Celebrate Wedding Anniversaries

Celebrate Your Marriage Every Day

2007-05-12T21:22:00.000-04:00

Recently I've begun dabbling in Squidoo lenses. It started with a lens on the Black Forest and has expanded to lenses on The Five Love Languages, Celebrating Wedding Anniversaries, and Anniversary Diamond Jewelry.

Part of the fun of Squidoo is that people leave feedback on the sites and sometimes offer some very insightful ideas. One comment I received on the Celebrate lens is "Don't worry about forgetting about an anniversary date -- treat every day special and love can only grow."

What great adivce!

Here are some ideas to get you started.

Eat out and save money!

Restaurant.com Dining Certificates
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Enjoy a gourmet meal at home!

Delicious Chef-Prepared Meals at Home Bistro

Plan a Getaway to a Romantic Bed and Breakfast

Bed & Breakfast Gift Certificates

Take a Last-Minute Getaway and Get Great Savings!

Visit a Romantic destination this weekend -- great last-minute travel deals on Site59.

Choose your favorite Diamond Anniversary Jewelry

For more great ideas, visit my squidoo lens Celebrate Your Wedding Anniversary

Copyright © Claudia Pate
The Anniversary Shop, modern and traditional wedding anniversary gifts

The Five Love Languages - Physical Touch

2007-03-03T21:37:00.000-05:00

A person whose primary love language is physical touch will answer "yes" to the question "Do you feel most loved when you are receiving physical touch?"

Physical touch runs the gamut from the slightest touch as you pass each other to the most passionate kiss of your life to, well, you know.

But be aware, the love language of physical touch is not just sexual intercourse. While sex is a wonderful, natural part of any loving marriage, probe deeper to ask, "If I were deprived of any of the other love languages but had a satisfying sex life, would I still feel loved?" For example, if your spouse never or rarely gave you compliments (words of affirmation) or spent time with you (quality time) or let you know he or she thought of you by bringing home gifts (receiving gifts) or did things for you (acts of service) but you received all the physical affection you ever wanted, would you still feel loved?

For some people, the answer is still "yes." Physical touch of any kind, whether it leads to intercourse or not, is what makes this person feel loved.

If that is the case, then lavishing a "physical touch" person with gifts or words of affirmation or a clean car will do little to make this person feel loved. He or she needs physical touch, from holding hands as you walk to the car to a foot rub as you watch TV to hugging and kissing before you fall asleep at night and when you awaken each morning.

While this seems an easy love language to learn, physical touch has roots that can go deep into a person's past. If you husband's family rarely touched one another, it is possible he will have trouble showing affection to you by touch. If your wife was abused in any way as she was growing up, it might be difficult for her to want to reciprocate the physical touch that you need. While neither of these scenarios is impossible to overcome, it could take a lot of patience and communication to reach a point where both of you are comfortable with the physical aspect of your marriage outside (or even inside) the bedroom.

If this is the case and you are unable to resolve the issue on your own, seek counseling. This is quite common and a good marriage counselor should be able to help you communicate in a way that will help you work toward a satisfying physical relationship.

If the situation is one you can talk about openly, communicate your needs and your concerns to your spouse. If your husband is skittish about public display of affection, don't expect him to kiss you passionately when you are out for a walk in the neighborhood, even if it is after dark. If your wife did not grow up in a family that hugged one another every time they saw each other, don't expect her to jump into your arms every night when you get home - at least not right away.

On the other hand, your husband might get used to the idea of holding hands when you walk around the neighborhood or your wife might enjoy cuddling on the couch while you watch the evening news or your favorite TV show. Move the kids to the floor or the other end of the couch so you and your mate can sit side by side as you watch a movie or play games.

Keep in mind that just because you enjoy certain touch doesn't mean your spouse will as well. If your wife does not enjoy being tickled, it is a sign of disrespect to her to continue to tickle her when you know she doesn't like it. If your husband doesn't like you to pinch his "love handles," it is a sign of disrespect to him to continue to do so. Physical touch, like all love languages, must be spoken in a way that brings honor to your mate and to your relationship.

Here are some ideas of ways you might show love through physical touch (again, keep in mind that you must not continue with a certain touch if your mate objects because he or she is not comfortable or does not enjoy it).

Hold hands as you walk
Sit close together in the car
Rub his neck as he works on the computer
Sit on the same side of the booth even if no one else is joining you for dinner
Put some music on and dance slowly around the living room
Kiss him goodbye in the morning and hello when he comes home
Rub her feet
Hold hands when you pray
Sit on opposite ends of the couch with your legs outstretched and touching as you read
Help her with her coat and kiss her neck as she slides her arms into the sleeves
Touch the back of his hand as you share a cup of coffee and conversation

Like anything else in life, the more you do it, the more it becomes a habit. Look for new ways to touch your mate in ways that bring him or her pleasure and feelings of being loved.

Make touch an active part of your marriage. Even the slightest touch will speak volumes to a spouse whose primary love language is physical touch, and the lightest touch at an unexpected moment could ignite a flame that leads to a passionate fire.

Copyright © Claudia Pate
The Anniversary Shop, modern and traditional wedding anniversary gifts

The Five Love Languages - Acts of Service

2007-03-01T22:03:00.000-05:00

A man or woman whose primary love language is acts of service will answer "yes" to the question, "Do you feel most loved when someone does things for you, taking out the garbage, washing clothes, running errands, etc.?"

