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True Romance for Couples with
Kids
10 Inexpensive Ideas
by Susie Cortright
Anyone can splurge on a formal dinner or a pricey bottle of
perfume, but it takes creativity, forethought, and time 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 him 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 he thinks is a plain box of chocolates will be
a gift he'll keep close to his heart forever. And you can add to the box on
Valentine's Day, his birthday, your anniversary, and other holidays throughout
the year.
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 his briefcase, Walkman, or car stereo.
7. Turn off the TV.
8. Kidnap your husband. Arrange for a babysitter for a few
hour-- 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 their grandparents and
travel to another town, where no one will recognize you. Check into a hotel or
B&B. Dress like another woman. Act like another woman. 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 man 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.
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.
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