Gift for My Husband

Many days go by, and I don't think about my husband.  That sounds harsh, but I feel that life is so crazy and we are so busy, that by the time I get home from work, I have just enough energy to plop on the couch and pass out.  

I miss our dates. I miss doing stuff with just him.  For his birthday, I decided to make something that we could enjoy together.  We often like to eat out - but seem to pick the same 5 places (all of which we love!), but there are so many interesting places we mean to try and forget about!

(Drum roll please!) I made him a Food Passport :)

I cut white paper in fourths, and then stapled them together like a book. I didn't count the pages, so basically I shoved as many pages I could without having the staples bust. On my lunch breaks, I drew many many lines on each page - so each page would house two restaurants. 

After asking everyone under the sun to list their favorite restaurants, and then looking up menus online - I compiled a lengthy list of 100-plus places to dine.  Some focus on a specific cuisine, others I picked because of its location or beautiful views.

Just like a passport, we stamp each restaurant square after visiting, leaving comments on our experience.

Date Night Rejuvenated

How predictable am I? My first few posts of the year are typically about what I would like to accomplish....lose...create...find...restore..read..so on and so on.
If I was to list all of my 2011 goals, it would be overwhelming not only for me to type but for the reader (you my little darlings) as well! And since I am not here to torture you, I decided to spare you the nitty gritty and get on with my life/year.

One goal I  WOULD like to mention is  Date Night (and I definitely  am not referring to the movie..thought it was good).  Before the vow exchange, Mr. and I would go on "dates" every month.  Not just your movie and dinner date (we had those too), but like an actual planned out date - whether it was to a bed and breakfast, musuem, scavenger hunt, bird watching - we had actual legit dates.  It was fantastic and romantic.  Then we got married....dunt dunt dun.  That seriously seemed like the end all and be all of our fun times. Who knew?!

2011. Let that be our year to reconnect (Are you there B? It's me, your wife).  I would like to bring back the inventive date nights/days/weekends.  If that means we will have to say no to some other plans, or not attend every practice or game, or not tutor as much - then so be it!  I can handle that - and I think the people around us can handle it too.

According to a recent study, just the plain ole' dinner and a movie isn't enough anymore to keep marriages sparkling.    According to NY Times, "Rather than visiting the same familiar haunts and dining with the same old friends, couples need to tailor their date nights around new and different activities that they both enjoy, says Arthur Aron, a professor of social psychology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. The goal is to find ways to keep injecting novelty into the relationship. The activity can be as simple as trying a new restaurant or something a little more unusual or thrilling — like taking an art class or going to an amusement park."

I think we can handle that....I'm going to put my thinking  headband on (I like to wear it like Rambo), and brainstorm neat-o things to do in January....and Mr. can plan for February !! (hint hint!)

Friday Night Date Club

You've lost that loving feeling...now it's gone. gone gone. oh no!! What to do?

Perhaps instill a Date of the Month Club featuring you and your sweetie. Each month, you swap between who plans one night out/in.

Something cheap and easy? I found this on The Whimsical Princess. For Valentine's Day, she gave her husband something wonderful. A Date of the Month membership.

On a certificate, she wrote the following:

Congratulations
Prince Charming
You have received a gift subscription to the
Date of the month club

This exclusive offer is only available to loving couples like you and your wife. Once a month you will receive an exciting date package in the mail including two destination dates. As a special offer to you we have included our exclusive love notes mailbox. We ask for nothing in return, simply complete the confirmation card and place it in the love notes mailbox. This mailbox is linked directly to your wife’s heart and when you put the flag up she will receive a special signal. Hurry don’t wait, these exciting dates are in high demand and we are certain you will be pleased with each one. We are so certain that you will enjoy being a member of the Date of the month club that we offer an automatic renewal with every paid membership. If you are enjoying your membership do nothing we will automatically renew your membership after 12 months, and provide 12 more exciting dates. But you must hurry this exclusive club is filling up quickly.

There is more! Because you have joined in the month of February we have included 10 Romance reward coupons. These coupons are exclusive of our club and you can not find them anywhere else. These coupons can be used at anytime throughout the year. Simply place the coupon you wish to use in the mailbox and it will be honored!

But wait there is more, for our very special customers we have included 20 kisses that can be redeemed at any time for a real kiss. Our clients find these especially rewarding and we are sure that you will use them up quickly. We know you will want your dates to start right away, and as an added bonus if you return your confirmation card within the next 48 hours we will rush you 10 extra kisses!

