A Kiss Is Not Just A Kiss

 No matter how long you've been together as a couple, don't stop kissing. 

The "surprise kiss" gets a fun reaction.

Kissing:

- is the simplest route to seduction

- shows how much you still really care about your partner

- is one of the easiest ways to show your honey you don't take them for granted

- lets your boo know you still crave the magic you felt when your lips touched for the first time

"No, I don't think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. That's what's wrong with you! You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how." -Rhett Butler, Gone With the Wind

#Thursday13 – Have a Sexy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate with our friends and family; to be thankful for all the wonderful aspects of our every day lives.  Keep in mind, even in a house crowded with guests; you and your honey can still indulge in a little romantic pleasure.

1.     Wear a cute outfit and something sexy underneath.  Make sure your honey knows there is a surprise under wraps for him.

2.     Wear a spicy or vanilla fragrance.  It will work with the food odors instead of against them.  We all know how men love their food!

3.      Share a glass of wine while doing meal preparation.  I know white is supposed to be served with fowl, but one can bend the rules a bit for a little dose of red wine to spark the romance.  After all, red wine is tied into a strong sex drive.

4.       Make sure you use celery and fennel.  Most Thanksgiving recipes call for these ingredients.  Celery contains a male hormone that stimulates female sexual arousal.  Fennel boosts the libido and is also alleviate that after dinner bloating.

5.      Make some oyster stuffing.  Oysters are a natural aphrodisiac.  When you eat an oyster, make sure your honey is watching… put on a little performance.

6.      Try some innocent flirting across the table and try not to get caught by the other guests.  Kind of like a teenager’s game.

7.      Don’t forget the sweet potatoes!  These are high in potassium, vitamins A & C, as well as iron. Rumor has it that it also increases the female sex drive.

8.      Gotta have some pumpkin pie!  This olfactory sexual aphrodisiac also contains zinc and increases testosterone production and blood flow by 40%. 

9.      Make sure you resist that 2^nd or 3^rd helping.  This will prevent that miserable bloating.

10.   Go for a nice walk, alone with your honey after dinner.  Hold hands, kiss, and talk about what you want to do to each other when you get the moment to be alone.

11.   Cuddle on the couch together while watching the game.  Cover up with a throw and let your hands wander.

12.   Sneak off to the guest bedroom.  If that won’t work… slip into the bathroom together.

13.   Hide a can of whipping cream in your purse for later.

HAVE A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The Power of Touch

 I don't know if it's the weather or the season or just simply romance, but Flyboy and I have been enjoying our time together; simply BEING together. We aren't empty nesters and having a teen boy flitting about doesn't allow for much romance. However, a little PDA is fun to do with the purpose of "grossing out" the boy.

We sneak in a little romance via simple non-sexual touches. 

A simple touch is reassuring and uplifting. Even if it is a fleeting moment, it feels like someone else understand and relates to us and most importantly connects with us. Think for a moment... have you ever felt like hugging your honey or just cuddling for a few minutes for no reason at all? 

Non sexual touches are a sign of love and trust. They reduce anxiety and reduce depression. While sexual touches keep a relationship fresh and exciting, non sexual touches help keep the relationship strong, healthy and happy. 

Be sure to touch someone you love today.

Where's The Romance in Fall Football?

 Fall brings football to our little town. The stands full of families cheering, hot chocolate flowing, and cuddles under warm blankets. But 2020 has different plans.

This year, is so very different. Each player is allow two guest per game. I picked up my season passes in the office this week. Despite being so few, we still hung banners, cheered loudly and rang our cowbells in support of our boys. We don't complain, this season wasn't even supposed to happen. The Michigan governor wanted football to be played in the spring. Ah... we have snow until April. (?????) Lucky for us the powers-that-be in high school athletics managed to keep fall sports in the autumn but with few adjustments. (Read the MHSAA article.) We parents complied because our kids NEED this and the games are for them not us. We are simply supporters.

