Fish Finger Tacos

Tips for an All-Inclusive Resort Vacation in Mexico: The things I wish I knew before going the first time and bonus tips just for fun!

Heading to Mexico for an all-inclusive vacation can be SUPER exciting. But it can also be super nerve-wracking if you've never been because you're unsure of what to expect.

Luckily, my first time in Mexico for a vacation at an all-inclusive resort, I traveled with a friend who had been multiple times, so she knew what to expect and knew the ins and outs.

But if you're heading there for the first time and you're not sure what to pack or what to expect upon arriving, consider me your virtual best friend that can help! (Plus, get my free printable, Mexico Packing List to help make the planning process even easier!)

I may not have all the answers for a perfect trip to Mexico but I do have tips that can make your trip more enjoyable and hopefully spare you some trouble.

NOTE: I’ll be referring to taking an adults only, all-inclusive vacation to a resort where you fly in to the Cancun aiport (CUN). So if you’re arriving elsewhere, some of the tips may differ but this should still be very helpful!

How do you get the most out of an all-inclusive resort?

I've broken the tips up in to "must-know" tips (or highly suggested tips) and "just for fun" tips to help you get the most out of your all-inclusive vacation. The first set will be those tips that I wish I would have known or so glad that I knew when traveling there for the first time.

The "just for fun" tips are… well… just that. Fun tips that I've learned along the way that make things even better or more enjoyable. Definitely not necessary but are nice perks and things to remember!

MUST-KNOW or Highly Suggested Tips:

• Travel minimally! (Unless you're a fashion blogger. Haha!) But even as a blogger knowing that I could get some crazy fun photos on the beach of any new outfits… I end up wearing a swimming suit and swimsuit cover-up most days. I feel like day clothes are overrated unless you're going on an excursion. So for someone like us, who never leaves the resort, I only take one day outfit (cute shorts/top) just in case we decide on a whim to do some exploring. The same goes for jewelry… I take one pair of earrings that can go with anything and just wear those every night.

• Call your phone carrier to check on the International phone plan before leaving. Some phone plans will charge roaming fees when traveling to Mexico. Or, you may be able to get a specific, temporary package to cover roaming charges.

• Print out your itinerary before leaving home so you can reference it in case your phone goes dead at all in the airport or on your way to the resort. It's also handy to have this when filling out the customs form and you need flight number information as well as the resort’s address.

• We love booking EARLY flights to Cancun. (Like, 6 or 7 am flights.) Knowing we have a few days to nap when we get there, we don't mind waking early, catching a flight and arriving at the resort around 11 am to still enjoy most of the day!

• Fly out mid-day if possible on the way home. (Sleep in…at least more than you did on the way there.) You don't want to be stressed on your way back home and it's recommended that you arrive to the airport 3 hours early anyway and your resort may be quite a distance from the airport as well. So a 9:00 am flight may sound doable, but just keep in mind how early you may just have to start your day for that kind of flight. Plus, having one more all-inclusive breakfast before you leave is always a nice way to start your day to travel back home. (For instance, on our last trip, we met a couple who had to leave the resort at 2:30 in the morning to catch an early 6 am flight. Yuck.

• Filling out forms. You will fill out a customs form while on the plan to Mexico. You will then give this form to the person in the "customs" area in the Cancun airport. The form will ask how you're arriving in to Cancun… flight/boat… what airline you used, what hotel/address you're staying at, etc.)

• Going through customs. When you go through customs on arrival, they'll give you a little slip of paper from the customs form on the plane that you'll need to hang on to and bring back to the airport with you. So don't throw this away! The last time I ran in to a problem with this though (someone was traveling with me that lost theirs) we found out that an Immigration form replacement is $30, and it’s cash only.

• Ink pens - Sounds crazy right? But you'll be so glad that you brought one or two for filling out the customs form on the plane.
  Having a pen on you so you can fill this out is so much nicer than having to wait and ask a stranger to use theirs and share the same pen with 20 other people.

• Use a beach bag as a purse for the flight! I LOVE doing this because I love to pack minimalistic. If my beach bag is small enough to qualify and slide under the chair in front of me and big enough to hold my laptop, wallet, passport, small jacket, etc. then I don't have to pack a beach bag in my check-in and I don't need to take my big giant purse that I use every day.

• Smile, be cooperative and be kind to the airport workers. You'd be surprised how far this can get you if a problem arises. (Check-in bag too heavy, etc.)

• Room service. Don't feel like going to dinner every night? A lot of resorts have room service 24 hours a day. Order in and relax!

• Dress codes. Check with the resort for any dress code at the restaurants. Some restaurants have requirements that you'll want to know about before packing. (i.e. elegant dress codes, casual, etc. and what types of clothes fit the different codes.)

• Sunscreen - Pack that sunscreen! I know it sounds obvious but buying at the resort can be me a lot more expensive. Same for aloe vera gel. That's fantastic to have for a sunburn.

• How much should you tip at an all inclusive resort? Take $1's for tips - Some resorts will say "please don't tip" or "we don't accept tips" But I'll tell you that I've yet to find one where the employees don't accept them and I've also found that tipping a couple of dollars here and there to waiters/waitresses, bellhops, concierge, etc. can make their day and sometimes even get you superstar service!

