A major challenge for parents, especially new parents, is finding the time to be together in ways that foster romance in their relationship. A question that a reader recently asked me is: "Is it the quality of time versus the quantity of time that is significant in 'we-time'? If yes, how? "

Romance is determined far more by the quality of the energy between two people than by the amount of time they spend together. If two people spend all day together, but they are not open to each other regarding the sharing of learning, laughter, play and creativity, they will not feel romantic and intimate. They will feel far more romantic if they spend a few minutes together and that few minutes is filled with the intimacy that comes from being open hearted and emotionally connected with each other. If two people hug goodbye in the morning and the hug is perfunctory with their minds already elsewhere, that hug will do nothing to foster romance later that evening. But if the hug is filled with love, warmth, tenderness and caring, that hug can do much to sustain the romance through the day to be further expressed in the evening.

The question is, what determines the quality of energy between two people? What makes one hug filled with romantic potential and another hug empty and meaningless?

The quality of the energy between two people is determined by their intent:

* If your intent is to have control over getting love or avoiding pain, the hug will be empty and depleting, regardless of your partner's intent.

* If your intent and your partner's intent is to give love and share love, the hug will be fulfilling and energizing.

There is a vast difference between the intention to get love and avoid pain, and the intention to give and share love.

When your intention is to get love, you are coming from an empty place within and wanting your partner to fill that place for you. You will be giving the hug in order to get filled giving to get. Your touch will energetically be a pull on your partner's energy to fill you up and make you feel lovable and worthy. Since it doesn't feel good to be pulled on energetically, your partner may hug you from a withdrawn state, with the intention to avoid the pain of being pulled on. If one of you hugs with the intent to get love, and the other hugs with the intent to avoid pain, the hug will not feel good.

If both of you are coming from an empty place within and both of you are hugging with the intention to get love, there will be no love to share and the hug will not feel good.

If one of you hugs with the intention to give and share love and the other hugs with the intent to get love, the giver will end up feeling unfilled. He or she may enjoy giving love, but there will be no sharing of love, and it is the share of love that is truly the highest experience in life.

If both of you are already filled with love within due to taking personal responsibility for your own feelings and wellbeing, and to being spiritually connected to the Source of love, then your intent is likely to be to give and share love. When you both have the intent to give and share love, the hug will be a wonderful expression of your love and will be very fulfilling. Starting your day with a few minutes of sharing love sets the stage for sharing love at other times. Even if your time together is very limited, romance can be sustained when two people have the intent to give and share love.

Moving out of the intent to get love and avoid pain and into the intent to give and share love is a personal process of inner growth. It takes both people desiring to learn how to fill themselves with love so that they have love to share to create and sustain a fulfilling romantic relationship. As parents with limited time to spend with each other, doing this inner work is essential for the relationship with thrive.

About The Author


Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including "Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?" and "Healing Your Aloneness." She is the co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding healing process. Learn Inner Bonding now! Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com or email her at mailto:margaret@innerbonding.com. Phone Sessions Available.

Exclusive: The Rapture Reveal New Album (Pitchfork)It's been three long years since the release of the Rapture 's last record, Echoes , which also happened to be Pitchfork's favorite album of 2003. But come September 12 (September 4 in the UK), the wait will finally end, with the release of the NYC dance-punk group's second LP, Pieces of the People We Love . In the UK, it will be preceded by the single "Get Myself Into It", which comes out August

Susie Bright: How to Ruin A Woman's Sex Life in 30 Days Or Less (HuffingtonPost)I got a phone call from a Cosmo magazine, asking me to contribute a tip for their upcoming feature, "How to Improve Your Sex Life in 30 Days." The title of such a venture already gave me some doubts. I hated the whole notion of tightening up your libido the way you would a set of abs. After a fruitless conversation, I hung up the phone, depressed by their orgasm-indifferent attitude

Personal Finance Daily -- June 30 (Market Watch)U.S. automakers are a lot like U.S. dieters. They pledge to wean themselves from an unhealthy diet of fat incentives, pushing themselves away from the buffet for a time. But the hunger gnaws at them until, like someone who can no longer just stroll past the bakery window, they're going for the cream puffs once more.

Ever wish your sweetheart would bring you a treat' just because? Mates, dates, or spouses, here's a tip: Everyone likes to feel special, to feel appreciated, to feel cherished - all year long. Men, you don't have to bring flowers once a week; women, you don't have to buy expensive gifts every day to show you care. These things are nice, but where's the originality, the surprise?

We can't allow love to become routine. Stop for a second and think: what was the last romantic thing you did for your partner? When was it a holiday, an anniversary? There should be a bit of romance in each day. No matter where you are or what you are doing, there is always room for romance. It is possible to create magical moments each day. Even better, it doesn't have to empty the bank account. Sounds hard to believe, doesn't it?

