Have You Had Your 6-Second Kiss Today?

Described by Dr. Gottman as “long enough to feel romantic,” the six-second kiss serves as a temporary oasis within a busy day (ex: going to or from work).

Greeting your partner with affection communicates their importance to you while reminding them of the good feelings you share when you’re in each other’s company.

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Our “rituals of connections are crucial,” because they serve not only to re-establish the connection with our partners, but also to protect our relationships from betrayal. “The parting and reunion [moments] turn out to be really important,” asserts Dr. Gottman. Attention spent on each other in transitional junctures communicates that “you’re important to me, and when you come back at the end of the day, it’s an event. You matter to me.”

The Game of Love

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If you missed out last year, make sure you create your very own Game of Love for Valentine's Day (It's in 24 days, by the way!).

You can just use a flat sheet so you can put it on your bed whenever you're ready to go if you don't want to use a fitted sheet. Then, create your own game board. The number of squares will be the number of "moves" you'll have to fill in. Basically, you come up with some moves to get him in the mood, tease each other a bit and have some fun. You don't have to wait until Valentine's Day to give him this gift, either.

In case you're wondering, here are The Official Game of Love Rules:
1. The player will roll a die, but the highest number can be 3 (so divide by 2 or the game goes too fast!)
2. Each square has a 1 1/2 minute time limit
3. No getting carried away- you have to stop at 90 seconds and roll again (the hubs might fight you on that one)
4. Only one person "plays" your role is just the game "facilitator"
5. The Final square is "Score" and you can't skip ahead (if ya know what I mean)

You can steal some ideas from Monica here or this list:
Shoulder rub
A little peck
-1 piece of clothing
1st base (pic of base)
Strawberries/Grapes
I love you because...
Head massage
Forward # spaces
Lose a turn
??? (roller’s choice of what you do-but remember you are doing it for the other person) 
French please!
Love the ladies (whoever rolls this the girl wins ;)
Choose your lotion (back rub…)
Mini make-out
Foot rub
2nd base
Outfit choice (you choose what the other will wear)
Back one space
Music
Free touch
+1 piece of clothing
Whipped cream
Sexy dance
XOXO…
Kiss every inch
???-your choice
Look, but don’t touch…
Forward two spaces
I love you because...
Trace/Draw on me…
Talk to me
9x8-3=??
I like mine French
"Head" massage
Close your eyes
3rd base
Chocolate pudding
Lose a turn
SCORE!!! (make sure this is last. I may have made my game go a bit odd and required lots of arrows to ensure this was last...)

If you want some toys go here. If you want to find some new, affordable lingerie go here. It could be a fun tradition to get something new (at least) every year.

Has anybody tried out this game? 

Did you actually make it through?

The Love Dare

A few years ago, somebody told me about the movie Fireproof and encouraged me to watch it. It's rare to find a movie that has good morals and talks about faith as well. I admit that this movie was a bit cheesy, but it was also very powerful and moving. I love seeing marriages work hard through tough times and this movie shows this couples journey together and how they come out stronger in the end. I think it's free to stream on on Netflix now if you need a good cuddly, cheap, romantic date night.

The theme throughout this movie involves a Love Dare. It's 40 Days of putting your spouse first complete with a task as well as a scripture and rationale. It's a great way to strengthen your marriage- whether you're thinking about divorce or in the newlywed stage. You can get a shortened version of the Love Dare here. Give it a shot!

Has anybody done the Love Dare? Who's willing to try it?

Day 1: Love is patient

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
—Ephesians 4:2

TODAY’S DARE

The first part of this dare is fairly simple. Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the condition of our heart. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It’s better to hold your tongue...

A Romantic Bedroom

A friend once told me great advice to "Just focus on keeping one room clean because after that it's just too overwhelming- especially after having kids." I tend to focus on the bedroom (and the kitchen). It's nice to have a place to just relax and feel calm.

• Less is more. Keep it simple and clean.
• Go to the dollar store and get some tea light candles and rose petals and perhaps some sheer sheets to hang over or around your bed
• Organize all of your stuff in ways that work for you
• Have some fun with the sheets
• Clean it regularly
• Make the bed every night before you get in bed
• Check out here for more ideas

When He's in the Mood and You Aren't

When asked to write this blog post for Gwen in Love, I was excited and a little terrified. I am well versed in the “in’s and out’s” of sex, but writing about it so publicly is a whole new thing for me. My husband and I have been married for over 3 years and in that time we have had a child and have another on the way. Needless to say, I’m not always “in the mood” when he is. So that is why we have BOTH discovered a great love for hand jobs.