• Take cash. If I were you, I’d still take a bit of cash with you, other than just dollar bills. Our debit card gave us problems while there, so we were thankful we took enough cash to cover emergency purchases or even purchases that we made at the resort.

• USD and Pesos. Remember that you’ll be dealing with pesos while you’re there, but using USD is just fine! If you visit the spa or purchase something while there, don’t panic when you see what looks like your total is thousands of dollars. That is in pesos and they’ll be able to convert it to USD for you.

• First aid. Pack items like Motrin, Tylenol, Advil, hangover relief, digestive, heartburn relief, etc. for those "Ooops, I drank too much" moments or if the food/water doesn't settle well with you.

• Bug spray - sometimes the mosquitos can be an issue, so I always like to bring that with me in case it's heavy mosquito season.

• Small crossover handbags are super handy for going out for dinner at the resorts if you want to carry your phone or other small belongings with you. This is an adorable, similar nude crossover handbag that I use!
  I recommend a crossover if you do want to take things with you, so it's easier to carry if you decide to stay out afterward for the entertainment, and it's less likely you'll sit the purse down and walk off from it. However… I get to where I don't even take my phone or any belongings with me to dinner and just leave everything in the room. So freeing! But grab that room key… and slip it in to your pocket if you have one!

• Jewelry. Leave your wedding rings at home or wear a fake ring! The last thing you want is to have a great time and then lose something so special and important!

• Credit Card. Be prepared to take a credit card with you for extra charges or let your bank know you're traveling if you bank with a small local bank and using a debit card.

• Phone safety. If you like to have your phone out in the pool/beach area, grab a waterproof case. But surprisingly (even as addicted as I am to my phone/computer) I leave my phone in the room almost all day. If you can, use this time to detox from your phone.

• Shoes. Take one pair of dress shoes that you can wear with multiple outfits for dinner. (Nude heels are a great color for me because they go with just about anything, and my husband usually takes black/brown dress shoes.)

• Do I need to bring a beach towel to an all inclusive resort? Beach towels usually aren't necessary to bring with you. You may check with your resort, but don't waste the space in your luggage if your resort provides them.

• Hairdryer - check with your resort to see if they provide one. Less you have to take, the better.

• Use the safe in your room. You just never know. When you get to the room, place your passports (and car keys if applicable) in the safe, as well as any other travel documents that you want to keep safe while you're on the trip.
  Don't forget to get your things out of the safe when you leave. If it helps, set a reminder on your phone the night before or morning of departure so you don't get to the airport and realize you've left it behind an hour away at the resort!

• Pack a swimming suit in your carry-on or purse (beach bag) when flying. This is smart in case your luggage gets lost, or if you arrive at the resort before you can check-in. If your room isn't ready, go to the bathroom, change in to your swimming suit and hit up the pool or beach while you wait for your room to be ready!

• Books/Magazines - not only are these handy for the airplane ride there when you can't play on the internet to pass the time, but they come in handy for when you need to get up and go somewhere and need something to show that your pool chair/cabana is taken. (I actually prefer to buy magazines in the airport when heading to the resort, so I can leave the magazines behind once I've read them and not have to drag them back home like I would a book.)

• Digital reads. Not interested in taking books/magazines? Save books/podcasts on to your device before going. It's lucky to fly with an airline that has Wi-Fi so don't assume they all do.

• Book a shuttle service ahead of time that can pick you up from the Cancun airport and take you to your resort. When you arrive at the airport, there will be a TON of employees for various shuttle services trying to talk you in to riding with them. It's much easier to bypass them and look for the shuttle company you booked. They're expecting you and know exactly where to take you!

• Arrival expectations. Arriving at the airport in Cancun, you'll have to go through something called "customs". This is where they check your passport, and may ask you a couple of questions of why you're coming in. (i.e. What is your name, where are you staying? How many days will you be visiting, etc.) Once through customs, you'll walk to the baggage claim and pick up any luggage you checked in.
  Most of the time, you then take your luggage through an area where they scan the luggage or even physically open it up and take a look through it to make sure you're not bringing anything illegal in.
  Then, you head outside and soak in that beautiful weather and sunshine to catch a ride to your resort.

• If you can swing it, book a private shuttle. Sometimes it's not that much bigger of a cost. Sharing a shuttle or transportation ride with strangers can result in stopping at multiple other resorts before getting to yours, taking a lot of time away from your day of vacation!

• Departure shuttle. While at the resort, confirm your shuttle service back to the airport to know what time to leave the resort on the day of.

• Departure airport trip. On the way back home (if you live in USA) you'll go through the flight check-in at Cancun airport like normal, go through security and then board your flight. When arriving at your layover (if you don't have a direct flight) you may have to get your luggage at baggage claim, go through security again and go through customs at that airport before boarding your next flight home.
  For instance, if you live in Montana and are flying home from Cancun, but you have a layover in Dallas… you may have to go to Dallas' baggage claim area when laying over to get your luggage and take it through customs so they can check to make sure you didn't bring anything illegal in to the USA. Then, once you're good to go, you can board your plane to your final destination.
  Have a direct flight? Customs will just check your baggage after you have picked it up from the baggage claim at your home airport. Direct flights are definitely a better option if you are able to get one, but isn't as crazy as it may sound unless a flight is delayed.

