It's the little things in love that matter

It’s the little things that matter in love

by with 2 Comments Family lifeRelationships
When you’re in a relationship, do you tend to think it’s the little things or the big, grand gestures that mean the most?
The ‘Enduring love’ research project has been looking into this question and the results show that, in long-term relationships, it’s the little things that we do for our partners day to day and week by week that matter the most.
It's the little things that matter in love
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This has made me think about the little things I can do to show my husband how much he means to me.

The first thing that comes to mind is to make sure I compliment him when I think he looks good.  I’m so guilty of thinking he looks nice but not actually saying it!

 

Having searched the internet for inspiration, here’s my list of other little things that might really make a difference in how happy and content you both are day to day in your relationship:

 

  • Pay attention to the things your partner does for you, and make sure you say thank you for it
  • Give your partner genuine compliments
  • Say nice things about them to other people
  • Talk positively about them to your children
  • Leave them the last chocolate
  • Make them a cup of tea or coffee in the morning
  • Bring them a cup of tea or breakfast in bed at the weekend
  • Get up with the kids so they can have a lie in
  • Do their least favourite job around the house for them
  • Write them love notes (or love texts/emails)
  • Run them a bath after work
  • Take the kids out for a few hours so they can have some peace
  • Send a text or call them for no reason other than to let them know you’re thinking of them
  • Bring them little gifts
  • Tell them you love them
  • Bring them flowers

 

The research seems to show that all these little things done day to day add up to mean so much more than a grand gesture once a year.  They’re constant reminders that we are loved and appreciated and that our partners think about us and care about our happiness.

If you want to really make sure that the little things you’re doing are making your partner feel loved then you can check what love language they speak and go out of your way to do things in the way that speaks their language.

I know that I really appreciate it when I get up in the morning to find that my husband has cleaned up the night before, and when he comes home from work with a bar of chocolate for me it can really make my day!

What little things matter most to you in a relationship?

perfect pancake recipe

Perfect, simple pancake recipe

by with 17 Comments RecipesUncategorized

About this time every year the shops start to fill up with those little squeezy bottles of lemon juice, jars of chocolate spread and packets of pancake mix.

Now, I can understand the lemon juice and the chocolate spread, but I can’t quite get my head around the need for packets of pancake mix!  I mean, I’m all for making your life easier and have on a few rare occasions bought pre-prepared veg to make soup with, but pancakes are so simple to make from scratch that buying a mix just seems like a real waste of money!

So, for those of you looking to break out of the packet-pancake-mix zone, I present to you a really simple recipe for perfect pancakes!

A really simple recipe for perfect pancakes

This is the recipe I have used every year since 2002, when my Mum sent it to me on this postcard when I was a student at Swansea University.  I dig it out every Shrove Tuesday and it hasn’t failed me yet!

Perfect-pancake-recipe

In case you can’t quite read the faded writing on the postcard, here’s the recipe:

  • 4oz (110g) plain flour
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 egg
  • Half a pint (275ml) of milk
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter

And the method:

  1. Sift flour and salt into a bowl.
  2. Beat to a smooth, creamy batter with the the unbeaten egg, half the milk and the melted butter
  3. Stir in the remaining milk.
  4. The batter is now ready to cook!
  5. Heat a frying pan on the hob and melt a little bit of butter in it.
  6. Pour about a ladleful of batter into the pan and swirl the pan around to spread the batter out.  You want it to pretty much spread out to the edges of the pan and be quite thin.
  7. Leave it to cook for about a minute, then either flip it over using a spatula or be brave and toss it in the air to flip it!
  8. Cook for about a minute on the other side then serve.

One thing to remember – the first pancake almost never ‘works’!  

I don’t know exactly why, but please don’t be disheartened if your first attempt is a disaster!  The second one will be much better, I swear!

making-pancakes

As far as how to serve the pancakes goes, I personally like mine sprinkled with lemon juice and sugar!  And I spread jam on the ones I gave to the kids.  But there are loads of ideas out there.  In fact, you can have a look at my Pinterest board for inspiration!

perfect-simple-pancakes

How will you be enjoying your pancakes this year?  And will you be making them from scratch?!
Cuddle Fairy