Surprise Kiss

Archive for August, 2010

Last Friday, August 13, I was watching the Today Show and they had a segment on “Hidden Airline Fees.” I found it extremely interesting and thought you would be interested in viewing the video.

Hidden Airline Fees

Before you get on that plane make it a point to learn all you can about the hidden fees on the airline you will be flying. Money saved means more money for you and your sweetheart to enjoy a fabulous romantic weekend away.
Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Find little ways to make part of your day like a day off together. Keep saving your $5 a week for your romantic weekend.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Ok it is Date Night and you ask your spouse “What do you want to do tonight?” They answer I don’t know. You are frustrated and want them to make a decision but they always leave it up to you. What is a person to do? You want them to plan and make the decision this time not you. Have you and you spouse ever gotten in the car and tried to decide where you want to eat at? You will both make suggestions but the other doesn’t want to go there.

We have done it many times and have found a solution to this issue. You both sit down and write the restaurants you each like to go to on separate little sheets of paper and fold it. Make sure you have expensive, moderate and inexpensive places to eat at. Put it in a small cloth pouch or envelop in the car and when neither of you can make up your mind one of you pulls a sheet from your pouch or envelop and that is where you will go to eat. No arguing, the decision is made.

From past experience it could save you 1/2 an hour of driving around and still not having a place to go to. The benefit of doing this like last weeks exercises is there will be an element of surprise; you will both be going to places you enjoy. After you know the place you will be eating at put the paper back in the envelope so it can be redrawn another time. Remember these are places where you enjoy their food. If you accidentally draw it again the next time, oh well that is the luck of the draw.

So whether you want your spouse to make the decision or neither of you can figure out where you want to have dinner let your little cloth pouch or envelope decide for you.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

This week I am taking you to Arizona! Larry and I have stayed in Scottsdale and Sedona, Arizona a couple of times. Both places are wonderful. You typically hear about traveling to these two places when you want to get out of town but I’m bringing you to a place a little less known.

I decided to take you to Jerome, AZ. It is between Prescott and Sedona. It is approximately 100 miles from Phoenix.  We have visited Jerome a couple of times several years ago when we were staying in Sedona. Larry and I are always memorized by the spectacular views and quaint little mining town on top of Cleopatra Hill overlooking Verde Valley. To get to Jerome you go along a windy narrow road to the top of the mountain. You will be amazed by all the old homes nestle on the cliffs of Cleopatra Hill. It looks as if you could walk up to these homes, blow on them and they would slide down the mountain.

Jerome is over 100 years old with lots of old west history. It started out as a mining camp where they mined gold, silver and copper. Now it is an art destination. There are over 30 galleries and working studios, with restaurants and old timey shops. If you want to get away from it all and step back in time then this would be a great destination for a quiet romantic weekend.

For the history buffs you will want to visit Gold King Mine Museum & Ghost Town and Douglas Mansion. At the Gold King Mine you will be able to enter a walk-in mine. The Douglas Mansion was built in 1916 and is full of history. Or you could just meander along and look at all the cute shops and admire all the old homes. You can even do some wine tasting at the Jerome Winery. Check out the Jerome Chamber of Commerce to see what is going on during your stay. There are music and art festivals that go on periodically throughout the year.

Larry and I haven’t stayed in Jerome but I did find three  inns that might be of interest to you. The first one is Ghost City Inn. It was built around 1890 as a boarding house and went through a major renovation in 1994. They have six rooms all with private baths. The other place to stay is  Surgeon’s House. This home was built on 1916 for Jerome’s Chief Surgeon.  There are four rooms all with private baths. Two of the rooms can be rented together as a suite. If you want to stay in a hotel that is haunted then Connor Hotel of Jerome is the place to be. They say to stay on the third or fourth floors.

If you would prefer more luxurious accommodations then I would recommend you stay in Sedona, it is approximately 20 miles away from Jerome. But if you are looking for a unique place to stay then Jerome is the place to enjoy the old west, art and beautiful views. Your romantic weekend will leave you feeling you are back in time.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Worried about what you are going to do when the children are gone? Will the house feel empty and will you feel alone? Will your life be over because it is just you and your spouse? If you have been following me for the past year and doing some of the things I have been telling you to do then there shouldn’t be a problem. A healthy marriage makes for healthy children. Children who are ready to go out on their own are better adjusted adults.

There are so many benefits to the Empty Nest:

• Time to focus on your marriage

             1. You can spend more time with each other
             2. You are not just focusing on the children and their needs
             3. You can focus on each others needs

• You are better at arguing

              1. You come to clear conclusions together
              2. You have wisdom on your side
              3. Acceptance of each other and your differences

• Sex is more enjoyable

             1. No little ears to hear you
             2. You can do the deed any time of the day or night
             3. Love and trust abounds after years of being together

The Empty Nest Syndrome is nothing to be scared of. It is a time of renewal and learning how to live together like you are newly weds again if you so desire. The Empty Nest Syndrome has gotten a bad rap. I know from experience it is a wonderful time to rediscover each other. If your marriage is well adjusted you will be ready to enjoy the next stage of your relationship with joy and anticipation.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

As you know I am always looking for ways for you to have more money for your romantic weekend away. Well, my granddaughter over the weekend sold a small Coach purse she wasn’t using anymore on eBay and made $66! This is a perfect example of things we all have laying around collecting dust and instead of it cluttering our homes and lives sell it on eBay or Craigslist.

