Surprise Kiss

Archive for October, 2009

Last weekend our date night was all day and into the evening. My husband went to work in the morning for a couple of hours like he normally does and got home around 10:00 AM. When he walked in the door he smiled and asked me if I wanted to go to Santa Monica for the day.

If you haven’t figured it out yet we are very much a spur of the moment couple. On the weekends we have been known on a Saturday afternoon to throw clothes into our luggage and make a mad dash out of the house to spend the night in Los Angeles. We laugh all the way down about how crazy this is and that there aren’t too many couples that would do this. I do realize that it isn’t always possible to get up and go like we do especially if you have children but one of you could make the arrangements for someone to watch the kids overnight and surprise the other.

We are redoing our den and have ordered our couch. Delivery is expected sometime in November. We also have chosen the chairs we want to go with it but my husband knew I wanted to double check on the color of the couch before we picked up the chairs. So there we were driving down to Santa Monica to check out the color of our sofa.  We grabbed our famous light lunch, cheese, smoked turkey, crackers and bottle water and off we went. Listening to music on the radio and taking Hwy 1 to Santa Monica. Relaxing, eating and talking as we drove through the beautiful coast of Malibu.

We stopped in Santa Monica and looked at the color for the sofa and then went to Culver City to look at the chairs we wanted. Decisions were made and no more worries on the color choices. After looking at everything we were famished and decided to go to dinner. We had watched the Food Network show, Throwdown with Bobby Flay; he had gone to a great little Mexican restaurant in Bell, CA called La Casita Mexicana and we decided to go and eat there. It was absolutely delicious! If you happen to live in the Los Angeles area or will be traveling to LA, you will want to try this place out. YUM!!!! I had the Vegetarian Chili Relleno and my husband had Enchiladas “La Casita Mexicana” which was recommended by our waiter. The food and service was outstanding!

After eating we headed home and ran into a bit of traffic which is typical for Los Angeles. We arrived home at 10:30 PM, tired but happy. We had our quite time together and did something different from our everyday lives.

For those of you who need to have everything planned try to become more of a spur of the moment couple. If three hours is too far for you at least try an hour away from your home. You won’t believe how much fun you will have and the connection between the two of you!

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

When you give a little love to show you care did you know you and your love ones will feel great? It doesn’t take much, just little gestures. My husband and I are always doing simple things that let’s the other know we love them.

People are always asking us what makes our marriage work. Well here are some of the things we do to keep our marriage alive and well:

• Hold hands
Hold hands when you walk together down the street or in the car.
• Post-it
On a Post-it note write I love you and put it in your spouse’s car in the evening so when they get in the car to drive to work they see it. Stick it in your partner’s wallet or briefcase.
• Kiss me hear, kiss me there, kiss me everywhere
Give a kiss in the morning, walking down the street, before you go to be bed or just because. Just do it!
• Find a new ritual
Have a game, movie or cooking night once a week, something that you both can look forward to doing together.
• Stay close
Have your favorite couple picture framed for each of you to display at work. Every time you look at the photo it will remind each of you of the love of your life.

When you do things like this it makes you feel good as a couple. My husband and I do these simple gestures of giving a little love on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Being playful will go a long way in keeping you connected and feeling loved.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

With Halloween coming up in about 2 ½ weeks, do you have the children’s costumes yet? Do you plan on dressing up also? Have you found your outfit? Do you dress for your spouse’s eyes only? If you don’t, then you need to think about having a little fun on Halloween night.

Do something unpredictable that the other doesn’t expect you to do. When you surprise your partner you are saying you care and love him or her. You went out of your way to do something special. You endear them to you and you will both have a night to remember.

I enjoy getting dressed up for my husband on Halloween. I try to make it fun every year. He never knows what to expect and that is part of the fun. In the morning I will hand him a Halloween card and inside I will write “Happy Halloween Sweetheart. Let’s play good witch /bad witch tonight.”  Later that evening, after all the little munchkins have gotten their candy, I will put on a big thick terry rob. Underneath he will find me wearing a simple black tee shirt and on the front it says “Good Witch/Bad Witch”. Beneath the tee shirt there will be a black and white matching bra and panties set. Ladies if you can’t find a tee shirt that has that saying on it then get a plain black tee shirt and get a fabric marker in white and write on it.

For the men, the card can be written the same way. Grab that robe of yours and underneath have a pair of black silk pajamas or boxers on.

