#Thursday13 - Fun Stay In Ideas

 Covid restrictions, winter weather, restaurants & theaters closed...whatever may have you staying in rather than going out can lead to more romance. 

Find fun ways to make staying in more fun than going out. 

Here are a few ideas.

1. Throwback Date. Pull out old photo albums from when you were first together. Enjoy pix from when you were dating or first married. (If you still have kids at home, they love looking at the old photos and laughing at your stylish hair and clothes.)

2. Make homemade ice-cream. We received an ice cream maker as a wedding gift and have replaced it a few times. Ice cream makers don't create much, but it's a perfect amount for two. Enjoy the sweet treat and maybe save some whipped topping for later.

3. Take a virtual tour. Many museums offer virtual tours.  Travel & Leisure put together a list of 12 museums around the world offering amazing tours. CLICK HERE

4. Get a little silly and play a childhood favorite card game. How long has it been since you played Go Fish, Crazy Eights, or Uno? Reminisce and share stories from when you were kids.

5. Watch The Princess Bride. I heard your eyeroll. Trust me, it'll be fun.

6. Create a fantasy music festival. Imagine if you could pick and choose who would perform and what song they'd sing. Sit down and create a playlist together. 

7. Pretend the electricity goes out. Turn everything off for the evening (except for heat if you're in the north) Build a fire in the fireplace, make smores. (FYI you can make smores on your gas stove). Build a fort with pillows and blankets. Savor the candlelight.

8. Continuing the them of "No electricity", shower or take a bath together with the lights out. Have plenty of candles handy. (Battery operated flicking candles are great too!)

9. Build a bonfire. This might be outside, but it's still in your yard. Even in snow covered north, we'll snuggle next to a fire - under blankets with coats, mittens and hat of course. 

10. Have a spa night. Give each other massages. A simple massage can relieve headaches, minor pain as well as help you connect intimately with each other. Do facials. (My sons do them with their ladies.) Put on your robes and relax to soothing sounds with cucumber slices on your eyes.

11. Spend time together in the kitchen. Try something new or prepare your favorite comfort food. Try a home delivery meal kit.

12. Make a "To-Done" list. Think of all the things you have done together since you met. 

13. Last but not least...have some "sexy time". Shop online together for something sexy. Play a sexy game. Do something different or have sex in an unusual spot in your house.

Check out more amazing Thursday 13 lists HERE

Friday Food Romance

So you're planing a sexy dinner with your honey.  

Candles? Check

Playlist? Check

]Sexy lingerie? Check

 Hooker heels? Check

You have desert covered, let's focus on food and wine.

  

Have you ever eaten a meal where the wine and food were so good that you could not forget about it? Then, did you later have that same wine with a different dish or the same dish with a different wine only to be disappointed?

Count yourself fortunate to have experienced the perfect marriage of wine and food. When the wine balances with the food in flavor, texture and taste, both food and wine enhance each other.

These are a few hints to help make food and wine pairing simple. But remember that if you like a certain wine with a particular food that is all that matters.

1. Use the same wine in the recipe as you will be serving with the meal.

2. Mask salty dishes with slightly sweet wines.

3. Serve cool, sweet, low alcohol wines with hot, spicy foods. Higher alcohol accentuates heat.

4. Balance acidic foods with sweet wines or round, dry, low acid wines.

5. Combine sweet wines with desserts. Make sure the wine is always sweeter than the dessert.

Combos for Beef

Beef roast, steak, hamburgers

Classic Red

Merlot

Classic Blush

Cab/Merlot

Cabernet Sauvignon

Wild mushroom sauce

Merlot

Cab/Merlot

Cabernet Sauvignon

Red wine sauces, stew, short ribs, beef stroganoff

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Cab/Merlot

Stir fry, chili

Pinot Noir

Classic Red

Brisket, meatloaf

Merlot

Classic Red

Beef Wellington

Classic Blush

Cab/Merlot

Beef Bourguignon

Merlot

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cab/Merlot

Thursday Thirteen - 13 Love Surprises

Little things mean alot. I'm sure you've heard that before... but it's true. Some things such as a smile can brighten one's day. My hubby is a pilot and is gone often so I enjoy hiding things in his suitcase. My mother lives in an apartment and I have fun leaving goodies in her fridge or on her dresser for her to find.