Along with gifts, this is a very easy language to learn. The key, however, is discovering which acts of service carry the most weight. As is only fair, a person whose primary love language is acts of service does not expect someone else to do everything for him or her, but feels most loved when certain chores or tasks are taken care of as an act of love.

Again, listen to what your spouse or mate says. Does she often ask for the trash to be taken out or the floor to be swept? Maybe she often asks for the baby to be fed or the toys to be picked up. Does he notice and thank you for picking up his socks or washing his clothes? Does he notice when you wash the car or go to great lengths to cook his favorite meal?

On the other hand, does she complain that you never cook or help around the house. Does he complain when the car needs washed or you ask him to run errands instead of running errands for him?

If any of these scenarios sound familiar, ask the man or woman whose primary love language is acts of service to make a list of 5 things that he or she would like to have done. Ask him or her to be specific. Along with the task, ask that the time frame or time of completion of the task be written down as well.

Here are some examples of what you might read:

Wash the car once a week
Clean the inside of the car once a month
Help with the dishes three times a week
Go to the grocery store while I prepare for the dinner party on Saturday
Fix the lawnmower before the lawn needs mowed next Tuesday
Work with me to plant flowers in the flower bed Sunday afternoon
Clean the bathroom before the weekend is over

Keep in mind that some expectations of who should do what are rooted in societal expectations and/or parental roles. If your wife's father does a good deal of the cooking, your wife might see that her father shows love to her mom by cooking. Therefore, your wife might be thinking, "if you love me like my dad loves my mom, you will cook every now and then; if you don't cook, you don't love me." Or, if your husband's mother absolutely loves working in the yard while your father-in-law watches the big game, chances are your husband will feel that, "if you really love me, you won't ask me to work in the yard on Sunday when baseball is on all day. You should know that I work hard all week and the baseball game helps me relax."

For these reasons, it is important that you be specific in your request and that, when possible, let your spouse do the chore or task within a reasonable amount of time unless you specify exactly when the task needs done to meet another goal that goes along with it. If the neighborhood party is at your house on Saturday, don't wait until Friday to ask that your husband weed the flower beds and mow the grass. On the other hand, don't assume that your husband knows two weeks ahead that the chore needs to be done unless you tell him. Be specific and be realistic.

Additionally, be ready to look on your mate's first attempts at acts of service with grace. If your husband is taking on his first stab at cooking dinner, allow him to choose the meal he wants to make and offer to help him clean up. If your wife decides to wash and wax the car for the first time, praise her for her effort to please you without pointing out the one spot of wax that remains on the rear fender.

If something gets broken or lost in the process of completing a task, extend as much grace as possible and offer your services to get things back on track. Your attitude of grace and appreciation for the effort of performing the service will go a long way in encouraging your spouse to continue to work through the list you have made.

To make it even more fun, join in with your spouse in his or her efforts to perform the tasks you have requested. If you can do this without pointing out flaws or making sure it gets done your way, you can have a lot of fun sharing the time and task together.

As in all love languages, keep it fun and look for ways to continue to show love to your spouse by performing tasks or chores that mean the most to him or her. As you see the joy on her face or the sparkle in his eyes when the task is complete, you will look for more ways to serve by taking on chores or tasks that are meaningful to your spouse.

Copyright © Claudia Pate
The Anniversary Shop, modern and traditional wedding anniversary gifts

The Five Love Languages - Receiving Gifts

2007-02-16T16:44:00.000-05:00

In many ways, communicating with someone whose primary love language is gifts is one of the easiest skills to learn. In some ways, however, it's hard. But it's only hard if you choose to let it be.

Let me explain.

First, if you or your mate answered "yes" to the question "Do you feel most loved when someone brings you gifts or some tangible item, no matter how small or inexpensive?," you or your mate speak in the primary love language of receiving gifts. A person whose love language is receiving gifts generally does not need the gifts to be large or expensive; she or he just needs to receive gifts on a regular basis as a show of your love.

On the flip side, if you know someone who is unhappy with every gift you have ever given, no matter what you give, large, small, expensive, or cheap, this person's love language is probably NOT gifts and you need to find what his or her love language is. For you see, someone whose love language is gifts will be just as thrilled with a single rose you picked up at the grocery store as with a bouquet of two dozen roses from the finest shop in town, unless the single rose comes across as cheap or uncaring (this will be covered more in depth).

In the larger scheme of life, gifts carry with it a lot more weight than just the gift itself. The appropriateness of a gift is based on many factors: our relationship to the person receiving the gift, the occasion for the gift, how long we have known the person, our income, the other person's needs, and sometimes what we have given to others in a similar circumstance.

Gifts imply some intimate knowledge of the person. Sure, we've all been to gift exchanges where you bring something appropriate for a man of a certain age or a woman of a certain age, but how many of those carry long-lasting sentimental feelings? Um, probably none. But if you want to give a gift to someone you know and love, some thought needs to go into giving the gift. What is her favorite color? What brand of fishing lures does he like best? What does the person want? What does the person need? What can we afford and still keep our budget on track?

Gifts are also a way to say "I was thinking of you today." "I saw this and it reminded me of how precious you are to me." "The minute I saw this, I knew you would love it." Everybody likes to know they were thought of by someone they love. Spontaneous gifts on a rainy Tuesday do wonders for your mate's love quotient.

Often if you keep your ears open as you spend time with your mate, you will hear what he or she wants. When you hear these comments, make a mental note or write it down.

