Archive for November, 2010

When was the last time you got out of town with your sweetheart? Over the weekend Larry and I were asking this same question and we realized we hadn’t taken a weekend trip since the 4th of July weekend.

We managed to get out of town this last weekend and have the quiet time we needed to reconnect. One thing I have learned through the years is the importance of getting away whether you have children or not. Even though we don’t have children at home anymore, we still have responsibilities and commitments like everyone else. We need down time just like couples who have children still at home.

This last weekend we reconnected. We drove down to the Inland Empire and had a wonderful time. We stayed at the Ontario Grand Inn and Suites. It is a fairly new hip and modern hotel in Ontario. The rooms were clean and the staff was very friendly and helpful.

Larry went to the opening day of the Pomona Races and I shopped till I dropped. We met up in the evening and had a wonderful dinner at a sushi restaurant Denise from the Grand Ontario Inn and Suites recommended. It is called the Rolling Sushi and it is in Rancho Cucamonga. It was delicious!!! After dinner Denise also suggested we walk around the outdoor shopping center called Victoria Gardens. What a beautiful evening in an area we knew nothing about. When we got back to the hotel we had a glass of wine in their small bar area and the bartender was just as courteous as the front desk clerk was. Complimentary continental breakfast is served in the morning. Because of Denise from Ontario Grand Inn & Suites we will be back again to enjoy the area and the beautiful hotel.

Most importantly, Larry and I got the alone time we needed to reconnect. There is a certain closeness you feel when you are out of town and away from all the responsibilities of home and family. Yes, we had to go home and back to reality but the afterglow stays with you and helps you to remember why you fell in love with each other to begin with.

Keep saving your $5 a week and you will have a very romantic evening together. You will then understand the importance of reconnecting with each other.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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A smile is the best accessory for your marriage and saving $5 a week is the best insurance to having a romantic weekend away.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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A friend was telling me about how her husband traveled a lot and she was always looking for something to do that was a little bit different for him. There was one time in particular she was quite creative and she told me it was ok if I shared it with you. This idea could make for a very fun and unusual date night.

One evening when she went to pick up her husband at the airport after one of his business trips she had planned a surprise for him. She had made arrangements for the kids to spend the night with friends so they could have some alone time together. She got dressed in something very special threw on her coat and went to pick up her husband.

When her husband got off the plane they hugged and she whispered in his ear that she had something very special under her coat for him. All she wore was her birthday suite! They went to pick up his luggage and went to the car and started to drive home. After several minutes of driving they realized that they were so excited they didn’t noticed they were driving the wrong way and had headed out of town! Needless to say they got a hotel and had a very enjoyable evening. Her husband has never forgotten that evening and how she had planned something so special for him and how funny and sexy the whole incident was.  They both still have a good laugh over their special evening.

Your husband may not travel but you could pick him up from work and do the exact same thing as my very funny and creative friend did. Ladies who need to have their husband pick them up from work, why not go into the restroom and put on your birthday suite and throw your coat over you. Don’t forget to make reservations at a local hotel or go home and have each other for dinner.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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Do you try to do things with your spouse without the kids? Are you expecting your spouse to do romantic things for you? Do you tell yourself after the kids are grown and out of the house we will get back to being romantic and doing things together? I watch so many couples putting their whole attention on their children and then wonder why they are no longer in love with their spouse. They are waiting their love away!

Too many couples think you shouldn’t have to work at being in love with your spouse and then wonder why they are getting a divorce. Don’t be one of those couples. Be proactive; take the time to go out on a date at least once a week. Do the corny little things you read about here at Surprise Kiss. Don’t wait for your spouse to do it instead you do something romantic and silly to them! Someone has to start and it might as well be you. If you are waiting for your spouse to do something romantic and then you will do something for them it may never happen.

When people would find out about the romantic things I did for Larry they would say, “Gee I wish my spouse would do that for me.” I would answer back with “Well it looks like God gave me you to teach.” They would laugh and say I guess you are right someone has to start and it might as well be me.

If you want a loving romantic marriage you have to make it happen. My husband typically doesn’t do the little silly things I do for him but I know he likes it and we are more in love with each other today than yesterday.  People are always asking me what do you do to make your marriage so good. Be the couple people are envious of. If they ask you what makes it so good? Tell them you are not waiting your love away.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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Last Wednesday I wrote about the importance of writing little notes to the person you love and writing one every Thursday until Thanksgiving. See Post-it-Love Note for last week’s suggestion.

Grab your post-it-note and let’s write another one for tomorrow, November 11th.

“I like the way you kiss me, it always gets my motor purring and makes me feel warm inside!”

Stick it on the steering wheel of your spouse’s car the night before for your spouse to see on Thursday morning.

Next Wednesday I will give you another idea for Post-it-Love Note #3.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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Are you and your sweetheart like so many couples working harder and longer hours at work? Companies are trying to save money and increase their bottom line during this economic downturn. It is what I like to call the lean and mean period. Lay offs are happening at more companies and they expecting the remaining employees to add more to their job description. When you both get home you are both stressed and exhausted which can add more stress to your relationship.

