Anyone can splurge on a formal dinner or a pricey bottle of perfume, but it takes creativity and forethought to be truly romantic.
The key lies in personalizing your celebration. Here are ten ideas to fuel your own creativity:
1. Empty a box of chocolates. Then cut out 50 to 100 hearts from lace doilies, construction paper, or fabric. On each cutout, record something about your mate that you love. Be specific, "The way you smell when you come to bed at night," "The way you take care of me when I'm sick," "Your recipe for pancakes"...
Fold the cutouts, place them in the chocolate box, and top with a red satin bow.
The time you spend coming up with these ideas will contribute to your own romantic mood, and what your partner thinks is a plain-old box of chocolates will instead be a treasured gift for years to come. Plus, you can add to the box for future birthday, holiday, or Valentine's Day celebrations.
2. Build a romantic fire. Before the kids go to bed, have fun roasting marshmallows. After their lights are out, host your own indoor picnic, complete with a bottle of wine and chocolate-covered strawberries.
3. Recreate your first date together. What were you wearing? Where did you go? Do you remember what you talked about? Spend the evening reminiscing and reflecting on how far you've come as a couple.
4. Spoon all night.
5. Choose a book in which you are both interested, fiction or nonfiction. Read a new chapter each night before bed. This cozy tradition will allow you to spend some quality time together and often makes for thought-provoking breakfast conversations.
6. Make a tape of the songs special to your relationship. Include "your song," songs from your wedding, songs from favorite movies. Add a personal voice dedication and leave it in your partner's briefcase, Walkman, or car stereo.
7. Turn off the TV.
8. Kidnap your spouse. Arrange for a babysitter for a few hours--or a few days. A friend of mine had a lot of success with this one. She knew her husband had always wanted to get married in Vegas, but he had agreed to a large, formal ceremony hosted by her family. So, after they had been married 10 years, she surprised him at work with a packed suitcase. They caught an evening flight and renewed their vows before an Elvis impersonator in a Vegas chapel. Years later, they're still talking about it.
9. This one requires a babysitter, too. Next time you're visiting your parents or in-laws, leave the kids with the grandparents and travel to another town, where no one will recognize you. Check into a hotel or B&B. Dress like another person. Act like another person. It's fun to slip into another persona from time to time.
10. Have a scavenger hunt. Write a few poems, wrap candy kisses inside, and hide them around the house. Each poem should be a clue to finding the next one. Make sure the final clue lands your mate someplace you want to end up for the entire evening. A romance package, including a bottle of champagne and new lingerie, is a nice touch.
Create some romantic memories today. Now with your pocketbook, but with your imagination.
Copyright 2004 Susie Cortright
About The Author
Susie Michelle Cortright is the author of Rekindling Your Romance after Kids and More Energy for Moms. She is also the founder of the award-winning Momscape.com, a website designed to help busy parents find balance. Visit http://www.momscape.com today and get Susie's *free* course-by-email "6 Days to Less Stress."
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIn seminars I am often asked about pocket-money and whether... Read More
We all know that using cloth nappies is best for... Read More
An address given by Rev. David B. Smith... Read More
Despite serious reductions in funding for arts programs in... Read More
There are so many learning labels floating around these days... Read More
Q. We recently caught our son smoking pot, and we... Read More
In a single dose of children's television, I was bombarded... Read More
If you ever walk through an orphanage, it will be... Read More
I was in the life insurance sales industry for over... Read More
On a bright Sunday morning, a couple of weeks ago,... Read More
Should a parent give a child a tangible reward when... Read More
Grandparents, what better way to stay close to your grown... Read More
When we consider that the word allowance means, "allowing for,"... Read More
Compulsory attendance laws are school authorities' first assault on parental... Read More
Moms and dads, are there times you think that parenting... Read More
Your child's leadership skills begin at the family dinner table.... Read More
The public school system in America has become a dismal... Read More
Chaim Ginott was a schoolteacher whose ideas and observations helped... Read More
Start some gardening traditions with your kids. Give them their... Read More
I am in pain. I've been in pain all day.... Read More
Do you struggle to get your child to bed at... Read More
Individualism is a common thing in today's modern society. Many... Read More
Imagine you were the principal of the school that your... Read More
If your parenting methods include abuse of any kind; physical,... Read More
"What age should my child start school?"This is a common... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..'Picky Eater' is a label coined to describe the phenomenon... Read More
You are sitting with the professionals who know about learning... Read More
In elementary school it's pretty straightforward: bringing in cupcakes to... Read More
Q. We are getting to the stage with our kids... Read More
To every thing there is a season, and a time... Read More
First there were Yuppies (Young Urban Professionals). Then came the... Read More
Like anything else in life, there's a method to the... Read More
"Where did he come up with that?" Kids often amaze... Read More
Children do what feels good to them and follow their... Read More
Drivers 16 years of age have little driving experience, putting... Read More
A strange thing happened to me today. Or more precisely,... Read More
Ask any teacher or adolescent counselor what the most disturbing... Read More
10 Fun Things You Can Do With Your Children this... Read More
Home schooling benefits children. As a parent, I feel it... Read More
There are many useful jogger stroller accessories out on the... Read More
The ADD child exhibits a series of behaviors that are... Read More
During one "generation gap" quarrel with his parents young Michael... Read More
It is human nature to feel competitive and envious toward... Read More
Several similar terms describe the central attribute of a character... Read More
Ever blown your top to your children, only to regret... Read More
Time devoted the better part of an issue to it.... Read More
the woes of being a parent of an ADHD child.....Like... Read More
I had my first two children on either side of... Read More
You are at the grocery store with your daughter and... Read More
Teachers know that children thrive in an environment with routines,... Read More
Parenting |