Surprise Kiss

Archive for the ‘Romantic Gifts’ Category

Want an inexpensive idea to let your sweetheart know you love them? Something that will be totally unexpected and give them that warm fuzzy feeling all over? Well I have a great idea that came from my friend Veronica.

Veronica’s husband, Roy, surprised her with an irreplaceable gift and it didn’t cost him a cent. It only cost him time.

Roy rolled a small piece of paper up with the words written on it:

“I love you”

It looked like a tube. Then he wrapped it in tape with the sticky side out so the non-sticky side wouldn’t stick to the rolled “I love you”. On top of the tape he wrote:

“Open Carefully”

The note was inside the tightly rolled tape and could be pulled out. Then he tightly attached it to some 1 dollar bills Veronica had in her wallet.

She said he had to have done this while she was asleep because she never saw him do it. Over the weekend while she was shopping she grabbed her dollar bills to pay for some items she had purchased and they kept sticking and she couldn’t figure out why.

Finally, on Sunday while Veronica was at the store and she went to pay for something her curiosity got to her. She thought to herself, “Why are my dollar bills sticking?” Veronica looked on the other side of the bills and noticed the tape. She pulled it off and started to look at it closely when she notice the note to “Open Carefully” and upon further investigation she saw the note inside. She slowly pulled out the note and to her surprise there was her special handwritten note by her husband, Roy, saying “I love you”.

Veronica brought me the note all rolled up just like Roy had done in her hand. She slowly pulled out it out from the tape. You could see this was a priceless gift money couldn’t buy. She felt special and loved by her husband.

Veronica said what made it even more special is Roy didn’t say a word to her for those couple of days. He waited until she found it. She could not believe how patient he was.

Grab that tape and a small piece of paper and let your sweetheart know how much you love them. Money isn’t the only place you could put it on. It could go in their underwear draw underneath something so when they pull the top panties/shorts they will find it
.
Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2013, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

When you go on a trip with your sweetheart do you try to purchase something to bring home that reminds you of the special time you had together? Perhaps you just have enough money to pay for the hotel or inn you are staying at and your meals? You enjoy the area by taking in the free things available to you, like strolling along the streets or taking a hike in the beautiful outdoors.

Did you know you can bring something home and it won’t cost a dime?

• If you are staying near the beach bring home a shell or piece o driftwood and put it on a dresser in your bedroom.
• Take pictures of the two of you together in the area you are staying at, frame one special picture and put it in your bedroom.
• Bring home a copy of the brochure of the hotel you stayed at, frame it and put it in your bedroom.
• Frame a menu of a special restaurant you both enjoyed eating at and hang it in the kitchen.
• If you went on a hike look for a special rock that you could use as a paperweight.
• Gather several business cards of the places you went to, frame it and again put it in your bedroom.

These are all great reminders of the special time you spent together. Every time you or your sweetheart look at these items you will smile and feel good about your marriage and the special moments you had during your romantic getaway.

Over forty years ago my husband and I went for a walk along the beach. I remember it vividly, it was a cold windy February and we were walking hand in hand when we notice a gray lava rock, with lots of holes in it and tiny shells stuck to it, nestled in the sand. We picked it up and brought it home. I still have the rock and it is in our bedroom, every time I look at the rock I think of an ordinary day when we had a moment alone and found this rock. Would I remember this day if I didn’t have the rock to remind me? Probably not.

It doesn’t have to cost money to bring special memories home.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2011, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

So many couples today are struggling to just keep a roof over their head and food on the table. With so many people loosing their home and/or their jobs there is very little money for Christmas gifts. Many couples are opting not to give each other gifts this year so they can give a Christmas gift to their children.

Gifts don’t have to be bought you know? The gift of time is more precious than any extravagant present you could give your love one. Find something you both enjoy together and make a pack that you will make the time each week to do it. Here are some suggestions:

1. Walk on the beach or in the woods

2. Play a game: Board games, cards

3. Read a book: This month’s Oprah Book Club pick is Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities and DailyLit has it on their website. Or maybe you both like to read mysteries, autobiographies, sci-fi or romance. Check out DailyLit to see what they have. All you need to do is register with them. It is free!

