I’ve always heard that the couple that plays together stays together. In the last few years, my fiancé and I have put play as a priority in our life together and have seen it pay off. Despite the challenges of balancing work, school, our relationship and other responsibilities, being intentional about taking time to relax together has brought us even closer.

Exercise

We love to exercise together. As we run, hike and bike, we push each other to stay in shape. Although we don’t always want to exercise every day, we can lean on each other for motivation. And we love the benefits of our healthy lifestyle. We feel better physically, and we have more stamina to excel at our day jobs.

These physical fitness activities also help us relieve stress. After a hard day at work, a bike ride or run is the perfect way to release tension and calm down before we prepare for bed. It can even help blow off steam when we feel a fight coming on.

Video games

I’ll admit it: we’re complete nerds when it comes to video games. As often as possible, we play Madden, Call of Duty and other games on our beloved PS3.

While we appreciate the opportunity to play and compete together, we also notice that video games give us the chance to troubleshoot our relationship. As we’re playing, a certain game might trigger a recent argument, and we can pause the game to talk about the issue. Other times, a casual comment sparks a heated discussion, and we work out our aggression in the game before falling on the sofa in a fit of giggles. It sounds silly, but playing actually opens the door to better conflict management, and we often use video games to reconcile after an argument.

Cooking

Somebody has to cook dinner every night. Instead of making it feel like a chore for one of us, we decided to cook together. Every weekend, we take turn planning the menu, then we make a list and shop together.

When it’s my turn to cook, my fiancé cleans up, and vice versa. With our shared responsibility, we feel like a team, and we enjoy talking about our day and flirting as we cook our favorite meals and try new dishes in the kitchen.

Reading

As avid readers, we decided to start our own miniature book club. We take turns picking the book, and we appreciate holding intelligent conversations as we discuss different perspectives on issues and topics. Although we often read at different speeds, we try to meet once a week to discuss the book and grow closer together.

Adventures

At least once every two months, we plan mini-day dates or a weekend trip where we try new things. One month, we went rock climbing. Another month, we hiked around a local lake. As we work together to figure out how to complete the challenge or conquer the task, we discover greater intimacy. We also both appreciate the opportunity to escape our daily routines and prioritize play on our mini adventures.

I know many couples lose sight of play as they deal with pressure from work, bills and other responsibilities. We have found that play enables us to get through all those other stresses in life. It keeps us united, helps us communicate and gives us a chance to relieve stress. My fiancé and I encourage our friends to make time for play, and we’re always looking for new things to try. What are your relationship-strengthening play tips that keep you happy as a couple?

Image credit: Weddingstar.com

Hello Gorgeous PMers!

Check out what’s shaking in the world of love and sex this week:

Fight Your Way to a Happier Marriage: New research suggests couples who fight are in happy and longer lasting marriages. What, what? It’s true.

25 Hilarious Wedding Cake Toppers: I rounded up the most hilarious wedding cake toppers (like the one pictured) currently on the market!

10 Super Annoying Couple Habits: Whether you’re in a relationship or not, you’ve cringed at ridiculous couple behavior. Take a look at these obnoxious couple habits that have us saying, “You’re so in love. We get it.”

Is it Ever OK to Read Your Partner’s Texts and Emails?: I’m an open book, my husband is not. What are your thoughts on sharing your personal communication?

The Best Things Celebrities Ever Said About Love: From Marilyn Monroe to Dr. Seuss, Cher, Madonna & more – check out what our favorite celebrities have to say about love!

In Defense of Kids Coming First in a Marriage: I make a case for why I put my children first in my marriage.

More Seniors are Divorcing, Dating, and Shacking Up: The rise in “gray divorce” and its social implications are examined.

Enjoy your last few weeks of summer!

Hello Dearest Project Marriage Members!

First and foremost, my apologies for not offering a roundup last Wednesday. I was consumed by all things BlogHer ’12 and between packing meltdowns and endless lists for my husband, I flaked. No more excuses!

I’m here to offer a double dose of your Wednesday Love & Sex roundup – hold on tight!

A Letter to My Elusive Libido: Here, I beg my libido for a second chance.

The 5 Biggest Bedroom Buzzkills: If you’ve ever wondered w: hat (or who) is to blame for your lukewarm sex life, chances are it’s one are all of these.

6 Simple Ways to Boost Confidence in Your Relationship: Here, the experts offer real, workable advice we can ALL use to build confidence and trust in our marriages.

15 Questions Men Hate to Answer: Ladies, the men are begging us to stop asking these questions…

41 percent of Women Would Insist on a Prenup and More Stats on Today’s Modern Gal: 45 percent of women consider financial independence and a fulfilling career to be the hallmark of a “real woman”, while 25 percent thought being “attractive and a great lover” earned the title. Surprisingly, only 14 percent believed being a wife and mother deserved the crown. Find out what else is on the mind of today’s modern gal here.

