Plan a Romantic Dinner for Two

First, if you have children or other people living with you, make other arrangements for them for the evening. You don’t want to be interrupted, and you want to relax and reconnect with your partner. If you're both in on the plan, make it official and send an actual invitation to set the date and time.

When planning your menu, try to focus on your partner’s favorite foods. Or choose a happy memory you’ve shared to inspire the meal choices. Did you honeymoon in Italy? Then you can focus on Italian cuisine. Last year’s trip to the Caribbean can set the menu. Or if she loves all things French, haul out the cookbook and cook up something fancy. Start with small finger foods that you could feed each other, and make sure to end with a decadent dessert. Just don't overreach - you want to be eating and enjoying yourself, not calling the fire department when the roast goes up in flames.

Splurge on a nice bottle of wine or mix up a special cocktail for the evening. It’s a decadent choice that signals this evening is out of the ordinary. You are meant to be enjoying yourselves and a special treat like that helps set the mood.

Set up your MP3 player or stereo to play romantic music. Find a CD compilation of romantic classical music and let it play. Set up a play list of jazzy standards sung by the greats. Or arrange to play all your own favorite songs, just so long as it’s not so rocking that it intrudes on your conversation.

Transform your home with some simple decorating. Dim the lights and set out candles instead. (But don’t opt for scented ones – you don’t want the lingering odors as you’re trying to eat.) Buy flowers and use them as the centerpiece on the table. Drape swaths of fabric to hide the everyday distractions in your house, like the computer or television. And make sure to set the table with cloth napkins and your finest dishes and glassware.