Romance on a Little Island

Our first kiss happened on a little island in Long Island Sound, off the coast of Connecticut. It wasn't technically our first kiss, it was actually the second, but it was the first kiss that meant something.
My boyfriend, who was not my boyfriend at the time and wouldn't be for at least another 2 months, got this idea and told me about it. It wasn't a surprise; he knows I don't like surprises. I agreed and thought it would be fun and different. He left out a lot of the details, which I wouldn’t find out until later.
Nothing could prepare me for the scope of his little plan.
While I was at work, little did I know, he spent the whole day cooking, chopping wood, shopping for food and wine, and getting the canoe ready.
When I got off work, I went home and he came over around 5:00. On top of his truck was a huge canoe and in the cab of his truck were two coolers, one with food and one with wine, and some blankets and pillows.
We got in the car and drove to the Thimble Islands in Branford, a bunch of little tiny islands dotting the sound, about 25 minutes away from where I live. I helped him get the canoe off the roof of the truck and then he packed it with the coolers and blankets.
We rowed for about a half hour. I reveled in the complete quiet of the water, with the occasional sound of our oars sloshing through it. The sky was getting dark on the horizon, like the sinister looking dark when a storm is rolling in at dawn; however, no rain fell that night.
We finally found a suitable island. We were pretty far out and by the time we got there and got out of the canoe, it was already dark.
My boyfriend laid out the blankets and pillows and I sat down while he built a roaring fire in front of me. It was so warm, even though September brings chilly nights.
When the fire was ready, he opened one of the three different types of wine he had bought. We drank it out of real crystal glasses.
Then, he took the food he had cooked out of the coolers. He had wrapped it all in tin foil so he could lay it by the fire to warm it up. He made chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes. He also brought several of my favorite dipping sauces for the chicken. While the food was warming up, he took out seasoned shrimp which we cooked over the fire and had as our appetizer.
One little tragedy almost occurred when we realized that the fire was starting to die...why? Because the water was starting to close in on us. So, my boyfriend moved the entire set-up, including the fire, yes he picked up and moved the fire, to a high rock. I sat there while he brought everything up to the rock. He stoked the fire up again and there was a perfect little alcove in the rock where we put it, which hid it from the wind.
When the food was warmed up, he took out the plates and silverware and we ate dinner together on the rock.
After dinner, we ate dessert, a wonderful recipe he had made up that day.
When dinner was over and put away, we laid on the rock. He kneeled over me and leaned down close to my face and we kissed.
It was so special...a perfect night...and it was after 12:00 am, which would make it the 5th, his birthday.
I ended up falling asleep on the rock and when I woke up at 1:30, he had the canoe packed up and ready to push off. He told me to sit in the canoe and not worry about rowing...he would take care of it. I think I helped a little though. When we got back to shore, I stayed in the car while he tied the canoe down. Then, we drove home. It was the most romantic night I have ever experienced and the most thoughtful and creative thing that anyone has ever done for me.

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Romantic Ideas

Romantic Ideas

Make a little loving gesture every day for one full year. Cuddle on the sofa and watch a movie. Take a bubble bath together. Walk on the beach in the moonlight. Put a note in a romance novel saying, "The story is great but our own love story is the best". Put a single red rose on the seat of your lover's car before they go to work. Send your lover a virtual postcard at least once a week. Get every book ever written by your loved one's favorite author. Get every movie starring your lovers favorite actor. Keep twenty pounds of your lovers favorite candy on hand. Take her to see the movie Titanic fifteen times. Make love to him/her every night until he/she asks you to stop. Give him/her twelve dozen roses on all their special days. Compose a list: "101 Reasons Why You're the Greatest" Write each reason on a separate square of paper. Wrap them in a fancy gift box. Sprinkle perfume on to light bulb. When light is turned on the scent of the perfume will fill the room. Relax with a glass of white wine. Listen to a romantic audio tape, fix a cup of hot flavored tea, and light two candles. Keep a journal of your romantic fantasies. Share it with your soul mate. Buy a bunch of fish at a pet store. It doesn't matter what kind. Leave it for your lover with a note saying " Out of all the fish in the sea, you are the one for me". Take a picture of yourself in the most sexy outfit possible. Hide in a secret spot in your house and leave him or her clues on how to get there. Watch the sparks fly! Put a blindfold on your lover and drive them to a place where you have a blanket, candles, strawberries, sparkling drinks, and a rose. Park the car and take off the blindfold while you read a poem you have written for them. While your lover is in the shower, or bath, put their bath towel in a hot dryer for a few minutes. Greet them when they get out of the shower with the toasty towel. Pull the bag out of your lovers breakfast cereal box and slit a small hole in it. Insert a love note. Tape up the bag and return it to the box. What a way to start the day! Write a list of 50 or more things you like or love about your sweetheart. Unplug the TV set. Put a note on the screen saying, "Turn Me on Instead". Play "hide-and-seek" in the rain. It's fun and VERY sensual! Build your lover a web page telling them why you love them so much. Mention special moments and add some images and cool links to topics that interest them. Surf the web with them one day and just "stumble upon it". Or have someone send them an anonymous email with the link inviting them to the page.

