When I was young (elementary school) I had a male next door neighbor who I spent a lot of time with. Well, one of his chores was mowing the lawn, he had a big back yard that was flat and full of lush, green, grass. I remember going over there one day and he had just finished mowing the lawn, he had a very proud look on his face and brought me up to his bedroom (on the second floor of the house) to look out his window. When I looked out that window, in big letters I saw the word: “BRENT”. He was very proud of his accomplishment of mowing his name in the lawn…maybe when he gets married he will think of better messages to mow. :)

Carve it in the Sand

Someone I know did this for his girlfriend. They live together in a house overlooking a long, sandy beach. One morning while she was sleeping, and the tide was out, he used a big stick to carve the words “I Love you Anna” in huge letters in the sand. The letters were so deep that they ended up staying there for several days even after the tide had washed over them many times. Needless to say, she did a lot of gushing over her boyfriend’s loving gesture. *Note: This could work in snow as well.

Leave your Mark on Rocks

Do you know the route your partner takes to work or school everyday? If you don’t, you will want to find out in a very unsuspicious way.

When you get some time alone, walk or drive that route and look for large rock faces along the side of the road, or cement embankments/pillars.

The next step is to go out early in the morning or late at night with a piece of sidewalk chalk and write a message on the rocks or cement in large letters (it will wash off the next time it rains).

Post it the Classifieds

This is an EXCELLENT idea if your partner reads the classified, think of how surprised they would be to see their name and look closer to realize that you had posted an ad in the personal section declaring your love.

Say it with Stars

Surprise your mate by sticking glow in the dark stars on his or her ceiling, just over their bed. The stars can be arranged to spell “I Love You”. Your partner should not notice them until they turn off the lights to go to bed…what a surprise that will be!

Say it on the Radio

Most radio stations will let you dedicate a song to someone, so why not take advantage of this. Plan it so that the radio station will play the dedication at a time when your love will be listening to the radio (ex. on their way to work). Pick a song that is meaningful to your rleationship and ask the DJ to say a special message, ie: “This next song goes out to Tracy P from Tom W”

Let Your Light Shine

This requires that you have a mid to large size window in your house/apartment that your sweetheart will see when they come home from a night out. Have large black garbage bags on hand and cut slits down either side so they can fold open. When folded open these bags will form a banner covering your window, so prepare enough to be roughly the same size as the window. Tape the bags together securely and make sure the final, very large black piece of plastic, will cover your window.

This will be your banner and on it you will need to cut out the letters:

Next, pin the banner to the inside of the window, as close to the glass as possible. Make sure your window has no obstructions in front or behind the banner (such as chimes, ladice or curtains). The banner should be facing so that the words can be read from the outside.

The final touch is to switch on the lights in the room containing the window and as soon as it gets dark outside the light from inside will shine through the letters and light up your message!

Grab Their Attention

If your sweetie reads the newspaper, or some magazine, get ahold of it before they have a chance to read it. Find a page they are likely to read (such as the sport’s section or funnies). On that page write in big letters: “I Love You (insert their name here)!”.

Write it On the Sidewalk

Buy a box of multi-colored, sidewalk chalk. Draw a BIG heart in red and write “I love you” in the middle. Make sure it’s in a prominent place on the driveway so when your partner comes home he or she will see it. (submitted by Larry James)

Post-It

Write “I Love You” on an entire pad of Post-It notes. Cover his/her desk, bedroom walls, bathroom mirror, front door or car with the notes.

