Slackin' Sunday 7/24

"Happiness consists in realizing it is all a great strange dream."

- Jack Kerouac

My quest for free stuff has been going very well as of late! Pardon me while I show off some of my recent wins.

1.  $25 Wal-Mart gift card from Plastic Jungle and Networking Witches. I need new front tires, so I'm gonna put the GC towards that. I've used Plastic Jungle before to trade in gift cards that I didn't want for ones I could use- it's a great service! Try it out if you ever find yourself with a gift card to a place you don't like, or one that doesn't even exist in your area.

2. Nestle Best Summer Ever Prize Pack ($25 Visa GC, coupons for free ice cream, jump rope, beach ball and more) from The Mommy Files.

3. Mangroomer body shaver (approx. $40) from Nuts 4 Stuff. This one's for my fiance, he'll probably get some good use out of it.

4. $50 EdenFantasys gift code from Girl Gone Mom. Haven't decided what to use this one for- there's too much stuff I want!

5. Nicole Lee USA handbag from Snickers N Cream. I'm pretty psyched about this one- I love handbags, and I'm actually trying to learn how to sew so that I can make my own. I got to pick my prize from the New Arrivals section, and I chose this one:

Not only have I been winning a decent amount of stuff this month, I've been signing up for a few money generating things as well. I'm usually pretty skeptical of places that pay you for doing surveys, but I looked into them and signed up for a few. So far, I've been getting the most surveys from Opinion Outpost. In the few days I've been a member, I've earned $4 worth of points. With a few more surveys, I should be able to cash 'em in for a $5 Amazon gift code! I also signed up for Synovate, and I've earned over $10 already! I didn't realize that until I checked just now, guess the survey I did yesterday was worth a lot of points. The last site I signed up for was Pine Cone Research, but I haven't qualified for any of their surveys yet. Anyone know of a good paid survey site that I'm missing out on?

Yesterday, I signed up for Swag Bucks. I've been hearing about Swag Bucks for a while, but I was skeptical about using it. I'm always worried about scams and whatnot. However, I think I was being silly this time- Swag Bucks seems very legit and kinda fun too! You can earn Swag Bucks for doing all kinds of things, like answering polls, watching videos, playing games, and even just searching for something using their toolbar. Once you've earned Swag Bucks, you can use them to enter sweeps, buy stuff from their store, or donate to charity. If you like free stuff, check it out!

K-Y Intimacy Experiment Days 10: Putting it All Together

Ok, my last KY post is a few days late- sorry about that! Sometimes I procrastinate a little bit. Anyway, day 10 is about reflecting upon what I've learned during this experiment and putting that knowledge into action. My assignment for the day was to incorporate the various techniques I've learned into our day and then reflect back by considering the following questions:

Q: How did you do at incorporating the various aspects of the Experiment into your day?
A: I did pretty well in the morning by showing him plenty of affection before he went to work, but when I got home from work in the evening I wasn't feeling so great. I had planned on cleaning up the bedroom, but I ended up taking a nap instead.

Q: Which were easiest to remember- and easiest to forget?
A: It was very easy for me to remember to be affectionate, because I do that just about every day anyway. I remembered that I was supposed to clean up, I just opted not to. It's easier to forget the tips that I normally wouldn't do, like cooking together or doing something dangerous/outside of my comfort zone.

Q: What changes have you noticed in your relationship over the course of the program? How has your sex life changed?
A: We had sex more frequently than usual during the experiment, which was nice. However, I learned that I tend to enjoy planned sex a bit less than spontaneous encounters. Somehow, feeling like I should do it made me want it a little less. Outside of the bedroom, our relationship has been great, as usual.

Q: Which activities are you likely to make a habit?
A: I would like to work on keeping our bedroom looking like a "love nest" instead of a big mess.

Q: How do you see the future of your relationship?
A: I see it lasting and remaining a source of great happiness for a very long time!

Thanks to all of you who have read about my experience with the KY Intimacy Experiment, and who participated in my giveaway! I hope the winners have a lovely time with their kits!

Would you like to participate in the K-Y Intimacy Experiment? Just visit the KY Experiment tab on COUPLES PLACE.

Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a blog campaign on behalf of K-Y® Brand and also received product samples to help facilitate my review.



K-Y Intimacy Experiment Kit Winners!

The winners of my giveaway, as chosen by random.org, are Tickling Pink (#24) and Renee R. (#41). Congratulations, ladies! I hope you both enjoy your kits and have fun participating in the experiment.

My last K-Y Intimacy Experiment post will be up later today!

K-Y Intimacy Experiment Day 9: Dangerous Liasons

Let's face it: after you've had sex with the same person hundreds or thousands of times, it's no longer quite as thrilling as it was the first few times. I know that my partner and I have had some issues with sex become too routine after being together for a few years. According to the booklet, "when it comes to attraction, a little unpredictability goes a long way. It spikes the brain's natural amphetamines, dopamine and norepinephrine, which play a big role in sexual arousal." So, if you feel that things have gotten a little boring, you may want to try doing something exciting- and maybe slightly dangerous- with your partner.

The suggested exercise for today was going out and doing something fresh, exciting, and maybe a bit scarey with my partner. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do that today due to lack of funds/time, but sometime this summer I'd like to go white water rafting with him. I've done that once before, and it was both fun and scarey, so I think it fits the bill. Here are some more suggestions, in case you need help coming up with ideas:

• Hang gliding
• Sky diving
• Go-kart racing
• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Playing paintball
• Riding roller coasters or other thrill rides

In the bedroom, you could spice things up with some "dangerous" play such as tying each other up or using blindfolds. Just use your imagination!

Would you like to participate in the K-Y Intimacy Experiment? Just visit the KY Experiment tab on COUPLES PLACE. Also, check out my giveaway for a chance to win a great K-Y kit!

Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a blog campaign on behalf of K-Y® Brand and also received product samples to help facilitate my review.

Kitty pics

I'm just gonna put these here.

 

K-Y Intimacy Experiment Days 7 and 8

Okay, so I kind of slacked off a little bit and missed a few days of the experiment- you know what they say about the best laid plans, yadda yadda yadda. Today, I made up for lost time by doing the exercises for both day 7 and 8.

For day 7, I'm supposed to discover my very own "love map." According to the booklet, "this term refers to the sexual template expressed in every individual's erotic fantasies and practices. In other words, our love maps represent the blueprint of our erotic desires that drives our turn-ons, turn-offs, and sexual fantasies. Your love map explains everything from why you gravitate to a particular physical type to what feeds your private fantasies and actual practices." Alright, that makes sense. Now what?

The booklet instructed me to describe my most erotically memorable experiences and answer some questions about them. I'm not going to go into detail here, because I think that would be a little TMI, but rest assured I do have some memorable erotic experiences that I reflect upon from time to time. Next I'm supposed to think about external turn-ons and turn-offs and list five of each. No problem!

Turn-Ons

1. Long hair
2. The sound of rain or thunder
3. Dirty talk
4. The feel and smell of leather
5. The sight of my naked or scantily clad lover

Turn-Offs

1. Bad smells of any sort
2. Bright lights
3. Annoying noises
4. The feel of rough stubble
5. Awkward positions

Lastly, I'm instructed to think about my recurring fantasies and answer some questions about them. Once again, I'm going to keep that info to myself.

 Your erotic memories, turn-ons, turn-offs, and fantasies make up the landscape of your love map.  You should share that information with your partner, and the two of you can use them to spice things up. Personally, my partner and I shared our fantasies with each other long ago and I'm very glad that we did!

For Day 8 of the experiment, my  partner and I were supposed to cook a meal together. According to the booklet, cooking and eating together are a great way to bond as a couple, and it cites a survey which found that couples who cook together are significantly more satisfied with their relationships and sex lives. I'm a little skeptical about that claim, because I've personally never been turned on by cooking, or eating meals together for that matter.

My partner does almost all of our cooking, because he's good at it and he enjoys it. When I try to help, I just end up in the way. So, I wasn't super thrilled about today's exercise- cooking a meal together. The booklet urged us to cook an oyster dish because oysters are supposed to be aphrodisiacs, but neither of us were down with that. We made a pasta dish instead. It went much as I expected- he did just about everything and I stood off to the side trying not to get in the way. This one just wasn't for us! That's ok, though- we bond in plenty of other ways.