• Dry shampoo. Ladies, dry shampoo may be your new best friend if it isn't already! I love being able to use that instead of having to get completely ready for dinner if I've stayed at the pool bar/beach longer than planned.

• Beach chairs. Most people will tell you to get up early while there if you can or if it's worth it to you, to reserve a pool chair. Some people think it's rude to reserve chairs and some resorts don't even allow it.
  My opinion? I like to get up early some mornings, head down by the pool and pick a place. I put my things down (sometimes sit for a bit and soak up the sun) and then I go to breakfast, leaving my magazines and sunscreen on the chair. This way if something happens to them, it's not the end of the world, but most of the time someone will see that it is taken and they won't sit there. Then, after breakfast, I can come right back and enjoy the chair again. Just be kind. Don't reserve a chair in the morning just in case you want it hours later and leave for an excursion for the day.

• Don't try to bring back meats, fruits, etc. from your trip. Customs won't allow most of these items.

• Drink the water? Have you ever heard someone say "Don't drink the water in Mexico?!" We have too. But we always drink the water at the restaurants and in the bottles that are in the hotel minibar. But I've also heard stories of others struggling with drinking water that's not bottled or even brushing your teeth with the sink water. I'm sure it depends on where you go and what resort you stay at, but we have never had problems with this, at four different resorts.

• Use the "do not disturb" door tag if you have one, for when you're in the room. The housekeepers can make multiple trips to your room in one day to clean and even come in for turndown service. You don't want to get woken up from that precious nap you've been craving!

JUST FOR FUN:

• Can you bring your own cup to all inclusive resort? Some love to take yeti cups for drinking in the pool so their drinks stay colder longer. We prefer to just get a new drink at the bar rather than keep up with a cup and feel like we have to clean it every day.

• Leave a tip for the housekeeper - sometimes you can get little extras, or possibly your room cleaned sooner

• Have airline miles or want to go big or go home? Book first class for your flight if you can. There's nothing like going to Cancun and starting your vacation out early by hopping on the flight with ease and enjoying tons of legroom, comfy seats, and cocktails.

• Nightly entertainment. A lot of resorts have nightly entertainment. Anything from magic shows, dancing, live bands, etc. The pools usually close around 6 in the evening to allow guests to go back to their rooms and get ready for dinner.

• Spa prep. If going to the spa, a cocktail or two beforehand can help you get extra relaxed.

• Making a spa appointment on the resort? See if you can go to the spa early and take advantage of their steam room/sauna beforehand!

Where are you going? I’d love to hear!

I’ve been to a small handful of different resorts, but I’ve been to the same resorts multiple times! (When you find one that you like it’s hard to try a new one! At least for us!)

Or if you haven’t booked one yet, this is where I love to book all-inclusive trips as a package with the flight to save money!

I’ve been to:

• Excellence Riviera Maya – Our favorite! Also check out how I surprised my husband for his 30th birthday at this resort!
• El Dorado Casitas and Royale – Both casitas and the royale side
• Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya
• ….and another (not all-inclusive) in downtown Cancun that was a timeshare.

But I’d LOVE to hear where you’ve been and what your favorite is. Or, if you haven’t been yet… let me know where you’re going!

Sympathy Gift Basket Idea: Sending necessities to those who’ve recently lost someone, so they don’t have to worry about having things on hand for guests. Sympathy Gift Basket Idea for bereavement, grieving, funeral,  and condolence.

I’ll never forget when Karen, a sweet, sweet friend of ours, sent over a gift basket FULL of necessities, when we tragically lost my husband’s father. During that time of grief, condolence, and incredibly busy time, the last thing we were thinking about, was heading to the store to stock up on paper goods.

Instead, we were spending time with those that we love, and greeting out of town guests. We were insanely blessed with fabulous comfort food, flowers, and other sympathy and remembrance gifts. But with all of the food, and guests in my in-laws home, we found a major need for paper goods, and everyday necessities. That was… until our friend Karen came over. She had a basket overflowing with everything we needed, to get back the next few days.

It was from that moment on, that I knew, when someone was going through a tragic change in their life, I would create what our friend Karen created that day. A sympathy gift basket.

Sympathy Gift Basket Idea

If you’re looking for a grieving gift basket idea, although it may not have the incredible appearance of beautiful flowers, I assure you, this gift will provide a feeling of relief for those in need.

Sympathy Gift Baskets – Content Ideas:

There are no “right,” or “wrong,” items for this gift basket, but just keep in mind when you’re shopping around, to look for things that will come in handy for those that will be spending a lot of time at home; eating, resting, hosting, etc.
Also keep in mind that the family may not be at home when you drop off the gift. So staying away from perishable items is ideal, in case you need to leave the gift basket on the doorstep.

