You�re not alone.

Living with the same partner for a long time can become stable and comfortable, and, as a result, can also kill the spark that made your relationship so special in the first place.

Here are some simple, fun and creative ideas to reignite that magic:

1. SEND THEM A UNIQUE GIFT

Get a piece of paper and some crayons. Draw a bright childlike picture with a smiley sun and two stick figures holding hands. Add labels with your two names pointing to the stick figures. Write �ILove You� inside a heart. Next get a large formal envelope. Place your drawing inside and type up a formal address label of your partner’s workplace, such as:� �For the immediate and urgent attention of:� Rebecca Jones, Level 20, Collins & Smith Solicitors, New York.� Mail it to your partner so they receive it in the middle of a busy day.

2. BECOME KIDS AGAIN

If you are walking by a park, visit the swings and give your partner a ride. This will often bring back happy memories from their childhood.

3. FUN WITH WATER

On a hot summer�s day, buy two large water pistols and take them to the beach with you. Pull them out and throw one to your partner and then have a huge water fight.

4. A MASSAGE WITH A TWIST

Buy a small, decorated cardboard box, a sheet of colored tissue paper, some massage oil and a blank card. Line the box with the tissue paper. Place the massage oil in the box and write the following message on the card: I know a great masseur. For an appointment call: (Your Phone Number)

5. BRING BACK CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

Contact your partner’s family and ask if there was anything she always wanted when she was a little girl. For example if she always wanted a� porcelain doll, buy one for her birthday. She will not only appreciate the gift, but also the fact that you were thoughtful enough to find out what she always wanted. You can do this for your man too.

6. STARE AT THE CLOUDS

Drive into the country, find a grassy hill, and lie with your partner and look up at the clouds.

7. WALK ALONG THE BEACH

Trace out the shape of a large love heart in the sand. Sit inside the heart and cuddle your partner as you watch the sun go down.

8. ORGANIZE A PICNIC ON A WARM SUMMER�S NIGHT

Spread a picnic blanket on the ground and get together some snacks, chocolates and champagne. Lie down on the blanket with your partner and gaze up at the stars together.

9. SHOW YOU�RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PARTNER

Leave a long-stem rose where your partner will find it, with a note on it saying: “Thank you for coming into my life.”

10. SPICE UP YOUR LOVEMAKING

Probably the most profound way to rekindle the romance in your relationship is to spice up your lovemaking. Surprise your partner with a little gift after you make love, try a new position, learn to give your partner a sensual massage before or after, or just spend some time staring into each
other�s eyes and caressing their bare skin before making love.

Many people underestimate the affect passionate and intimate lovemaking has on a relationship. If you spice it up, chances are you and your partner will naturally do romantic things for each other. Why?
Because passionate lovemaking connects two people in a meaningful and unexplainable way that nothing else can.

About the Author:

Oprah Love Expert Michael Webb is the author of 500
Lovemaking Tips, a book full of ways to spice up
your lovemaking, adding more passion, pleasure and
intimacy to your experience. To read more, visit:
500 Lovemaking Tips

One of the biggest changes that most couples have to deal with when they bring children in their lives is their sex life. Where previously there were only the two of you and sex was something that happened where and whenever you fancied, now all of a sudden there are many other aspects, thoughts and feelings that have cropped up and suddenly everything has changed. Here are some hints and tips for spicing up your sex life once you have had children.

Dealing with hormone changes

One of the biggest changes after having a baby for the woman is the hormones that are racing through her body and the feelings that having someone dependant on you totally brings. The woman may feel very tearful and is affected by what is called �the baby blues�. Only time and patience will change this but eventually the body will come back to normal and settle down.

Making time with a newborn

Another big factor which puts off couples is the fact that they might be disturbed while in the middle of love making, this is very often a concern for the man more than the woman and can very easily lead to problems in a relationship.� With a newborn child, you may be concerned that the baby will begin to cry during your intimate time.� However, you must remember that this time is key to maintaining a strong and loving relationship that will enable you to provide the best care for your new little one.� Neither of you want your spouse to feel neglected any more than you want the baby to feel neglected.� Although it can be difficult when you are tired and cranky from late night feedings, when the little one is snoozing in the next room, snuggle up t.� Make time every day to cuddle and be close with your partner.� Not every day has to have the cuddling end in sex, but you will be surprised at the frequency at which it does.

With older children

With older children, the first thing you need to do, especially if you are worried about your children walking in on you or have had them walk in on you in the past is install a lock on your door.� If your child ever does walk in on you, don�t panic.� Send your child back to their room and then go and gently explain that what they saw is what mommies and daddies do when they love each other very much.

Dad�s feelings count too

Although the majority of men won�t admit it, they do feel left out as naturally the mothering instincts come out and the mother focuses all her energy on her child or children. So while the women wants to make an effort to include her partner and not make him feel left out, the partner also has to realize that these feelings are only natural for the mother and she isn�t pushing you aside knowingly.� The man has to find a way to be involved with the child.� This could be as simple as making and feeding the baby the bottle or going to fetch the child for a late-night feeding.� As a more romantic gesture, the father could get a cup of tea or glass of water for the mother while she is feeding the child.

