Go Team and Hang out with Your Friends

We had a blast last night hanging out with friends/neighbors for a pre-season party for a Broncos game.  Good Times!

When was the last time you and your sweetie hung out with friends?  For this particular get together we took the kiddos too.  So good times were had by all.  

See - a date night doesn't have to be without the kids.  

Oh, and go Broncos!

Dinner routines are great but every once in a while break from the norm.

Having dinner at the table with great conversation is a wonderful thing. It can bring us closer and set a time for sharing. However, every once in a while you need to break from the ridged time and make it a party. Yes, make your dinner a party. Weather you order a pizza and eat it sitting on the living room floor or eat standing up in the kitchen. This variety every once in a while can help to explore different things. Maybe it is a new chinese dish that you want to eat while sitting on the floor to get the feel for the way the chinese eat. Make dinner like a family gathering and sit all the food on the table and let you family wander around while eating. You can even make it dinner and a movie where you combine eating dinner with watching a new release movie. Whatever you choice might be just break away from the normal every once in a while at dinner and see what it might spark.

Change your time for Sex!

Do you always have sex at the same time? Are you bedtime people and that is the only time that you will make love? Well I want to suggest making a time change. Try making love at a different time of the day then normal. I like to call it vacation sex. Breaking out of your routine might make your love making a little more exciting. Plus by being open to different times you allow yourself to avoid issues that might keep you from having sex all together. When the kids are at school is a time that is seldom used for sex, but allows you the freedom of not being interrupted or having to wait for the older kids to go to bed. Also you don't have to worry about being tired or the differences in your sleeping schedules.

Morning sex is the best for some people it gives them a great start to their day. It's like getting up and doing your exercises before you shower. I would suggest this to anyone that likes to got to bed really early. The only problem with morning sex is the death breath you collect during the night but that can easily be cured with a trip to the bathroom or now they have the little portable toothbrushes that you could sit right on your headboard.

I don't care when you enjoy having your sex, night time, afternoon, morning they are all wonderful times that have their own unique positive qualities. What I want to say is don't put off having sex if the time you enjoy is not available for some reason then pretend your on vacation and have vacation sex anytime you can find.

Great Date Idea: Night at the Museum.

In the effort to find a great date idea that doesn't break the bank, you just need to look for a little culture. Museums offer a great place to walking around holding and hands and conversing about the things you see. Sparking many different conversations and feelings based on the works at the museum. Now you might not like art and if that is the case there are a multitude of other museums that don't have anything to do with art. The football hall of fame had many many displays that will grab your attention. Plus there are several little obscure museums around that offer a look into very specific interests. Say for instance the Firefighters Museum or the Museum of Toy Trains whatever your tastes there is a museum out there for it. Don't live near a museum then you can always check out itunes and get a number of podcasts from the bigger museums on their recent exhibits. Then you could even snuggle down on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and visit the museum you wish. Some museums charge a fee but many of them only ask for donations, so check around and see what museum you might like to visit on your next date night.

Date nights a must for all long term relationships

One thing that you have to do when you are in a long term relationship is to continue to date each other. It might sound silly but the use of dates can keep your relationship fresh and exciting for many many years to come. Plan your dates well in advance so that you have time to find a baby sitter, or save for a night out for the two of you. Make sure you have specific things to do also as to not waste the night wondering what to do. Make your date night a specific time either each week or month. You can make it the 2nd Friday of each month or every thursday night it just depends on what fits your schedule. Make it a grand even and if you want to make if feel like a real date have one partner come knock on the door to pick you up. One last thing make sure you end each date with a make out session if it ends up with a little action in the bedroom is up to you.

Send a late night email expressing your feelings or fears.

Sometimes it is hard to just bring up something that has had deep meaning in your life. It might be something from you childhood or maybe even something that your partner has done the hurt your feelings. You want to express your total feelings without being interrupted before you get your whole point across. This is where the magic thing we call email is a benefit. Find some time when you are alone and construct your message to your partner, opening up your feelings and letting your emotions come out in the email. Send it to them and say nothing, never ask if they got the email, just wait for a reply either in person or by return email. Sure, face to face talking is always the best but sometimes if you might be embarrassed or scared to tell them how you feel. Most likely your partner will understand your feelings and then you have now opened up the lines of communication and found another way to communicate with the person you love.

