Author Archives: Fawn Weaver

About Fawn Weaver

Fawn Weaver is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of Happy Wives Club: One Woman's Worldwide Search for the Secrets of a Great Marriage, adopting the same name as the Club she founded in 2010. The Happy Wives Club community has grown to include more than 1 million women in over 110 countries around the world. She’s an investor in real estate, tech sector and lifestyle brands. When she’s not writing or working, she's happily doting over her husband of twelve years, Keith (and sometimes manages to do all three simultaneously).

7 Things I Know For Sure About Happy Marriages

7 Things I Know For Sure About Happy Marriages

7 Things I Know For Sure About Happy Marriages

As you’ve probably read, this past week has been nothing short of a whirlwind for my family.  

First, Keith and I went to New York to launch my debut book, Happy Wives Club.  And while there, some pretty amazing things happened here, there and around the world.

Beginning Friday, I’ll be sharing with you some of my favorite blog posts on love and marriage from the Happy Wives Club blog tour this past week.  

It will be tough but I’m going to do my best to choose a handful of my favorites from nearly 200 bloggers that have already joined me on the tour.  I’ve been so inspired by their writings and want you to experience a similar jolt of inspiration.

Today, however, I’m writing at Huffington Post and invite you to join me there!

An excerpt of my article, 7 Things I Know For Sure About Happy Marriages, is below and you can find the full article here.  

(Advance warning for the grammar police.  I had two versions of this article: unedited and edited.  Unfortunately, the version I sent was unedited.  Don’t worry…nothing too major. But if you see a minor typo here and there, please don’t email me about it, okay?  Someone already did. ;) )  

Hope your week is off to a beautiful start. Looking forward to connecting with you here on Friday.

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

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ARTICLE EXCERPT:

Are you living in a sexless marriage? Frustrated by a spouse who never gives you exactly what it is you need? Do you often wonder if you’d be better off starting over from scratch?

You’re not alone. As a matter of fact, it is quite likely your marriage falls within the majority. But that’s why I absolutely love what I do. Why I wake up each morning bouncing off the walls with excitement to share this with married couples each day:

Your marriage can be great one. It can be a happy one. And it is 100 percent your choice.

After traveling the world and interviewing happily married couples in 12 countries on six continents in search of the universal secrets of a happy marriage for my book, Happy Wives Club, there are seven things I know for sure about happy marriages.

1. Happiness is a moment-by-moment decision. One of the greatest mistakes we make is believing happiness is a result of happenstance. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Those who are happiest create that for themselves. They determine each day to look for the best in their spouse. Of course, there are idiosyncrasies and flaws (you have those too, by the way), but the happiest couples are those who make a conscious decision to choose happiness every moment of every day. And the gateway to happiness is gratitude. Couples who begin their morning focused on what they are grateful for that day, in their marriage and life, find that happiness chases after them the remainder of the day.

You can read the rest of this article on Huffington Post

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JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

5 Things You May Have Missed This Week

5 Amazing Things You Might Have Missed This Week

5 Things You May Have Missed This Week

This has been a pretty amazing week.  And if you managed not to see Happy Wives Club all over the place, my guess is you didn’t turn on your computer because we were everywhere!

This club -you and me- and our mission of sharing the positive side of marriage were on full display everywhere most turned.  It’s a week that will be indelibly inked in my heart and mind forever.  

I received an endless number of emails and notes from women that all seemed to begin with, “I’m writing this note to you through tears in my eyes,” and ending with, “Thank you for letting me know happy marriages exist and mine can be one of them.”

Who knew there were actually people in the world that didn’t even know happy marriages were possible?  And who knew this Club could play such a large role in reassuring couples that happiness is theirs for the taking…if they choose it?

I could go on and on about this past week but thought I’d share with you a few of my favorite highlights:

  1. #HappyWivesClub was the #1 trended hashtag on Twitter. This is how we kicked off this amazing week.  For those of you -like my husband- who avoid social media like the plague (“Honey, are you Tweetbooking right now?” is his favorite line), this is a huge deal.  Celebrities trend.  Political scandals trend.  Sports teams, music and entertainment trend.  Happy wives?  Well, let’s just say that’s not a topic most expected to see at the top of the list of Twitter’s worldwide trends.
  2. Close to 200 bloggers joined me in supporting the launch of the Happy Wives Club book.  Bloggers like Glennon Melton @Momastery.com, Wendy @TheDatingDivas.com, Jennifer @UnveiledWife.com, Katrina @KatsCafe.com, all took to their sites to write on topics like, “Why I love being married,” “Why I still believe in marriage,” “Why I love my husband,” and so many other great topics.  The web was filled with beautiful thoughts on love and marriage…and the Happy Wives Club.  (P.S. If you’re a blogger, there’s still time to join the blog tour HERE).  
  3. I nearly lost my mind when I went into the local TARGET and saw the Happy Wives Club book in the BEST SELLERS section!  After receiving an email from a woman who saw #HappyWivesClub trending on Twitter and then stumbled across the book at her local Target, Keith and I went to our nearby Target to see the book on its shelves for ourselves.  And there it was.  Nestled below the Duck Dynasty family books, to the right of Brene Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection, to the left of Gretchen Rubin’s Happier at Home and above Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In.  Whoa!  I’d love to tell you I remained completely composed but that would be a fib.  I’d tell you that Keith and I didn’t then go to two other Targets just to relive the experience, but that would be a lie too.  “Target is officially our new store for everything!” Keith proclaimed after visiting our third Target -purchasing a copy of the book in each one- as he began walking the aisles for any and everything we could possibly need at home.  And the best part?  Target has the book on sale for 20% off through January 18th!  So please run…do not walk…to your nearest Target and support them.  Even if you already have the book (Keith quickly decided they’d be our pharmacy of choice too ;) ).  If for no other reason than they supported Happy Wives Club in a major way its first week out.  #Grateful 
  4. As of the moment I am writing this, there are 1,261,779 people talking about Happy Wives Club on their own Facebook pages.  No, that number is not a mistake.  At the beginning of last week, that number was around 600,000.  Then after we trended on Twitter, it jumped up to 800,000.  And it has continued to grow by roughly 100,000 people a day since that time.  That is a whole lot of people talking about this Club, our movement and the launch of the Happy Wives Club book.  
  5. I released this pretty cool trailer to accompany the book.  I know most don’t look at book trailers but publishers like to create them, some enjoy watching them, so I quietly posted it for each of you to see.  If you haven’t gotten a chance to check it out, I’ll include it below. Keith and I have watched it at least…ahem…twenty times each.  As much as I’m usually not into book trailers, this one is quite unique and the animation is just plain fun.  

