powdered sugar
In a large bowl combine 1/2 cup powdered sugar, butter and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. (This is where you should flash freeze the cookies) When ready to bake, reheat oven to 325 F. Bake for 15-20 minutes until set but not brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheets. Cool slightly and roll in powdered sugar. Cool completely and reroll in powdered sugar. (go ahead – when you’re all done, you can lick your fingers)
I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving! My family had eight pie.
EIGHT PIES.
One pie for every 1.4 people.
We are a sick, sick bunch.
This week on my blog, I will be posting our family favorite cookie recipes. (Yes, the sickness continues…)
If you want to know more about participating or even hosting a cookie dough exchange party, you can go to my website and sign up for my newsletter. There you will learn of my undying love for all things Cookie Dough and why a Cookie Dough Exchange is far superior to a plain ol’ cookie exchange.
This week’s giveaway! If you leave a comment and share your favorite cookie dough recipe, you will be entered to win a Cookie Dough Exchange kit. Drawing will include all comments through the week and will be announced next Monday, 12/7. The winner of last week’s 11/24 Project 20, for the Post-It Pack is Heidi!Please e-mail kimber@kathilipp.com and she will get it right out to you!
The following recipe is by far the best Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe we have ever made at home. There is something about that blended up oatmeal that makes these cookies about the mositest (is that even a word?) and chewiest CCC I have ever had the delight of eating. Oh, and the dough freezes perfectly!
On to the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever!
(Recipe may be halved):
2 cups butter
4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups brown sugar
5 cups blended oatmeal (measure oatmeal and blend in blender to a fine powder)
24 oz. chocolate chips
1 tsp. salt
1 8 oz. Hershey bar (grated)
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)
2 tsp. vanilla
Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla; mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey bar and nuts.
Decide if you want to freeze into pre-scooped balls, or ready to slice logs.
Flash freeze scooped balls on a cookie sheet before packaging it. It will make it easier to handle and keep its shape better if you are freezing a lot of packages on top of it. For logs, wrap in plastic wrap and form into a log about 2″ around.
I package my dough in large Ziploc bags. Put the dough in the bag and write the baking instructions on the bag. I like to experiment with the cookies and find out what the baking time and temp is for frozen dough as well as thawed dough.
Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 112 cookies
Your Project:
Let him win the media wars as you suggest an action-packed-car-chasing-things-exploding thriller.
It’s the last day of the challenge – plus it’s the day before Thanksgiving – the perfect time to snuggle down and watch a movie with your man. Congrats on getting this far – so take a little time to relax with your man.
So in the interest of public service to the wife community, I’ve compiled a list of guy movies for you to choose from.
Thanks to my guy friends for their insight and comments. They have preformed a great service to women everywhere.
Guy Movies
Anything with Al Pacino
Anything with Marlon Brando (pre-Don Juan Demarco)
Anything with Bruce Willis
Sports
Field of Dreams
“Baseball. Need I say more?” Steve
We are Marshall
“Inspiring, true, sports story,” Scott
Action
Back to the Future trilogy
Steve says,” I’ve always been interested in time travel. The only think that would have made it better would be a cameo by Molly Ringwald.”
Mission Impossible 1,2,3,
Bourne Supremacy and all the sequels
The Net
Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King
“Great story, great action, worth sitting through three hours.” Karl
Violence
Gladiator
“Total macho movie, lots of action, however good plot and I love the soundtrack. This is one of the few movies where you don’t mind being the guy wearing the skirt.” Karl
Saving Private Ryan
Steve says, “Groundbreaking cinema, pro-military without being pro-war.”
The Shawshank Redemption
“Morgan Freeman and good over evil. What more could you ask for?” Charles
(Note from Kathi: While these are the hardest movies for me to watch, they do give me ample opportunity to bury my face in my husband’s shoulder.)
Humor
Young Frankenstein
“Seriously funny movie, quotes are memorable and make me laugh out loud whenever I think about that movie.” Karl
Oceans 11
Romance
(This was a trick category – if you think this falls under guy movies, you are still thinking like a chick.)
Movies Both Guys and Girls Like
This is a magical list. Every Hollywood producer is looking for that mystical intersection of entertaining males and delighting females. Here’s a group of movies that, from my research, is a pretty sure bet for both of you:
Princess Bride – Don’t let the title fool you – even the teenage boys in our home love this movie.
What’s Up, Doc?
