Surprise Kiss

Archive for September, 2010

Did you know money is the number one reason for arguments in the first ten years of a marriage? And 30% of marriages end in divorce over money issues. This is huge!

Over the weekend a young friend, who has been living with her sweetheart for a year, emailed me that they didn’t agree how their money should be spent. They are in debt and she is trying to pay everything off and he is trying to help his father financially as much as he can even if it means he is late with his car payment. I sent her some ways to work around the issue and the importance of being open with him by sitting down and showing him where all their money is going to. Without a full understanding of where your money is going how can you both make an intelligent decision about how to spend your money?

Yesterday Natalie Morales on the Today Show interviewed Psychologist and Health Contributor to Women’s Health Magazine Michelle Callahan about speaking the same financial language. I thought you could benefit from watching the video. Michelle had a lot of sound advice for couples.

Speak the Same Financial Language

Whether you have been married for one year or forty years you should make it a point to review your financial situation together at least once a month. Things change and implementing some of the things Michelle was telling Natalie about will help you to make good financial decisions and keep your marriage strong.

If you don’t have a sound financial relationship how can you have a marriage that is open and loving? Sparks will be flying when one of you finds out your finances are in trouble. The only kind of sparks here at SurpriseKiss.com I want you both to have are the loving physical kind toward each other. 

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Yesterday I talked about a hip contemporary hotel called the Blue Hotel overlooking the bay in Lewes, Delaware. It is a small boutique hotel with just 16 rooms that are decorated with a luxurious modern touch. Their tag line reads “Affordable Luxury at the Beach!”

Here are some of the things you can look forward to if you stay there:

• Rooftop pool and lounge
• Fireplaces in each guest room
• Private balconies
• Complimentary wireless access
• Complimentary cappuccino, espresso, coffee, tea in lobby
• Fitness room
• Complimentary on-site parking

All rooms have queen size beds with pillow top mattress, flat screen TV’s, luxurious robs, private in-room safes. Their bathrooms have double sinks and are lighted around the base of the sinks with blue lights and the ice bucket lights up too. They have original art by local artists hanging on the walls. Please note this is a non-smoking hotel both inside and outside.

I decided to show you the breakdown for a 1 night stay in a water view room, midweek:

Junior Suite with Fireplace:  $225.00
Tax – 8%:                                 18.00
Service Charge – 4%:                  9.72
Total                          $252.72

If you saved your $5 a week for 52 weeks you would have $260 which would leave you with $7.28. If you saved $7 a week for 52 weeks you would have $364 which would leave you with $111.28 left over! That is enough to enjoy a nice dinner in town.

You can afford to have a very luxurious romantic getaway for you and your sweetheart with very little money taken out of your budget each week. So save your money and surprised your sweetheart at the Blue Hotel. You will both be surprise at how your weekend away can bring you closer to each other.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

*Remember to always do your own research on where you want to stay and what you want to do. Service, reviews, costs, etc can change. Like I always say buyer beware.

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Delaware is this week’s destination and we’re heading to a quaint little coastal community called Lewes. It is where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean.  The Dutch settled this area in 1631 and it is the first town in the first state! Lewes is full of historical and architectural interest. For the history buffs who love to be by the beach then this is the place to go.

There a lot of things to do in Lewes and here are just a few:

• Delaware River and Bay Light House – Lighthouse
• Dogfish Head Craft Brewery – Restaurant & Brewery Tour (If you want to go on a tour call and make reservations)
• Overfalls Lightships – One of only 17 Lightships left of 179. Built in 1938.
• Cape Henlopen State Park – Seaside Nature Center
• Fisherman’s Wharf Cruises and Fishing Center – Fishing or Cruises
• Cape May-Lewes Ferry – 17 mile, 85 minute cruise
• Nassau Valley Vineyards – Winery

Lewes is a walker’s town. There are fine shops, museums, restaurants and golfing. You must stop by Kings Homemade Ice Cream shop and have a scope!

The Blue Hotel is a hip contemporary hotel overlooking the harbor. There are sixteen rooms and even a roof top pool and fireplace. All rooms have queen-size beds. Original art by local artist hang on the wall. Please be aware they are a non-smoking hotel both inside and out.

Whether you want to stroll along the Historic District, walk along the bay or sit in front of the fireplace in your room head to Lewes, Delaware. Romance, history and the bay awaits you and your sweetheart in this quaint town.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

*Remember to always do your own research on where you want to stay and what you want to do. Service, reviews, costs, etc can change. Like I always say buyer beware.

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

If you keep saving $5 a week you and your sweetheart will be able to follow your dream of having a romantic weekend.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Decide to do a little something different with your sweetheart you wouldn’t normally do for date night. Last week I was talking to a friend and she was telling me she and her husband like to go to the drive-in-movies. This is such a throwback to when we were younger and dating.

Celeste and her husband Rubin enjoy seeing a movie and eating at the drive-in. They purchase cheese nachos, hot dogs, and sodas. Desert is what ever they feel like that evening. Then they sit back in their cozy car with blankets if it is cold outside and if the weather is warm they will bring lawn chairs. Either way they enjoy their feast while watching a movie.

Celeste and Rubin are young and can indulge in drive-in-food but if you are like us we have to watch what we eat. If we aren’t careful eating certain foods then when we get home we would have heartburn and we wouldn’t feel very good. Since we want to make it a pleasant experience we would probably bring our own food and drinks, which would allow us to have a little evening delight when we get home.

