<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" You know all of the excitement and sparks associated with a brand-spanking-new relationship? That feeling you get when you&amp;amp;#8217;re about to see the guy you&amp;amp;#8217;ve just started dating? It seems only logical that you can&amp;amp;#8217;t keep up that scorching-hot level of chemistry in the long run, right? Actually, just the opposite is true. You can keep the flavor of your romance nice and spicy&amp;amp;#8212;even if you&amp;amp;#8217;ve been with your man for a few months, a year, or even decades. Here&amp;amp;#8217;s why (and how!)&amp;amp;#133;New research proves that you can keep the sparks flying with your long-term guy. The outdated idea of a successful, lasting relationship where chemistry fizzles into lifelong companionship does not have to be the case&amp;amp;#8212;and it&amp;amp;#8217;s not for the happiest couples. Just look at President Obama and his wife Michelle. Their relationship is far from stale after 16 years of marriage and two children. It&amp;amp;#8217;s clear that solving the economic crisis, tending to the vegetable garden and hitting the gym isn&amp;amp;#8217;t all they&amp;amp;#8217;re doing in the White House (wink, wink). And good for them! According to this article, &amp;amp;#8220;romantic love,&amp;amp;#8221; like the kind Barack and Michelle have, can survive the test of time&amp;amp;#8212;and make couples happier in the short- and long-term. But &amp;amp;#8220;passionate love&amp;amp;#8221; only makes couples happier in the short-term. What&amp;amp;#8217;s the difference? &amp;amp;#8220;Romantic love has the intensity, engagement and sexual chemistry that passionate love has, minus the obsessive component.&amp;amp;#8221; By obsessive, scientists mean all of that uncertainty and anxiety that comes at the beginning of some relationships. Interesting! Looking to put the &amp;amp;#8220;za-za-zing&amp;amp;#8221; back into your relation-za-za-zing-ship? Here are a few Smitten-tested-and-approved ideas: -Give each other massages with these candles. -Try these Sexy Love Sox with your guy. -Wax down there&amp;amp;#8212;it can turn both of you on. -Make your shower steamier with these tricks. -Check out these five sex tips that&amp;amp;#8217;ll make you more exciting than &amp;amp;#8220;the other woman&amp;amp;#8221; -Play this sexy bedroom game. -Surprise him by planting one of these five romantic kisses on him tonight. -Then, drive him crazy with this lip-locking trick. So, tell me, can you relate to this? Are you going to try any of these spark-inducing ideas with your guy? Have you been able to keep the romance alive with your long-term lover? Have you just started dating someone new? Or, have you moved into the &amp;amp;#8220;friendship zone&amp;amp;#8221; with your longtime boyfriend? What kinds of things do you and your guy do to keep things interesting? Looking for Joanna? She&amp;#x27;s on vacation but will be back next Monday. Jessica Strul is a freelance writer who lives in New York City. She has written for CosmoGirl (RIP!), Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Time Out New York and other publications. She&amp;amp;#8217;s been known to eat chocolate for breakfast. Photo: iStock"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.glamour.com/sex-love-life/blogs/smitten/2009/04/wish-the-honeymoon-phase-of-yo>