Romance 101 – Week 13

Romance Tip 13:

- See a Professional Photographer.

Single? Now is the perfect time to commemorate how fantastic you are. Not when you lose five pounds. Not when you have a boyfriend or get that fantastic promotion, right now. Either find a photography studio that does hair and makeup or splash out and go to a salon. Get your hair and make up done, fish out that amazing dress you only wear on special occasions and get your photo taken, exactly as you are now.

Avoid wearing jewellery or clothes that will look dated in a few years and make sure you ask the stylist for a neutral, natural look.

Not only will you come away with gorgeous photos you can look back on in thirty years, but you’ll have a new, fresh image of yourself for online dating profiles, facebook and your blog. Send a copy to your parents for Christmas and don’t be ashamed to frame it and put it up somewhere in your house. You’re gorgeous Who wouldn’t want a picture of you around?

Dating? If you’re still early in your relationship, it may seem a little formal to get professional photos done. However if you last the distance, you’ll be glad you have such a nice memento of your early years. If you’ve been together a while, it’s the perfect opportunity to get some nice pictures done and celebrate the time you’ve spent together.

Photos are some of the most special keepsakes you can have. In emergency situations, they’re usually the first material things people try and save. Not only that, they will last well beyond your lifetime. A few years ago my grandmother died and many of her old photos and slides ended up going to me. There are a collection of professional photos taken at her wedding and they are utterly gorgeous. She looks like she could be my sister.

The photos you take now might not just be enjoyed by you and your children, but your grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Remember! Finding the right photographer is paramount. Visit their websites and look at their online galleries before committing to anyone. You want to find someone who matches your own personal style, be it quirky and alternative, or traditional and classical.

Be sure exactly what you are getting for your money. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and ask for alternatives if they don’t offer a package that suits your needs.

Romance 101 – Week 7

Romance Tip 07

- Visit a fair, market or festival together.

Single? Call up some friends for a cheap and entertaining day out. Markets are always free—though sometimes you have to pay to get into festivals or shows, so call or look them up online before you head out. Make the most of the food stalls and live entertainment. Talk to people, plan to take it slow and relax. You can find what is happening in your area by looking in smaller local newspapers, online community bulletin boards, by listening, or even calling, local radio stations and by googling your area and upcoming weekend dates.

Who knows, you might even make friends with some cute guys or girls who want to invite you out for drinks later! Always be friendly and bring an open mind. Fesitvals and shows can lead to all kinds of fun adventures!

Dating? Festivals, fairs, shows and markers are great places for couples. It’s a lazy way to spend a whole day, just slowly walking around together, chatting and relaxing. There is always food stalls and often there is live music and performances, local arts and crafts, small business stalls and interesting products and novelties. The whole day can be about the two of you, spending time together, with no need to rush or do much of anything except exactly what you feel like at the time.

The best thing about festivals and fairs is that most only come around once a year—so they are always a break from habit. Breaks from habit are very good for relationships! It will give you something new to talk about, and maybe a new interest to pursue.

Remember! While many festivals are annual and markets tend to be monthly, there are hundreds of different ones, running all around you, all year. In most areas, you should be able to find a fair, market, festival or show within a few hours’ drive of you, every single weekend. Don’t discount the trade shows either. Camping, farming, pet and bridal exhibitions are excellent, even if you don’t think you have an interest in those areas. Small town shows are great too—you always find the zaniest, most creative things! Not to mention foods you will probably never experience again. Which is probably for the best...

Romance 101 - Week 3

ROMANCE TIP 03:

- Take a class/do a workshop together.

Single? Grab a friend and find and amazing class or workshop you can take together. Most workshops will be related to a creative activity (cooking, art, craft goods) or a sport (dancing, fishing, self defence). You’ll also be able to find special interest workshops, such as wine tasting, cheese making or dairy farming. Check newspapers, community centre online notice boards, local council websites, universities, TAFEs and local arts centre websites to find courses that interest you, or just google your area and see what comes up.

Here’s a quick list of things I can think of that would be awesome fun to do.

- Life drawing classes

- Oil painting classes

- Photography classes

- Knitting classes

- Rock climbing classes

- Cooking classes

- Wine tasting classes

- Gardening classes

- Writing workshops

- Dance classes

- Self defence classes

- Wood working classes

- Pottery and sculpture classes

- Defensive driving classes

- First Aid classes

- Craft classes

- Martial arts classes

- Sailing classes

- Yoga workshops

- Better sex/couples workshops

- Digital art/photoshop classes

- Website design classes

- Landscaping workshop

- Renovating workshop

- Massage workshop

- Installing and maintaining a pond or water-feature workshop

- Pilates workshop

- Acting classes

- Singing classes

- Editing digital videos workshop

- Bookmaking classes

- Scrapbooking workshop

I could do this all day. There are so many classes and workshops around—if you can’t find one that interests you, you must be a very dull person!

Dating? If you’re dating, it’s important to find something that interests you both. Or perhaps you can broaden each other’s horizons by each picking a different class and surprising one and other with it. However remember it’s not a punishment, you want to find something the two of you can have fun at together. Getting out and doing something interesting and different will bring novelty back to the relationship and give you something else to talk about. And something like dance, massage or sex classes will likely spice things up in other areas of your life too!

Remember! New experiences and novel activities keep the brain healthy and active. With any kind of relationship, romantic or otherwise, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. We all have our habits and most of us have jobs that keep our schedule pretty consistent. If you don’t mix it up every so often, you might as well be a dairy cow. But workshops not only get us out of the house and somewhere new, they also teach us something and maybe introduce us to a new passion in life!