Turns Out We’re All Objectifying Women: A new study reveals women are just as guilty of objectifying women as men. Whaaa? It’s true. Read all about it!

Predominately White Church Refuses to Marry Black Couple the Day Before Their Wedding: Yes, this happened in 2012. For Charles and Te’Andrea Wilson, it was the church that had cold feet.

34 Percent of Men Fake it in Bed and More Fascinating Man Stats: 54 percent of men believe they can tell when a woman’s faking an orgasm…mmkay. Check out these stats and so much more!

Until next week PMers, keep the love alive!

Through participation in a volunteer vacation, a couple has the opportunity to spend quality time together and also to make a positive difference in the world as a unified front. Taking such a trip with your significant other can transform a simple jaunt to another country into a potentially bond-strengthening adventure.

Benefits

You shouldn’t ignore the calling you feel to engage in a volunteer trip with your spouse. While away from home you’ll encounter an array of spiritually and emotionally enriching experiences, and there’s no one better to share this experience with you than the individual to whom you’ve pledged your undying devotion. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with your spouse on a deeper level, which can ultimately improve your communication and enhance your life together.

Unlike at home where the demands of daily life can prevent you from truly focusing on one another, on a volunteer trip you and your partner will have ample time to spend pondering your commitment to each other. As you take in the challenging and rewarding aspects of volunteering in an unfamiliar place, your marital bonds will strengthen.

Overcoming the Challenges

Any time you plan to leave the country, you’re bound to face challenges; however, many of those associated with undertaking a volunteer vacation are actually quite easy to overcome. If you worry no one will be there to care for your children if both you and your spouse venture abroad, consider asking a closed friend or family member to take care of your tots while you head off on your adventure. If the cost of such a trip is preventing your departure, you can likely defray this expense by taking part in fundraising; you’ll probably be surprised how many people you can find to support you and your partner in your selfless endeavor.

If you worry about the risks associated with this type of travel, which are real indeed, consider protecting yourself by taking out a short-term travel insurance policy or even mission trip insurance. Both these types of insurance will help protect you on your trip and will provide coverage should you suffer illness or injury abroad. The peace of mind such a policy offers will more than justify the additional cost.

A volunteer vacation is a serious undertaking, particularly when you plan to head off on your trip with your lifelong partner in tow, leaving no one to man your homestead. It’s important to consider, however, how beneficial a trip of this type can be for you and your spouse, not to mention those whose lives you’ll be impacting through your volunteer work. If you have the opportunity to take a break from your daily life to truly escape on a volunteer adventure, you’ll likely find the experience has a profound and lasting impact on your relationship with your better half. Take the opportunity seriously and step out of your comfort zone. Taking this chance will bring you closer to your beloved spouse and enhance your life together as a couple.

Happy Wednesday!

OK, I’ll admit, it’s really weird to report the Wednesday Love & Sex Roundup staring at a huge picture of my husband and I, but we, or our marriage I should say made the cut this week.

Without further ado…

Behind My Bedroom Door: My most personal and detailed accounting of my marriage so far.

New Study Reveals the Truth About Parents in the Bedroom: If you’re anything like my husband and I, you argue about sex (see above link). If you’ve ever wanted to know how often parents are really getting busy, along with where, and how, check out the results of Trojan’s latest sex study here.

Your Dude Friend Thinks You Want Him: Say it isn’t so! A new study examining attraction between opposite sex friendships yielded interesting and saddening results.

15 Signs Your Husband is Cheating: We sincerely hope you’ll never have to experience this pain, but if somewhere in the back of your mind you have suspicions, check out these telltale signs of marital infidelity from the experts.

Happy Wednesday, Friends! Is it just me or is summer just flying by?

Let’s get down to the good stuff -

Study Conducted on the Bedroom Habits of You City Dwellers Yields Interesting Results: Trojan (yeah, the trusted condom company) published the results of their annual U.S. Sex Census of over 2,000 men and women from ten major U.S. cities. Find out which cities fakes the most orgasms, is the most vibrator-friendly, and so much more!

Need to Escape a Bad Date? There’s an App for That: You meet at a restaurant, crouch into a booth, when BOOM! He reveals he’s a Scientologist before the fried mozzarella arrives. CHECK PLEASE! But you don’t ask for the check because you don’t want to be rude. Stupid niceties. Check out the app that’s got you covered.

Long-Distance Gaming Couple Meets for the First Time in 5 Years [Video]: This week in adorable… Seriously, this vid will have you grinning like a fool.