Nevertheless, the game went off without a hitch. Our team is wearing a first of it's kind type of  shield on their helmets so they don't have to wear fabric over their mouths on the field. (Read the article here.) The players have matching gators around their necks they pull up when they are on the sidelines sporting their team name and colors. Coaches sport masks and gators showing their team spirit and unity.

2020 Montrose Rams games look very different than years past.

Teams are a little smaller this year and they struggle with all the Covid restrictions. No team dinners or bonding exercises are allowed. Masks, spatial codes, crazy school schedules, online courses and mental stress are all factors weighing on these boys. Somehow, the boys manage with a team group chat and having fun on the field. 

As I sat in the stands, I closed my eyes for a moment. Was the romance of fall football gone?

The cool breezed carried the faint smell of  bonfires and grills tickled my nose. The grunts and and smacks of powerful young men pushing themselves to their limits for the love of the sport could be heard between the cheers of proud parents. 

I opened my eyes to look around. Bottles of water and a thermos or two were spotted among  the small crowd. Moms were chewing on their nails when their boys hit the ground. Dads jumped and shouted encouragement to their sons. Couples cuddled close and smiled at each other with love as if to say, "That's our boy!". The sky blessed us with a lovely sunset. 

Love and pride abundant. The romance of fall football remains.

Romance During Family Vacation

 A family vacation full of fun and chaos may be hard to squeeze in a little romance, but it's not impossible.

Letting Son #2 drive the boat while hubby & I play footsie.

Vacation time is the perfect time to break the every day routine and enjoy new moments of romance. Many couples find watching a sunset together every night during vacation as their romantic  moment. 

Hubby & I found waking before everyone to enjoy a cup of coffee together as our special romantic moment. 

We also found a lot of fun in tormenting our children with PG-13 open displays of affection. 

Needless to say, find a few moments every day during vacation time to add a little romance.

Love, The Next Generation

As they grow, children look at their parents as an example of how balanced love is. 

Parents fight but they also make up.  Parents disagree but also respect each others opinions. Parents experience sadness and show how they comfort each other. Parents continue to have fun and laugh. Parents show their kids, that no matter how old they are, they can still be romantic. 

Being on vacation with our adult children has shown me that we've done a pretty good job setting an example of love for our boys. I've seen snippets of our romance in them.

My son and his wife of less than 2 weeks, enjoyed quiet time reading together. 

Son #2 and his love are the picture of silly romance, 

they have a lot of fun simply being together.

When you go on vacation with adult children, let the love flow. 

Touch Me, Babe

Listening to an old tune from The Doors while in a Covid lock-down inspired this post.

The media has featured how people are suffering depression and isolation because of not being able to be social. This lack of in-person communication and lack of personal touch plays havoc with the psyche.

Sure, sexual touches help with physical intimacy and keeps a relationship fresh and exciting. Touch between lovers, is a subtle reminder of the connection. But non-sexual touch is important too. A touch is reassuring and uplifting. It feels like some else understands us, relates with us and connects to us. A simple touch is a sign of trust, and the comfort reduces anxiety.

A touch makes you feel more loved, safe, and happy. The humblest movement leads to a happier, healthier you! Next time you touch someone or are touched, take note of how you feel.

Today's exercise:

Hold a hand

Give a hug

Tickle someone

Play footsie

Yeah! Come on, come on, come on, come on
Now touch me, babe

Love Conquers All - A Covid Wedding

Overcome the nightmare of current times with love.

Their big dream wedding and honeymoon to Greece was ruined by Covid-19.

However, their love never faltered. 

Surrounded by their parents, grandparents and siblings, Trevor and Jordie said, "I DO!"

Mr & Mrs Quast

My eldest son fell in love with Jordie when they were freshmen in high school. Trevor fulfilled his dream to be married in the same church as his father and I as well as his grandparents.

