Stay in Love. Keep Dating.
I couldn’t help getting choked up while I was researching this topic because it is all about the dearest thing to my heart,…my marriage. {I know, I know,…Oprah makes me cry almost every day too}. The importance of ‘investing in your marriage’ by dating is essential is maintaining a healthy relationship.
With three kids under the age of 2, finding time for each other is hard. Not only is it hard, it’s very hard. It’s so frustrating to feel there isn’t enough time for “us”. It’s simple {yet complicated}. I need to ‘Make the time’.
“Life brings some stress that can tend to interfere with marriages, and getting away just the two of you is a great way to communicate and just enjoy one another.
Date nights are one small step towards a huge investment!” –Michelle
If you are anything like me there is always an excuse, ‘We don’t have the money,…we can’t find a sitter, the baby is too young to leave,…blah blah blah!‘ When we actually do go out, I feel guilty for splurging by ordering a strawberry lemonade instead of water. {Sound Familiar}? While keeping a budget in mind is important, it is okay to occasionally let loose, order your own plate (instead of sharing) and ‘invest’ in your marriage.
Michelle puts it best, “Whether it’s silly, fun, frugal, simple, or outrageous, there’s an idea out there for you! If you haven’t had a date in a while, make it a priority today to have one! Ladies, take charge and plan a date for your man.” -Maybe you could invite him on your HOT date with Shower Notes?! 🙂
Below is an amazing list of date ideas compiled by Michelle.
Great Dating Ideas from Cheap to Splurging
1.Go out for pizza
2.Try live entertainment, such as a band at a local bar or restaurant, instead of a movie.
3.Pick a TV show, get a season’s worth on DVD and make a running date to watch it together every night. (we did this with The Office and Lost)
4.Head out to the dollar theater and splurge on snacks.
5.Try brunch and a matinee; fancy restaurants are way more affordable in the a.m.
6.Pick up a bucket of fried chicken and head for the drive-in.
7.Dress up your backyard picnic table with a white tablecloth. Add candles, fancy cheese, chocolate and voila: five-star fun!
8. Too cold or wet for an outdoor picnic? Spread a blanket on the floor and have a carpet picnic. (we do this when we eat pizza with the kids!)
9. Bring home your favorite fast food, but serve it on your best china.
10. Museums usually have one free night a week or month, so hit one then.
11. Find a happy hour half off appetizers and order a few for your dinner!
12. Take a sketchpad to a scenic bluff and draw your own version of the vista.
13. Grab a basketball and hit the free courts at the park.
14. Sample international food at a street fair.
15. Hit the local video arcade.
16. Go to the library and page through the coffee-table art books, or any books!
17. Suit up and spend a late afternoon at the indoor pool of the Y.
18. Head to the highest point in town. Spend an early evening watching the twinkling lights turn on.
19 Drive out to a country field, lie down and snuggle under the stars.
20. Make yourselves the biggest, craziest ice cream sundae ever.
21. Take a tour of the house you’d (someday) love to own.
22.Paint coffee mugs at a paint-your-own-pottery place.
23. Sign up for a one-night class at your local college.
24. Hit a farmers’ market and scavenge for your dinner.
25. Take a tour of garage sales in the ritziest neighborhoods.
26. Head to an ice skating rink and strap on skates for some icy fun.
27. Book a double massage at a spa.
28. Take a balloon or helicopter ride over your town.
29. Rent a fancy car. Tool around as if you actually own it.
30. Find a nearby bed-and-breakfast. Spend the night someplace where someone else makes the bed and cooks breakfast.
Check out Michelle’s complete date idea list, and read her truly touching article in full here at Muffin Tin Mom.
Michelle continues, “No matter what anybody else says, a date night is between you and your spouse. Going out with friends or another couple, is just going out; not a date night where you and your spouse can create intimate conversations and spend one on one together”.
So if you are like me, you just read the amazing list above vowing to yourself that you ‘will make it happen’. You will. But really,…will you?! My Mix Of Six created this thoughtful gift to make sure dates happen by pre-planning and pre-buying a year of dates! Ingenius!
![Date Packets_thumb[6]](https://howdoesshe.com/wp-content/uploads/Date-Packets_thumb6.jpg "Date Packets_thumb[6]")
If money is tight this Valentines dating season, BlissTree suggests to Make a romantic dinner date at home. “I don’t know about you, but in the past few years, I have given up on going out on Valentine’s Day. It is not fun to go to your favorite restaurant and wait an hour or more to be seated. It’s not romantic at all! Instead, make a special meal at home.” BlissTree has a great list of how to make Valentines Day (and dates) extra special without breaking the bank.
