"Call your partner's answering machine on the job (when you know he or she won't be there to pick up) and leave a singing message. Sing Stevie Wonder's song, 'I Just Called to Say I Love You.' Add your own lyrics asking your mate for a date."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Go dancing. This is one of the first things to go once a couple 'settles down' and gets married. Yet, it's one of the most fun activities you can share, if both of you enjoy dancing. (Make a promise that you will never 'settle down' when you're married or in a long-term relationship--just make sure to share all the passion and the good times with your partner.)"
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

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"Laughter (mixed with a little love) really is the best medicine. When your partner is having a bad day or going through a difficult time because of job or life hassles, buy a humorous little pick-me-up gift or humorous card designed to make your partner laugh at his or her troubles. Give it to your partner and be there to talk, hold, console or listen."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"The Treasure Hunt--Send your mate on a treasure hunt for a present. Leave stick-on notes on refrigerators, mirrors, or doors leading to the present. Have one last note wrapped inside the present leading straight to you. Be waiting for your partner with relaxing drinks and snacks. Use the time to unwind and be together."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Take your mate on a mystery date. Make all the arrangements. Earl took me to a bed and breakfast in New Mexico out in the country. He arranged for the sitter, took three days off in the middle of the week, packed the bags, and whisked me off for a romantic mid-week holiday I'll never forget."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Go out to a local amusement park together--without the kids. You'll have a ball together."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Play 'I'd like to get to know you.' Go to a party or outing in separate cars and act like you just met. One couple played this scenario for all it's worth. They went to a party where most of the people attending were co-workers of his and most had never met his 'date.' When she walked in looking very sexy, he told his friends that he wanted to get to know her. They didn't think he had a chance. He walked over, introduced himself, danced with her and proceeded to 'win her over.' His buddies stood there with gaped mouths when she left the party with him."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Play an affair to remember. Pretend you are having an affair with your partner. In Sizzling Monogamy we talk about how to have a romantic marital affair with your spouse.... For this date, you'll need to rent a nice hotel room. Call your mate from your room and have him or her come meet you there. When your partner arrives, be dressed in your robe, and have something sexy for your partner to slip into. Order strawberries (great for good breath) and champagne and celebrate your love."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Million Dollar Day. Spend the day together pretending you're millionaires. Test drive your dream cars, visit expensive model homes in your area, go to fancy boutiques and pick out fantasy items you'd buy if you ever become millionaires."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Swap houses overnight with a neighbor, relative, or friend who does not have kids. They'll enjoy your kids for an evening and you two will enjoy the privacy."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Send your mate a card a day for five days. In each card, tell them you can't wait for the special date you have planned for the fifth day. Say things like...can't wait for our special date...it'll be just me and you...can't wait to hold you."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Write your partner the following note and leave it tacked on the refrigerator: You deserve a break today! Don't bother cooking--I'm taking you out to dinner."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Leave a note your partner will find after coming home from work. In the note, ask your partner to meet you at your favorite lounge. One couple played out the fantasy of meeting each other at the lounge and pretending they didn't know each other. They sat at different tables and Dave had the bartender send Carol (his wife) a drink and a note asking her if she'd join him. She did."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Get some matches from your favorite restaurant and write the following note, 'I'm hot for you! Meet me tonight for dinner at 7:00.'"
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Make a date to have a nice lunch with your partner. One man showed up on his wife's job with a picnic basket. They had a romantic lunch in her office."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Bake your partner some chocolate chip cookies for lunch one day during the week. Wrap the cookies in plastic and attach a note to the cookies that says: This is just a small sample of goodies I've got in store for you. We've got a hot date tonight. Meet me at 7:05."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Get dressed up in a beautiful peignoir and meet your partner on location, on the couch, in front of the fireplace, or in another bedroom in the house. Keep the lighting low for a sultry effect."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Have a professional necking session. Make-out with your partner--just kissing, no sex. After a few minutes (or more) of making out, each of you tell the other what you loved about the making out session. Focus only on the positive. This is a great one for reinforcing what you like about how your partner holds you, kisses you, etc. and vice-versa."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Ever have trouble getting your partner to listen to you when you come home from work? Try this: Instead of the usual peck on the cheek, grab your lover and give him or her a long, lusty smooch. Tell them how much you missed them today. Then spend five or ten minutes telling your partner what went on in your day. (We're sure you'll have your partner's attention.)"
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"One of the best dates you can have with your mate is one you both should resolve to do annually. Make plans every year to go on a Honeymoon Getaway....There's a good psychological reason you call these honeymoon getaways, not anniversary getaways. The honeymoon is always seen as the romantic time in marriage that fades too quickly. By going on a honeymoon getaway, you're making a point to recreate this ambiance every year."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"This idea comes from a couple that say they keep the home fires burning bright by playing out a little fantasy they call: I've been watching you. Every now and then, Kim will call Steve on his job and say something like, "You don't really know me, but I've seen you around town, and I think you're really hot." She'll play this scenario out for about a week or so, calling him up and telling him what she loves about him. She tops the fantasy off by finally saying, "Can we meet somewhere in secret?" They swear that after playing that scenario out and meeting in their secret place, the fireworks fly for weeks afterwards. Steve also plays the role of the pursuer from time to time."
--101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Send each other sexy e-mail. Ask your mate for a date and send it by e-mail. Have him or her respond by e-mail only."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Extend the life of roses you give your mate. When the roses are beginning to wither, throw them onto your bed and make love on the petals."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Instead of just celebrating your wedding anniversaries, make it a point to celebrate your dating anniversaries also."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Make a date of frolicking in the snow. Make a snowman, have a snowball fight, make snow angels. After freezing, cuddle up to a cozy fire in your fireplace and drink some hot apple cider."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Wash each other's hair, massage each other's scalp and brush each other's hair."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Finger food can be very romantic. Have fun finger painting with chocolate pudding."
-- 101 Ways to Date Your Mate
by Earl and Rose Smith

