Sex and Romance

Whether you greet the New Year with a roar or with a meow, odds are that you've given more than passing thought to where your life stands now, and where you want it to lead.

But if you haven't taken a complete inventory of all aspects of your life and made a to-do list for the next year, no need to worry. We've asked an expert to suggest ways in which you can start or continue to put your house in order. After all, why let another year pass by before making changes that can improve your life right now?

A word of caution, though. As with any list of good intentions, some are easier than others. Set yourself up for success by choosing "resolutions" that are do-able for you right now and tackle them. Then pick some that you can visualize as long-term goals and work on them a bit at a time. Jot them down, tape them to your bathroom mirror, and keep them in your everyday consciousness. A year from now, take time to congratulate yourself on how much closer you are to living the life you want to live.

By Hanne Blank

• Give yourself permission to try something you've always wanted to try but haven't yet. Whether it's showing off in brand new and delectably revealing lingerie, as deliciously titillating as buying yourself an anthology of really sizzling erotica, or as wild and crazy as having a hot tryst with that cutie from work, treat yourself to some new sensual horizons. Everyone has a few fantasies that would make great realities!
• Celebrate your relationship by making some time for it and it alone. Declare a moratorium on talking about everyday things like your job, the house and the kids. Instead, do things that let you remember why you fell for your partner in the first place. Play a silly game, take a bath together, make up stories to tell each other, have a pillow fight, or just sit facing each other, hold hands, and stare into one another's eyes and enjoy yourselves.
• Master the fine art of making bedroom eyes. First, look down to about ribcage level, and then look up without lifting your chin while turning on the sexiest, sultriest smile you've got. Try it in front of a mirror to see whether a slight tilt to the head enhances your profile and your projection of promising delights, and then try out some smoky glances on your sweetie!
• Make a commitment to learning how to make safer sex hot, so you can stay safe while you're having fun. Latex condoms, gloves, and dental dams protect against both HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Planned Parenthood estimates that one in four people between the ages of 15 and 55 gets an STD at some point in their life-don't let it be you! Start the new millennium sexy, sassy, smart, and safe.
• Nothing-and I mean nothing-says romance like a hand-penned love letter. You don't have to be a poet to say exactly what you feel; your heartfelt emotion will shine through even if your words aren't eloquent. Make it even more special by picking out a few sheets of beautiful stationery on which to inscribe your sweet (and maybe sensuous!) sentiments, and surprise your honey with a romantic, thoughtful, sweetly sentimental gesture they won't soon forget.