Kissing and Cooking (which was released on December 30, 2008) is a small book (about 5" x 7") with 230 pages. It is an easy read. The book is divided into two parts: There are seven chapters with recommendations to spice up your relationship followed by twelve date night recipes. Each chapter is broken into subsections that are short bites (1-3 pages long) so it was easy to read a section at night, even if I didn't have time to read an entire chapter. (I absolutely hate putting a book down in the middle of a chapter!) I read the book over about a week before going to sleep. I think someone could actually read the seven chapters in 2 or 3 hours, if there were no interruptions. (If you are like me, you rarely--if ever--have 2 or 3 hours uninterrupted!) I read through most of the recipes in one sitting.
The chapters include faith based biblical advice on subjects such as: communication, turning conflict into compromise, controlling your thoughts, having realistic expectations, building on your differences, spending time together, and love.
One chapter, Let's kiss and make up!, focuses on fighting fair. "Conflict is inevitable; compromise is a choice". In this chapter, Kim gives some helpful tools to use to help resolve conflicts. Kim encourages you to focus on the issues, our temperament, our feelings and the real need to reach a healthy compromise. I like how Kim compares compromise to a golf game that is scored "best hole". For each hole, the team member who has the best score provides the score for the entire team. When you come up with a workable solution, you both win. "You either both win in marriage or you both lose". (p. 102)
The second half of the book includes detailed recipes and instructions for date 12 nights. The recipes vary from full 4 course meals to movie snacks. Each menu includes a shopping list (divided into three categories: pantry, produce, other); an open-ended question to answer during dinner; detailed cooking (and kissing!) instructions for each menu items (with kissing quotes mixed in); a Scripture passage; a table prayer; table topics (discussion items); The Marriage Planner's advice: and advice from other couples.
This would be a great gift for any couple: newlywed to long married. For the newlywed, it would be great to help them get their romance off to a good start. An "old" married couples could use a new spark to rekindle the romance.
Want to buy it?
Price $14.99 includes free shipping and free audio download of book. Visit Kim's store. (There are some other fun things there too!)
Want to win it?
I have an autographed copy of Kissing and Cooking for one reader!
To enter, leave a comment with one way you spice up your marriage (keep it G-rated please!). It doesn't have to be something you've tried yourself.
Want some extra entries? (leave a separate comment for each)
* Visit Kim Reutzel's website and tell me something about her or her products.
* Follow me on Twitter.
* Add my button to your blog (code on the upper right)
* Follow my blog (on blogger, Google (or anther reader), or my RSS feed)
* Blog about this contest. (leave the link)
* Tweet about this contest (leave the link)
* (Shameless plug for my husband's new ministry!) Visit Mac4Missions and post something that you learn there.
Entries will be accepted until Thursday, January 15th. I will contact the winner by e-mail. (Make sure your blog profile is public, or include an e-mail address in your comments.) Winner will have 3 days to respond or another name will be drawn.
(US shipping address only.)
114 comments:
The best thing to happen to our marriage so far, has to be attending a Family Life conference called "A Weekend To Remember". We were taught what the Bible says about marriage and easy ways to apply these tips. There was also a date night and a love letter written to each other. I still open up the love lettr from my hubby and cry.
I ask questions and find out what hubby likes. He likes the extra attention.
My favorite way is to just LISTEN. Ask questions and really lidten to the answers!
Well, I found your blog via EntreCard and am pleased that I have. I've followed you on Twitter and with that, let me add my G rated suggestion about spicing up my marriage.
I've gotten my wife to start using Twitter. She's just starting to use it, but it fits nicely with her work as a community organizer. It gives me a way to stay more involved with her during her work and to promote the work she does.
(I just retweeted one of her posts).
Whether you use Twitter, blogs, or simply discussions over the dinner table, showing interest in your spouse's work sure seems to help strengthen the marriage.
As a final note, it is great that you contacted the author and offered to review her book. I think this is a valuable service that bloggers can offer, and we can find great books that way too.
God bless,
Aldon
Have a special date night every so often. Cook a special meal together, get out of the house and do something fun, just make it different from what you ordinarily do.
Don't let life pass you by no matter how busy you are, always make time for the other person!
I am not married yet, but I am getting married in September. I am going to read all of the comments here hopefully to get some good advice. I would love a copy of this book. Thanks!
I'm not great at "spicing up my marriage" any more...but I want to be. That's why I need to win this book ;)
In the past, I think I personally love little notes in unexpected places at unexpected times - like on my husband's calendar at work or a post-it note on his computer screen :)
initiate :)
she's been married 25 years and has 2 kids
twitter follower
valerie2350
tweet
http://twitter.com/valerie2350/status/1092478993
subscriber
I collect cook books and thought this would really make my collection complete, Charlene
charwehrle@yahoo.com
I forgot to leave my e-mail address, but I still would love to win. Charlene
We know it's really important to maintain our date nights!