Consider these suggestions:

• Facial Tissues
• Disposable Silverware
• Paper Plates
• Trash Bags
• Zip-top Bags
• Paper Towels
• Toilet Paper
• Aluminum Foil
• Plastic Wrap
• Sweet note/card

How to Send This to Someone Far Away…

I recently had a reader leave a comment about this gift idea, saying they wanted to send a sympathy gift basket to someone who lives far away. What she did, was ordered everything she wanted to include, from Amazon Pantry, and had it shipped to them that way. I thought that was an amazing idea!! Thank you so much for offering this brilliant idea! Shop items like this in Amazon Pantry HERE !

When I created this gift basket for a friend, I loved how the recipient could use the basket for something else later if need be. But you could easily use a gift bag instead.

If you are planning to create a gift basket, keep in mind my favorite suggestions that I told you when I created the “Box of Sunshine Gift Idea,” for making a gift basket look more appealing.

Gift Giving:

Not Home: If they’re not home when you deliver, simply place the basket in a place (out of weather), that you suspect they’ll see it upon arrival. (Keep in mind, that THEY have a lot of things on their mind, so texting/calling them just to tell them you’ve dropped a gift off, may be more bothersome than simply thinking outside of the box, and placing it in a safe location where they don’t have to “work,” to find it. Besides, you want them to find it/use it, as soon as possible because the food and guests start arriving almost immediately.)  Don’t forget a sweet card/note explaining how you hope the contents of the gift helps make their next few days a little easier, without having to worry about everyday items.

Home: If they are home when you arrive, simple explain to them how you hope the gift basket will make the next few days easier with out of town guests, and an abundance of food that will more than likely be arriving. If you have a close relationship, you may even consider putting away the items that you brought, to help ease the load a little more.

Although food and flowers are extremely thoughtful, and SO appreciated during a time of loss, you may consider this type of sympathy gift, instead of what you can almost count on a lot of others bringing to them.

A Small Gift Idea:

If you’re looking to do something a bit smaller, yet BIG with thoughtfulness, this lunch box gift is something you could do as a small gesture, when a friend may not even want to think about eating.

This post was created in partnership with Ninja Coffee Bar^® System. I received complimentary products and compensation to facilitate my review, but all opinions within are my own.

DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen: An easy set-up for a small coffee station in the kitchen, dining room, or any small space in your home. Keeping it simple, and cute!

I’m slightly crushing on DIY coffee bar ideas all over Pinterest. Ok, ok, a LOT crushing on them. Ever since we moved in to our home a couple of years ago (have I mentioned that we are listing this one soon?? I know, we are absolutely CRAZY.) I’ve wanted a small designated space in our kitchen for a built-in coffee bar, for everyday coffee recipe creations and for entertaining.

Not realizing this at the time of building, I didn’t really set aside a space for such a thing. But I did have a little extra space in the breakfast nook area for a small table, that I kept my eye out for at antique shops and flea markets. The day that I found the cutest little dark brown (yes, dark brown) table at a used furniture shop, I knew she had to be mine and that she was going to be my little coffee bar table. My right-hand gal Kate (who LOVES to refinish furniture), took the table under her wing and turned it in to exactly what I imagined.

DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen & Entertaining

Coffee Bar Ideas:

No matter if you have a designated space or just a small space to squeeze in a few coffee bar items, I wanted to give you a few ideas of what you could do, to create a coffee bar in your home.

1. Cute Table

Think outside of the box when needing a place to store your coffee bar items. You don’t have to go big or go home when it comes to finding something cute and practical. Keep your eyes open for used furniture, or even look around your home for something that would serve as a great coffee bar table! You may be surprised at what you can find!

2. Coffee Bar Decor:

Whether it’s a small sign, a vase full of flowers, or something else that would fit the style of your home… adding a bit of decor to a coffee station can make it suddenly feel homey and “dressed up.” For our coffee bar station, I already had the “Eat Cake for Breakfast,” sign, and since I frequent the coffee bar in the morning around breakfast time… it was absolutely fitting.

I found a cute croc to store the drink stirrers in, that also helped add a bit of a decor touch.

The cupcakes?  Yeah, those are real. When entertaining, I LOVE having this coffee bar set up with fun snacks and bite-size foods for my guests.
If you’re looking to add this type of look to your coffee bar too, but don’t always want real food sitting out, you’d be SURPRISED at the artificial food that you can find at craft stores these days! Artificial donuts, bagels, cupcakes, and cookies would look so stinking cute on a coffee bar table.

3. Coffee Cups

It’s always a great idea to have coffee cups ready to go at the coffee bar station. I’m a sucker for all-matching coffee cups like the white mugs that I have here. (But don’t get me wrong, I have a ton of mismatched random cups just like you, hiding away in my cupboard.)  When having guests over, take all of the guesswork out of how to “help themselves,” by making sure everything they would need is already sitting out and ready.

4. Coffee System

Then the most important aspect of the coffee bar… a coffee system. You all, I have fallen in absolute love with the Ninja Coffee Bar® System. I’ve had my eye on this guy for quite some time, and I finally have my hands on one. Its sleek appearance looks STUNNING on my coffee bar, and doesn’t take up a ton of space. It amazes me what all this thing can do, in such a compact space.

