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10 Ways To Rekindle The Magic In Your Relationship

  • Posted on July 26, 2009 at 11:52 pm

Are you frustrated that your relationship doesn’t have the magic and romance that it once had?

You’re not alone. Living with the same partner for a long time can become stable and comfortable, and, as a result, can also cause the loss of the spark that made your relationship so special in the first place. Here are some simple, fun and creative ideas to reignite that magic:

1. Send them a unique gift at work – Get a piece of paper and some crayons. Draw a bright childlike picture with a smiley sun and two stick figures holding hands. Add labels with your two names pointing to the stick figures. Write ‘I Love You’ inside a heart. Next get a large formal envelope. Place your drawing inside and type up a formal address label of your partner’s workplace, such as: “For the immediate and urgent attention of: Rebecca Jones, Level 20, Collins & Smith Solicitors, New York.” Mail it to your partner so they receive it in the middle of a busy day.

2. Become kids again – If you are walking by a park, visit the swings and give your partner a ride. This will often bring back happy memories from their childhood.

3. Fun with water – On a hot summer’s day, buy two large water pistols and take them to the beach with you. Pull them out and throw one to your partner and then have a huge water fight.

4. A massage with a twist – Buy a small, decorated cardboard box, a sheet of colored tissue paper, some massage oil and a blank card. Line the box with the tissue paper. Place the massage oil in the box and write the following message on the card: I know a great masseur. For an appointment call: (Your Phone Number)

5. Bring back childhood memories – Contact your partner’s family and ask if there was anything she always wanted when she was a little girl. For example if she always wanted a porcelain doll, buy one for her birthday. She will not only appreciate the gift, but also the fact that you were thoughtful enough to find out what she always wanted. You can do this for your man too.

6. Stare at the clouds – Drive into the country, find a grassy hill, and lie with your partner and look up at the clouds.

7. Go for a walk on the beach – Trace out the shape of a large love heart in the sand. Sit inside the heart and cuddle your partner as you watch the sun go down.

8. Organize a backyard picnic on a warm summer’s night –

Spread a picnic blanket on the ground and get together some snacks, chocolates and champagne. Lie down on the blanket with your partner and gaze up at the stars together.

9. Show you’re grateful for your partner –

Leave a long-stem rose where your partner will find it, with a note on it saying: “Thank you for coming into my life.”

10. Spice up your lovemaking – Probably the most profound way to rekindle the romance in your relationship is to spice up your lovemaking. Surprise your partner with a little gift after you make love, try a new position, learn to give your partner a sensual massage before or after, or just spend some time staring into each other’s eyes and caressing their bare skin before making love.

Many people underestimate the affect passionate and intimate lovemaking has on a relationship. If you spice it up, chances are you and your partner will naturally do romantic things for each other. Why? Because passionate lovemaking connects two people in a meaningful and unexplainable way that nothing else can.

Oprah Love Expert Michael Webb is the author of 500 Lovemaking Tips, a book full of ways to spice up your lovemaking, adding more passion, pleasure and intimacy to your experience. To read more, visit: 500 Lovemaking Tips and Secrets

Romantic Honeymoon Ideas For Every Budget

  • Posted on July 25, 2009 at 4:32 pm

Despite what anyone might say, coming up with exciting honeymoon ideas has got to be one of the most thrilling aspects of planning a wedding. When you are planning a wedding the one thing you don’t want to forget about is the honeymoon. The honeymoon is a special time for the new couple to be together and create a bond.

If you tell people you are planning a wedding, they will be more than happy to give you honeymoon ideas or share where they went on their honeymoon. If you have no clue where you want to go, it may not be a bad idea to listen to the ideas and suggestions of others who have been there.

Honeymoon ideas abound, this article will help you get started with the brainstorming process. We will give you several honeymoon ideas that will either help you find the honeymoon destination of your dreams or will give you some suggestions that will help you come up with a place all your own. We will give a variety of price ranges as well.