Caution: Men and women differ in how they view the gift of tools. Most women, not all, will not be thrilled with a new vacuum cleaner for your anniversary, no matter how many times she has mentioned needing a sweeper; most men, however, will be thrilled with a new power sander or table saw or some other tool they can put to use in whatever endeavor they may pursue. Unless the vacuum cleaner has a diamoned necklace attached to it, do not give a vacuum cleaner or any other appliance for a major gift-giving event.

Not long ago my husband saw an amazing new chopper on a TV commercial. He mentioned a number of times that the chopper would come in handy. Since he does a good bit of the cooking, I was on the lookout for this particular chopper. When I found it, I made a point to tell him that the chopper was at the local grocery store and I would be glad to buy it if he still wanted it. The next time we went to the store, we went directly to the chopper and bought one. He enjoyed using it so much that he tested it out by chopping nearly everything he could get his hands on. Needless to say, he felt loved by me because I remembered that he wanted that particular chopper.

The caution I mentioned earlier about appearing cheap will mainly be a problem if you give only a few gifts a year or you buy a Cracker Jack(TM) ring instead of a gold or silver band for your anniversary, birthday, or major holiday. Also, if your income is extremely high but you can't seem to part with $100.00 for the perfect gift for your spouse, your effort will not be seen as an act of love. Not all gifts need to be extravagant, but an extravagant gift every now and then, if you can afford it, will put a smile on her face in no time, especially as she talks about it with her friends, family, and co-workers.

A person whose love language is receiving gifts will not feel loved if gifts are received only on major holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. Gifts need to be given on a regular basis, but need not always be bought.

Here are some ideas for communicating with a mate whose primary love language is gifts:

Serve her breakfast in bed
Make his favorite meal
Pick up her favorite candy on the way home from work (mine is Dove dark chocolate)
Buy a book he's been interested in reading
Create a holiday that just the two of you share
Buy a box of Valentine cards and mail one a day to your spouse for a week
Send an ecard to your husband's personal email address
Dedicate a song to your mate on the radio station she or he listens to
Prepare a book of coupons for your mate and let him or her cash them in any time

If you are new to communicating in this way, start out by giving a gift three times a week. Certainly you can think of three things in a week to give to the man or woman that you love and want to feel loved. Use the list above to come up with ways to communicate with your spouse through gifts.

Be creative in how you give the gift. Here are some ideas for giving gifts:

Drop off a wrapped package at her office
Leave a new package of golf balls in his car
If your spouse is going away for a week to his sister's in Iowa, send a package to him at her address. Include a recent photo of yourself and a note telling him how much you miss him
Send one of the kids to get her from the garden and surprise her with lunch
Leave clues for a treasure hunt
Be your own "delivery boy." Ring the doorbell and give her a big kiss for all the neigbors to see
Enlist the help of your kids. They are the most creative people I know
Pack a little something in her suitcase when she goes on her next business trip. She'll be thrilled to find it after a long day of travel and meetings

Gift giving can be a lot of fun. It can be just as much fun for the person giving the gift as for the one receiving it. As you grow in listening to what he or she wants, watching the types of things he buys for himself, and being creative in how you give the gift, you will find that you can hardly wait to give the next gift and feel and see the excitement of your husband or wife.

Yours for celebrating wedding anniversaries.

Claudia

Copyright © Claudia Pate
The Anniversary Shop, modern and traditional wedding anniversary gifts

The Five Love Languages - Quality Time

2007-02-11T21:14:00.000-05:00

About 20 years ago, quality time was the new buzz word. As more and more moms entered the work force and dads were busy making as much money as they could, everybody was talking about "quality time" in essence as a substitute for "quantity time." By that I mean that if moms, dads, and kids, or any combination thereof, couldn't spend as much time together, whatever time they had together was supposed to be used to its fullest, thus making it quality time.

While there is a bit of that included in quality time for couples, there really is no substitute for spending time, in terms of length of time, together, thus marrying quality and quantity.

If you answered yes to the question, "Do you feel most loved when you are given attention and feel

that someone wants to spend time with you?," quality time is likely your primary love language.

Quality time includes, but is not limited to, spending time together, giving one another complete, undivided attention. While you do not have to sit side-by-side on the couch, gazing into each other's eyes as you talk, it's not a bad idea every now and then. In order to spend quality time together, get rid of distractions such as the TV, the computer, the phone, the kids, etc. Look at each other when you talk and really "be" with that person.

Quality time also includes quality conversation, consisting of both talking and listening. While it is easier for some to talk than to listen and vice versa, it is imperative that each of you do both.

It can also be a problem if both of you like to talk. Often in these relationships a lot of interrupting goes on and neither of you feel like you have had a chance to talk. At a marriage conference we went to recently, we were given a card to be folded in half like a tent. One side says, "I'm talking," the other side says, "I'm listening." When the person talking has the "I'm talking" side in front of him or her, the person listening has the "I'm listening" side in front of her or him. When your turn to talk or listen comes, that side of the card should be in front of you.

For those couples who have a hard to listening without interrupting, this could be a good reminder of what your role is at the moment. If you use this tool, however, don't abuse it. Don't keep the "I'm talking" side too long. Give your partner a chance to talk as well, and use all the listening tools at your disposal.

If you are having trouble thinking of things to talk about now that you are together, start asking "imagine if" questions.

What would you do with $1 million dollars?
What would you talk about if you got a phone call from Michael Jordan?
What person in history would you most like to spend an afternoon with (besides me)?
If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same major in college, the same profession, the same city to live in, etc.?
What do you see us doing together when the kids leave home?

