The lovey-dovey feeling that couples feel during the first stages of the relationship can slowly fade away over time. This may come as a surprise for newly star crossed lovers but a lot of time tested couples will attest that this does happen. This is especially true if both parties are doing nothing to feed the spark of love and let it continue to shine its brilliant light for the two of them.

The fading away of wonderful love happens when one or both of the parties take the relationship for granted, thinking that the relationship will follow the expected natural course of happy ever after, which is but a myth. It is a myth because it is a given that in any relationship, you always have to play your role in order for it to work out. Time and effort is needed. So how does one keep the love going and going and going? Here are some lovely tips.

* Cherish the small but magical moments. You do not need to wait for the calendar to show the mark of a special occasion to be able to show your special someone how much you love him or her. And you need not do such a grand gesture to do it. What you should know is that in relationships, it is usually the little things that matter most and the little surprises that give the most heart.

Even if it is not her birthday, you may surprise your woman with a bouquet of lovely flowers to cheer her up during a stressful day at work. A cup of gourmet coffee delivered to your mate's office will be a refreshing surprise for him and you can be sure he would have a smile on his face as he slowly sips his cappuccino during his coffee break. These gestures may be small and not at all pricey but they have a lot to prove and to show how much the other person is important and special to you. A sweet surprise every now and then always gives a bit of exhilaration to any relationship.

* Take some time to be together. You might be leading busy lives and highly charged careers but this does not mean that you cannot find it in your hectic schedule to squeeze in some time to spend with your special someone. When you are in love and want to continue to be blessed with that love, you will have the will to find time. While going out on group dates or activities with the family may literally mean that the two of you are together, love experts will tell you that this does not generally give you the quality couple time that you need.

Go on romantic dates like you used to when you first started going steady. Eat at romantic restaurants and visit romantic parks and places. Watch the sunset, if you could. With just the two of you, you will have time to discuss freely where you are now, your plans for your relationship and for the future. Give yourself time to bond and to revive the connection.