Romantic Report | How to be romantic, the perfect date ideas, and keeping the spark alive

A simple, romantic evening

Planning a romantic evening does not have to be complicated.

My boyfriend planned a very nice romantic evening for the two of us this past weekend and I thought I would share it. It was very simple, yet it was very fun, romantic and pleasant.Saturday afternoon I decided to take a nap. The nap turned into a very long nap and when I woke up and came downstairs, I smelled a wonderful aroma. He had stayed up during my nap and was preparing a meal.

The table was set for two with dinnerware, wine glasses and candles. He was grilling shish kabobs that he had prepared himself and he was always grilling a potato boat. In the oven he prepared stuffed portabella mushrooms. He filled them with marinara sauce, added red pepper and mozzarella cheese and baked them for around 15 minutes. He also prepared a salad.

When everything was ready we ate together and drank wine. It was absolutely lovely. He has done things like this before, but this was really special. When we were finished we went outside and sat by a fire that he had prepared. As soon as we came in, he pulled out the latest Nicholas Sparks movie, “The Vow.” He had purchased the movie the day before and he when he pulled it out I was very surprised.

I told him how happy I was with the evening he had planned. It was very simple, yet it made a huge impression on my heart. One of the best things about it is that I did not have to do any of the work. He planned the entire thing and made it all happen.

Rules of arguing

Setting rules helps eliminate common problems in couples.

My boyfriend and I argue sometimes, and every once in a while, it gets into a really bad argument. This past weekend this happened, so I decided to tape record the conversation. This turned out to be good and bad.

I like getting along and I am a very factual person. My boyfriend, on the other hand, is very different. After the argument, we slept on it and then decided to listen to the tape the next day. He could only take listening to it for a few minutes because he realized how crazy he sounded. I decided to write a few rules for arguing that he and I decided on because of our last argument.

Rule 1:

Avoid contradictions. He often says one thing, and then changes it to another thing. This is a no-no.

Rule 2:

Stick with the point. Too many arguments get off track, and it is important to stick with the subject at hand. This also means avoiding bringing up wounds from the past.

Rule 3:

Be respectful. Our argument contained many things that were said that contained absolutely no respect. If you love each other, be respectful of each other and each other’s feelings.

Rule 4:

Be understanding. Keep in mind that both of you think differently. This rule goes along with respect in a sense. Try to talk to each other the way you each need to be talked to, but also understand that you both have different personalities.

These are just a few rules that we came up with. I believe that all couples should have rules when it comes to arguing. By creating your own rules, you can personalize them to match the problems you have with your arguments.

How to travel together as a couple

Traveling is one of the most exhilarating undertakings you can embark on in a lifetime. Before you come home, you want to know that you did everything possible to experienced what you set out to do. It's a major feat for one person to accomplish let alone two. Learning how to travel together as a couple brings you closer together and gives you the confidence that you can defeat all odds thrown at you over the course of your relationship.

Figure out how both of you enjoy traveling to begin unraveling the mystery of how to go on a trip together as a couple. Knowing what activities you both like to do while you're on the trip helps you to figure out what kind of vacation would suit the two of you. For example, your wife tells you that she enjoys picking up souvenirs while she's visiting a new destination. The thought of hanging out in a “tourist trap” shop drives you crazy. Try going into at least one store with her and you may find that you enjoy it more when you see the smile on her face when she finds the perfect gift. If you still don't like it, let her go shopping while you do something else such as hiking on a trail. The point here is to attend the event at least once because when you're traveling, sometimes you find that you enjoy something that you didn't think you would in the past. Also, you get the bonus points of seeing the person you love smile over taking part in their favorite activity.

Plan to stop a fight instead of wracking your brain with ways to put off an argument before it happens. Traveling brings out the best and worst of human beings and it is said that going on vacation with your honey can make or break your relationship. Avoid falling prey to this romance extinguisher by preparing for the fact that you will fight. For example, you find you're both lost and an argument ensures because one of you misplaced the map. Go ahead and lay everything out on the table, you'll make up faster this way. Spend some time apart if you have to but know that both of you will come together stronger than before. In the above instance, you could walk ahead of your significant other until you both cool off but still keep them in site so you don't wind up even more lost.

Romance your honey while you're on vacation to make sure that he or she heads home feeling physically and emotionally closer to you. It's important to treat your significant other to a special date, even with the distractions that come with going on a trip. The nice evening doesn't have to cost a fortune because even holding hands while eating ice cream on the beach is romantic if done right. Your honey will remember the nice night you planned for a long time to come. Have fun going on a romantic trip together by keeping these three tips in mind while you're on vacation.