Although these didn’t make it into my “Top 5″ recap above, I still think they’re pretty fantastic: 1) I found out the Happy Wives Club book will release in the UK the first week of February, in Australia the first week of March and in other countries around the world in the coming weeks and months; and 2) I have the final US cities and dates for the Happy Wives Club 12-City Coffee Talk Tour which will begin February 2nd in San Francisco, CA.  So if you’re near any of the tour stops (Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis, New York), we’ll finally meet in person!

When you first joined me here, did you have any idea this is where we’d be headed?  Yeah, me neither.  But I’m so happy we’re here…together. Thank you for being a part of this journey.  Thank you for showing the world that contrary to popular belief (and portrayals in the media) all husbands don’t cheat, all wives aren’t miserable, and happy marriages do indeed exist.  

And as always, if you want to chat, you can find me on our Facebook community page.  (I’m the only moderator, so when you receive a response from HappyWivesClub, rest assured it’s always coming directly from me).  It’s been a long yet beautiful week.  I think I’d better get some rest today because only God knows what amazing new blessings are in store for us this week…

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

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JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

Happy Wives Club Amazon

Happy Wives Club Book In Stores Today! {bonus: awesome blog tour}

Happy Wives Club Amazon

Pinch me.  Keith and I are in New York this week to launch my debut book, Happy Wives Club, and will brave the freezing temperatures today to head over to Barnes & Noble to purchase my first store copy!

When I founded this club February 4, 2010, I had no idea how desperately it was needed.  I knew I needed it.  I knew my girlfriends needed it.  But who could have predicted the community would grow to include more than 500,000 women in over 110 countries?  

Clearly, my girlfriends and I weren’t the only ones who needed to know love and marriage still go hand in hand – even after 20, 30, 40 together.  We weren’t the only ones who needed to be reassured that the positive hope we feel in our hearts about marriage and our wonderful husbands was, for a lack of a better term, real.

The last thing on my mind that cool February night was writing a book.  And yet, here I am four years later with a book arriving in stores across the country – Today.

There are two things I want you to know about this book.  The first is it is different.  Unlike any marriage book you’ve read in the past.  It’s been described as Eat, Pray, Love meets The 5 Love Languages and a synopsis can be found here.

The second is that I worked unbelievably hard on it and pray it delivers the goods.  If you are able, I’d be honored if you’d pick up a copy (or two) today.  And then tell your friends and family about it.  

I thought about sharing with you all the amazing endorsements this book has received from people like 3x Olympic Gold Medalist Misty May-Trenor and New York Times Bestselling authors, Dr. Les & Leslie Parrott, Priscilla Shirer and Dr. Lissa Rankin.  But those can also be found here.

What I think, what I hope, will be more impactful is for you to see how this book has already begun changing marriages for the better; taking them from good to great and from great to extraordinary.  How it has sparked so many thought-provoking conversations on marriage and what it takes to create a lasting -and happy- one.

So in honor of the Happy Wives Club book release, I won’t be blogging this week.  Instead, I am turning the reins over to hundreds of bloggers who have joined the It’s All About Love blog tour in support of the launch and are sharing their thoughts on marriage and creating a love that not only lasts a lifetime but does so happily.  Scroll down to read their amazing posts and… 

**DON’T FORGET TO GO TO THE STORES TODAY TO PURCHASE HAPPY WIVES CLUB**

You can find the book nationwide at Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Wal-Mart, Target, Sam’s Club, and nearly every major book retailer.  And if you’d prefer not to leave the comfort of your home, you can order the book on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and all of your favorite online retailers

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for joining this journey with me.  I hope this book makes you proud.  Not only proud to be a member (or aspiring member) of this club but proud to be among the wonderful women positively changing the tone about marriage around the world.

Until Monday…make it a great week!

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BLOGGERS: Want to learn how to join the It’s All About Love blog tour? Click Here for more information.

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 12

12 Gifts of Marriage: Day 12 {bonus: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway}

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 12

   DAY 12: LIFE OF COMFORT

When you first read the twelfth gift of marriage, Life of Comfort, did you immediately think, “Hey Fawn Weaver, don’t make people think marriage will always feel comfortable?!”

Rest assured, that is not the sort of comfort I’m referencing.

Lying in bed this morning, looking out at the rain in front of me, and my husband laying behind me with his arms locked around me in a tight embrace, this twelfth gift became clear as day.

No sun in sight and the visibility almost nonexistent, yet the comfort I felt in my heart was so palpable it was as if the day was already filled with sunshine.

Marriage is not supposed to make you feel comfortable at all times.  A great spouse loves you exactly the way you are. An extraordinary spouse helps you grow; inspires you to be,  do and give your very best. 

This is not always comfortable.  But it should be comforting.

You and I are blessed with wonderful, imperfect spouses who love us to pieces.  How do I know this?  You’re here with me.  You’re a part of this rapidly growing community. 

