playfuljourney

14 Days of Romance on Facebook

Playful Journey — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:18:37 +0000

Beginning Feb 1 I began posting daily on Playful Journey’s Facebook page. I really enjoyed coming up with all the creatively romantic and fun ideas that I hope inspired you! Maybe you will try a few out! My husband surprised me one night with one of my ideas, which was the backyard dinner and star watching. We snuggled up, enjoyed dinner & a glass of wine, talked and laughed and watched the stars’ twinkling get brighter and brighter! I was overjoyed that I had inspired him!

Be inspired! Be happy! And, give your marriage everything you have – it is worth it!

Valentine’s Day Date Idea: Renew your vows on Valentine’s Day! Surprise him/her with a video of your wedding, push play and stand in front of the tv together and re-commit to your marriage! Enjoy the same type of food you had at your wedding and dance to the same son
Valentine’s Day Date Idea: Massages!! We are so stressed out these days – treat you and your spouse to side by side massages at a spa. If you can’t afford that, you can set up a spa in your home (throw some towels to warm up in the dryer to lay on the bed or couch, heat up massage oil in microwave and treat each other). When you get home, jump jointly into the shower. There’s nothing sexier than washing each other’s hair! Need some instruction – take a massage class. Do Terra Essential Oils offers free classes for couples, research your area for free information on how to give each other the ultimate massage!
Valentine’s Day Date Idea: Chocolate is really big on Valentine’s Day of course so why not go ALL OUT CHOCOLATE! Share a giant chocolate heart, or break our some chocolate body paint (yes they sell that and what fun) or chocolate bubble bath, make chocolate covered strawberries together to share, mix a fondue pot of chocolate (see recipe on www.playfuljourney.com) and dunk and feed each other, make your favorite chocolate recipe like molten lava cake, or go out for a late night dessert at your fav restaurant. Enjoy your chocolate! I believe when you share chocolate with someone you love the calories don’t count!
Valentine’s Day Date Idea: Photo booth message: You know those photo booths at the mall? Why not go ahead of time bringing some cards that say “I” “Love” “You” or “You “Make” “Me” “Melt”… “Happy” ” Valentine’s” “Day”…you got 4 pics… Make a message for her!! Then, on your date, suggest jumping in to the photo booth. Let him/her in first and slip the pics you took earlier into the picture slot. When you get out, let him/her find them and be totally surprised at your message! Have fun! This is more of a surprise than a date but I guess the date would be window shopping at the mall, may be hit a movie and then a burger after, take advantage of what’s in your mall.
Another Valentine’s Day Date Idea: Scavenger Hunt. Just the two of you or grab some couples and do it as a group – guys against the girls. Girls or guys hide the clues (3 or 4) directing the other group toward different places ultimately ending up at your dinner spot. Mark and I did this with two other couples – the guys hid the clues and us girls ran all over Richmond from one place to another answering clues and riddles. Eventually we all ended up at the local pub. It was great fun! Mark reminded me at one point the guys hid near one of the clue places and watched us figure out the riddle and move on to the next place! BE romantic and hide clues for your girl or guy to find you or grab two other couples and enjoy Valentine’s Day as a group.
Inspiration to write him/her a poem or note from the heart.
When love is accompanied with deep intimacy,
it raises us to the highest level of human experience.
In this exalted space, we can surrender our egos, become
vulnerable and know levels of joy and well-being unique
among life experiences. We attain a glimpse of the rapture
that can be ours. Boundaries are blurred, there are no
limitations and we rejoice in union. We become one and,
at the same time, both….Leo Buscaglia.
Valentine’s Day Good Morning Idea: Set alarm for 1 hour earlier without honey knowing it. Bring in a cooler the night before filled with orange juice, maybe some champagne, glasses and fruit, hide in your closet. In the morning, slip into something sexy and wake your honey up with 2 mimosas and a kiss! If you want to be really sexy, make a construction paper heart, attach string to each end to tie on and wear that!
Valentines Day Idea: give each other 1 hour Unplugged! Unplug it all, no tv, land lines, smart phones, computer, or lights! Fill the time with your undivided attention, just the two of you, you will be amazed at what you will re-discover.
Continuing 14 Days of Romance: Using about 10 sheets of poster board, present him/her with a message he’ll never forget! Put 3 or 4 words on each board that tell him/her a story about your life together or a special message of love. You could also video it, upload it to Utube (which is where I got this idea from a proposal I saw!). Romance doesn’t have to stop with the proposal! Put yourself out there! Go for it!

