One of the nicest parts of the uber-busy holiday season is finding time to relax with your honey. During the upcoming hustle and bustle of shopping, wrapping, mailing holiday cards and all of the other zillion things there are on our cumulative Christmas to-do lists, it’s important to also set aside some fun and romantic “us” time with your significant other.

With a little elf-inspired holiday ingenuity, a few dollars and a couple of hours, numerous stress-free holiday activities are sure to inspire the inner romantic in all of us. Five of the most popular and budget-friendly ideas include:

Build a Snow Couple

If you live in an area of the country that typically enjoys a white Christmas, remember that getting out in the snow and building various creations is not just for little kids. Head outside and  together to build a snowman and snowwoman. Dress the finished couple in your clothes and add a handwritten sign that says “Merry Christmas from (fill in your names).” You could even ask your neighbor to take your photo with your new snow couple to send in a Christmas card. You can even go online to make your own on sites like Minted for photo Christmas cards.

Bake Christmas Cookies

Cutting out angels and stars and dumping tons of sprinkles and frosting on everything is not an activity that is reserved only for the young—it is also for the young at heart. According to the Bang Style website said, find an easy sugar cookie recipe that is impossible to goof up, set aside a couple of hours with your sweetie, and get busy baking.

Watch Holiday Movies

This is the time of year when just about every channel is featuring some type of Christmas movie or special. Or, you can always run out and rent one to watch with your special guy or gal. There are several classic holiday films that are sure to warm your collective hearts, including “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “White Christmas,” and “Charlie Brown Christmas” (Lights please?). Get a nice fire going, heat up some hot chocolate or tasty spiced cider, cuddle up on the couch and just enjoy the time together.

Go Check Out the Christmas Lights

This is one of the easiest and most enjoyable things to do during the holiday season—all that you need is a few bucks worth of gas in the tank, and maybe some hot cocoas to go from your favorite coffee establishment. Put a Christmas CD in your car stereo and let Bing, Ella and Frank put you in the perfect festive mood as you drive around town, checking out some of the best and brightest displays.

Try Ice Skating

There is something that is just inherently romantic about a couple going out for a fun afternoon or evening of ice skating. Most cities have some type of ice skating facility. Check out the general public skating times and make a date with your honey to lace up the skates and cruise around the rink arm in arm. If one of you is better on skates than the other—all the better! This just gives you a great excuse to hold hands.

This has been a guest blog by Lois Bremer, a retired home ec teacher. Lois loves to write about the quick and easy ways that working women (and men) can keep a clean, organized and happy home.

Guest Author