This book wouldn't hurt either :)
dcbehlmer(at)hotmail(dot)com
Our favorite way to show each other love is by paying attention to the other person's 'love language'.
elissa at huebert dot org
I visited Kim's website, and the thing that spoke to me most is " I thought to myself , “Do I live blessed? What in my life shows and represents that blessing? Do I carry myself in a way that shows that blessing? Do I share the blessing with others?”"
elissa at huebert dot org
seriosly our life sorta makes private time hard- but we have late night picnics in the lr when all are asleep or midnight movies- even 4 am- our time together is precious and cherished
I've found the best way to keep the love alive is to spontaneously streak around the house naked, singing god save the queen. It works I'm tellin' ya.
My husband and I try to meet for lunch once or twice a month (just the 2 of us.)
rsgrandinetti@yahoo.com
showering together
we have a date night--one night a week, no matter the circumstances or mood where we go out on a date--10 yrs later and it still works!
mariannakeough at hotmail.com
I make sure hubby knows that I love him by doing everyday things. When I want to really impress him I follow him around and give him kisses all day long....he loves that!
We have started having date nights at least once every two months. We plan on increasing this to once a month when the kids are older because we feel it is important for ourmarriage relationship to have time for just us as a couple. Thanks for the chance to win this wonderful book.
cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com
once a month we head of to a motel outta town to spend the night and enjoy ourselves -just to be a alone, We havent gotten to do it in over a year tho :(
We send text messages to each other all the time.
We have date night once a month.
To spice up my marriage I would arrange for us to have some time alone together.
We still go out on dates and hold hands. Romance always adds spice.
We do date night once a month and we take spontanious road trips
Spend time together and TALK.
We try to play a online game together a couple times a week and laugh together.
My husband and I are young but have 2 boys under 2 so to spice things up we cook dinner together and cuddle up with a movie after the kids go to bed. Thanks for the giveaway!
secretly get a baysitter and surprise hime with a night out
We tell each other about how our day went.
We have three kids so we do not have a lot of time on our hands for each other. So we have made Saturday night date night. We don't get to go out, but after the kids are in bed we have dinner and maybe watch a movie. Just talk and snuggle. Have some time to connect every week.
I think the best way to spice up a relationship is for the husband to help out around the house, which my husband is so good about doing.
Thanks!
ericbrooks75(at)yahoo(dot)com
I've heard that one way to spice up a marriage is to have a weekly date night without the kids. Thanks for the giveaway!
Kim has been married 25 years and has two children, grown & flown, as well as a grandchild. Her products center around keeping the fun and romance in marriage.
I followed you on twitter: cmgnbox01
I followed you on blogger: cmgnbox01
I blogged: http://wutgives.blogspot.com/2009/01/mom-two-ways-kissing-and-cooking.html
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/cmgnbox01/status/1096750561
I learned that your husband collects and refurbishes old Mac computers to be used in the mission field. I also learned he's a great guy. :)
We play games together like chess or even video games. Friendly competition with each other spices things up!
A Little extra attention is all it takes
jason@allworldautomotive.com
One way to spice up your marriage would be to go to a restaurant neither of you has tried
jceko77@yahoo.com
she's been married 25 years, has 2 children, and has one granchild
jceko77@yahoo.com
We get out of the house- childless! We try to date once a month and it really helps us reconnect as adults- not just as parents. Thanks for the contest. The book looks great. :)
write I love you in the mirror steam
What a fun book, I'd love to try out some of the recipes for food and love! When my husband and I were dating we would try to kiss in as many different places as possible, and then we would check them off our imaginary list, ie. in a tipi, check! on the ski hill, check! We still do it once in a when we are some where we've never been before.
Thanks for the giveaway.
spackattak7(at)hotmail(dot)com
Well it's not to spicy but we do have a date night where we just have the two of us! Now that is what I call an amazing day!
I would love the book, thanks :).
I read the first comment and I actually attended that conference too : Family Life conference called "A Weekend To Remember"...it is phenominal!
Really listening is important. We have a habit of zoning out but pretending we are listening.
Blogged about it :)
http://mom2mycrazy2.blogspot.com/2009/01/todays-list-of-giveaways.html
This sounds like a great book. Away time together without the kids is always great.
well, since i have a 2 week old baby, the best thing my hubbie can do is let me get a nap! doesn't get more g-rated than that i think.
snuggle, laugh alot and make stupid jokes.
what a fun giveaway! We swear by date nights. Even if it's just going for a walk or going to the thrift store and looking for funny tshirts, it helps our relationship so much.
thank you for the chance to enter!
info at andshelivedhappily dot com
We play games together and make sure to spend quality time together talking about life - often that time is when we take a long drive together trying to get our 4 month old son to sleep.
sras7508 at gmail dot com
The bedroom Love notes booklet is a great idea!
sras7508 at gmail dot com
We devote every Monday night to the family and every Friday night to just us as a couple - its great to have time set aside. Thanks for the chance! alicedemske at hotmail.com
Wow, this book sounds great! To be able to do date nights with three kids 4 and under we trade three hours of babysitting with friends who have three kids. We haven't done it regularly since I had my third 10 months ago, but we really enjoy it.