Indiana Jones (1 and 3 – but don’t even bother with 2)
City Slickers
Field of Dreams
Shrek
Chick Flicks
Only to be watched with girlfriends and large supplies of tissues and chocolates.
• An Affair to Remember
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s
• Steel Magnolias
• Fried Green Tomatoes
• Say Anything (John Cusack declaring his eternal love with a boom box? It’s the fantasy of many a girl and the impossible-to-live-up-to standard for every guy.)
• Anything with Meg Ryan
• Anything written by Jane Austin
Prayer for Today
Dear God, help me enjoy the things that my husband enjoys – let him see that I try to connect with him in ways that are big and small.
Getting Creative
• It doesn’t matter if this happens at home or at the local Cineplex. Just find the movie and go.
• Don’t want your husband’s suspicions to be aroused? Perhaps get two movies – one that you both agree on and one just for him.
Project #20
Post – It Notes – Man’s Greatest Invention
Leave a Word of Encouragement
Win today’s giveaway!
Just tell us what you did (or are going to do!) for today’s Project by 5:00 PST on Wednesday and you will be entered into the drawing for today’s prize: Deluxe Post-It Pack!
So leave your comment below to be entered to win!
And yesterday’s winner? Mica!
Please e-mail kimber@kathilipp.com and she will get it right out to you!
Your Project:
Leave a cute and flirty note for your husband to find.
“A simple word can renew hope.”
Lois Mayday Rabey
Keep it simple today. Put a Post-it in his briefcase, on his dashboard, in his wallet, anywhere that he will find it. Make it fun, make it flirty, but just make sure he is the one who will find it. (Wink-wink.)
Crib Notes: 21 Post-It-Sized Encouragements
1. I’m praying for you today.
2. Those jeans are really working for you…
3. I love you.
4. You are the best dad!
5. You’re the kind of husband that makes the other wives jealous.
6. You rock my world!
7. Can’t wait to see you tonight – meet me upstairs…
8. Thanks for working hard to provide for us. I appreciate all that you do.
9. You make me feel beautiful.
10. I thank God for you everyday.
Let’s Be More Specific
I gave you that list in case this whole exercise is a challenge for you. If it feels uncomfortable leaving a note for your husband, it you get writer’s block even when the blank page is post-it note sized, just use one of the above phrases to get you started.
However, if you’re comfortable, and can get a little more personal, I would highly encourage you to do so.
“Specific praise is far better than general praise.”
Gary Smalley
Prayer for Today
Wherever he is God, remind my husband that he is loved and thought of.
Getting Creative
Think about your husband’s day and all the places he might find the note:
• His car’s spare change tray
• His drawer in the bathroom
• Under his car keys
• Your mailbox
• In his shoe
• In the medicine cabinet
It’s also very important that he find it when no one else is around.
I once decorated my husband’s lunch bag with hearts and little notes saying how much I loved him. He took the opportunity to let me know that it was better if we kept those things private.
Project Reports
“I had planned to put a note in his suitcase for his trip to LA, but I didn’t have time to pull it together, so instead, I will decorate his home office with romantic notes. We used to do so many romantic things for each other when we were dating, but we are so loaded with responsibilities with our children that we can’t seem to get the daily stuff done. It also got me thinking about the many sweet and incredibly romantic things he did for me when we were dating and newly married. I know that it will stir up memories for him too.”
Elaine
Win today’s giveaway! Just tell us what you did (or are going to do!) for today’s Project by 5:00 PST on Friday and you will be entered into the drawing for today’s prize: The Marriage Code
So leave your comment below to be entered to win! And yesterday’s winner? Heidi! Please e-mail kimber@kathilipp.com and she will get it right out to you!
Project #19
The Service Here is Excellent
Bringing Home the B&B Experience
One of our favorite getaway spots is a little bed and breakfast in the mountains. When you ask my husband why he likes it so much, you very well might hear about the cheese and cracker plate with fruit that is always waiting for us when we arrive. My thought has
always been, “Great, we just spent the equivalent of a month’s worth of groceries on a cheese and cracker plate.”
Why We Love a Good Bed and Breakfast
What is it about the Bed and Breakfast experience that makes us want to fork over upwards of $200 a night to sleep on somebody else’s she
ts and eat clotted eggs in the morning?
The room is cleaned every day. Now I know some of you actually do this but it doesn’t matter. It’s so much better and it just feels cleaner when somebody else does it for you.
The bed is made. Now I know I’m spoiled, because my husband makes the bed everyday. But, how great is it when you’re gone even for just half an hour you come back and the bed is done up. The pillows are fluffed and there’s a little mint sitting there waiting to be indulged in. There is no better feeling on the planet.