I know many women don’t enjoy giving these and many more feel uncomfortable while doing it. So here are a few tips I have to make your experience and his, a little more enjoyable.

• Remember, this time is as much about you as it is about him. Don’t laugh. I’m serious. Once I realized this, it made it so much better. You aren't just giving him his jollies so he will roll over and go to bed.
• You are totally in control. You can make this experience as long or as short as you want. YOU are the one that gets to decide.
• Go in with a good attitude. If you begrudgingly start rubbing your husband, he feels that, in more than one way. It will take it longer for him to enjoy his time, and chances are will just make you bitter.
• Take the time to feel sexy beforehand.  Put on some lingerie, roll on pheromone enhancer and do your makeup. The better you feel going in, the better he will feel.

Now, let’s get to the good stuff! 
What is it that some women do that make their husbands beg for more?

• As my husband says, “If you aren’t using 2 hands, you are doing it wrong.” I assure you, your husband has more than enough down there to keep both your hands incredibly busy.
• Mix it up. Don’t do one thing for too long. That can get boring (and sometimes painful.)
• Play with his balls. Push them up, pull them down (not too hard) just make sure he knows that you know they are there.
• Treat it almost as a massage. Rub his legs, and every surrounding area. Push his balls up while you massage him. There is also a spot beneath his balls that is hard and VERY sensitive. Rub that as well.
• Penis tips? Don’t switch your hands up too much or too little. Find the balance your mate likes, and stick with it. Of course there is the normal hand hold, somewhat similar to a man holding a remote. Maybe try using both hands on his penis and moving them up and down at different times. (A similar motion as you would have to milking a cow. Sorry for the visual.) Also you could use both hands wrapped around him traditionally at a time. Covers more area. Don’t put him at a bad angle. That just makes him hurt. Don’t focus just on the tip, that can get painful!
• Lube, lube, lube, lube, lube! (H20 is great for hand jobs. Not sticky, water based and washed off easily.)
• Let your hands wander. One hand on his unmentionable while another is on his penis
• Let your eyes show him how into things you are.
• Sitting between his legs when he is laying down really does seem to be the easiest for me to perform this pleasure
• At the very end when you know he’s about to…ya know, pull both his balls down. Big crowd pleaser.
• Afterwards don’t just dash off to wash up. Linger for a second. Let your hands stay where they are for about 10 seconds. It lets him know you enjoyed your time with him.
• If you want to throw in some toys or you're feeling a bit lazy, invest in a Masturbation Sleeve and surprise him with it. He'll love the added sensation.

I hope I was able to give you some good tips. It’s harder to talk someone through these things than I knew! Above all, enjoy it. Pick a time when you are relaxed and maybe offer to do that for him. It’s not the same when a guy has to ask for it all the time. And as anything else in this world, practice makes perfect!

How to do a Sexy Lap Dance

Celebrate the holiday by making a few fireworks of your own and putting on a show for your man!

Lap dance tips:

• Use a chair that has a higher back and no arms
• Tell him he can't touch you while you are dancing. Make sure you tell him before hand because he will probably try at least a few times which could throw off your groove.
• Tell him that you might reposition him and that when you do it he should obey so it doesn't sow you down
• Have confidence and look him in the eye.
• If you can't look at his eyes, look at his forehead between his eyes
• Mix things up. Stand close to him or on the chair, then back away or walk around. Keep him guessing.

You can go here to subscribe and watch actual videos of the moves. Just go to Lessons and then Lap Dances. There are also instructional videos for pole dancing. Wow! Now, that's a workout!

Make your lap dance even better by getting a little special something to wear (Up to 80% off!). 

Remember to keep it fun and be confident!

Here are some moves to get you going:

Walk around drag: Walk around behind him and lightly drag your hand up his arm, around his neck, and back down his other arm.

Kiss Miss: Psych your guy out so he thinks you are going to kiss him. Kneel with your right knee between his legs and place your right arm around his neck. Place your left knee on his right thigh. Most of your weight will be on the chair. Use his neck for leverage and lean back and slowly come in, scooping forward as if to kiss him but glide right past his ear. Kiss or bite his ear or whisper something if you want to.

Leg show: place a foot between his knees. Slowly caress your leg with both hands starting up at the top of your thigh going all the way down to your foot.
Grind: Sit either with your back to him or your front to him. Maintain eye contact if your front is to him. Grind backwards and forwards or in circles while you’re sitting on his lap.

