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One Dad's Quest to Regain Control of his Kingdom

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When a Marriage Can’t Be Saved

October 14, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

When a Marriage Can't Be Saved

When two partners get married, the marriage is always seen as being together forever. They’re the love of each other’s lives and will hopefully grow old together. During the first year of their marriage, they’ll buy a home and will probably be expecting a child together. Throughout their many years of marriage and parenthood, there will be plenty of good memories to look back on. There were also be bad times, arguments, and fights.

Arguing and fighting is expected to happen every now and then in a marriage as well as relationships and engagements. After both of you have let out your anger and frustration, you calm down, are able to think with a clear head, and apologize. Disagreements are also expected to happen often in a marriage, but plenty of partners are able to figure out a compromise. But if these arguments, fights, and disagreements become more frequent, it might be one of the first signs that being married isn’t working out anymore.

Once it starts to become obvious that a marriage isn’t the same as how it started, many couples will try to find a way to bring back that newlywed spark. Before turning to family law professionals, like KoonsFuller Family Law, couples may schedule more alone time together wherever they can. They’ll find a babysitter for the kids so they can have a date night. Date night can include going out to dinner, going to see a movie, or another enjoyable activity. Even though your kids are everything to you, couples need alone time to enjoy each other and remember why they got married.

Another thing a couple can do in an attempt to save their marriage is going on a getaway. Just like with date night, any kids you have together can be left with a babysitter. This getaway can be a weekend or a week-long trip. It can be camping in the woods, a cabin up in the mountains, a resort on the beach, etc. Whatever type of getaway both of you will enjoy, the choice is yours. All parents will agree that your kids are your world, but it can be nice to have a break from them and have all of your attention on each other.

If whatever idea you and your spouse come up with doesn’t rekindle the spark in your marriage, marriage counselors are available to help. They have the knowledge and experience to give suggestions on rekindling the romance based on why the marriage seems to be going downhill. Besides doing what they can to help your marriage work out, they also know if it’s best that you get a divorce.

Going through a divorce can be hard and stressful. You’re separating from the person you thought was the love of your life. You’ve spent the last decade or two having them as your life partner. You’ve raised kids together, have gone on plenty of adventures, and have stuck by each other’s sides through thick and thin. Whatever struggles life threw at you, you faced and survived them all.

A divorce can be difficult for any kids involved. All kids grow up viewing their parents’ marriage as being together forever. The most ideal childhood to have is both parents under one roof. The age of the kids at the time of the divorce can determine what their reactions will be. Teenagers may be upset and act out in response. Younger children may not fully be able to understand the situation but may be sad about mommy and daddy no longer being together.

When a divorce includes kids, one decision will be who’s going to have custody of them. If both partners are completely capable parents, it can be joint custody. If one parent is dealing with being unemployed or an alcohol or drug addict, the other parent may receive full custody.

Whatever the custody situation ends up being, it’s important that both parents are still in the kids’ lives. If the mother has full custody, the kids can visit their father on the weekends and vice versa. A divorce may mean that both parents go back to handling life on their own, but raising the kids is a responsibility that both share together.

Filed Under: fatherhood Tagged With: father, fatherhood, husband, marriage, relationship, relationships

7 Reasons A Loving Marriage Brings Hope and Security To Your Kids

July 14, 2017 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

7 Reasons A Loving Marriage Brings Hope and Security To Your Kids

7 Reasons A Loving Marriage Brings Hope and Security To Your Kids

 

A loving marriage is a wonderful thing to be part of. When you’re in a loving, supportive marriage, you feel safe and secure, knowing that your partner has your back and is always there for you.

 

Building a strong marriage takes long term work and commitment, with plenty of open communication, and a good dash of humor and forgiveness thrown in. The results are worth it – you’re building a bond that will last a lifetime.

 

There’s another positive aspect to a loving marriage, beyond the benefits it brings you and your partner: A loving marriage brings hope and security to your kids.