• Read the Sunday comics together.
• Greet your mate with a kiss and “I love you” as soon as you arrive home.
• Eat dinner together at the table, instead of at separate times.
• Spend your lunch breaks together one day a week.
• Kiss at every red light.
• Create a secret word that means something for you both as a couple. It could be an acronym for a phrase that describes your relationship or feelings, such as SHMILY. Use it in cards, lovenotes, messages on the bathroom mirror, etc.. It could be a word that means “I love you”, or something you say when you want to make love. Don’t tell anyone else what your secret word means.
• Find time at the end of the day to unwind together. Take an idea from “The Story of Us” (movie) and ask what the “high and low” point of each other’s day was.
• Have a date night, or day, once a week. You don’t have to go out, and you don’t have to spend money. Click here for ideas.
• Attend church together on Sunday morning or evening. Visit different churches until you find one that you both enjoy.
• Plant a vegetable or flower garden every summer and tend to it together.
• Create affectionate nicknames for each other. nickname ideas
• Cook breakfast together on Saturday or Sunday morning. Make fancy things that you may not have had time to make, or enjoy, on hectic weekdays. Ideas: eggs benedict, omelets, blueberry pancakes, english muffins with egg, ham and cheese.
• Create a secret signal that you can use in public to convey a message. The message might be “I love you” or “You look beautiful”…
• Wake your partner up in the morning with kisses.
• I heard of a couple that took their honeymoon in Italy, after they got back just the thought of Italy brought warm memories of romance and intimacy. So, the wife started a tradition and let her husband figure out for himself what it meant. Whenever she wanted to have a really special, intimate evening together she would cook pasta for dinner. Did you take your honeymoon at an exotic beach resort? Leave little jars of sand lying around as a signal. Did you go somewhere colder? Drape your winter jackets on the bed or couch. The possibilities are endless.

You see, often people get married with the idea that their “chemistry” or undying love for each other will keep them together forever.

However, with almost 50% of marriages ending in divorce these days, it’s obvious that this isn’t the case. Therefore, it pays to know a few little secrets before getting married.

Here are 5 tips that help keep couples together long after tying the knot:

1. Tip #1 - Continue dating
   Over the years, people often drift apart or relationships and marriages become stale because couples fail to do new and special things together. That’s why going on new and refreshing dates is so important. In fact, there is something about “dating” that creates a sense of magic in a relationship and can even bring relationships out of a rut. While on a date, you also put more effort into your appearance, have more uninterrupted time to communicate on a deeper level and are naturally drawn closer together. Stuck for ideas? Spend the day at the aquarium, zoo, museum, carnival, bookstore, beach or park.
2. Tip #2 – Delay is often better
   It’s a well-documented statistic that couples who have dated for a year or longer before marriage have a significantly lower rate of divorce than those who married after a short dating period. A year of dating gives time for many emotions to surface and many character traits to be discovered. You may adore someone in the spring, but despise him or her in the winter. Asking someone for his or her hand in marriage on the third date isn’t romantic. It’s gambling.
3. Tip #3 – Always express your love
   Oftentimes, as a relationship matures, partners tend to stop praising each other because they ‘assume’ their partner already knows what they’re thinking. When in reality, a day should never go by without you praising your partner. Compliment them on their cooking, reaffirm that they’re the greatest person in the world or tell them they’re a wonderful role model. If you want to be loved and romanced by your sweetheart, love and romance them first. When they’re feeling loved, it is much easier to love in return. Are you a super supporter of what your mate does and says? So do you cheer them on and praise them constantly? Or do they constantly hear boos or silence?
4. Tip #4 – Take time to understand your partner
   Couples with the most problems are often the ones that say, “I just don’t understand him/her.” So let me ask you: How knowledgeable are you about your mate’s profession or the degree they are pursuing? Do you know anything about his or her family heritage? Are you able to have a meaningful conversation about her cross-stitch hobby or his interest in rugby? If you are a man, do you fully understand what women experience during PMS or menopause? You don’t need to be identical, but make an effort to learn about the things that interest your partner in life and you’ll grow closer as a result.
5. Tip #5 - Answer the BIG questions
   Does your partner want kids? Do you both want careers? Do they have a history of spending their way into debt? Do they go to church?

   In my opinion, the biggest reason almost half of marriages end in divorce is because couples fail to ask each other the right questions BEFORE they get married. I guess people think they’ll be able to change their spouses after marriage and everything will be better. Wrong. If you fail to sit down and discuss finances, religion, sex, housing, your future, and other topics in great detail, you could end up with nothing but argument after argument for the rest of your days.

   In the end, if you both have completely different views, desires and goals in life, there’s no guarantee that chemistry or “I love you’s” will help you stay together. Make it your utmost priority to understand each other ‘inside-out’ BEFORE you take that walk down the aisle.