Back Home and Back to Reality
Sadly, most of us can’t afford to camp out in the local bed-and-breakfast on a regular basis. So it’s probably time to bring some of that bed-and-breakfast experience home.
Here are a few simple tips from designer and author Kathryn Bechen to help you get that restful and relaxed feeling in your own bedroom:
1. Clutter Cutter. De-clutter your bedroom when you begin your fluff-up. Nothing kills romance faster than a pile of dusty magazines and techno paraphernalia.
2. Maid Brigade. Next are the dust rag and vacuum. Turn on some music and make it fun!
3. Sensuous Sheets. Purchase some colorful new sheets in a pattern you love with a thread count of at least 300.
4. Divine Duvet. Invest in a pretty new duvet cover or bedspread. It will freshen up the room instantly.
5. Pillow Pizzazz. Some new pillows and pillowcases that coordinate with your sheets and duvet will add softness to your bed.
6. Flower Finesse. Buy some fresh flowers and put them in a favorite vase.
7. Candle Cozy. A few flickering candles will add
instant romance to your new B&B bedroom.
8. Music Magic. Now for some light jazz or classical music to set the tone for the evening.
9. TV Tune-out. Unless you and your mate purposely choose to watch a funny or romantic movie together, turn the TV off.
10. Tray of Delights. Bring in a drink and cheese tray with some fresh fruit, dim the lights, and you’re on your way to a lovely and ro
antic stay in your very own Bed & Breakfast Inn bedroom. Enjoy!
Chocolate Dipped Fruit
1 pkg. milk chocolate morsels (11½ ounces…2 cups)
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
Strawberries, grapes, bananas, apples, kiwi, or pineapple
Melt milk chocolate morsels and shortening over hot (not boiling) water; stir until smooth. Remove from heat, but keep over hot water. (If chocolate thickens, return to heat; stir until smooth.) Dip pieces of fruit into chocolate; gently shake off excess. Place on foil-lined cookie sheets. Chill 10-15 minutes until chocolate is set. Peel off foil. Fruit may be kept at room temperature up to 1 hour. If chocolate becomes sticky, return to refrigerator. Makes 1 cup melted chocolate. In microwave, melt on high 1 minute; stir. Repeat.
Prayer for Today
Dear God, remind me to treat my husband with more care and honor than any guest who comes into our home.
Getting Creative
My husband loves a special kind of root beer that we cannot keep stocked in the house. (With four teenagers it’s hard to keep them from eating anything within their line of sight.) If I want to make sure he can have a cold drink after work, I hide it under the veggies in the crisper – no chance of the kids looking there.
If your husband gets home before you do, plan ahead by hiding a treat in the fridge for him. Call during the day to let him know that it’s waiting for him.
Project Reports
“Fridays are the favorite day in our house. We try as much as possible to keep Friday nights free. I know my husband likes to come home Friday night and have nothing to do. I am the one who wants friends over for dinner and/or go to a friend’s home for dinner. It is not my husband’s favorite thing to do. He wants to be home and relax.
This past Friday I set out all of his favorite snacks so when he arrived home he was greeted with food and beverage. I had to pick up one of our children so was not home right when he got home. When I arrived home I was greeted at the door with a very nice kiss. I know he appreciates the thought that goes into making his homecoming special.”
***This blog post went way way bad yesterday and many of you missed it – and it is such a fab give away I didn’t want any of you to miss out – so here is a repost and another chance to win!***
Win today’s giveaway! Just tell us what you did (or are going to do!) for today’s Project by 5:00 PST on Thursday and you will be entered into the drawing for today’s prize:
Monday’s winner? Kim
(E-mail my assistant kimber@kathilipp.com with your mailing address to get your goodie!)
And today’s giveaway?
I am so excited about this giveaway! One of my favorite blog readers, Mica, and her husband are the owners of Open Space Meats and they have graciously donated 2 New York Steaks and 2 Fillet Mignon! These steaks are from their own farm and they deliver all over California (if you are outside of CA you can have them sent to someone you love in CA!!!)
We are customers of Open Space Meats and LOVE them – in fact – here is Roger’s famous Roger’s Burger Recipe (I pried it out of him for the sake of everyone’s marriage…) that we just made Sunday night with Open Space – SOOOO GOOOOOD.
