by Victoria Tiegert

Created on: November 16, 2008

Is your sex life beginning to feel like more of a chore than a pleasure? Is it something you just try to get done, or even dread, rather than something you anticipate with excitement and longing? If so, you are not alone. Most couples encounter these times at least occasionally. Don't give in to the idea that this is just the way it is after you've been in a relationship for more than a year. There are things you can do to spark the fires of passion again.

*Talk it out-The first thing to do is sit down with your partner and talk about the problem. It is highly likely that he or she is noticing the same chilling between the sheets that you are. Bringing it out into the open will take some of the anxiety about the situation away and allow you both to come clean with your own feelings about it. Now, you can get on your way to working through it.

*Pretty up-For women, it can be difficult to be sexy if you don't feel sexy. Spend a day at the salon getting a beauty treatment. Head off to the mall and pick up a nice piece of lingerie that makes you feel gorgeous. You are doing this for you, but your partner will definitelyappreciate it, as well.

*Get away from it all-An investment in your love life will have long-term rewards. Shell out the money for a weekend away at a hotel. Often, the stresses at home with children and housework, cooking and chauffering leave little time to relax enough to enjoy one another. Places such as the ocean can inspire a passion all of their own.

*Go back to dating-Marriage and co-habiting often allows us to rob ourselves of dating, since we see each other daily. When this happens, we are robbed of our excitement that comes with exploring new places together, dressing up and getting out of the house and on the town.

*Let nature take its course-Get off the couch and outside to enjoy the beauty that is all around us. Find a private spot to spend a romantic day where it is just the two of you sharing time. You may be pleasantly surprised at where things end up.

*Accessorize-Is your bedroom properly equipped for spice? Or, do you just have the basic ingredients, such as two people and a bed? Gather some of the fun stuff that keeps the spark alive. Start with a feather tickler, oils for massage, satin eye coverings and chocolate sauce with paintbrushes. These items will get your creativity sparked and ready for fun.

*Leave the bedroom-Don't let yourselves get in the rut of believing that the bedroom is the only spot you can be intimate. Try out the

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