 

Coming from a home where a supportive, affectionate marriage is central, is nourishing and helpful for your children. Here are 7 reasons why keeping your marriage strong benefits your children too:

 

  1. Kids Feel More Secure

A home full of arguments or even the impending stress of a possible break up doesn’t provide security for children. It’s hard for kids to feel safe and secure when their home life is on a rocky ground.

 

A loving marriage gives kids a secure background and a safe home where they can relax and truly feel at ease. A harmonious home life boosts kids’ self esteem, reduces tension, and can even increase their confidence.

 

The importance of feeling secure cannot be overstated. By keeping your marriage stable, loving, you’re giving your kids a gift of great value.

 

  1. Affection Becomes The Norm

Seeing their parents be loving to each other lets kids see that affection is normal and natural. Kids who grow up in a home without a lot of hugs or hand holding are at risk of growing up unsure of their emotions or how best to express them healthily.

 

Growing up around affectionate parents helps kids grow up into affectionate, loving adults who aren’t afraid to show their love for others. One day in the future, they’ll show that same affection and openness to their own kids, continuing a positive cycle.

 

  1. They See What A Healthy Relationship Looks Like

One day your kids are going to grow up and get into relationships of their own. They may choose to marry. The relationship they see growing up gives them the idea of what a relationship is, and what it should look like.

 

Kids who see their parents treating each other with love and respect grow up with the healthy notion that respect and love are the norm in a relationship. They’ll have healthy expectations and, with some encouragement from you, will learn to reject any partner who doesn’t treat them with appropriate love and respect.

 

  1. Learning That Conflict Can Be Dealt With

Even the most loving marriage experiences a little conflict from time to time. If your marriage is strong and loving overall, the occasional conflict won’t be too frightening for your kids.

 

Seeing that you and your spouse can disagree but still treat each other kindly models excellent behavior for your kids as they grow. They’ll learn that conflict can be dealt with, and that it’s possible to disagree with someone without lashing out and using cruel words.

 

  1. They Learn The Importance Of Being Mindful Of Others

Seeing you and your spouse treating each other with consideration is a valuable life lesson for your children. When you’re in a loving marriage you’re kind to each other, and show thoughtfulness towards each other’s needs and feelings.

 

Teaching your kids to be mindful of others sets them up to become considerate, thoughtful adults who act with integrity and maturity in their relationships, and forge deep and enduring connections as a result.

 

  1. The Value Of Teamwork Is Highlighted

When your kids see you and your spouse working together to get the chores done, plan a vacation, move home, or overcome an obstacle, they learn about the value of teamwork. And if you involve them in projects so they can work alongside you, that’s even better.

 

Kids who learn how to share, compromise, and work together, are learning valuable skills that will benefit them not only in relationships, but in work, friendships, community activities and more.

 

  1. Space To Explore And Grow

Kids who feel secure also feel safe enough to explore who they are and their place in the world around them. They have the security they need to grow into themselves and explore what matters to them, what talents and gifts they have, and what makes them happy.

 

When you create a safe and secure marriage, you give your kids a beautiful environment in which they have the safety and support they need to develop into teenagers and then into adults with a sense of hope and fun.

 

A loving marriage is wonderful for you and your partner, and it gives your kids a safe, nurturing life at home.

 

Author Bio:- Rachel Pace is a relationship expert with years of experience in training and helping couples. She has helped countless individuals and organizations around the world, offering effective and efficient solutions for healthy and successful relationships. Her mission is to provide inspiration, support and empowerment to everyone on their journey to a great marriage. She is a featured writer for Marriage.com, a reliable resource to support healthy happy marriages.

Filed Under: fatherhood Tagged With: father, fatherhood, guest post, marriage, relationship, relationships

Are you facing the prospect of divorce?

May 4, 2016 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Divorce

For many different reasons, there can be times when divorce happens and families are no longer able to remain together.  The unfortunate problem this creates is that parents often can’t agree on what should happen with the children following a divorce.  Far too often, many individual parents follow a selfish agenda and forget that they should respect the needs and rights of their children.  Quite a lot of them don’t put the children first.  This is why we have special courts to deal with these kinds of problems.

