From Fall Affair to Winter Relationships: Keep Your Partner Warm

Dennis, and Karen, met in the fall. They only lived 25 minutes away from each other in Long Island, so their dates began casually with dinners at outdoor cafes, walks in the park, harvest-related events like apple-picking, wine tasting and watching the leaves change colors. It wasn't difficult to find things to do together when the weather was warm but with winter approaching, Dennis and Karen were challenged to find out if they had enough heat to stay together in the cold.

If you live in a region like the Northeast where winter can bring temperatures in the single digits, follow these tips below to get warmed-up:

Break the Ice
Cold weather makes a lot of us feel sluggish and tired. We stay indoors more often and have a tendency to put on weight during the holidays which can make us feel even more lethargic. Keep momentum going through the winter by creating a list of fun things to do. There's nothing more romantic than holding your partners' hand as you skate across the ice. Frisky types can have fun with a good old-fashioned snowball fight to test the playfulness of your mate. If you're really adventurous, take the ski lift together for action in the mountains. If the slopes find you vertically challenged enjoy a hot toddy in the lodge down below. No matter which activity you choose, they can all end cozily by the fire.

Light Up the Night
Even though I grew up in a strict Italian Catholic family, and later surrounded myself with several Jewish friends, I always found the abundance of lights around the holiday season to be romantic for both religions. Spend a date walking or driving through the neighborhoods dazzled by decorations.

Window shopping and gazing at displays can also be a great way to enjoy the wintertime together. If you really want to strengthen the relationship with your new lover, spend time holiday shopping for gifts. You can help each other pick out presents for family members. Getting a second opinion on the yellow and purple tie that you just picked out for Uncle Gus can be a bonding experience.

Keep the Fire Burning
For those nights when you want to generate some heat indoors because it's just too cold outside, there are plenty of ways to get the flames going. In order to impress his new girlfriend last February Sal, hosted an Italian-themed evening. He cooked a homemade sauce with pasta, accompanied by a bottle of Italian Chianti and the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. Whether it's ordering in dinner, sipping hot chocolate with whipped cream or listening to Marvin Gaye with a glass of Merlot, indoors in the winter can take your relationship to the next level. If you're lucky enough to have a hot tub, that can set romance on fire too, especially when you're soaking in the heat and you see snowflakes falling from the sky.

When the weather outside is frightful, it doesn't mean that your relationship can't stay warm. Before you know it, you could be moving onto the next challenge: rainy and muddy spring.

By Lori Bizzoco for LoveAndSeek.com