International Scrapbooking Day

My boyfriend and I just celebrated our 1 year anniversary. For a present, I made him a scrapbook of all the pictures we’ve taken over the past year. This took tons of time and not to mention alot of money. In return, he gave me a cheap necklace ($14). My boyfriend doesn’t have much money and he is currently unemployed. The money is not the problem, however. The problem lies in the fact that he could have planned ahead and done a few odd jobs here and there to buy something a little nicer. How do I get him to put more effort into our relationship and effort into preparing for special occasions like these?

you can sit down with him and try to talk about it, but thats probably just the way he is and he probably won’t change any time soon. most men are like this. still there’s no harm in trying to talk to him about how you feel. and i hope he is trying to get a job. if he’s not then he is obviously just lazy when it comes to getting a job and having a relationship so u should dump him.

I live in Michigan and he lives in Florida. We are engaged to be married in December. I have known him for years but have only seen him on 4 occasions since we have been "together". Being in a long distance relationship is extremley hard. I am crazy in love with him and I try to make him feel special by sending letters and cards, and I text him alot of "just beacuse" texts and pics and stuff.For christmas I made him a very sentimental scrapbook of our relationship and poems.
My problem is is he doesnt do these things for me barely at all. I have actually cried to him about it because it hurts my feelings that he doesnt write letters or text me without ME INITIATING.
I feel like the chaser.
I have told him how an email just "everynow and then" or a card, letter, or even a text that simply says "Thinking about you baby" would mean alot to me but he still wont to do it.
What hurts me most is the fact that I told him how important it is to me. He says that isnt him and he doesnt have the time, and that he is fine with just knowing aI love him and that it should be the same way for me. In my opinion if Im going to be his wife he should want to make me happy even if that means taking five minutes to stop at walgreens and sign his name to a card. I have been with him 9 months and I have gotten one email and one card that was late for valentines day and it was not a love card at all but a humor one.
He has texted me like only a couple times literally in 9 months without me texting him first.
I can see if we seen each other all the time, but we are states apart and to ME these things are more important when thats the only way of communication we have besides the phone.
We do find time to talk about an hour or so a day. But I just crave more of his attention and Im really not asking for much. I mean really how long does it take to text "I miss u" or something?
He claims "I dont text".
well in my mind I hate ironing. But when we live together IAM GONNA IRON his clothes. because I want to make him happy, and do that so he looks nice for work. I dont have to, and I dont really like doing it, but its not always about what I FEEL LIKE doing. Its about wanting to please your partner.

Im really upset and hurt. I just feel like what I tell him I crave from him should matter to him. Im not asking him to send me a letter everyday even one every other month would mean something to me. Right now I dont have anything I can put in a box from him.
So what is his line of thinking? Advice?

i get the feeling that men dont attach themselves much to their wife or gf unless they have a regular physical life with them and so are not thinking of giving out those little mementos or affectionate words you seek. he doesnt have that kind of connection to you except that you belong to him and he wouldnt want you to stop doing what you do for him. and if you stopped, there would probably be no relationship at all in your case. but, if you need more from him while youre long distance it probably wont happen. as one answerer said, you could try talking to him and hope things will improve.

I live in Michigan and he lives in Florida. We are engaged to be married in December. I have known him for years but have only seen him on 4 occasions since we have been "together". Being in a long distance relationship is extremley hard. I am crazy in love with him and I try to make him feel special by sending letters and cards, and I text him alot of "just beacuse" texts and pics and stuff.For christmas I made him a very sentimental scrapbook of our relationship and poems.
My problem is is he doesnt do these things for me barely at all. I have actually cried to him about it because it hurts my feelings that he doesnt write letters or text me without ME INITIATING.
I feel like the chaser.
I have told him how an email just "everynow and then" or a card, letter, or even a text that simply says "Thinking about you baby" would mean alot to me but he still wont to do it.
What hurts me most is the fact that I told him how important it is to me. He says that isnt him and he doesnt have the time, and that he is fine with just knowing aI love him and that it should be the same way for me. In my opinion if Im going to be his wife he should want to make me happy even if that means taking five minutes to stop at walgreens and sign his name to a card. I have been with him 9 months and I have gotten one email and one card that was late for valentines day and it was not a love card at all but a humor one.
He has texted me like only a couple times literally in 9 months without me texting him first.
I can see if we seen each other all the time, but we are states apart and to ME these things are more important when thats the only way of communication we have besides the phone.
We do find time to talk about an hour or so a day. But I just crave more of his attention and Im really not asking for much. I mean really how long does it take to text "I miss u" or something?
He claims "I dont text".
well in my mind I hate ironing. But when we live together IAM GONNA IRON his clothes. because I want to make him happy, and do that so he looks nice for work. I dont have to, and I dont really like doing it, but its not always about what I FEEL LIKE doing. Its about wanting to please your partner.

