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."
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carMemorizing math facts is a necessary part of elementary school.... Read More
Children bombard parents with many challenging behaviours. We are delighted... Read More
Keith is now in the fourth grade and he dislikes... Read More
When it comes to the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity... Read More
"No thank you. Don't bother to send me the report... Read More
Incest is sexual activity, ranging from fondling to intercourse, between... Read More
Gift shops are a kid magnet and often a trip... Read More
A learning disability is defined as a permanent problem that... Read More
Bi-Polar Disorder, or Manic Depression, is characterized by mood swings,... Read More
Our children are growing up bilingual in the French part... Read More
Single parenting has seemingly become an acceptable norm which is... Read More
There's a new trend for party entertainment. It seems as... Read More
While most fathers aspire to become the best Dads they... Read More
As a parent is seems that the majority of your... Read More
Time management is an organisational concept traditionally associated with adults... Read More
Though you can cover even very long distances by car... Read More
The ADD child exhibits a series of behaviors that are... Read More
According to researchers, most children enter school with a good... Read More
Do you feel like someone has abducted your sweet, innocent... Read More
As I sit here and reflect on the past two... Read More
John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comParents ? Minimize Homework Hassles?It's... Read More
Did you know that cooking with your kids is a... Read More
I have three children, ages 19 and 16 (yes, the... Read More
To protect children's self-esteem or deflect complaints by parents, many... Read More
Q. My daughter has gotten very good at manipulating us,... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..Today the little red school house is not what it... Read More
If you ever walk through an orphanage, it will be... Read More
There are many useful jogger stroller accessories out on the... Read More
Parents looking for a quick fix usually choose troubled teen... Read More
"What age should my child start school?"This is a common... Read More
Being consistent when children are less than perfect can make... Read More
Thank you for all that you do in the classroom!... Read More
I remember when my daughter was born. Visions of her... Read More
A study done by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute found... Read More
You do what you can to keep your little ones... Read More
Diapers..Changing a dirty diaper is not the best part of... Read More
Do you know what these famous people have in common?Alexander... Read More
There are software programs that you can purchase to keep... Read More
Just the other day, I was talking to some other... Read More
Many times, we are so conditioned in how we speak... Read More
A sure way to double the joys of parenthood is... Read More
It's hard to explain to the uninitiated the changes that... Read More
Sex has a lot to answer for ? babies usually... Read More
Part of the responsibility of being a father is to... Read More
"Hugging is healthy: it helps the body's immunity system, it... Read More
Q. My daughter has gotten very good at manipulating us,... Read More
Well first off, please to don't institute the ? hour... Read More
Life is comprised of pieces of time sprinkled with pivotal... Read More
When was the last time you and your kids rolled... Read More
Reading is the most efficient and economical way to help... Read More
Parenting |