About the author:

Michael Webb is the author of “1000 Questions For Couples” the most comprehensive book of questions that all couples should ask before getting married. Covering lovemaking, religion, careers, money, children & raising them, household work, personalities, the future and much much more. To learn more, visit: 1000 Questions For Couples

Yeah. They all start getting married. It’s like a cult. Instead of handing out flowers at the airport, they’re handing out florists’ business cards and pictures of their receptions. You’ve rented more tuxedos or bought more bridesmaid dresses in the past year than you have in the past 10. Every weekend from Memorial Day to Halloween is booked with a shower, a party, a rehearsal dinner, a ceremony, a reception, or any combination of the above.

And, you’re single.

And feeling left out.

It’s easy to start to panic. To hear the ominous tones of a biological clock ticking. And, of course, to start picturing yourself at 80, alone and living with 600 cats. Your whole world starts to spin, and like some frantic game of “tag,” your friends are getting picked off right and left.

First to go are all the friends who’ve had the same sweetie for years. This is no big deal. You knew they going to be married back in 10th grade. Next are the people who always seemed to have a boyfriend or girlfriend, but changed ‘em every 8 months or so. You don’t have the highest expectations for their marriages, and you figure they’ll be single again soon, so you don’t panic then, either.

The real mania sets in when the losers of your group start getting hitched. You know who - the folks who could never get a date in high school. Or college. Or for 5 years afterwards. The people you always looked at and thought, “well, I know I won’t be single as long as THEM.”

Well, lookee here. The cheese stands alone.

And you venture from ceremony to ceremony, reception to reception, wondering what went wrong. Why your life sucks. And why you’ll never get married.

STOP IT. I don’t know if it’s the champagne, the cake, or the sappy music that does it, but your life doesn’t suck. Big deal if you’re not married yet, and have no prospects. As cliché ¡s it sounds, your time will come. You may feel like it, but you’re not in “the game of Life,” and you’re not racing to see who makes it to the end with a car, a house, and 2.6 kids.

Did you ever think, for a moment, how cool it is to be a single guy or gal at a wedding? It’s romantic. It’s sappy. You’re looking dapper, and dressed to the nines. And you’re available. Welcome to the ball, Cinderella!

Oh yes. The time is yours. You can work that room the way Sinatra worked Vegas.

So think about it that way. Ignore the visions of cats and scaring kids off your lawn. Love and romance aren’t about panicking and rushing into something because your kid sister got married before you did.

Eventually, love will find you, and you’ll find yourself a shiny ring and rock. You’ll walk down the aisle. And for those of you who think it’s a race, you’ll finally catch up.

…Until they all start having babies.

EEK!

1. Draw her a warm bubble bath. Wash her back (& everywhere else). Take your time. Then towel her dry and carry her off to bed.
2. Give her a full body massage without expecting anything in return. You’re sure to get your reward the next night!
3. Little things go a long way. Hold her hand, link her arm through yours while you’re walking together, place your palm on the small of her back when standing beside her. Those tender gestures won’t go unnoticed.
4. Brush her hair at night. This can be very sensual. Be sure to use a brush, not a comb. And don’t pull. Be gentle. If you encounter a tangle, hold the hair above the tangle, then work it out.
5. Tell her you love her. Seems obvious, but many men overlook this. Women like to hear it. Often. Make her an audio tape and secretly slip it into the cassette player for her to find.

Romantic Ideas for Women:

1. Do something different. Instead of a massage, graze your nails lightly down his bare back (if you have good nails). It will send shivers of pleasure through his body.
2. Let him pick one fantasy a month for you to fulfill. Make up a list for him to choose from (that way the fantasy will be something that you’re not opposed to). Then plan it out as an official “date.”
3. Have some sexy (but tasteful) pictures taken and give them to him as a gift. It’ll be something unexpected and special–meant for his eyes only.
4. Personally write him an erotic story. He’ll see a new and exciting dimension to you after that.
5. Put on some sexy clothes, turn on the music, then slowly strip the clothes off layer by layer while he watches.

I’m referring to the following:

1. The Paradox of Trying Too Hard
2. The Paradox of Thinking Too Much
3. The Paradox of the Simple Moves

1. THE PARADOX OF TRYING TOO HARD

Great sex will always be about FLOW.

