Mouse = mice... so spouse = spice?! Well (heh), no. Relationships are hard work. While the seemingly obvious equation may hold true at times, it's important to try and spice things up with your spouse once in a while and not take them for granted. Especially, make sure to not let your friendships take a front seat over your romantic relationship. Sound simple enough? The key is to strike a subtle balance between the two.

Don't let the "J" set in

Friends are extremely important. Extremely. So it's natural for your beloved to feel a little insecure of people who've been around. Your spouse may need reassurance of their place in your life once in a while. Give them that. Go out of your way to do the little things that let them know they have a special place in your life.

Three's a crowd.

This especially holds true for all those haddi friends with their "more-the-merrier" attitude. I agree that there is nothing more perfect than seeing your spouse and friends get along. But, don't push the boundaries with this one. It will not be appreciated if your buddies accompany you on dinner and movie dates. At the end of the day, it's just as important to get that quality time in with your better half.

Practice what you preach

Relationships aren't a one-way street. If you expect your spouse to get to know your friends, you need to make an effort to get to know their besties too. This will convey to them that there is a general importance that friendships hold in your life-even when they aren't your own.

Let them mark their territory

Like I said before, insecurities tend to set in, usually with a pal of the opposite sex. It's best to nip such feelings in the bud before they get blown out of proportion. So if your spouse is subconsciously behaving like a wounded animal trying to protect it's prize, let them get it out of their system. They will realize soon enough that there was no need to protect you from a friendship that was harmless to begin with.

Put two and two together

It's a good idea to have a gargantuan gathering with your spouse's friends and yours together once in a while. At least try it out. If all goes well and everyone gets along, meeting friends will be fun and a stress buster and something you could do together. It may also help you save on that one extra engagement a month, which means you'll have more time available to spend with your spouse.

Finally, step back, take a breath, and remember why you married in the first place. You obviously share such a comfort level that you could resolve most issues simply by communicating with each other. So follow the mantra that suits you best and live happily ever after!