Romantic Ideas for a Holiday Evening at Home

The holidays can be very stressful, but you can keep romance alive during the holiday season. One quiet evening will provide a much needed break for you and your partner. A romantic dinner, complete with candles, wine and romantic food, is a mini vacation that will bring joy and peace back to your life. Here are some ideas to help you plan the perfect romantic evening at home.

There are many reasons dinner at home can be more romantic than dinner out. You will likely spend a lot of time fighting holiday crowds during the Christmas season. Why fight traffic and crowds to go out for dinner when you can have a very relaxed romantic evening at home? I enjoy dining out as much as anyone, but there are times when romance is best served in the peaceful atmosphere of home.

You can still dress up for a romantic dinner at home. It is a special occasion after all. On the other hand, if you and your partner feel more relaxed or sexy in your pajamas, dinner at home means being able to dress down as much as you prefer.

Pick a theme for your romantic dinner.

If you both love to travel to exotic places, make the romantic evening exotic by creating an exotic atmosphere. For example, if you love Italy, order or cook your favorite Italian foods, open a bottle of Italian wine, put an Andrea Bocelli CD in the CD player (or, of course, Pavarotti) light some candles and there you are; you've just created a romantic Italian atmosphere for you and your lover. Note: If you are unfamiliar with Andrea Bocelli, his music can be sampled online at Barnes and Noble's website. I recommend the album, Cieli di Toscana. If you would rather not have vocals playing in the background, find some light classical music to play instead.

If you and your partner love the beach, use a nautical theme. CDs of ocean sounds can be found at great prices. Fix your favorite tropical drinks (who cares if it is snowing outside) and tropical foods.

Of course, you don't have to choose a particular theme. To create the perfect romantic ambience, a clean house, your best silverware, romantic foods and a good bottle of wine go a long way.

The meal doesn't have to be extravagant. Romantic food is not hard to find and does not have to break your budget. Light delicacies are perfect for this occasion-especially if you don't know how to cook. French bread, Brie or other light cheese (I do not mean American style cream cheese!), olives, smoked salmon, peaches and cream, and grapes are all good choices.

What to avoid:

Avoid spicy foods. You don't want your romantic evening to end in gastrointestinal upset.

Avoid rushing. Plan ahead so you aren't rushing around at the last minute. This evening is about love and pleasure, not stress.

Avoid a house fire. Don't forget to put out the candles before going to bed!

Whether you are a romance pro or are new to creating romantic evenings, I hope this article has helped you think of special things to do with your partner. A peaceful and sensual evening during the holiday season can make a beautiful, positive, difference in your relationship.