Valentine Coaching for Red Hot Monogamy

By Pam & Bill Farrel

A good coach helps an athlete prepare for an event. Let’s do the same with Valentine’s Day so you can create a plan to wow your mate. Inspired by the effort we saw in King Solomon and his bride from Song of Songs in the Bible, here are few ideas.

Before: The Invitation

Make the invitation as memorable as the date itself by trying one of these ideas:

· If you hear “your song” on the radio, simply call his/her cell and hold your phone up to the speaker and let the song do the romancing.

· Create a photo postcard of the two of you and on the backside, write a thank you for an past special date and an invitation out to the Valentine activity

· Use inexpensive dime store Valentines to create a trail of clues that lead to a romantic destination. You can also make this into a car rally by taping the Valentines around town, around the mall or leave taped to your friend’s front doors.

During: The Date

Here are a few ideas on activities to try on your date that are different than the usual dinner and movie:

· Recreate your first date. If you can still fit into it, wear the same clothes, if not, at least go to the same places.

· “Kidnap” your spouse from work or other and blind fold them and take him/her to a romantic rendezvous.

· Have dinner someplace different in your home: in front of the fireplace, on the rooftop, on the patio or balcony out back, in the attic, under the tree in the back yard, etc.

· Look at your wedding album and talk about what first attracted you to your mate.

· How do I love thee, let me count the ways: Write on a set of index cards all the reasons you love your spouse; make a paper chain of her or his best qualities; Bring one a flower for each positive trait you want to recount and bring them in one at a time to her as your verbally list off what makes your heart sing.

After: Making the Memory Last

Send a thank you card, email, text message and then go the extra mile to add a new romantic habit to you routine:

· Create a mailbox for love notes: place it in your bathroom, on the kitchen table, etc and exchange love mail.

· Leave love notes between pages of a book or magazine your mate is reading.

· Place romantic cards through the house, or use the house for some play on words. Use everyday items to send a unique set of messages, The title of a candy bar with a note that says, “You are a “Big Hunk” of Burning Love, or I am “Red Hot: for your love.

Pam and Bill Farrel are relationship specialists, international speakers and best selling authors of Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti, Red Hot Monogamy and The First Five Years: Make the Love Investment (www.farrelcommunications.com