Thursday 13 -- Romantic Ideas for the Holidays

Thirteen Romantic Ideas for the Holidays The holiday season is already on top of us and, I don't know where you're at, but in my neck of the woods it's cuddling and snuggling weather already! Here are some suggestions for getting closer to your lover this holiday season: Hang your stockings by the chimney with care and fill your lover's full of kisses and maybe a bottle of scented massage oil :-) Schedule a special time for an intimate gift exchange. With three kids and a Christmas birthday, my husband and I don't always have a lot of money to spend on gifts for one another. Even a simple, personal coupon book can be a appreciated gift that gives all year long. Bundle up, fill a thermos full of hot chocolate, and take a walk through your local downtown or a quiet neighborhood with plenty of decorations. Hold hands and enjoy the nostalgia of Christmas lights. Trim the tree together. In my house, decorating can be stressful. Don't let it get the best of you. Put on your favorite Christmas music and take advantage of how close you can get stringing lights! Plan a private Christmas party. Spending time with friends and family can leave you almost too tired for one another! Check out our party supplies and set aside a time for your own party, just the two of you. Dress properly for your private holiday celebration. Try a slinky dress or even a sexy Santa babe costume to keep things warm. Guys, put on her favorite shirt--the one she says brings out your eyes--and leave the sweat pants in the closet! Hang the mistletoe! Put a sprig in a place the two of you have to pass underneath at least a few times a day. Surprise your lover with little gifts all month long. Sneak a few Christmas cookies into his briefcase or wrap some lingerie in a tiny box and slip it into her purse before work. Check back next week for the 12 Romantic Days of Christmas Plus 1! Turn down the lights, turn on the tree, pour some eggnog, and cuddle on the couch with the best holiday movies. Lifetime Movies has some classics, as well as a few new ones, that you both may enjoy! Find out if you've been naughty or nice when you take the holiday cheer to the bedroom. Play a sex game to help you both ease the stress of this time of year. Play in the snow. If you're like me and live in an area where it may not snow this winter, plan a drive to a ski slope if possible. Have a snowball fight, act like teeenagers in love, and enjoy some quality time together trying to get warm :-) Help someone together. The holidays are a great time to share with those less fortunate. Select a cause together this year. Volunteer at a local shelter, buy a gift for a child through a local program, or organize a food drive together. Go Christmas shopping together and pretend you're newlyweds. See if you can get anyone to ask if you were just married! Feel free to share your romantic holiday traditions in the comments!

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5 Cheap Dates That Beat Dinner and a Movie

5 Cheap Dates That Beat Dinner and a Movie

Dinner and a movie has not only become one of the most highly overused, not to mention overrated, dating destinations, it is also become a ridiculously high expense! If you really think about it, going to a movie isn’t really the best way to develop a new relationship, or even strengthen an old one, anyway. A good date should involve plenty of opportunities to talk and share conversations, not stare at a screen and engulf popcorn!

Save your hard earned cash and plan dates that will be fun and are guaranteed to take your relationship to new places. Here are 5 inexpensive, easy to do date ideas that are sure to bring lasting memories.

1. Go for a hike. State parks are great places for free hiking and offer a variety of trails. Pack a sandwich lunch, plenty of water, and some trail mix and enjoy the beauty of nature and one another’s company.
2. Visit a farmer’s market, peach grove, or strawberry patch and pick or shop for fresh fruit together. Return home and make a cobbler or fruit salad together. Eat it while you watch the sunset or gaze at the stars.
3. Visit a local ice cream parlor. Try to find one near a park or in a shopping center and enjoy a walk together or window shopping while you eat your ice cream.
4. Go ice skating or roller skating.
5. Take a trip to the zoo, a museum, your local art gallery, or an aquarium.

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