Archive for July, 2009
July 14th, 2009 | 
Author: Do you worry when you are packing that you might forget to bring something you need? If you are like me I always try to cram too much stuff in my suitcase and don’t use half of it when I get to my destination. Well Anne McAlpin’s book “Pack It Up” is full of invaluable travel tips.
Anne addresses every traveler’s concerns about how and what to pack with a down-to-earth approach to packing light. I have this book and try to review it before I am ready to take a trip and learn something new every time. This book helps to keep my packing to a minimum. In the back of the book she has “The ultimate traveler’s checklist.” You won’t forget anything.
Her tips help not only the experience traveler but also the inexperienced traveler pack for any trip. A weekend getaway to lengthy vacations “Pack It Up” is the book to refer to when you don’t want to pack your whole closet!
You can purchase this book at: www.amazon.com
“If you want to get away from it all, don’t take it all with you!”
Anne McAlpin
Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo
© 2009, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.
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You can be a superhero for your marriage when you keep saving $5 a week!
© 2009, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.
We will be celebrating my husband’s birthday on Saturday with the family. Good food, birthday cake with candles will be blown out and of course the birthday song will be sung. Gifts will be unwrapped and hugs and kisses will be had by all. I plan on giving my husband his gift later that evening when everyone has gone home.
I need to be creative this year and make sure my gift is not expensive or doesn’t cost anything at all. Are you going through the money crunch like most people during this economic turn down? Well instead of feeling sorry for yourself and your spouse because you can’t buy an expensive gift like you have done in the past, why don’t you be creative! I have found when we give a gift from the heart and you have went out of your way to think of something special to do for your spouse, those are the gifts that are remembered the most.
You could make a book of coupons that you give to your spouse on their birthday. Your spouse turns in the coupon when they want you to complete the task specified below:
• 1 massage by the one who loves you.
• I will take care of the children on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, of your choice, so you have a day off.
• 1 foot massage.
• Fix your favorite dinner.
• Sit down and watch your favorite TV program one evening together.
You get the picture, be creative or you could use the idea my husband is receiving this year.
As for my husband’s gift, there will be no money spent except for a birthday card. Inside I will write “Happy Birthday Sweetheart! Let’s celebrate your birthday tonight by getting into something comfortable like our birthday suites and light that candle of yours!”
Husbands could write:
“Happy Birthday Sweetheart! Let’s celebrate your birthday tonight by getting into something comfortable like our birthday suites and create a warm glow inside you!
Having fun and being playful will create not only that special feeling of togetherness but a remembrance of an out of the ordinary gift given by no one else but you.
Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo
© 2009, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.
In my blog titled “Romantic Getaway,” on 6/23/09, I wrote about a great deal I found from the Loews Hotel in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Well this week we are traveling to the La Bellasera Hotel & Suites, in Paso Robles, CA. My husband and I checked the hotel out one evening about 6 months ago when we were in Paso Robles. We both agreed it is a beautiful hotel. They have a lovely restaurant and small bar and their rooms are beautifully appointed.
They are having a “Weekday Special” going on right now. For a $199.00 you can get a Deluxe King Fireplace or a Deluxe King Spa. Since it is summer and it is hot in Paso Robles, I chose the Deluxe King Spa. The room has a whirlpool tub, 42” plasma HDTV, internet and email access, wet bar w/refrigerator mini bar, desk w/chair, chaise lounge, docking station for iPodMp3, safe, and deluxe bath w/walk-shower. The Deluxe King Spa room is 430 sq. ft.
Here is what you will be able to do with $260.00:
Stay information:
• Arrival Date July 12, 2009 (Sunday)
• Departure Date July 13, 2009 (Monday)
• Room Rate: $199.00
• Tax: 23.88
• Total: $222.88
You will have $37.12 leftover. Now I realize $37.12 won’t typically buy you a romantic dinner. My hope is that you will have additional money if you put away the extra funds that I talked about in my blog on 6/23/09.
See, your romantic evening away is at your reach if you keep saving your money. SurpriseKiss.com is here to help you see the possibilities.
Check out their website: www.labellasera.com
Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo
© 2009, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.
Are you planning a special anniversary, and want to do something out of the ordinary. Then you will need to start planning a year or two in advance.
Let me recommend “100 Best Romantic Resorts of the World.” This book will help you find the romantic spot perfect for you and your spouse. World traveler and honeymoon travel expert Katharine Dyson has selected the 100 best—not necessarily the most expensive—resorts, hotels and inns in the world. Chosen for their abundant romance, relaxing ambience, gracious service, range of prices, excellent amenities, and spectacular locations, one of these destinations is sure to be the place of your dreams!