Stand up: Place right foot between his legs and stand up, placing your left foot on his right thigh. With your left hand jerk his head down, gyrate your hips, push his head back and step down.

The Melt: Sit with your weight on him and your cheeks touching. Slowly slide down his body, like you are melting to the floor. Keep your right foot on the ground and fold your left leg so you are kneeling on it. Then when you get to the ground you will be able to crawl away easier
Chest Press: Crawl up to him and place a hand on each thigh. Slowly press and drag your chest up his knees and lower thighs.

Zipper Shock: reach down and grab his jeans zipper between your teeth. Jerk your head back several times and try to lower his zipper some.


If any of you know of some other moves or of good instructional videos, send them my way or post in the comments!

Have some "Fun"

My best friend and her husband have a code phrase they like to use for having sex. They call it "having fun". It works out pretty well for them!!

They can be in a group of people and say "Hey, want to 'have fun' later?" with a wink and know what the other is really wanting. They can say it in front of the friends, "Honey, I just want to have some fun" and the kids will just think you are planning to do something fun- which you really are.

I love the code phrases and words for a few reasons. It allows you to say what you really want without making yourself completely vulnerable and having to say the "s" word if that's out of your comfort zone. It allows your partner to get excited and look forward to something. It gives you something secretive and romantic to share with each other that others won't have a clue about.

Do you have any code words or phrases?

How do you hint that you're in the mood?

Pregnancy -- Part I

Pregnancy can and will introduce a lot of new issues into marriage, intimacy and life in general.

Whether your pregnancy was planned or unplanned, your baby will start impacting your marriage in ways you never realized. The hormonal fluctuations and other symptoms begin as soon as pregnancy begins!

Some changes you might notice may include breast tenderness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, frequent urination, headaches and body aches. These make life a little more interesting. For example, you may have once been the woman running around always full of energy- working, cooking, cleaning, participating in the community and having great, energetic sex every other day. Now, you may have to cut back in some areas.

My advice to you: cut back where it will hurt you and your relationship the least in the long-run.

Another thing that may occur is your husband becoming very protective of you regardless of symptoms you may or may not be experiencing. He may demand that he take over all of your previous roles and worry about having sex with you and "hurting" the baby. Communicate well with your partner. Tell him what you need and appreciate, but also let him take care of you if he really wants to. Give and take. Pregnancy is a great time to work on perfecting communication- it will be much harder once the baby comes.

Tips for surviving early pregnancy:

• Nurture your relationship with your husband. Make sure you're still engaging in daily conversation- even if it's just between napping sessions. Keep track of times when you have more energy and feel better and try to schedule couple time to coincide. 
• You may not have the energy for sex like you once did, but find other ways to introduce romance. Encourage him to do the same. 
• Get as much rest as possible. Listen to what your body needs and do it.
• Learn when to say no. You don't have to have a 100% clean house with dinner made every night and fulfill every single obligation you once had. Relationships are more important than things and tasks.
• Find foods that you can stand and will give you good energy. If you're having food aversions and nausea then you really need to make what you eat count.
• If you are incredibly nauseous, seek help. There are now amazing tips, tricks, vitamins and prescriptions that can help ease the symptoms of morning sickness. Life just isn't as enjoyable if nausea is always hanging over your head.
• Don't use pregnancy as an excuse to avoid having sex. Unless instructed by your doctor (e.g. high risk pregnancy) sex is totally safe and encouraged. If certain areas are more sensitive or reacting differently than they used to, tell your partner and adjust as necessary, but you should still be able to enjoy sex.
• The first trimester is generally a time of lower than normal sex drive. The good news is you can still usually get in the mood even if it takes a little bit longer and your libido should go up again during the second trimester (around 12-14 weeks).
• Realize that pregnancy is an amazing and beautiful experience! Make sure your husband realizes it, too. You may not feel like you have a glow when your head is shoved in the toilet bowl, but realize that you have been blessed with a great gift. Female bodies are so beautiful and amazing in their ability to hold and sustain life. Be grateful. 
• Husbands, make sure you are telling her how beautiful and wonderful it is that she is carrying your offspring. You'll need to remind her often and sometimes you'll feel like your words are falling on deaf ears, but it will pay off.

What helped you survive early pregnancy?

Please comment with questions and/or comments regarding pregnancy that you want to see addressed.

Make the First Move

Often in a rut in marriage, a person can get stuck in thinking that every problem is because of their spouse. "We wouldn't be like this if he didn't ____", "We'd be better off if she'd just _____", "I'll do ___ when he finally does _____" etc.