Fill bathtub with warm water sprinkled with rose petals. Fix a hot cup of Raspberry Chocolate, cuddle in a warm afghan and watch An Affair to Remember. Place a perfumed handkerchief in the dryer with your sheets before drying. Send your love a letter with confetti hearts inside of the letter so they pour out everywhere when your sweetheart opens it. Surprise your partner to a personalized romantic gift from Perfectly Engraved Invite your sweetie to an intimate dinner at your place. Make a pizza and with the pepperoni you can write something sweet, like "you are the one for me". Share your romantic fantasies. Write your own love poems then record them on a tape and give them to your sweetheart. Give your love an antique compass and say "You will never lose me". Your love will swear the needle always points to their heart! While your love takes a shower, write the words "I love you" in the condensation of the bathroom mirror. Leave a trail of "Hershey's chocolate kisses" from the front door to the bedroom, right up to the bed. On the bed leave a note that reads 'I kiss the ground you walk on.' Make sure you're not home when s/he gets in! Write a love note or poem on a piece of paper and then cut it up into puzzle-like pieces. Send one a day to your special someone. Play the game of monopoly with a few new rules. Change boardwalk into backrub, and Tennessee into take your shirt off. Every time you pass go, you get a kiss. etc. Look straight into the eyes of your love and PAY ATTENTION to what they tell you! Tell your mate something about you that no one else knows. Look into the eyes of your special someone often. "The eyes are the window to the soul". Weave love, sex, intimacy, passion and romance into the fabric of your daily lives. Carve "His" and "Hers" jack-o-lanterns at Halloween. Buy a set of matching silk pajamas, and take turns modeling them for each other. Camp-out in a tent with your lover and picnic in a tree house Men: Talk more. Women: Touch more. Spend one solid hour exploring various kissing techniques. Turn your "bedroom" into a "boudoir". Use soft colors and fabrics, fresh cut flowers on your nightstand, mirrors everywhere, etc. Hang your lovers Favorite art on your walls.

French kissing

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Ahh, the French Kiss...The timeless symbol of romantic passion that we all have seen two people engaging in, one way or another. We see it in movies, hear about it from friends, see it happening at parties, and read about it in books and magazines. Chances are, if you haven't experienced it, you want to. It is an exciting and intimate moment between two people who are attracted enough to each other to kiss. French kissing can come quite naturally to some of us, and can intimidate the rest.

If you are interested in French kissing, I also highly recommend the Intructables on the site How to Kiss and How to Make Out. Both are very informative and helpful to those curious about kissing and hit all the topics that should be addressed. Not sure how to kiss? Well, French kissing shares many of the same principles as normal kissing and making out as far as technique, but if you are interested in gaging body language or how to work up to a French kiss, take a look around.

In this Instructable, I aim to focus on the French Kiss alone. The French kiss is not a science, but rather an art that is open to interpretation for all who are interested. There is a certain amount of skill involved, but it is mostly instinct that will come naturally with time. By creating this Instructable, I hope to help you be a confident, compassionate, French kisser and alleviate your nervousness about kissing.