 

Of course it is important not to repeat the mistake of many millions of couples who have gone before you and decided to stay together “for the sake of the children”.  This is a huge mistake because when two people are remaining together against their will, their frustration is likely to manifest in many negative ways, and it is impossible to totally hide that.  What happens is that you run a real risk of ending up as a bitter and twisted old couple who hate each other’s guts, and with completely dysfunctional children because they haven’t grown up in a loving home environment.

 

It’s not right to put the needs of the children too far ahead of your own.  It’s worth remembering that you are somebody’s child yourself.  Your happiness matters also.  But it’s also very important to respect the fact that children are quite powerless in many respects, and they are not mature enough to handle the emotional storm that is about to be unleashed in their home.  You do need to make sure you achieve a really good outcome that is as fair as possible to everyone involved.

 

When you are facing the prospect of divorce, it is vital that your first step is to consult Family Law solicitors for advice.  They have the necessary knowledge and experience to help you through one of the most difficult and complex legal processes that you’ll ever face in your life.  Don’t under-estimate how necessary it is to have legal representation.  It is definitely a false economy to try to handle these matters entirely on your own.

 

Sometimes parents can go to some quite extreme lengths to try to prevent their former spouse from having contact with the children.  Quite often this is for petty and selfish reasons.  It may be a desire to punish the other person or simply just a matter of spite.  In such cases, it is often because they have made up lies about their spouse in order to create these problems.

 

Not only is this unfair to the spouse, but it is unfair to the children and may even be harmful to their development (“Daddy doesn’t love you any more, dear!”).  You can find a good lawyer at the Solicitors Guru who has powers that can help prevent those kinds of problems.  For example, if you represent yourself in court, you don’t have any powers to directly challenge accusations made against you.  The only thing you can do is respond.  But a lawyer can challenge whatever claims are made, and they will often be successful in revealing the existence of a lie.  For this reason alone, the lawyer is a good investment.

Filed Under: fatherhood Tagged With: divorce, father, fatherhood, marriage

How to Be a Better Husband

October 22, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

2 people holding hands - how to be a better husband - http://www.dadofdivas.com

How to Be a Better Husband

Marriage can be hard, but it can also be one of the most rewarding things you’ll do in your life. If you’re looking to take on the challenge of becoming a better husband and the man your wife deserves, get started today with these easy steps.

 

Unplug Together

It’s easy to get sucked into the world of technology, and your wife is probably guilty of ignoring you for her phone as well. However, it’s worth it for both of you to make the effort to unplug. You’ve probably got technology use rules set in place for your kids, so set yourself to the same standard. Set aside at least an hour each night devoid of any sort of screen time, and yes that means phones, computers, iPads, and televisions. Tell your wife about your plan—she’ll be pleased that you’re taking the initiative to get more quality time with her and likely follow your lead. This will allow you to reconnect in ways you may have lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

 

Appearance Matters

You got the girl already, obviously, and it’s more than normal to let your appearance fall a little by the wayside. This is an easy fix though, fellas. If you want to impress your wife, start making more of an effort to look suave on the daily, not only on special occasions. Get up 10 minutes earlier to look good before going to work, get a close shave, do your hair a little differently, and at least try on some things she’s suggested. You may find you like the way you look and feel better about yourself while impressing her at the same time.

How to be a better husband - http://www.dadofdivas.com

Fight the Bad Day Blues

If she’s having a bad day, do what you can to make it better in any way possible. A surprise delivery of chocolate covered berries to her office may be the thing to make her smile, and what woman ever turned down chocolate? She’ll be pleasantly embarrassed to receive your delivery in front of all of her coworkers, and you’ll be the king of romance for the day—strike that, the whole week!

 

Do Chores—Without Being Asked

We’re all guilty of avoiding chores, but it will make you a better husband if you take the initiative and do the things required of you without her asking—she is your wife, not your mom, after all. Whether it’s washing the car, cleaning up the kitchen, throwing in a load of laundry, or making the kids’ lunches for the next day at school, complete it before she can even think to ask. I guarantee you she’ll be impressed.

