|
April 7th, 2011 by jody
I’m feeling sad today. A lovely young man has rung me to cancel his night away this Saturday as he and his partner are no longer together. This booking was made only a couple of weeks ago and when I asked if it was a special occasion he confided in me that the purpose was to refresh their relationship. It would now appear that a night away was too little too late and it’s this that makes me sad – and to be honest a little cross!
Why is it that people get complacent in their relationships? Think about it, how often have you waited for your special someone to complain about being unhappy. Or express their concerns that your relationship is in a rut before you do something romantic for them? It’s something most of us have been guilty of at some time.
This is a dangerous situation to get yourself in, because one day those complaints could be followed with those dreaded words, I just don’t love you any more. There is a quote from Will Rogers – “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there”. To me this is very true in your relationships-don’t rest on your laurels, put in the effort to nurture your love & you’ll reap the rewards for years to come.
The best time for romance is when you are happy. That thought of your special someone that flits through your head at work and makes you smile, act on it and take home some flowers. That hint they dropped about how nice a romantic getaway would be, act on it and call us to make the booking. Those tips you get from Romantic Gestures each week, don’t just read them, take action!
I do what I do because I am passionate about love and I don’t want you to become another statistic. I know you are busy, we all are but your relationship is important and without some time and effort it will stagnate. So call me and lets make a plan together to keep your love alive so you don’t end up in the same situation as my lovely client has.
Jody
No Comments / Tags: Love, Relationships, Romantic Gestures, Romantic Getaways / Posted in All, Don't leave romance too late
January 27th, 2011 by jody
 Make a note in your diary now.
There’s no doubt that Valentines Day is a commercialised celebration of love. So, should we ignore it; refuse to get caught up in the messages we are bombarded with to buy a card, book a restaurant and purchase a gift for the special someone in our life?
What if you were to think of Valentines Day and the reminders around every corner as helpful rather than a commercial ruse to extract money from your wallet? When we get a toothache it reminds us to head to the dentist, a change of season reminds us of work required in the garden and Valentines day like it or loath it reminds us to be grateful for having someone special in our life. Now I would certainly hope that you show your partner in life how much you care more often than once a year. But, Valentines Day is the one day each year that you share with lovers across the world.
On the 14th of February couples everywhere are acknowledging their connection, it’s a celebration so why not join the party and feel the love!
Now I’m not suggesting that every couple should go mad and shower each other with gifts just because it’s Valentines Day. I’m suggesting you do something appropriate to acknowledge the day and your love. What’s appropriate? This is different for every couple, but if you keep the following in mind you’re sure to get it right and have a great day.
On Valentines Day and indeed every other time you are purchasing a gift the key is to remember it’s not about you. You may think flowers are a waste of money because they die a week later – tough! If your special someone loves flowers order that bouquet today, and don’t say a word about the cost! Conversely if your special someone is someone that thinks flowers should be left in the garden, don’t buy them a bunch just because you see them as a symbol of love, remember it’s not about you. Simply ask yourself what does he/she like? What makes them feel loved, spoilt and appreciated? Perhaps a picnic, trying a new restaurant, a thoughtful card with a personalised note, breakfast in bed, a massage, or a romantic getaway… You know them best so take that information and make this Valentines Day one to remember. Oh and don’t leave it till the last minute.
With love and best wishes for a truly special Valentines Day.
Jody
No Comments / Tags: Ideas for Valentines Day, Valentines Day, Valentines Day Ideas / Posted in Valentines Day
April 3rd, 2010 by jody
Most of you will be familiar with businesses like Greenacres and Home James that take care of the lawns, garden maintenance and housework for those who just don’t have time to do it themselves. I use these as examples as they are areas where it has become very common for people to enlist the help of an expert to ensure the job gets done amidst a very busy schedule.