The fun of giving the card is that there is anticipation for the evening after the kids are in bed and asleep. Have a little fun with it. Prepare some hot chocolate add some peppermint schnapps and top it off with whip cream. Have the candles lit and if it is cold enough have the fireplace lit. Put on some fun and ghoulish music or watch a spooky movie together. Did you know watching a scary movie with your spouse can rev up your relationship? So cuddle up and get scared together because it pumps up adrenaline and triggers the same brain chemicals that are released when you were first in love, which can renew your passion!

If you don’t like this idea and want a different idea for a costume then checks out: www.parents.com. They have cute inexpensive ideas for children but you can use some of the ideas for adults. Add your own twist to Halloween. My ideas are always for you to start thinking creatively and do something unique for that special someone in your life. Think out of the box, rev up your marriage and keep it for your spouse’s eyes only.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

How many of you travel for your company for one reason or another? Have you considered bringing your spouse along? Well you may want to consider this option next time one of you needs to go on a business trip.

Last month my husband needed to go to San Diego for a conference and he asked me if I would like to join him and of course I said yes. We traveled on Monday and came home on Friday. San Diego is about 5 hours away from were we live depending on traffic. Monday morning we got up early and proceeded to drive down to our destination.  We made a couple of stops on the way and arrived at our hotel around 4:00 PM. We stayed at the Hilton overlooking the bay. It was absolutely beautiful.

I always enjoy traveling with my husband even if we can’t be together all day. He would rise before me and get ready to go down to the conference. After he left I would dress and go down to Starbucks in the hotel and have breakfast outside while watching the activity on the bay. The rest of the morning was spent writing my blog and then meeting my husband for lunch. In the afternoon I would go for a walk either next to the bay or in town and then we would meet in our room after the conference was done. We would then walk to the Gaslamp District and enjoy dinner together.

One of the reasons I like going with my husband even when he is on a business trip is that we usually stay at a wonderful hotel. Yes, we don’t get to spend the whole day together but it is fun to go out and enjoy the area you are in. Then when you meet for dinner you get to tell him what you discovered while he was gone and he can tell you about his conference. Even when it is a business trip generally the evenings are more relaxed than when you are home, no kids, no responsibilities. There is more time for romance!

If you are considering going with your spouse while on a business trip by all means do it. During the day you can do what ever you want. Relax, read, and discover the town you are in. Go do something your spouse isn’t interested in, like visit a museum or go to a game.

You will both come back home refreshed and a little closer because you took the time to be together even if it is just in the evening. Ah……the beauty of a business trip romance!

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Want to ignite that sexual feeling on your anniversary? Keep saving that $5 a week.

Keep those sparks flying!

JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Last Sunday evening my husband and I decided to go for a walk on the beach.  After we ate dinner and cleaned up the kitchen, we grabbed our jackets and drove up to our favorite tiny beach community. Avila Beach to me looks like something you might see on the east coast. A tiny picturesque beach town with small boats bobbing up and down in the bay and where you can feel all your worries and cares slip away the moment you arrive.

Avila has three piers. The first one is in town and you can take a nice leisurely stroll and fish. The second one is own by California Polytechnic State University and is part of the university’s marine research program and not publicly accessible. The third pier is the Harford Pier and this is where commercial fishing boasts offload their wares.  Also, you can take a fishing excursion or have dinner there. Sea lions hang out on platforms under the pier were they wait for the fisherman to come in with their catch of the day. It is always fun to walk on this pier and listen to the sea lions squawking. We sometimes buy fresh fish form the vendors there.

Avila is about thirty minutes away from where we live and as we drive though rolling hills with farms and wineries that dot the hillsides we listen to R & B music on the radio and talked about our next ongoing project for the house.  How much money it will cost and what we will hire out and what we will do ourselves.

I always feel like we are on vacation when we leave town. No matter how close we are to where we live if it isn’t in town we are on vacation. It does help that we are lucky enough to live in such a beautiful area. There are beaches, lakes and darling communities all within 1 ½ or less from where we live. If you don’t feel that way when you go to another town close by then you need to rethink how you look at that community. It is so much fun to pretend you are on vacation even when you aren’t. Your frame of mind will be different when you get home because after all you were on vacation for an hour or two.

When we got to Avila Beach we took a stroll on the pier and watched young and old people fishing. The sun was setting on the bay, you could not ask for a better sight. We then walked across the street and went to a cute restaurant overlooking the ocean and had a glass of local wine. The bartender asked us if we were on vacation and we both looked at each other and smiled and said “yes, for a couple of hours”.  He looked at us kind of funny and asked us to explain ourselves. After telling him our story he smiled and looked at us and said “enjoy your stay”. We drove home in a better frame of mind, ready to tackle the week ahead because we were on vacation!