One doesn’t need to press for it, trying too hard on any area will cause you to mess it up ­ that’s a guarantee. The tragedy is that most men don’t even see this one coming and end up working against themselves ­ the harder they try, the harder it becomes.

One of the temptations of having too many tricks in the bag is to unleash them in a grand overflow and put on a show. Needless to say, you’ll reek of the ‘trying too hard’ vibe. Instead of dazzling Eve, you’ll turn her off ­for the vibe masks a specific fear ­the fear of inadequacy, that nagging feeling of not being good enough.

You’re afraid she won’t have a great time unless you pleasure the brains out of her, so you feel compelled to unleash every physical technique to compensate for a personal issue.

Like I said, this will backfire.

You don’t need to do everything don’t be an overeager yes-man. The rookie mistake here is trying too hard to please every woman, every time, with the hopes of being the best she’s ever had. You’ll end up pleasing nobody. Instead, learn to lean back and let sexual excellence come to you.

2. THE PARADOX OF THINKING TOO MUCH

Great sex is always UNCONSCIOUS; it’s not logical or rational.

The bedroom is not the place to think, and the absolute worst time to contemplate your insecurities, sexual hang-ups and skills. Deal with them BEFORE your next carnal encounter and AFTER your last one… NEVER DURING.

Calibrate… but don’t thresh-out psychological issues in the heat of things. Self consciousness and self-talk pull you out of the moment and into a negative spiral where you become sexually ineffective and out of touch.

Don’t be overly concerned with the mechanics and metrics of intercourse like the exact pressure or angle of your hand, or the direction of your thrusts. When it comes to the real thing — stop thinking — focus on your partner and immerse in the moment.

Don’t plan every move as if sex is a series of perfectly executed maneuvers. When you over-think things, you’ll mess up. The best crane operators don’t analyze every step… they just do it, the moves have become 2nd to nature.

If you think too much, I assure you that the sex will get worse ­ instead of enjoying, you’ll be too busy figuring out the next best move. Just enjoy the process, take it easy and don’t be too hard on yourself.

It goes without saying that one doesn’t have to gun for sexual perfection…there’s no such thing. Afford yourself some mistakes and don’t make a big deal out of it. This is very, very important.

3. THE PARADOX OF THE SIMPLE MOVES

Great sex will always about the SIMPLE MOVES.

It is the aggregate of simple things, done in the right way and at the right time, that makes the world of difference. You have to drive that one in your head. THERE ARE NO BIG TRICKS.

This is not about big moves or magic techniques ­ it’s about the snowballing of easy to do maneuvers. The biggest lesson here is understanding that it’s the small things that truly matter. It’s not about making extensive changes to your game, but simply tweaking it.

It’s learning to feel not just with your hands, but with your fingertips. It’s being in-tune not just for her screams, but even to her breathing. Not just about writhing bodies but little twitches.

Great sex is simple, (‘simple’ doesn’t mean ‘boring’), it’s not replete with shock-and-awe. The road to sexual greatness is not some hidden mythic trick, for the most elegant and effective moves have never been kept secret, they have always been there.

They just have been overlooked… if not forgotten. Being unpretentious, they easily pass off as insignificant.

So there you have it, The paradox of trying too hard, thinking too much and simple moves. Remember these three concepts when making love next time and you’ll come across much more confident, sexy and natural.

About the Author:

Oprah Love Expert Michael Webb is the founder of “The Virtuoso Lover“, covering how to make men exceptional lovers. Unfortunately most men have no idea how to make ‘out-of-this-world’ love, which leaves women frustrated and disappointed.

Learn to be one of the rare men that can satisfy women both physically and emotionally by visiting: The Virtuoso Lover.

Secret #1: Romance is the key to sex

Romance is routine maintenance–yeah, like your car — to keep things running
smoothly. Remember all those romantic things you did to win her in the first
place? Keep doing them now and then. If you let her know often that you
care, she stays open and responsive to your sexual overtures.

Romance is all the little things you do to let her know you care.
Call her just to say hi. Buy her a gift “just because.” (Remember, it isn’t
the cost of the gift, it’s the thought.) And flowers, even the smallest
bouquet, always work. How about mailing a card or leaving a note where
she’ll find it? Or planning a special outing, or arranging for a baby-sitter
so you can take her to the movies? Anything that lets her know you’ve been
thinking about her melts her heart. For her, romance and sex go
hand-in-hand. If you want more sex, give her more romance.