I’m not implying your spouse loves you perfectly all the time, or vice versa, but it is your love that brings you here daily.  It is that love that makes you resolve to be a better spouse with each passing moment.

Marriage is filled with an endless amount of gifts.  We’ve only scratched the surface with these twelve.  But on this day, I hope I have inspired you to look at your marriage as a true and immeasurable gift.  A treasure from above.  Never to be taken for granted.

If I’ve done that, waking up each morning at 4:45am to write a new post on one of the many gifts of marriage -every day for the past 12 days- was worth every moment.  And tomorrow, my friends,  I will sleep in…

Until Tuesday…make it a great day!

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P.S. This is also the very last day of our 12 Days of Christmas spectacular giveaway so, if you so desire, make sure to scroll down and enter to win (it’s a pretty fantastic Date Night prize).

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12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR GIVEAWAY

One last chance to enter the 12 Days of Christmas Spectacular Giveaway in honor of the release of my upcoming book, Happy Wives Club. (We are just 2 days away from its release – Wow!)

TODAY’S GIFT: $250 Restaurants.com + $250 Fandango Gift Card

As always, no purchase is necessary, entering to win is simple, and you control your number of entries.  But if you do choose to pre-order the book (Amazon and Barnes & Noble have it 25% off today), make sure to scroll down because we’re giving you tons of FREE STUFF!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are the details for the awesome FREE GIFTS you’ll get for pre-ordering Happy Wives Club today. (**If you’ve already pre-ordered, you get these too!)

HWC_PreOrderGifts_920x786_4

If You Pre-Order 1-4 Books:

  • Love Notes: a brand new eBook by Fawn Weaver
  • An mp3 download of Happy Wives Club audio book read by Fawn Weaver
  • 50 photos with inspirational quotes from Happy Wives Club

If You Pre-Order 5+ Books (perfect for starting a book club with friends):

  • Get all the great gifts from the list above
  • The Official ”Happy Wife” T-shirt
  • The Official HWC “Happy” Mug
  • Invitation to join Fawn’s private book club Facebook group where she’ll personally guide you through the lessons contained in this book and answer your questions

HOW DOES IT WORK?

All you have to do is email a copy of your receipt (or order confirmation email) to hwcbook@gmail.com.  If you’ve already pre-ordered your book, just email your receipt and you still get these gifts!  For additional details: http://happywivesclubbook.com/blog/preorder.

WANT TO GIVE THIS BOOK AS A GIFT BEFORE ITS RELEASE ON 1/7/14?

Not to worry, we created these beautiful printables you can give to anyone letting them know you’ve pre-ordered the book for them as a Christmas gift, anniversary, wedding or engagement present.

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JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

Are you a blogger?  Click Here to join us for the It’s All About Love blog tour in honor of the Happy Wives Club book launch.

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 11

12 Gifts of Marriage: Day 11 {bonus: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway}

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 11

   DAY 11: FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

Maybe my own vanity has led me to this place (although I’d love to believe there’s not a vain bone in my body…ahem).  But the gift of marriage I’m introducing today happens to be one of my personal favorites.

It’s the one I knew very little about until I spent the better part of last year interviewing happily married couples in 12 countries and 6 continents.

Although this gift has been written on for decades, and studies from well-respected medical organizations like the Mayo Clinic have long proved it, I still didn’t fully grasp it until I traveled around the world and saw it first hand on every continent.

HAPPY MARRIAGE = THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.

Marriage has been shown to increase general happiness. Overall, 40 per cent of married people, compared with just 25 per cent of single people, say they are happy with their life.

The survey stating those results, led by Professor Andrew Oswald at the University of Warwick, likened the benefits of marriage on our happiness levels to the equivalent of an annual cash injection of $98,000 into our lives.

Happy marriages are a youth elixir.  Every couple I interviewed on my journey around the world (with the exception of a few stricken by illness) looked at least 10 years younger than their actual age. 

In most cases, they looked between 15-20 years younger.  One of the wives I interviewed in Cape Town, South Africa was 67 years old but barely looked 50 and had more energy than me (and I’ve got energy to spare). 

I wish I could tell you I’ve done a scientific study on the effects of marriage on thickness of hair, suppleness of skin, strength of nails and heightened energy but that would be a fib.  I can tell you, however:  I’ve interviewed more happily married couples than I can count and there is one thing I can’t help but notice in all of them.  They seem to not only have the secret to a happy marriage but unlimited access to the fountain of youth.

So while the $230 million global beauty market continues to roar on, you and I don’t have to be a part of it.  All we need to do is invest in our marriages, create happiness in our homes, and viola! we give ourselves access to dip into the fountain of youth daily.

Just one more day remains in this series.  I’d be honored if you’d join me here tomorrow for Day 12 of our 12 Gifts of Marriage series, and if you desire, scroll down to participate in our 12 Days of Christmas spectacular giveaway.

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

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12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR GIVEAWAY

Every day, for 12 days, I will post an encouragement for your marriage at the top.  And then, a pretty spectacular giveaway at the bottom in honor of the release of my upcoming book, Happy Wives Club. (Still can’t believe we are just a few days away from its release!)

TODAY’S GIFT: His & Her Fitbit Force Wristbands

Jump start your New Year health and fitness goals with this awesome gift.  If you don’t know much about Fitbit bands, check it out here

As always, no purchase is necessary, entering to win is simple, and you control your number of entries.  But if you do choose to pre-order the book (Amazon and Barnes & Noble have it 25% off today), make sure to scroll down because we’re giving you tons of FREE STUFF!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are the details for the awesome FREE GIFTS you’ll get for pre-ordering Happy Wives Club today. (**If you’ve already pre-ordered, you get these too!)