"Unconditional love is, perhaps, the ultimate expression of love. It says, 'I love you because you are you. You don't have to be any different from who you are to receive and secure my love.'...Despite the fact that we're probably doomed to never reach perfection, we can certainly come much closer to reaching our goal of unconditional love if we set lofty goals. For example, we can 'catch ourselves' when we become judgmental or behave in unkind ways. We can strive to become less jealous and demanding and replace those tendencies with gratitude and softness."
-- Don't Sweat the Small Stuff in Love
by Richard and Kristine Carlson

"One cannot give what he does not possess.
To give love you must possess love.
One cannot teach what he does not understand.
To teach love you must comprehend love.
One cannot know what he does not study.
To study love you must live in love.
One cannot appreciate what he does not recognize.
To recognize love you must be receptive to love.
One cannot have doubt about that which he wishes to trust.
To trust love you must be convinced of love.
One cannot admit what he does not yield to.
To yield to love you must be vulnerable to love.
One cannot live what he does not dedicate himself to.
To dedicate yourself to love you must be forever growing in love."
-- Love
by Leo Buscaglia

"Sexuality and loving intimacy are not necessarily synonyms, though not mutually exclusive. Sexuality can be totally divorced from any semblance of love. It can be simply an act of genital satisfaction....Without the essential ingredient, the expression of love and affection, the sex act is totally devoid of primary benefits such as prolonged security and satisfaction; this can be achieved only in complete physical and emotional union."
-- Loving Each Other
by Leo Buscaglia

"Falling in love with your best friend can be the most fulfilling emotional experience of your life. Studies report that couples who were friends before they became romantically involved have more successful and satisfying marriages. From my own experience, I believe that is because they build a solid foundation of communication and compatibility upon which the relationship can truly grow."
-- Are You the One for Me?
by Barbara De Angelis, Ph.D.