Throw in the hat when you want to avoid the "What do you want to do" blues

Okay it is time for the two of you to get out and have some alone time. You set down to decide where your date night will take you then you hear those dreaded words and make your cringe, "What do you want to do?" and the most typical response is "I don't know what do you want to do?" This can go on for hours, and when someone finally makes a suggestion the other person usually shoots it down. Well here is a fun and exciting way to take the "What do you want to do" out of your dating plans. Write down all the places you like to eat, activities you like to do, and even the odd things you do every once in a while. Then cut out each idea and throw them into a hat. Keep the hat in a safe place and now every time you get a chance to get out draw a piece for paper from the hat, presto that is what you are going to do. You can put anything into the hat and if you want to make a couple of hats up. One with places to eat and another for activities to do after you eat. Every time you think of a new place to go or something new to do throw it in the hat. The more ideas in the hat the less bored you will get. You can throw the idea back into the hat if you wish but I suggest keeping it out for the new time you draw. Now instead of saying "what do you want to do?" you will save all that time and be able to spend more of it enjoying each other.

Silent Night

One of the best things about winter is snow. A romantic thing to do is watch and listen as the snow falls. Unless you are in a busy part of town it is one of the quietest sounds you can't hear. The snow falls so quiet and just watching it makes you want to curl up with the person you love. I picture a very quiet snow fall every time I hear the song Silent Night. For me it is very relaxing to watch the snow fall with it's quiet rhythm. Sitting with my love and drinking hot cocoa is the thing I want to do every time I see the snow start to fall. For those of you that live in a warmer climate I have included a video from youtube below so that you can get the feeling, too.

Too Tired For Your Partner?

I see it so many times -- people are stretched so thin.  They volunteer for everything and have nothing left for the people they love - especially their partners.

If you are too tired to enjoy your relationship when you and your partner have time to be together, then it is time you reevaluate what you are doing. Do you volunteer for the PTO or coach every thing under the sun?  Do you play softball all summer long or have to be involved in every fundraiser in the community? Do you find yourself telling your partner that you are too tired to stay up with him/her during the evening or that you just need to relax and chill during your time together?  If this happens time and again, you seriously need to view this from your partner's perspective.

 How do you think your partner feels if he/she asks you to watch a movie with him/her and you tell him/her you just need some sleep.   Yet, the three nights before you were out raising funds for the humane society, playing a softball game, and attending a committee meeting.  What about passing on a night of intimacy because you have to get up early the next morning to play golf with your friends?These are the type of events that can really hurt a relationship.  Nothing is wrong with doing any of these things, but when you can't make time for your relationship because of them you are not only affecting your partner, but your relationship as a whole.

I am assuming that the two of you are together because you love each other.  With that bond comes the respect that you owe to each other.  Do some planning and figure out the best times for the two of you and then don't let things get in the way of your love.  If you are repeatedly too tired to be with your partner, what you are really saying to him/her is, "Our relationship comes after all these other things I am doing."  Don't be that person.  Put stock in your relationship and move it up on your priority list.  You will be amazed at the difference this can make.

Take a Moonlight Drive.

During the Holiday season a very romantic thing to do is to take a late night drive and check out all the Christmas decorations. Only at this time of year will your drive be filled with houses decked out in lights or festive holiday themes. If you check around a bit you might find a local park or zoo that might have a small charge for a wonderful light display. I know just about 20 minutes from our house a park has a light show that is a must see for us and our children every year. Make a little challenge of it and mark you favorites, rate them from best to worst so that next year you can return as most people find this a competition any way. You can usually find the same houses decorated each year if you can remember where they are. Sometimes you will find whole neighborhoods dressed in lights while other times you might just find a diamond in the rough out off a back road. Ask around your friends and sometimes they can lead you to some of the more wonderful light displays. The most wonderful part about this activity is that no matter how big your family is everyone can enjoy it. If it is only the two of you or is you have four kids it can still be just as wonderful listening to them get excited looking for lights.

