Romantic Camping

Camping is a great way to smoke some fire into a relationship. Sitting by a crackling campfire, exploring nature’s wonders, or snuggling together on a cool evening...aww, you can’t beat camping for low cost, big fun, and great romance!

Now, you may not be a camper...but chances are, your spouse is. Or...vice versa. So, plan this adventure (if even for just one night). Camping forces you to get away from everything--there are no computers (no blogs to read! *gasp*), tvs, or children to distract you. (I'm not discouraging family campouts...just encouraging one "husband and wife only" campout) ...where you truly get to be alone together.

Plan it together, or make it a surprise...But whatever you do, try to throw in a few details that will make this campout as romantic as is possible....for camping, anyway.

Make yourself a checklist to plan your campout, but these things I consider most important:

• Tent
• Queen size air mattress
• Queen size sleeping bag (fits two) - this is a must-have. We got ours as a wedding gift and love it! If you don't have one, maybe this could be a gift to tell your spouse of your upcoming camping date...
• Pillows
• Flashlights
• Food (if you choose to build a fire, get all the goods...)
• Wet Wipes, Towel (and other necessary items)
• Camoflage Lingerie (or atleast something green, brown, and cute)
• Ghost stories--there's nothing like being a little creeped out that can bring a girl closer to her man
  
  Here are some links to ghost stories to print out:
  (be warned: some of these are creepy and maybe a little gross... but that's the point-- I was trying to pick out the stories that I'd be scared to listen to and would make me hide my face in my husband's chest)


• 1. No Trespassing
• The Ghost of Pearl White
• Bloody Mary
• Death Waltz
  
  Other stories: HERE and HERE
  
  If ghost stories are not your thing, then I suggest watching a movie on a laptop in the tent (make sure the battery is charged!)
  
  The best advice I have for romantic camping is not to worry about getting dirty...(you can do the laundry when you get home!)

After all, this may be the only campout when you'll allow fire IN the tent. :)

If outdoor camping just isn't your thing...how about a little indoor camping with the one you love?

Saturday Spotlight: Union28 Apparel

Okay, people--you've seriously got to read this ALL the way through today. (or you may miss an important message about a *discount*)

Today I am kicking off my Saturday Spotlight series with Union28. I am soo impressed with this company and I think it is fitting that they are the first to be spotlighted on Love, Actually.

Union28 believes that you should celebrate your spouse in style! So, they created designer t-shirts for husbands and wives that display a positive image of marriage.

The mission behind Union28 is what really captivated me. I hope that on my blog, I can convey even half of what they do in their Mission Reflection (take a few minutes and read this (the WHOLE thing)--it's AWESOME!) Here was my favorite part:
"On our wedding day, we publicly declared that divorce would not be an option for us. We made a decision to love and we're sticking by it! Perfect love which requires no effort or skill is impossible..." *Ahem--here's where "Love, Actually" comes in!

So, you've got to go to their website to check out ALL of their awesome apparel...not just t-shirts. Here's some previews to give the idea:

(There is a variety of apparel items for your husband, too!)




Of course...there are MANY more styles, colors, sizes, etc. etc. You've got to go check it out for yourself. Click HERE to see their products. UNION28 Marriage Apparel is perfect for Wedding gifts, Honeymoons, Bridal Showers, Anniversaries, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Birthdays, or “I Love You” gifts.

AND....all of my followers get a *DISCOUNT* for 2 weeks only!

Here's the Deal:
Buy 2 or more items, and get free shipping! At checkout, to receive the discount, you will need to type in: Love Actually Blog-Free Shipping
Offer Valid Until: May 23rd

Oh, I can't forget... (this is so cool)
WHY is it named: "Union28"?

Union: Marriage is a sacred union. 2: Marriage is an exclusive relationship between 2 - a husband and his wife.8: Marriage is marked by an on-going covenant; steadfastness. (“8” symbolizes “forever; on-going.”)

Happy Shopping!

My Husband Still Rocks...

Hey, Hey! Just wanted to let everyone know that I am not doing a MHR (My Husband Rocks) Friday post today.... (NOT because he doesn't rock...but because I've had a hecka-busy week and the weekend won't be much better).
BUT, if you are participating this today, leave me a comment so I can come check out your post!

Check back tomorrow for a SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT post! I have an incentive...you will be able to get a discount off a really cool product! I'll leave you hangin with that...

Au Revoir!

Puzzled...

It's time to "piece" together how you feel about your spouse! This may take a little planning depending on what you choose to do:

If you want to do it the easy way, you can upload a picture online and have a real puzzle printed for you (This could be a fun date night).

Walmart.com sells these easy personalized puzzles for $12.84

Walgreens.com sells an 8x10 puzzle (110 pieces) for $14.99.
Or, I found this site which sells an 8x10 puzzle in either 110 pieces or 30 jumbo pieces for $11.70

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Now, in keeping with my romance ideas on a budget... I recommend these ideas that cost $1.00 or less!

• Michael's (or any other craft store) and dollar stores usually sell cardboard or wooden puzzles that you can paint or write a message on, mod-podge and exacto-knife, etc. (see my example below)
  
• Buy a large posterboard (the thin paper style) that you can write, paint, etc. your message on, then cut out into your own puzzle pieces. Hide each piece around the house (in semi-obvious places) for him to find and then put together.