The couple's brothers acted as Man of Honor and Best Man 

then signed the marriage license as witnesses.

We endured the heat to have some photos in a beautiful garden.

Hubby & I, still in love after 29 years.

Festivities continued at our house with an I Do BBQ. 

The house was decorated with fresh flowers from my sister's garden 

and silk arrangements from writer pal, Kallypso Masters. 

Families came together with potluck style food, gifts, well wishes and fun.

Heated games between the sexes & siblings.

The Grandmothers

CONGRATS, TREVOR & JORDIE!!!!!
We love you!

The couple spent a mini-moon in Frankenmuth.

Special THANKS to:

Patty at the Montrose Greenhouse for the bridal bouquet and boutineers

Cary Ann's Hallmark, Flushing, MI

Kallypso Masters

Ann Frost

First Presbyterian Church, Saginaw, MI

Hayes & Quast families

Renew Your Love

My son is getting married in a few days to the love of his life in a small, intimate ceremony thus giving up their big dream wedding. However, they plan to hold a Renewal of their Vows next year on their one year anniversary in front of 100 or so family and friends. 

Renewing wedding vows is a beautiful way to celebrate love and add romance to a marriage. Some may chose to use it as an opportunity to wash away sins of the past and start over. In 2016, Linda Marx wrote a good article for the NY Times about the reasons Why Couples Decide to Renew Their Vows. The reasons hold true today.

Hubby and I discussed the topic of Renewing our Vows before. Once before son #2 was... ahem... made, we were in Barbados and witnessed several couples renewing their vows. I tried to talk him into it, but he claimed, "Which date would we celebrate our anniversary?" 

I like the idea of renewing wedding vows. It's a simple and romantic way to reaffirm your love for each other. As for the ceremony, there are no rules. No paperwork to file! You can wear whatever you want! You can include rings if you wish but don't have to. I would include at least mine. Hubby had the center stone from my original ring turned into a new, beautiful ring a couple years ago. I'd love to have it blessed and placed on my hand as he gazes lovingly into my eyes. *Sigh*

Maybe I can talk hubby into a little ceremony on a beach somewhere with our kids standing with us. What a wonderful way to honor our 30 years of marriage!

Would you renew your vows? Where would you do it? What would it be like?

In April of this year, Michelle M. Winner wrote an article, 

The Ultimate Guide to Renewing Your Wedding Vows,  

if you need a few ideas and pointers.

Love On the Other-side of the World

My pilot hubby spends half each month "on the road" and many people ask how we "deal with him being gone". 

After being together for almost 30 years, I simply shrug and say it's not that hard, after all, it's like a mini-honeymoon when my fly boy comes home. Ooo...I love a man in uniform!

Capt. "Quast in his "office"

I've learned to take fix things such as a broken washer, flooded basement, power outage, etc. You see, things only happen when he's gone. But that train of thought is best left for another day.

Keeping romance alive goes hand in hand with creativity. Before he leaves, I hide things in his luggage such as a mini card, small gifts, candy, sex coupons... you get the idea. I highly recommend getting to know your local Hallmark shop owner and Lover's Lane managers well; they will keep you in the loop for unique items and sales. 

Right now he's in Hong Kong while I'm in Mid-Michigan.

I love the photos he sends and it's fun hearing the antics of the crews while they bond during down time.

The 12 hour time difference gives us a small window to chat but we celebrate morning greetings and bed time murmurs every day. Little texts throughout the day are nice but we have to be considerate when the other is sleeping. (These guys are Freight Dogs and often fly at night which is a challenge state-side.) A phone call often starts with the entire family on speaker phone but ends in private time. Sure, we miss each other, but we don't focus on how much it hurts to be apart. Ending the day while sharing something that makes us laugh makes our hearts full. 

I believe the key is to find laughter and romance everywhere.

If you had to break down your day into only a few minutes with your honey, how would you handle it? What would do to make it bearable?