 

Hand over the Remote

If you’re notorious for hogging the television, it’s time to be a little more generous with the remote control. Ask her if she has a specific show she’d love to watch, and record yours to watch later. Start a new show that the two of you can enjoy together from start to finish on Netflix, let the kids watch some of their favorite programs, and show her you can share the TV screen every once in a while.

Holding Hands- how to be a better husband - http://www.dadofdivas.com

Take the Kids

Give your wife a break every once in a while and take the kids and the responsibility off her shoulders for a day. Move around your schedule to get them to school if that’s normally her duty, pick them up afterwards and get them to any extracurricular activities, and handle dinner on your own. For some extra debonair charm, give her a gift certificate to a masseuse and tell her the evening is your treat. She’ll love getting to relax and you’ll get in some quality time with your kids—everybody wins!

 

Reinstate Date Night

When you first started dating, it was probably all flowers and dinners and fun activities. With marriage, kids, and jobs, the pressures of life can get in the way of carving out time for special activities. Change that by making date night a priority again. Arrange for a babysitter on a particular night each week and dedicate the evening to each other. It needn’t be expensive; mini golf, a movie, even a bowling date could be the thing to inject some more fun into your relationship.

If you have the desire to become a better husband, today’s your day to start. Think about how much your wife deserves your extra effort, and funnel your energy into being the man she married all those years ago—just with some new improvements.

Filed Under: fatherhood Tagged With: husband, marriage, relationships

The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted by @drgarychapman #Giveaway

January 29, 2014 by dadofdivas 2 Comments

The Marriage You've Always Wanted

 photo disclaimer_zpsaa1cb05b.jpg

About the Book

You can picture the perfect marriage in your mind, but re-creating it in reality doesn’t come easy. Trusted counselor and relationship expert Dr. Gary Chapman reasons that the most sought-after ingredient in any marriage is true oneness. In The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted, he presents expert wisdom and common sense methods to establishing that true unity on emotional and practical levels. Discover the wit and insight that makes his worldwide presentations and marriage conferences so popular. Are you trying to change your spouse? Do you know what it means to really love someone? Do you feel ignored or even alone in your effort to improve your marriage? Dr. Chapman has answers and action steps on topics from expressing your emotions to managing your money, all in a format that will have you and your spouse talking and learning with every page.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: DR. GARY CHAPMAN

As anyone who has attended one of his marriage conferences knows, Dr. Gary Chapman’s expertise in marriage begins with the success and failures he and his wife Karolyn have experienced in their marriage for more than 45 years. He is just the man to turn to for help on improving or healing our most important relationships. His own life experiences, plus over thirty-five years of pastoring and marriage counseling, led him to publish his first book in the Love Language series, The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate. Many of the millions of readers credit this continual New York Times bestseller with saving their marriages by showing them simple and practical ways to communicate love.

Since the success of his first book, Dr. Chapman has expanded his Five Love Languages series with special editions that reach out specifically to singles, men, and parents of teens and young children.

He is the author of numerous other books published by Moody Publishers/Northfield Publishing, including Anger, The Family You’ve Always Wanted, The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted, Desperate Marriages, God Speaks Your Love Language, How to Really Love Your Adult Child, and Hope for the Separated. With Dr. Jennifer Thomas, he co-authored The Five Languages of Apology.

Dr. Chapman speaks to thousands of couples nationwide through his weekend marriage conferences. He hosts a nationally syndicated radio program, A Love Language Minute, and a Saturday morning program, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, both airing on more than 400 stations. Dr. Chapman and his wife have two grown children and currently live in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he serves as senior associate pastor at Calvary Baptist Church.

Dr. Chapman holds BA and MA degrees in anthropology from Wheaton College and Wake Forest University, respectively, MRE and PhD degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has completed postgraduate work at the University of North Carolina and Duke University.