4. Make a special meal for the two of you. Feed the kids an easy meal they like and let them watch a movie and then you go into the kitchen together and make something special for the two of you.

Make sure what ever you decide to do that you both enjoy doing it. The most important thing you are doing is something money can’t buy and that is the gift of time. So few couples realize how important that is.

 Don’t forget to get what you need for a very memorable Christmas. See Romantic Christmas, December 2nd, 2010. Remember last year and the fun you had with your sweetheart? See Christmas Lights, Dec 18, 2009. The big reveal will be on Dec 21st.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I have had to attend parties for the last five days. On Wednesday I went to a business associates Christmas open house at her office. Thursday it was girl’s night out with a group of girlfriends one of them is visiting from Mexico.  Larry and I had a company party to attend on Friday. Then on Saturday our daughter and her husband had the couple from Mexico and mutual friends over for dinner.  Tom cooked prime rib. Yum!!! A fun time was had by all. We talked, laughed and ate all night long. After this weekend I know we must have put on an extra five pounds or more. I don’t dare get on the scale.

I don’t know about you but I am always looking for something different to give when we have been invited to a dinner party. Typically people will bring flowers or a bottle of wine. I know flowers are a beautiful gift to give but they are not a good gift to bring when the hostess is cooking dinner. She then has to drop everything to find a vase to put them in.

I found something that was the hit of the party. It is a Wine Bottle Candelabra. I just brought an empty wine bottle for the hostess to put the candelabra in and light the candles. One little tip make sure the Candelabra fits the bottle’s opening before you bring it. Denise ended using it as the center piece of her table. (I brought it to her earlier in the day.) It was a hit. Everyone wanted to know where I got it, including our 18 year old grand-daughter who wanted to buy one for her boyfriend’s parents for Christmas. They are wine connoisseurs, so that would be a perfect gift for them.

The Candelabra makes for a really nice and unusual gift. Guys this is a great stocking stuffer to give your wife with a note saying, “For those romantic evenings together.” You can buy it at amazon.com.

[amazon_link id=”B0012UQYWA” target=”_blank” ]Scroll Wine Bottle Candelabra – Includes 5 Tealights[/amazon_link]

I bought additional ones for gifts and one for myself. I plan on using it when we have our next quite romantic dinner at home. As I mentioned we had a little trouble finding an opening that would fit the candelabra. We finally found one we had purchased and drank that had a screw top (would you believe it was an expensive bottle of wine too!)

Another great gift that is very similar to the Wine Bottle Candelabra is wine cork candles. I have put five empty wine bottles on my dining table. It makes for a beautiful and romantic dinner party. And it is an impressive and inexpensive way to decorate the table.

[amazon_link id=”B002CBLO78″ target=”_blank” ]Novelty Lifesize Wine Cork Candles – set of 4[/amazon_link]

Don’t forget to get what you need for a very memorable Christmas. See Romantic Christmas, December 2nd, 2010. Remember last year and the fun you had with your sweetheart? See Christmas Lights, Dec 18, 2009. The big reveal will be on Dec 21st.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Do you have a picture you took while on your romantic weekend away? Would you like to hang it on the wall but you don’t want to have it in a small picture frame? Or maybe you would like to make a Christmas ornament? On Dec 3rd, 2010 I was watching the Nate Berkus Show and he had a photographer, MeRa Koh and they talked about some different ways you can use your photos.

Nate Berkus Show – Turn Your Portraits into Art

They talked about two companies you can use that I thought you might be interested in looking into:

CanvasRox

Shutterfly

There are so many options and new ways you can display your pictures. Hang that special photo of where you went on the wall in your home. Every time you look at the photo it will bring back the memories and feelings of the special weekend you took together. You will always be reminded of why you are saving your $5 a week and it will keep you committed.