Im really upset and hurt. I just feel like what I tell him I crave from him should matter to him. Im not asking him to send me a letter everyday even one every other month would mean something to me. Right now I dont have anything I can put in a box from him.
So what is his line of thinking? Advice?

This doesn’t bode well.

I’m surprised you are boyfriend and girlfriend, let alone engaged!

He’s not really thinking about you or he’d let you know, that’s NORMAL behaviour. Even the most stoic of Men call home now and then to make sure you are well and to hear your voice.

It sounds like you are far more into this guy than he is into you!

This Friday, October 2, 2009, is mine and my boyfriend’s 1 year anniversary. I want to start a scrapbook of "us" and update it with him yearly, but I also want to make him dinner. I’ve done the normal steak and potatoes and vegetable multiple times for special occasions. Does anyone have any good recipes for this type of occasion that don’t require a ton of money? I’d like to do an appetizer, like a salad or something, main course, and some kind of desert. Nothing too complicated or expensive. Thanks in advance for all the help!

I made vegetarian chili for my boyfriend on one of our first dates, and look who’s still here two years later…but I know you want to do something a little fancier. For your main course, roast a chicken. It’s delicious and so incredibly easy, plus it looks beautiful on the table. You’d just need a little one, or even two cornish hens if you want to be extra-fancy. Remove the giblets from your bird(s) then rinse them inside and out and pat dry with paper towels. rub under the skin of the breast and all over the outside of the bird(s) with room-temperature butter. Use a knife to gently separate the skin from the breast if it’s being stubborn. Season inside and out with salt, pepper, and a little poultry seasoning. Stuff the cavity with chunks of lemon and onion to keep the bird(s) moist while cooking. Put them on a rack in a roasting pan and cook them at 350F about 20 minutes per pound, until the internal temperature hits 165F. Pull out the poultry and let it rest on a plate. Add new potatoes (or any other small variety) to the drippings in the pan, pop in a couple smashed cloves of garlic, and put it back into the oven for another 30 minutes or so until the potatoes are done. Serve it together on a big platter you can both take from, or one cornish hen each on a plate with the potatoes.

You really don’t need an appetizer, but hummus and pita chips is delicious and quick, and you can choose to either buy or make the hummus.

For dessert, make something that he really likes. My boyfriend is a peanut butter fiend, so I’d make peanut butter pie. Does he like chocolate? Make brownies. You want to be able to enjoy the evening, too so don’t kill yourself doing something overcomplicated! Go for the easy and simple things that you know will come out well. He doesn’t have to know that it wasn’t a lot of work!

i had to write a sequel to this lullby for english. im no where near done, but i just wanted to see what people thought of it . be honest =]