When I gave a sneak peek on Facebook the other day of one of my first coffee’s that I made with this, I couldn’t believe the response from you all, about how bad that you’ve wanted one too.

A Few Details on the Ninja Coffee Bar® System:

You all, the set up was so easy, the moment I pulled it out of the box. I was so intimidated at first, thinking that I’d have to put it all together, and I didn’t! It was ready to go, with a quick-start guide! 

No guess-work:

It has a “Ninja Smart™ Scoop,” with it, so I can measure out exactly how much coffee to brew, for the amount that I need to make, day to day.

Big or Small Brew:

I can make a 10-cup glass carafe on the mornings that I know my husband and I will be drinking more than one cup. Or, if it’s just me at home… I can brew one cup and call it a day!

Frother:

The system includes a built-in hot and cold frother, (I LOVE this feature), six brew sizes… and five brew types (including the Ninja-exclusive Cafe Forte brew, which amplifies the flavors of your favorite coffee. I didn’t even know how GOOD coffee could taste at home, until I used this feature. I kid you not.)

Inner Barista:

Then it also came with a recipe book that has customized recipes, of fun beverages to make and experiment with! I’ll admit, my inner barista totally slips out some days.

Mmmm…. I have so much fun experimenting with different recipes. But my favorite so far? This one. A simple brew of coffee, frothed milk, topped with bits of toffee.

Easy clean-up:

It has a permanent filter, that I can just clean out when we’re done with coffee for the day, and easily get it ready for the next. No need for disposable filters.

Eeeek! I couldn’t WAIT to share my new coffee bar with you all! I hope you love it as much as we do!

Stationery Station Organization: Say that Five Times… A simple way to organize cards, notepads, and writing tools, for easy access.

Stationery Station

I literally had to say that out loud 5 times, really fast, to see if I could do it. 

Hey you! You may be here for the first time as part of the blog hop that’s happening today with some of the BEST bloggers that I know. Not only are they incredibly creative, but they know how to create a workspace that can make you drool! I’m honored to be a part of something so fun and inspiring! So thank you for visiting, and let’s get on to one of my favorite aspects of my home office and craft room!

In my FULL home tour office reveal here, I briefly featured my stationery station. This has literally been one of my unintentional “favorite’s” of my home office. More times than I’d like to admit, I’ll be in a mad rush to create a “thank you,” card or a simple little note to leave for someone or attach to a birthday gift.

So instead of running around digging for a pen, cute card, and envelope, I now know exactly where to go! No more wasting time digging, and using the back of receipts for quick notes to my family.

Stationery Addiction:

This station has also helped me with my rare condition of “Stationery Addiction.” (Yes, I know this isn’t a real thing… but I’m completely addicted to grabbing super cute cards and adorable little notepads in the Target dollar spot, and the check out lane a T.J. Maxx.)

Before my stationery station, I would always THINK I needed note cards and notepads. Why? Because I was unsure of all that I already had on hand, so I figured I would go ahead and buy more “just in case.” (You SOOO know what I mean right? Please tell me I’m not alone here.)

Anyhoo, now that I have it all stored in one place, I can see exactly when I’m running low of a certain type of card, envelope, pen/marker, or notepad. My husband is very thankful that my spending has greatly reduced in the stationery department.

Rolling Cart:

I found this adorable (and office matching) rolling cart, at the ever so popular IKEA. It was super easy to put together, and it comes in adorable colors.

Want to Tour the Whole Office?

My Home Office Tour

How to be a good wife: Lessons learned over the years from wives all around, with tips and tricks that make their marriage work!

Am I the perfect wife? No.

Do I know a perfect wife? No.

But I do believe I am a good wife, and that I know a lot of good wives out there.

How to Be a Good Wife

I also know that we can definitely screw up and have flaws (we all do) and still be a good wife. (You’ll also love reading “How to Improve Your Relationship in 30 Seconds Each Day!”)

A good wife can also be defined in many different ways, by different people.

For instance, my husband may say there are different characteristics that make up a good wife, then what Billy, John, and David who live down the street say. (I have no idea if a Billy, John or David live down the street… so don’t be offended if you think I’m talking about your husband.)

You may also love our other marriage posts like: “How to Respect Your Husband” and How to Make Your Husband Want to Come Home

I have also learned a LOT in my marriage, and I’ve polled those of you in the “Fab Society” group on what lessons you have learned while being a wife, so I’m hoping what we have to share with you today, will help in some way.

Now, even if you’re not visiting this post for help… and just happened across this post, I truly hope something still resonates with you.

I know there were some things that others suggested that made me more aware and intrigued with what would happen if I would incorporate them into my marriage.

What are the Tips to be a Good Wife?

So again, although you may not agree with all of them, these are lessons we’ve learned and things that we’ve noticed in our (the Fantabulosity community) marriages, so we hope that something will speak to you today and help!

Do you have to do all or any of these to be a good wife? Absolutely not. They’re just great lessons we’ve learned that work in our marriages and we’re hoping one or all will help you in some way.

Below, I’ve compiled real-life answers from other wives, so you’ll notice some will look just like Facebook comments… because they are!

Be sure to let us know below or in the Creating Your Happy group if this helps!