Secret #2: For her, sex takes time

Okay, your romantic efforts have paid off and she’s in the mood for sex.
When asked what sex advice they’d give to men, women almost always say,
“Tell them to SLOW DOWN!”

Think of sex as a slow, sensuous dance. Be gentle, seductive. (Rent
the movie Don Juan deMarco and listen to how he talks about women and making
love.) Explore her entire body. You both may be surprised what you find.
Hold her like you never want to let her go. And give her lots of long, slow
kisses. (Women often complain that men don’t kiss enough.)

What you’re doing is warming her up. You wouldn’t take a Ferrari
that’s been sitting in your garage for a week, start it, and immediately run
it up to 100 mph, would you? Well, think of her as a Ferrari.

Oh, and don’t roll over and fall asleep immediately after sex. Women
really hate this; they need to be held and they love a little pillow talk
afterward, so stay awake for at least a few minutes. Then better yet, fall
asleep holding her.

Secret #3: Talking is the way she connects with you

Women talk for the sheer pleasure of talking. It’s how they connect to
people. If your partner has read my book she understands that a lot of
what she talks about - all those little details - is boring to you. So, she’s
going to be more selective about what she says to you. But if you give her
your full attention when she does talk to you, it becomes one of those
romantic gestures. Got it?

And you know how she’s always trying to get you to be “more
intimate”? If you listen to her more, she’ll think you are being more
intimate. All you have to do is look at her and pay attention; she’ll think
she’s died and gone to heaven. It’s that important to her, and that simple.

Secret #4: She needs to hear you say you care

For her to really feel your love, you need to tell her in words. Of course,
she wants to hear you say “I love you,” but anything you say to let her know
you care and appreciate her will earn you major points: “You’re wonderful,
do you know that?” “I’m so lucky to have you.” “Do you know how much I love
you?” Big points on that one. Whenever you say these things, look into her
eyes and mean it. Remember this, you cannot tell her you love her too often.
This definitely wins you points on the romance chart.

And, how often have you heard one of your buddies, who’s gotten a
divorce, say, “I never realized how much she did to make my life
comfortable.”

Secret #5: She needs to hear she’s attractive

In today’s culture, because of what they are taught as girls, and because of
what they read in magazines and see on TV and in films, women get insecure
about how they look and whether they’re sexually appealing. So, tell her
regularly - and let her know you mean it - that she’s beautiful and sexy.

Compliment her on a new dress, the color she’s wearing, or how her
hair looks. Tell her she has soft skin, how much she turns you on, how
pretty her breasts are. The more beautiful she feels, the sexier she’ll
feel. This should pay off big time in the bedroom.

Secret #6: Her feelings need to be honored

Her feelings are as important to her as your work (or maybe sports) is to
you. That’s why she likes to talk about them. She needs you to acknowledge
what’s going on for her when she’s being emotional. Don’t try to tell her
that what she’s feeling is “wrong” and don’t try to fix the problem unless
she asks you to. And never tell her “not to feel” her emotions. A sure-fire
winner: ask her, “What are you feeling?” Then sit down and listen.

She understands that you get kind of uncomfortable when she’s being
emotional, but if you just let her express herself and listen with your full
attention, she’ll think you’re the most sensitive man on the planet.

Secret #7: Making up is hard to do

When you fight with your partner, are you often surprised that it turned
into a bigger event than it should have? If she’s like most women, she tends
to get going with her emotions and lets everything spill out. She doesn’t
mean a lot of what she says. Do your best to pay attention, let her vent,
but don’t let the words get to you. The best way to stop her in her tracks
is to admit that you were being stubborn, insensitive, inconsiderate, and
hurtful. The more conciliatory you are, the more she’ll be stopped in her
tracks. If you make the first move to make up and offer no resistance, she
can’t keep fighting with you. Someone has to take charge so it doesn’t
escalate, and because she’s lost in her emotions, it’s going to have to be
you. Be willing to look at her complaint and see where you may have been
insensitive to her needs.