Don’t forget to get what you need for a very memorable Christmas. See Romantic Christmas, December 2nd, 2010. Remember last year and the fun you had with your sweetheart? See Christmas Lights, Dec 18, 2009.
Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

I don’t know about you but I love a man who smells good. I enjoy cuddling up to my husband when he has a light scent of cologne on. So men if you are interested in finding out what scents to look for when considering purchasing new cologne read on:

Clean Scents – Like men women like the just-out-of-the-shower smell. Men your clean natural scent is a real turn on for a woman especially when she is ovulating.

Spicy Scents – Cinnamon, vanilla and musk blends. Women love smelling those spicy musky scents on a man.

Men you will want to look for cologne that is complex in smell. Read labels and look for scents with some of the blends I mentioned above. Once you have found a couple of scents you think you might like spray it on your wrists and let it blend in with your body chemistry. Wait a few hours and then smell it.  This is the only way you will know if it smells good on you. If you are not sure where to start ask the girl behind the counter what is the most popular cologne for men.

Once you have found the scent that works well with your body chemistry spray it lightly. You don’t want to smell like you just walked out of a perfumery. Hold the bottles 6 to 10 inches away and lightly spray your chest hair, it is a natural fragrance diffuser and the scent will last longer.

[amazon_link id=”B000VOJMS6″ target=”_blank” ]Obsession by Calvin Klein for Men, Set (Eau De Toilette Spray 4 Ounce, After Shave 4 Ounce)[/amazon_link] has a blend of botanic, spices and woodsy smells.  A lot of women enjoy this scent on men. As for me, my husband will sometimes wear [amazon_link id=”B000N7757G” target=”_blank” ]The Art of Shaving Eau de Toilette, Sandalwood Essential Oil 3.5 oz (100 ml)[/amazon_link] I love this scent on him. It is a custom blend of sandalwood and pure essential oils which has a spicy and woody undertone.

Men always remember the importance of smelling good for your sweetheart even if it is that just-out-of-the-shower smell.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Ladies do you enjoy wearing cologne? I sure do! Did you know there are certain fragrances that can boost a woman’s magnetism to men and turn them on? So ladies if you are interested in finding out what scents to look for when considering purchasing new cologne read on:

Clean scents – Men like that just-out-of-the-shower smell. So keep it clean and fresh.

Vanilla – The only sweet scent men enjoy smelling on a woman has the under notes of vanilla in it. Don’t make it overly sweet that is a turn off for most men.

Spicy Blends – Spicy, woody or musky undertones. These scents drive men wild.

Don’t buy cologne with one note in it. You will want to find something that is more complex in smell. Read the labels and find these scents blended in with other notes. Smell and try on one or two colognes you like and see how it blends in with your body chemistry. Try not to purchase cologne that is overpowering. You don’t want to remind your man of their grandmother.

Once you have found the cologne that smells great on you keep it subtle. Lightly spray it on your neck, between your breasts, inner wrists, elbows and the back of your knees. The warmth of your skin will slowly release the fragrance. Also, it is very sexy to spray it on your bra and panties.

The one scent men seemed to overwhelmingly like was Victoria Secret’s “Very Sexy.”  And wouldn’t you know it the fragrance has vanilla, musk and woody notes within the body of the fragrance. You may want to give this a try. I think I will. I may be a grandma but I sure don’t want to smell like one!

Tomorrow I will write about what turns a woman on. Men you won’t want to miss this one!

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

I just found the cutest website selling personalized stamped sterling silver jewelry. You can choose from one of their designs or customize your own piece. They have a huge choice of jewelry designs, disc, key rings, photo charms, mother’s bracelets and saying necklaces.

I started to think about all the ways you could customize a piece. “I love you, anniversary date or your special nicknames for each other. There is a heart necklace with the words stamped “Marry Me.” Wouldn’t it be a great way to propose? There is one for “Mommy to be”. What a wonderful way to celebrate and let the world know about your new little bundle of joy in the making!

This is a great place to go for birthdays, anniversary or just because gifts. Also, you can order an email gift certificate if you need to get a gift right away.

Check out “Heart On Your Wrist” website and surprise your sweetheart with something special no one else has.