Visit the official website: http://www.5lovelanguages.com/resource/the-marriage-youve-always-wanted/

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5LoveLanguages

twitter: https://twitter.com/drgarychapman

My Take on the Book

I have always been impressed with the love languages books and was so glad to see that the author had now written this. Anyone that has been married knows that it is not easy and that you do have to work through it, as you do with any relationship and Dr. Chapman is able to help all married couples better understand the issues that yo will have to weather over the years as well as how best to weather the storm (per se) by understanding and loving your partner even more. What I loved about the book was how practical the book was. Dr. Chapman gives easy to understand advice to all readers and I was impressed with how easy it was to start implementing some of the tips provided in this. This is not to say that everything will be easy, but the resources and tips provided give you the stepping stones to follow as you start down this journey. This is definitely a book I recommend that you read as a couple as it will open up many great conversations between you and your partner. All-in-all this was a great book and one that all couples should read!

Giveaway

How would you like to win this for yourself or for your family? All you need to do is fill out the below form to be entered.  The contest will run for one week and will end on February 5, 2014.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

 

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Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: book, book review, Five Love Languages, gary chapman, giveaway, love, love languages, marriage

Romantic Marriage or Losing Your Mojo? #dadchat

May 29, 2013 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

J-Mom and Dad of DivasAre You In A Romantic Marriage or Have You Lost Your Romantic Mojo?

This year my wife and I will be celebrating 15 years of marriage. Anyone who is married knows, any marriage takes hard work and commitment throughout entirety of the marriage itself and maintaining romantic marriages can take even more effort as the years go on.

With our anniversary coming up I wanted to reflect back myself on some of the romantic gestures that I have done for my wife over the years. I know that prior to being married I was much more of a romantic that I am after 15 years of marriage. This is not to say that I love my wife in less than I did when I was dating and engaged to her, however I think that over the years I have simply lost my romantic mojo, and now it is time for me to get it back.

Romantic Marriages

So how does this happen? I think for many husbands do we get complacent and we start taking advantage and taking for granted the things that are wives do for us on a daily basis. I think this is especially true once you have kids and your wives start taking on the responsibility of working with the children. Also, if your wife stays at home or does not work outside of the home, we become even more complacent as she takes up more of the things that have to occur on a daily and weekly basis.

This by no way justifies this behavior, but I think it does help individuals in understanding why this phenomenon occurs. I know that I definitely do not want to take advantage of my wife or what she does, but sometimes I forget to acknowledge this.  So my question for all of you is: How do each of you deal with this issue and have a romantic marriage in your own life?

As I move forward in my marriage I know that I have to be more inventive with my romantic gestures and not be as complacent in these and the roles that I take on in the home so that I too can say that I am in a romantic marriage for most of the time. I definitely have some ideas for how this can happen for us and luckily I still have some time to work on some plans for my anniversary as well!

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Filed Under: parenting Tagged With: Ideas and Tips, marriage, relationships, Romance

Getting Away To A Great City and Hotel Helps Parents Reconnect ( @hotel71chicago ) #Dadchat

July 4, 2012 by dadofdivas 24 Comments

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to be able to get away with my lovely bride of 14 years to escape the chains of reality and instead to simply let go and have fun without the kids! I have to be honest and say that we have not been the best examples of balance when it comes to finding our own time as parents, so this was a lucky treat and after spending the time with her I have to say that it was something that we should have done a long time ago! We decided to spend our 14th anniversary in the town where we had our first trip as a couple some 16 years ago, the windy city, Chicago. I had had some CityPASS tickets that were provided to me in the past so we were planning to try and use some of them so that we could go and see some of the local museums as well as take in the sights, sounds and tastes of Chicago.

We decided to take the South Shore Line  of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District into the town as we had found out that it would cost us about $49/night to park the car in town, so we wanted to save a bit of money. For both of us it cost about $30 roundtrip from Chesterton, Indiana and the parking was secure and the ride was pleasant and comfortable without any noticeable delays or issues. The train brought us to Millenium Station and from there is was only about a 3 block walk to where we were staying.

I was so excited to try out Hotel 71 as I had heard some amazing things about it, as well as seeing it in movies like “The Dark Knight” and “Transformers” Located directly in the heart of Chicago, it is so well situated between the Magnificent Mile and things like Grant Park and Navy Pier that you cannot go wrong. The other great thing was that it was located right on the Chicago River (or at least right across the street) and with views of this as well as the Trump Tower, Wrigley and Tribune buildings, you cannot get much better!

