Surprise Kiss

In October, 2010 I wrote this article and thought it was a good one to revist. Sometimes it is good to be reminded of the importance of bring spontaneity in our relationship.

Do you feel like your marriage is in a rut? You do the same thing every week. Boring!!! You have forgotten what it feels like to do something different. You have gotten into a comfortable routine. Well why not have a min-adventure?

Did you know studies have shown mini-adventures and change things up a bit? Try something different, something you haven’t done in a long time or something completely new. When you do this it creates a new neural path that can activate the production of dopamine (the attention hormone) which can help you appreciate each other.

Larry and I had an unexpected mini-adventure one weekend. Larry went to work, in the morning on Saturday and I worked on straightening up the house and then fixed lunch. When Larry got home and after we had lunch he suggested we run up to Arroyo Grande to get some fresh fruits and vegetables. I had plans we would work on the house and our small vegetable garden but figured why not. Let’s drive up to the Arroyo Grande Village and listen to the free entertainment under the gazebo. Purchase the fresh produce from our local farmers to use in our dinners this week. We hopped into the car with our cooler in the back R & B playing on our XM Radio while we talked about what we needed to get to compliment our meals for the week.

Sounds like fun? We did have fun but it didn’t stop there. After we went to farmers market we went to Starbucks for coffee. While we were enjoying our coffee our daughter called us to see if we wanted to meet them and the kids to go out for dinner at an inexpensive little Mexican restaurant and then we would go see a movie together.

We decided to opt out this time and instead drove up to Baywood Park for dinner. It is about an hour drive from our house along the coast. There is a great little place where they serve Thai food. It is called Noi’s.

When I say little I mean tiny. When you walk into the place you immediately see Noi standing there stir frying up all these delicious aromas. There is a small counter with two bar stools overlooking all the activity or a bar that runs against the wall for about six people. You can eat outside too. Most people order ahead and pick up the food to take home. We were lucky enough to sit at the bar overlooking Noi and her workers make magic with some vegetables, chicken, shrimp or tofu. Larry went across the street to purchase a large bottle of beer to share while we ate Pad Thai with chopsticks. Yum! We hadn’t been to Baywood Park and Noi’s in forever.

It was a nice unexpected treat, totally unplanned and a nice way to relax and have a mini-adventure that didn’t cost too much.

So when is your next mini-adventure? Change things up a bit, get out of your routine and discover why you enjoy each other’s company.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

I posted this one in Oct of 2010 and I had a lot of people tell me they like this date idea a lot and were going to look for their lost gift cards to do the same thing. Because of their comments I thought it was worth posting again.

As you know I am always trying to think of something for you to do as a couple that doesn’t cost a lot of money or no money at all. Well I came up with an idea rather unexpectedly and it won’t cost you a dime. Recently I was cleaning out my wallet and found a Wal-Mart, Applebees and a Marshall’s gift card I had forgotten about. Also, we have Starbucks and movie gift cards in a spot we can go to quickly.

Do you have any gift cards lying around you haven’t used yet? Did you know one in five people have gift cards they have forgotten about? Check your drawers and wallets to see if you have any lying around. You might be as surprised and as lucky as I was.

So I started to think about what I had and how I could turn this into a couple of dates. On the first date we went to Marshalls and found a new shirt for Larry and me. Then it was on to Wal-Mart to purchase some candy, a large purse to go with my new shirt and new jeans for both of us. Once we had complete our shopping it was on to Starbucks for a cup of coffee and a little snack to share.

On the second date we got dressed up with our new shirts and jeans.  I  put the candy we bought at Wal-Mart in my new purse and threw in a couple of bottles of water too. We went out to dinner at Applebees and then we went to see a movie with our movie card and since there is enough money leftover in my Starbucks card we had a hot chocolate afterwards.

Two date nights and no money out of our pockets. Don’t waste any time, start to look for those lost and forgotten cards and see if you can do the same thing. If there are none lying around then when someone asks you what you would like for a gift tell them a gift card. Put the cards in an envelope and a spot you won’t forget about so you don’t lose them. Also, check the dates to make sure you use them before they expire.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Your marriage is good! Saving $5 a week for a romantic weekend away keeps it good.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Did you know today is Twilight Zone Day and Eat What You Want Day? When I found out we had 2 unique celebrations in one day I thought it would be fun to incorporate it into an inexpensive date night with your sweetheart.