As we mentioned our exclusive mailbox is linked directly to your wife’s heart so we encourage you to leave notes for her, and she will do the same for you. Simply place the note in the box and place the flag up it is that simple.

I thought this was so neat! The certificate went inside a mini-mailbox, which would hold other goodies, in addition to "love notes".

Inside the mailbox, there was the certificate, a confirmation card, 20 coupons, and 20 kisses.

What I love the most is the Confirmation Card which has two boxes to check, which say the following "I can't wait to start my subscription please rush me my first date package right away!" AND " I am submitting this within 48 hours so please also include my extra Romance Reward tickets."

How thoughtful and romantic. Kudos to you Whimsy Princess!

**sigh***

Displays of Affection

This is the big weekend for lovers. Or so they think...really every weekend should be a weekend for lovers, not just the 14th of the second month of the year.

I fall in love with the holidays - and Valentine's Day is no exception. But I feel there is added pressure on relationships to do something "romantic". I fall right into that category, because my parting words to my dear husband this AM was something along the lines of "I hope you have something roMANtic planned for tonight or Sunday..because this IS our first Valentine's day as husband and wife." humph. Didn't leave much choice for the poor guy. And why is that? I want to feel romanced. I want to be swept off my feet from our everyday life. And while the rest of the world is celebrating, I want to feel special. Though really, I should feel that way everyday....but sometimes our everyday lives get the best of us - and we forget to say simple words. Like I love you. You look lovely. Thank you.

So on this day, much like every other day in the year, I say this "Be Bold. Be romantic. But be that way all year long. Not just on the 14th. "

Ten ways to show your affection when your wallet is empty:

1. Leave a note under her/his windshield wiper at work.
2. Pack "I love you" notes in her suitcase or lunchbox.
3. Complain less, compliement more. (Gee I should follow my own advice)
4. Wake up every morning fifteen minutes early to cuddle with each other.
5. Make breakfast in bed.
6. Start a journal of your thoughts and present it to your love. Perhaps write letters back and forth to each other. (I can not take credit for this idea, as it was my husband who suggested it)**
7. Make a list of 100 reasons why you love your wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend.
8. Create a jar filled with "Love Coupons." Make the coupons redeemable for hugs, kisses, back rubs or any number of special favors. Give the jar to your lover and let him/her redeem the coupons over time.
9. Read a book together (My husband and I do this, but it always puts me to sleep. I find it fabulous...not sure about his feelings!)
10. Make a mix cd...this NEVER gets old for me!! I think I will forever have every mixed cd/cassette tape ever made for me because I admire the work it takes to put it together.


Hope this list helps you a bit come up with ways to show your sweetie how you feel. It doesn't take jewelry, flowers, or fancy dinners to display your affection. (Though it never hurts!) It just takes some time and creativity. On that note my friends, have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Stop Dating? I dare say not.

After you are married, the honeymoon is over.....the actual vacation and then the phase. I read recently that dates are the most important part of any relationship. I would tend to agree.

Just because you might dress in sweatpants and clean up dirty diapers all day, doesn't mean you should stop dating. Just because you wear a suit and tie, drive a 4 door sedan, doesn't mean you should stop dating. (Though this does not apply to me yet, I have friends that complain of this exact situation).
When you get married - keep dating! (Hopefully each other :) Dates are utmost important to keeping your relationship in tact and fun.

This section is labeled "Romance Me"- because let's face it, who doesn't like to be romanced? In my mind, I always replay the scene from "Say Anything" where Lloyd Dobler stands in the rain, playing Sting's "In your Eyes". What a moment! Now, I don't expect my husband to catch a cold in order to prove his undying love, but a little spark every now and then would just wonderful.

Why not have a Hot Lunch? (Not the kind from 2nd grade served with mashed potatoes!) This is a service that creates a lunch box full of your date. I believe my favorite is "Night at the Drive-In"(see above). In the very stylish lunch box, it includes an invitation for the date, step by step instructions, candy, camera to document your fun, popcorn, two mugs, and a coupon for a movie. But the catch? Watch it in your garage! Now, this takes some planning on your part - but doesn't all dates?

They also have a box called "Cartoons and Cupcakes" - perhaps combining my two favorite things! Be a kid again - and watch cartoons, bake cupcakes - maybe even eat the icing first...and just enjoy the company of your loved one.