MAY

I did it. Stanford. It’s finally over. Who knew how fast these four years have passed. I can so easily recall the day I left for college and how everyone reacted to it. It was like a nightmare, with tidal pools of emotions flying right at me. Ugh, why do people act like they are never going to see someone again when they go off to school. I mean it’s not like I wasn’t going to call. I’d like to see them try and stop me.
I hated packing. It was one of those things I could never be sure about. Did I bring my flip-flops for spring? Did I remember my scrapbook from the summer? I hated not being sure. I’ve always been organized, whether it was my room, or planning one of my mother’s many marriages and even making sure my boyfriend Dexter’s socks were put away. If my mother were to take even a sock out of my room, I would know it. It helps that every time she comes in my room, she makes a habit of picking up my hairbrush or books, and when she’s examines it to her liking, she puts it back somewhere around the room. I never confronted her about this; I knew later when I would find her she’d be back to writing one of her books.
That was the one thing I have always been sure about in my life. When that curtain was down, watch out. My mother would sit in the sunroom and type, just type. The familiar sounds of my childhood, the click and clack of those keystrokes. It was as if that was my own lullaby written by her. But it wasn’t the one I listened to every few nights. Not the one that soothed my pains and sobs at night.
***
There was a knock on the door. Damn I, I had just started packing my clothes and was folding that by item and color. I hated being interrupted. It was the day before graduation. My family and friends would soon be joining me; however it was still early for them to arrive now. I had a guess at who would be at the door though.
And I was right.
As soon as I opened the door, I was ambushed. Suddenly all I could see was think black curls, and I was being embraced so hard I could hardly breathe. The familiar hair, the anticipated hug, and that smell of dog, he was finally here.
“Dexter!” I gasped, “I can’t breathe!” I struggled to get free and yet part of me wanted to stay. I haven’t seen Dexter in a month, a long one at that. Every night he would call and tell me about how Monkey, his dog was and what new adventures him and his band mates got into. It was my favorite time of the day, only because I could finally talk to him . I never expected to feel something like this. A couple of years ago, I would wince at the sound of love. I saw how my mother would fall in love and out and get hurt on several occasions. I didn’t want that for me. Love just wasn’t worth the pain. It was amazing how I could feel like this and my mother the total opposite. She hoped that with every marriage, she would get that love that her characters in her books would always get, the I-can’t-stand-to-be-away-from-you kind. I just never thought my rules and standards for guys would be thrown away. Especially for this kid right here.
“Oh, sorry Rem,” Dexter suddenly realized that he was holding in a tight bear hug. “I just missed you so much. You know you missed this amazing man just as much.” He smiled at me and pulled me closer to him again. I was bracing myself for another bone-crushing hug. Instead he crushed his lips against mine and I succumbed. I missed this part especially. He pulled back after a minute and led me inside, plopping me upon the couch.
“So how does it feel to be a college graduate? Now that you proved your intelligence, you can run around with your diploma all over Lakeview. That would definitely be first on my list of priorities.”
“Of course it would, since you wouldn’t have any job offers to get ready for.” He laughed and just looked at me. I hated it when he did that. I never know what he’s thinking. Then before I knew it, I was smiling too. God, let’s face it, I missed this crazy kid, and I don’t care who knows it.
I slid off the couch, and sat in his lap. “So, what’s the deal with truth squad? Any new gigs?” Truth squad was Dexter’s band.
“Ah, the band,” he sighed, “well that’s part of the reason I came down here. Ted was driving us crazy with all this blabbering about covers, and complaining about the potato song. If I didn’t leave, I was about to bet him that he couldn’t chug a gallon of milk, so he’d get sick and shut up.”
This was the Dexter I so clearly remember. He was constantly betting everyone with idiotic challenges. Whether it was I Bet You A Quarter That The Next Commercial Is About Detergent or Twenty Bucks Says I Can Name More Names That Start With The Letter P While Ted Makes A Sandwich. I wonder if he ever heard himself talk before.
He started to reach into his pockets with an excited expression on h

It got cut off, but from what I read, I really like it! I really love This Lullaby. Dexter is the best! The plot continuation is smooth, and you did a really good job keeping their personalities. It was almost as if sarah dessen wrote it herself. almost. Keep it up though. It really is good.

Well, that sure could use some explaining…

So it’s like this: I’m 21, and I’m planning my wedding. My fiance’s the most incredible guy on the face of the planet, and I adore him.

There’s just one problem: I cannot even think about having sex with him. The minute my thoughts wander there, I immediately "change the subject".