28 Tips to Be a Good Wife

1. God first. There’s a reason this is #1. It never fails. When God is put first in our marriage, everything else flows a lot easier. Even if only one of you is putting God first, it’s amazing what He (God) can do.

2. During a really difficult time in our marriage, I felt like I gave, gave and gave some more, even when I didn’t want to, because I wasn’t feeling loved in return. I didn’t walk away easily, and I’m thankful for that, because I believe our marriage is stronger now because of it.

But listen… I’ll be honest, there was a time when I couldn’t give anymore. I stopped trying and I was done. But more to come on that later.
Also, don’t get me wrong…My husband has never physically abused me. So I’m not saying that if you are being abused, that you should stay. If you are being abused, get help immediately.

3. We marry our dads. Not really, but we tend to carry over any behaviors we grew up with … and unintentionally live like our husbands have the same traits as our fathers, or live like they SHOULD have the same traits.

4. It’s hard. Can I just leave it at that? Because it is. It’s just hard. It takes work and no two people are the same, so when we come together as one, it may take some changing and reshaping to fit the pieces together.

5. When he’s upset and we can’t seem to get along, I’ve realized that sometimes it’s not about me or even something specific that happened with us. There could be something going on that I don’t understand or that I don’t even know about. I was so thankful when my husband helped me write “What to do when your husband doesn’t come home” because it helps explain a lot of things that I didn’t realize as his wife.

6. We all have a love language and learning what his is, is crucial and a game-changer. When we speak our spouse’s love language, he will feel more loved than when we show it in other ways. Plus, sometimes we tend to show love in our own love language, rather than his. So what’s a love language? I went in to more on this in The Secret Weapon in our Marriage.

7. Although I feel better when I “throw up” on him (vent, complain, and be negative about the unimportant things in life) he then feels it, and then I feel bad about that.

It’s like I have a temporary relief but regret minutes later. So unless it’s an important matter or I’m really struggling with something, I try to work through it instead of dumping it off on to him.

8. Pray about it before spouting about it. When something is bothering me, or in the heat of the moment, it is MUCH easier said than done, but taking a minute to pray about it does two things:
a. helps me think through things while giving me a breather
b. God will sometimes speak to me in those moments, and I’ll have a better way to approach a tough conversation with my husband.

9. “Don't have big conversations on midnight week” – Facebook reader
This can also be explained as “don’t have big conversations when one has had a stressful/long week/day. Timing can mean everything! Which leads to the next recommendation from a Facebook reader that made me chuckle…

10. “We have a rule-no important chats when hungry, horny, or tired.” – Facebook Reader
This made me laugh out loud. I love it! But I’m not sure if there are moments in the day that one of us isn’t feeling one of these. Haha!

11. “That I take him for granted way too often. If I were to slow down every once in a while I would see that he is always by my side.” – Facebook Reader

12. “We are a team. Our marriage comes first then the kids. I was doing so much that I felt like he was an intruder so to speak.” – Facebook Reader

13. “Small stuff doesn't matter. If something is bothering you (ie: dishes, laundry, etc.) just do them because it's not affecting your partner. In ten minutes after they're done, it's not going to matter anymore.” – Facebook Reader

14. “If you have expectations for how an event or procedure is going to go in regards to your husband – make them known beforehand. He then has the opportunity to live up to the expectations you have set rather than fail your unsaid threshold.” – Facebook Reader

15. “Just celebrated our 18th wedding Anniversary and I have learned many lessons over the years. I think the most important is not giving up during the bad/hard times and compromise!” – Facebook Reader

16. “People always say you will have good years and bad and we have experienced both but have never given up on each other or our marriage in the bad years! Statistics of interracial marriage is higher than the average divorce rate due to culture differences especially when raising children. We have to compromise often and meet in the middle with a solution!” – Facebook Reader

17. “A couple of things… When you are frustrated or upset with your spouse, sometimes you have to look deep down inside and realize that it might be your thought process or you could really be the cause of your own frustration, then communication is the key.
It is all a give and take, but you and your spouse have to put your marriage first before kids, jobs, etc… (well besides God) It is SO hard to do that, but the family starts with husband and wife….. AND realize that there is a difference between joy and happiness. You won’t always be happy every day but you can still be unhappy or face hard times, and have joy.” – Facebook Reader

18. “I've learned to not take everything personal. It's hard because when he is going thru stuff and lashes out at me then it's easy to think many negative thoughts. Sometimes you have to step back and redirect your thoughts to something positive on purpose.” – Facebook Reader

19. “LOVE this! We are constantly changing as people. We change jobs, locations, friends, family, new people enter your life, and some people exit out of your life–all of this changes you and your spouse. You have to be willing to change together.
We never go to bed angry, we always talk it out no matter what. Never say the word divorce, ever. We disagree on irrelevant things at times, which can get heated because we both want to be right and don’t back down from wanting to be right and have decided to agree to disagree and let the little stuff go. We are a team and we work toward our goals together.” – Facebook Reader

20. “Pick your battles! I remember a lady complaining that her husband put the roll of toilet paper on the wrong way for 25 years! The other person said to her-"so he is finally doing it right"? She answered and said "NO, but after 25 years I decided to stop complaining about it!” – Facebook Reader

