10 ways to fire up your sex life

After a long day wrestling with the dishwasher, chauffeuring the kids to soccer practice and cooking a meal to rival that of the Naked Chef guy, the last thing on your mind is performing a striptease for your husband. If your sex life has gone the way of acid wash jeans, here are 10 simple solutions to help rekindle the passion that brought the two of you together in the first place.

1. Communicate
It just may be the most important aspect of a relationship but often the most difficult to do. After years of marriage, couples seem to forget to express how much they love and appreciate one another and this causes partners to drift apart, says Valerie Gibson, The Toronto Sun's sex & relationships columnist. "Sex is the glue that holds people together," Gibson says. "If you don't get what you want, communicate what you want!" It can be as simple as saying "I love you" or "this is what really turns me on."

2. A little privacy, please
Nothing kills intimacy like being interrupted by a cranky two-year-old so get thyself a babysitter! If there are too many distractions at home, such as that pile of dishes in the sink to be washed, let the dishes wait and hit the town.

3. Keep it simple
Arranging a date is the key to spending time away from a busy household. However, Gibson warns couples to stay away from the movies. "You need stimulation," she says. "Face each other and talk over dinner." A weekend away is just the ticket for reconnecting and it doesn't have to break the bank. Weekend packages to nearby travel destinations are usually feasible and are "worth every penny if it helps inject desire in a marriage." No time or money? Do what comes naturally -- take a shower together or stroll hand-in-hand to the corner store.

4. Relax
Don't pressure yourself into expecting immediate fireworks. If it's an intimate dinner for two at home with the kids tucked safely away at Aunt Jennie's, make sure your partner is not working late resulting in a spoiled mood and burned lasagna. Approach a night out -- or in -- as time spent with the one you love, not as a script that needs to be played out.

5. Be tender
If you and your partner have not had sex in a while, a surefire way to ignite desire is through touch. Begin by giving hugs or cuddling one another in front of the TV. When the time is right, Gibson recommends a sensual massage with the aid of aromatherapy oils to stimulate closeness.