Roger Burgers (We really do need a new name! )
2 pounds ground beef
1 packet of dry Lipton onion soup mix
½ cup barbecue sauce
¼ cup course-ground mustard
Mix all ingredients well by hand. (watch out for wedding rings!)
Patty the burgers a little bigger than normal to bring out the bold flavors, and to help them stay together on the grill.
Grill as usual.
After the last flip, coat top of burgers with a generous amount of barbeque sauce.
Top with cheese.
Wait for cheese to melt, remove from grill.
Serve Immediately.
Project #18
Dinner’s On Me
Take Him Out for His Favorite Meal
Your Project:
Take him out to his favorite restaurant. Or make him something FAB at home.
I know why you like to eat in restaurants. Half of the struggle of cooking dinner is coming up with a plan to feed the two of you (made even more complex if you’re feeding additional, and sometimes picky, members of the family) then shopping for it, cooking it, and possibly, occasionally, not even being thanked for it. A trip to the Olive Garden would be so much easier.
But why does your husband like to go out to eat so much?
I asked a couple of friends to talk with their husbands about the appeal of eating dinner in someone else’s kitchen: Here is what they had to say:
“My husband’s response was ‘a break in the routine or depending on the movie … to romance’ (me). My thought was ‘to get out of doing the dishes!’” ~ Sherry
“My husband said, ’Because it’s relaxing, we get to focus on each other and it’s a special time.’ I asked if it had anything to do with being able to get meals that he doesn’t get at home. He said NO. It has to do with being with me. ‘We could go out to McDonald’s and have a good time, I don’t care.’” ~ Angela
“My husband travels frequently, so he eats many meals in restaurants. Despite that, we still dine out without the kids a couple of times a month. He says the appeal for him is to escape from our crazy schedule and have some quiet time together. More often that not, we combine dinner out with a movie, so in his mind, it’s a good date night event. He noted that since we also truly enjoy the art of food and savoring spectacular meals, that dining out and sharing meals and desserts (which are usually not eaten at our house outside of holidays or dinner parties) is more like an event than just a meal.” ~ Teresa
I have found a great place to find those favorite restaurant recipes that you can re-create at home. Go to www.copycat.com to find all those recipes that make eating out such a treat. With a little patience (and a lot less money) you’ll be able to have your man’s favorites waiting for him as he walks through the front door. (And no credit card aftertaste to regret your choice at the end of the month.)
Prayer for Today
Dear God, it’s my deepest desire that my husband knows he is loved and cherished. Let my words, planning and actions reflect that everyday.
Getting Creative
If you don’t know whether your husband will be in the kind of mood that an ambush dinner requires, present him with the gift card to be used that night, or on the night of his choice.
Steaks on the BBQ when he gets home may be just the thing your man would love. See if you can duplicate the steak rub used at your favorite restaurant.
Project Reports
“It’s easy, I just have Chinese ready for him! He’ll love it!”
Stephanie
“We don’t seem to be able to squeeze in the ambush meal these days, so on a Thursday at noon, right before he was getting ready to go out of town, I made his favorite lunch and lit candles and placed an orchid on the table. He looked at the table, smiled with a twinkle in his eye and said: What is this for? He was totally surprised and very pleased!”
Wanna hear something wild? Back in July, I got an e-mail from a woman named Danielle who said she was a producer and was interested in possibly optioning the rights to The Husband Project and making it into a film.
Uh-huh. Right.
And I bet you want me to do a wire transfer to recover a prince’s fortune in Zimbabwe (and I will double my money at the same time!)
Those kind of things only happen in the movies. I know enough about writing books to know that non-fiction books don’t get made into movies and those things don’t happen to me.
But, after I signed contracts on Friday, I realized those things do happen to me.
After four long months, a lot of agents and producers emailing and calling back and forth, a real live movie producer (she is on imdb.com and everything) has optioned The Husband Project.
An option means that this productions company has the right for the next year to develop a film or TV show featuring The Husband Project. What it doesn’t mean is that I have a film deal or I can now invest in your new water purification system. The money I’ve made on this option is nothing to retire on. (And when I think of the hours that my agent has put into this deal and the pay she is getting, it makes me want to send her lavish boxes of chocolates.)
Our next step is to see if there is interest in putting together a film or TV show. (I have nothing to do with this next step.) If they do, that’s when things get way more exciting. (And potentially a bit more lucrative.) It is very, very fun. They are talking writers and “talent” and are asking for my input for story ideas based on some of the stories y’all have told me. How cool is that?
