Dinners + Dates
Bring the Romance Back Into Your Relationships!
May 1st, 2013 by dinnersdates
Romance Inspiration: Tia Mowry Hardict Shares Tips on Keeping Romance Alive!
Not sure if anyone would know this but I used to absolutely STAN for Sister, Sister. Fortunately, and unfortunately, I can still sing the whole song and even picture how the intro went. (Don’t judge me…lol).
Recently, the gracious and beautiful Tia Mowry Hardict shared her tips on how to keep romance alive in your marriage and I 100% agree with the advice she gave. Most times, we underestimate how much work it takes to keep a marriage vital; these practical tips will absolutely help to get you out of a slump!
Check the article out here: http://tiaandtameraofficial.com/blog/post/tia-s-tips-keeping-the-romance-alive
Love + Light,
Angele
So, every year, I find that the time between Valentine’s Day and Memorial Day is a challenge for couples. This is the time (at least for the past two years) that I receive the most complaints/questions from couples regarding tough times in their relationships; many of them ready to throw in the towel and call it quits for one reason or another.
This year, I started to wonder why this happens. My theory is that mid-February to late May is the first long stretch of time without “distractions” (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day) and that the “lull time” offers the first opportunity of the year to contemplate what’s going wrong in the relationship. But, how can we, as couples, make it out of the lull time successfully?
Here are some tips:
- Be Purposeful: If you know this is a challenging time for you as a couple, purposefully schedule time with one another to strengthen (not break down) the relationship. My hubby and I often “assess” our relationship during this time, writing down a list of things that are great about our relationship, things that are not so great and need changing, and our goals for the upcoming year as it relates to our relationship. We make sure to keep emotion out of the conversation, as much as possible, so we can objectively analyze and plan for the future without getting our feelings hurt.
- Keep Dating: Most of us think we have to make huge elaborate plans for a date. However, we all know the best times together are when its simple and fun. Go to the park and people watch, go to a jazz club (or just turn on some jazz at the house and relax), buy some canvases and paint, cook together, rent a hotel room for the night, or simply set out some candles with music and get the moooodd rigghttt! You could even leave surprise notes; a little goes a long way to make your mate feel special.
- Be Honest: Not only should you be honest with each other about where your relationship stands, you should be honest with yourself about how you’re contributing to the challenges. I know it’s hard but being truthful about your issues will help you to overcome them. A trip to a therapist, both together and separately, may work wonders for your relationship.
- Pray: I remember getting so frustrated with Jay about how terrible he was at being romantic. I often thought his lack of effort was a reflection on his love for me. I used to nag him something serious and compared him (in his face) to other men I deemed to be getting it right (how terrible). However, God said to me one day, “you always come to me for other people, why not this issue? After all, I created Jay and I know his heart. Give your issues to me and chill.” And that’s exactly what I did; I prayed a good ol’e backwoods grandma prayer and totally surrendered that issue to God. I also stopped bringing the issue up to Jay and just let him be. The issue was resolved almost instantly; prayer really does change things!
My heart is to see couples get that old thing back but it takes WORK! Be willing to do the work (both of you) and see your relationships change for the better!
Love + Light,
Angele
(click on picture to purchase)
Chris Rock once joked that all women want are food, clothes, and compliments. While I know we are much more dynamic than that, there is some truth to it, especially the last one.
In a world filled with visual stimulation, we often forget the beauty staring us right in the face. Is it because we get used to what’s around us? Perhaps. But, that doesn’t mean we need to take what we have for granted.
Fellas, don’t let the world tell your lady how beautiful she is more than you do; seriously, that spells trouble for the relationship, either now or down the road. Grab her and do what you do; tell her she’s the most beautiful woman in the world and mean it!
Ladies, be sure to return the favor, not just because he said it to you but because you want to uplift the man in your life. I promise that small boost, every once in a while, will add to the strength he needs to take on the world.
Love + Light,
Angele
Last night, my hubby and I had the honor of attending the Black Love Cafe, hosted by Philly’s own Carl Dash, honoring married couples in the city, hosted by Carl Dash. As I chatted with the dynamic couples in attendance, I realized how important it is to spend time with other couples. While some may not deem it necessary, I believe doing so is integral to growth in our relationships. While marriages are sacred, it’s very important to find creative ways to operate within your marriage and gaining wisdom from other couples may help.
Now, I’m not saying to go hang out with any ol’e couple; we must be sure to spend time with couples who stretch the relationship, rather than hinder it. We all know couples who seem to argue about everything; they’d argue about the sun coming up if they could. Well, if you start spending too much time with them, next thing you know, you’re arguing too and messing up the good thing you have going on. As such, it’s very important to monitor what you allow your marriage to be exposed to; no negative seeds planted.
So, go forth and diversify your circle of couple friends; your marriage will thank you for it!
Love + Light,
Angele
For many of us, when issues in our relationships arise, the first thing we tend to do is react immediately. However, that may not always be the best solution. Back in the day, when my hubby and I were newly married, we would allow our arguments to go to levels it didn’t need to. For example, one day we were driving and got into an arugment over a PARKING SPACE; the disagreement led to us separating for three days (no seriously, we quite literally didn’t see each other for three days, as a married couple…smh).
Once we were able to climb down out of our egos and emotions, we realized the argument was so petty but highlighted bigger issues, specifically, 1) my tendency to just leave when things get rough and, 2) the damage hitting below the belt unnecessarily can do to the relationship.
Now, when we disagree about something, we make sure we are emotionally ready to resolve the issue, which has led us to not argue about anything! So, let’s talk about this; what do you do in your relationship/marriage when disagreements and issues arise?! Reach out at info@dinnersdates.com and let me know!
FROM Marriage Works!:
Research suggests that when a marriage is in trouble, kissing is the first thing to go. Use your frequency of kissing as an index of the health of your marriage.
This WILL go up in our home; no matter what else is going on in the world, all I need is us 
See, I post destinations in non-beachy locales…Click photo to link to website!
About
Subscribe
Get Updates/Tips on Romance, Life, and Love!
Inspiration Categories!