The problem is, relationships don't work like that. You can't just sit around wishing for your spouse to change. Both of you contribute to how the relationship is going. If you change a little bit, it's likely going to impact how the two of you interact together. If you change for the better, things will start to change. It may take lot of effort. It may even take time.

Do you want your marriage to last? Do you truly unconditionally love your spouse? Are you willing to stick with them through thick and thin? Are you willing to work hard to make your marriage the best it could possibly be?

Start trying a little more. Push yourself to show him you love him- even when he's driving you crazy that day. Remember those little romantic gestures he used to do for you when you were first married? Why don't you try doing some for him? Don't wait for him to make the first move. You can help make your marriage stronger and even better no matter where it currently is. There is always hope and room for improvement.

Want some guidelines of what to do and where to start? Check out The Love Dare. It's a 40-day challenge to start practicing unconditional love.

Showing Love

I love Valentine's Day because it gives me an extra chance to go out of my way and do something romantic for my husband. So often, people have the stereotype that men must provide the romance in a relationship, but it's great to break free from that expectation. I'm sure your man will love it, too!

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For tomorrow night, I made our very own Game of Love (inspired by here), gave our bedroom a romantic face lift and got a new outfit to try out. Thanks to Pinterest, I also made a deck of cards with 52 Reasons Why I Love Him. I'm generally not a very creative or artsy person, but sometimes I try to give it a shot. Luckily, he always appreciates the things I do for him.

Speak to your husband in his love language and he'll love whatever you do.

Do you have any Valentine's Day traditions?

What are you giving your hubby?

P.S. Don't forget to enter the giveaway for Tiani through tonight at midnight!

Feelin' Sexy Friday: Massage

I always love a good massage and so does Husband. I got my very first professional massage a few years after we had been married. I would probably get one every day if I could. Instead, we bought a book, did some reading and watched a few videos on how to give a good massage and taught him to do the same.

Basic tips that I've learned so far:

• Make sure your hands are warm as you massage
• Work from the waist up with a little bit of pressure all over the back at first
• Use your body weight instead of just your arms
• Gradually build up the pressure to get rid of knots instead of going immediately to deep
• Ask the person you're massaging what they like and don't like

Have you heard of the Massage Bars  from Babeland? Husband and I brought them on our last vacation. There's way less risk of mess in the suitcase compared to bringing a bottle of massage oil. The massage bars turn into oil as they are rubbed over skin. They work wonderfully and they smell great!

Touch is a great way to feel relaxed, connected, reassured and comforted. A relaxation massage is a good way to get started. 

What's your Fantasy?

A fantasy is just imagining or wishing for something that excites you.

Fantasies don't always have to be elaborate or impossible. Sometimes, it can be something small and simple. Everybody has fantasies. You are normal to have them. Some fantasies are similar to other people's and others are unique to only you.

Take control of your fantasies. Most readers said fantasizing helps boost their libido. Start simple. A fantasy could be the dream date you've always wanted. It could be taking charge with your husband and initiating a sexual encounter. It could be dressing up as Princess Leia to please your man (Anybody else watch Friends?) Thoughts can lead to action.

Sharing and fulfilling each other's fantasies not only adds closeness, but as brings a bit more excitement.

What are some of your fantasies?

As always, anonymous comments are welcome.

What I Wish I'd Known Before My Wedding Night: Part II

Don't forget to check out Part I and other tips for newlyweds.

The wedding's over, the reception is starting to clear out and if you're like most couples, the guy is anxious to go and the bride is finding excuses to talk to relatives she hasn't seen in a while, straightening up decorations and taking her sweet time to head back to the honeymoon suite.

Getting ready to consummate your marriage may be a little daunting, but here are some tips to get you through.