Valentine’s Day Idea! Beginning on Feb 4th bring her a rose every day until Valentine’s Day. Giving 11 roses means that she is the most treasured and loved person in your life! And, you can play with the colors. Red means “I love you”. Lavender means “love at first sight”. Orange means “passionate desire”. White means “a pure love” and Pink means “thank you”. I would suggest beginning with a red rose, present it to her on one knee, telling her you love her and include a special adoration each time you give a red rose. Then begin to add in a different colored rose each day because she is your everything! Tell her what the color means when you hand it to her. “Pink means thank you and I want to thank you for being the most amazing wife to me”.

On Valentine’s Day she has a very special bouquet of roses and 11 days of feeling extremely loved. Complete the Valentine’s Day with chocolates and champagne!

Guys like roses too Ladies so this idea could be for you too. Or if he’s not into flowers substitute roses for heart-shaped sugar cookies with the different colors of icing representing the colored roses!
Playful Journey LLC

Valentine’s Day Idea! Put a note in a bottle. This requires planning ahead but it is very fun! Plan a picnic or romantic stroll. Put a love note in a bottle, cork it and bury it somewhere along the route you will be taking. Pretend to spot it and let him/her dig it up. Maybe the note is asking him/her on a date, or to “be my valentine”.
Playful Journey LLC

Valentine’s Day Idea! Create a personalized romance novel! You fill out you and your honey’s name, some details, and pick the setting and the story! Mark did “Tropical Treasure” for us and it was so fun to read a romance novel where we were the stars! Check it out at www.bookbyyou.com!
Playful Journey LLC

Romance makes every day special from the touch of your hand in hers to a flirty wink across the room to him. Of course we should nurture our marriages and relationships every day but I want to count down 14 days of romance in time for Valentine’s Day! I want to inspire you to take time out for romance.

The beauty of romance is that it can look like many things to many people. It’s easy to be romantic and even become a romantic person with a little practice. Many people think they are romantically challenged but I bet you are more romantic than you realize and if you allow romance to become a usual occurrence in your relationship it can feel like a love affair with your partner!

Day 1 – date idea:
Blindfold him/her and take him/her to a surprise destination. Drive a different route and take a lot of turns so they can’t guess! I once surprised Mark doing this for Valentine’s Day taking him to a hockey game. I even made him put ear buds in so he couldn’t hear the very familiar sound when the tickets were scanned. He was in a suite surrounded by hearts and a sign that said Happy Valentine’s Day when he took his blindfold off! Wherever you take him/her, blindfold to heighten the anticipation of the surprise and have some fun!

Hope you enjoyed them! Like my facebook page for continuous encouragement for your healthy marriage! And visit our website at http://www.playfuljourney.com for products and more inspiration!

Couples that play together stay together!

Susan

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Playful Journey — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:49:26 +0000

You may be one of the many people who think Valentine’s Day is just a Hallmark holiday and that’s ok! But there are interesting stories surrounding this day, Ancient festivals, secret marriage ceremonies, unrequited love, imprisonment and dying for the love of your life…. Thinking about the history it’s probably a good thing Hallmark did get a hold of it! Valentine’s Day continues to be a day full of lovers proposing and couples celebrating this mysterious gift that makes our stomachs flutter with excitement and our palms all sweaty……………..love.

Think back to hanging a box on the front of your school desk and waiting in anticipation for that cute boy or girl to drop one in. Remember the surprise and thrill when it happened?! Remember your first date? Your proposal? Romance doesn’t have to end at the proposal or the wedding! I encourage you to have some fun and make your sweetheart feel loved and surprised on this Valentine’s Day! Being romantic also gives our partners emotional joy and intimacy, a feeling of adoration and appreciation and a reminder of how loved they are; all things that are very important to both men and women as we rush through our busy lives.

So Romantic Marriage Proposal!