HWC_PreOrderGifts_920x786_4

If You Pre-Order 1-4 Books:

  • Love Notes: a brand new eBook by Fawn Weaver
  • An mp3 download of Happy Wives Club audio book read by Fawn Weaver
  • 50 photos with inspirational quotes from Happy Wives Club

If You Pre-Order 5+ Books (perfect for starting a book club with friends):

  • Get all the great gifts from the list above
  • The Official ”Happy Wife” T-shirt
  • The Official HWC “Happy” Mug
  • Invitation to join Fawn’s private book club Facebook group where she’ll personally guide you through the lessons contained in this book and answer your questions

HOW DOES IT WORK?

All you have to do is email a copy of your receipt (or order confirmation email) to hwcbook@gmail.com.  If you’ve already pre-ordered your book, just email your receipt and you still get these gifts!  For additional details: http://happywivesclubbook.com/blog/preorder.

WANT TO GIVE THIS BOOK AS A GIFT BEFORE ITS RELEASE ON 1/7/14?

Not to worry, we created these beautiful printables you can give to anyone letting them know you’ve pre-ordered the book for them as a Christmas gift, anniversary, wedding or engagement present.

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JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

Are you a blogger?  Click Here to join us for the It’s All About Love blog tour in honor of the Happy Wives Club book launch.

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 10

12 Gifts of Marriage: Day 10 {bonus: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway}

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 10

        DAY 10: GIVING HOPE

“It’s time to start a marriage revolution. Solid marriages lead to a more stable home environment which in turn leads to a more stable society.

“If we want to change the world, we need to start at home and let it grow from there.”

These were words spoken by the husband of Heather Lammers, a fellow blogger and HWC member.

I’d given Heather an advance readers copy of the Happy Wives Club book and in her excitement of sharing with her husband what she’d discovered, this is what immediately came to his mind.

Today, is Day 10 in our 12 Gifts of Marriage series and it seems to be no better time than to introduce this wonderful gift: Giving Hope.  

The gifts of marriage -your marriage- aren’t just limited to your spouse and you.  They extend far beyond the four walls of your home.

When you and your husband are in public, holding hands, nuzzling under each other’s chins or resting in one another’s arms, that is not just for you.  Of course, you don’t do it for show.  And that is what makes it even more special.

On Christmas, my husband and I walked along the beaches of Southern California.  We started in Marina Del Rey, then walked through Venice and Santa Monica.  Along the way, we noticed people kept smiling at us and seemed genuinely happy to see us walking by.  

It was Christmas so I just assumed everyone was so friendly because it’s the most wonderful time of the year (not to mention, we were at the beach, in 80-degree weather, during the last week of the year). 

But it was more than that.  Finally, a woman walking across the street in the opposite direction of us, looks at us with a large grin, points to my shirt and yells, “Beautiful!”  Keith looked down and said, “Oh, now I understand why everyone keeps smiling at us!”

I hadn’t thought much about what I was wearing but that tee shirt was bringing life to so many who walked by us.  It was a simple black shirt I ordered online that read: I Love My Husband.

There are alot of hurting people in the world.  Those who have been jolted by love, shaken by abuse and jaded by abandonment.  The love between you and your spouse, your marriage, gives them hope.  Your loving marriage is a gift, not only to you…but to the world.

Just two more days in this series.  I’d be honored if you’d join me here tomorrow for Day 11 of our 12 Gifts of Marriage series, and if you desire, scroll down to participate in our 12 Days of Christmas spectacular giveaway.  

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

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12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR GIVEAWAY

Every day, for 12 days, I will post an encouragement for your marriage at the top.  And then, a pretty spectacular giveaway at the bottom in honor of the release of my upcoming book, Happy Wives Club. (Still can’t believe we are just a few days away from its release!)

TODAY’S GIFT: $500 Fitness Package for Two!

I am SO excited about this gift!  Is getting healthy at the top of your list of 2014 resolutions?  Then this is the way to do it.  You’ll have US Olympian Annett Davis coaching you and giving you all the tools you need to get your year started off right!

No purchase is necessary, entering to win is simple, and you control your number of entries.  But if you do choose to pre-order the book (Amazon and Barnes & Noble have it 25% off today), make sure to scroll down because we’re giving you tons of FREE STUFF!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are the details for the awesome FREE GIFTS you’ll get for pre-ordering Happy Wives Club today. (**If you’ve already pre-ordered, you get these too!)

HWC_PreOrderGifts_920x786_4

If You Pre-Order 1-4 Books:

  • Love Notes: a brand new eBook by Fawn Weaver
  • An mp3 download of Happy Wives Club audio book read by Fawn Weaver
  • 50 photos with inspirational quotes from Happy Wives Club

If You Pre-Order 5+ Books (perfect for starting a book club with friends):

  • Get all the great gifts from the list above
  • The Official ”Happy Wife” T-shirt
  • The Official HWC “Happy” Mug
  • Invitation to join Fawn’s private book club Facebook group where she’ll personally guide you through the lessons contained in this book and answer your questions

HOW DOES IT WORK?

All you have to do is email a copy of your receipt (or order confirmation email) to hwcbook@gmail.com.  If you’ve already pre-ordered your book, just email your receipt and you still get these gifts!  For additional details: http://happywivesclubbook.com/blog/preorder.

WANT TO GIVE THIS BOOK AS A GIFT BEFORE ITS RELEASE ON 1/7/14?

Not to worry, we created these beautiful printables you can give to anyone letting them know you’ve pre-ordered the book for them as a Christmas gift, anniversary, wedding or engagement present.

##

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

Are you a blogger?  Click Here to join us for the It’s All About Love blog tour in honor of the Happy Wives Club book launch.

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 9

12 Gifts of Marriage: Day 9 {bonus: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway}

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 9

               DAY 9: A BETTER YOU

“When people don’t live up to your expectations…show more grace.”  These were my husband’s encouraging words when sharing his New Year’s resolution for me.

