5 Ways Men Can Be More Romantic

Good ol’ Lisa Simpson, that misanthropic doomsayer of a cartoon girl, once said, “Romance is dead — it was acquired in a hostile takeover by Hallmark and Disney, homogenized and sold off piece by piece.”

Lisa, I’m sorry, but I disagree.

There are many things guys can do to help keep the romance alive. Here are a few of our favorites.

Flowers

are still a great way to a woman’s heart, but be creative. Instead of stopping at your local grocery store for standard roses, go pick your own flora and fauna, or go to a specialty florist and ask for a wildflower bouquet.

Grab a knapsack, basket, tote bag — whatever you can get your hands on — and stuff it with wine, fruit, olives, a baguette, cheese, almonds and cookies. Don’t forget the cups, plates, napkins, bottle opener, utensils and a blanket. Voila! Your lady will be super impressed with an impromptu picnic.

“Guys just need to give a little creative

thought to keep the spark burning.”

Think about some of the early times you spent together, maybe a special first date, and try and recreate it. Pick her up from work and bring her to the restaurant you first ate at together. You get extra points if you remember what you wore, what the two of you ate/drank and where you went after.

Well, instead of calling in sick, ask one of her co-workers or, even better, her boss what’s a good day for your girlfriend/wife to take off work. Surprise her one morning as she’s getting out of bed and say, “Oh, you don’t have to go to work today. We both have the day off, and we’re going to spend it together. We can do whatever you want!”

If you have kids

, date night is a must. Sometimes just getting out of the house together and being able to finish a conversation is romantic enough. If you don’t have kids, then think of something special you’d both enjoy. My local symphony does fun novelty shows like all James Bond theme songs or the entire “Star Wars” repertoire. Be creative. If you’re stuck, ask her best friend for help.

Lisa Simpson will always be 8 years old. Since 1989, the Springfield Elementary student hasn’t aged a day, and she hasn’t grown wiser when it comes to romance. Romance is very much still alive, and guys just need to give a little creative thought to help keep the spark burning bright.