A Romance Planner is not that much different. If you believe your relationship is as important as the lawns and the housework but find it difficult to allocate the time to plan special occasions a Romance Planner will take care of all the details for you. Your Romance Planner will either meet with you or talk with you over the phone to discuss what you and your partner like to do, whether you are celebrating a special occasion or celebrating “just because” (a great reason) and will also ask for some detail about your history together. This helps them to build a picture about what works for you as a couple and from there suggest the appropriate venues and or services for your romantic experience. A good Romance Planner won’t suggest anything that she (or he) has not personally assessed for quality, service and the “romance factor”, you need to know your experience will not only meet but exceed all of your expectations. For our clients working with us is their insurance policy that they are not going to walk into overpowering incense, the $5.00 wine of the month and the chocolate left over from Valentines day 05 when they were expecting beautiful candles, fine wine and decadent truffles! Your Romance Planner should also be able to assist with babysitters, pet minders, transport, flowers and anything else you need to ensure the gift of a Romantic Gesture to your special someone is a fantastic success that was achieved without stress.
You wouldn’t try and rewire your house if you didn’t understand what the red, white and yellow wires were for. Likewise if you are finding the idea of being more romantic a daunting concept, don’t hesitate to enlist the services of a good Romance Planner. It’s what we do each and every day and I can assure you working with one is a simple and painless process.
No Comments / Tags: Romance Planner, Romantic Gestures, Special Occasion / Posted in What is a Romantic Gesture
February 12th, 2010 by jody
The dictionary defines romance as a love affair, to woo, a relationship between two lovers….
To me that defines “A Romance” but what about romance or being romantic? I don’t believe there is a definition for this. Why? Quite simply because when one person says I need more romance or I wish my husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend were more romantic what they are wishing for is likely to be very different from the next person that utters those same words. For some of us the most romantic thing our special someone could do for us it to put a big red bow around the latest and greatest power tool or that time saving piece of kitchen equipment we have been coveting for ages. For others it’s the obvious things that spring to mind when the topic of romance surfaces, flowers, romantic dinners a weekend away without the children. For me romance is all about my husband planning something as a surprise. I love surprises and the anticipation of wondering just what it is he has up his sleeve. For others though not knowing what to expect is torture, no fun at all and therefore not in the least conducive to romance.
So how do you get romance right, when there is no set formula that fits all? Well, while there is no blanket formula there are two things that are in my experience standard criteria when planning a romantic gesture. The first is time and the second putting yourself in their shoes. Whatever the Romantic Gesture is from Power tools to flowers from kitchen appliances to spa treatments the one common factor is time. You have taken the time to organise something (and this is where the putting yourself in their shoes comes in) that you know they will enjoy. That is selfless and that in my opinion is what romance is all about.
No Comments / Tags: Romance, Romantic, Romantic Gesture / Posted in All, What is a Romantic Gesture
December 17th, 2009 by jody
What to do, where to go, how to impress on Valentines day? These are questions asked by many in the lead up to Valentines Day so I thought a few words of advice might be of use…
Before we look at the what, where and how let’s consider why. Why celebrate Valentines day at all? Quite simply it’s a day that celebrates love and it is my opinion that such a celebration is worth being a part of. I know it’s commercial, so is Mothers day and Fathers day, none the less I think it is magical to know that on the 14th of February every year couples are taking some time to celebrate their relationship. We don’t need an excuse and I certainly hope it is not the only day you celebrate your connection but this is the day you share with those in love, those falling in love and those returning to love, enjoy it!
That said how to you make Valentines Day special? First and foremost don’t leave it to the last minute! I think because Valentines day is so close to Christmas planning often gets left until a day or two before the 14th of February. The difficulty with that of course is that the restaurant you were hoping to go to will be (if it’s any good) fully booked, the shops you were planning to visit for that special gift will be crowded and you will more than likely end up settling for something quick, easy and therefore disappointing, plan ahead!
With that little lecture out of the way and the decision made to start planning early the next thing to think about is your budget. This will be different for everyone and that is fine, so long as you know what it is you have a point to start from. Whether your budget is large or small the key to success is thoughtfulness. Put yourself in his or her shoes. What says I love you in their language? Build your Valentines Day gesture around that and it will be a day to remember.
A few Valentines day ideas to inspire….
Make a photo album with pictures of the two of you
Spend the morning in bed with champagne, crossiants and strawberries
Book a table at the restaurant were you first had a special meal together
Surprise them with a Romantic Gestures room theme
Valentines Day is on a Sunday this year, secretly arrange for your special someone to have Monday off work and head away on Sunday for a night at one of Romantic Gestures special venues
Have flowers delivered, yes it’s an oldie but it’s a goodie!