One word of caution: unless you need to work out a known problem, stay away from hot-button topics. If you have nagged your husband in the past about his choice of career, don't bring up the subject again in an attempt to nag him again. Or if she will be hurt if you don't choose her as the person you would most like to spend the afternoon with, don't use that question as a topic of conversation. Use these suggestions and this exercise to get the conversation rolling, get to know each other, and enjoy your time together.

Another part of quality time is taking part in activities together. The activities can range from watching a movie that you both want to see to taking a walk in the woods to taking dancing lessons. Whatever activity you choose, follow the steps above: give your undivided attention to your spouse and engage in quality conversation about what you are doing or any other subject that needs discussed.

Chances are good your spouse has already expressed interest in doing things together. Think back over the requests your spouse has made and make a list. Perhaps she has suggested taking walks together or spending a weekend away without the kids or he has suggested going skiing or attending a concert. Think about those suggestions and make plans to spend some time together in an activity your spouse enjoys.

If you just don't enjoy doing the activity suggested by your spouse, give it a try at least once before determining not to do it. If that activity isn't to your liking, keep suggesting activities until you agree on at least 5 things to do together. When you've done those 5 activities, work on another 5 and so on.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

Take a walk around the neighborhood to look at the flowers as they start to bloom
Plan your flower garden using some of the ideas your neighbors have used
Watch the sun go up or go down together
Create a new holiday just for the two of you
Take 15 minutes out of your day to call your mate just to talk
Plan a getaway without the kids
Take a class together
Buy a joke book and read aloud to one another
Find a book you both want to read and read it aloud to each other
Go out for coffee on Saturday morning
Serve your spouse breakfast in bed - even when he or she isn't sick

Whatever you do together, remember to give your full attention without complaining. Take the time to learn to laugh with each other again.

Quality time will involve making a sacrifice. You still only have 24 hours in day. In order to devote more time to your spouse, you will have to give up something that you spend time doing now. On the other hand, quality time doesn't mean that you have to spend every minute of every day together. Start with 30 minutes a week and increase the time from there.

Chances are good that you devote a lot more than 30 minutes a week to activities you enjoy. Doesn't it make sense to give at least that much time to improve your marriage?

The Anniversary Shop, modern and traditional wedding anniversary gifts

The Five Love Languages - Words of Affirmation

2007-02-07T13:50:00.000-05:00

A "yes" answer to the question "Do you feel most loved when someone expresses appreciation for you or for what you have done, no matter how simple the act?" signifies that "words of affirmation" could be your primary love language.

While all of us like to hear good things about ourselves, people whose primary love language is words of affirmation "need" to hear good things about themselves and what they have done. It is not an ego-building exercise; rather, it is the affirmation of who that person is and what he/she has done that makes him/her feel most loved.

As my husband and I started to get to know each other before we were married, I noticed that he would often ask me how I liked something he had made or whether I thought the comment he made in class was good. If he didn't ask me my opinion, he would often say himself, "This cornbread [I made] is really good" or "I think what I said really made a difference to the discussion."

It took me a while to figure out that he wasn't fishing for compliments; he needed to hear that he had done well with his efforts. For my husband to feel loved, he needs to hear words of affirmation.

A form of this is my primary love language, but not the "classic" language of words of affirmation. Instead of being told that my cookies are good, because I already know if they are or aren't, I need to hear that the decision to make the cookies was good, or the choice to use margarine instead of butter was a good choice. You see, my particular form of the need of words of affirmation lies more in validation than just in a job well done, but there's probably more psychology to that than we can go into here.

For most of us, this expression of love is probably the easiest need to fill. We are used to giving compliments on occasion, which means you might have to step up your effors if someone you love, a spouse, a child, a parent, or a friend, needs to hear words of affirmation, but it should't be a completey foreign language to you.

Here are some suggestions and a word of caution.

First the caution:

Do not couch your words of affirmation in tones of sarcasm or compliment someone on something that is completely not true. For example, saying, "Honey, that liver was wonderful" when you actually hated it will not get the desired result. Instead of feeling loved, the person hearing your remark will either be hurt by your lack of sincerity or you will end up eating liver every week for the rest of your life.

If you truly want to convey your love for someone with words of affirmation, you must be honest and you must find something each and every day, if not many times a day, that should be affirmed.

Here are a few examples to get you started:

Honey, I am so proud of the way you put in 9 hours a day at work and never complain
Sweetie, I appreciate that my clothes are always washed and folded before I need to wear them
Mom, it is so good to hear you play the piano. You have worked very hard and shown me what it means to be diligent
Dad, it means a lot to me when you take me fishing or show up at my soccer games

If you are having trouble coming up with something, start a list. Take a day or two to write down what you admire in the other person then tell them or write them a day or two at a time. After a while you will notice that the words come more easily and they will be appreciated more and more with each passing day.

Here are some fun ways to put this into practice:

Write your words of affirmation on sticky notes and post them on the mirror or on the fridge to be found when you're not around
Find some small pieces of paper and write "I love you because" at the top and write a few sentences below
Call and leave a message on an answering machine or cell phone
Text your message
Buy a magnetic word game to play on the refrigerator
Write your note in red crayon and draw a heart beside it

If you yourself need to hear words of affirmation, pass this along to the people in your life who love you or who are trying to show you love. It could make a world of difference.

