Love + Sex

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Daily Dose Of Romance: Keep The Love Alive

Sometime between "I do" and the rest of your life, you might find the spark that once made your marriage exciting is, well, fizzling. The love is there, it's just… Buried under a lot of laundry, the bathroom that needs repainting, and the long hours at work…. How, in between working, running a house, and raising a family, are you supposed to find time to be romantic?

 


Actually, it's easier than you might think. And here's a cheat sheet with 10 quick ideas that won't take more than five minutes each. Try just one a day for the next 10 days, and see if you haven't rediscovered romance.

 

1. Email your spouse with a quick note to say how much you appreciate something specific. For example: "Thanks for taking the trash out today! Made my morning go much more smoothly!"

 

2. Leave a loving message on his cell phone voice mail. You really can "just call to say I love you." You can go the sexy route or just plain say, " I wanted you to know I was thinking of you."

 

3. Stick a note in his backpack or briefcase or whatever he carries to work each day. "Have a great day!" Decorating with stickers is optional.

 

4. Sweeten his day with a doughnut or another breakfast treat -- box it up and leave it on the counter or in his car the night before. Or get up early and make him a specialty coffee to go. Try this copycat recipe for a mocha Frappucino. http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/starbucksmochafrap.htm

 

5. Deliver lunch -- or at least have it delivered to him at the office if you know he's having a particularly stressful day. Call his favorite take-out place and dish up something delicious.

 

6. Lighten his load by taking care of his dry cleaning or some other errand he normally handles. When he asks, just say, "I took care of it." And smile.

 

7. Send a text like "Miss you already" right after he leaves in the morning.

 

8. Order something special from his Amazon wishlist or another trusted source. For no reason. Just because. Think of it as the equivalent of flowers.

 

9. Mail a card to him at home or at work. Go funny, sexy, romantic, or whatever, but choose something that will speak to him, and take the time to write a personal note. Bonus points if you write about a shared memory from the early days of your courtship.

 

10. Say "I love you," face to face, unprompted -- and not right after sex.

 

No matter how long you've been together and how far from romance your mind is these days, you can recapture the magic that once brought you together. Invest a little time in your spouse, and you'll love the rewards you reap.

 

 

For more on romance and parenting on SheKnows.com:
10 Fun spring date ideas
Sex after baby
How to recharge your relationship over the weekend

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From the Community…

Comments 11-20 of 73
  • Gypsy woman's Avatar
    Posted by Gypsy woman Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:07pm PDT

    I USED to have a romantic guy (or 2). I now have a cheap husband that I do everything for. My advice "don't be in a hurry to get married" marriage is a way better deal for the man!!!!

    Report Abuse
  • Mark Brooks's Avatar
    Posted by Mark Brooks Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:25pm PDT

    Try giving your significant other a 'book of treats.' The book of treats should include things such as...

    - A 45 minute sloooow massage

    - A special meal over candles (24 hours advance notice)

    - A 'relax and hear me out'

    Those are the predictable ones. Come up with your own distinctly personal ideas for the book and present it to him/her over a bottle of champagne one night.

    Report Abuse
  • william's Avatar
    Posted by william Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:51pm PDT

    pampering needs to work both ways

    Report Abuse
  • Mark B's Avatar
    Posted by Mark B Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:54pm PDT

    Wow, some of the negative comments here are perhaps why American women are some of the most unmarriageable females on the planet.

    Thanks for the warning!

    Report Abuse
  • Mistress's Avatar
    Posted by Mistress Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:17am PDT

    I do nice stuff for my guy all the time, in fact for our wedding anniversary I paid for both of our twisted dragon tattoo's that we got on our right arm. However he couldn't even pay for dinner. The wedding ring went on and the romance died. If he would just do the little thing's like, a rose every once in a while just to show me a little appreciation for all I do for him, I would even settle for a love note. I never thought that I was asking to much.

    Report Abuse
  • mwine's Avatar
    Posted by mwine Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:01am PDT

    People, that tip is apt but put in a pinch of tactiq if you are to get some goddamm flavour in return.

    Report Abuse
  • Zeynab's Avatar
    Posted by Zeynab Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:47am PDT

    why

    Report Abuse
  • MARIE GRACE's Avatar
    Posted by MARIE GRACE Sat Jul 11, 2009 7:01am PDT

    it takes two to tango..sometimes all your sweet efforts aren't just enough..guys can be so insensitive..it's ridiculous, we show them how we love them that much, only to be ignored. well, perhaps, there are guys who can make us feel naive.But women, can be all so hopeless romantic..sad.

    Report Abuse
  • karen's Avatar
    Posted by karen Sat Jul 11, 2009 7:28am PDT

    love is so so wow

    Report Abuse
  • Living in Carlton's Avatar
    Posted by Living in Carlton Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:47pm PDT

    Why all geared toward the guy? What about for the women?

    Report Abuse
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