Here are some message/theme ideas for your puzzle:

• You complete me.
• I go to pieces when I think about you…
• You’re the missing piece to my puzzle.
• I love you to pieces. You keep me together.
• You keep me from falling to pieces.
• We fit together…you’re my missing piece!
• You puzzle me.
• I’m puzzled by you…
  
  
  Here is what I did with my wooden puzzle from Michael's:

I bought this for $1....

Painted it with acrylic paint and wrote on it with permanent marker.
Front side looks like this (obviously yours will look MUCH better than my lamo demo version)

Back side:

Puzzle Pieces

Once again, you've got a CHEAP idea that took little effort and will leave your love puzzled as to how they ever found a love as good as yours! (hehe--I do try hard to make up these corny ending messages!)

E-Lovin'

Today is Wednesday!
....time for a little Midweek Romance....

Remember the days of e-cards? They used to be big, not so much anymore... But, I think they are perfect for a midweek surprise to let your spouse know you are thinking of them...

123Greetings.com is my favorite e-greetings site because it's totally free, I get to see previews of all the e-cards, and it doesn't require me to register.

Go check it out, find your card, and send it today! I know you can do that.

This one is my favorite...good for when you are missing him:

Just a Bug Without You

Here's a good (for e-cards, anyway) one, too: U & ME

Okay, off you go to send your e-greeting! It just might make his (or her) day!

Romance-Related Giveaways

It's Tuesday, which means I've found a couple of great giveaways that you may want to enter (...perhaps for the benefit of your romantic life)

• Prissy Green - Eclipse Spa product - her review says this is "the diggity of all things diggity" (this could be useful for your Spa Night at home) Ends May 6 - hurry!



• Simply FaBOWlous - LanoLip Vanilla Lip Scrub, Dreamsickle Lip Balm, Retractable Lip Brush (this would be perfect for getting those lips in shape for these kind of kisses)
  Ends May 11

If you know of any other great giveaways (that in some way can be related to romance {you can stretch it, I don't mind..}) or are hosting one yourself, link up so the rest of us can check it out!

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In other news,
I got an award from Miss at Bloggin'It. (Thank's Miss!) It's called the Splash Award, which I get to pass on.

Here are three blogs that I find: alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive and inspiring:

1. Becca at Happiness is Homemade - (probably one of the coolest moms/wives ever...she does lots of really cool things for/with her family. I'm so impressed with her!)
2. Melody at Cheat Day Cafe - (this girl knows her food, and I think I found my most favoritest {it's my new word, okay?} recipe on there recently...but I won't tell you what it is yet!)
3. Samantha at Two Hearts Together - (she does all that fun crafty stuff that I love and posts ideas from around the blogosphere--saves me the time and effort of blog-hopping)

Think Outside the Box: Romantic Breakfast In Bed Recipes

Boxed cereal is definately the main food staple around our house. And occasionally, (usually on Saturday or Sunday mornings) it's fun to have a home-cooked breakfast. I've found that I can't go wrong with pancakes, eggs and bacon, but every now and then, I like to make something new... I have found some very tasty (and easy) recipes from some of my favorite cooking blogs and I thought I'd share them with you.

This won't be turning into a cooking blog, but good food goes hand-in-hand with romance. These recipes would be perfect for a romantic breakfast in bed on a lazy morning (if you can arrange for such a thing...).

For all of you who have lost touch with your lazy morning side (for some reason having to do with children), set your clocks early and enjoy breakfast in bed BEFORE the kids wake up.

Caramel French Toast
{It really is a sugar bomb, but sooo worth it!}

Recipe from: Mmm Cafe
(You can right click all the recipe images to save to your files)


Creamy Cinnamon Squares
{Don't those just look scrumptious? How can you resist?}

Recipe from: Gourmet Mom On The Go


Hashbrown Bacon Quiche
{Delicious!! ...breaks away from the sugary stuff. Serve with a tall glass of OJ.}

This is actually my recipe that I adapted from a ham and hashbrown casserole recipe.
The picture of it, however, is borrowed...mine doesn't have 2 layers like that one, but it looks just like it otherwise.


Strawberry French Toast
{Whoa, I think I'm drooling! This is about as romantic as you're gonna get for breakfast!}

Recipe from: My First Kitchen --with awesome instructions for even a novice french toast maker.

Below are not necessarily recipes, but ideas to spice up breakfast basics. By the way, heart-shaped food isn't just for Valentine's Day...just as your love isn't just for that day either!
So, whip out that heart cookie cutter, you're gonna need it for these:

{ Eggs In a Heart }
Just cut out a heart shape in the middle of the bread, pour in egg, and fry!

{ Fried Heart Eggs }
Click to get her instructions...they are helpful.

{ Heart-Shaped Strawberries }
This one's easy...but sometimes a visual reminder helps!

{ Heart Pancakes }
Make the pancakes like normal, then cut them out...

Bon Appetit! Oh, and don't forget to remind your love to

PS--I have linked this post to My Chihuahua Bites for her Tuesdays at the Table series to spread the bed-and-breakfast recipe love! Join in if you have a fun recipe to share!