Would you like to participate in the K-Y Intimacy Experiment? Just visit the KY Experiment tab on COUPLES PLACE. Also, check out my giveaway for a chance to win a great K-Y kit!

Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a blog campaign on behalf of K-Y® Brand and also received product samples to help facilitate my review.



K-Y Intimacy Experiment Day 6: Getting Back in Touch

One thing that people in relationships often complain about is a lack of physical affection outside of the bedroom. Affection is a wonderful thing- it can make you feel safe, loved, and connected. According to one 2008 study, it might even lower your blood pressure! So, today's exercises are all about getting back in touch with my partner.

First, I'm supposed to ask myself the following questions:

Q: Think back on the past few days or week. Not including sex, how often did you touch each other throughout the day?
A: So many times that I really can't keep track. Dozens of times per day, I believe.

Q: Did your physical interactions include hugs, hand holding and cuddling?
A: Yes, we do all of those things most days.

Now I am to come up with 10 ways you could touch my partner in a positive, loving way today. Here are my ideas:
1. Cuddle for a few minutes before we get up in the morning.
2. Kiss goodbye before he goes to work.
3. Greet him with a hug and kiss when he gets home from work.
4. Cuddle together on the couch while watching a show.
5.  Rub his feet.
6. Hold hands.
7. Take a shower together and wash each other.
8. Play with his hair.
9. Rub his shoulders.
10. Spoon while drifting off to sleep.

I'm also supposed to give my partner an erotic massage, but I'm saving that for a little later :)

At the end of the day, there are a few more questions to answer.

Q. How many positive types of touch were you able to share with your partner today?
A: I was able to use several of my ideas, but not all of them. The day isn't over yet, though!

Q. What, if anything, prevented you from touching him even more?
A. He worked all day and then went to practice with his band, so I didn't get to start spending time with him until about 9pm.

Q. Did you enjoy the positive touch? Feel loved? Smothered?
A. I always enjoy touching and being touched by him.

This was probably the easiest day of the experiment so far for me, because I really didn't have to do anything that I wouldn't normally do. I've had relationships in the past where affection was lacking, and I'm so glad that isn't an issue with my current partner- it really sucks when the person you're with doesn't seem to like being affectionate with you. So, if you've been slacking off on touching your partner, step it up! It can really make a big difference for a lot of people.

Would you like to participate in the K-Y Intimacy Experiment? Just visit the KY Experiment tab on COUPLES PLACE. Also, check out my giveaway for a chance to win a great K-Y kit!

Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a blog campaign on behalf of K-Y® Brand and also received product samples to help facilitate my review.



K-Y Intimacy Experiment Day 5: Fun and Games

I should have put this up yesterday, but I slacked off! Surprise, Surprise. Anyway, day 5 is all about having fun with your partner, both in and out of the bedroom. According to the booklet, "couples who participate in fun, new (nonsexual) activities  together enjoy higher quality relationships than those who stick to the same-old, same-old." Doing fun new things together is sometimes a challenge for my fiance and I, because we rarely have the same days off from work- it just so happens that today is an exception, though!

For today's exercise, I was instructed to choose an activity that we've never done together before, and take notice of how my partner and I interact and work as a team. Well, we live in a small town and there isn't really a whole lot to do that we haven't already done, but I figured something out- I took my fiance to yard sales with me this morning. I often hit up yard sales on Fridays during the summer, but he's usually either at work or sleeping in. Today, I coaxed him out of bed with promises of buying lunch at his favorite Pizza place. Unfortunately, we got a bit of a late start and didn't find anything too spectacular, but he did find a neat suitcase for 50 cents and I picked up a few books and cds. Not the most romantic activity in the world, but we had fun! I think we'll be having some more fun later on as well :)

Would you like to participate in the K-Y Intimacy Experiment? Just visit the KY Experiment tab on COUPLES PLACE. Also, check out my giveaway for a chance to win a great K-Y kit!

Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a blog campaign on behalf of K-Y® Brand and also received product samples to help facilitate my review.