Win today’s giveaway! Just tell us what you did (or are going to do!) for today’s Project by 5:00 PST on Tuesday and you will be entered into the drawing for today’s prize:
Friday’s winner? Ann (E-mail my assistant kimber@kathilipp.com to get your goodie!)
And today’s giveaway?
Project #17 Playing Hooky Give Your Guy the Night (or Morning) off
Your Project
Give your husband some time off. Hire someone to do his chores around the house (or do them yourself if money is tight). Just give him a chance to relax. Men have a lot of responsibility in life. Not only is much of their identity wrapped up in providing for you and being the man you need him to be, he constantly has to prove to the world his worth as a man. Guys desperately want some time to just be guys and enjoy themselves. How about giving your guy the night (or morning) off? Whining and nagging get us nowhere. Being a counter-culture, Christ-following wife may not change our husband’s ability to see the crayon writing on the wall, but it will soften our hearts toward him.
On the Other Hand Some husbands might take offense to having someone hired to do their chore. This could be especially true if your husband struggles at work, is unemployed, or in some other way feeling discouraged about his abilities. If this is the case in your home, how about buying a tool to help him with his regular duty? A bag of chamois for cleaning his car, a rake to replace the one you bought when you first moved into your house are all ways to say, “I love you” without making him feel like you don’t think he’s holding up his end of the bargain.
Remember, this is all about your attitude. It should never be our intention to “prove our point.” The only point to prove is that we love our guy and want to show him our appreciation.
Prayer for Today Dear God, I pray that my husband finds places of rest in his day. Let me contribute to that today.
Getting Creative • Take his car to the carwash for him. • Stock his ashtray with a Starbucks card to make his mornings a little brighter. • Both my husband and I absolutely hate calling repairmen. However, if I make the arrangements, he’s more than happy to deal with the repairs once the guy gets here. It is a win-win for both of us when I call to schedule the repairs.
Project Report
“My husband is not really good at taking personal time but when the opportunity presented itself for him to go to a computer conference with his friends (just for fun, not work related) I actually encouraged him to go. He met up with some friends from college, took the day off work and left at 8:30am and didn’t get home until 11:00pm. He had a ball and I had to juggle both kids at a doctor’s appointment (getting shots nonetheless) without him. He was giddy when he got home and had fun eating out all day, catching up with friends and doing something that would have bored me to tears. He loved it and was totally re-energized.” Laura
Win today’s giveaway! Just tell us what you did (or are going to do!) for today’s Project by 5:00 PST on Tuesday and you will be entered into the drawing for today’s prize:
Yesterday’s winner? alh1203 (E-mail my assistant kimber@kathilipp.com to get your goodie!)
And today’s giveaway?
Project #16
Cat Calls
Let Him Know You Think He’s Hot
Your Project:
In some small way today, let your husband know that you’re still attracted to him physically.
One of the things your man is looking for is affirmation. If he knows that you find him desirable and attractive, it goes a long way in giving him confidence in other areas of his life.
What drew you to him in the first place? I know he had a great sense of humor, and was kind, but let’s go shallower than that. What physical attribute did you first notice about him?
Was it his piercing green eyes, his crooked little smile, his cute butt? This is the project to remind him that he still “does it” for you.
Show Him Your (Candied) Heart
If this is a new concept for you, it may be difficult to be fun and flirty – especially if the last time you told him how great he looked was on your wedding day. Why not flirt with some candy hearts? NECCO has been making these since the Civil War and there is sure to be a heart to say exactly what’s on your mind.
Some of the original sayings still used today include:
“Be Mine”
“Be Good”
“Be True”
“My Man”
“Kiss Me”
“Sweet Talk.”
If none of those say exactly what you want, you don’t have the option of ordering specialized hearts (well, you do, but the bad news is that the minimum order is 1.7 million hearts. The good news? They stay fresh for five years.) However, if you’d like an online version that you can customize, go to www.cryptogram.com and let your heart say what it wants.
Prayer for Today
Dear God, may my husband know that I am attracted to him and choose him above all other guys.
Getting Creative
·Looking for inspiration? Check out the Song of Solomon in the Old Testament. Talk about knowing how to show your adoration – woo hoo.
A little out of practice when it comes to flirting? Imagine what you would love to hear from your husband and turn it around on him.
Walk in on him while he’s in the shower, just stand there and when he asks what you’re looking at, simply sigh and say, “Just enjoying the show.”
No fair using your womanly wiles on him when he’s performing a household task. The words, “Wow, you look so hot when you are scrubbing the toilet,” are not allowed.