Every New Year’s Eve, it is our annual tradition to spend time thinking about two things: Five personal goals for the upcoming year and five areas of growth we’d like to see in each other.

On an index card, I fill one side with New Year’s resolutions for myself and on the flip side I do the same for my husband.  During our New Year’s Eve dinner, we exchange cards.  It’s one of my favorite date nights of the year.

Last night, however, with the incredibly busy season we are in leading up to next week’s release of the Happy Wives Club book, we decided to do it a little differently.

We each told the other one major area of growth we’d noticed from the current year and one area of improvement needed in the new year.  

For me, the greatest area of growth Keith noticed was my determination to finish one project before moving on to the next (something that has been a weakness in my personality throughout  my life).

And for my area of improvement, it was to show a greater amount of grace.  I hold myself to a very high standard, “But you can’t hold others to the same standard you require of yourself,” he reminded me.

In that conversation, one of the single most beneficial gifts of marriage came to life: A Better You (a better me).

Your spouse likely knows you better than anyone else.  You share the same bed, and sometimes, even the same pillow.  One of the best gifts you can give is to help each other become your best selves.  Because that, my friends, is what allows you to create your best life.

I’d be honored if you’d join me here tomorrow for Day 10 of our 12 Gifts of Marriage series, and if you desire, scroll down to participate in our 12 Days of Christmas spectacular giveaway.  

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

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P.S. If you are wondering what happened to Day 8, I made a last minute decision to take a one-day break from this series to share this inspiring new post with you: 10 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Marriage.  It just seemed like the right thing to do on New Year’s Eve. Hope you didn’t mind.

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12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR GIVEAWAY

Every day, for 12 days, I will post an encouragement for your marriage at the top.  And then, a pretty spectacular giveaway at the bottom in honor of the release of my upcoming book, Happy Wives Club. (Still can’t believe we are just a few days away from its release!)

TODAY’S GIFT: Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1!

No purchase is necessary, entering to win is simple, and you control your number of entries.  But if you do choose to pre-order the book (Amazon and Barnes & Noble have it 25% off today), make sure to scroll down because we’re giving you tons of FREE STUFF!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are the details for the awesome FREE GIFTS you’ll get for pre-ordering Happy Wives Club today. (**If you’ve already pre-ordered, you get these too!)

HWC_PreOrderGifts_920x786_4

If You Pre-Order 1-4 Books:

  • Love Notes: a brand new eBook by Fawn Weaver
  • An mp3 download of Happy Wives Club audio book read by Fawn Weaver
  • 50 photos with inspirational quotes from Happy Wives Club

If You Pre-Order 5+ Books (perfect for starting a book club with friends):

  • Get all the great gifts from the list above
  • The Official ”Happy Wife” T-shirt
  • The Official HWC “Happy” Mug
  • Invitation to join Fawn’s private book club Facebook group where she’ll personally guide you through the lessons contained in this book and answer your questions

HOW DOES IT WORK?

All you have to do is email a copy of your receipt (or order confirmation email) to hwcbook@gmail.com.  If you’ve already pre-ordered your book, just email your receipt and you still get these gifts!  For additional details: http://happywivesclubbook.com/blog/preorder.

WANT TO GIVE THIS BOOK AS A GIFT BEFORE ITS RELEASE ON 1/7/14?

Not to worry, we created these beautiful printables you can give to anyone letting them know you’ve pre-ordered the book for them as a Christmas gift, anniversary, wedding or engagement present.

##

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

Are you a blogger?  Click Here to join us for the It’s All About Love blog tour in honor of the Happy Wives Club book launch.

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 7

12 Gifts of Marriage: Day 7 {bonus: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway}

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 7

       DAY 7: SPOONFUL OF SUGAR

Life can be tough.  Things will rarely go exactly as planned.  Perfection…well, there is no such thing.

Even for the most optimistic person, there are times when your circumstances might seem like a tough pill to swallow; medicine you’d rather not take.

But then a supportive spouse comes to the rescue with just a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.

Watching the movie, Saving Mr. Banks, last week with Keith, I was once again reminded that life is what we make of it.  

In the movie, the two main characters (Walt Disney and author P.L. Travers) both had incredibly tough upbringings and yet, in the end, they chose to view the world drastically different.  And the happiness in each of their lives reflected those decisions.

One decided to write about a ‘spoonful of sugar’ in a musical called Mary Poppins.  The other decided to take it.

One of the greatest gifts of marriage is the ability to lessen life’s trials for your spouse (and your spouse, for you).  Marriage won’t make the challenges disappear, but having a loving spouse by your side makes the stresses of life that much easier to bear.

The partnership formed between two loving spouses allows the burdens to be shared.  Even in the most challenging of times, an embrace, a perfectly timed joke, or a reminder to focus on the larger picture, helps us jump over the hurdles with greater ease.

Life throws us curve balls.  Always has.  Always will.  But learning to knock those curve balls out of the park is what makes the wins so much more meaningful.  And the winningest team there is, if you nurture it: You + Your Spouse.

Join me here tomorrow for Day 8 of our 12 Gifts of Marriage series, and if you desire, scroll down to participate in our 12 Days of Christmas spectacular giveaway.  

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

Email Signature transparent

___________

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR GIVEAWAY

Every day, for 12 days, I will post an encouragement for your marriage at the top.  And then, a pretty spectacular giveaway at the bottom in honor of the release of my upcoming book, Happy Wives Club. (Still can’t believe we are just 1 week away from its release!)

TODAY’S GIFT: Nook HD + $250 Barnes & Noble Gift Card!