Here's a list of some items for you to leave in often over looked places for your honey or someone special to find.

For your honey:1. Handcuffs.

2. A sexy photo of yourself.

3. A pair of panties scented with a favorite fragrance.

4. Small bottle of massage oil.

5. A key (to your heart).

6. A love poem.

7. A love letter.

8. Love coupons.For someone special:9. A greeting or inspirational card.

10. A photo of the two of you.

11. A small book.

12. Favorite CD.

13 Favorite magazine.

Other items may include Hersey kisses, a teddy bear, jewelry, a list of why that person is special to you, small artwork, and a small bottle of their favorite fragrance.

What other items can you think of?


Be sure to visit Romance Writers Behaving Badly for another Thursday Thirteen list from me!

Fun Friday Night with Food

Why go out on Friday night when you can save money and have fun at home. Romance doesn’t need to be frivolous.

Roast marshmallows in the fireplace, drink wine and listen to soft music.

Bake a batch of favorite cookies together. Feed each other warm cookies fresh from the oven.

Have a picnic dinner in the backyard.

Dine by candle light with cloth napkins, tablecloth, fine dinnerware…outdoors.

Tasty Tuesday - Take-Out

If the weather is yucky or you simply don’t want to leave the house but still want to have “date night”, a romantic evening can still happen. If you’re like me, there will be a handful of take-out menus stuffed into a drawer or phone book. This is the time when those come in handy. Order from a favorite restaurant; pick it up or have it delivered.

While waiting for the food, create a romantic spot to eat. Spread a blanket on the floor in front of the fireplace. Clear off the coffee table and add a candle, then pop in a romantic comedy. If weather isn’t a problem, add a tablecloth to your picnic table and light several candles.

When the take-out or delivery food arrives, pop open a bottle of wine or your favorite beverage. Take a moment to feed each other. Try to avoid heavy discussions such as money, schedules, or work. Relax and have fun and enjoy each other. Add a fun dessert such as strawberries dipped in chocolate and whipped cream you make together.

Fun & Romantic Winter Activities

Valentine's Day is a just around the corner and in this part of the world we are under a blanket of snow. The good thing is that the holiday falls on a Saturday which opens opportunity for a variety of ideas to celebrate. 

1. Play in the snow.  Ski, snowboard, have a snowball fight or simply go for a walk.

2. Dinner and a movie. Remember when you started dating and you actually went out? Relive those memories and visit a resturant and theater you did back then. Looking for something new? Check your local listings, many theaters may offer special "dining experiences". 

3. Ice skating.  A playful activity and a chance to be silly.  Enjoy warming up in a local coffee shop afterwards.

4. Dinner by the fire.  Make a meal together. Spread a blanket in front of the fireplace and enjoy your meal "picnic style".

5. Go for a drive.  Pick a destination such as a little restaurant or a bed and breakfast.

6. Pick up some romantic comedies and curl up together for a movie marathon of love. Have fingerfoods handy or order take out. Everytime the characters in the film kiss, you & your honey kiss as well. 

7.  Play a board game or put together a puzzle.    Keep it romantic by adding wine, candles and music.  If you want to spice things up, purchase a sexy board game to play. 

8.  Have an indoor picnic.  Use blankets, pillows, picnic ware and favorite finger foods.

9. Take a bath together.  Stop at your local bath and body shop to pick up bubble bath or bath salts and some spa items.

10. Light some candles or add a bit of lavender to a room humidfier (check manufacture directios first). Give each other sensual massages. Use a store bought massage oil or make your own buy blending olive oil or coconut oil with a few drops of an essential oil. Try a massage candle, they melt at low heat to form an oil. 

11.  Go on a moonlight snowshoe tour.  Check with your local ski resort to see if they offer this romantic event.

12.  Have a soup night.  Go shopping together in the day for the ingredients and have fun making the soup together. While it's simmering, make a loaf of French bread. Add some wine with the meal.  Don't turn on the TV but simply enjoy each other.

13. If you live in the North Atlantic Coast...enjoy a snow day.  Spend the day in bed.