Hubba hubba holiday

KEEPING ROMANCE ALIVE DURING THE HOLIDAYS
(TheNest.com)

Start a tradition: The night before a big family gathering is the perfect time to reconnect with each other... alone. Plan a preholiday date that is bound to become tradition -- whether it's grilled cheese at the diner, a snowy stroll through the park, or camping indoors with a tent by your fireplace. The point is to enjoy each other -- and only each other -- before you loan yourselves out to relatives.
Get cookin': Neither of you needs to be a chef extraordinaire to have fun in a holiday kitchen. If you're a guest, ask for a task the two of you can work on. It's a great escape, and your help will be appreciated, to boot. In your own home, institute some holiday fun. Bake goodies you loved as kids or make eggnog from scratch.
Present something perfect: There are some gifts that make everyone in the room go "Wow!" and others that are meant for your eyes only. Give each other the cashmere sweater or briefcase to open with the gang, but save one small, heartfelt gift to open alone in bed together.
Deck the halls: Give the bedroom a seasonal boost with white twinkling lights strung on the headboard. You'll both feel like you're sliding under the covers in a whole new room.
Picture your life: Get out your photo albums and reminisce. You will be reminded of how important you are to each other, and the shared memories will come flooding back. If you're at a relative's home, ask to see old childhood photos.
Get a tune-up: The long drive for holiday ham can turn into a traffic nightmare. Come prepared with a CD or iTunes song playlist that reminds you of your courtship or of your wedding and honeymoon. Before you know it, you'll be pulling into the driveway with hoarse voices from all that crooning.
Go for the pass: The office party is a bore, and you both can't wait to leave. To make the hours go faster, pass your spouse a note on your way to the cheese table. Write about exactly what you want to do with him and the leftover gift-wrap and ribbon when you get home.
Give your time: You're fortunate to have each other, but not everyone is so lucky. Sign up to play bingo at a nursing home or distribute gifts to kids at a homeless shelter. Volunteering together will allow you to break from routines that might start to seem selfish, and it will bring smiles to new faces.
Just say no: Parties and get-togethers are great ways to catch up with special people you haven't seen in forever, but they can also leave you feeling too pooped to do anything else. The only solution: Tear up those invites! You just do not need to attend every function you are invited to.