Next date night go to another town. Walk the streets and window shop or go for a hike and then finish it off with your preference of drink, soda, coffee, hot chocolate, beer or maybe a little sparkling cider. Pretend you are on vacation even if it is only for a couple of hours. You won’t believe how you both feel.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

When you get up in the morning to go to work do you try to dress nice? When you get home from work do you throw on just any old thing and start to make dinner or do you throw on something that is comfortable but still looks good.  Something you wouldn’t be embarrassed by if someone knocked at the door or you needed to run out and do a couple of errands. 

I’m not just asking women these questions I am also asking men. How many times do you see men and women out and about wearing torn, wrinkled or dirty clothes and dragging their feet as they walk through the store? Hello!!!!! I wouldn’t want to go to bed with that!

When you dated did you primp and try to look nice for the person you were going out with? Why does it stop once we get married? Ladies, I’m not talking about a fully made up face every day. When you get married it is too easy for men and women to feel there is no need to try and look good anymore. After a few years of marriage they are complaining that the spark has gone out of their marriage and I look at them and think wonder why! If you take pride in how you look at work why not take pride in how you dress at home? I know when I try to look good whether I am at work or at home I feel better about myself.

My husband and I always try to dress nicely. When my husband gets home from work he will change into a clean shirt and jeans, even when we are staying home for the evening. There is no dirty, stretched out sweats.  Mind you neither of us is skinny but we do try to look good. My favorite saying is “I’m not fat I’m voluptuous.”  Now that I am not working I try to make sure I have a little gloss on and my hair is combed and that my clothes look clean and I smell good when my husband comes home. With both sexes working now it is very easy to become attracted to an individual they are working with because they take the time to look good. There is nothing sexy about coming home and looking at a slob.

Most importantly, it is about taking pride in who you are and the person you have married. Taking care of yourself and how you look tells people a lot about you. If you think your spouse isn’t noticing think again. What about your children? What are you teaching them if you don’t care about how you look? Your children learn by your example.

You or your spouse didn’t marry a slob. So what makes you think you would want to get romantic with a slob? How you dress at home is as important as dressing for work. So tonight when you get home but on something comfortable and still look good. Spray a little cologne on and give each other a big hug and welcome home.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Do you feel lucky? Do you want to surprise someone special?  How would you like to stay at a beautiful hotel that was completely renovated? Well go online and sign up to see if you could be an instant winner. I read about the “Sheraton Check-in-on Us Giveaway” online while researching hotel specials and wanted you to know about this giveaway.

The Sheraton Hotels are celebrating their $4 million dollar transformation at 86 of their hotels with a chance to win a free night. The instant win game started on October 6th and ends on October 9th at 11:59 ET, 2009. All prizes must be redeemed on October 23rd, 2009.

Go online and see if you are a winner:   www.sheratonhotels.com

There are 2,023 chances to win. The prize does not include transportation, meals, hotel incidentals or services. Read the official rules before signing up and you can only redeem this prize on October 23rd, 2009. Make sure you can get away on that date and you have a little extra money to spend.

Good luck and please let me know if you were a winner!

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Are you currently unemployed and need to upgrade your skills but money is so tight that you can’t go back to school because it is too expensive? Or is you’re spending out of control and you don’t know how to budget?  I found a website that can help you with upgrading your skills and teach you how to get control of your budget. And it doesn’t cost you a cent. This website is authorized by the International Association for Continuing Education Training.

I know you are thinking this has nothing to do with romance but stop and think about it. If you need to update your skills to find another job and there is no money then more than likely you are having budgeting issues also. Money problems are one of the biggest reasons for divorce. If you are arguing about money I can almost guarantee there is no romance going on.

Why not take a look at what this website offers since all classes are free! They offer all kinds of different classes. Some of them are extremely basic and some are real life skills that you may have been too embarrassed to ask someone about.

I used it recently because my husband needed something typed in an Excel format for work. I follow the instructions and was able to set up the report he needed in Excel.  I plan on taking another class on Power Point.

There are lots of classes:

• Everyday Life
• Math & Money
• Computer Training
• Online Classes
• Work & Career

Check out:  www.gcflearnfree.org

Job loss, money problems do affect your marriage. So go online and see what you can learn. You might acquire a new skill, get a job and learn how to get your budget under control. Then you will be back to enjoying your marriage and be in the mood for a little romance!

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2009, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Saving your $5 a week makes you a marriage saver!

Keep those sparks flying!

JoJo

© 2009 – 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.