In walking into the building you are introduced to a modern looking hotel with a pleasant feel. The first thing that I noticed was the smiles on the faces of the front desk staff. I was immediately welcomed by Jessica, an employee who had recently graduated from College and was a transplant from Michigan. Jessica was easy to talk to and made me feel like I was the only customer that she had to work with all day (talk about feeling welcomed). What particularly was nice was the fact that every time that I saw her she remembered who I was and used my name to greet me and to ask how she could continue being of service which was amazing.

The check-in process was simple and we even could check into our room early (which was a pleasant surprise).

When we got to the room and opened the door we were very pleased at what we encountered. The room was very like luxurious, with a king sized bed desk and then tables as well as a minibar, microwave and safe. The bathroom provided his and her sinks as well as a separate restroom with soaking tub and disconnected shower. Inside the restroom was an additional television for you to be able to watch something on television while soaking in the tub. The linens on the bed were of high quality and the pillows were such that you simply sank into them and did not want to get up (or at least I didn’t). Everything in the room was pristine and the housing staff did a wonderful job at keeping the room looking the way that the hotel wished it to be. The view from the room was wonderful and spotlighted the Chicago River,TrumpTower, Wrigley and Tribune buildings. As a photographer I love to be able to take pictures of the river and the individual bridges that you typically do not get to view from the angle of a hotel room.

 

I explored the hotel and decided to work out and was pleased to find a fully stocked workout room with three rooms filled with equipment ranging from cardio too weights, there was a little bit of everything for everyone.

My wife and I decided to explore the city a little bit on the first day and went to the Shedd Aquarium in 14 years. Thanks to CityPass we bypassed a long line and found that the pass itself that we had provided us with complete access to all of the aquarium, and instead of having to pay for extra exhibits and shows we were provided full access without additional charge. The aquarium was amazing and offers so many varieties of aquatic life. The shows and additional exhibits are worth the extra money as the staff of the aquarium have done a remarkable job of working with the animals and the habitats of the animals to make your experience as real as can be without being in the water yourself.

The only downside to the day was public transportation, as we had purchased one day passes to save some money in regards to transporting ourselves to and from our hotel. While the transportation was less expensive it didn’t take but a bit longer and we found that by staying until after the aquarium had closed, it was also a bit unreliable. We ended up walking back to the hotel from the aquarium which was about a 25 to 30 minute walk on a warm day.

 

By the time that we returned to our hotel we were pleased to find that the staff had provided us with bottled water and fruit to accompany our stay (I am guessing this may have something to do with my review of the hotel, but it was a very nice gesture nonetheless).

Our stay at Hotel 71 continued to be a great one over the two full days and two nights that we were guests. On the second night of our stay we also ate at the restaurant which is a part of the hotel called Hoyt’s Chicago. The restaurant was elegant and provided an urban feel to one’s dining experience. For both my wife and I loved about the restaurant at first was the laid-back dining atmosphere that was provided to us. We had the opportunity to sit and eat outside (though it was too warm for us) or inside.

We actually had a table sitting overlooking theChicago River (which we both loved). Our server was friendly and talkative (not overly so) and was ever-eager to assist and please. My wife and I got to know him a little bit better in about what brought him to the city, and he was comfortable in sharing his life with us which is something we always enjoy.

 

The restaurant knew that it was our anniversary, so they surprised us with a bottle of sparkling wine which was a nice surprise! We ended up deciding to try out the homemade pretzel appetizer first. When this came out, it came with both a chorizo cheese sauce as well as a stone ground Dijon mustard, both of which were very good. I even tried mixing the two and found that they went well together.  After this my wife ordered the hanger steak and I the skirt steak.

When the meals arrived I have to say that the kitchen had done a fine job at displaying the meal. We each tried each other and I have to say that though both were mouth watering, we both preferred the hanger steak as it had more flavor overall and the mix of caramelized onions brought forth an addition complex component of flavors which the skirt steak was lacking.

