The weather outside is frightful, at least in Pittsburgh where I reside. But despite the falling temps, couples, especially ones with kids, can still heat up their relationships. Here are 10 ways you can keep the fire burning.

1. Get a Couples Massage

You spend all day taking care of someone else, so it’s time for someone to take care of you! Relax and relieve your tension together. Then, take the techniques home and give each other a rub down.

2. Nap Together

You’re not a new mom if you haven’t heard the advice to nap when your baby does. Why not go a step further and cuddle up with your hubby or significant other?

3. Hire a Babysitter

Trust me. It’s hard to leave your little one, but if you would like to make more little ones one day, you can’t neglect your partner. Hire the babysitter and go out to dinner, which doesn’t involve bibs, baby food and a high chair.

4. Take a Staycation

Become tourists for the day and enjoy your city. Most people don’t take advantage of what their town has to offer until an out-of-town guest shows up for a visit. Why wait for Cousin Pete or Aunt Jemima to sleep on your pullout? Navigate nearby attractions, such as museums, art galleries and parks. Take a walking tour or a cruise on the river, if you have one running through your zip code. Whatever you do, just do it together.

5. Take a Class

Before the baby, you learned a lot about your lover’s interests. But post-pregnancy, those extracurricular activities may not make an appearance on the calendar. If the only classes you’re taking are at Gymboree or My Gym, it’s time to add some adult interactions to your lives. Paint a picture, dance like the stars, make beer or cook a gourmet meal. If you want to spice more than just your food, sign up for a strip tease or pole dancing.

6. Break a Sweat

If you want to lose the baby weight, ask your man to be your workout partner. You don’t have to make a long-term commitment to a gym if you’re not ready. You can pound the pavement in your neighborhood, lift weights in your basement or pop in an aerobics video in your living room. Just get off the couch!

7. Go Outside & Play

Build strength and endurance in your relationship by hiking, skydiving, rock climbing or horseback riding. Snow in the forecast?  Try ice skating, sledding and skiing. Work up a sweat and then cool each other off with a shower.

8. Make an Appointment

Talk to a couple’s counselor to put trust back into your relationship, improve communication, get your needs met or feel closer than ever before. When you connect emotionally, the physical part comes naturally!

9. Write a Love Letter

Before you start-up your computer, put your technology down and pick up a pen. Buy fancy stationary, spritz it with your mates favorite perfume and pour your love onto the paper.

10. Bring the Baby

If you can’t secure a sitter, bring your baby! My friend Janica tells me that she packs up the car with goodies and blankies, and her hubby and daughter head to a drive-in movie theater. Her daughter usually falls asleep along the way, some mommy and daddy have a date with baby in the back seat.

Hey BMWK family — What would you add to the list?