1. Take care of your hygiene. Make sure you shave and do any necessary grooming and cleaning down there. Be careful of using harsh cleaners because they might aggravate the area.
2. Make sure you've discussed birth control beforehand and have that all ready. (e.g. she's been on the pill for a bit, condoms on hand etc.) I'll have to do another post about some options. Yes?
3. Go to the bathroom before having sex. This way there won't be added pressure on your bladder or your rectum. It's really hard to relax and enjoy it when you feel like you have to go to the bathroom. It may be normal to feel like you have to pee or go #2 during sex the first few times so it's just nice to go  beforehand so you have the reassurance that you don't really need to go again.
4. It can be fun to get dressed up into some special lingerie. It will usually make you feel sexier and get you in the mood if you aren't already.
5. Make sure you have a good lubricant. Water-based are really great and you're less likely to have an allergic reaction. They also don't dry out or get sticky gross.
6. Enjoy exploring each other and making foreplay fun. Women typically need a bit longer than men to become lubricated, fully aroused and ready for penetration. Often, it works well if the man manually stimulates the woman to orgasm and then tries for penetration so he can reach orgasm. Women are capable of multiple orgasms so she may have another or more after penetration occurs.
7. Take it S L O W. So many people on the sidebar poll said that it hurt the first time. Your vagina is being stretched out! You don't want it to rip or get super irritated. It takes time to actually be comfortable. Relax. Take deep breaths. Sex is usually not beautiful and sexy the first time. So just take it slow.
8. Speak to your partner. Tell him what you like, what's uncomfortable etc. Sure, it may not seem very romantic, but it's so necessary. He's not going to know what you like and you're not going to know what he likes if you don't talk about it.
9. It may feel a bit awkward and it probably is. Just relax, smile and laugh your way through. I had never seen a naked guy before (and didn't have any sex education) and I was a bit weirded out like "Whoa, that's supposed to be attractive?!"
10. Don't clench! Your butt or other areas. There are vaginal wall muscles that you can learn to control. As you practice Kegel exercises you can learn to control this.
11. Get in a position that is comfortable for both of you. Don't try anything too crazy until you get the basics down. A good position to try first is having the woman on top so she can control penetration and it naturally helps her relax the muscles down there.
12. Be prepared for your body to just jerk around uncontrollably at times. Relax. Let it happen. This is normal. If you're a control freak, let sex be the area where you don't have to be in control of your body. Let go and enjoy!
13. Have a hand towel nearby (like in the drawer of the nightstand). It's kinda messy if he's not using a condom and you used lubricant. Just clean up a bit afterward and you can avoid fighting over who's going to sleep in the wet spot.
14. Spend time cuddling afterward. Men naturally release hormones that make them sleepy so be prepared for him to drift off to sleep while you're anxiously awake. Men, try to spend time talking to your wife and cuddling afterward. Talk about what you enjoyed.
15. Go to the bathroom afterward or use some personal wipes/ unscented baby wipes to clean yourself up and make sure nothing is in your urethra. Sure, it's not sexy, but a lasting yeast infection is way less sexy.
16. Snack and drink water to fuel up for next time
17. Practice makes perfect so practice together often!!

What other tips do you have? 

What do you wish you'd have known before your wedding night?

Special Price: And They Were Not Ashamed

Laura Brotherson is doing a special on her book And They Were Not Ashamed: Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment as an end of year gift. You can currently get the ebook for $4.99. You can also get the hard copy for about $12.

This book is so great for every single stage of a relationship. It's tasteful and informative. I refer a lot of my clients to this book. It's written in such a way you can skip between chapters or read straight through. I especially love the chapter covering The Good Girl Syndrome. Amazon lets you preview a few pages. Check it out and add it to your bookshelf.

Have you read it? What was the best thing you got from this book?

What's Your Love Language?

Hubby and I each took the Languages of Love Quiz. Basically, the love languages are the areas that you feel love the easiest and need to have fulfilled in order to feel like you are truly loved by your spouse. There are 5 areas and they will be ranked by score at the end of the quiz. The areas are: Acts of Service, Physical Touch, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time, Words of Affirmation.

Wouldn't you know it, each of our top area was Physical Touch! He scored a 10 (out of a possible 12). Mine was a 9 tied with Acts of Service. It's a fun little quiz to take. I was a bit surprised by the ordering of his love languages, though. It's been great for us to know about each other.

I also recommend getting the book to better learn about yours and his love language. For example, maybe his love language is gifts. If so, you're going to have to look at spending money on gifts as a long-term investment in your marriage. Dr. Chapman has a lot of really great suggestions and ways to speak your partners language. He also has books geared toward children, teenagers, singles, men and more.

I'm off to go speak to my hubby in his love language.

Great Gift & Special Offer

Do you love your spouse but miss that excitement you had back when you were first dating? Are you feeling more like roommates instead of husband and wife? Wishing you could reconnect with your best friend?

The Dating Divas are doing a special on their new books, The A to Z Guide: 26 Ways in 26 Days to a Happier, Healthier Marriage and The Ultimate Date Night Book.

Through December 31st, you can order BOTH for $27!! This is such a steal!