No purchase is necessary, entering to win is simple, and you control your number of entries.  But if you do choose to pre-order the book (Amazon and Barnes & Noble have it 25% off today), make sure to scroll down because we’re giving you tons of FREE STUFF!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are the details for the awesome FREE GIFTS you’ll get for pre-ordering Happy Wives Club today. (**If you’ve already pre-ordered, you get these too!)

HWC_PreOrderGifts_920x786_4

If You Pre-Order 1-4 Books:

  • Love Notes: a brand new eBook by Fawn Weaver
  • An mp3 download of Happy Wives Club audio book read by Fawn Weaver
  • 50 photos with inspirational quotes from Happy Wives Club

If You Pre-Order 5+ Books (perfect for starting a book club with friends):

  • Get all the great gifts from the list above
  • The Official ”Happy Wife” T-shirt
  • The Official HWC “Happy” Mug
  • Invitation to join Fawn’s private book club Facebook group where she’ll personally guide you through the lessons contained in this book and answer your questions

HOW DOES IT WORK?

All you have to do is email a copy of your receipt (or order confirmation email) to hwcbook@gmail.com.  If you’ve already pre-ordered your book, just email your receipt and you still get these gifts!  For additional details: http://happywivesclubbook.com/blog/preorder.

WANT TO GIVE THIS BOOK AS A GIFT BEFORE ITS RELEASE ON 1/7/14?

Not to worry, we created these beautiful printables you can give to anyone letting them know you’ve pre-ordered the book for them as a Christmas gift, anniversary, wedding or engagement present.

##

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

Are you a blogger?  Click Here to join us for the It’s All About Love blog tour in honor of the Happy Wives Club book launch.

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 6

12 Gifts of Marriage: Day 6 {bonus: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway}

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 6

               DAY 6: ACCEPTANCE

One of the most amazing gifts in life is to find someone who knows all your flaws, differences, and mistakes, yet still loves everything about you.

Growing up, I remember the word two-faced being viciously hurled at those deemed to be untrustworthy, duplicitous and without authenticity.

Then I became an adult and came to this conclusion: Most people, myself included, were encouraged early on to become two-faced.

Not in the negative sense of the word I heard (and used) in my teenage years, but as the proper description of what it often takes to protect oneself in society.

We wear two faces.  The brave one reserved for the general public.  

“Never let them see you sweat,” “Don’t let them know where you tie your goat,” and other similar lessons taught during our formative years set us on a path of creating a public persona and a private one.

We wore a mask so often it became a part of our innermost being.

Then one day, someone came along and removed our masks.  They revealed the beauty of what was beneath.  The good, the bad, the admirable, and the yet-to-be-worked on.  They gave us permission to just be ourselves, exactly where we were in that moment.

The moat we’d previously built around our heart was drained and the drawbridge let down.  We discovered the walls we’d erected to protect us weren’t just keeping others from hurting us, they were keeping us from being free.

Trapped in the very castles we’d built to keep us safe.

Having that one person who accepted us, flaws and all, freed us.  Knowing we were loved no matter our mistakes, liberated us.  Finally, we could remove our masks and allow vulnerability to take its place.  Because we experienced then, and continue to marvel in now, one of the most freeing gifts of marriage: Acceptance.

It is this sense of knowing we are loved unconditionally, in spite of ourselves, that allows us to grow into the beautiful people we were always meant to be.

This series is unlike any I’ve ever done before.  The top half of this page is reserved for a marriage encouragement and the lower half a promotion for my upcoming book.  So if you desire, scroll down to participate in our 12 Days of Christmas spectacular giveaway.  But more importantly, join me here tomorrow for Day 7 of our 12 Gifts of Marriage series.

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

Email Signature transparent

___________

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR GIVEAWAY

Every day, for 12 days, I will post an encouragement for your marriage at the top.  And then, a pretty spectacular giveaway at the bottom in honor of the release of my upcoming book, Happy Wives Club. (Still can’t believe we are just 1 week away from its release!)

TODAY’S GIFT: Sony Xperia Z Tablet!

No purchase is necessary, entering to win is simple, and you control your number of entries.  But if you do choose to pre-order the book (Amazon and Barnes & Noble have it 25% off today), make sure to scroll down because we’re giving you tons of FREE STUFF!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are the details for the awesome FREE GIFTS you’ll get for pre-ordering Happy Wives Club today. (**If you’ve already pre-ordered, you get these too!)

HWC_PreOrderGifts_920x786_4

If You Pre-Order 1-4 Books:

  • Love Notes: a brand new eBook by Fawn Weaver
  • An mp3 download of Happy Wives Club audio book read by Fawn Weaver
  • 50 photos with inspirational quotes from Happy Wives Club

If You Pre-Order 5+ Books (perfect for starting a book club with friends):

  • Get all the great gifts from the list above
  • The Official ”Happy Wife” T-shirt
  • The Official HWC “Happy” Mug
  • Invitation to join Fawn’s private book club Facebook group where she’ll personally guide you through the lessons contained in this book and answer your questions

HOW DOES IT WORK?

All you have to do is email a copy of your receipt (or order confirmation email) to hwcbook@gmail.com.  If you’ve already pre-ordered your book, just email your receipt and you still get these gifts!  For additional details: http://happywivesclubbook.com/blog/preorder.

WANT TO GIVE THIS BOOK AS A GIFT BEFORE ITS RELEASE ON 1/7/14?

Not to worry, we created these beautiful printables you can give to anyone letting them know you’ve pre-ordered the book for them as a Christmas gift, anniversary, wedding or engagement present.

##

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

Are you a blogger?  Click Here to join us for the It’s All About Love blog tour in honor of the Happy Wives Club book launch.

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 5

12 Gifts of Marriage: Day 5 {bonus: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway}

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 5

       DAY 5: CREATING HISTORY

The beauty of things that happen organically.  Following yesterday’s post, I received numerous notes from encouraged couples – spouses reading it together.