At a loss for ideas? That is to be expected. Our daily lives are ruled by the clock, by work, by children and family obligations. We are, out of habit, focused on getting the job done: the project, the dishes, the car repairs, the housework, etc. Out of necessity, we tend to put our tangible requirements first food, shelter, warmth, clothing, health. It is easy to let the intangibles slide, but it is not wise. Relationships that are not nourished, grow bland, even stale. Studies have shown that a sense of belonging is high on the list in the hierarchy of human needs. It is not that everyone likes to be appreciated and cherished; we need these things to thrive!

How, you might ask, am I to be romantic and creative with my partner/date? Perhaps you are single and interested in dating someone and want to show your interest. Maybe you are in a committed relationship and feeling burdened by work and don't have time nor the funds to whip up a second honeymoon. Either way, you care about your partner and would like to follow this advice, but may not have a clue as to what you should be doing. Good news! There are many easy and inexpensive ways to show you care and be romantic each and every day of the year.

To get you started, think first of your partner/date's favorite things: favorite foods, scents, hobbies, colors you name it. Now, make a mental list of some of the things you cherish most about your partner or date. Anything goes here, folks his or her smile, little ways that brighten YOUR day, even the way they yawn you get the idea. Ready? Now, combine the two. Does she like to read? Enjoy Chinese food? And you love the way she smiles? Great: make up your own, handmade, fortune cookie message telling her so; leave it next to her plate as a surprise. Does he like NASCAR? Make you feel like a one-in-a-million prize whenever he is near? A little token a matchbox car or even drawing a little certificate yourself stating that he's your #1 and telling him why is very special. Create your own lottery ticket. Give your loved one a wildflower from the garden or even one you saw on the walk home! The sweetest romantic ideas will not cost an arm and a leg. Best of all, they will work any day, anywhere! Enjoy!

About The Author


Lorraine Lamont writes for JewishDating247.com - If you are Jewish and looking for love then this is the site for you. Articles, Reviews and Links to the best Jewish Dating Sites on the Internet and the DrDating Forum a forum for people looking for help in love, relationships and dating.

Young love: Parents dealing with teen romance (MSNBC)If your child is in a relationship, ?Today? parenting editor Dr. Ruth Peters says you have to be prepared to give her guidance and emotional support .

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Brisben named entrepreneur of the year (Cincinnati Business Courier)Pure Romance founder and chief executive Patty Brisben was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for 2006 in South Central Ohio and Kentucky.

by: Annette Mavety
How to setup a romantic bath

The purest union that can exist between a man and a woman is that created by the sense of smell and sanctioned by the brain's normal assimilation of the animate molecules emitted by the secretions produced by two bodies in contact and sympathy, and in their subsequent evaporation. (Auguste Galopin in"The Perfume of Women and the Sense of Smell in Love")

Throughout history, the ritual of bathing has always been associated with sensuality, from Cleopatra and the Queen of Sheba to the modern day. Indian monks used bathing as an act of piety and a symbol of purity- indeed, before marriage, both bride and groom had to perform a ritual involving a bath. Bathing in the Nile was also a solemn ritual for the Egyptians. Most ancient civilisations recognised the sensual nature of bathing and determined the oils and scents which enhanced the body's response to the luxury.

Roman Baths:

Bathing reached a height of decadence in the Roman period, when attending the Baths became a vital part of the middle and upper class Roman day. The baths included a cool bath, a steam room and a hot bath. Some also included a swimming pool, library, a gymnasium and the Roman equivalent to a massage parlour. The Baths were generally divided into male and female areas; a particularly good example being in England. Bath was named for the Roman remains which are still the subject of much interest today.

Milk Baths:

The history of the milk bath begins with Cleopatra, who was renowned in antiquity for her radiant beauty. This beauty was said to have been because of the Queen bathing in milk scented with honey, lavender, or rose petals. Some sources even suggest that strawberries and raspberries were used on occasion to scent her bath. It is said that Cleopatra's boat was so fragrant with rose petals that Mark Antony smelled the perfume before he saw the vessel itself. It is no stretch of the imagination to consider the fact that Cleopatra probably shared baths with both her lovers- Caesar and Antony. Science has reinforced the legend of Cleopatra's beauty, showing that bathing in milk relaxes the body and softens the skin, the early scientist Pythagoras being the first to recognize the positive effects.

A recipe for bath milk similar to Cleopatra's is as follows:

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Powdered Milk
1/4 Cup Liquid Honey
One teaspoon Jojoba Oil
4 drops Rose Essential Oil
5 drops Patchouli Essential Oil
5 drops Sandalwood Essential Oil

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients and add to warm bath water. To create an ambient setting, light candles (use rose, patchouli or sandalwood for best effect) and/or burn incense of the same scents.

Bath-Sheba:

Another of the most popular love-stories based around bathing is the story of King David's love-affair with Bath-Sheba. It began when he saw her bathing on her roof; the sight entranced him and he fell for her almost instantly, later marrying her. Their son was King Solomon. The legend is sometimes embellished, with poets describing the ardour in detail and suggesting any number of additives to the water she bathed in- few dissimilar to those Cleopatra is said to have utilized.