To help you celebrate wedding anniversaries,

Claudia

The Anniversary Shop, your online store for modern and traditional anniversary gifts.

The Five Love Languages - What Is This All About?

2007-02-05T15:11:00.000-05:00

As noted a few days ago, I want to focus on Gary Chapman's Book, The Five Love Languages. If you are not familiar with this book, you are in for a treat.

The premise of the book is that each one of us, no matter our background or current station in life, has a love language that must be spoken in order for us to feel loved. No matter how much we give or get from someone in our life, if it is not done in the language of the person receiving it, that person will not feel loved no matter how much time and energy is spent in giving.

For example, perhaps your primary love language is words of affirmation. You feel most loved when someone, matter who it is, tells you that you have done a good job or your hair looks nice or you made a good choice of college or school or spouse. You could care less about getting gifts when you've done a good job; a good compliment is all that's required. Your motto is that of Mark Twain, "I can live for two months on a good compliment."

Words of affirmation is just one of the five love languages. The others are quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, physical touch.

Perhaps you already know your love language or can pick it out from the list above, but do you also know your spouse's love language or can pick it out from the list above?

If not, these questions will help. Ask them of yourself, then ask them of your spouse. The love language to watch for is in parentheses following the question.

Do you feel most loved when someone expresses appreciation for you or for what you have done, no matter how simple the act? (words of affirmation)

Do you feel most loved when you are given attention and feel that someone wants to spend time with you? (quality time)

Do you feel most loved when someone brings you gifts or some tangible item, no matter how small or inexpensive? (gifts)

Do you feel most loved when someone does things for you, taking out the garbage, washing clothes, running errands, etc.? (acts of service)

Do you feel most loved when you are receiving physical touch? (surprise! pysical touch)
Note: Be careful here not to confuse physical touch with sex. Think of nonsexual touch, holding hands, sitting close when watching a movie, getting a neck and shoulder rub. Sexual fulfillment is not the same as physical touch as a primary love language.

We will look at each of these love languages more intently over the next few posts and suggestions will be made of how to get your needs met and fulfill another's needs in their own language.

You will be pleasantly surprised at what a difference this will make in your marriage and in other loving relationships with family and friends.

Yours for celebrating wedding anniversaries.

Claudia

The Anniversary Shop

Unique Traditional and Modern Anniversary Gifts

2007-01-25T12:38:00.000-05:00

Within the pages of The Anniversary Shop you will find creative interpretation of both traditional and modern themes. For example, the gifts specified for the 1st year anniversary are paper, clocks, and gold jewelry. While clocks and gold jewelry abound, it might be difficult to come up with a gift idea for paper. Buying a gift certificate from BnBFinder.com not only provides a piece of paper that could be considered your "gift of paper," it also provides a grand opportunity to take your spouse or send that special couple to 19 different Bed and Breakfast establishments within 20 miles of Paper Mill Village, Vermont, home of one of the country's few remaining covered bridges.

Likewise, the 2nd anniversary calls for cotton, china, calico, and garnet. While all of these items are straightforward, other than a cotton shirt, what do you buy a man for a 2nd anniversary gift? home business opportunities at How about a picnic basket with a cotton lining to take with you to that quiet retreat for just the two of you? Isn't that much more romantic than another cotton shirt?

As you think about the gift you want to give, be creative, use the traditional and modern gift ideas as a guide and be sure to check out the Always Appropriate section for anniversary gifts that will be loved no matter how long you have been married. After all, who wouldn't love a picnic basket and the romantic trips for two that will ensue? And how many times have you given a diamond or piece of gemstone jewelry only to be met with, "Gee, I would rather have another blouse or shirt instead"? I didn't think so. If none of the gifts listed as traditional or modern for the year you are celebrating suit the recipient(s), you are sure to find the perfect gift under another year or in the Always Appropriate section.

The Anniversary Chart has been added to help you navigate through the pages more efficiently. All of the product lines carried at The Anniversary Shop have links to the page on which the product will be found. This gives you an easy way to find the product line you are looking for whether it is for the year you have in mind or not.

And the birthstones by month chart gives you easy access to the gemstone jewelry that will be perfect for an anniversary, birthday, Christmas, or other special occasion, or as a treat for yourself.

Remember to bookmark and use The Anniversary Shop for all your gift-giving needs. Even though we feature items for anniversaries, all of the gifts on these pages are perfect for all occasions.

It is our hope that you have as much fun giving our gifts as we have had in creating the ideas that fit the traditional and modern gift suggestions.

As always, be sure to Celebrate Wedding Anniversaries!

Claudia

claudia@theanniversaryshop.com

The Anniversary To Help You Celebrate Marriage

2007-01-18T17:31:00.000-05:00

The Anniversary Shop was created to celebrate marriage and offer gifts that are appropriate for anniversaries and other gift-giving occasions. Offering personalized and unique anniversary gift ideas by year, The Anniversary Shop can help you find a gift for anniversaries from the 1st wedding anniversary to the 25th anniversary to the 50th wedding anniversary and beyond.

Whether you choose a traditional anniversary gift, a modern anniversary gift, or an anniversary gift that is uniquely suited to the happy couple, The Anniversary Shop sends along best wishes for a long and lasting marriage.

Gifts at The Anniversary Shop are appropriate for all of your gift-giving needs. Whether looking for something special for yourself or for a special home business opportunities at friend or special occasion, bookmark The Anniversary Shop and return often.