Project Reports
“Well, I am a little too private to tell you exactly what happened, but I communicated to my husband that he is sexy and I am attracted to him. The reaction I got was fantastic to say the least. He looked so surprised and so so so so so pleased. This was the number one winner so far.”
Win today’s giveaway! Just tell us what you did (or are going to do!) for today’s Project by 5:00 PST on Tuesday and you will be entered into the drawing for today’s prize:
Yesterday’s winner? Ashley at Sweet Baby Cakes Design (Ashley – e-mail my assistant kimber@kathilipp.com to get your goodie!) (BTW – they have some ADORABLE stuff over there! Check them out – it would be a great place to pick up a gift for a new mommy or something over-the-top cute for a Christmas gift!!!)
And today’s giveaway?
Project #15 What Not to Wear Pitching the Pajama Pants
Your Project: Get rid of one item of clothing you know your husband is not in love with. If it’s a favorite that you’ll have a hard time parting with, go ahead and purchase a replacement you know your guy will like.
For today’s project we will be getting rid of one piece of “comfortable” clothing. You know the one – it could be the pair of sweats, some comfy slippers, or a college sweatshirt. Your husband may not even notice that you’ve done away with it. The point is you’re taking another step towards thinking about him when getting dressed, instead of going to those sad, sad, jammie bottoms once again. Just get rid of it. That’s all. You know what “it” is. For me, it was my pair of brown, cropped sweatpants that I thought were perfectly acceptable — but I knew that Roger secretly hated. I replaced them with a pair of cute brown sweatpants with a matching hoodie sweat shirt for when I am working from home or running the kids to all their activities. This outfit is cute and comfortable. A List of Ten Clothing Items that Should Never be Worn Around Your Husband Unless your husband has specifically said, “You look so adorable,” while wearing this particular item, it needs to go. Don’t make me come over and “What Not to Wear” you. 1. Team Jerseys (Unless they‘re your husband’s team and you are wearing the jersey as a sexy night shirt) 2. Overalls (unless you both work on a farm) 3. Running shoes for anything other than running 4. Mom jeans (super high wasted, tapered and pleated, oh my…) 5. Any sweater with a Christmas tree or a pumpkin on it (unless you’re a kindergarten teacher. Even then, change into something flattering right after work. There is nothing sexy about wearing ornaments.) 6. Long floral dresses that tie in the back. They make your figure look dumpy and make you look like you’re wearing a table cloth. 7. Acid- washed anything. Enough said. 8. Underwear that has any form of safety pin attached to it. 9. Nursing bras. Especially if your child is now six. 10. Anything that an ex-boyfriend has ever given you. When I e-mailed my friend Rachelle that I was working on this list, this is the note I got back from her: “Be SURE to include baggy sweats on your list! When I figured that one out and traded all my baggy sweats for cute jeans & T’s and sexy leggings, well, let’s just say things got a lot hotter around my house.”
I rest my case.
Prayer for Today Dear God, make me focus on actions that change my attitude, instead of trying to change my husband.
Getting Creative • What do your slippers look like? If they’re the pair you had in college, time to walk them out the door. • For one of my friends, it was a hair scrunchie that was seeing a little too much time outside of the house. (There was a bonus here because a number of her friends were about to have a scrunchie intervention. This project kept her out of a scrunchie 12-Step Program.) • That sumptuous terrycloth bathrobe you got at the spa several years back by now has lost its “wrap me in luxury” feel and probably qualifies for pet bedding material. Time to find another robe; and the only strings hanging off will be the belt ties.
Project Reports “I threw out an old t-shirt I loved to wear to bed – an old favorite with Troy Aikman on it. Aaahh. Anyhow, I took some comments my husband had said to me to heart and now go to bed with (gasp!) nothing on! I thought it would be an open invitation for sex all the time, but it hasn’t been. But, boy, is he a happy man! He gets to look all he wants and men are really visual beings. For his part, he got me an electric blanket which he turns on before I get into bed, which is so cozy. And, hey, I get to wear that beautiful robe I have. Everybody wins.” Annie
“Great idea I’ve come across as I’ve gotten rid of all the comfy sweats…I now have nothing cute to wear, so I dropped a little note for my husband about this great web site he should check out for Valentines Day. It’s Pajamagram.com. It’s a win-win situation. He gets to pick out something that he would love to see me in and I get a gift! I think he loved the idea!” MV
oxes of chocolates.) 
