Having Starbucks Coffee dates with Your Spouse can be Romantic too

Yes a simple walk to Starbucks Coffee near your neighborhood, downtown 2219 - 4th Street SW Calgary, AB, or a drive by to a mall just like in our photos (it's at Southcentre Mall) can be a romantic idea for you and your spouse...

Read a book while sipping that White Chocolate Mocca Frappuccino and Vivieno Starbucks.. it's relaxing... and it's fun ;) Do this once in a while...  although watch the sugar content on it from time to time.  lol

Enjoy your Saturday afternoon with Starbucks coffee ... oh love it!

Enjoy reading, learning and growing in your marriage life at the same time!

Anything can be Romantic, remember that!

Bring Her a Bouquet of Flowers

This is what I love about my spouse.  He's not the kind of guy who loves to give gifts but he is very coachable and always listen when I say something that I love about.

I love romantic things and one of those I love are flowers.  Although my mom used to tell me all the time that flowers seems useless because they just wither right away.  But I don't know.  I just love flowers and it makes me feel more loved and cared for.

So girls and boys, if you love something, tell your spouse - just like what I did.  I verbally and literrally told my spouse, "I love to receive flowers all the time, once a week or once a month..."  and lucky me, he'll just smile or laugh with me or sometimes tell me, he will give me some flowers some time.  Although I wanted him to buy me those flowers right there at that moment and bring those beautiful flowers home.

Dave is amazing.  One afternoon, he usually goes home around 5:30pm and I got worried when he's not home around 6pm.  So when I called Dave one time where he is, he said that he just went for a gas or some excuse.  And when he got home about 6pm or 6:15pm, I was surprised when I opened our door seeing him with a bouquet of flowers in his hands - usually a bouquet of roses or a bouquet of lilies - Oh I love them.  He's so cute.

Thanks Love.  I just wanna share this romantic idea to all the married couples in Calgary or to all the people who love romance and/or who wants more romance in their relationship.

So have fun surprising your spouse with our romantic ideas.  Go get her/him some flowers! 

P.S. In Calgary area, my husband usually buys those bouquet of flowers in Safeway Mission area at 524 Elbow Dr SW 403-228-6141.  Actually any Safeway Superstore locations have flowers department and you can just drop by and surprise your spouse.

Surprise Your Spouse by Sending a Love Letter to His/Her Work

Okay, this is not my original idea.

This romantic idea of Sending a Love Letter to your spouse came from a book "1001 Ways to Be Romantic" by Gregory J. P.Godek.

Yes, it is very effective and very romantic.  When I read this idea from his book, I immediately picked out a "Romance" card, wrote some sweet nothings in there, and the next day mailed it with a domestic (Canadian) stamp.  I decided not to put my information or the sender's information of course because it's suppose to be a surprise "Just Because" romantic idea, right?  I mailed the Romantic card to his office and addressed it to him.

Yes, he was very surprised.  He had no idea who it came from.  When he opened the card, TTTAAAARRRAA!! haha

The Romance Card came from his lovely wife, myself ;) He texted me that he was so surprised and felt so loved when he received it.  He appreciated it so much that I was so inspired to do more of showing some love.. I know it's cheesy but it's real ;) love it! I love being married!

So now, you've got some great romantic idea from me (ok originally from Greg).. why don't you try it, surprise your spouse by sending some love letter or romantic card in his/her workplace.  If your spouse stays at home, send it from your work to your own house - just make sure he/she gets the mails before you do. HAHA.  Come on now!  No excuses!  I know he/she will surely love it!

Have fun!!! Keep sending some love out there!

Ming, Eat & Drink Restaurant in Calgary - Chinese restaurant but classy and stylish

It's really cool living in downtown Calgary.  We moved in to our 1 Bedroom Apartment on 5 St. & 18 Ave. SW this winter and since this is our first spring here in Calgary, this is also our first time for our romantic walk dates. 

Dave and I enjoyed last week walking and strolling around, trying to choose which restaurants to dine out with.  It's great to have the accessibility of everything and the varieties of great restaurants to choose from.

April 1, 2010 - we found a cool, classy, and romantic restaurant after going in to 2 restaurants (Ship & Ancor Pub and Bungalow Lounge) in the neighborhood, we settled for  Ming.Eat.Drink. located on 520 17 Avenue SW Calgary, AB (403) 229-1986; Mon-Sun from 4pm-2am.

Ming Restaurant has a great design; very modern but didn't fail to show their culture.  We love the atmosphere of the restaurant, it's quiet, relaxing, and romantic.  The food is good.  I love their appetizer, the Ginger Beef - yummy!  The one I chose for myself for main dish was something with pizza (I didn't remember the name).  It was okay but not excellent.  Maybe because I was expecting a different taste.  With my husband Dave, he chose the salmon burger with yam fries and it was good.  I know you'll ask what's for desserts but we didn't order because we're already full that we had to pack some pizza to go.  lol.



Anyways, a 1st time "a walk to remember" in our neighborhood downtown Calgary turned into another romantic date with my spouse <3 and we love it ;)  We're excited for more beautiful and romantic dinners to come.  It's surprising there's lots of great restaurants out there in Calgary, Alberta that we haven't gone to.

So what are you waiting for?  You can bring your spouse to an amazing and romantic dinner one evening this week and show her/him how much you love her/him.  Yes! Just surprise her/him!  Enjoy your alone time.

Great Books to Improve Your Romance in Your Marriage

I'm only going to mention the books that I have read or am currently reading that's helping our marriage life as well.  I know there are a bunch of great books out there that could improve your romance in your marriage life.

