Relationship: 20 Romantic Ways To Say I Love You

Experts in marriage and relationship agree on the importance of always communicating love to our partners often and in a variety of forms.

"I love you." It's vital these three important words be conveyed regularly and often to keep a relationship healthy and strong. 

Throughout the almost 30 years of their marriage, Jim and Carrie Gordon — authors ofThe Intimate Couple and The Romantic Couple websites — have given and received hundreds of love letters and romantic cards to and from each other. Carrie asserts that Jim is a true romantic and has a keen ability to include romantic phrases in the love letters and greeting cards he gives to her. His use of romantic expressions clearly communicates "I love you" to Carrie!

Recently, Carrie sifted through her growing collection of cards and love letters from Jim to compile a list of loving words, romantic phrases and expressions of passion. We're including her partial list here as a cheat sheet for guys to use!

Refer to this handy list of romantic sayings the next time you're looking for a special phrase to personalize a purchased greeting card, add variety to a love letter or email, include in a text, write on a bathroom mirror or use in a note tucked inside a book.

1. You, sweetheart, are my one and only.

2. You take my breath away.

3. Lovingly yours.

4. With you, forever won't be too long.

5. To the world's best wife!

6. When I see you, I think "Good job, God!"

7. You are the love of my life!

8. It's awesome to spend my life with you!

9. Love you, sweetheart!

10. I treasure you.

11. I adore you.

12. Sweetheart, you stir my soul!

13. I'm head over heels for you.

14. I cherish you.

15. You turn me on!

16. Life is incomplete without you.

17. To the one I love:

18. We were made for each other!

19. You're my soulmate and the love of my life. 

20. You're one hot babe!

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6 Things Men Find Difficult To Say To Their Woman

Not all men have the gift of the gab. There are some who are born talkers, and you’ll usually find them selling soap, cars or campaign promises. The other kind—the stoic, prudent, silent type—can be found leading by example, or writing a column in a popular fortnightly supplement for women, or suspect in a number of serial killings, sometimes all three at once!

But whether a salesman, politician, column writer or serial killer, there are certain things that all men find hard to say… 

1. I Love You
This most clichéd of clichés has been thrown around carelessly by teenagers with questionable levels of maturity and guys—also with questionable levels of maturity—just itching to get laid. But really meaning it? It’s the kind of statement that gets our hearts racing, our palms sweating, and our minds wondering: “Will she say it too?”, “Will she just say thank you?”, “Didn’t that happen on Friends?” Ultimately, it’s just blurted out at the unlikeliest of moments, like when India wins the final, he opens his birthday gift and it’s a PS3, or the meal was that good.

2. This Isn't Working Out
This one probably tops the list. Men generally shy away from bringing up relationship issues, especially this quiet relationship killer. The reason doesn’t matter. All that matters is not making a big deal of it. And not letting her cry. It’s a man’s inability to handle tears that makes it the best offence a woman has against him. Men have stayed in relationships for years just out of the fear of having to be the one to initiate a break-up.  

3. That Doesn’t Look Good On You
We’re no experts in the fashion or hair departments, and we’ve never pretended to be. So we’re not quite sure what you mean when you ask us, “Does this suit me?” You’re bound to get a positive answer even if you’re wearing a barrel held in place with suspenders. This is partly because, who knows, maybe that does suit you; and partly because we’re truly afraid of the backlash in the wake of our dissent.

4. I Need Some Space
When you’re in a relationship, it’s expected that you’re supposed to want to spend every waking moment with your better half and every sleeping moment next to her too. But while many agree with the benefits of spending some time apart, no one seems to advertise it very well. While women have found ways of making space for themselves—men rarely realise ‘that time of the month’ comes twice a month—men find it hard to say they just need some alone time, or some time with the boys.

5. I Don't Like Hanging Out With Your Friends
So we’ve taken you out with our friends only to get popcorn in your hair, beer in your lap and the odd splotch of ketchup on your shirt. And then you ask us to join your friends for a more civilised dinner. We shouldn’t have an issue with it. But, sometimes, all we’re looking for is a relaxed night out with familiar faces—which none of your friends seem to have. It’s not that they’re horrible people. It’s just that if we got along, they’d be our friends by now.

6. Yes. You're Right
Handling egos in a relationship is a tough job. And when it’s coupled with an argument, the ship can sway any which way. We’ll admit it: we’re wrong most of the time. But being wrong so often can take its toll on our egos. And that’s probably when we find it hardest to say, “You’re right.” So once in a while, allow us a silent acknowledgement of defeat. It would mean a lot to us.