Meeting at the park

The park is a great place for romantic meetings

Now that spring is here and summer is approaching, there are more options when it comes to planning romantic activities. With the weather nice, you can plan things to do outside. Being outside has a natural way of offering a romantic atmosphere. You can be creative when planning things, but here is one idea that my boyfriend planned for me last summer.

He called me one day and asked me to meet him at the park around noon. When I got there, I saw him in the distance sitting on a blanket on the ground. I walked over there and he was there with lunch and wine. He had picked up sandwiches from a local restaurant and brought a bottle of wine and two wine glasses. The weather was perfect, the food was great and it was just a great experience.

For me it was a very thoughtful gesture. He had taken the time to plan the event, and although it was very simple, it was absolutely lovely. After we ate, we sat and talked for a while and then we walked around the park.

I like ideas like this because they are simple and meaningful. I like them too because they are affordable. This meeting between us probably only cost around $10. He already had the wine, so he didn’t need to buy that. The price of something doesn’t make or break something; it is the thought that counts. The fact that he took this time for me meant a great deal and I bet your significant other would also appreciate something like this.

Three ways to tell if your man is serious about you

You and your man have been together for three months now and you are dying to know whether your relationship is progressing past the dating stage. Women everywhere want to know the answer to this burning question that finally puts an end to constantly contemplating their relationship status. Rest easy because three ways exist that tell you whether or not your present guy is serious about you.

Your man asks you questions about your day and wants to know more about what is going on in your life. One of the primary signs that a guy is serious about you is if he starts asking everything from how your mom is doing after you talk to her on the phone to why you prefer cream in your coffee. According to an article titled “10 Signs that Tell You if a Man is Serious About You” written for futerscopes.com, men only ask this many questions if they're ready to take your relationship to the next level.

You're invited over to meet his family when the opportunity next presents itself. Men don't ask a girl to family outing unless they're serious because they run the risk of everyone in their family assuming the relationship might lead to marriage. I know my husband was ready to take our relationship to the next level when he asked me to spend the weekend with him over at his parent's house for the first time.

He shows up on time for dates and other occasions where the two of you get together. Your boyfriend is ready to take your relationship to the next level when he shows up for dinner on time or at least gives you a call when he's going to be late. He's going the extra distance to try to impress you when the two of you hang out. Men that do one or more of serious relationship indicators mentioned above are ready to further your relationship and are ready to settle in for the long haul.

Put Together a Romantic Easter Basket for Your Honey

Easter is just around the corner and what better way to surprise your honey when the holiday dawns then with his own basket. The possibilities with this idea are endless and can range from a garden themes for the gardener in your life to an array of candy choices for your significant other who has a sweet tooth. Gather your materials from nearby craft stores and dollar stores. You can even make your own Easter basket if you're the crafty type.

Things You'll Need:

Easter Basket
Grass stuffing
Presents of choice

Choose gifts that reflect the personality of your significant other to put in his or her Easter basket. Some people love homemade gifts and if yours is one of them, consider a scrapbook or decorative Easter eggs. Think gardening gloves, hand lotion and vegetable or flower seeds for the gardener along with bath and beauty products for the women who loves makeup and spa items. Place in an assortment of gourmet coffee into the basket for the java lover in your life.
Keep the size of your gift in mind when you go looking for the type of basket you want to purchase. Gifts such as a DVD present may need a bigger basket than that of a basket full of Easter egg candy. Stick to Easter colors if you plan to make your own basket from scratch.
Place the nest materials into the Easter basket in a color that makes your gifts stand out. Put in your gifts; arrange them in an eye catching manner. Find a good hiding spot for your gift to keep it out of range from prying eyes. Watch your honey's face light up on Easter morning when he sees his Easter basket.

Surprise Him with a Gift

By him something he really wants and he will appreciate you.

You can be romantic with your significant other in many ways, and one of these ways is by surprising him or her with a gift. An unexpected gift is always appreciated and is never anticipated. Women are often surprised by the gift of flowers, but buying for a man can be a little harder.

If you want to do something romantic, that is very easy, buy a gift for your man. Buying a gift is simple, yet choosing a gift may be hard. I have one great suggestion for this. Buy him tickets to some kind of event that he would like, even if the event is months away. Another option is to buy the tickets now and wait to give them to him until the day of the event.