. Staying home

If you can’t afford a honeymoon at the moment, staying at home is not a bad thing. You can prepare ahead of time by making small purchases each week so you won’t have all the money hit at once.

Purchase candles, bubble bath, rose petals, wine, strawberries, and any special foods you may want. You can also purchase games to play or movies to watch. You want to do your best to not leave the house or have visitors come over on that special night.

. Hotel

If you can’t afford to travel but you do have a little money you could make a reservation for a few days at a hotel nearby. If a hotel in your area has a honeymoon suite, you can stay there for a few days or just for one day. You can use the candles, bubble bath, rose petals, wine, and strawberries at the hotel as well.

Now we are going to talk about honeymoon ideas for trips you can take. They may not necessarily be site specific, but they will give you types of trips to plan that is sure to be a memorable honeymoon experience.

. Skiing

If you get married in the winter time and you enjoy skiing, you could go to a ski resort. Spending time together skiing can be a lot of fun. Most ski resorts have Jacuzzis as well, so you could spend time together getting cozy. You could ski downhill, cross country, or snowboard.

. Cruise

Taking a cruise to Mexico, Alaska, the Caribbean or Hawaii are all great honeymoon ideas as well. The cruise ships have all sorts of activities and they take care of all meals for you. Cruise ships also offer a chance to get off and do some shore excursions and site seeing. So you get multiple destinations for one low price!

. Hawaii

Going to Hawaii is so much fun. There is a whole lot to do and spending time on the beach is great. You can go swimming in the ocean, sit on the beach in the sun, and take walks on the beach. These are just a few of the many things you can do in Hawaii. You could also go to a pig roast or learn how to hula dance.

Planning a honeymoon is so much fun. You need to start planning as soon as possible so you will know how much money you will need. After looking at all your options the difficult part will be to narrow down your choice to what is “just right” for you. Talk to a travel agent and tell them you are looking for honeymoon ideas and they will be able to help you out with many different options.

Darlyn Burkle of http://www.I-Choose-Us.com, offers resources on how to plan a wedding. The six-month membership program helps brides-to-be organize and plan inexpensive weddings and unforgettable honeymoons. Members receive one new lesson every week for six months.

You Can Be More Alluring

  • Posted on July 23, 2009 at 5:22 pm

To research my book, Men Made Easy, I immersed myself in the study of men. (And was that ever fun!) I interviewed hundreds of men and a standard question was, “What are the most attractive qualities in a woman.” After laughing and listing their favorite body parts, I clarified my question. “What are the qualities you find most attractive in the woman with whom you fall in love, the woman with whom you wish to make a life?” Being alluring isn’t special tricks or techniques. It’s a way of being. Remember how we watched Princess Diana blossom into it? The following “tips” come from my research into the heart, soul, and psyche of men. If you take them to heart and make them yours, you’ll be happier, more attractive…and definitely more alluring. You’ll have what I call ‘Feminine Grace’. How will you know? Because men will treat you differently. And guess what, I guarantee you’re going to like it.

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1) Smile as often as you can.

Men are most attracted to a woman who is happy. A smile is like a big neon sign that tells the world you’re a happy person and probably fun to be around. We’re all attracted to that kind of person. Besides, smiling works those muscles in your face and keeps your face firmer, slowing the aging process. (At least it seems like that would have to be the case.) Plus, every time you smile, it’s kind of like you’ve just given yourself a face lift. Smiling counters gravity. So ladies, lift those faces, work those muscles and smile your heart out. (Hmmm, now isn’t that an interesting turn of words? Smile your heart out, let your heart out so others can see it. Fun, huh?)

2) Laugh frequently.

When you hear someone laughing, doesn’t it make you want to go over there and be with them, to join in the fun? A person who laughs easily is assumed to be happy. When you laugh, you’re relaxed and self-consciousness flies out the door. Attractive means to draw toward you. Everyone wants to be around happy people. Why not be that person that people are attracted to? Plus, laughter creates endorphins, which is good for you immune system, and most likely, keeps you younger. At least you’ll feel younger.