Katharine has detailed descriptions of:
Accommodations
Amenities
Payment
Reservation
Minimum Stay Requirements
Romantic Features
Special Packages
Included are practical planning tips for a stress-free vacation!
Whether you are planning a 10 yr or 50 yr anniversary, you need to purchase this book. It will not only help you decide where you want to go to but more importantly how much you will need to save for your special getaway. Instead of $5 a week, you may need to save $10, $20 or $50 a week to make your romantic destination, for that special anniversary, come true
.
You can purchase the book“100 Best Romantic Resorts of the World” at: www.amazon.com
Perfect places in all price ranges for those in love.
Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo
© 2009, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.
You will get a jolt of pleasure on your anniversary if you keep saving $5 a week!
Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo
© 2009, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.
What do you plan on doing on the 4th of July? Some people will be barbequing and having fireworks in their backyard with family and friends. While some will be heading to the park or beach to observe the fireworks show. As for us, we will be painting in our washroom this weekend. Since my husband has 3 days off this will be the perfect time to complete a project we have wanted to do for awhile. In the evening, we will probably drive near the fairgrounds were the fireworks will be held and watch them in our car. Now this doesn’t sound too romantic but you can create your own fireworks throughout your day and into the evening.
No matter what you do during this holiday try to let your spouse know you love them. After he or she has made you laugh give them a quick kiss. You won’t believe how those quick little pecks will make you & your partner smile and feel good about your relationship. My husband & I give each other a quick kiss all the time. We could be walking down the street and one of us makes the other laugh or we will say something nice to that person. It is a natural response that we do without even thinking about it.
If you really want to bring in some intimate fireworks in the evening then prepare for it. In the morning put a note in the master bathroom drawer that you know your spouse will open and it says, “Let’s make our own fireworks tonight!” What this will do for you and your spouse is create a feeling of anticipation. Remember when you were dating and you couldn’t wait to see each other again. You can create that same feeling. Yes, you live together now and you do have children and responsibilities but when you leave little notes you are saying I love you and enjoy being with you. There is also a sense of eagerness and desire you have created.
When you leave a note in the morning and kiss throughout the day, you are romancing each other. Do these things and you will find you are more playfully with one another. So have fun, laugh, and kiss. Enjoy the other! That is how you create your own fireworks!
Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo
© 2009, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.
On Monday your thought of the week was “Keep your marriage energized by saving $5 a week.” Does your marriage need energizing and have the batteries gone dead?
Once people are married they expect the romance to continue without anyone working on it. They don’t even think about their relationship. And then they wonder why their marriage isn’t working anymore. They need to be like the battery in the energizer bunny that keeps going and going in the commercial for the Energizer Battery Company. Couples in a marriage need to be the battery to keep their relationship going and going.
Your children’s battery operated toys need batteries to run. What happens when there isn’t a battery in the toy or it goes dead? It is useless and your child losses interest in the toy. Well the same thing happens with your marriage.
Let’s put some energy back into your marriage. Tonight before you and your spouse are ready to go to bed but a note on the pillow that says: “Let’s energize each other tonight.”
Also, if you go to the Energizer Battery Company’s website below, they have a free card you can print or e-mail. It is called a “Keep Going Award.” Send the card to your spouse. You could write something like: “You energize me when I think of you!” or “I like the way you kept going and going last night!” If you don’t like these ideas, I’m sure you can come up with something even more creative. Just print or e-mail that “Keep Going Award” and energize your marriage!
http://www.energizer.com/energizer-bunny/Pages/bunny-center.aspx
Also, it is a great card to print or e-mail your kids when they have achieved something they were trying to do.
Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo
© 2009, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.
Looking for romantic ideas? Then “A Year of Romance,” by Mara Goodman-Davis, is the book for you. The book has twelve months of romantic ideas to light up your love life.
Mara Goodman-Davies shows readers how to make romance any time with hundreds of surprises, secrets and seductions to keep the flame alight between you and your love. The book shows couples how to “fall in love” all over again by giving them fun activities to do that are designed to create intimacy. If you want to fan the flame of your romance and you are looking for a creative way to say “I love you” then you need to read this book. Check it out at:
There is no limit to how much your love can deepen when you make a point to do something romantic in every season.
Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo
© 2009, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.