This is not to say that the skirt steak was bad, far from it, but it was simply lacking a bit of flavor that a sauce would have helped (as the horseradish cream was a bit mild for my taste.

After our main course we ordered the Oatmeal and Nuts Apple Crumble and it was definitely worth it. Talk about a delicious way to end our meal.

All-in-all the meal at Hoyt’s Chicago was a very pleasant one and I would say that if you are looking for fine dining in a urban feeling, semi-casual atmosphere, you too should go and try the wonderful food and service that they provide.

Everyone that we met at Hotel 71 made the experience both special and memorable and from what I could see, they treated every one of their guests with the same respect and professionalism. I would definitely satay at this hotel again if given the chance and I would highly recommend that you too consider the same if you are looking for a fun way to reconnect with a loved one, or if you are simply trying to get away for a weekend!

 

 

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Filed Under: parenting, travel Tagged With: Anniversary, connection, marriage, parenting, relationship, relationships

1-800 Flowers Offers Guys a Way To Be Prince Charming Again Giveaway

July 25, 2010 by dadofdivas 22 Comments

No man is as perfect as Prince Charming, although you may try to be! If you want to try and charm the woman in your life you need to learn how to express yourself. This may sound difficult, but that is why 1-800-FLOWERS.COM is now introducing the Guys Guide to Flowers.

Whether you have a special occasion coming up, you need to make amends, or “just because,” the Guys Guide to Flowers is every man’s one-stop resource to finding the right gifts for hairy situations.

The Guy’s Guide to Flowers offers features such as the Pre-Apologizer, which provides gift ideas to help men win over their lady. In addition, the Post-Apologizer suggests the perfect resolution for men who should have known better, but messed up anyway.

If you’re in trouble with someone you love, National Get out of the Doghouse Day is coming up! July 19th is your day for a pardon. Through the launch of the Guy’s Guide to Flowers, let 1-800-FLOWERS.COM help you get out of the doghouse and stay out.

We think your readers, especially ones who have had difficulty purchasing gifts before, would benefit from this new resource. We would like to offer an It’s All about You floral arrangement as a giveaway to your readers so that they can put a smile on someone’s face this summer.
 

Giveaway
How would you like to win a 1-800 Flowers It’s All About You Flower Bouquet? All you need to do 1) Subscribe to the Dad of Divas Reviews Site  and 2) Leave a note on Dad of Divas on Facebook about the last time you ever gave or reveived flowers as an apology (Leave username in comment below)  The contest will run for one week and will end on August 1, 2010.

Bonus Entries
  • Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)
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    • Share this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or any forum, including the name of the prize and a link to this post. Here I’ll make it easier on you, copy and paste this:” @dadofdivas is giving away a @1800flowers Bouquet – http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com/ ” (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)
    Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

    This contest will run until August 1, 2010 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

    Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

    Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

    Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

    All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.


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    Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: flowers, marriage, men, relationships

    Book Review & Giveaway – Putting Children First: Proven Parenting Strategies for Helping Children Thrive Through Divorce

    May 2, 2010 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

    “While I have seen the dark side of divorce, I have also


    witnessed the positive outcomes when parents put their


    children’s well-being above all else and focus on parenting


    that results in children who are confident, resilient,


    and ultimately well adjusted.”


    —JoAnne Pedro-Carroll, Ph.D

    PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST: Proven Parenting Strategies for Helping Children Thrive Through Divorce, by JoAnne Pedro-Carroll, Ph.D., is the first book on divorce to address all the concealed emotions that children feel, but seldom tell their parents. Dr. Pedro-Carroll has spent 30 years working with children and parents before, during, and after divorce, and has invaluable insights from years of research and public and private practices. Dr. Pedro-Carroll expertly weaves proven strategies with real-life situations that many divorcing or divorced parents can identify and understand.

    PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST teaches:

    • How children express the stress of divorce at various developmental stages and how to understand their words and behaviors
    • How to talk to children of different ages about separation, divorce, and family changes in ways that provide reassurance and stability and prepare them for big changes
    • How parents can reduce conflict between themselves, promote their own well-being, and protect children from ongoing animosity
    • What recent behavioral and brain research contributes to our understanding of how to help children through difficult times
    • What emotionally intelligent parenting practices parents can adopt – balancing abiding love and very clear limits on their behavior – to ensure that their own children grow up strong and resilient. 