Aroha,
Jody
No Comments / Tags: Champagne, Flowers, Love, Restaurant, Romantic, Valentines Day, Valentines Day Ideas / Posted in All, Valentines Day
November 3rd, 2009 by jody
Routine is a necessary part of our lives, without it we would never get to work on time, the kids would always be late for school and there would never be anything in the fridge for tea. It gives our lives the structure that we need to get through the myriad of tasks that we face each day, however, when it comes to romance it is a big no no! Routine and romance do not mix, it is the fastest way to kill the fun passion and excitement and is to be avoided at all times.
Here is an extreme example of routine and romance. Every Monday Mrs x meets Mr x at the door with the same words “I missed you today welcome home” followed by a kiss that lasts exactly 1.3 minutes. She then pours him a beer, lights the candles and serves him steak, salad and a baked potato (his favourite dish). They chat about their day, he goes upstairs and runs a bath which they share. At exactly 8pm it’s off to bed for an “early” night. Now meeting your husband at the door with a kiss and a promise is a great idea (now and again!) but as soon as you create a routine out of it all surprise, delight and expectation is gone. You have turned romance into a chore, don’t do it!
I have yet to meet anyone that likes housework and that is because it is a monotonous, thankless task that has to be done every week. For Mr and Mrs x, a romantic evening has become about as exciting as doing the laundry. Don’t let routine become the vacuum that sucks the life our of your relationship.
A note for those with children: I know a certain amount of routine is necessary to get time alone together. A regular date night is an example of this. To avoid a scenario anything like my fictitious one above simply make sure that although the day and time may always be the same mix up what you do with that time to help the passion and excitement remain.
No Comments / Posted in All, Routine and Romance
September 14th, 2009 by jody
Most of you will be familiar with businesses like Greenacres and Home James that take care of the lawns, garden maintenance and housework for people who just don’t have time to do it themselves. I use these as examples as they are areas where it has become very common for people to enlist the help of an expert to ensure the job gets done amidst a very busy schedule.
A Romance Planner is not that much different. If you believe your relationship is as important as the lawns and the housework but find it difficult to allocate the time to plan special occasions a Romance Planner will take care of all the details for you. Your Romance Planner will either meet with you or talk with you over the phone to discuss what you and your partner like to do, whether you are celebrating a special occasion or celebrating “just because” (a great reason) and will also ask for some detail about your history together. This helps them to build a picture about what works for you as a couple and from there suggest the appropriate venues and or services. A good Romance Planner won’t suggest anything that she (or he) has not personally assessed for quality, service and the “romance factor’. For our clients this is their insurance policy that they are not going to walk into overpowering incense, the $5.00 wine of the month and the chocolate left over from Valentines day 05 when they were expecting beautiful candles, luxury accommodtion, fine wine and decadent truffles! Your Romance Planner should also be able to assist with babysitters, pet minders, transport, flowers and anything else you need to ensure the Romantic Gesture you have arranged for your special someone is a fantastic success that was achieved without stress.
You wouldn’t try and rewire your house if you didn’t understand what the red, white and yellow wires were for. Likewise if you are finding the idea of being more romantic a daunting concept, don’t hesitate to enlist the services of a good Romance Planner. It’s what we do each and every day and I can assure you working with one is a simple and painless process.
No Comments / Tags: Luxury Accommodation, Romance Planning, Valentines Day / Posted in All, Romance Planning
August 27th, 2009 by jody
I have two wonderful romantic memories that stand out very clearly in my mind and I am sure always will. One of them cost around $20.00 the other much more than that. My point is that the dearer experience in no way diluted the memory of the less expensive one. While it is wonderful to treat yourself to shear luxury when you can afford it, it’s more than possible to achieve Romance on a shoestring.
Firstly go back to the post What is a Romantic Gesture so that you have your checklist in mind. Now work out your budget and stick to it. If you are doing something that is stretching you beyond what you can afford neither you or your special someone will have an enjoyable experience because you will be too busy worrying about how you are going to pay for it. So with your budget in mind start planning and be creative. Money can make it easier and quicker to organise something but along with careful planning can really give the wow factor and make an occasion truly memorable.
