Valentine’s Day Activities

If you don’t know what to do on Valentine’s Day, but you do know, you don’t want to give the love of your life the same old chocolates and flowers that everyone else is getting, then you'll need to mix it up a bit and have some originality, here are some tips that will help get you in the right direction.

Reenact your first date

One of the most romantic things you can do is get nostalgic with your girlfriend or wife. Women go gaga for guys who remember the details of the past, such as the restaurant you went to on your first date, what you ate and did afterward. It will be like celebrating your anniversary and you can combine gifts with cards that mention how happy you are that you met her.

Partake in a physical activity

No not that kind of physical activity; I mean something that will get your heartbeat going, like ice skating or going for a hike in the woods and bringing wine to drink on the way. Such activities are perfect to boost an old and predictable relationship, and nothing will kick start a new relationship better than such a thrill ride. If you take her out take her to a pottery and painting shop where you can actually talk, be creative and share your thoughts. If you want to invite her over, make sure you cook something together so you’re both engaged in the activity.

Go for the message

Either you give her a message or better yet, reserve a double message for him and her. You should both take some time off and enjoy some relaxation together. It’s a lover’s day after all, not just girlfriend or wife’s day. Any kind of spa getaway is perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Make a path of rose petals

Girls flip over temptation, flirting and teasing, so buy a lot of rose petals or even potpourri, and leave a trail from the entrance of the house to the bedroom. Leave her a little gift on the bed and she’ll feel like it’s a romantic treasure hunt, and the rewards will be spectacular.

Rent a hotel and pretend your tourist

There is something exciting about not having to clean up the bedroom afterward, so rent a hotel room, grab some bubbly and use all your senses as you pretend to be out-of-town tourist on a love journey.

Don’t forget to do your homework

Nothing spices up a mundane relationship as much as staying at home, renting an erotic movie and “getting to know one another” better all over again. This is obviously not suitable for the first date if you catch my drift, but perfect for couples who have been together for sometime.

Have sex in public

Although this may not be for everyone--and all climates—some couples will get a thrill of a lifetime if they perform the act on risky grounds. It definitely serves as a bonding period and sure to serve as a great inside joke between the two of you for years to come.

Get away

If you work, time and budget allow it; plan a two or three day vacation getaway, specifically at a ski or spa resort. This is guaranteed wild action, and may even take place outdoors.

Dress up

Dress up as if you’re going to an opera, and go to a restaurant or just have dinner at home. Girls love an excuse to get all dolled up and the fact that you’ll be getting dressed up will make anything you decide to do seem line a special occasion. This will be telling her you think she will special, and she’ll love it.

Pop the question

If you think the time is right and you have that look in your eyes…if you are sick of the single life, and if you are…well, when the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed, then maybe, just maybe, there is no better time to propose to her.

How to manage a waning sex drive

SEX is for procreation—what God intended it for. But consenting adults also believe that sex is more than just physiological activity. It can, under right conditions, elevate a couple’s relationship to new levels of pleasure and completion that transcend the physical.

Love involves romance and desire. The ancient Sanskrit word for desire is kama. “The Kamasutra” is the book of erotica that teaches everything about desiring a beloved. While desire may seem founded on “lower drives” or selfish interests, it is very much a part of romance.

This longing to be together is consummated by merging with the beloved on all possible levels of communication—body, heart and spirit. That is how sex takes on a multi-dimensional definition—the union of lovers with intention and passion.

But kama is used not just to describe sexual desire, but also a desire to be united with God. If the spiritual self is a reflection of God, then making love is also an act of connecting with the spiritual self.

In his book “The Path to Love,” Deepak Chopra, MD, wrote, “the ideal sexual act is when passion gives in to surrender—the letting go of control of one’s separateness to liberate the body and spirit. When this natural flow happens, true intimacy begins.”

Thus, intimacy isn’t just about having orgasms, but about two people who can be physically intimate and united. Many couples have sex without necessarily becoming “one.”

Signs

What if you wake up one morning and find that the feeling is gone? Do you walk out on your partner? Give up your relationship? Or find out what’s wrong with you?

Chances are, time has caught up with you. Men and women experience a loss of appetite for intimacy at some point.

Before you start blaming your partner, your religious beliefs or God, have a hormone test. It may just be a hormonal imbalance. The signs include unexplained weight gain, allergies, mood swings, depression, irritability, fatigue, erectile dysfunction, memory loss, etc. No matter how hard you try, you don’t feel together. Your endocrine system needs fine-tuning.

Suzanne Somers in “Breakthrough: 8 Steps To Wellness” interviewed Dr. Jennifer Berman about the connection between health and sexuality. The doctor said that sexual health can be compromised by inflammation (due to infection), stress, hormonal imbalance and nutritional deficiencies.

It has also been determined that the presence of chemicals in food (i.e., preservatives, coloring, flavor enhancers) and air pollution can affect the sex drive and hormone production.

So, before you say “I’m not turned on by him or her anymore,” think again. There are other causes. Many marriages have ended because of this little-understood biological challenge.

Tips

Try hormone replacement therapy. Remember that the deep loss of hormones can lead to bone disease, arthritis, cardiovascular problems and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Prevention is key. Don’t wait until your body starts unraveling. The biggest killer of women is hormonal decline.

Have a blood test to check your adrenal and hormonal levels. See an endocrinologist and ask about human growth hormone injections.

Meditate. Meditation increases the chemical reserves of the brain that enhances mood and body energy.

Exercise and live a healthy life. Increase your exercise regimen. Take antioxidants, eat a balanced diet rich in live enzymes (raw fruits and vegetables), and consider natural herbal supplements. Other herbal acids are black cohosh, red clover.

Do something new. Change you routine or habits by doing something different. Make new friends or learn a new hobby or skill.

Take a “soothe bath” weekly. Develop a renewed sense of connection with yourself. Surround yourself with calm music, candlelight and aromatherapy. Try Cocozen Lavender drops in a warm bath. Soak for seven to ten minutes. Close your eyes and do your affirmation: “The fountain of youth is inside me."

Recession-Style Dating. Know how the current economic situation affects your love life.

The Early Show on CBS discusses how the recession has affected our dating lives. Has the current economic situation made us more creative? Listen as authors Brent Kessel and Christine B. Whelen give tips and insight on staying afloat while enjoying your dating life.