Step 1The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

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There are some standards of things that are fairly constant across the board that I will go in to depth about. The definition of a French kiss, as defined by wikipedia, is "a passionate romantic or sexual kiss in which one participant's tongue touches the other's tongue (or lips) and usually enters his/her mouth." Well, I think we all knew that much, so I hope to be able to teach how to French kiss well. We have all heard horror stories about "bad kissers" and obviously do not want to be labeled as such. Read on to find some "Do's" and "Don'ts" of French kissing.

Step 2Preparation - Have Fresh Breath

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Having bad breath is a major turn off for many partners out there. Having good breath is something you should want to have around people in general. It is especially important for a French kiss as you will be exchanging saliva with your partner. Try to not to eat smelly things before a kiss such as garlic or onions. Gum and mints help, but can only do so much. In the event of having smelly food, or in the event of having food that leaves a residue in your mouth, it is best to brush your teeth if you can. If you can't bush your teeth, try drinking lots of water to clean out your mouth. Then try mints/ gum.

Note:
This is not necessary for all partners, but until you know your partner's kissing preferences, it is a good thing to take into consideration as most people enjoy the clean palate so that they can focus on the kiss, itself.

Step 3Have Soft, moist lips

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Chapstick is something that guys and gals alike can carry on them and use often. Soft lips are enticing where as dry lips are quite the opposite. Would you want to kiss someone with cracked, chapped lips or soft, smooth lips? I though so. :P

This is something very easy to do! Just carry around a tube with you and apply as need. Voila! Instant kissable lips. Also, keep in mind that most lipsticks can be very sticky and unpleasant to transfer via kiss. They look pretty, yes, but be sure if you want to use lipstick or gloss, that it will not hinder the kiss. Sometimes flavored lip gloss can be fun. ;)

Step 4Find Someone to Kiss

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Hopefully you have someone in mind before this point, but if it is a spur of the moment urge, find yourself someone you would like to kiss. Make sure they want to be kissed as well, otherwise, the kiss may very well end unpleasantly. You can generally tell if someone wants to be kissed by their body language. If they are willing to be very close to you and touch you, if they have steady eye contact, and if they have been flirting, it is a good bet that they want to be kissed.

Be confident

I know that this may be a little tricky at this point, but it's very important. By the time you're done here, confidence should not be an issue. Confidence is important because it shows your partner that you want to kiss them and have no doubt. It helps them relax, too.

Step 5Start off Slowly

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Lean in closely to your partner and look into their eyes. If they want to be kissed, kiss them. Tilt your head slightly to the side so that your noses do not bump. Keep eye contact with them until your lips touch, at which point you should close your eyes. It is generally considered rude to kiss with your eyes open and can ruin the intimacy of the moment.

Let your lips softly touch and pull away from each other in a kiss. Pause for a moment and gage how the other person is enjoying this kiss. You can pull away slightly to look into their eyes. If they liked your kiss, try another one on them. Maybe let this one last a moment longer or kiss them a couple times. Make sure your kisses are soft. 

 

Step 6 How to know when to transition you kiss to a French kiss

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There isn't going to be a moment at which you will want to stop and ask for permission, "Hey, mind if we swap saliva?" So, you will need to test the waters to see if your partner wants to be kissed. When you have decided you want to French kiss, start kissing your partner with a slight open mouth, but keep your tongue inside. This lets your partner know that your mouth is open and that you are up for French kissing. Continue kissing with an open mouth and then, very slightly, touch your partner's lips with your tongue. If they respond negatively, stop. If they don't respond, then be patient. They might not be ready yet. If your partner mirrors your actions by opening their mouth, then they are ready to move on.

 

Step 7 An open mouth kiss

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By now, you and your partner are probably both gingerly touching each other with your tongues. If you are both comfortable, feel free to explore each other's mouths with your tongues. Keep in mind that it's always better to do a little bit at a time to get a feel for it. Remember to occasionally pull your tongue into your own mouth so you do not bombard your partner. Small, exploring French kisses are what you want for the moment.

Swallow your saliva. French kisses are bound to get a little messy, but control it as much as you can by swallowing your saliva. If you can't do this while kissing, do it when you are giving your partner a short break from the French kiss. This should be a short, momentary break and you should continue to be engaged with your hands.