Make dating a priority in your marriage. It is an investment you won’t regret.
Use restaurant.com!!! Cheap dates!
Any dating suggestions? We’d love to hear them!
Kelly says
Some really cute ideas, and I love that a lot are free/cheap!
Tiffany @ Simply Complicated says
I love the planned out date idea! Another Valentine’s Day dinner suggestion it TAKE OUT. Most restaurants do take out now. Call ahead to one of your favorite restaurants. You can swing by & pick up your food about 20 minutes later. You don’t have to cook & clean up the mess, wait for hours to be seated, & it cuts down the tip & drink cost. Then, you can still have a romantic dinner at home, but less stress!
Shelley says
What a great idea! Thanks Tiffany!
Sarah H says
My hubby and I always go out for a romantic date on a weeknight the week of valentine’s day but not actually on Valentine’s day itself. It’s easier to get a sitter and no or minimal wait to get seated, but it still has the whole ‘lovey-dovey’ atmosphere of Valentine’s.
We also love to do ‘home dates’…once the kids get to bed we snuggle on the couch watching a ‘grown-up show’ (Lost, Burn Notice) and eating special treats we hid from the kids. If they get out of bed we tell them mom and dad are on a date and pack them back upstairs! Or we’ll get up a bit early and have a special breakfast, just the 2 of us. It helps to be together and romantic without spending for a sitter, because sometimes you just can’t.
Shelley says
Yep. It’s official,…I’m a dork. I even got choked up reading this stupid {wonderful} comment. Thanks for your input. 🙂
Ali says
I would say that dating has been one of the most important thingsy husband and I have done over our 17 years of marriage. It keeps the spark alive! We try to date weekly if we are lucky (now that our kids are older it’s easier.) If your kids are still young, try a trade for services with a friend and alternate which couple gets to date each week. Also, someone you may not have even thought of would probably love to watch your kids…hint, hint……
Cher says
Amen. This is the reason behind “Love Actually” entirely!! Love it!
Shelley says
Oh my gosh! I need to add your link as a part of this post! Love Actually is a perfect fit for this post! I’m on it! 🙂
Shauna Rae says
Thanks for the sweet comment on my blog and then the link here. I too LOVE all the date ideas that you posted here. I just printed up a copy.
Mary Anne says
One year I planned a special dinner at home for Valentines day. I ordered Chinese take out and made very simple cloth robes with oriental trim (took about 2 hours to make)to be our kimonos and then set up a table with pillows in a cozy place on the floor. I printed out some Chinese characters for love and passion and joy and painted them on some tissue paper to cover up the picture frames around the table and tea lights. I topped it off with a very inexpensive paper lantern for light and atmosphere. I dolled myself up like a geisha and hung a bag with the robe in it, for my husband, on the garage door with a note that said: change into this before coming in. I had music and some flowers that he had sent me earlier. I think all in all I spent $40 including food. It was the best valentines day date we have ever had and only took a few hours of prep and planning.
Debi Walter - The Romantic Vineyard says
I am also committed to seeing my marriage be all it can be, but it does take work. Especially when the children are young – did you say 3 under 2? Bless your heart! That’s busy, indeed! I thought you might like to check out our D.R.A.B. Date Night Ideas – it’s an acronym for “Doesn’t Require A Babysitter”. We have lots of other ideas too – like Alphabet Date Ideas to help you date your way through the 26 letters of the alphabet. We would love to hear your thoughts! I love your new look too!
Debi
.-= Debi Walter – The Romantic Vineyard´s last blog ..Slices =-.
Jesse says
A cheap date too is just to cook. You can get the girl involved to help you and you can even make something like fish and rice… just pick one dish to master and that’s it, done. And serve a desert like chocolate to put her in the mood
.-= Jesse´s last blog ..Letting Go Of the Outcome in Dating =-.
fitness girl says
Lots of information i learned here in this post,,,but what matters me most is how the guy care for me.Being open minded to both of you is important sharing your ups and downs that would make your relationship grow strong.
Melanie says
I was told by someone that a regular date night is much cheaper than a counselor or a divorce lawyer…and way more fun! So don’t be afraid to splurge every once in awhile!