Here are the books so far that continually helps our marriage in our day-to-day and will add more later:

1. The Love Dare by Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick
2. Married for Life by Bill Morelan
3. 5 Languages of Love by Gary Chapman
4.  1001 Ways to be Romantic by Gregory J. P. Godek
5. A Year of Romance by Mara Goodman-Davies
6. One Year Book of Devotions for Couples by David Ferguson & Teresa Ferguson 

 Enjoy learning and growing in your romance for your marriage life.  Go and buy those books from Chapters or Indigo.  For more savings on your dollars, buy those romantic books from bookstores that sells Used Books.  In Calgary, there's lots of Used Bookstores to go.  Here are a few of the many Bookstores we go to that sells marriages / relationships books:

  

• Books-On-Fourth - 2100 4 Street SW Calgary, AB T2S 1W7 (403) 228-5256

• Fair's Fair for Book Lovers: (they have several locations in Calgary) 

Inglewood, 907 – 9th Avenue SE
Calgary, AB T2G 0S5
(403) 237-8156

Mount Royal, 1609 – 14th Street SW
Calgary, AB T3C 1E4
(403) 245-2778

Macleod Trail, 7400 Macleod Trail S
Calgary, AB T2H 0L9
(403) 269-7778

Ranchlands, 1829 Ranchlands Blvd. NW
Calgary, AB T3G 2A7
(403) 241-2926

• Blessings Christian Marketplace- 8-1825 32 Avenue NE Calgary, AB T2E 7C8 (403) 291-3326

Have fun!

Romantic Weekend Getaway in Canmore and Banff Alberta

It was our first of the many romantic getaways Dave and I went to this year 2010.  It was really fun.

February 13, 2010- February 15, 2010 - 3 days and 2 nights and we stayed at Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge in Canmore.  It was a long weekend, Family Day on Feb. 15 and we decided to spend the weekend with each other rather than with the whole family (parents, siblings, etc.).  It's all worth it.

Our budget was set to $600-$650.  It was a little bit tight for the activities we're considering at the beginning but because of our planning expertise (LOL), we end up just within our budget.  We found a great place to stay in for 2 nights and we had a great deal too.  It was a promotion for only $89/night.  We realized that if we stay at the Banff area, the hotels/motels/lodges are way more expensive than the other hotels/motels/lodges in the surrounding areas.   So we cancelled our reservation from the other hotel in Banff and reserved the one we found at Canmore, Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge (1711 Bow Valley Trail Canmore, AB).

We got the 1 Bedroom Apartment with the kitchen and a fireplace.   It was just perfect for the two of us.  It has a mountain view.  We love it.

The Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge unit was clean, quaint, romantic, and has everything we need.   The kitchen amenities and the cleaning service when we went back after our activities were just perfect.  There is an internet access but we decided not to bring our laptops for that weekend getaway because we both wanted to have an alone time together, no distractions or disturbances.  And yes, we can live without internet.    I would definitely go back there.  They have a sauna and a pool I believe but we didn't get the chance to go there at that time.

We cooked our own breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner.  Of course on that Valentine's Day, February 14, 2010, we had a romantic dinner reservation in Canmore, AB.  We ate at the famous Sage Bistro Restaurant.  It is located at 1712 Bow Valley Trail
Canmore, AB (403) 678-4878.  Yes, Sage Bistro is a very romantic restaurant.  It has a romantic atmosphere, excellent food, great mountain view, and we didn't know, it was walking distance from the Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge.

We were very surprised when we found out that their food were not that expensive compared to other great romantic restaurants out there and in the surrounding areas such as in Banffs and Kananaskis.  Especially on the special day, Valentine's dinner, we only spend less than $100, about $87.18 to be specific. lol.

Here are some of the romantic winter activities we did when we were in Canmore and Banff Alberta:

• Banff Public Carriage /Sleigh Ride - a 45 minute tour that took us along Bow River, showing us the remote areas, western style.  We purchased the tickets ($27/adult) from Banff Adventures Unlimited. 

• Banff Upper Hot Springs 

• Romantic skating time at The Canmore Skating Pond and is located on 7th Avenue at Mallard Alley (just two blocks from Main Street).  The surface is approximately 150m X 60m.  The Pond is the site for several Town winter special events (Skate with Santa, New years on the Pond, Kid & Mutt Races, Ice Carving).  The pond is appropriate for all age groups and is ideal for families.   No sticks or pucks are allowed.   The Pond is a public skating rink so it's free.

•  Talking, laughing, and drinking at Starbucks Coffee in 112-1240 Railway Avenue Canmore, AB T1W 1P4 (403) 609-9552.

• We watched the Valentine's Day movie that Saturday afternoon, Feb. 13, 2010, at the Lux Cinema Centre in 229 Bear St., Banff, (403) 762-8595.  We paid the matinee for $7/adult.  It's fun and cheaper.

• We brought our DVDs and watched them at our suite in Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge.

• It's funny how we also end up watching Olympics in the suite during our 3 days, 2nights romantic weekend get away. 

• Making love day in and day out.  (Of course no pictures)  Lol.

• And more.

The whole romantic weekend getaway for us is a way to reignite our passion for each other, to be alone again, and  to give each other's undivided attention in spite of the fact that we don't have kids yet at this time.  However, we believe this was a time for us to be away for awhile from other things that ask for attention (i.e. families, friends, business, community, work, etc.).

It's amazing how relaxing it is and how wonderful it feels like to have a romantic weekend getaway with your spouse and at the same time celebrate another holiday, for instance Valentine's Day and Family Day, in our case.  We are looking for more romantic getaways soon.  Stay tuned!

Now is the time to start planning your own romantic weekend getway with your spouse! Have fun!