10 Ways to Spice Up Your Marriage

Whether you've been married for 6 months or 6 years, most marriages could use a little spicing up. And even if everything is going well, why not try out some of these ideas for a little extra fun with the one you love? Here are 10 ideas on how to spice up your marriage.

1. Make sure to schedule a date night.

You may assume this may be only for those with children, but this goes for those childless couples as well. It's easy to fall into a funk where you'd rather just chill at home instead. Take the initiative and plan for one night out on the town once a month. Save money ahead of time so that you're not making excuses at the last moment as to why you can't go out.

2. Take a class together.

Learning something new together can always be a fun experience, and it will give you something to talk about later on. You could take a cooking class, a beer-making class, a wine-tasting class, an art class, etc. The possibilities are endless and it can really spice up your marriage.

3. Get pictures done.

Quick, pull out the last picture taken of you two as a couple. Was it at some wedding you went to a few years ago where you posed for the obligatory, 'we got dressed up, might as well take a picture' shot? Make the effort to get some updated pictures done. If you feel uncomfortable about going to your local department store or something, grab a friend you are comfortable with and ask them to take some pictures with your digital camera. Get at least one of you two kissing...it will definitely spice things up for you.

4. Write each other a love letter.

Challenge each other to write one another a love letter. It doesn't need to contain poetry and prose, it just needs to be sincere and truthful. You don't have to spend a lot of time on it, just a quick thank you for being part of each other's lives can be quite meaningful. Keep the letters and pull them out once in awhile to remind yourselves of why you're together in the first place.

5. Volunteer together.

Are you both animal nuts? Try volunteering at a shelter for a month. Do you both care about the Earth? Try volunteering for Green Peace or a clean-up project this spring. Chances are, you can find some common ground, and volunteering is one way that can spice up your marriage and make you feel great about helping someone else out at the same time.

6. Plan a vacation.

Try and plot out a vacation you've both been dying to take. Saving money together and planning your destination is a great way to spice up your marriage because it requires teamwork and a bit of dreaming together. It also gives you something great to look forward to.

7. Take turns planning dates.

Whether you follow the first suggestion and go out once a month or you go out more often, take turns surprising each other by letting only one partner plan the date. This way, the other partner is surprised and you can have turns having control. This also helps you avoid sitting around and wondering what to do and trying to agree on something. And the element of surprise will definitely spice things up.

8. Say 'I love you' at least once a day.

You don't need to be like those newly dating couples you catch using pet names and saying 'I love you' about a thousand times in one conversation, but challenge yourselves to say it at least once a day, and be sincere about it. Catch your partner off guard, say it when it's least expected, and you're sure to spice things up.

9. Give each other a day off.

Want to really appreciate each other? Give each other a day off. Once in awhile, make a pact to give each other a free day to do absolutely nothing. For instance, pick a day this weekend, and give permission for one partner to just relax while the other does all the cooking, taking care of the kids, etc. Then pay that partner back the following weekend with the same deal. Sure, it's a day possibly apart, but the appreciation you'll build for each other is invaluable.

10. Kiss like you mean it.

The spark in a new relationship is absolutely amazing, but more often than not, it tends to fade slowly over time. But that doesn't mean that you can't make your fewer kisses more meaningful. Think about it - you probably give each other a quick peck just before leaving for work each morning. Tomorrow, grab your lover in a tight embrace, and really kiss him or her in a way that they'll be thinking about it for the rest of the day. And so will you!