Allow me to back up a bit. Andrei and I first met when we were 8 years old, playing at each other’s houses when our moms came over to talk…then we developed secret crushes on each other when we were teenagers and had become best friends…then we fell headlong in love with each other as young adults. We were each other’s first (and last!) loves, and never had eyes for anyone else. A few months ago (about a year after we started dating) Andrei surprised me with a beautiful wooden box he made himself containing a gorgeous diamond ring, and asked me to share his life with him. Naturally I said yes. (Actually it was more like YESYESYES!!!…)

I think a brief description of my fiance is in order. Andrei is tall, lean, 20 years old, handsome in a boy-next-door sort of way. Thick dark hair and twinkly blue eyes, you know. He, like me, is the firstborn in a conservative family and raised accordingly. A terrific big brother and role model, and responsible beyond his years. He’s a student in college now, an English major. He likes all the ame things I do: reading epic literature and good poets, going for long hikes when it’s windy and wild out, mind-challenging board games, poking around in dusty antique stores, traveling, exploring, snowboarding, and working with his hands; but his two greatest loves are music and writing. He’s an accomplished pianist and composer, but he also loves simply listening to new music all the time. He’s obsessed with writing in all its forms, and he’s GOOD at it. He’ll be an author someday, I’m surprised he’s not one already.

Having said that, it shouldn’t surprise you to hear he’s something like the Quintessential Hopeless Romantic. I have a box full of letters that would make most girls scream with jealousy. Andrei’s never at a loss for what to get me on special occasions, either…a few examples would be the handmade jewelry, the wax-sealed valentines, the leather scrapbook with pictures of us, the song he wrote, composed, performed and sung just for me…you get the idea. He’s basically Creativity embodied. (Oh yes–and he’s making our wedding bands.)

Now this is where it gets complicated. He and I are both virgins, and believe in waiting for marriage. We’ve never spoken about sex. Not because of some rule or anything–it’s just never come up, and neither of us is an any hurry to bring it up, you might say. Mind you, we talk all the time — probably about 6 hours a week of good, solid conversation. We’ve got fantastic communication…about everything else. We’ve even discussed having children (we both want ‘em, and lots of ‘em) — but never the process whereby you obtain children…!

The thing is, he’s a perfect gentleman in every regard. He’s protective and chivalrous around me without being remotely sexist…he will tell you in no uncertain terms that he considers me his superior in almost everything. (I say he’s wrong, but anyway…) He is the one person who understands me the best, and who I trust the most. So it’s not that I’m the least bit afraid of him when it comes to thinking about sex. And don’t think for a minute that the problem is I’m just not attracted to him in *that* way…I am! I think he’s sexy as hell! For me, the happiest place in the world is in his arms. He’s always kissing my cheek, hand, forehead, hair, etc… rubbing my back, stroking my face, putting his foot on mine under the table… Our very first kiss (note: this was not only ‘our’ first kiss, but also my/his first kiss — no prior relationships, remember??) started out as a gentle, experimental touch on the lips and quickly escalated to fast and furious with lots of tongue in about 6 seconds flat. (When we finally pulled away, we just stared at each other, like "whoa, what just happened?!" Pretty funny actually.) So apparently we’ve got great chemistry and all…but…

I just can’t stand the idea of having sex!!! It’s like…well for one, I can’t imagine that a guy wouldn’t be grossed out (or at least weirded out) at seeing his girl all awkwardly splayed out on a bed with her legs in the air, after only ever thinking of her, for years, looking pretty and sweet in cute outfits and such…I mean…ewwwww. I just cringe at the thought. In a way I almost feel like it’d be easier (or at least less embarrassing) having sex with a complete stranger! Kind of like how it’s not a big deal to have a doctor see you naked? And I can’t help but feel like, once we "do it", that he’ll never see me/think of me the same…like we’ll lose something from our relationship. I guess it’s just kind of hard to envision what it will be like, after years without knowing what we look