Special thanks for the inspiration behind The Anniversary Shop goes to my husband who never forgets our anniversary or my birthday and delights in giving gifts for many occasions or for no reason at all.

And remember, Always Celebrate Anniversaries!

Win Award-Winning Bodega Chocolate Truffle Bars!

2007-01-17T06:50:00.000-05:00

Win Award-Winning Bodega Chocolate Truffle Bars!

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Enter today for a chance to win a box of award-winning Bodega chocolate truffle bars. When you enter you will also be signed up to receive notification of new products, specials, and promotions at The Anniversary Shop.

Enter today for your chance to win.

Remember, whether you are looking for modern anniversary gifts, traditional anniversary gifts, or something unique for any gift-giving occasion, The Anniversary Shop has the gift you are looking for.

The Anniversary Shop also carries diamond and gemstone jewelry that is perfect for Valentine's Day. Stop by today and place your order.

All orders received before February 15 will receive another chance to win a box of delicious Bodega Chocolate Truffle Bars.

And remember, always celebrate anniversaries!

Claudia
The Anniversary Shop, modern and traditional anniversary gifts

Where Has the Romance Gone?

2006-12-18T19:01:00.000-05:00

Where has the romance gone?

Life is busy, isn't it? So busy in fact that there is little time even for our everyday tasks, let alone the extras, such as romance.

Wait a minute! When did romance become an extra? If you are like most married couples, romance became an extra sometime after the third month of pregnancy or the third year of marriage.
:-)

But it doesn't - and shouldn't - have to stay that way. It just takes a little nudge, a little suggestion, to get the romance jump-started to become an everyday pleasure rather than a chore or an extra.

To help you along, The Anniversary Shop has added a new feature that will allow you to read a romantic tip of the day - one for you and one for your spouse.

This is a family-friendly site, so there will be nothing here to embarrass anyone. You will receive tips such as "On a Friday morning, give him a gift certificate to a local coffee shop, to be used together on the weekend" and "Give her a memory box filled with notes sharing special romantic memories (memory boxes are sold at most craft stores)."

Bookmark The Anniversary Shop and check back every day for your new Romantic Tip of the Day from Family Life.

And remember, always celebrate anniversaries!

Claudia
For unique modern wedding anniversary gifts, visit The Anniversary Shop

Paper Gifts for the 1st Anniversary

2006-12-16T07:16:00.000-05:00

Paper gifts for the first year anniversary.

Traditional anniversary gifts and modern anniversary gifts are always available at The Anniversary Shop.

Anniversary gifts are listed by year and then by category within each year. For example, the traditional anniversary gift for the first year is paper.

Paper? Yes, paper. If the first thing that comes to mind is stationery, you are not alone. But how romantic is that? Why not give a planter of delicate, fragrant paperwhite flowers instead? Or an interesting pair of lacquered paper earrings? See both of these items and more at Years 1 through 10.

And remember, whether you choose a traditional anniversary gift or a modern anniversary gift, always celebrate anniversaries!

Claudia

The Anniversary Shop

Enter to Win!

2006-12-14T08:32:00.000-05:00

Enter to Win!

There's still time to enter this month's drawing for a perfect pair of Pearl and Peridot Drop Earrings.

To enter, go to Enter to Win at The Anniversary Shop and sign up for the mailing list. You will be automatically entered in each month's contest and will receive notice of new products and promotions at The Anniversary Shop.

Every order received before 9:00 pm eastern on Friday, December 15, will receive an additional entry to win.

The drawing will be held at 9:00 pm eastern on December 15.

Sign up today!

And remember to Celebrate Anniversaries!

Claudia

Modern and traditional wedding anniversary gifts at The Anniversary Shop

diamonds, Diamonds, DIAMONDS!

2006-12-12T00:23:00.000-05:00

All diamonds are 33% off suggested retail value at The Anniversary Shop now through December 31.

Order in the next two days for delivery before Christmas.

Shown here is the Pendulum Diamond Pendant. With a center diamond of 0.25 ctw and a total carat weight of 0.50, this 14k gold pendant will be a hit this holiday season.

The entire diamond collection can be found at The Anniversary Shop

Diamonds are the perfect gift for any occasion!

Claudia

Visit The Anniversary Shop for Diamond Anniversary Gifts

Do You Need More Ideas for Men?

2006-12-08T14:46:00.000-05:00

Do you still need more ideas for gifts for men?

I am writing this on Friday to be published over the weekend because my husband and I will be staying at a Bed and Breakfast Sunday night.

If you have never stayed at a B&B you simply must stay in one and bask in the pampering that you get as you arrive to a clean room with hosts who are willing to chat or leave you to yourselves, whichever you prefer.

After a good night's sleep in a quiet room with generally some of the best mattresses we have ever slept on, you will be treated to a breakfast of pure delight! We have never been served the standard hotel fare of cereal, rolls, and coffee. Oh, no! We have had stuffed baked french toast, fresh fruit out of season, fresh-squeezed orange juice, fruit pastries, fresh homemade muffins of all kinds, eggs, pancakes, waffles, bacon, ham, and usually more of anything than we can eat.

It is truly a delight!

Click to buy gift certificates good at hundreds of B&Bs across the US.

Find other gifts for all the men and women on your list at The Anniversary Shop

Continuing with Gifts for Men

2006-12-08T14:34:00.000-05:00

Continuing with Gifts for Men - A pewter sake set on a wooden tray

For an extremely novel and unique gift for your man, check out the pewter sake set on a wooden tray at The Anniversary Shop.