We have sold a few antiques we were no longer using on Craigslist one year and used it to do something special for our anniversary. The money was spent on a beautiful room at a bed and breakfast in Mendocino, CA overlooking the ocean. The place was elegantly decorated and very expensive but we were able to afford going there because we sold on Craigslist.

You could also have a yard sale. Get together with your sweetheart and decide what you are no longer using or want and sell it on the web or have a garage sale. Make a pack that whatever you sell will be put toward your dream weekend. Even if you don’t make all the money you need for that special place maybe it will be enough if you add an extra $1 a week to make up the difference. Instead of saving $5 a week you will save $6 a week.

Look around your home and garage to see what is cluttering your home and you are no longer using. Sell it on the internet or have a garage sale. Your romantic weekend just got better.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Just being there and listening is showing friendship and love to your sweetheart. Keep saving $5 a week for that romantic getaway on your special day.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

This week you made a Date Packet, Project Pouch and Rendezvous Pouch. Well I decided to save the best for last. It is the “Evening Delight Pouch.”  Don’t laugh to hard until you read what you need to do because you could be laughing with delight.

After the kids are in bed turn down the lights, light a candle and pour a glass of wine, beer or sparkling cider and sit with your sweetheart and discuss your love life together. Don’t make it a judgmental discussion. Let your sweetheart know you love the way you make love together but there must be some things they would like to do you haven’t tried or done in a long time. You would like to bring back some of the passion and anticipation you had when you were first together. As you know it is too easy to get in a rut and before you know it your love life is BORING………! Bring out the Evening Delight Pouch and tell your sweetheart you want to fill it with loving ideas to pleasure each other. You need to agree that you won’t choose something that makes the other feel uncomfortable and doesn’t want to do.

Maybe you want to make love in the shower or tub, get a massage with eatable lotions, play strip poker or to be touched in a certain way.  What ever your fantasy is write it down, fold it and put it in the “Evening Delight Pouch.” Try to have 6 ideas each. You could even add to it every month as you start to relax and find out how much fun it is to look forward to. Then once a month on a certain day take turns pulling a folded piece of paper from your “Evening Delight Pouch.” If it happens to be something the other doesn’t want to do then pull another note from the pouch or talk about how it could be changed for the other to feel OK with it.

Don’t be judgmental or get mad if there is something you want to do and the other doesn’t or if it is something you don’t feel comfortable with and are surprised they wanted to do it. Remember this is meant to be a safe place to talk and bring pleasure to each other. Not to demand and expect certain behaviors.

Looking to add more sparks to your love life then why not add an “Evening Delight Pouch?” At least once a month you will have a night you both won’t forget and you could be laughing with delight all month long!

Keep those sparks flying!  
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Since this is pouch week get another colored pouch. This one will be used once a year. Plan on sitting down with your spouse and talking about where you would like to go for your next romantic rendezvous.

You may want to do a little research before you write down your wish list and meet up a week later to put your destinations in the your Rendezvous Pouch. Don’t go overboard, choose only one or two destinations each and keep it within your budget. If you are saving $5 a week then choose someplace you can stay for $260 or less. If you are saving $10 a week then choose a place you could stay at for $520 or less. You get the picture. This is not your dream vacation where all the whistles and bells are pulled out. This is your romantic weekend for two.

Once you have your destinations folded and put in the pouch bring out the wine, beer or sparkling cider and toast to your surprise trip. Make it special and ceremonial. Then one of you gets to pull the folded paper out and read it to the other. The person who wins makes the reservations right then. They also plan the trip. Where you will eat and what you will do. Let it be a surprise.

There is always one person who feels like they are the one who plans and does everything. This way you both have an opportunity to plan and make your weekend special. If you are a planner and your sweetheart isn’t don’t fret over it. It will be a surprise weekend together. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect. You can choose what you want to do together while on your trip.

Have a perfect weekend away with the help of your “Rendezvous Pouch”

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Writing about the “Date Packet” yesterday made me think why not make a special pouch for other things too. So the rest of this week will be dedicated to how you can make your relationship and love life a little easier together by making little pouches to help you both continue to be a couple.

Today we will cover things that need to get done around the house but never do. Ladies maybe you would like to clean out a closet, paint a room or need help cleaning house. Men maybe you need help with cleaning out the garage, working on the lawn or washing the car. Each person finds 6 things they would like done this year and writes them down, folds it and puts it in another pouch of a different color.

Once a month take turns pulling out an item and completing it together. This could be a family project you do all together. You will be teaching your children how to work as a team and complete things. Again you are bringing anticipation, surprise and commitment to the family and completing something that is mundane and needs to get done.

Put on the music, sing, and dance and tease each other as you finish a project. And don’t forget to surprise each other with an occasional kiss! Once the project is done have a pizza, salad and soda delivered to the house. Throw in a DVD and watch a movie then serve ice cream at the end.

These will be special times you and the family will remember for years. You will be teaching your children not only how to work together but maybe a new skill they hadn’t done yet. Also, your children will learn the importance of helping family achieve goals and complete them in a fun way. There is a confidence children have when they learn new skills in a nonjudgmental environment and a closeness to family they can’t get when they are on the computer, watching TV alone, or on the phone talking or texting their friends. Most importantly, you and your spouse are teaching your children how to have a good marriage working and playing together.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.