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Dear Diary: Sunday March 3 2013

Im up like 3:43am. I lazed about on the bed till morning. Ibe left early in the morning to God-knows-where. I started writing my appeal letter to my school coordinator. I planned going to MBA school Yaba to get a sample of correct format of addressing the letter, I dint want to call anybody. I dressed up much later and left for church.

I got to the church and decided to polish my shoe with the abokis near the church premises. But it took a helluva time for him to finish. Dont know if he was making a new shoe for me from the scratch. I asked him to apply gum to the flaking part of the sole, I guess he applied gum all over the sole. My body had to wait patiently outside while my mind worshipped inside via the church speaker blaring outside. The long wait eventually ended.

Today's service was both anointing and thanks giving service. It was wonderful. I left for Yaba. The heat is scary. No trace of the rain that fell last nite anywhere. I got what I went for at Yaba. I bought sports shorts from Yaba and left Yaba. Next port of call was Shoprite. I wanted to buy my favourite seafood paella rice. It wasnt ready so my man on the inside said I should wait like twenty minutes. So I strolled towards the window of Gems shop in The Palms. In all the times I've been to The Palms, never bothered to look at the price tags of the jewelries on display. I checked the earrings and saw 9900 and I thought it was 99000. Then I was like N9900 is a fair price for those earrings. Then I saw it. I saw the currency sign $! The pair of earrings is freaking $9900!!

I really hate with destructive passion when price of items in Nigeria are dominated in a foreign currency. If Im the law, I would've outlawed it with a scary stiff penalty for defaulters. Ok now its more than twenty minutes, let me go check my food mehn and get the hell outta here. I figured my idle suspicious presence out the window of the gem shop aroused the curiosity of their security. I laugh!! I went back to Shoprite waited a little while and my order was served by my guy, I paid and left. Ceaser called me to remind me about our Sunday evening football game, I told him I wanst sure I'll make it. I ate the at our office and went home with the state of mind of going to play ball. I called Ceaser and he has changed about the game, he is taking a nap instead.

I rested a few minutes. Then I soaked some clothes to wash. Immediately I finished soaking the clothes PHCN took light. I wasn’t about to be discouraged by that you know. I lit up my spare phone and used the light like a hunter tied to my head. After washing I showered and went to Cherrie's place to tell her the good news that she is no longer needed in my life. I was fuming a little. She wasnt around, I waited till she came and the rest was an awkward history. I tried to project calm and nice me regardless of the exact opposite feelings suffocate me within. She took a nutty picture of me yesterday before she humongous annoyance she made me feel. Though I wouldnt want her to have such pix even if she didnt piss me off.

I asked her to delete not that I couldnt have deleted it myself. I just wanted her to respect my wishes and do it herself. So I asked her nicely while holding her phone if she has deleted it? And she flipped. It was so unbelievable to me. She struggled for her phone with me, I eventually let her have it. Then she goes ''If not deleting the picture will cause quarrel that she wont delete it. If its the only reason I came to see her she wont delete it'' For the first time I saw a very stubborn obstinate vixen, and it saddened me greatly. Was I stupid for believing she will reason with me and delete it? I coulda deleted it quietly when I took her phone without letting her but still I asked if she had removed it. She was like ''Its her phone she can do whatever the hell she damn well pleases with it'' I said you forget its my picture. I thought for a moment and decided to let her have her way. I told her Im leaving and she can do whatever she wants with the picture I dont give a damn anymore.

I stood up to leave and she barricaded the doorway. Thank God Im not hot tempered otherwise I woulda smacked her outta my way like pesky fly. Suddenly she wants to dialogue. Seriously?! That mad stubborn obstinate vixen has made a royal way for a loyal lamb. She asked for five minutes, I later agreed to five minutes only. When the proverbial five minutes prolonged indefinitely, I didnt know. She said alot things. Some of them were true. Some made sense to me, some didnt. Some touched me deeply and made me feel guilty.

Our problem was deeply rooted in miscommunication. Then she started crying. Tears, provided they are not crocodile tears when shed for the right reason always leaves me unimaginably weak. I had to cuddle her and talk to her. Apologies. Apologies. It flew back and forth. Now she's asking me to stay the night. Look at me, looking at turnout of events. I didnt tell her its over like I planned but through out talks we have accepted it calmly. She will travel to east to school of course. To cut the long story short I slept there. Yeah there was a lota smooching but no sex. Man proposes, God laughs and disposes. Who woulda thought it will end like this.

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