Continue exploring each other's mouths. Keep a soft tongue For most people, it is a major turn off to feel a ridged tongue in their mouth. It isn't welcoming or sensual in any way. Remember that your tongue is one of the most sensitive parts on your body and should be kissed as such. Think of licking ice cream from a soft-serve cone. You don't want a lot of pressure. Just enough to lick a small layer of ice cream off. That is the same thing to think about when kissing.

Step 8 Remember your hands

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When kissing, it is very important to remember your hands in relation to your partner's body. When you begin kissing, keep your hands gently touching your partner. Try gingerly stroking their cheek or running your fingers through their hair.

As the kiss progresses, so may your hands. Try running your hand down their back while one hand plays with their hair. Or just embrace them gently. You will find what you are most comfortable with. The important thing is to remember not to let your arms just hang there! Let your hands mirror what your mouth is up to.

Step 9Remember your partner!

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Remember that not everybody likes to be kissed the same way and be mindful of that. Be open to trying new things for your partner and be willing to kiss them differently if that is what they like. You want this experience to be optimum for both parties. :)

Make sure to be a good partner. The best kissers are those who figure out how their partner likes to be kissed. I have given the best guidelines that follow how most people like to be kissed, but remember to be considerate if your partner wants to try something different.

If your partner is not happy, neither will you be eventually because they will not want to kiss you anymore! Although it may seem awkward, talk to your partner at a later time and ask them how they like to be kissed the best and take it into consideration.

Step 10Practice makes perfect!

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Don't have anyone to try this with quite yet? No problem, you can still practice. Remember how we talked about the soft-serve ice cream cone? Try one out with kissing in mind. Remember how your tongue feels in that way.

Don't be embarrassed to practice on yourself! Well, you don't have to tell anyone if you don't want to, but practicing on yourself is a great way to start. Trying kissing your hand and follow the technique.

Everybody will develop their own "art" to French kissing, so just give it time! The more you do it, the better you'll get! Thankfully, it's fun to practice!

Now go out there and grab yourself somebody to kiss! Have fun and be safe!

This was my first Instructable and if you enjoyed it, let me know! I would love to get some feed back. :)

Kissing Advice

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This is an instructable on how to kiss. Kissing can be a hard thing to do until you get comfortable doing it, and while nothing can fully prepare you for a kiss, this how-to will explain some of the basics of kissing a partner and explore some simple kissing do's and don't's.

Note: I am by no means a kissing expert. The information in this instructable is based upon experience and some simple research on the subject.

Let's get started with just a simple kiss.

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Step 1Pre Kiss

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The lead up to the kiss can actually be the most difficult part of kissing. Figuring out whether your partner is ready to kiss you or not can be a challenge of its own.

If you see one or a combination of these indicators, there is a good chance that your partner is thinking about kissing you.

• eyes become soft and heavy
• eye contact is made and sustained
• head turns slightly
• lips are licked or bitten
• your partner makes physical contact with you beyond what seems appropriate for normal conversation (e.g. he or she brushes your hand, touches you on the shoulder or leg, or fidgets with an accessory)
• easy conversation comes to a stop, but eye contact is not broken
• your partner smiles in conjunction with any of the above behaviors

To give your partner the cue that you wish to kiss him or her, you can try one or a combination of these things.

• soften your gaze by relaxing the muscles around your eyes, somewhat like smiling but without engaging your mouth
• smile often, though
• make eye contact and allow it to linger for a few moments longer than you normally would
• find ways to subtly (but respectfully) touch your partner

If you think you are picking up some of these signs, but are still unsure if the person wants to be kissed then there is nothing wrong with just simply asking your partner if a kiss would be all right. Granted it breaks the mood a bit, and sensing the magic is always nicer than asking if it's there, but better to be sure your partner is on board for the kiss otherwise you might be heading for an embarrassing situation.

If you've assessed the situation, and it seems probable that a kiss is imminent, the next things to think about are timing and approach. The key to nailing the pre kiss is matching your partner's speed and intensity. The kiss is the first opportunity to physically connect with your partner, and so you want to meet him or her halfway.

Here are some steps you could follow as you go in for the kiss. Keep in mind that the kiss you share with someone is as unique as your relationship with that person, so follow your instincts and use the following as a rough guideline.