Bath Scents:

The ancient Greeks associated beautiful scents with the divine. One particularly beautiful ritual included an immersion of doves in scented water. The doves were then released, sprinkling water over the gathering as a representation of the blessings of the goddess of love, Aphrodite.

In Roman times, Nero built special ducts in his Golden Palace that would pour forth aromatic water, while also strewing the carpets with rose petals (some say he learned this from the liaison between Mark Antony and Cleopatra.)

Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine often used scents to enhance the atmosphere, and used baths as a sensuous display of romantic interest. Josephine is reputed to have been fond of musk, while Napoleon preferred rosemary. Indeed, at St Helena, he used his incense burner until the day of his death.

Additional Considerations:

To add to the relaxing, sensual atmosphere, it can often help to prepare a bottle of champagne or red wine. Red wine is especially compatible if sandalwood incense or bath oil is used. Keeping the lighting low, using candles if possible, accentuates the atmosphere. Soft background music can also be greatly helpful.

About The Author


This article is written by Annette Mavety, founder and principle of IntelligentRomance.com. Annette Mavety is a romantic specialist, and understands how to truly bring out the best in a relationship by giving your partner exactly what they want.

Get a free 101 Romantic Ideas Book and find out more: http://www.GenieCentre.com/

Treasure Islands (NorthJersey.com)Arrrrrrr, mateys! What do Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and I have in common? Well ... not much. But we have all played pirates in the Caribbean. The sequel to the original blockbuster hit, "Pirates of the Caribbean II: Dead Man's Chest" is set to hit theaters Friday.

Modern romance (The Observer)Donna Gray had spent months looking for a bit of land to build a house, but hadn't been able to find anything usable - all too expensive, wrongly sized or badly located.

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by: Jill Dellamalva
"We'll see if he's still sending you roses six months from now," a co-worker said, walking past my desk that was brimming over with Valentine's Day flowers from my new boyfriend. I dismissed her comments as pure jealousy.

Six months later, I thought back on her words with a sense of wonderment. Was this woman clairvoyant? How had she known that in just a few month's time my boyfriend who had been steadily sending me roses of every hue would now rather sit at a bar with his friends on a Friday night than see me? Of course, he still called me and took me on dates but something was horribly missing.

The "gaga" was gone.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term "gaga", it is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as: "marked by wild enthusiasm, infatuated, doting. I missed this wild enthusiasm. The infatuation. The doting. I missed getting each other little surprise gifts, spending late nights talking on the phone, taking Sunday drives into the country, talking about our future, going for walks around the nearby lake holding hands, sneaking in a kiss at every possible moment. Most of all, I missed my favorite part of gaga. This is when, after every meal eaten out, movie watched, purchase bought together, or trip we went on, my boyfriend would hand me the receipt and tell me to keep it in a special place so we could look back on what we did one day. Over the months, I acquired a large bag of these memory receipts.

Needless to say, after a few weekend nights spent alone at home, and no gaga, I proceeded to take that large bag of memory receipts and dump them into my boyfriend's lap.

"This was gaga! I fumed, I see that it's gone now. We may as well break up because there's no fun in the relationship anymore."

To be honest, I expected my boyfriend to agree. I expected that we would break up, find someone else to be gaga with for 6 months, and continue to repeat the process into infinity.

Instead, he looked crushed. But don't you love me? he asked.

"Yes, but there's no more gaga," I said, feeling like the relationship was doomed. If there was no gaga, what was there? I wasn't trying to be selfish, but I was not feeling first place in his life anymore. I wanted to relive the first six months we dated. Nothing seemed special anymore, and it was upsetting. I definitely needed some advice about this predicament. So I sought the help of my clairvoyant co-worker.

"So the gaga is gone," she said, looking amused. I knew it. It typically lasts 1-6 months. You're lucky you kept it for a while."

"But how about all of the couples that have been dating for years?" I asked. "Or the ones that get married? How does the relationship last when the gaga disappears?"

"Gaga is a funny thing," she said. It's what draws two people together, and then it leaves. What happens next depends on the two people. The relationship depends on how much the both of you want it to work, and how much the both of you want to be together. If you can make it last and achieve happiness by working on it together " that's the real gaga."

It is now 14 months into my relationship with my boyfriend. And while the gaga has ended, we put our best efforts into making our relationship fun, happy, and meaningful. Sure, he still goes out with his friends without me, and I will go out without him. This is normal and to be expected. But the next day, or the next weekend, we both make it a point to do something together whether it means taking a romantic walk or going away for a weekend on a trip. We learned that gaga is a state of mind, and it's up to us to be in it or not.

I have recently started my second bag of receipt memories.

About The Author


Jill Dellamalva writes for SinglesDating247.com - If you are single and looking for love then this is the site for you. Articles, Reviews and Links to the best sites on the Internet and the DrDating Forum a forum for people looking for help in love, relationships and dating.

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