21. “True forgiveness.” – Facebook Reader

22. “RESPECT. I believe is truly what has kept my husband & I together through good and bad times. We can agree to disagree by respecting each other's views and coming together to work as a team. That can mean taking a break to come back together and discuss further & let emotions settle so we can mutually agree (compromise).
Along with all the above great comments. TEAMWORK. that necessarily doesn't always mean 50/50.. I have my low days & he picks it up or vice versa. TIME. Making time to spend with each other. COMMUNICATION. Always talking & really listen to each other. Not making Assumptions… SELF CARE. this is so important in order to make my relationship healthy. We need to take care of ourselves spiritually, mind & body.” – Facebook Reader

23. “We’re still newlyweds I suppose so I have a lot to learn but I’ve learned a lot about truly being open with someone else, especially about the things that cause me anxiety – like sharing finances with someone has been great mostly but also it’s such a mindset change to be open about talking about money. That’s just one example but there are a ton of things I’ve learned to really share that I would have kept to myself before.” – Facebook Reader

24. “Oh Gosh where do I start! After 37 years I probably could write a book … It's ok to be wrong, it's not important to be right, he is my biggest supporter & best friend… Respect Respect Respect. 
Don't nag, he may or may not get projects or chores done but our relationship is more important than any silly ole project. 
Food really does make him happy! 
Don't go to bed mad, you won't be able to sleep anyway. 
I'm not his employee so I ask to not be treated like one and Life is great.” – Facebook Reader

25. “It gets easy to nag so try not to do that and show some interest in things that he loves.” – Instagram Reader

26. “Always be encouraging and give praise for the things he does. That is what keeps a guy going.” – Instagram Reader

27. “Treat your spouse the way you want to be treated.” – Instagram Reader

28. “Never EVER put down your spouse in front of other people!” – Instagram Reader

29. “Listen to husband instead of railroading him into thinking what you want him to think.” – Facebook Reader

I am BEYOND thankful for all of you who have shared your favorite tips for being a good wife. Thank you so much!

If you’ve loved reading this or if you’d love to add something to our list, be sure to let us know in the comments! Share the love and help a fellow wife!

You May Also Love:

• 5 Ways to Prepare for a Romantic Weekend Getaway
• When Your Husband’s Not Affectionate Anymore
• When Your Husband Cheats and How to Make it Through

A list of party supplies stores and their websites that are always a “go-to,” any time for planning a birthday party, holiday party, or any celebration!

I’m a “routine,” lovin’ gal. So when it comes to shopping for party supplies for either my own parties or when styling parties for a brand, I have my “go-to,” online party supplies stores that I frequent. I’m never disappointed and ALWAYS find something at these, that I love.

Best Party Supplies Websites

1. Shop Sweet Lulu

Whether it’s balloons, favor bags, or cute food containers, I’m a sucker for Shop Sweet Lulu products. When I styled this nacho bar party, I scored the super cute food trays, for our guests to serve themselves! They worked perfectly.

2. Amazon

Amazon has been a LIFE-SAVER when it comes to party planning. It comes to my rescue when I’m a couple of days away from party-time, and I’ve realized that I’ve forgotten that one important item I needed to decorate or finish the DIY project that I worked on for the party.

With Amazon, I can get anything from party supplies, to home decor, which is a HUGE party of my party styling techniques. I bought a ton of party goods on Amazon for our Crawfish Boil Party.

3. Etsy

Oh Etsy, how I love thee for party printables. I love Etsy for other things as well, but when it comes to party planning, printables are an easy way to add decor. I used printables from Etsy for my son’s Woodland Friends Party below. Can you see just how much printables can decorate for you!?

Don’t forget that Etsy can also be handy for DIY/Pre-Made party favors, cupcake toppers, sugar cookies, and SO MUCH more. Shop Etsy NOW!

4. Oh Happy Day

Oh my, have you visited Oh Happy Day yet? Adorable paper plates (not your average paper plates), confetti, garlands, and the list goes on. I get LOST in their online shop for hours if I’m not careful, staring at all of the beauties. Shop Oh Happy Day HERE!

I may just buy confetti from Oh Happy Day, just so I can do this when I want to celebrate something in life. Not kidding. 🙂

5. Meri Meri

Paper straws, paper treat bags, drink stirrers, and EVERYTHING party… Petite Party Studio has it. You’ll find paper straws at almost every party that I host. They can add a pop of color in a pinch, and if you’re like me… I GOTTA have a straw with my drink. In the Nautical Birthday Party that I styled for my son, I simply added paper straws to milk bottles, & it created style with little effort.

There they are! Those are my favorite websites to buy party supplies for any party that I’m hosting. At times, I’ll even check to see if they have any sale items, and stock up in advance.

Free Party Planning Checklist

Or if you haven’t downloaded your free party planning checklist yet, then you HAVE to snag that! It’s how I survive all of my party-planning days! Get my party planning checklist.

Holiday Party Planner

Are you hosting a holiday gathering? Then you’ll want to snag my Holiday Party Planner that I use to prep and prepare! I’m bound to forget something, and this helps keep me on track! Get my holiday party planner!

