Keeping Romance Alive - Week 1

We live in a day and age where lives are busy and schedules are swamped. We're tired, grumpy and seem to have lost sight of romance.  

The working day is also a little more versatile than it has been in days past, and people are working longer hours or irregular shifts.  This can put a damper on your love life, but this should not discourage you from enjoying you and your partner no matter what time of day it is.  

Romance is not just for evenings anymore, For the next 25 weeks I am going to post a list of things you can do during the day, or during the evening that will help ensure you make the most of every second with your lover.

Week 1

If you won’t be seeing your partner for a while, tell them you’re concerned and have hired a bodyguard. Give him or her a stuffed teddy bear with an “I Love You” heart on it.

Romantic Date - Kiss-athon

Kiss-athon

A marathon is ---- km long. Map out your own course around your town on a vacation spot and take a few warm up kisses. 

Then bike or drive the route and snap 26 pictures of the two of you kissing in 26 different locations. 

Give your kiss-athon a scavenger hunt element by developing a list of items that you have to find and kiss in front of along the way. 

Just like after a marathon take a long soak. 

Romantic date - Getting Ready

Getting Ready

Turn the routine of getting ready for an evening out into a sensuous experience. 

Light some candles and start with a warm soak together filled with Montez Jelly Bath. Give each other a back massage, write messages on each other's back. 

Wash your partner's hair. You may be brave enough to shave each other. Rinse off with a steamy shower. 

At this stage you will be ready razzle or maybe you just want to stay at home. 

Romantic Date - Creature Comfort

Creature Comfort

If you don't have a furry friend of your own spend an afternoon at your local animal shelter walking the dogs, playing with kittens or volunteer to help out at a fund raising event. 

Besides offering to help out at an understaffed organisation you'll enjoy spending the time together and who knows - fall in love with something else as well. 

Do phone ahead to learn about their volunteering policies.

Romantic Date - Strangers in the Night

Strangers in the Night

Arrange to meet with your partner at a specific time and place: a bar, a park, a museum - ideally a location that neither of you is used to. 

Create new identities for yourselves and pretend you've never seen each other before. Dress to fit your character. 

Initiate flirting by sending each other a drink or approaching with a pick up line. Have fun playing 20 questions to find out about their identity. If you like this new person consider asking them out for dinner or to do some activity you've never tried together. 

If you really like these characters bring them out to play again.

Romantic Date - Edible Art

Edible Art

Unleash your inner Pablo Picasso in an edible medium. 

Start by undressing each other - stripping to your undies or to a completely naked canvas. Using chocolate, whipped cream and a paintbrush or your fingers, indulge in your inner artist and paint all over your beloved. 

Take some photos for your private portfolio - just remember that any photos posted are there FOREVER and will be used against you. 

Once you have created your masterpieces there are several options of how to clean off your canvases. You can both hop into a steamy shower or you can simply feast on your creation.

Check out the delicious body chocolate made especially for Lola Montez 

Romantic date - Date in a Box

Date in a Box

This can also work if you are involved in a long distance relationship. 

You can have a great date and 'meet' anywhere in the world. Think of a destination you'd both love to visit. Then send a package of items related to your chosen hot spot with a note on the outside of the box not to open it until your partner receives a call from you. 

For example: If you've always wanted to go to Mexico send your partner a package with a picture of you wearing a sombrero - then include a sombrero in the box. A CD of Mexican songs, a Mexican Flag, some edible treats and Tequila! Add pictures of tourist spots, fun facts about these places. 

If you are far away from each other you can take a 'walk' through these places over the phone. Or sit side by side on the couch. 

Romantic Date 25 - F*** Valentine's Day

Everyday Acts

Sometimes the most romantic moments are the result of thoughtful gestures in the middle of a mundane day. 

Spend the day helping your partner take care of necessary errands, particularly the ones they really don't enjoy doing. Wash the car, go to the hardware store, attend to the shopping, dry cleaning. Once you've finished celebrate by taking your partner to lunch or dinner at a place that they've always wanted to try. 

Remembering the other's interest and curiosities is another great way to be romantic. 

So we come to the end of the month of love and I will now go back to a far more reasonable weekly post! I will continue to give you more romantic ideas.

So spread the love!

Romantic Date 24 - Be a kid again

Kidding Around

Plan a date where the two of you get to be kids again. 

Go to a playground and push each other on the swings and merry-go-round. Climb the jungle gym, play hopscotch, jump rope or walk using stilts. get a big pad of paper and crayons and draw each other. 

Trade stories about your childhood: What were your favourite toys, which teachers did you like best and what kind of trouble did you get into. Pack your favourite childhood snacks. My personal favourite is -Flings and Fizzers!

Romantic Date 22 - Date Replay

First date replay

If you've been together for a while relive your first date by revisiting the same places you first went together. 

Talk about how your romance has blossomed since then and what attracted you to each other on that first date. 

If you're in a new relationship start a diary - keep movie stubs etc. Record highlights. Use it when you have forgotten. Be careful you aren't considered a stalker. 

Romantic Date 19 - Strawberries and Cream

Tutti Frutti

Build a date around a piece of fruit. 

Go apple picking, drink cider and bake a pie with your bounty. 

Attend a grape crush at a vineyard. Carve pumpkins together. Make fresh lemonade and sip them from a tall glass on the patio. 

Pick strawberries (there is a farm around Johannesburg where you can do this but I couldn't find the details, so please let me know) and eat them with pancakes or sugar or cream. 

Romantic Date 18 - Kiss me quick!

Kissing Signals

Before you and your partner go out for the evening make a pact to kiss each time someone - the waiter, a guest at a party or anyone else you encounter - says a certain word or phrase or each time you see a particular item. 

Stick with a kissing theme for the whole date.