I have The A to Z Guide already and it's amazing. It has great tips and stories of marriage and helping to get the spark back or even just increase the spark and love within your marriage.

The Ultimate Date Night Guide has their top date night ideas as voted by their audience. I have a new years resolution to go out more frequently with my husband. This book is great because it does all the thinking for you. I'll just need to pick a day and time.
This would be a great gift for yourself, your spouse or friends that you're not sure what to buy for.

What I Wish I'd Known Before My Wedding Night: Part I

A few people with winter weddings have requested some information on preparing for sex. There's only so much you can know before you actually do. But here are a few things you can do...

1. Learn about basic anatomy. Yours and his. It's better to know about anatomy before trying anything. For example, do you know what a clitoris is, where it's located and that it's often where stimulation is needed for many woman to orgasm. Does he? You both need to just learn some basic anatomy. It might not make sense until you see it all, but learn all that you can.


2. Learn about the sexual response cycle. You can see the post here. There are some very informative sketches for you visual learners. I've heard that for a lot of women arousal precedes desire and for men desire comes first. It's just good to know basic gender differences.


3. Use a dilator to stretch you vagina. This is just helpful for when penetration occurs later. You can often get a set of dilators from your family doctor or OB. They are basically just cylinders that gradually increase in size. You can buy a set of dilators online if you're too nervous to talk to your doctor. Make sure you get some lubricant to help them go in easier. This will also get you the chance to see if you're allergic to any lubes. Babeland has a wide variety if you need a place to get started.


4. If you are planning on doing any special grooming for the hair down there or other areas try it at least once before nearing your wedding. For example, I've known some girls that go in for the full Brazilian the day before they get married and end up being allergic to the wax and then sex was a nightmare the first few weeks because they're dealing with a rash.


5. Talk to your fiance about his expectations for your grooming. I know of a man that didn't know women had pubic hair and went and hid in the bathroom for a few hours after he saw his wife naked because he thought he had married a man. True story. (Again, see #1). Let him know your expectations as well. Also, make sure you clean down there. Unscented Baby wipes work great, but you can also just use a wet wash cloth. Sometimes, you can have a white-ish buildup around your clitoris and the other folds that will cause an odor.


6. Talk to your fiance about his expectations about lingerie. Is it sexy? Is it a waste of time? What do you think? My suggestion is to at least try it out. Most women find it empowering and helpful in boosting their libido.


7. Discuss what types of sex are desired and appropriate in your marriage. Manual stimulation? oral? anal? vaginal? How often do you plan to have sex? You may not want to form a concrete opinion, but it's good to discuss expectations.


8. Discuss the "what ifs". What if you're too tired- do you nap first? What if he prematurely ejaculates? She can't orgasm? Penetration is too painful or impossible? What are you going to do about these common situations? My advice is to go in with a sense of humor, relax and remember you have lots of time to learn and perfect it.


9. Discuss opinions on sex toys, vibrators and other props and objects. Do you want to start out with this or gradually introduce them or not have them at all?


10. Be healthy. Go to your OB for a premarital exam. Ask lots of questions. Make sure you're living a good lifestyle with healthy eating, exercise, rest and good hygiene.


11. Sex if meant to be fun and enjoyable for the man and the woman. If you think you might be suffering from The Good Girl Syndrome then you should do some reading, challenge those thoughts, talk to your fiance and work through it with a counselor if necessary.

Slice of Advice -- Date Each Other

Too often couples get caught in a dating rut. They either just go to dinner and a movie or don't even go out any more. They think it's too much of a hassle, they already have their great catch, their spouse already knows they love them, why waste the money... Wrong! It's worth it! Keep the spark alive!

Make sure that you and your hubby are dating each other. You might think you know everything about him already, but you don't. You still have plenty to talk to each other. Plan a nice night out on the town, get dressed up for each other, plan a great evening inside with a themed dinner date, go try something new.

Be creative.

Feel free to comment with great dates you've had in the past and exchange ideas here.

Marriage Isn't

Marriage isn't finding the right person, it's being the right person.

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What I Got For Mother's Day or My Idea of Romance

Husband was so sweet yesterday. He gave me the best Mother's Day gift possible: A well kept house! He did the dishes, the laundry, the cooking. He fed the children and cared for them. It was fabulous.

Seeing him scrubbing dishes over the sink reminded me of this perfect book, Porn for Women. This is my kind of romance.

What is your kind of romance?

P.S. The giveaway closes tonight, so get your last chance entries in!