By Amy Green

So, you've been reading all these articles, and you're starting to get jazzed about spending some time with your fellow man.  Which is all well and good, until you're spending so much time with your guy friends that your wife or girlfriend starts to get annoyed.  Don't worry, I have the remedy. 

A few romantic touches this month will keep your relationship on track, and ensure that you continue to get in lots of man-time.  Now, I know what you're thinking, "I'm not really the romantic type."  Don't worry, you don't have to be romantic, because I am.  All girls are, even the ones who claim they're not, because they don't want you to feel bad for never romancing them.  Don't even start with the "I have no money" excuse, this article is specifically written to the economically challenged.  These are dates you can pull off with little to no money.  Even if you have money, these are the kinds of dates that a girl will never forget. Every girl gets tired of dinner and a movie.

Let's start things slow, with a love letter.  I know, some of you have never written a love letter, but I bet every one of you has filled out a mad-libs. 

Note:  If you're not married, skip the love letter, you don't want to be declaring your love for someone you may not actually be in love with, also I'm not going to help you cheat this much when the poor girl is still trying to make up her mind if you're the one for her.

Step 1 - The Love Letter:

1. Your wife's first name __________
2. A description of your feelings when your wife walked down the aisle at your wedding. ____________________________________________
3.The number of years you have been married.______
4. Something the two of you did together last week that made you feel happy. _____________________________________________
5. A quality or qualities you admire about your wife.  ____________________________________________
6. Your wife's most beautiful physical features ____________________________________
7.  Your first name _________

Dear __1___.

I remember so clearly when you walked down the aisle, I felt _______2______.  I loved you so much then, and yet I had no idea how strong our love would grow in these past __3__ years.  Just last week when we _____4_____ I could not help thinking about how happy I am with you and this life we've created together.  No matter what we go through, I am always glad that you are the one walking with me on this journey.  I've always admired your ______5_____.  Your beauty radiates in your __6__ and I just feel so lucky to be married to someone who is so beautiful, strong, and full of life.  I hope when you find this letter today it blesses you, as you bless me, every day.

Love,

____7____


So, now you copy this text into a word document. Fill in all the right blanks. Read it, to make sure all your answers flow with the letter, (you may need to change tenses or adjust a word or two to make it work.)  Print the letter, sign it underneath where your printed your name (blank 7) and  leave it somewhere you know she'll find it.

Now, once you've completed the love letter, give it a day or two, and then it's on to step two:

Step Two - The gift.

(Here are a few options, pick one.)

The Snapshot

Find a photo of the two of you that is not currently in a scrapbook or hanging up somewhere in your house.  Make sure it's a photo where she looks pretty good.  Pick up a picture frame at a dollar store, or occasionally you can find a decent frame near the check out at Wal-mart or in the dollar bins at Target.  (The point is you don't have to spend a lot of money.) Put the photo in the frame.  If it happens to be a photo that you have a particularly fond memory about, write a quick note, about why you like the photo.  Tape this note to the back of the frame.  Wrap the frame.  Give it to your wife, and ask her if you can take her on a date next week.

The Mix CD

Think of your five favorite love songs that remind you of your wife.  They might have a particular shared meaning, or just be songs you've always liked, or that you know she's always liked.  It's great if you already own these songs somewhere in your collection, but if not, you can buy single tracks from itunes , or yahoo music , or whatever your prefered seller of legal music.  If you have a particularly extensive music collection, feel free to go above and beyond the five track minimum.   Arrange all the songs on a playlist and burn them to a cd.  With a permanent marker, write on the cd, "Can I take you on a date next week?"  Put the cd in the cd player in her car.  Write a sticky note that says: "play the cd in your player to hear songs that remind me of you, eject the cd when you're finished for a special message."

The Dessert

On your way home from work, call a restaurant and order her favorite dessert to go (this works best if her favorite dessert is a slice of some kind of cake or pie, it's pretty difficult to order ice cream for take out.)  Stop by the restaurant, pick up the dessert, and bring it home with you.  Attach a note that says "Can I take you on a date next week?"

The Stretchy Gloves

Pick up some stretchy gloves, you know the kind, they're black, look ridiculously tiny, and cost around 98 cents.  Women just can't get enough pairs of stretchy gloves; in fact, since they're under a dollar a piece, I like to think of them as disposable gloves.  Attach a note to the gloves that says, "Will you wear these on our date?"

Of course she'll say yes, so it's on to the third and final step this month.

Step Three - The date:

On this date, you are making the arrangements, you'll tell her the day and time, you'll make the plans, you'll find childcare if you have children.  You are planning a winter picnic.  You will make chili and hot cocoa, pack the bowls, spoons, napkins and mugs.  Make sure you bring not only a picnic blanket, but also scarves, hats, coats, gloves, warm socks and extra blankets.  Take her to a park, or any romantic spot, and set up your winter picnic.  Eat your picnic as long as you can stand the cold, if it gets too frigid you can always finish your meal in the car.  If it's a warmer evening, stay outside and look at the stars together.  Sure, it might be too cold, you might have to give up early, but it's an event you'll talk about for years, and if you find an unseasonably warm evening, you might have a long, wonderful night. 

Try out the three step plan, and send me an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to let me know how it worked out for you.  The best feedback, good and bad, will be featured in next month's edition.