Skip Lunch Together if it nets you more time later.

One thing a couple can always use more of it time. We always want to try to have time to go to lunch with our spouse. It is usually a hurray up eat and get back to work situation. Well here is a novel idea. Why not skip lunch with each other and all together? Think about it this way if you brown bag it to work and eat while you are working and get off an hour earlier, wouldn't that be a better use of your time to spend with your honey. Instead of breaking your time together up into little tiny segments why not have an extra hour at home together during the night? You will also be saving money if you are not going out to eat all the time. Plus with an hour extra with each other you can do some of the things you seem to never have enough time to get accomplished. If your having trouble trying to fit your sex life into the picture now you have an extra hour! If you take the whole hour that is a great use of your extra hour.

Seriously though if you break it down at the most you are spending maybe a half hour to forty-five minutes together during you lunch. Plus you are spending time ordering and maybe talking to someone else that you know. Wouldn't that hour be much better spent alone with your family or partner? I think so.

Afternoon Delight

Most of us thing about making love in the evening or in the morning when we wake up. We are missing an important time frame however. The Afternoon is one of those times that we don't think about as often as being a romantic time. One time I think the afternoon ends up being sexy is during vacations, if the two of you are alone on vacation it seems like a great time to get naked, maybe you have been to the beach all day and before you get ready to go to dinner, you have, well, a little afternoon delight. Then you get up and get yourself ready for dinner. Obviously work schedules have a great effect on doing anything during the afternoon. Let alone having a little wind ding. Make yourself a promise to get busy some afternoon with your sweety it changes up your whole day and gives you a little spontaneity to your love life. If you need to imagine you are on vacation.

Make a Date Night.

I hate saying this over and over but our lifes are so busy that unless we spacifically set times to do things a lot of times we never get around to them. With that said I want you to pick a day of the week that the two of you can have a date. I am not talking about going out with the kids to Chuckie Cheese. I want the two of you to have a time for yourselves. Find a great babysitter if need be and make it a standing arrangement that they will watch the children every week at this time. Find something that works best in your schedule. Maybe the daytime works better for the two of you, or early morning. The only requirement is that you have time for the two of you to spend together. No talking about bills or children or problems. Just the two of you enjoying why you got into a relationship to begin with. Reconnect and start living your love life all over again. Believe me most people don't see that their relationship is slipping but these date night will get you back on the straight and narrow.

I understand things pop up and kids get sick. If those things happen they you need to find a substitute day to have you date. Never just forget it, if nothing else works just plop some lawn chairs outside and star gaze. You relationship is important and so is your partner so make time for them today. You will be glad you did.

The Stars at Night Look Big and Bright (Click here to learn about constellations)

Here is a quickie that will be a wonderful event between you and your partner. Find some cushions, bean bag chairs, or even a blanket, and on the next clear warm summer night head outside. Arrange whatever sitting or laying device you have brought out and position it so that you can gaze skywards without straining your neck. Also, make sure that in this position you can touch or hold your partner. Then simply relax and enjoy the greatest light show in the universe. This is a great stress reliever also as it seems to put some perspective into your life. You could even brush up a little on your astronomy or even purchase a book showing the constellations so that you and your partner can enjoy trying to point them out to each other. If you have a quiet back yard, you might even bring out a little mood music or even just a taping of a waterfall or rain. But, first and foremost relax, take your time and enjoy searching the cosmos with your love.

Not a night person? You can do the same thing during a warm summer day, but instead of stars use clouds. Point out clouds and what their shapes look like to you, and then see what your partner sees in the same cloud. It is quite interesting to see the differences in your ideas. Don't be afraid to involve your children in this too. I love to hear the perspective of a young child, and this will bring you closer as a family, which will bring you closer as a couple.