3. Look directly into men’s eyes…with a little smile on your lips.

The other thing men said they were most attracted to was a woman who genuinely likes herself, who’s comfortable with who she, who likes how she looks, and who’s not self-conscious. If you’re self-conscious it’s difficult to look people in the eyes. If you can’t look a man in the eyes you can’t really connect. It’s the primary signal to a man that you’re open to him advancing closer. Without that eye contact, that permission, most men will turn and go somewhere else. (They need to feel they have about a 95% chance of success.) Practice looking at people slightly longer than is comfortable, with a little hint of a smile. Use people who don’t matter so you’re not intimidated. Does it make people notice you more, become more interested in you? It’s amazing how a few seconds of eye contact can make all the difference. They don’t call it a “come-hither” look for nothin.

4. Walk with grace and self-confidence.

It was funny how often men said they were attracted to a woman who had good posture. When you stand straight you’re physically more attractive, you tell the world you’re proud of who you are, comfortable with how you look, and someone said, “It makes your boobs stick out.” That may be all it is, but I think a woman who stands tall is truly beautiful. A woman with bad posture, even a classically beautiful woman, falls short. (pardon the pun :-)

5. Flirt, but keep it subtle.

Men said the only thing that was more scary than approaching a new woman, or moving to the “next level” with her, was the possibility of physical danger. (Isn’t that so cute?) The lingering eye contact and smiling from across the room are part of that subtle flirting. A touch on the arm actually moves things to the next level, letting him know you’re open to him. A woman who’s guarded doesn’t usually touch a man and men know that. Flirting is being friendly, keeping the door open, letting them know we’re not going to embarrass them. But it must be subtle. Part of being alluring is the mystery. If we’re too overt, it becomes crass.

6. Have style, be classy.

An alluring woman is a classy woman. When you pay attention to the little details, then you stand out above the rest. An alluring woman is an exceptional woman. Look around and you’ll see for yourself. Become exceptional by taking those extra steps with your hair, make-up, and clothes. But don’t overdo it, keep it simple. Let your true beauty shine through. When everything is overdone, you can’t see the women beneath all the layers. And men are usually turned off by a woman with too much hair, make-up, jewelry… well, you know, too much.

7. Enjoy your femininity.

Men said they found a woman who obviously enjoys being a woman to be extremely attractive. Even if you’re just going to the post office, if it makes you feel more feminine, put on a little lipstick, blush, and mascara. A quick brush through the hair and you’re ready. Jeans and a T-shirt can be very attractive on a woman who enjoys being a woman. On a woman who doesn’t care, they’re just “guy” clothes, something to cover the body, keep it warm. Oh yes, paint those toenails…red if you dare. Then, instead of boring sneakers, throw on some of those great open-toed slings or sandals that are in all the stores right now. SEXY! You’ll feel it and, trust me, he’ll notice it.

8. Wear sexy lingerie.

It may sound silly, but sexy lingerie affects how you “are.” You’ll feel sexier, more sensual, more womanly, more attractive. Men don’t know what’s going on, but they can sense that you’re different and that difference comes across as alluring. Can you see how subtle all this is? And it’s fun. So, girl, get out there and play with this stuff and notice how differently men respond to you. Let loose, get creative and enjoy…

Joyfully,

Kara Oh

Kara Oh is the best-selling author of numerous relationship books including From Flirting to Forever, Men Made Easy, Marriage Made Easy, and Women Made Easy.

Kara has been interviewed on hundreds of radio and TV shows across the country in cities like New York, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Philadelphia, and signed books in bookstores in every major (and a few not so major) city. She has featured in magazines like Cosmopolitan and Women’s World. She is an enlightening and entertaining public speaker and has traveled to all the major US cities sharing her insights about what makes men tick and how to create amazing relationships.