Getting Knocked Up and 12 Other Reasons Not To Get Married: Marry for love and never one of these 13 reasons.

The Cause of Declining Marriage Rates and Increasing Divorce Rates in Low-Income Couples: A new study reveals the real reason behind the low-income marriage crisis.

Until next week!

Image credit: Snugasabug.com

Couples Pajamas: Horrible or Adorable? You Decide.: When I discovered a whole world of couples pajamas, I just had to write a post about them – obviously. Check out 20 couples pajamas currently on the market and let us know your thoughts!

How to Be a Good Wife (According to a 1950′s Home Ec Book): If you read nothing else, read this. It will pretty much blow your wifey mind.

Listen Up Ladies, Men Want You to Stop Doing These 6 Things: The men have themselves some hefty complaints of the female variety according to eHarmony. Check out their biggest complaints and my take on ‘em.

The 25 Biggest Male Turn-Offs: I rounded up the top male turn-offs from a variety of sources and then got my lady tush handed to me for it by trolls.

39 Percent of Women Would Choose Food Over Gettin’ It On: A new survey examined the relationship between food, dating, and sex to some very interesting and delicious results.

Man Fined For Eyeing Woman’s Tush: This actually happened. Once again we learn no one is safe from the mystical forces of a perfect booty.

Until next week, keep the lovin’ strong!

Happy 4th of July!!!

I apologize for not publishing last Wednesday’s Love & Sex Roundup. I was on vacay with my family trying to squeeze way too much family togetherness into way too short a time. But I’m back and ready to offer a double dose of Love & Sex to make up for it!

Let’s get this party started:

How to Make Your Relationship Last: Listen, a lasting relationship is what we all want. Love is one of the most widely studied and least understood areas of psychology, and while science has yet to come up all the answers, they’ve come up with these darn good ideas about what makes relationships last.

5 Ways to Gauge Your Marital Health: This was a real eye-opener for me. This marital health checklist helped me identify some personal relationship pitfalls.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Helping a Friend Through a Breakup: Your friend just got dumped and it was ugly-bad. You never liked him anyway, right? The problem is, she did. A lot. Here’s your guide for helping her through without losing yourself in the process.

The Most Awkward Wedding Moments Caught on Video: With all eyes on you, and cameras rolling, it’s only natural to fear your wedding would somehow go viral on YouTube. Well, for these unlikely couples, that’s just what happened.

19 Truly Regrettable Love Tattoos: Roses are red, violets are blue, I love you so much, I got a bad love tattoo. Check out the best of the worst love tattoo fails you have to see to believe.

12 Signs You’re Having an Emotional Affair: Slipper, slippery slope, my friends. Should you find yourself becoming more than “just friends”; you’ll want to check these signs of emotional infidelity before you wreck your relationship:

14 of the Unsexiest Beds You’ve Ever Seen: You’ve never seen anything like these beds. I’ve rounded up the unsexiest bed and bedding options available to buy for your viewing pleasure.

Women Engage in Postpartum Nookie Because They Feel They Should: Science has confirmed the truth about women and postpartum sex.

4 Reasons Couples Fight on Romantic Vacations and How to Stop It: What is it about romantic getaways that cause arguments? My God, there you are, just the two of you with a wine/food/vacation sex agenda. What the hell is there to argue about? We’ve got the answers and the solutions.

Until next week, keep the loving strong!

When you have romance in your life, you want the decor of your bedroom to reflect that. Different features of a bedroom make it ideal for sleeping, reading, or just cuddling with your special someone. Draw on these ideas to put together a perfect bedroom where both feel relaxed and at home, which will help kindle the romance in your relationship.

Removing Distractions: Bedrooms are for relaxing, so it’s best if you remove anything that’s distracting or jarring. Tuck your home office into a corner of the living room or dining room instead of having it in the bedroom, and consider getting rid of the TV, which just brings a lot of noise and light into an otherwise serene space. When you set aside the bedroom as a place that’s just for quiet relaxing, you’ll have an easier time unwinding there as you talk to each other and spend time together.

Choosing Colors: From the paint on the wall to the color of the rug or the throw pillows, the colors in your room have a huge effect on your mood. If you’re trying to create a peaceful haven for rest and relaxation, you’ll want to stick to cool colors or subdued tones. Anything bright may be distracting or jarring when you’re trying to relax. Talk together about how different colors make you feel, then work together to repaint the room in your new color.

Revamping Bedroom Furniture: If you have a set of old, mismatched pieces, consider replacing them with a matching set. The unified look of a matching bed frame, nightstands, and dresser will bring cohesion to the room and give it a refined, mature look. Consider deep woods, like mahogany and cherry. They’re the perfect accent to almost any cool color scheme.

