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" If you&amp;#039;ve been feeding your celeb-watching habit lately, you may have picked up on a subtle shift: Instead of regularly being spotted dropping big bucks at glitzy clubs or jet-setting from resort to resort, star couples seem to be reveling in a comfy, no-frills kind of connection. Think of recent paparazzi shots of Reese and Jake strolling hand-in-hand in sweats or walking Jake&amp;#039;s dog, blissed out on love. And when Tom and Gisele tied the knot a few weeks back, they didn&amp;#039;t have a blow-out monster wedding; they exchanged vows in a small ceremony for friends and family. Same with Ryan Adams and Mandy Moore. This kind of pared-down relationship behavior can deepen a couple&amp;#039;s bond, experts say. &amp;quot;With so much economic uncertainty out there, it&amp;#039;s more important than ever to nurture a stable, grounded connection, so you know you can count on each other for the long haul,&amp;quot; explains Yvonne Thomas, PhD, a Los Angeles\u2013based psychologist. To explore that depth in your own union, swap the old-school activities below for these creative, low-key ways to connect: Instead of: Dinner at a pricey restaurant Connect by: Have a DIY meal at home. Buy some taco shells and lots of fixings for a quasi-homemade Mexican fiesta. Or set up a sundae bar with ice cream, toppings, and sprinkles and create your own sweet treats. Instead of: Hitting the clubs  Connect by: Hitting the couch. Netflix a few movies, or DVR guilty-pleasure shows you both miss during the day, and unwind by watching together. Instead of: Going to a stadium to see a ball game Connect by: Going to a batting cage or driving range together. Make a bet as to who can whack more balls than the other; a little competition ups the excitement. Instead of: Making the rounds of big house parties   Connect by: Inviting a few friends over for a small gathering, say, to play Rock Band.  Instead of: Splurging on an exotic vacation  Connect by: Taking long weekends away to camp, hike, or just hole up in a simple hotel at a nearby beach.  Instead of: Paying big bucks for tickets to a pop concert  Connect by: Checking out live shows at small, cheap local venues \u2014 you might just be the first to &amp;quot;discover&amp;quot; the next big thing.  Instead of: Making a dinner-and-movie date  Connect by: Making a date out of a long, leisurely nighttime stroll, holding hands under the stars and letting your conversation wander. Hollywood&amp;#039;s Hottest Just-Chillin&amp;#039; Couples Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal Spike Jonze and Michelle Williams Tom Brady and Giselle B\u00FCndchen Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Nicole Richie and Joel Madden Ryan Adams and Mandy Moore Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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