How to Date your Husband!

This week, in our Organize your Life series, we organized our priorities!!  One of my priorities was to date my husband.  This might seem strange to some of you, but my husband and I got married young and then had 3 children close together.  We moved several times and never lived close to family.  So…I never found the right babysitter plus, I was pregnant and tired or breastfeeding and my kids hated the bottle, plus I felt like we didn’t have enough money to go out and pay a sitter.  Needless to say, we didn’t go on dates much! :(

We recently found some girls from our church that we know, like and trust to watch our kids!  We planned on “dating” once a month but we moved it up to weekly/bi-weekly, ha!  Since going out again, I realized how important it is for married couples to date.  We feel like we are in high-school (when we met) again! :)  It’s so fun!!!  I LOVE getting ready and leaving the house instead of a date in.  We feel closer and find it easier to talk away from the house, TV, internet, phone, kids, etc.  I want to make it a priority to continue dating my husband!  I know that sounds crazy but we love going out together again like we should! :)

Anyway, I found some great dating ideas on-line and thought I would share them with you.

101 Date Ideas

1. Paint-your-own pottery place

2. Paris theme night – get a baguette, some French wine, and cheese for dessert

3. Read Shakespeare to one another

4. Bake cookies together

5. Get up extra early, watch the sunrise, then make breakfast together

6. Attend a little league game

7. Watch an entire season of your favorite TV show

8. Go for a long drive

9. Planetarium

10. Art gallery

11. Play board games

12. Movie

13. Visit garage sales

14. Do a volunteer activity

15. Go dancing

16. Go to the driving range

17. Build a snowman

18. Ride go-carts

19. Rent a movie

20. Have a carpet picnic

21. Go to an arcade

22. Play Frisbee

23. Go kayaking

24. Go ice skating

25. Visit the pumpkin farm

26. Window shop

27. Go to ballet performance

28. Visit a place listed in an entertainment book

29. Bike riding

30. Rock climbing

31. Bowling

32. Haunted house

33. Out for coffee

34. Visit a flea market

35. Play bingo

36. Go to an opera

37. Swing by a bookstore

38. Visit another city

39. Go hear jazz or reggae

40. See an NBA game

41. Play in the batting cages

42. Vegas anyone?

43. Piano bar

44. Visit a psychic

45. Have lunch at a trendy new restaurant

46. Grab a fish fry

47. Grab a pint at an Irish pub

48. Chinese food and DVDs – the perfect mix

49. Attend a poetry reading

50. Attend an author reading from their latest fiction work

51. Go antiquing

52. Go on a brewery tour

53. Visit a winery

54. Attend a painting class

55. Visit an animal shelter – you may come home with a new pet

56. Go for a carriage ride

57. Visit the tourist spots in your hometown

58. Take a trip to the hobby store – pick out a project to work on for the afternoon

59. Take a walk – around a lake, in the moonlight, by the river, on the beach

60. Go to an ethnic festival

61. Go to a shrimp boil

62. Create a scrapbook

63. Attend a matinee

64. Visit the zoo

65. Go see a local band

66. Have lunch at a church festival

67. Go camping

68. Go hiking

69. Go rock climbing

70. Go to a party

71. Attend a farmer’s market

72. Have dinner at a new place

73. Try out a new cuisine

74. Go strawberry picking or visit an apple orchard

75. Take in a community theater performance

76. Attend a live, outdoor music night in your town

77. Go see fireworks

78. Take a yoga class

79. Visit an astrologist – see if the “stars” think you’re compatible

80. Go to a foreign film festival

81. Spend an afternoon watching old movies

82. Eat at a make-your-own pizza joint

83. Take a class at the rec department

84. Show your date where you lived as a kid

86. Go to breakfast at a great greasy spoon

87. Grab a champagne brunch

88. During holiday season, take a drive and view the lights

89. Visit an arboretum or botanical center

90. Attend a comedy show

91. Shoot a round of pool

92. Show your partner where you went to school as a kid

93. Make a meal from scratch together

93. Take a weekend trip in your state

94. Take a tour of a historical site in your town

95. Go bike trekking

96. Go golfing

97. Rent a canoe or kayak

98. Visit the State Fair

99. Go to a Renaissance Fair

100.Dinner cruise

101.Off-track betting

10 Cheap Dates

1) A trip to the dollar store

Peruse the aisles while you smile at the various objects one can sell for $1. There are usually one or two gems that will keep you in stitches long after you leave. Buy items to use on the rest of your date, like plastic glasses and plates for a picnic or snacks to take with you to a movie.

2) Coffee shop

People watch, read the newspaper, and hang out for hours with a cafe mocha or two. The close-set tables make it the perfect atmosphere for holding hands, while the busy setting is sure to give you plenty to talk about.

3) Bookstore

The larger chains today carry much more than just literature. Browse the music, DVD, and magazine sections. Get to know each other better by discussing your favorite choices in reading material or film.

4) Walk in the park

Get back to nature with a relaxing walk in the woods. Bring a field guide and see how many birds you can identify, or a bag lunch with whatever you might have in your refrigerator.

5) Craft projects

Remember paint by numbers? Or how about putting a scrapbook page together with construction paper and a photo of the two of you? Creative dates can help spark romantic feelings. After all, it’s the interesting, imaginative, and unique parts of us that make us truly attractive.

6) Museums

Many museums have discounted or free days. Watch the paper or call up your local museum and ask about dates and times with reduced admission prices. Make it your mission to see the culture of your city for under $5. It can be done!

7) Pay-what-you-can nights at the theater

Several performing arts companies today offer nights where youdecide what you pay. These performances are usually on the slower days of the run – a weekday or Sunday afternoon.

8) Fly a kite

The combination of a nice summer day, a gentle wind, and your partner make this an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

9) Pet Store

What’s more endearing than snuggling with a cute puppy while you talk about your love of animals with your date. Tell each other about the pets you each had growing up.

10) For all seasons

In winter, build a snowman. In spring, find some garage sales. In summer, go for a moonlit walk under the stars. In fall, take a Sunday drive and view the gorgeous scenery. Remember, it doesn't really matter what you do, as long as you're together. Planning dates with little or no money will allow you to see your relationship for the priceless value it really has.

I recently wrote a post, How to Feel Sexy!  Make sure you read it before you head off on your date!  Have fun! ;)

Do you date your spouse?

How often?

What is your favorite date?  I would LOVE to know!! :)

What is your favorite “cheap” date?

Have a great day!

xoxo,

Bonnie :)

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