Handcrafted of the finest pewter, this exquisite and functional set features a sake bottle and two cups.

For an even more extravagant and elegant sake set, the Shijo sake set at gleams with 24k trim on the sake bottle, four cups, and pewter tray. This is a gift he will remember!

Made of 97% tin, this 100% lead free pewter also contains a small amount of copper and antimony for strength. Considered the world's fourth most precious metal after platinum, gold, and silver, pewter's ability to withstand time and its shiny brilliance give it great value. Unlike silver, pewter does not require polishing or any other special care. It does not rust, tarnish, or deteriorate in any way over time.

Order now to ensure arrival in time for the holidays!

Claudia

The Anniversary Shop, for traditional and modern anniversary gifts

Another Gift Idea for Him

2006-12-08T14:26:00.000-05:00

Another gift idea for Him - A silver pocket watch

Who doesn't think a man looks 10 times more classy when he wears a pocket watch? Tom Selleck comes to mind. Not sure why, but he must have worn a pocket watch in some movie that I saw.

At The Anniversary Shop you will find two pocket watches just waiting for Christmas gift-giving.

Both the brushed silver and the high-polish pocket watches can be engraved, at no extra cost, and can be delivered anywhere in the continental US in time for Christmas if an order is placed by December 15.

Check them out and place your online order today to be sure to get your gifts in time for holiday gift giving.

Gifts of Wood for Men

2006-12-07T17:44:00.000-05:00

Gifts of Wood

It seems that wood and men go hand-in-hand. And what man wouldn't appreciate some help organizing all those gadgets, gizmos, papers, and coins in his pockets at the end of the day?

With gifts of wood, found in year 6 at The Anniversary Shop, you will find desktop or dresser organizers along with keepsake boxes and even a cherry putter that your man can use on the road, in the den, or in his office.

All of these are great gift ideas for the men on your shopping list this Christmas season.

The Anniversary Shop, your source for unique modern and traditional wedding anniversary gifts.

Picnic Baskets for Him

2006-12-05T21:26:00.000-05:00

Picnic Baskets for Him

For Christmas or for your next special occasion, anniversary or birthday, why not give him a picnic basket and the promise that it holds for romantic getaways for the just the two of you?

You will find a variety of picnic baskets at The Anniversary Shop.

With cheese and wine service for four, the Deluxe Sonoma Picnic Basket, is ready to go with everything but the food. Add your favorite beverage, cheese, crackers, and a few sandwiches, and you are off for a great adventure full of fun and romance!

As always, enjoy shopping at The Anniversary Shop and let me know if there is anything I can do to make your shopping experience better.

Claudia
claudia@theanniversaryshop.com

www.theanniversaryshop.com

Gifts for Him

2006-12-02T17:51:00.000-05:00

Gifts for Him

I know, I know. Most of the items featured so far in the blog have been for women. Any idea why?

You got it! It's because men who are looking for beautiful, classy gifts for their wives can go to one place and find the perfect gift -- and you can help him find the perfect gift by having me send a hint (see blog November 30).

But what about gifts for men? There are plenty of gifts for men at The Anniversary Shop. To help you finalize your Christmas shopping for all those men on your list, this week I will feature gifts particulary for men.

Award-Winning Bodega Chocolate

Who says chocolate is just for women? It's true that women consume a greater percentage of chocolate than men, but men love to eat chocolate too!

Featured here is the Signature Sampler from award-winning Bodega Chocolate. This sampler includes a generous 56 ounces of chocolate in the form of truffle bars, dark chocolate and almond covered English toffee, and European pastries (The Anniversary Shop).

More delectable chocolates from Bodega Chocolates can be found at the Award-Winning Chocolate link at Always Appropriate Gifts at The Anniversary Shop.

Happy shopping!

Send A Hint For Christmas

2006-11-30T15:28:00.000-05:00

Send a Hint for Christmas

See something you would like to receive at The Anniversary Shop? Send me the item description and the email address of the person who needs to know about it and I'll send a hint that this would be the perfect item(s) for you.

To help you decide, diamond jewelry is ALWAYS 33% below the suggested retail price at the diamonds page.

claudia@theanniversaryshop.com

New Items Added

2006-10-31T13:00:00.000-05:00

New items have been added to The Anniversary Shop

As promised, new items have been added. Find beautiful, hand-made garnet jewelry under years 2 and 40. These unique necklaces, bracelets, and earrings are sure to please. Buy for yourself or for someone else. Sometimes a little hint goes a long way.

You will find garnet with gold-fill or sterling silver. Some pieces contain more than just garnets. The Nichole necklace (shown here) is made of freshwater cultured pearls in shades of cinnamon, wine, rich cream, soft blue, and green, and the garnet is a deep, dark red faceted nugget. It also features a 14 karat gold-filled wire chain, handwrapping, and clasp. A coordinating Nichole bracelet is also available.

A great gift for a 2nd or 40th anniversary as well as a birthday in January (birthstone: garnet), June (birthsone: pearl), or August (birthstone: peridot).

Flowers fresh from the grower have also been added to year 1 - paper and year 4 - fruit and flowers. Fragrant paperwhites are a new twist on the paper theme for year 1, and a unique Clamondin Mandarin Orange bonsai tree and other bonsai trees are available as fruit and flowers for year 4. Give a gift that will keep on giving, and give your husband or wife a new hobby at the same time!

