THE SECRET TO MARRIAGE
Today is mine and Joe’s 30th anniversary!!! WOW, that is a long time! I have been married to Joe for over half of my life. When an anniversary comes around, it is always a time of reflection. I think about the good times and the bad times, the laughter and the tears, and what we would change if we could.
When you have been married for a long period of time you have a LOT of history. There are all kinds of private jokes and stories that only the two of you know about. Certain words or phrases will send Joe and me into laughing fits. But, what would I consider the secret to marriage? I think it is the small things that matter the most. Small random acts of kindness and love will far outweigh a diamond ring in my book. Money does not equal love, buying me items doesn’t mean as much to me as a little random act. Encouraging me to travel to Las Vegas, without him, was a gesture of love. Joe HATES with a passion for me to travel, so this was a HUGE gesture. He loves golfing, so this year he arranged for me to have some clubs so that I could start going with him in the afternoons. I try to get my blog posts done as quickly as possible so that I can spend some quality time with him at night. And recently I have started sleeping without a fan so that he could sleep better. This was a HUGE gesture on my part. It boils down to a few things, love, kindness, forgiveness, laughter, and the willingness to change. Nothing ever stays the same and you have to be flexible. Our marriage is not perfect and there are things that I would change if I could go back in time. However, the one thing that I would not change is the decision to marry Joe?
I bought this dress/tunic a couple weeks ago. I attended a trunk show at a friends house and bought a couple of items. Here is another one I bought. She posted this dress on her Facebook page, and I knew I had to have it. The color of blue and the lace on the bodice and sleeves just reached out to me. As soon as I arrived I started scanning the clothing racks to see if I could locate the dress. She had brought one dress in each size. I found it and grabbed the large, which is the size I would normally get in most clothing, but in boutique clothes the sizes can run small. I held it up to me and it looked like it would fit so I continued shopping. In a few minutes, I heard a lady ask if there were any more sizes in overstock. They said there were a few things, what was she looking for, and she held up this dress saying that she needed a large. Whoops! I knew I needed to get there early. Lol! This floral lace dress has a label that reads Easel.
I chose a really pretty set from Plunder for my jewelry. I wanted something shorter to fit in the v-neck of the dress, so I picked the Rosalie. This necklace is an art deco style necklace with pearls and accents of blue and pink. The matching earrings are the Margaret. Remember that I am offering 10% off any order over 50.00 (excluding the taxes and shipping) I will send you a check. The first refund checks have been mailed, and I will put another round of checks in the mail on Tuesday. To place an order, go to www.plunderdesign.com/party/ts.
I only have on one bracelet and it is from Stella and Dot. This is a retired cuff that I bought a couple years ago.
I have a pair of navy leggings on that I bought at Old Navy and my 3/4 length boots c/0 Rialto. Here is how I wore them the last time. These are called the Coras Tobacco Boot and they also come in black.
My purse is one that I bought at the overstock store in town. This one was in need of some repairs which took all of 3 minutes to fix. This is a really nice Python print in brown by GILI.
Marriage is never easy and if you think it is, then you haven’t been married very long. Lol! However, I would still have flown out to Tarrant County Texas and gotten married by Judge Valdez, even if I had known everything that was going to happen down the road. Joe and I need to take a road trip back to Texas and eat at BoBo’s Chinese restaurant, that was our first meal as newlyweds. Hahaha
10% off any Rodan and Fields order over 50.00 (excluding the taxes and shipping) I will send you a check. Sign up as a Preferred Customer and you will receive 10% off any order over 80.00 plus free shipping and handling. Add my extra 10% off, and you will be getting your products for a total of 20% off. That is CRAZY!!!! To place and order or look at some of the products, go to www.tstephens5.myrandf.com. If you have been wondering about these products and would like to hear more, email me. I was going to share some before and after photos, but they were so incredible that I was afraid everyone would think they were fake. This company is changing people’s lives! Google before and after shots to see what I mean. I am giving away a full-size Multi-Function Eye Cream from Rodan and Fields for this months giveaway. If you have not already entered the contest, go here to see how to enter.
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Congratulations on your 30th anniversary! We just celebrated our 27th recently.
I’ve seen your blog and have just lately been reading your posts. Keep up the great job!
I wish you wouldn’t post clothes we can’t buy. Ugh!
Happy Anniversary to both of you! I love the picture of you and Joe….you can tell you’re still in love:-)
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY & MANY MORE!!
Happy Anniersary to you both! Tomorrow we celebrate #36!
Congratulations, Joan! That is a very long time 🙂
Happy Anniversary. It is great to have someone special to spend life with.
Congratulations on finding such an awesome guy to marry. And enjoy your special day.???
You just made his head swell, Joanne. Lol!
Where can we buy this dress?
Did you choose the Rosalie necklace because of the pearls?
In the UK your 30th wedding anniversary is your pearl wedding anniversary!
Happy Anniversary to you both.
Sure I did, Marianne. LOL! I didn’t even know about the pearls, that was just good timing. Haha
Happy Anniversary to you, and Joe! Super cute dress!
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Happy 30th Anniversary, Tania & Joe! Here’s wishing you many more happy years!
Wishing you and Joe many, many more years of love and happiness together!
Congratulations!! Love the outfit, and the Plunder looks great!
Happy Anniversary. Love the outfit – looks great on you. 36 years of marriage here and you are spot on – it’s the little acts of kindness that happen regularly that make the difference in a marriage – not the big birthday or Christmas gifts. Love your examples.
Wow! 36 years is a long time. I agree, we get presents all year long. It is the little things that mean the most.
