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Quote of the Month
"The manner of giving is worth more than the gift." -- Pierre Corneille
Pay-It-Forward Time
In
Issue 38, I wrote about an act of kindness I'd received from my amazing
friend Kelly. I promised to pay it forward, and the time has come.
Last
summer Jim and I were driving through Iowa. We stopped in Grinnell, a
small town of 9,000 people just a few miles north of I-80. It's the home
of Grinnell College where Nicole would be a freshman in the fall.
Nicole is the daughter of our dear friends Debbie and Deane, and we've
loved her from the day she was born. I wanted to see the campus and do
something nice for her.
Since
it was in June, the campus was quiet. We spotted two girls working in
the student garden. We asked them the name of their favorite
restaurant. They both agreed it was the Phoenix Cafe. We went to the
restaurant and bought a $50 gift certificate for Nicole and left it with
the owner.
That
night I emailed Nicole a picture of the campus and asked her if she
recognized it. She was excited that we'd seen her school.
I
asked Debbie to let me know when Nicole needed a pick-me-up, had
something to celebrate or was homesick. The call came in mid
September. She missed her boyfriend and family, but was also happy with
her successful audition for a school play.
I
emailed Nicole to tell her I'd arranged a scavenger hunt. She was
instructed to take one friend and their appetites, locate a mural in an
attached photograph, then ask the owners of the establishment for
something held in her name. It didn't take her long to identify the tile
mural outside the restaurant. A few weeks later she took her friend
there for a delicious dinner.
Setting
up this surprise for Nicole was so much fun, I wanted to do the same
for my granddaughter Brynn who would also be going off to college this
fall at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Kelly and I went to
Boulder and set up a similar scenario for Brynn. While she knows
there's a scavenger hunt in her near future, she doesn't know where yet,
so I can't tell you more.
Announcing Romantic Adventure Kits!
Whether
you want to show your love for your favorite college freshman or
refresh your love life with a romantic adventure, part of the fun can be
building anticipation to the big event. Now there's something to help
with your love life.
We're introducing three Romantic Adventure Kits.
Each one contains six gorgeous greeting cards handcrafted by Connie
Gallo. These are not your typical cards. They're specialized art
constructed with raised accents and jewels.
Cards in From a Romantic Man, From a Romantic Woman, and For a Romantic Couple are based on concepts in The Art of the Spark.
If you've read The Art of the Spark, you know about the Romance Pyramid -- frequent loving gestures, regularly scheduled dates, and romantic adventures. From a Romantic Man and From a Romantic Woman contain the following cards based on the Romance Pyramid:
2 to say "I love you"
1 to make a date
1 to build anticipation for an adventure
1 to kick off the adventure
1 to say thank you
The following two photographs contain sample cards for From a Romantic Man and From a Romantic Woman.
 
For a Romantic Couple guides
a couple through a heartfelt, intimate conversation. Each person fills
out his or her own cards. The cards will be used during a date or as
part of a bigger adventure. This kit contains three cards for each of
you.
2 to reminisce about the good times in the past
2 qualities you admire in your sweetheart
2 hopes and dreams for the future
Here are three sample cards contained in For a Romantic Couple.
Romantic Adventure Kits are $25 each, plus shipping. Complete instructions with suggestions for giving are included. Quantities are limited.
Art of the Spark Workshops
If
you are in the Colorado Springs or Denver area, it's easy to host your
own Art of the Spark workshop. This highly interactive and entertaining
workshop can be scheduled over several evenings or a weekend. You'll
learn how to:
Build a foundation for romantic adventures
Speak your sweetheart's Love Language
Know when surprise is wise ... or ill advised
Customize your own Couple's Playlist with six types of Couple's Play
Plan romantic adventures ... on any budget
Workshops
can be scheduled for 3-, 4- or 6-hours sessions. The cost per couple
is $79 for 3 hours, $89 for 4 hours and $119 for 6 hours. Singles can
attend the 3-hour workshops for $49. One copy of The Art of the Spark
is included with each registration. The 3- and 4-hour workshops also
include a light snack. The one-day 6-hour workshops will include lunch.
A 6-hour workshop spread over two days will include a light snack each
day.
Four-
and six-hour workshops can be customized to include couples massage
with Jenny Domingue and romantic gift giving. For more information or to
schedule your own workshop, call me at 719 649-3201.
Ronna,
a recent workshop participant said, "On a scale of 1 to 10, the
workshop was an 11. It was filled with substance and depth, yet still
playful and easy. Thank you for your wonderful workshop that far
surpassed my expectations. My honey and I left feeling even more
connected and affirmed!"
If you want to arrange a workshop at your own church, email me at mary@adventuresoftheheart.com. Twenty percent of the proceeds are donated to the church.
Buy The Art of the Spark
Have you read The Art of the Spark? You can get one for yourself, or buy copies as gifts for friends.
If you are hosting a party and want a fun and unusual icebreaker, try Romance Bingo.
Food for Celebration
Breakfast Oatmeal Cookies
Prepare
these cookies and store them in the refrigerator. When you don't have
time for a bowl of oatmeal, heat a cookie in the microwave for thirty
seconds. You've got a tasty breakfast-to-go.
Warm Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Greens
If beet greens are fresh and plentiful, they'll make a good base for this salad. Swiss chard works well, too.
Until Next Time
If
you enjoyed this free newsletter, please forward it to friends. I care
about people and how they celebrate. If you have any stories you'd like
to share, please send them to me at mary@adventuresoftheheart.com.
Wishing you a life of romantic adventure,
Mary Zalmanek
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