If you happen to be a Twilight Zone fanatic and already have the DVDs or you have Netflix and can download the series on your TV you will be able to watch the popular Twilight Zone series from the late Fifties & early Sixties tonight. If you are like Larry & I we don’t have the capabilities to download the series onto our TV and of course we don’t have the series lying around our house. So we will need to order the Twilight Zone series and have them shipped to our house to view on another night.

Just choosing which ones we want to view will be fun to do together.

You can celebrate “Eat What You Want” tonight though by going out on a date and enjoy something you normally don’t eat. I know Larry and I would enjoy a nice big slice of pie for dinner and I am not talking about chicken pot pies. I am talking about a fruit pie a la mode. Yum!

If you have Netflix and you can download the Twilight Zone TV program from the late 50’s and early 60’s then cuddle up with your sweetie and enjoy a little rest and relaxation together, while eating something you want to eat but don’t have all the time

Two unique celebrations in one day to enjoy with your sweetie and have a very unique date night.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Hey guys Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 13th, have you gotten her anything yet? What no money! No problem! The only thing you will need for this gift is your time.

Make her a CD of songs you know she will like. Here are some suggestions:

• Favorite romantic music she likes to listen to, i.e. Country & Western, R & B, Jazz, Rock, Classical

• Current romantic songs

In the morning hand her the CD you made all wrapped up with a ribbon and a card saying:

“Happy Mother’s Day sweetheart! After the kids are in bed tonight meet me by the fireplace and we will listen/dance to the songs I chose to show you how much I love you!”

When the kids are in bed light the fireplace, pour a glass of bubbly and turn on the music.

Romance, music and the love of one another will make for a very special and inexpensive Mother’s Day gift.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

The more you praise and celebrate your marriage, the more there is in your marriage to celebrate. Saving $5 a week for a romantic weekend away is just one of may reasons to celebrate your marriage together.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

I was talking to a co-worker, Missy, yesterday and she mentioned she was taking a vacation day on Friday. I told her I hope she was doing something fun on her day off and she said we sure are. Every so often Missy and her husband, Danny, will take a vacation day and play.

They drop the kids off at school in the morning and drive 40 mins away from their home to have breakfast at their favorite pancake place in Buellton. Then they drive into Solvang, a cute little Danish town and do a little shopping. And then it is on to the Chumash Casino where they gamble. Missy plays the slots and Danny likes to play Black Jack.

Missy was laughing while she was telling me about their gambling because she said she usually loses her money right away so she will go to Danny and ask him for some of his winnings and he always gives her some so she can play the slots some more.

What Danny doesn’t know is some of the money he gives her she keeps and when she gets home she puts it into her anniversary fund for their romantic weekend away together.

They may not always be able to go out for a date every weekend but they do make time every so often to be together during the day while the kids are in school.

They play a little, win a little and save a little. I think they win more than just money don’t you?

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Psychologist Dr. Judith Sills & Hal Runkal, author of The Self-Centered Marriage were on the Today Show and discussed the latest elderly couple who did a video giving advice on how to have a good marriage for their grandson who was getting married.

Kenny & Selma have been married for 72 years and it is so cute and funny watching them tell their grandson & new wife how to have a great marriage.

You need to watch this.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

If you want to watch the whole video you can see it on:

Awkward Family Photos:

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/videos/afp-grandparents-the-wedding-toast/

There is a lot we can learn from people who have been married for a long time. It is important to ask them questions about how they got through the good and bad times together. They have been through the test of time and if they still love and treat each other with respect they will be your best teachers.

Learn from the best and you will keep those sparks flying for a lifetime together.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

It is time to show how special your marriage is by celebrating your anniversary and saving $5 a  week for a romantic weekend.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Did you know what tomorrow is? It is Kiss Your Mate Day! What a perfect day to reacquaint yourself with kissing you partner. Researchers say it is the first thing to stop in a relationship. However, I would like to think the couples who are reading my blog are still kissing on a daily basis.

Whether you are kissing daily or never at all take the time to celebrate this delicious day by making it a point to kiss your mate.

Here are some ideas on when and when to KISS:

• In the morning when you first get up

• Just because Kiss

• Drive-in Movie

• Lovers Point

• While having coffee at your local coffeehouse

• Kiss all over your sweetie’s body

• After dinner

• On the couch (Make out)

• Before you go to bed

• In bed all night long

Invite your sweetie to celebrate the very special and yummy day by writing on a card write:

“Hey huggable, kissable you, let’s celebrate Kiss Your Mate Day all day by kissing each other in the morning, afternoon and all night long.”

What a wonderful and delicious way to celebrate this very special day together.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2012, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.