la vita e bella's summer tips for romance

While I am spending my weekend working doubles, I wanted to introduce you to my good friend Elisabeth! She is one of the nicest people I know - and I'm sure you'll agree with me! Make sure to stop by her blog and say hi!

I’m Elisabeth from La Vita e Bella. I blog about love and life, which to me are pretty much one and the same. 

I am a 21 year old college student and newlywed. I love chocolate, traveling, and dance. He loves skateboarding, engineering, and exotic fruit. We love the ocean, rock climbing, and sweet potato fries.

Ben and I met December 6, 2010.

We were engaged May 6, 2011.

We were married August 6, 2011.

Today I wanted to share some tips to heat up a summer romance:

Everyone loves a summer romance right? Or, if you already have a man, here are some ways to strengthen that relationship. I know I have great plans for me and Ben after doing a little bit of this research!

Love and attraction may be something that we romanticize over in movies, literature, and daydreams, but science is actually starting to explain a lot of it. The chemistry behind relationships focuses around hormones. They key to successful relationships, is the release of bonding hormones. So, looking for a summer romance? Here are some activities that release oxytocin and vasopressin, chemicals that cause bonding between a couple. 

Do something new:

-find a new recipe and cook together

-visit a new museum/local spot

-learn a new sport (tennis, golf, frisbee, volleyball), take up knitting, or enroll in a ballroom dance class together

-go camping (even if its only in a backyard)

-build a fort

Do something scary/exhilarating:

-go skydiving

-go on a roller coaster or to a water park
-raft down some rapids
-test drive a sports car 

-watch a scary movie
-go on night hike (maybe I'm a wimp that I think these are spooky)
-take up rock climbing!

(yes, this is a shameless plug for our favorite thing to do together - but given that its probably something new and definitely something exhilarating when you're 20 feet up that wall, I think its a fabulous idea! Plus, it really focuses on trust and support - be sure to let me know if you try it!)

These are pictures from our last few months of dating and first few months of marriage :) 

“We were given: Two hands to hold. To legs to walk. Two eyes to see. Two ears to listen. But why only one heart? Because the other was given to someone else. For us to find.”

Do you have other ideas for strengthening relationships? I'd love to hear them!

Have a romantic and fun summer all! 

Love,

Elisabeth 

P.S. For more of our fun dates and relationship ideas, come check out La Vita e Bella