1. Establish a physical connection by placing your hands on your partner's body. Placement depends on the dynamic between you, you can softly touch the face, the back of the neck or the shoulders. Be gentle with your touch if this is the first contact you are making. Stay away from "high risk" zones on your partners body, as you just want to indicate that you are interested in kissing them, not give them a full body search.

2. Establish and maintain eye contact from this point on. The eyes are often a clear indicator if someone wants to be kissed, or is thinking about kissing you. Try to look at your partner with a deep, yet soft gaze. Use your eyes to send them a message that shows how you feel for your partner, e.g., "I care for you, I am on fire when I look at you, I want to kiss you."

3. As you lean in, you may want to tilt your body and head to accommodate your partner's positioning. One partner will have to make room for the other, or both partners can just slightly tilt heads in opposite directions. Basically you are just trying to avoid a nose collision as you get closer, so just pick a side to turn to and don't give it too much thought.

4. Gauge how quickly your partner is leaning in and try to meet at the halfway point between you, so neither person is overextended. Over/under extension can make one person feel like they are not getting met and are either too aggressive, or not engaged enough.

If you have come this far with your partner chances are you are going to kiss, or you have misread the entire situation and they are just leaning in to look at something stuck in your teeth.
If the first is true, then read on because it's time to pucker up and get on with THE KISS.

Kissing Advice

Learn the true art of kissing for success, including french kissing techniques, tips and advice for the ultimate kiss

What is romance without a kiss?

When wishing for romance, your kisses had better be good to make a favorable impression. It may not be fair, but some will judge you on your first kiss as to whether or not they will want to see you again. In other words, there needs to be good chemistry when kissing.

A good kiss delivers a powerful impact! If you're a great kisser, you're going to turn your date on and you will have a definite edge.

What distinguishes a good kisser from the kisser we all want to forget? The key is to be soft and gentle and follow their lead. Here are some good romantic kissing tips to enhance your love life:

Step One

Be careful not to startle - watch and wait for the signal to proceed

Avoid the 'ambush' kiss (although these can be exciting as your relationship progresses.)

Look deeply into your partner's eyes. This will send the message that you like them and want to be closer to them.

Look for their signals as well. Look for a warm, kind smile (even a slight smile is good; it doesn't have to be BIG.)

Pay attention to the look on your loved one's face. This will indicate where they want to go with this kiss.

Step Two

Look for good balance. As you move closer to that magical kiss, you don't want to be leaning too forward awkwardly to get there.

As you move closer you are sending signals. You want your body to be in a comfortable position during the kiss, so you can enjoy every moment of it.

Go for a light touch just before the kiss. While a hand lightly on the face is a definite signal of intimacy, holding hands combined with eye contact and a warm look can indicate the beginning of a great kiss to come.

Make sure you are aligned correctly at this point. This means not only getting your lips on track with theirs, but getting the head tilted correctly as well.

Tilt your head slightly to one side first. Your partner will likely react and tilt the other way. This is a mutual sign that the kiss will be very welcomed.

Step Three

Relax your lips, close your eyes.

Move in slowly. During step number two you made sure the two of you were aligned correctly, now you can close your eyes as you're just about to make contact.

Relax your lips, not tightly pressed together. Give your partner the pleasant experience of feeling your lips softly against theirs.

Your lips should be recently moistened, but not wet.

Step Four

Relax your lips, tilt your head and breathe evenly.

Moving in, you can part your lips slightly just before contact. Keep your lips relaxed, your tongue in your mouth.

Keep your head tilted so both of you can still breathe comfortably on contact and as the perfect kiss is held...

SAVOR every moment ... be slow, gentle, easy.

Step Five

Keep it sweet, not too long and not too wet.

Don't pull away too quickly or make any quick movements. Savor. Savor. Savor. Feel the power and romance of the kiss.

Enjoy the moment!

Step Six

Take your time and don't rush. Make eye contact, nonverbal and verbal messages.

To end, pull away slowly and make eye contact again. Show a satisfied, warm smile to reinforce how you feel.

Enjoy the closeness, relax, and finish the kiss with a warm embrace.

A few, thoughtful words, such as, "That was nice," can be whispered. Try to reinforce how you felt about your kiss with positive words. Your partner will appreciate this and this can break the ice a little.

Now that you have mastered the romance of a kiss....you are well on your way to learn even more about how to enhance your romance life!