    Divorce does not need to be detrimental – in fact, children can flourish with patience, sensitivity, and the sound advice of PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST.

    My Take on the Book

    I am dealing with this issue right now in my family so I was definitely interested in this and the topics that were within as I know we will need to be able to explain these concepts to especially Diva-J who is old enough to understand.

    The book is ull of great insights into how to best work with children to help them understand what is going on and how to cope with the strain of divorce within a family.

    I found the book to e very easy to read and te tips to be easy to implement. The book itself was very straight forward and I liked the flow of the book itself. You can tell that the author truy did listen to children to hear their thoughts, concerns, and fears as you read this book.

    Overall, this book will make a great addition for my own library and I am sure it will for you as well. The book goes on sale starting May 4, 2010 nd you can find it then or pre-order it on Amazon!

    Giveaway

    How would you like to win a copy of this book for yourself? I will be giving away one book to a lucky reader! All you need to do is let me know why you would have an interest in this book to be considered. The contest will run for one week and will end on May 9, 2010.

    Bonus Entries:
  • Blog about my Giveaway by linking back to this post (1 entries per blog post. Please leave each entry in separate comments with your URL link in order for it to count)
  • Grab my badge to your sidebar
     
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    • Share this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or any forum, including the name of the prize and a link to this post. Here I’ll make it easier on you, copy and paste this:” @dadofdivas is giving away Putting Children First by JoAnn Pedro-Carroll – http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com/” (Then leave the link to your post. One entry per place per day)
    • Bookmark this post in Delicious, Digg, StumbleUpon, or whatever social bookmarking site is your favorite. (Leave comment with the info. One entry per site per day)
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    • Become a fan of Dad of Divas on Facebook (Leave username in comment)

    Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

    This contest will run until May 9, 2010 at approximately 12:59 pm Eastern.

    Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

    Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!
    Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.
  • All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.


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    Filed Under: book review Tagged With: books, divorce, marriage

    Book Review – This is Your Brain In Love

    January 2, 2010 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

    About the Book

    Using the latest in brain research, This Is Your Brain in Love helps couples become Master Level Lovers by encouraging each mate to bring their healthiest, most balanced and joyful self to their marriage.
    Dr. Henslin speaks to the vital connection between spirituality and sexuality. He identifies the five types of lovers, with ground-breaking insights and effective solutions for the challenges presented by each:

    • Scattered Lover
    • Over-focused Lover
    • Blue Mood Lover
    • Agitated Lover
    • Anxious Lover

    Filled with relatable stories and humor, this is not your boring brain book! Engaging and practical, Dr. Henslin provides an amazingly accurate, scientifically-based brain test to help spot typical brain imbalances. (And yes, most everyone has at least one!)

    Bonus material offers brainesearched strategies and new hope for women dealing with hormones and men struggling with sexual addictions.


    My Take On The Book

    This book is filled with great stories from the professional practice of the author which show true visions of passionate love between couples. I was particularly interested in reading about the different types of lovers as he explains it. I also liked the questions that he poses in each chapter that allow you, as the reader, to identify what type of lover that you are, and in doing so,what you can do to be more passionate in your relationship with your spouse.

    I have seen many examples of love that can get stale in relationships, but from what I have read in this book, I feel renewed to the idea that this does not necessarily have to be the case, and instead, you can rejuvenate your love (and passion) with your spouse that may have been missing for some time.

    The books’ religious connection and the idea of spirituality and sexuality was new for me, but it makes sense. As for many of us we are doing what we can to be spiritualy connected to both our spuouse and a higher being.

    Overall, this book is very practical, and provides hands on material that can help all individuals who are in committed relationships. This book is a keeper!
    If this book sounds like something you are interested in, I encourage you to read more about it on Amazon, or at the Thomas Nelson Product Page.

    All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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    Filed Under: book review Tagged With: books, love, marriage, relationships, thomas nelson book review

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