Happy 30th Anniversary to you and your best friend, Joe! Hope you have 30 more! You look stunning in that blue dress, goes perfectly with your sparkling blue eyes! God Bless, MG
Happy anniversary! Chip and I celebrated 28 years in August, so we are right behind you! Yep, give and take, putting your spouse ahead of yourself, encouraging each other, and time enjoying each other…that’s how to stay together.
Super cute dress!
Wonderful thoughts, Brandye. Congratulations to you and Chip!
Happy Anniversary! You two look like the perfect couple!
Happy 30th Anniversary! (My hubby and I will be celebrating 40 years in February) Wishes for many happy years to come!
Congratulations, Diana!!!
Love this look, so easy and comfy.
Happy Anniversary! We have our 36th next week.
Love Love Love the dress with the leggings. Not a fan of the boots, just think a shorty boot would have looked better and maybe in black. Love your style and Happy Anniversary!!
Happy 30th Anniversary Tania and Joe! I loved your post about marriage. It is so true, and eloquently said. My husband and I are getting ready to celebrate our 35th in a few months 😉 and P.S. I love your outfit!!!
Happy Anniversary!!! You look like you are Glowing!!!! Love the dress you look great. Come December I will still have 10 years on you and Joe, the Lord willing! Love ya Gurl!
Love ya! ?
Happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversary! I hope you have many many more years together!
Happy Anniversary! My husband and I celebrated 35 years in September.
Happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversary!! In this day and age to hit 30 years of marriage is a rarity! Congrats ! 🙂
Happy anniversary to you both and love the picture of you two! You can see the love and happiness between you. Laughter, those little private jokes and knowing someone always has your back is what I miss the most. I lost my husband this past August five days before our 28th. Cherish every moment. I wish you many more years of happiness, smiles and laughter. Also I agree, the colors in that tunic just make your eyes pop. Love the lace accent also. Guess I’m going shopping again! You’re killin me girl!! Lol
I am so sorry, Mindy. I know you have many wonderful memories to look back on. I agree with you that we should cherish every day with someone.
Happy Anniversary to you and Joe, Tania! I hope you both have a wonderful day and celebrate. Thirty years is quite an accomplishment. Love that picture of you and Joe…great!
Happy 30th Anniversary!!
Happy 30th Anniversary! May God continue to bless both of you.
Happy anniversary—it’s the best thing ever to marry your best friend!!
My husband is on the blog today too—it’s fun to include them in our blogging!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Congratulations on 30 years of marriage! Excellent words of wisdom! I pray that you will have many more happy & healthy years! We celebrated our 42nd in September. We got engaged when I was 18 & married when I was 19. My husband was 26, had gone to college & had an excellent job. BUT my mother wasn’t sold that whole deal, so I had to prove her wrong!! It’s been a wonderful life with this man! Your outfit is a stunner, what a great color on you. And how you always pick the perfect jewelry out of your stash, amazes me! You definitely have the “fashion gene”! Let the celebration begin! Any special plans??
No special plans, Gina. There are not a lot of “special” places in our little town. Lol! Congratulations on 42 years! I love proving others wrong. Haha
PTL for your & Joe’s 30th Anniversary!!! May God continue to bless you with many, many more wonderful years to love and serve HIM, no matter where you go or what you do!!!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! Hope you have a great day. Cute outfit.
Happy Anniversary from North Carolina! Wishing you and Joe the best!
Happy Anniversary! My husband and I just celebrated 35 years in September. Love the tunic dress!
Happy Anniversary Tania and Joe! My husband and I have been married 42 years and looking back I wouldn’t change things too much either. I would add another word to longevity of marriage forgiveness. Took me a long time to realize we were neither perfect but when I did differences didn’t become battles. Sounds like you have learned this. I am sure compromising over the fan is just one of many. Your love for Joe and family reflects through this blog! Love the dress! I will be on the look out to add some lace. That color blue is beautiful with your eyes. I am sure you will get compliments all day.
Congrats Connie on the 42 years. That’s our magic number as well. 1974 must have been a good year, and like a fine wine that ages!! What a ride its been & continues to be!
Congratulations Connie, on 42 years. There are a LOT of compromises in marriage on both parts. I miss my fan 🙁
Happy anniversary! I agree with your marriage success tips. It’s not always easy, but it is wonderful & worthwhile!
This is one of my very favorite outfits you’ve styled! You look fantastic! ?
Happy Anniversary to you Tania & Joe!
Happy Anniversary! Congrats on 30 years of marriage!
The dress is lovely!
We were married in 1988 so not far behind. God willing, we’ll make 30 years, too.
Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary!
Happy Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary!!!
What a wonderful post – love what you write about marriage it is so true. I am sure there is no such thing as a “perfect marriage” but one where you are together and love each other despite each others misgivings and one where you are both prepared to do little acts of kindness for the other person has kind of go to be the perfect marriage by default!
xx Yvonne
PS: Have you seen my comfy trend outfit post?
http://funkyforty.com/seasons-easiest-trend-look/
Happy anniversary and may you be blessed with many more years together. Your outfit today is just lovely!
Happy 30th Anniversary
Many congratulations to you and Joe, wishing you lots of happiness in the years to come! You were lucky to find that tunic, the whole outfit looks gorgeous.
HHappy anniversary! November 13 was my brother and sister-in-law’s 45th anniversary. I was their flower girl. I remember it was a big deal to get to go to the beauty shop and get my hair done. Lots of teasing and hairspray for that early 1970s bouffant!
I remember those hairstyles. Hahaha
Oh My, that blue lace/print dress is absolutely stunning on you. And the legging appear to match perfectly.
Congratulations and blessing to you and Joe on your 30th Anniversary!! Yes, you need to take a road trip
to Texas (my state). Happy trails to you, la la la…
Happy Anniversary Tania & Joe!! Wishing you many more years together. My husband and I celebrated our 34 year anniversary Nov. 6.