1. Dream Up a Hot Vacation
Get out of your cold-weather rut by fantasizing about a sexy European getaway with your guy. While the two of you are sipping coffee and sharing the Sunday paper, take a detour to the travel section. Grab your guy’s attention by reading an irresistible description of some totally romantic locale (charming old cities, a lush green countryside, gorgeous sunsets, and delicious local dishes should capture his attention pretty quickly). Then start concocting your own ultimate escape together.
2. Be Spontaneous About Your Dinner Dates
Excited to go out to eat but can't pick a place? Start by making a list of some restaurants in your town — include a few you know you like and several that you want to try. Then write the name of each on the back of a scrap of paper, fold it in half, and drop it into an empty bowl. From now on, instead of going back and forth about where to eat on a Friday or Saturday night, just draw a name from the bowl and embrace the surprise.
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3. Create Mood Music
Sunday nights can leave you and your man with a sinking feeling about the upcoming workweek. But why ruin those last hours of freedom when they could be romantic? Here’s what to do: Create a couple's play list of good-time tunes that you can crank up anytime to change the vibe from sullen to sexy. Each of you contributes your favorite upbeat songs; call it your Sunday mix. Every few weeks, delete the ones you’re sick of and add some new hits.
4. Plan Two Hot Dates with Him
Instead of orchestrating a perfect evening you’ll both love, make a deal that you’ll do whatever he wants one night as long as he does the same for you the other night. Even if he plans an über–guyfriendly date (you know, Beirut at the sports bar followed by Texas BBQ), it’s all good. Just think, you’ll finally get him to take you to that cute new café you’ve been eyeing, and afterward you can curl up and watch season one of True Blood on DVD.
5. Have a Sexy Sleepover
Sometime this week, e-mail your guy, and tell him to reserve Friday night but not to worry about coming up with a date idea — you’ll plan everything. Then, before he shows up, turn your place into a low-key bed-and-breakfast with fresh linens on the bed, the ingredients for his drink of choice, and a season of his favorite TV show on DVD. Once he arrives, order delivery for dinner, and get in “do not disturb” mode by turning off your cell phones. We trust you know the rest.
6. Partake in an Intimate Picnic
Eat outside Parisian-style in the park with your guy on the next nice weekend afternoon. Buy some Brie, chèvre, or mimolette (a tasty, hard French cheese), fruit, a baguette, and Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais (a delicious French wine that comes in cute mini fourpacks — the perfect picnic size). Glam up the meal by bringing wineglasses and china plates. Then spread out a blanket on the grass and take turns feeding each other, while you soak up the sunshine.
7. Treat Him to a Rubdown
In the middle of the day, shoot your guy the following text: “Hot date tonight. 8 pm sharp." When he shows up, dim the lights, put on some chill tunes, and ask him to lie facedown on your couch or bed (oh, and the shirt’s gotta come off). Once he’s in relax mode, give him a nice, long back rub with massage oil. (Tip: Guys tend to prefer earthy scented oils, like pine and eucalyptus, rather than rosy ones). This special treatment will remind him that he’s one hell of a lucky guy to have you.
8. Take a Steamy Bath Together
Showering solo is so 9 to 5. When you have a lazy weekend morning, take advantage of it. While he’s still in bed, run the water, light a few candles for atmosphere, and cue up a chill playlist from your iPod. Then wake him up with a gentle kiss, lure him into the bathroom, and use a sweet-smelling scrub to rub each other down.
9. Plan an All-Out Date on the Town
Make your next date night extra-special for no reason in particular. Dress up in your sexiest cocktail attire, ask him to don a suit, and head off on a romantic rendezvous. Check out a wine tasting in your area (localwineevents.com has a listing by city), then splurge on a fancy meal or a decadent dessert at a nice restaurant.
10. Bond Over Cooking Together
Preparing a meal together can really help you connect. Start by finding an easy but special recipe, and forget the usual routine of who-does-what in the kitchen. All that time spent chopping and simmering is conducive to catching up after a chaotic workweek.
11. Play a Passionate Game
Challenge your man to a retro board game — think Life or Trouble — or a round of bowling or minigolf and it’ll light a spark between you two. Getting competitive eliminates weekday stress, encourages flirting, and builds sexual fervor. Hint: Make a bet that the loser has to give the winner a full-body massage.
12. Take Him on a “Boys’ Night Out”
Treat your boyfriend or hubby to a date that's all about him. Text him Friday morning, and tell him to leave the night open. Then pick him up from work, and whisk him away to a burger joint where you can dig into some red meat together and enjoy a few beers. Follow it up with tickets to a basketball game or a movie he’s been dying to see.