One comment from Cheri Gregory became the inspiration for today’s gift: Creating History.

“Although The Story of Us was not the romantic comedy we were hoping for when we saw it on a date night 15 years ago, I’ve always remembered these lines, spoken by the wife when she realizes she doesn’t want to file for divorce:

‘There’s a history here, and histories don’t happen overnight. In Mesopotamia or Ancient Troy there are cities built on top of other cities, but I don’t want another city, I like this city.’

“The “history” she speaks of is built from bearing witness to each other’s lives day in and day out.

“For me, ‘a place called home‘ is about this shared history.  I can start asking, ‘Do you remember when…?’ and my husband will start to laugh because he knows exactly what I’m referring to. Sometimes, all it takes is a look.

“According to Daniel Goleman (and others), couples become biologically wired to be together, to the point that when one spouse dies, the other is truly lost because the carrier of all that history, the co-creator of ‘home,’ is gone.”

Fifteen years from now, on our silver anniversary, we plan to once again renew our vows.  As my husband twirls me around on the dance floor, all guests in attendance will know they aren’t just watching two people dancing cheek-to-cheek, they’re witnessing history being created.

Today, I encourage you to take some time to think about the history you and your spouse have created thus far.  Pull out photo albums, look through your Facebook photos and marvel at the wonder of your life.  Whether up or down, it’s a beautiful life.

Please join me tomorrow for Day 6 of this series and before you leave today, if you so desire, scroll down to participate in our 12 Days of Christmas spectacular giveaway.

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

Email Signature transparent

___________

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR GIVEAWAY

I’ve never done a series quite like this before.  Every day, for 12 days, I will post an encouragement for your marriage at the top.  And then, a pretty spectacular giveaway at the bottom in honor of the release of my upcoming book, Happy Wives Club. (Still can’t believe we are less than 2 weeks away from its release!)

TODAY’S GIFT: $500 Best Buy Gift Card!

No purchase is necessary, entering to win is simple, and you control your number of entries.  But if you do choose to pre-order the book (Amazon and Barnes & Noble have it 25% off today), make sure to scroll down because we’re giving you tons of FREE STUFF!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are the details for the awesome FREE GIFTS you’ll get for pre-ordering Happy Wives Club today. (**If you’ve already pre-ordered, you get these too!)

HWC_PreOrderGifts_920x786_4

If You Pre-Order 1-4 Books:

  • Love Notes: a brand new eBook by Fawn Weaver
  • An mp3 download of Happy Wives Club audio book read by Fawn Weaver
  • 50 photos with inspirational quotes from Happy Wives Club

If You Pre-Order 5+ Books (perfect for starting a book club with friends):

  • Get all the great gifts from the list above
  • The Official ”Happy Wife” T-shirt
  • The Official HWC “Happy” Mug
  • Invitation to join Fawn’s private book club Facebook group where she’ll personally guide you through the lessons contained in this book and answer your questions

HOW DOES IT WORK?

All you have to do is email a copy of your receipt (or order confirmation email) to hwcbook@gmail.com.  If you’ve already pre-ordered your book, just email your receipt and you still get these gifts!  For additional details: http://happywivesclubbook.com/blog/preorder.

WANT TO GIVE THIS BOOK AS A GIFT BEFORE ITS RELEASE ON 1/7/14?

Not to worry, we created these beautiful printables you can give to anyone letting them know you’ve pre-ordered the book for them as a Christmas gift, anniversary, wedding or engagement present.

##

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

Are you a blogger?  Click Here to join us for the It’s All About Love blog tour in honor of the Happy Wives Club book launch.

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 4

12 Gifts of Marriage: Day 4 {bonus: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway}

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 4

       DAY 4: PLACE CALLED HOME

“From this day forward, you shall not walk alone. My heart will be your shelter, and my arms will be your home.”

No one knows who originally penned those words, but over the years, they have become a part of wedding ceremonies all over the world.

Those twenty-two words, so simple and true, are a reminder of this: In marriage, a home isn’t about the white picket fence.  It’s having two arms to fall into at the end of each day.

One of the most comforting gifts of marriage is knowing you will always have a place called home.

It is this realization that allows a couple months behind in their mortgage to look into each other’s eyes and decide, “We only need each other.  The stress and strain of debt isn’t worth it.  Our home isn’t comprised of four walls.”

To the world, fascinated with perceived perfection and wealth, an expensive house is the status symbol for which to strive.  

Those in a loving marriage are able to quickly reject that pressure knowing a house does not make a home but rather the loving arms of a wonderful spouse.  

No matter where you go or where you stay, home is always with you.  

For some, that is an expansive place on the country hillside.  For others, a quaint apartment in the city.  Regardless of the location, size or furnishings, the wise couple knows a house will never define this life and certainly not the most important thing in life: Love.

The ongoing pressure to do more, buy more, acquire additional debt, finally has a place where it falls on deaf ears.  Because in marriage, it’s not about decorating a home with costly furniture.  But rather filling a living dwelling, no matter how great or how small, with love.

For the next 9 days, we will continue to unwrap one additional gift of marriage daily.  If you missed the first three gifts of marriage, definitely go back and read them.  They will bless your marriage; reminding you of the beauty of all you have and diminishing the importance of anything you might lack.

Please join me tomorrow for day 5 and before you leave today, make sure to scroll down to participate in our 12 Days of Christmas spectacular giveaway.

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

Email Signature transparent

___________

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR GIVEAWAY

I’ve never done a series quite like this before.  Every day, for 12 days, I will post an encouragement for your marriage at the top.  And then, a pretty spectacular giveaway at the bottom in honor of the release of my upcoming book, Happy Wives Club. (Still can’t believe we are less than 2 weeks away from its release!)