Always remember buyer beware. Check out reviews on the web to make sure this is a company you want to buy from.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Larry and I are lucky enough to live in an area were there are hundreds of wineries nearby but did you know there are wineries in all 50 states? So you thought you had to come to Napa or the Central Coast to visit wineries. Well think again. Find out where a winery is near you today.

When we first moved to the Central Coast there weren’t that many wineries but as the years progressed more and more started to crop up. We had not visited a winery in our area for years but recently we have been trying to visit one once a month. It is our Saturday date.

We are not huge drinkers so we usually will share a wine tasting glass and let the server know what we are interested in tasting or we will ask what wines have won awards or the ones people seem to like the most and why. We will sip two or three different varieties of wines and then choose a bottle to bring home. Lately I have been buying one wine coaster too. It is fun to have a coaster from wineries in our area.

Finding out there are wineries in all 50 states made me start to think. Why not find out if there is a winery near where you live or if there is one not too far from you to visit when you go away on your anniversary. How romantic would that be! After tasting their wines you could bring home a bottle or a case to share with friends when you have them over. If they sell coasters why not bring one or two home as an inexpensive souvenir of your romantic visit to the area.

There is a website call WinesAndTimes.com and they will help you find all the wineries in your state. You and your partner could plan your trip together in the area you want to visit. On this website they will give you the name of the winery and their website (if they have one). You can find out what type of events are going on in the area and when.  FYI, I found out this particular site does better on the Firefox browser than the Internet Explorer browser.

Why not visit a winery in your state and plan your next romantic trip during one of their events. I know the next out of state trip we plan on taking we will be checking to see if there is a winery near by and will probably make it a point to visit and bring something back from there.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Yesterday I talked about bringing home a little something from were you stayed at that you could put in your pocket or wallet. You didn’t pay any money for it. It was something as simple as a business card from the hotel that you stayed at or the restaurant where you had this fabulous view or meal together. I even suggested keeping your room key. Well today I want to tell you about something I purchased while we were in Lake Tahoe last year visiting our granddaughter and her little family.

We went with our daughter and her husband along with our youngest granddaughter. We took separate cars because we were bring things for Sarah, Steve and the newest addition to our family little Ronan. We got rooms at the beautiful Hyatt Hotel overlooking Lake Tahoe. We would visit Steve and Sarah during the day and then head back to our hotel in the evening.

One evening we were in the hotel looking in the gift shop and I noticed something, it was a small flat silver disk with words imprinted on it. There were two little words that said “Kiss Me”.  I decided to purchase it. The little disk was only $2.00. My daughter looked at me and said “Mom why are you buying this little thing that you will loose?” I just looked at her and laughed and told her I thought it would be fun to surprise her Dad with this. She looked at me and rolled her eyes. Later that evening before we went to our separate rooms, I gave the little silver disk to my husband in front of her. He laughed and leaned down and gave me a kiss.

We had a wonderful time with our granddaughter and her cute family. Ronan is so cute and adorable. We all hated to leave because we are a good 7 to 8 hours away and we knew it would be awhile before we could see each other again. We had packed our bags and went down stairs to the front lobby to have our cars brought to the front and while we were all waiting for the cars to be delivered by our valet my husband said “Look what I found!” We all looked and it was my little silver disk with the words “Kiss Me” on it. It apparently had fallen on the flour and I hadn’t noticed it.

My husband smiled at me, handed me the silver disk and bent down to kiss me. I look at our daughter and said “This is why I bought it.” Every so often one of us will surprise the other with our inexpensive “Kiss Me” silver disk and it brings back wonderful memories of family and romance in Lake Tahoe!

You could do the same thing without spending any money at all. Pack a small black tipped permanent marker in your luggage before you leave for your romantic getaway. Make it a point to go for a walk and look for a small smooth light colored rock. Tell your spouse you need their help finding one so you can write 2 little words on it but don’t tell them what the words are. You want to surprise them.  Once you have found the perfect rock bring it back to your room and wash and dry it. Once it is completely dry write the words “Kiss Me” on it and let it dry. Slip it into you pant pocket and hand it to your spouse later that day. Your rock will be a very special memory to you both because you found it together while you were enjoying your romantic weekend away.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.