Be inspired by this video! Using about 10 sheets of poster board, present him/her with a message she’ll never forget! “Remember when we first met?” “this is how you have changed my life” etc. Tell him/her how you feel and how much you love them by putting 3 or 4 words on each board. Go for it! Put yourself out there for the love of your life!

Take inspiration from my “14 Days of Romance” on Playful Journey’s FB where I will be sharing daily romantic suggestions over the next 14 days. My website Playful Journey also includes many date ideas to help you keep the romance alive all year! Live every day like it’s Valentine’s Day!

Live in Love,

Susan

8 New Year’s Resolutions for your Marriage

Playful Journey — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:01:53 +0000

8 New Year’s Resolutions for your marriage!
1. Take the time to be together everyday. Spending even 20 minutes to talk about your day will help increase emotional intimacy. Share the time as equally as possible but just connect!
2. Really listen to each other. Listen to what’s being said and what’s not being said. Ask questions if you don’t understand the meaning of what is being related. Misunderstandings cause many unnecessary heartaches while really listening will give you great insight to your spouse’s needs!
3. Give a surprise a couple times a month. Surprise him/her with a note in their lunch box, show up during lunch or after work as a surprise, give him a gift card or take her shopping, take her to a movie and dinner, blind fold him in the car and take him to a surprise destination… you know what pleases your spouse, go ahead and surprise them!
4. Plan a date night out at least once a month. Get a babysitter and go out! Often times stay at home parents get a little stir crazy and need to get out into the world! Get them out to walk the city, to a museum or restaurant, dancing, or to a show.
5. Create a date night in at least twice a month. Just like getting out for the stay at home parent, working parents need some down time! Plan to put the kiddos to bed early or send them to a friend’s house, pop some popcorn and enjoy a movie together snuggled in a soft comforter, or create a spa in your bedroom complete with candles and massage oil.
6. Connect spiritually. Discuss what your partner believes and compare what you learned growing up and what you are experiencing now. Pick a study and learn together.
7. Set goals together. This year make your wishes a reality! Take time to visualize where you want your family to be at the end of the year and talk about how to get there. Also make long term goals. Doing this will help the two of you stay focused on the same prize!
8. Commit to enjoying your life together! Talk about the things you love about your life, the things you enjoy doing and agree to do more of those activities this year. If you went on a bike ride and really loved it, then commit to planning more of those outings by putting it on the calendar.

Additional spiritual resolutions would be 1) pray for each other daily, and/or 2) pray together.

Romance in Marriage

Playful Journey — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:18:37 +0000

Many people ask me, why isn’t my marriage as romantic as yours? That’s a hard question to answer because romance activities are different for different couples. But what I can say is that romance is vital to a happy marriage and your marriage lasting through your lifetimes. Your family began with your marriage and if you take care of it, it will endure through when and if you have children, through their crazy teenage years and when they leave you and go out on their own leaving just the two of you again.

Romance to me is about showing your spouse how much you care about them in little and big ways. My husband wakes me up with a kiss and a cup of coffee every weekday morning. On the weekends I try to wake up before him so that I may give him back that same little gift. Romance is taking action so your spouse does not feel taken for granted. It’s about taking the time to be creative with dating and romancing depending on what the two of you like.

Alot of time we think this way: I have to take care of the kids and work and life keeps us so busy and hey, we’ve snagged our spouses already so we can put them at the end of the priority list right? They will understand. We are married, they know how busy we are, they know how challenging life is right now, if they don’t get it it’s their problem…… Actually, we need to be thinking the opposite. We need to put our spouses at the top of our priority list because remember, we picked them! We declared our love to them forever. Without giving our spouses love and support, they will tire of the lack of attention and then we are raising our children on our own, working and living on our own. Is that what we really want? I don’t think most of us do. I think once you find that special someone to share your life, it is an amazing gift that needs to be cherished continually. You need to keep them at the top of your list.

Romance is easier than you think! Romance is telling them how wonderful they are, doing the little things you really do have time for, making time to get a sitter and get out there on a date, or establishing a “mommy and daddy” time with your kids. If you do this, you are not only giving your spouse the time your relationship needs but you are modeling a healthy marriage to them.