[lime_lemur]

My boyfriend does sweet little things for me here and there. He sometimes has dinner ready for me when I get home, or he'll know just the thing to cheer me up (whether that's going out into the city at night to get me candy, or tell me a story or play a silly game with me, gets random little gifts for me.) Whenever a fire alarm goes off in the building in the morning and we're sleeping in, he covers my ears for me instead of his, even though he's mostly asleep. I find that sweet for some reason, in a sleepy way He sends me absolutely sweet messages when I'm not around him, and sometimes I'll walk out of the room and come back to find silly pictures or notes on my desk. I drag him to my local aquarium once every few weeks or so because I'm absolutely obsessed with dolphins, and he spends hours watching them with me, always smiling and never complaining, and likes to buy my dolphin stuffed animals. He hasn't done a big surprise yet, we've only been together a bit over a year now, but hopefully someday. He's a sweetheart and I know he's tried to plan sweet things for me, he's just not too organized I've walked in on him writing me sweet leters or baking me cake and he's sad that the surprise is ruined, lol.

[PandaPaws]

Wow! He sounds like a really sweet guy!!

[SaharaJim]

I used an "addictive" substance to get my wife--green chili. We met on the internet. She was a Cath/Convert from Clovis N.M. living in Tampa Fla. and I was a Cradle Cath. from NW N.M. She and I had been talking and posting for almost four months, I flew to Tampa for Thanksgiving /She flew to NM for Christmas, and we were talking about where we would live if this got "serious". She loved Tampa- I CHEATED and pulled out the big guns. I sent her a two pound package of frozen green chili.
Two weeks later she called and said "I quit my job- can you come help me move out?" I hadn't ask her to marry me yet- but that was a "technicality". aPPROXIMATELY A YEAR LATER THE churcH HAVING MADE US JUMP THROUGH MANY HOOPS WE WERE MARRIED. green chili REMAINS IN THE FREZER AND REFRIG.
The New mexico state question " RED OR GREEN?" Green chili is a hot pepper that flavors many dishes- it is seriously addictive. ;o)

[LanaBear]

Oh - I am a sucker for green chili too! Can't say I blame her there. lol Please do feel free to share recipes.

[SaharaJim]

Traditional "Mexican" of course. But for a nice base recipe that is easy and subject to endless variety- Ground beef- slightly fattty is tastier but lean is ok too, flatten about 1/2" thick to 1/4", garlic powder, onion powder and green chili with the juice poured in (As hot as is comfortable-it's bite caries throughout as the baking boils the fat in the hamburger) layer of cream of Mushroom soup (condensed-straight from the can) smooth over the chili powders and meat. Sprinkle a layer of small mixed vegetables- the frozen work well, then top with a layer of "tater tots"-(this is subject to endless variety, slice whole potato, hash browns, rice, even a commmercial pie crust). Bake at 425 degrees for 30-45 minutes- waiting for hamburger to cook throughout. These cassaroles freeze well and are excellant for'gifting' at potlucks and the like. The "leftovers" can also be chopped into a hash and reheated in a skillet with water to make a soupy hash with fried eggs on top.--and more chili!

[WildChild]

Sounds good.
This does seem to have drifted from the original question...

[Johntron]

My girlfriend gets back from Michigan today. Earlier, I hid notes all over her apartment — on her window by her bed, mirror in the bathroom, shelf in the cupboard, under her makeup, car window, etc.

Some other things I’ve done for her: cooked egg-in-the-basket with heart-shaped holes, light-painted "<3 u Amy" with a sparkler, fresh flowers from the flowerbed (probably do this too often), dinner and a massage when she's stressed, pretty plants for her balcony, a handmade gift basket with little things that meant something special to her, and rented some fancy camera equipment (she's into photography) for a trip to Marfa.

I keep things like ticket stubs from movies, flyers from special events, receipts from nice restaurants – places we've shared memories –in a box in my closet. Some day I plan on packaging it up in something nice and giving it to her.

A little romance goes a long way.

[PandaPaws]

My girlfriend gets back from Michigan today. Earlier, I hid notes all over her apartment — on her window by her bed, mirror in the bathroom, shelf in the cupboard, under her makeup, car window, etc.

Some other things I’ve done for her: cooked egg-in-the-basket with heart-shaped holes, light-painted "<3 u Amy" with a sparkler, fresh flowers from the flowerbed (probably do this too often), dinner and a massage when she's stressed, pretty plants for her balcony, a handmade gift basket with little things that meant something special to her, and rented some fancy camera equipment (she's into photography) for a trip to Marfa.

I keep things like ticket stubs from movies, flyers from special events, receipts from nice restaurants – places we've shared memories –in a box in my closet. Some day I plan on packaging it up in something nice and giving it to her.

A little romance goes a long way.

Aw, you are so sweet!! She is a lucky girl!

[SaharaJim]

Did I "blow" a chance for somethng "romantic"? My wife and i were in a local "Mall" waiting for the movie time to come - we bought tickets for a show that wouldn't start for over an hour- but daughter had wanted to see "ECLIPSE". Anyway the "ladies" went to the "ladies room" and I took daughter's boyfriend and wondered down the mall to a jewelry store that we do business with. Walked in and the salesperson who sold me my wife's birthday present rushed over to tell me tha the same pearl sets were on sale; half-price. (We won't talk about the smile this brought to my face- three weeks and NOW IT'S HALF-PRICE?).....BUT I had always liked another set of pearls that were like the "pink set" but coffee/choclate brown. Now previously when we picked up the black ones my wife pointed out the "pink ones" but "sniffed" at the brown ones. Anyway two minutes later wife and daughter walk by, I catch her and ask her to come "try on" the brown ones. She was dressed in an orange top and the brown pearls went so well with it that she wanted them. Now she has decided that she really likes the brown pearls.....So we bought them. My question is .....Should I have just bought them and "surprised her with them? Would that have been more 'romantic" than - have these-- they are on sale? ( she knows I'm CHEAP at heart- I LOVE a sale).

[PandaPaws]

Did I "blow" a chance for somethng "romantic"? My wife and i were in a local "Mall" waiting for the movie time to come - we bought tickets for a show that wouldn't start for over an hour- but daughter had wanted to see "ECLIPSE". Anyway the "ladies" went to the "ladies room" and I took daughter's boyfriend and wondered down the mall to a jewelry store that we do business with. Walked in and the salesperson who sold me my wife's birthday present rushed over to tell me tha the same pearl sets were on sale; half-price. (We won't talk about the smile this brought to my face- three weeks and NOW IT'S HALF-PRICE?).....BUT I had always liked another set of pearls that were like the "pink set" but coffee/choclate brown. Now previously when we picked up the black ones my wife pointed out the "pink ones" but "sniffed" at the brown ones. Anyway two minutes later wife and daughter walk by, I catch her and ask her to come "try on" the brown ones. She was dressed in an orange top and the brown pearls went so well with it that she wanted them. Now she has decided that she really likes the brown pearls.....So we bought them. My question is .....Should I have just bought them and "surprised her with them? Would that have been more 'romantic" than - have these-- they are on sale? ( she knows I'm CHEAP at heart- I LOVE a sale).

I think that since she was there, that was fine, and very nice of you! It was still kind of a surprise, as she wasn't expecting it at a night out at the movies. I do LOVE surprises myself though You can surprise her another time!