While you're at The Anniversary Shop, be sure to sign up for the mailing list to be entered to win a box of Bodega chocolate truffle bars and receive email notification of new products, specials, and featured items. Find the Sign up now to win! option on the Home page and enter your email address.

As always, thank you for shopping at The Anniversary Shop, for unique anniversary gifts, and keep Celebrating Wedding Anniversaries!

Chocolate for the Sixth Wedding Anniversary

2006-10-28T20:53:00.000-04:00

Today is my 6th wedding anniversary - and the traditional gift for the 6th wedding anniversary? Sugar. My preferred form of sugar is chocolate. Chocolate in all forms tastes great, but the latest health information is that dark chocolate, the darkest you can find, is best for you.

I have known this for years. Who doesn't feel better after eating chocolate? More than that, though, the Cleveland Clinic, one of the most well-known and respected health organizations in the world, recently reported that the flavonoids (which you may not have heard of) in chocolate act as antioxidants (we've all heard of these), thus promoting better health and vitality. What about all the fat in chocolate? The Cleveland Clinic addresses that as well.

"You may be surprised to find out that chocolate isn’t as bad as once perceived. The fat in chocolate, from cocoa butter, is comprised of equal amounts of oleic acid (a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat also found in olive oil), stearic and palmitic acids. Stearic and palmitic acids are forms of saturated fat. Saturated fats are linked to increases in LDL-cholesterol and risk for heart disease."

"Research indicates that stearic acid appears to have a neutral effect on cholesterol, neither raising nor lowering LDL-cholesterol levels. Palmitic acid on the other hand, does affect cholesterol levels but only comprises one-third of the fat calories in chocolate." (http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter)

While only your doctor can tell you if you are eating too much chocolate, it appears that a little bit, especially dark chocolate, may be good for you. And, if you are celebrating your 6th wedding anniversary as I am, or if you just want to add chocolate to any celebration, visit The Anniversary Shop at The Anniversary Shop to find chocolate that can be delivered direct to your door.

While you are there, be sure to check out the Always Appropriate section for gifts for any occasion or year of marriage.

Bookmark The Anniversary Shop for all your gift-giving needs.

Flowers That Will Last

2006-10-26T06:12:00.000-04:00

True to form, my husband brought flowers to me for our anniversary. Even though I told him I didn't want anything because we just retired and moved to a beautiful new home in a warmer climate, he just couldn't resist the bouquet of peachy roses, lilies, and carnations.

What can I say, though? How many wives would be upset that their husband remembered their anniversary - a few days early - and spent a few dollars for a quick but lasting smile?

If you would like flowers that will last much longer than the 5 days or so that my flowers generally last, visit The Anniversary Shop and find the beautiful Ariana flower necklace with peridot (4th Anniversary). Whether for yourself, an anniversary, a birthday, or a lovely way to say "I love you," the Ariana necklace will be a hit and remain vibrant and colorful for years to come.

As always, remember to Celebrate Wedding Anniversaries with The Anniversary Shop, your online store for traditional and modern anniversary gifts..

How It All Began

2006-10-24T20:33:00.000-04:00

Recently my husband and I spent an evening with friends we had just met. Soon after we began eating, the conversation turned to how we met. My husband and I are one of the pioneers of online dating. At first I was embarassed to admit it, but as more and more people find love online, I don't mind telling people that we met through a Christian dating service.

Just over 8 years ago, at the age of 38, I began looking online for a husband. I lived in a small town all of my life, and there were few eligible men that I hadn't known my entire life. Online dating opened up a whole new world to me. Instead of being scared about the possibilites of "who might be out there," I was anxious to have a door to the world. Little did I know, my sister was worried enough for the both of us.

After meeting a few men online and meeting 2 or 3 of them in person, my husband came on the scene. We emailed a few times then met at church one Sunday morning as he was passing through from a trip out of state. Since that first meeting, my husband drove 100 miles each way every weekend to spend time with me and attend church together.

After a few months, God revealed to me that He had brought me the man I had been praying for. He is kind, gentle, and loving, and He loves God, me, and his family.

On my birthday 7 years ago, we went out for dinner and crossed the street to a gazebo in the park after dessert. Soon my husband handed a card to me. As I read it, I was oblivious to everything else going on around me. When I opened the card, he had written "This is good for one proposal." When I looked up and asked, "Are you asking me to marry you?," he was down on one knee in front of me with an open ring box in his hand.

As the saying goes, "The rest is history." This Saturday we will have been married 6 years. A lot has happened in those 6 years. Single for 40 years, I am now a grandmother of two of the most wonderful kids in the whole wide world. My husband and I recently retired from our full-time jobs and are living a moderate life in a warmer climate. We stay up late, sleep in when we want, and eat most of our meals at home (an amazing feat given that we previously ate out more than we ate in). He has started a second career part time and I am working at getting an online store set up to sell, you guessed it, anniversary gifts.

Why anniversary gifts? Because marriage is to be celebrated and marked with a special gift that will be remembered for years to come. Traditional and modern gift lists are available for suggestions on gift giving, but even more important than sticking to a list is finding a gift that fits your spouse or that special couple. It is great if it falls into the traditional or modern theme, but it is more important to be creative and celebrate with a gift that is unique and will be treasured.

At The Anniversary Shop, you will find gifts for most years (remember, I just retired and am still working on the site) and some that are appropriate for any year.

Send your story of how you met. Even though we often get cynical about marriage, it is still the most coveted relationship in the world.

Remember, celebrate your annivesary! It will do wonders for your marriage.