No matter what kind of dedicated pairing you're part of–whether it is a new marriage, you have three kids or no kids, boyfriend and girlfriend or a gay relationship–you are probably both too preoccupied with your daily routine to make enough time for each other. We always have more things to do than we have available time. You may well wonder whether the world has always been this way or whether it is only in these times.

One of the first things to get put off "until there is more time" is meaningful time with our significant others. We fool ourselves into believing that we'll suddenly find more time once this big deadline at work is completed. Or we pray that we won't be as busy once little Sarah's soccer season is finally done. We then find ourselves pondering whether our relationship has become lifeless. Maybe, we think, this happens to all couples after they have been together for a while. Even if it does, that is no excuse. No person, no project at work, no "to do" list at your home should become more of a priority than your partner–at least not every time that a choice has to be made.

Here are some tips for a perfect, non-traditional, intimate evening at home.

Set an evening to ship the kids off to Grandma's (or a neighbor's house)

Disconnect the TV

Choose some CDs that you both enjoy

Unplug or turn off all phones, computers and any other digital contraptions that could possibly interrupt you

Send for a chef prepared, gourmet meal to be delivered from an Internet merchant–one that needs virtually no effort on your part but stills tastes as if it's from a four star restaurant

Purchase a bottle of the best wine oran invigorating mixture of fresh fruit juices

Hide your cars so nobody can guess that you are home

Close all drapes

Turn off all of your lamps

Light some mildly scented candles

Eat at a very slow pace

Take plenty of time to talk about one another in hushed tones

Listen intently

Finish the meal with a slice of turtle cheesecake and a glass of a complimentary dessert wine or cup of freshly brewed tea

Worry about your diet tomorrow

Don't wash the dishes, at least not until morning

Extinguish some of the candles

Don't go to the bedroom

Try to think of any activity that relaxes you–in a stimulating way

Oh, yeah. Talk some more

Repeat next month. You will find that you are still too busy to suit you, but you won't mind as much if you take some good, quality time for yourselves at home.

Tags: chef prepared meal, gourmet meal, new york cheesecake, relationship, romance, turtle cheesecake