Selecting Bedding: Although it’s tempting to buy a set so you can get everything at once, many bedding sets are lower quality and won’t actually be very comfortable for sleeping. Instead, pick out sheets and comforters separately so you can get the best one of each type. Look for sheets that are soft, thick, and high quality so they’ll hold up after many washes. Choose a comforter based on your climate, and look for a fabric and fill that envelops you rather than floating over you.

Adding Window Treatments: Not only do window treatments make a room look and feel more peaceful, but they are practical as well. They save on your heating bill because they help insulate the windows during the winter. They keep light out so you sleep more soundly. And of course, they add privacy so you feel comfortable in your room and don’t have to worry about being seen from outside.

Reconsidering Lighting: If your bedroom just has one large light in the middle, it’s time to make a change. Add bedside lamps with low wattage bulbs for reading before bed. If you have a reading nook elsewhere, make sure it has a lamp as well. For the primary lighting, consider track lighting on a dimmer so you have more control over the mood lighting.

Especially if it’s been a few years since you last updated your bedroom decor, now is the perfect time to take a close look at each element. Remove things that are out of place and add anything else you need to create a more relaxing space for you and your honey. Although it may take a full workday or two to get everything set up, it will be well worth it when you get to relax together!

Holly is a girl on a mission. She is currently planning her quickly approaching nuptials and trying to stay sane. In her spare time, she enjoys blogging on behalf of Sears and other brands she loves.

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I never thought I would fall in love. After all, I was twenty six years old and hadn’t yet. No puppy love, no major crushes, nothing.

I figured that, if I ever did get married, I’d just have to love my husband like a friend. I figured that maybe I just didn’t have it in me to have that sappy, romantic, love feeling that all the movies went on about.

I was wrong.

When I first met him, something changed. For the first time, ever, I felt attracted. It wasn’t anything I immediately noticed. It was like gravity or magnetism; subtle but strong. I wanted to sit closer to him; I even wished he’d hold my hand. And all this on the first date!

Let me explain a bit. After a long dating drought, I decided to try online dating. I did want to get married eventually, and I figured that finding a guy online was just as good, if not better, than running into one at the store or something. This way I could at least weed out the creeps before I went out with them. I talked to a bunch of guys and went on first dates with a handful. He was number five.

I really didn’t think anything would come of it; maybe a fun conversation. He was entirely too cocky and a bit of a know-it-all, it seemed, though we did agree on the big things. I figured that he’d be good for a laugh.

When I approached the restaurant he was waiting outside, sitting in a patio chair.

Though his profile pictures were terrible, I recognized him from his red hair. Then he stood up. I almost fled, right then. Somehow, the notation of his height on his profile had escaped my notice. He was so tall; terrifyingly tall next to my compact figure.

We greeted each other and I couldn’t help but blush a bit as he stared at me. All through dinner, he continued to impress me.

Not with his words, but rather with his quickness and attention. I’d never met a guy who could carry on more than one conversation at a time.

After we’d both finished eating and the wait staff glared in our direction for the fourth or fifth time, we agreed to go out to the porch and continue talking. There was just something, something that made me not want to leave.

We got to the porch and I was faced with a decision. Sit in the chairs, or on the couch? I chose the couch and gestured for him to sit next to me. He sat with a grin. I talked, gesturing and looking up at the stars. Every time I glanced over at him, he was staring at me.

“What?” I finally asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Your profile pictures don’t do you justice,” he said quietly.

I blushed and stuttered out a thanks, continuing my conversation. The whole time I spoke, I played with the hem of my shirt. I wanted, so badly, to take his hand, but I didn’t know why. What was it about him that made me react like that?

It didn’t really hit me until I was driving home. Attraction. I was attracted to him! This was an entirely new concept for me.

But attraction doesn’t make love. Love is a decision; one I fought. I fought the feeling because of fear.

For someone to go from an entirely practical view of dating and relationships to being swept away by emotion, attraction, and just a perfect fit was inconceivable. And yet it happened, for all my struggles.

On our profiles, we both said we’d have to date for at least a year or two before we even thought of marriage. Six months at least before confessing love. A few months before even kissing.

We kissed after just a few dates. We confessed our love after two months. He asked me to marry him after four.

It is true. All the movies and television shows and books. Love can work like that. It can strike when you least expect it.

You don’t have to push yourself to find love. When love comes, it will make itself known in no uncertain terms.

Like lighting, love is unpredictable, blinding, and you definitely know when you’ve been struck.

Author Bio

Nancy Parker was a professional nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, Parenting, Child Care, Babysitting, nanny background check tips etc. You can reach her @ nancy.parker015 @ gmail.com.