BEST Leggings EVER + Red Buffalo Plaid: Without a doubt, this is my favorite Winter outfit this season. I didn’t know what I was missing until a friend recommended these leggings to me!

You know that I NEVER recommend anything to you, that I TRULY don’t recommend, right?

See my CURRENT favorite fashion finds, and shop my Instagram HERE!

I hope you do know that, but I felt super compelled to tell you that again today because I’m getting ready to use a term that can be taken lightly. What term? “BEST.”

BEST Leggings EVER + Red Buffalo Plaid

Holy.Smokes. After doing Stitch Fix and Trunk Club for some time now, I can STILL even comfortably say that these tights are my favorite fashion find EVER. But the thing is, I didn’t get these leggings in a subscription box. I went shopping with my “personal stylist,” friend last month, and she literally told me,

You HAVE to get these leggings. They’re the best you’ll ever find.

Leggings (No Muffin-Top, No “See-Through,” No Adjusting)

I’ll admit, I took what she said with a grain of salt, and even put them in the bottom of my closet and forgot they were in there for a few weeks. I mean, tights and leggings are all the same, right? Ummm… No. My leggings world has forever been changed.

Muffin-Top

The minute I put these on, I stood in front of my mirror… amazed. Where was my muffin-top? I always have a muffin-top when I wear tights or leggings. But not with these.

See-Through

Even talking to some of my friends, we’ve hesitated wearing leggings out in public because we were afraid you could see-through our leggings because of the thin fabric. Not with these.

Adjusting

Along with a muffin-top, I always assumed all leggings were constantly having to be pulled up over the “pooch,” and felt loose-fitting throughout the thigh. Not with these.

The Best: They stay in place, are fleece-lined (but not thick), and flatter my waistline in a way that I haven’t seen before having my first kiddo.

UPDATE: I have some bad news friends. Victoria Secret sold these, my favorite leggings, and they no longer carry them. WHY VS, WHY!?

So what I’ve done, is found similar leggings online that I HOPE will be just as good. They’re fleece, have the wider band, and even better news… way cheaper than the Victoria Secret leggings. You can buy them HERE!

Leggings // Buy similar HERE since Victoria Secret no longer carries this style.

The vest is a staple in my closet that you’ve seen before in my Trunk Club Review – Try On Video. I kind of like it, a lot. It goes with a ton of outfits and is great to have for those chilly days that I don’t want to throw on a big coat.

Cream Vest // But it HERE, although the pockets have changed a little, but I prefer the updated pocket-look!

This shirt quickly became a favorite of mine too, simply because my eye is drawn to buffalo plaid this time of year. Heck, I styled a whole stinking party in buffalo plaid last year around the holidays. See that “Favorite Things Party” HERE.

This red plaid flannel shirt is SOOO amazing on, but it’s showing sold out on H&M right now. BUT… I’ve found a similar red flannel button-up tops for you in case you’ve been looking for one too! You can see them on Amazon HERE!

Similar Red Buffalo Plaid Shirts // Buy HERE

The BOOTS! I sooo love these Hunter Boots. Even if I never wore them again, I’d still be able to say that I’ve gotten my “money’s worth,” with these. They’re the new Hunter Boot design, with a sleek style and lighter than the original boot.

When I pair them with the Hunter socks, my toes are so comfy cozy that I feel like never taking them off.

Hunter Boots // Buy HERE  |   Hunter Socks // Buy HERE

See my CURRENT favorite fashion finds, and shop my Instagram HERE!

Month in Advance, at a glance — Free Printable: An organized way to see what’s in store for you next month, so nothing will sneak up on you!

I’m not sure why, but for some reason, when a new month arrives, I feel like someone slapped me upside the head with a “surprise” of activities, events, and bills that are due. I know they’re coming, but it always seems like it’s so far off, because it’s “next month.”

I’ve found a way to help keep my sanity, and I couldn’t WAIT to share how with you. So if you’ve found yourself with the “slapped upside the head” feeling, then this free printable may be just for you too!

 Month in Advance, at a Glance: Free Printable

What about my planner? Or my phone?

I needed a one-page printable, where I could write down everything that I knew of that was coming up. Birthday parties, date nights, bills, meetings, etc. Sure, I keep a calendar on my phone to help stay organized, and my planner… but when I would want to see a whole month, I would struggle. It was either all condensed on my phone, or too spread out on my monthly planner page. (Which left me feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and the month hadn’t even started yet.) Now, this way, I can see it all clear as day, in advance, at a glance, organized in its own special little categories. Be still my heart. My organized-loving momma should be proud.

When to fill it out:

Fill out the sheet about a week before the next month arrives, (or whenever you find the time for it. Better late than never, right?) and stick it in your planner, put it on your desk, or hang it by the door you go in and out of, at home.

Download your FREE PRINTABLE HERE!

What Size to Print?

If you plan to put this in your planner like I do, you should have an option to print it out, the size that will work best for your planner. For instance: 5×7, or an 8×10 may fit perfect, depending on which planner it is that you have!

Happy monthly planning!