I see your point. But let me explain something, the "sex" you two will be having will be more like "making love". The "sex" will come later, if that makes any sense. Making love is the beautiful, physical part of being in a relationship. There is no closer connection you two will have and if you truly are the ones for each other than making love will feel mesmerizing. Yes, it will be awkward at first and will hurt a bit as well but you are young adults, you should not feel ashamed by sex. All the silly problems you have with it will eventually go away if you are open to exploring each other in a way you haven’t yet. This is uncharted territory and you will have fun exploring it. Believe me hun, it is not as weird and gross as you think. Plus, he is a guy, I guarantee you he thinks differently about the topic but you would never know since you haven’t talked about it. You can’t get married and be this closed minded about a topic that is very important to you both if you want to have kids and be in a happy marriage. Sex is not everything but it is something in a relationship, and something key. Your man will see you naked and think you are more beautiful as he will see all of you truly and deeply. If this is true love and he is the "one" then please do yourself a favor and talk about it with him. You can’t avoid sex foerever , the sooner you deal with it the better. I hope you get to experience the magic with him as I have with my husband and I hope I wasn’t too corny. Good luck.

Ive done things like make him a scrapbook, a love coupon book and have drawn him pictures. These were all for occasions like valentines day and our one year(which was yesterday). But i want to do something he wont be expcecting. A cute simple suprise for example someone told me to tell him i heard scary things in my closet and for him to go make sure nothing was there. Then in the closet there would be something like smiley face balloons. I thought this was so cute but i would love to here some of your ideas! Thank you so much, and be creative<3
thanks everyoneeee
p.s please no perverted things lol thanks

wake him up with a bj

First of all – I just made my account and I’ve already answered and asked so many questions! This is such fun!

I’m not talking about a birthday party. Every year, we do something special, whether or not she remembers these occasions is beside the point as she is so young, but I scrapbook everything : ) I’ll be six months pregnant with twins around her birthday, so I don’t quite know what I’ll be ABLE to do, but I want something special : \.

1st Birthday: Went to the zoo
2nd Birthday: First Mommy/Daughter tea
3rd Birthday: Went to see Cinderella the ballet (she dances!)

Thanks!
We’re taking her to Disneyland on her fifth birthday, actually! We’ve planned this on our wedding night actually. We’ll take each of our kids on their fifth birthdays, because my husband and I love Disney – we had a Disney themed wedding and our first dance song was "Once Upon A Dream"

Great idea thougH!!

You sound like a wonderful mother! Have you considered going and painting pottery, preschoolers always have a blast doing it! You two could spend the day baking and decorating cookies and cupcakes. No matter what you do it will be specail because your spending quality time together.

- again, within $100-$150!!!!! I’m just a poor student trying to manage tuition here
- He doesn’t need a game console, (warcraft more than suffices)
- Nor a cell (his is fancy and high tech enough)
- Nothing too technological actually because he already has it all and I have no idea how to shop for those things
- I’ve already bought him a lot of lovely clothes but he’s more of a t-shirt and pjs kind of guy…
- I’ve already made a scrapbook, knitted a scarf (unfinished), compiled a cd, and always make cute little cards for special occasions, but I can’t cook to save my life….
- and he isn’t athletic, isn’t an avid reader, doesn’t really have any hobbies !!! That’s why it’s so difficult!!
- no cologne (he won’t wear it), doesn’t care for a fancy expensive watch
- not one of those "coupon books" because I already do most anything he can ask for haha

ANY ideas whatsoever??

If the two of you are sexually active, hope that passes guidelines, I would suggest ordering his favorite meal in, wearing something semi revealing, and then through the night make it more revealing then when he leasts expects it work out topless and drop down between his legs and bj. Then enjoy each others company and let him please you.

Trust me he will remember.

I make scrapbooks and cards for every occasion and just recently thought that it might be fun to sell them on Ebay or another website like that. I was wondering how many of you out there would pay for handmade cards off the internet (pictures would be provided) and how much you would buy them for? I just want to get an idea of how many people would be interested if I did start to do that.
Thanks for all your answers.

If you have a good quality product and market it well, then people will buy it. Marketing really is the key. You can’t expect customers to just fall in your lap, you need to go out and grab them!

You should do some research and find out who your competition is. Search ebay and the internet for similar items and see what they are selling them for.

To get an edge, either set your price lower, or create a superior product and charge the same amount or a little extra.

If you have the drive to do this, I belive you can make it happen. Good luck!