If you both vow to never go to bed mad, you’ll be making love
instead of war.

Secret #8: She likes to be pampered

Your woman naturally does for others. She appreciates the value of nurturing
but all too often doesn’t take the time to care for herself. You can score
big time if once in a while you run a bubble bath for her, take her on a
special trip or plan a romantic dinner, give her a gift certificate from her
favorite shop or a trip to a day spa. Talk about getting a woman “in the
mood.” Wahoo!

Sure, she appreciates that you change the oil in her car, but it
doesn’t really tell her you love her, even though that may be what you mean.
To pamper her just remember, personal luxuries.

Secret #9: She needs your respect

Throughout history, and in many cultures even today, women have been
second-class citizens, looked down on as less able in every category. Only
recently have we begun to consider women worthy of respect. To be the open,
loving woman you want, she needs you to honor her as a person and appreciate
her contributions as a capable person. Don’t treat her as a child. Don’t
judge or criticize her. Don’t ignore her or take her for granted. Don’t be
rude. Treat her like a lady at all times and she’ll treat you with the
respect that you expect and enjoy.

Secret #10: She needs to feel secure

Your lady has a deep biological need to feel secure, to have a man provide
for her and protect her. Financial security is obviously important, but even
more than that, she needs to know you’re there for her. That’s one of the
reasons she needs to hear you say “I love you.”

What really helps is to give her ongoing affection and the
reassurance of physical contact. If you do this every day, several times a
day, you’ll give her the security she needs. Hold her hand, put your arm
around her, hug her, touch her in gentle and reassuring ways. The more
secure she feels, the happier she’ll be. When she’s happy, she’s open to
you.

Secret #11: She needs your time and attention

Does she ever try to talk to you when you’re reading the newspaper? Or walk
in front of the TV in the middle of the play-offs? Does she complain that
she never sees you, never has time to talk with you, or that you don’t even
know she’s alive? If so, it’s a plea for your attention. She knows how
focused you can be when you’re working, but she feels left out. It’s part of
that security thing.

What to do? Set aside time now and then to focus on her. Let her know
she’s important enough to devote yourself to her completely and she’ll be
less likely to feel ignored. The rewards will far outweigh the effort.

Secret #12: She wants a man who makes her feel like a woman

She chose you because of your masculine qualities. Qualities that make her
feel more womanly. In your presence, she feels protected, provided for, and
loved. Be masculine, but do it with sensuality and sensitivity. Be hungry
for her, be passionate, be strong, but be tender, as if she were a delicate
flower. And, yes, open the car door for her, carry heavy things for her,
pull out her chair. The feminist movement did a lot of damage to romance but
if your woman has been reading this book, she’s not into feminism, she’s
into love and romance. That means you. Be chivalrous, be gallant, be
thoughtful, and win her heart…over and over again.

Make her feel beautiful, make her feel desirable, make her feel
special and important, and you’ll make her feel like a woman–as only a man
can do.

Yes, It’s That Simple!

So there it is in a nutshell. Twelve Simple Secrets that could very well
change your life forever. You can never know for sure what’s going on with a
woman, but you can certainly make everything a lot nicer–for both of
you–by following the advice you’ve just read.

Men complain that women nag, criticize, try to change them, are never
satisfied, are too emotional and unpredictable. If you follow these Secrets
and make them a habit, that irritating behavior should pretty much
disappear. If it comes back, consider it a barometer of how you’re doing.
Then get the Secrets out and read them again.

The way to be a great lover is to be a romantic lover. When you focus
on romance, she’ll respond to you like never before. And she’ll feel like
she’s the luckiest woman alive.

Do You Wish SHE Understood YOU Better?

Do you want to be her hero? Give her the book everyone is talking about. The best thing you can do for your relationship is buy Men Made Easy for her. And if you’re single and searching, this book is the perfect filter because if she doesn’t like it, it means she probably doesn’t like
men. You can quit while your ahead.

The book teaches women to understand you and accept you as you are,
to appreciate you, especially the masculine qualities that she most admires,
to be happy and beautiful in every way, and to enjoy sex because it’s your
primary source of intimate expression…and you know how women are always
asking for more intimacy.

Buy the E-Book (you can read it immediately)