A few simple date ideas: Fish and chips with a bottle of wine at a nice quiet location can be very romantic. Go to the extra effort of packing the picnic rug, wine glasses, some nice napkins (plain white tied with string and a sprig of lavender is a nice touch) and something sweet for after. You may also like to include a gift, this can cost you nothing more that a bit of time to make a voucher giving a shoulder massage or car clean from you.
Find a spot where you can see the sunrise. Check the weather forecast and choose a fine day to set the alarm and go for a drive. If the budget stretches to it go out for breakfast on the way home then spend the rest of the morning in bed with the paper.
Set aside a little money each week so you can treat yourself without worrying about the budget from time to time. You and your special someone are worth it.
No Comments / Tags: Date Ideas, Romantic / Posted in All, Romance on a Shoestring
July 3rd, 2009 by jody
We all joke about Man Flu and how tough it is to cope with (sorry guys but you are hard work when you have a cold  . While we can poke a bit of fun at our guys and their “Man Flu’s, Resentment Flu is a different story and needs to be taken seriously! Resentment Flu won’t kill you but it could kill your relationship so take note and be warned.
What are the symptoms? It starts with a tiny niggle, a little voice saying something like why do I always have to put out the rubbish or, so and so would never treats such and such the way I’m being treated. From there things can quickly get out of hand, that small niggle becomes an avalanche of resentment. You find yourself seething every time you do something for “that man” or “that woman”. After all you work hard, why can’t they do their share?
At the height of this flu you may find yourself unable to remember why you ever started a relationship with this lazy good for nothing so and so, and you will almost certainly be blind to anything that they do, do for you. If you let Resentment Flu go on this long it can be difficult if not impossible to recover, so look for the signs and catch it early.
Don’t panic though there are some successful cures for Resentment Flu. When you feel those tiny niggles begin to take hold have a good long think about what your partner/spouse does do around the house. You may always put the rubbish out but perhaps he/she always stacks the dishwasher. Then if it is really bothering you sit down and talk about it, don’t let things fester, that is how the flu takes hold! Never compare your relationship to someone else’s. You may see a relationship that is perfect, but who knows what happens behind closed doors. I heard a saying once that if we all put our problems out on the table we would probably want our own back. It’s a good thing to remember.
Lastly I find routine and resentment flu can go hand in hand. So make sure you mix up the chores and from time to time just leave them! Do something spontaneous and fun together instead. Sure the chores will still be there when you return but you will be able to tackle them with a much lighter heart. Good relationships are hard to find but can be easy to loose. Take care of the special someone in your life and ensure neither of you get “Relationship Sickness”.
No Comments / Posted in All, Resentment Flu
June 17th, 2009 by jody
Do you spend more time taking care of your car than your relationship? For a great number of us the answer to this question is yes. Think about it, every night most of us garage our car to protect it from the elements. The everyday elements and demands of life can put strain on our relationships so they too like your car need a little care and attention each day. Random acts of affection and attention are a great way to achieve this.
Once a week on average we fill our cars with fuel and keep an eye on the water and oil. If we don’t do this the car will let us down, perhaps leaving us stranded in the middle of no where. Just like with your car if you don’t re-fuel your relationship on a regular basis you may find your self stranded and wishing you had taken some time to take care of what was important. I recommend regular date nights as a great way to re-fuel.
What about insurance? To own a car and not insure it against theft or damage is in my opinion asking for some major heart ache and financial hardship should something go wrong. Your insurance provides you with peace of mind every time you get in your car or leave it unattended. Like wise planning a special Romantic Occasion with love, thought and care acts as an insurance policy to protect your relationship from damage or theft! My husband and I head away for a night or two four times a year. This costs no more than the insurance, warrants and mechanics bills for two cars. As a good relationship is far harder to replace than a car I believe this is an investment we should all be making.
So next time you hop in your car take a moment to think about your special someone. Ask yourself, is it time for an insurance renewal, re-fuel or some protection from the elements?
No Comments / Posted in All, Romance versus Car
|
|
|