I like to plan a "theme" dinner and suprise my husband with the theme. For example, if I make some Cuban chicken, I will select some Latin music, and try to dress the part, and set the mood...creat a Latin/Cuban atmosphere with my table setting, etc.
P.S.
We will be celebrating our 2nd anniversary in March...no kids...yet! ;)
Deborah @ Comfort Joy Designs
comfortjoydesigns.blogspot.com
comfortjoydesigns{AT}gmail{DOT}com
Weekly date nights are great!
treflea4 at gmail dot com
Kim is a regular columnist for Womenic Magazine and an advisors to Christian counselors in regard to marriage issues.
treflea4 at gmail dot com
Occasional notes in lunchbox,underwear drawer etc, promising him a night to remember
We go out for coffee once a week and just talk about what we've done or what we'd like to do for that week. It puts us both on the same page and in an odd way it helps us relax and feel closer to each other.
Make time to spend together.Thanks for the contest and for some great ideas.
Sounds like a fun book! Whenever my husband has to travel away from home, I hide little candies and stuffed animals (nothing new, just from around the house) in his bags before he leaves.
I leave notes in my husbands baggage when he goes out of town and attempt to make sure we kiss every day.
cdrury@gmail.com
do minimum of three loving things a day for each other - small or large doesnt matter
we go on date nights
We make sure to have some mom & dad time without the children!
Kim Reutzel is based in Burt, IA
I'm following your blog on Google (amweeks)
Mac4Missions is recognized as a non-profit corporation in the state of NM!
leave little post-its with "i love you" or other notes
Every day is special :)
ktgonyea at gmail.com
Really good ways to spice up your marriage is to remember your spouse IS your best friend, to really look at them everyday, letting yourself remember what attracted you to them in the first place, and to let yourself daydream about them. We also hold hands a lot. Thanks for the give-a-way.
Teasing each other in a king hearted way.
Be best friends everything just falls into place after that because you will know each others needs.
We start every evening with a dinner date!
We like spicy food, especially hot chicken wings. LOL We are at the age where we need a nap. Here goes: Shhhh... We take a bath together. We have done so for over 26 years.
Follower.
gahome2mom (at) gmail (dot) com
We spice it up by spending time together every once in awhile just being together! Be are both competitive so playing games gets us going :)
I follow you on twitter!
Monthly date nights!
I spcie things up by spending some quality time alone :D
anastasia[at]mediamafia[dot]org
I also added your button to my site :)
anastasia[at]mediamafia[dot]org
My husband always leaves me great voice messages on my cell. phone.Then the kissing and cooking fits us to a T. We usually do most our talking and touching while making our dinner.
One way is to have a date night at least once a week. Go to the movies and dinner or find something new that you never tried before as a couple.Thanks for the giveaway.
fmd518@inbox.com
We email each other every day just to say hello and throw in an occasional tease or two.
being spontaneous and trying different things :)
following u on twitter klp1965
Communication is the most magical way to spice up a marriage! Sometimes we just forget to communicate with each other and so many wildly heartbreaking things begin to happen! So communicate! It's true love!
Thanks so much for this fabulous give~away! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
I love this! Kim has been married for 25 years and raised two delightful kids. : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
YAHOOOO!!! I am now following you on TWITTER....username: leahita!!! : )))
Thanks again for the give~away! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
I also subscribe! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
And, I TWITTERED about this fabulous give~away.......user name: leahita.
http://twitter.com/leahita/status/1117316314
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
I love the idea of recycling MACs for a higher purpose! Magical!!!!
Thanks again! : )))
leahita[at]gmail[dot]com
One thing I do to keep our relationship fresh is dress up. I don't mean in a kinky way. I mean I wear nice clothes and put on some make up and do my hair when we go places. It shows him that I care about myself and about him enough to put effort into the way I look.
reg8w@aol.com
say 'i love you' everyday
take a vacation
find something that you mutually enjoy and spend time together. Thanks for having the wonderful giveaway.
dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com
I find that when my hubby helps around the house without asking and doing little things for me, I feel closer to him in "other" ways.
Angie
angieplays4fun at gmail dot com
she has been nationally inspiring audiences since 1997, and would love to meet you through a personal counseling session (via telephone or in my office) or a group event.
we have a date night once a month where we go out on the town :)
We make a date one night a week. We do something for only the two of us. We go out or rent a movie and stay home for dinner and a movie. garrettsambo@aol.com
Bubble baths together with candles every weekend!
We have dates nights quite often!
My husband and I have started to plan weekends away together so we can reconnect...
jasonncaryn at yahoo dot com
Spend time together and visit.
My husband and I hold hands as often as possible even when we are mad. :)
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