Imagine that your man wants to go to a specific sport’s event. He may see it advertised on TV for weeks and you may overhear him saying how much he wishes that he could go. Well, what if you secretly bought tickets for that event? Wouldn’t that be fun, and exciting, and romantic? I think so. He would have no clue that he was going to the event until the day of the event.

This is a great way to let him know how much you love him and how much you respect the things in life that he enjoys. Make the night into a night away from home by staying in a hotel somewhere for the night. He will truly appreciate your thoughtfulness in this.

Planning a Romantic and Unforgettable Camping Date

What you need.

The weather's already warming up around the country and, with that it mind, it's a good time to provide your significant other with a low-cost and romantic opportunity. Camping gives you the ability to romance your honey without breaking the bank because the majority of campsites are affordable options for those looking to get away from it all.

Things You'll Need:

Tent
Sleeping Bags or mattress
Cooking Supplies
Food
Clothes
Bug Spray
Sun Screen
Bathing Suits (if around water)
Water
Reading material (optional)

Plan on where you will set up camp by keeping your honey's personality in mind. Does he or she enjoy roughing it in the great outdoors or do they spend the majority of their time relaxing where there's air conditioning? Choose a camping location that provides showers, bathrooms and other comfortable amenities such as an air mattress for the individual who doesn't spend their weekends reveling in nature. Your nature lover can put up with most camping situations and he or she will appreciate a campsite with fewer ammenities.

Figure out what you're going to eat while the two of you are on your camping trip before you go. Bring fancier food items if you're used to cooking outside over open flame. My husband used to go camping with his family and they would plan elaborate feasts consisting of steak and crab. I, on the other hand, am used to the simple act of cooking up a hotdog attached to a stick.

Bring camping gear that has the ability to withstand extreme changes because you don't want to find yourself caught off guard. For example, one time I went camping with my dad and brother when I was younger and we brought a borrowed tent. We didn't know rain was in the forecast for that weekend and before the first day was even out, buckets of water wound up pouring in our tent. We ended up sleeping in the car for that night and I must say that it was the worst camping trip I've ever been on. (I'm more the type of girl who needs certain accommodation when camping.) With a bit of proper planing, and some time set aside for relaxation and fun, you're romantic camping event will go off without a hitch.

Build a Fire

Sitting by a fire in the evening is very romantic.

My boyfriend has a small fire pit on his back porch and his favorite thing to do is to start a fire in the evening and sit by it. Since the weather has been really nice outside lately, we have been doing this almost every night for the last week. I’ll tell you what – this is really romantic.Sitting out by a fire is a great way to get outside and away from the TV.

It seems like I compete with the TV every day for my man’s attention. I personally, do not like watching TV. Yes, it is okay sometimes but it seems like the TV is always on. The last few nights have been wonderful because we are not only away from the TV, but we are able to enjoy the fresh air and each other’s company.

We sit by the fire in the evening hours and he fixes us each a drink. It is so nice to have no interruptions, other than my 9-year old daughter (which I highly love), and it gives us a great chance to talk about things we normally wouldn’t have talked about. Last night we got on a conversation about the stars and the wonder they hold. If we hadn’t been sitting by the fire, we would have missed out on that great conversation and many others.

Try to find something simple like this to enjoy with your significant other. It really is the small things in life that make a huge difference.

How to Express Your Fantasies Through the Written Word

Have you ever felt shy about telling your significant other what you want? In the past there have been times where I felt uncomfortable sharing with my husband what I want because I didn't want to come across as vulnerable. I read a tip on romantic-tips.com which explained how keeping a journal of your fantasies and then showing them to your honey can broadcast your romantic nature without putting you on full display. I got to thinking about it and came up with a couple of creative ways to start a journal where you express your dreams and desires to your honey.

Purchase a journal that matches your personality. Some people prefer elaborate almost book like journals such as the types you would see at Barns & Nobles bookstore. Others, like myself, enjoy writing in a spiral-bound notebook. I like getting notebooks that display decorations on them such as stars, hearts or a multicolored design.
Choose a pen that you enjoy writing with because while some people prefer fancy ball points, others are just as happy writing with a $2.00 pen from the grocery store.
Pick a block of time where you won't experience any interruptions from the outside world. Wear comfortable clothes to help promote a relaxed state of mind. Locate a spot you want to do your writing in such as a love seat or couch.
Set a goal to write one page each day, once a week, or whenever feels right to you. Write down whatever comes to mind, no matter what your thoughts are.
Hand your romantic journal over to your honey for him or her to read and you'll find yourself amazed at how well they respond to what you have written. Your honey will suprise you with granting your desires before you know it.

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