Other ideas

Whenever you can let grandma or another relative take the children for the weekend and spend some quality time together without having to wonder if the child is safe and well. Even if it means you don�t go anywhere just be with each other and try to reconnect as you were before children arrived on the scene.

When it comes to romantic getaways, there are many who don�t even consider a cruise ship as an option.� However, there are others who literally live for cruises. These couples are likely to take two or more cruises each year.� Whether you�ve been on a cruise ship before or not, it is possible for you and your partner to have a romantic cruise ship getaway.

Before booking a cruise ship getaway, you are encouraged to consider a number of factors.� These factors are important when planning a romantic getaway aboard a cruise ship. There are a number of different cruises ships and cruises lines.� You may be unable to enjoy a romantic vacation if you are on a cruise ship that is overrun with children.

If you are interested in having an intimate, relaxing, and romantic cruise, you are encouraged to search for a cruise ship that has an age limit for its passengers. These cruise ships often restrict children from coming aboard.� Many times, cruise ships with a passenger age limit target their voyages specifically to couples looking for romance.

While it is possible to find a cruise ship with an age limit for their passengers, you may find it a bit difficult.� If you are unable to find one, inquire as to where couples with children will be placed.� A number of popular cruise ships work to keep families and individual couples separated.� If this policy is in place, a cruise line is likely to state the policy on their website.� The same information can be obtained by directly contacting a cruise ship representative.

The size of the cruise ship you are interested in vacationing on is also likely to determine the level of intimacy onboard.� If it is intimacy that you want, a smaller cruise ship may be your best bet.� Larger cruises ships have more passages and more passengers often make it difficult to have onboard, private moments.� A number of romantic cruise lines target their smaller cruise ships to couples looking to vacation alone.

In addition to the size of the ship, the ships style and d�cor may determine whether or not you can experience romance onboard.� As previously mentioned, there are a number of cruise lines that target couples looking to vacation alone.� Part of that targeting may include creating a romantic environment.� On romance themed cruise ships, you may find romantic cabins, room service, and other similar services.

Vacationing aboard a cruise ship is a great way for you and your partner to spend quality time together.� When selecting a cruise ship to vacation on, the intimacy off the ship is just as important as on the ship.� Almost all extended cruise ships dock in a port.� These ports are often located in another country, but not always.� To make the most out of your vacation destination, you will want to consider a cruise line that offers stops in romantic ports.� These ports may include, but are not limited to the Bahamas, Hawaii, or the Caribbean.

The Bahamas, Hawaii, and the Caribbean all have a number of cruise ship ports.� Additional ports can be found in the Untied States and overseas.� What many passengers enjoy about these particular ports is their climate.� The climate and the overall weather could have an impact on the romance aboard your ship.� Tropical weather tends to add to the romance in the air.

Cruises ships are often viewed as large, oversized vessels.� In addition to traditional cruise ships, it is possible for you to take a local cruise.� If you are looking for a romantic getaway, but you fear the cost of an expensive cruise, you are encouraged to look into local cruises offered near your home.� These cruises often involve dinner, dancing, and sometimes an overnight stay.� They most often occur on a large river or a lake.

Now that you know what to look for when booking reservations for a romantic getaway aboard a cruise ship, you can start making preparations.� With a small amount of time and research, you could be sailing the seas in luxury, with the one that you love.

The first step to putting some zing back into your sex life is revitalizing it with some romance. When you first started out together you were probably a lot more romantic than you are now. In most relationships when people start to feel comfortable with each other and get to know each other, romance drops off a lot or even disappears altogether. There are many ways that a couple can be romantic; for example, surprise is a good thing to reintroduce back into the relationship. One night cook something you both enjoy that you had at a restaurant while you were dating, set out the table nicely with napkins and a tablecloth, wine glasses, candles, some nice flowers and low lighting. Get dressed up for the occasion and meet your spouse at the door with a big kiss and hello.

Romance can also include smaller things in your everyday life such as curling up bedside your partner to watch a movie, giving them a little kiss or a touch, perhaps a massage. There are many ways you can add romance back into the relationship and it doesn’t just mean flowers and chocolates, words and a touch can be a lot more romantic.

Doing something different can add a spark to your sex life. For example if you think of sex and just the bedroom then of course it will eventually get boring and the same all the time. Variety is the spice of life and you should bring some into your sex life. For example you could have a dress up play night, this could be where you introduce a scenario such as meeting each other in a bar and pretend you’re meeting for the first time. This could include dinner and a movie and of course plenty of hand holding.

If your sex life has gotten a little stale and only takes place on certain days as a matter of routine then change that routine and surprise your partner every now and again. Breaking what has become a habit is the main thing. Anything that is done out of habit becomes a chore and your sex life should be unpredictable and something which is on the spur of the moment. If you have children then think about asking if they can sleep at your parents every now and again to give the two of you some privacy and time to put some sparkle and surprise back into your life. Routine is the number one problem that causes the most stress and breakdown in marriages.