TODAY’S GIFT: Sony Alpha NEX 5T Camera!

No purchase is necessary, entering to win is simple, and you control your number of entries.  But if you do choose to pre-order the book (Amazon and Barnes & Noble have it 25% off today), make sure to scroll down because we’re giving you tons of FREE STUFF!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are the details for the awesome FREE GIFTS you’ll get for pre-ordering Happy Wives Club today. (**If you’ve already pre-ordered, you get these too!)

HWC_PreOrderGifts_920x786_4

If You Pre-Order 1-4 Books:

  • Love Notes: a brand new eBook by Fawn Weaver
  • An mp3 download of Happy Wives Club audio book read by Fawn Weaver
  • 50 photos with inspirational quotes from Happy Wives Club

If You Pre-Order 5+ Books (perfect for starting a book club with friends):

  • Get all the great gifts from the list above
  • The Official ”Happy Wife” T-shirt
  • The Official HWC “Happy” Mug
  • Invitation to join Fawn’s private book club Facebook group where she’ll personally guide you through the lessons contained in this book and answer your questions

HOW DOES IT WORK?

All you have to do is email a copy of your receipt (or order confirmation email) to hwcbook@gmail.com.  If you’ve already pre-ordered your book, just email your receipt and you still get these gifts!  For additional details: http://happywivesclubbook.com/blog/preorder.

WANT TO GIVE THIS BOOK AS A GIFT BEFORE ITS RELEASE ON 1/7/14?

Not to worry, we created these beautiful printables you can give to anyone letting them know you’ve pre-ordered the book for them as a Christmas gift, anniversary, wedding or engagement present.

##

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

Are you a blogger?  Click Here to join us for the It’s All About Love blog tour in honor of the Happy Wives Club book launch.

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 3

12 Gifts of Marriage: Day 3 {bonus: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway}

12 Gifts of Marriage - Day 3

             DAY 3: TRUST

A musician stands on the edge of a stage with his back facing the crowd, closes his eyes, spreads his arms like an eagle and falls backwards with reckless abandon.

The crowd, in anticipation and with great excitement, catches him and continues to keep him lifted.  

This is the ultimate act of trust for artists and musicians; to fall into the arms of their fans trusting they will keep them lifted.

A husband stands at the edge of life, arms stretched wide, closes his eyes, and falls backwards into the arms of his wife.  Trusting, no matter her strength, she’ll never let him fall.  

This is one of the most beautiful gifts of marriage: Trust.

Before marriage, so many walk around with heads held high proclaiming a need for no one.  God maybe, but no human being.  But in our hearts, we know neither is true.  We need both.

It is said that, “Marriage provides the solace of worked-on friendship and the joy of being profoundly known.”  It allows a bond to develop, a trust like none other, between two people whose souls were created in heaven and later bound on earth.

To be fully known, that is the necessity of every person; man, woman and child.  And a loving marriage provides that like no other earthly relationship.

We stand on the edge of life, eyes closed and arms raised, and fall backwards.  And magically, almost mysteriously, no matter the strength of our spouse, we are always caught.

On Christmas, we unwrapped the first gift of marriage: Friendship.  Then yesterday, we explored the gift of being a United Front.  And for the next 10 days, we will continue to unwrap one additional gift of marriage daily.  In a world filled with insatiable desires, it is nice to spend time just appreciating the gifts we already have.  Don’t you think?

Please join me tomorrow for day 4 and before you leave today, make sure to scroll down to participate in our 12 Days of Christmas spectacular giveaway.

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

Email Signature transparent

___________

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR GIVEAWAY

I’ve never done a series quite like this before.  Every day, for 12 days, I will post an encouragement for your marriage at the top.  And then, a pretty spectacular giveaway at the bottom in honor of the release of my upcoming book, Happy Wives Club. (Still can’t believe we are less than 2 weeks away from its release!)

TODAY’S GIFT: His & Her Kindle Fire HDX!

No purchase is necessary, entering to win is simple, and you control your number of entries.  But if you do choose to pre-order the book (Amazon and Barnes & Noble have it 25% off today), make sure to scroll down because we’re giving you tons of FREE STUFF!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are the details for the awesome FREE GIFTS you’ll get for pre-ordering Happy Wives Club today. (**If you’ve already pre-ordered, you get these too!)

HWC_PreOrderGifts_920x786_4

If You Pre-Order 1-4 Books:

  • Love Notes: a brand new eBook by Fawn Weaver
  • An mp3 download of Happy Wives Club audio book read by Fawn Weaver
  • 50 photos with inspirational quotes from Happy Wives Club

If You Pre-Order 5+ Books (perfect for starting a book club with friends):

  • Get all the great gifts from the list above
  • The Official ”Happy Wife” T-shirt
  • The Official HWC “Happy” Mug
  • Invitation to join Fawn’s private book club Facebook group where she’ll personally guide you through the lessons contained in this book and answer your questions

HOW DOES IT WORK?

All you have to do is email a copy of your receipt (or order confirmation email) to hwcbook@gmail.com.  If you’ve already pre-ordered your book, just email your receipt and you still get these gifts!  For additional details: http://happywivesclubbook.com/blog/preorder.

WANT TO GIVE THIS BOOK AS A GIFT BEFORE ITS RELEASE ON 1/7/14?

Not to worry, we created these beautiful printables you can give to anyone letting them know you’ve pre-ordered the book for them as a Christmas gift, anniversary, wedding or engagement present.

##

JOIN THE 1,000,000 MEMBER CHALLENGE: If you haven’t already done it, what are you waiting for? Join the club! It takes only a few seconds and, of course, is free.

Are you a blogger?  Click Here to join us for the It’s All About Love blog tour in honor of the Happy Wives Club book launch.