50 Ways to Keep Your Lover: Turn Up The Heat and Add Some Sizzle!

“How do I love thee, let me count the ways” may possibly be one of the most famous beginnings to a love poem. And, Elizabeth Barret Browning certainly captured everlasting heartfelt love on paper. But here let’s get more practical. Research has verified that keeping the flame alive in a marriage is most closely related to frequently expressing love toward your partner in a number of different ways. More important is to express love in a way that is most enjoyed by your partner. Gary Chapman in his book The Five Love Languages, gives insight on how to understand what your partner enjoys and we’ve used his helpful categories to create some action steps for you to take. So why don’t you turn up the heat! Print out the list below for 50 different ideas to give some sizzle to your relationship.
Expressions of Affirmationr
Write him a love letter and send it to his work addressr
Hide a note of encouragement in his briefcase or coat pocketr
Write “I love you” on the steamy mirror when she’s in the showerr
Keep a picture of the two of you in plain sightr
Never say anything negative about her to othersr
Thank him for earning a livingr
Decorate the house with balloons—one for every month you have known herr
Turn to him in public and whisper, “On a scale of 1 to 10, you’re 12!”
Send a thank you to him every day for an entire week; be specific in your gratituder
After you’re talked on the phone, call her back in a few minutes to tell her how much you miss her.
Quality Timer
Watch 2 hours of football [or whatever his favorite sport is] without acting like a martyrr
Turn off the phone, TV, and pager and make her your top priorityr
Climb a mountain then watch a sunset togetherr
Serenade her with your special song (if you can’t sing, do the CD)
Let him take you hunting or fishing [of alte
ate activities] and really try to enjoy itr
Share memories of the first time you said “I love you” to each otherr
Laugh at his jokes, even if you have heard them 100 times.
Hold her favorite candy bar in your teeth and offer her a biter
Agree on a place you would like to go together. Put a piggy bank in an accessible place to begin saving for the tripr
Take turns reading aloud from your favorite book

Giftsr
Fill the cookie jar with his favorite cookiesr
Buy her a gift certificate to her favorite make-up and perfume storer
Send HIM flowersr
Don’t try to talk seriously about your relationship during the Super bowl [Stanley Cup, World Series, NBA Championships, Olympics etc.]
Buy a season ticket to his favorite sportr
Always look your best in public because you are a reflection of each other’s lover
Squirrel away some money to surprise her with something she would liker
When you’re going out (particularly if you are pressed for time), prove to him that you can dress as quickly as himr
Listen to her when she offers helpful (translated “infuriating”) criticismr
Watch the movie SHE wants to watch

Acts of Servicer
Bake his favorite cake (or whatever food is near and dear to his heart)
Get her car washed, waxed and filled with gasr
Do HIS chores from time to timer
Don’t organize his toolboxr
Don’t gripe when her friends invade the houser
Pray for each other every dayr
Ask his mother for the recipe to his favorite desertr
Take the day off and become her “servant for the day” doing whatever she wantsr
Keep her favorite flavor of ice cream in the freezer at all timesr
Have his favorite magazine waiting for him in his chair

Physical Touchr
Buy yourself something sexy that he will enjoyr
Cuddle together in front of the fireplace, not the TV
Leave him a sexy message on his voice mail at workr
Take a dance class togetherr
Give her a massager
Take turns initiating love makingr
Soak in a hot tub togetherr
Express love to her in ways that allow her to relax and does not require a response (fingers through hair, foot rubs, back rubs, back scratches)
Hold hands when standing in liner
On a long trip, kiss every time you cross a state line

Now you’re thinking! Plan a couple a week and I bet you will have thought of another 50 ways to keep your lover.