To help you unwind and de-stress together here are a few simple things you can do:

  • Hug your spouse and your kids: Did you know hugs are more powerful than a kiss? Hugging has been proven to lower blood pressure. When you walk in the house grab your sweetheart and give them a 20-second hug!
  • Turn on soft music: Listening to soft music like Mozart or any soothing tune for a half-hour can help you to relax.
  • Get rid of clutter: A messy home makes you feel nervous. Set your timer for 10 minutes and have your spouse, kids and you pick up as much clutter as you can. Before you know it your home will be tranquil and clean.
  • Dim the lights: Just the simple step of lowering your lights will help to make your home have a relaxing atmosphere.
  • Add a vanilla scent: The scent of vanilla is a proven stress-buster. When you get home light a vanilla candle and your blood pressure will drop. Have dinner by candle light, you will be more relaxed and eat slower and you may start eating less.
  • Add plants or a bouquet of flowers: Studies have shown looking at live plants or flowers can lower your blood pressure and ease stress.

These six simple things can make your home welcoming and peaceful when you and your sweetheart walk in the door.

Tonight when you get home try to implement as many of these things as you can, your family and you will feel the difference. What you don’t have get over the weekend. Your relationship will be less stressed and you will both be happier.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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Saving $5 a week is the best investment you can make for your marriage.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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A few weeks ago I wrote about a reader’s date night with her husband and how most Friday nights they enjoy watching sci-fi movies and having pizza deliver at home.  Another reader, Maria, wrote to me about how she and her husband on Saturday nights enjoy an evening at home watching movies also but her venue is a little different.

They enjoy renting through Netflix an Australian series about daughters and friends who manage a ranch in Southern Australia. It is called McLeod’s Daughters. The series ran for about 6 years and was a hit in Australia. They started with season 1 and are working through the rest of the series every Saturday evening.

Maria and Bruce get in the kitchen together and cooked a simple meal of salmon toped with a dill sauce and a salad. She was kind enough to share her recipe and said it is delicious! I plan on trying it this weekend.

Salmon with Dill Sauce

Wild Salmon (2 servings)

Season to your liking.  They like salt/pepper/ginger/lemon.

Place aluminum foil around the Salmon and seasoning and bake at 350 degrees until desired doneness about 8 to 10 minutes.

Dill Sauce Dip

1 cup plain Greek Yogurt (Maria recommends the full strength vs. low fat for this recipe)
1 handful of fresh dill, chopped
About 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (or your taste)
Salt to taste

Mix dill until it is all incorporated. It’s more of a creamy texture than a thin texture. Then top Dill Sauce on baked salmon.

Maria and Bruce have also concocted their own drink to enjoy while watching McLeod’s Daughters. This libation sounds very yummy.

Australian Tequila Sunset

1 part fresh lemon juice
1 part tequila (They use Gold Cuervo which has a light flavor vs. the oak barrel type)
4 parts soda water with ice (They use TJ’s Sparking Mineral Water)
Sugar to taste

Maria told me this has become their Saturday night tradition that they look forward to doing together. Cocktails, a gourmet dinner and a movie, a special night enjoyed together without spending a fortune. What a delight!

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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Do you have teenage children? Are they driving you a little crazy and you can’t agree with your spouse on how to handle a particular situation with your teen? I remember those days well. Larry sometimes would be very upset about something our daughter had done and I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. And then there were the times I was upset and he wasn’t. Do you argue in front of the kids until you find a solution? We found a way to come to an agreement without our daughter hearing us. How did we do it?

It was our daughter’s responsibility to clear the dishes and put them in the dishwasher after dinner. That’s when we would go for a walk and argue it out. There were no ears to hear and she couldn’t play us against each other. It was good not only for our relationship but it was good for our health too. If we were really upset about something she had done we would walk really fast.

As we walked we would talk about how a situation should be handled. There were times when one of us felt we needed to be hard on her and after discussing it the other would say you are right it’s not that important and then there were times after a discussion we would agree together we were not happy with her. These walks taught us how to pick our battles with what was really important in raising our child.

When we walked back in the door we would stand strong together. She had a hard time pushing our buttons. What she got was a strong mother and father who didn’t let her go between them. She knew when she was in trouble and there was no getting out of it. She was taught responsibility for her actions which has turned her into a responsible and productive adult today.

So the next time you and your husband aren’t agreeing on how the children should be raised go for a walk and work it out. Your children will thank you latter in life and you will keep the sanity in your marriage.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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Did you know positive little sticky notes can lift your spirits and boost heart health too? It can help to lower your cholesterol level just by writing or reading an affectionate little love note. With Thanksgiving being the time we reflect on what we are thankful for why not let our sweetheart know every Thursday why we are thankful we married them.

Every Thursday until Thanksgiving leave a little post-it-note letting your sweetheart know you care.

On Thursday, November 4th write on a post-it-note:

“Good morning sweetheart! I like the way you smile at me and the kids. It brightens up our day!”

Stick it on the mirror in the bathroom the night before for your sweetheart to see on Thursday morning.

Next week I will give you another idea for a Post-it-Love Note.

Keep those sparks flying!
JoJo

© 2010, Surprise Kiss. All rights reserved.

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