Here is a suggestion for packing the perfect drive-in-theatre picnic:

• Roast Beef Sandwiches – On two sandwich rolls spread with mayonnaise which you have added a little horseradish to. Then layer some roast beef purchased at the deli and some lettuce. You could add a slice of havarti cheese if you like too.
• Potato Chips – Your choice. We like Kettle Chips.
• Carrot Sticks
• Brownies – Homemade or purchased at a bakery
• Iced Tea or Hot Apple Cider – Depending on the weather

Now that is what I like to call dinner and a movie at the drive-in-theatre!

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Yesterday I told you about an inn in Mystic, Ct. Today we will look at how much you will need to save if you would like to spend an evening there.

The inn’s name is Saybrook Point Inn and Spa. They offer 80 rooms and suites. For the ultimate romantic getaway, they have rooms with private balconies, water views, whirlpools and working fireplaces. All rooms have wireless internet service, mini-refrigerators, iron and ironing boards, luxurious robs and European pillow-topped mattresses.

I decided to show you the breakdown on a “Water View Room”:

1 weeknight stay:        $279.00 (Sept 15, 2010 thru Sept 16)

Tax:                                 33.48

Total:                           $312.48

$312.48 ÷ 52 weeks = $6.00 a week

If you saved $8.00 a week for 52 weeks at the end of the year you would have $416.00! You would have and extra $103.52 to enjoy a nice dinner for two! Don’t forget to check out their specials and packages.

Grab your bags and head to Saybrook Point Inn and Spa in Mystic, Ct and make it a night to remember just the two of you enjoying a romantic evening together.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

*Remember to do your own research on where you want to stay and what you want to do. Service, reviews, costs, etc can change. Like I always say buyer beware!

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Want to go to an awesome small, historical New England town for a little romance and relaxation? Then consider going to Mystic, Connecticut. The town of Mystic was founded in 1654 and was known as the shipbuilding mega during the clipper ship era. You both will have a very memorable weekend because there is a lot to do in and around this quaint little village.

After researching this area I found that the Saybrook Point Inn and Spa was the most recommended by several travel websites. It has been designated as a green hotel. Saybrook Point Inn and Spa overlooks panoramic views of Long Island Sound and is in the heart of historic Old Saybrook. You are minutes away from antique shops and theaters.

Here are just a few things you can do in Mystic, CT:

• Essex Steam Train & Riverboat – A train ride and dinner
• Mystic Seaport – Living history museum
• The Gray Goose Cookery – $35 for lunch and learn classes
• Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration
• Old Mistick Village – New England style shopping
• Stonington Vineyards – Wine
• B F Clyde’s Cider Mill – A winery producing hard cider

There are name brand outlets and casinos too! You could even go to eat at Mystic Pizza Restaurant where the 1988 film, Mystic Pizza, with Julia Roberts was filmed at.

Have a little Mystic love affair with your sweetheart in Mystic, Ct you will both go home with a mystic smile on your face everyone will be wondering about!

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

*Remember to always do your own research on where you want to stay and what you want to do. Service, reviews, costs, etc can change. Like I always say “Buyer beware.”

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

I wanted to tell you about a website our daughter and her husband uses all the time when they are traveling. They have it as an app for their iPhone. You can also look it up on your computer if you don’t have an iPhone. It is another resource for you to use when you are traveling or are trying to make a decision on where you want to eat at. You know those days when you and your sweetheart cannot make a decision on where you want to eat.

The website is called UrbanSpoon.com it will give you the most popular neighborhoods and types of foods in the city you are planning on traveling too or the city you live in. Most of the reviews are written by food bloggers. So you are getting reviews from true foodies.

Here are just a few of the types of restaurants they list:

• 10 Best Fine Dining
• 10 Best Cheap Eats
• Free Wi-Fi
• Gluten Free Friendly
• Happy Hour
• Live Music
• Romantic
• Sports Bar
• Vegan Friendly

Check out the rest of the special features to see if there is a restaurant to your liking.

The next time you are looking for someplace good to eat at check out and see if UrbanSpoon.com has the city you are in. You might find someplace new for you and your sweetheart to go to.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo
9/7/10

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

You will have memorable moments with your sweetheart to savored if you keep saving your $5 a week.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

Can you believe Labor Day Weekend is here? My how time flies by!  I want to make sure you don’t let this weekend fly by without doing something romantic with your sweetheart. Everything you will need you should already have if you have tried any of my romantic ideas in the past.

Here are the things you will need for your “Romantic Work Evening”:

• Candles
• Message Lotion
• Favorite Romantic CD
• Something Sexy to wear
• Blank note card

In the morning hand your sweetheart an invitation to a “Romantic Work Evening” that you have written inside:

“Since it is Labor Day Weekend sweetheart let’s work on each other until we have worked up a sweat and we have that blissful feeling all over us.” 

That evening light the candles, play soft music in the background, have the message lotion on the nightstand and put something sexy on. Men of course you don’t have to worry about sexy lingerie but do put something on your sweetheart enjoys seeing you in. Whether it is a nice robe, boxer shorts or a thong, choose something that turns her on.

May all your nights be full of laughter and romance with the one you love.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.