Thursday, January 30, 2014

The Date Night List!

Today I want to talk about date nights! If there is one lesson I have learned with having a husband who travels a lot for work, it is that date nights are a must. But truthfully, I think they are a must for any couple!
(this is my photo and one I plan to use to scrapbook about date nights thanks to this post by Tanya)

A few weeks ago, we went out to dinner and then to the Chocolate Bar afterwards. Just the two of us.
I mean I love my children, but it was so great to be able to talk without interruptions. And just be together.

And we both agree that we need more date nights! It's so good for us.

So I made a list of ideas we can do for date nights. A few came from some of my Paper Issues Design Team friends, too.

1. The Art Museum

(not my photo)
they added a brand new wing last summer that I have yet to see. And the museum is open late on Friday nights. So I hear it is a popular free date night spot for couples. I love the art museum and think it would be fun to have dinner and then just go explore it together.

2. Couples Massage - We both could use a little stress free relaxation time I think. We'll see if Mike goes for this one :)

3. Go to a Blues Hockey game
(also not my photo)
We both love hockey, but it has been a while since we have been to an actual game! I miss it!!

4. A Play or Broadway type show - We have several really great theaters in town. Some big and some small. We haven't been to a play in a while either. But we have seen quite a few together, and I always enjoy it!

5. A Cooking Class - one of my blog / design team friends, Lisa, recommended this and I think it's a fun idea!

6. Photo Walk - this would be more for warmer weather. But someone recommended going to a favorite spot and take photos together.

7. Local planetarium or observatory to star gaze - we did something like this on our anniversary trip in Canada. A local astronomer came with his telescope one night. It was pretty cool!

8. Concerts -
  (my photo taken with my iphone)
we went to Loufest this past summer and saw some great bands. We have been to a zillion U2 concerts together. Vampire Weekend, Radiohead, the Black Keys, Jane's Addiction, Live, Weezer and more. We love music and I really love seeing live shows together! Especially at the smaller venues.

9. And the old standby, Dinner and a Movie - we don't go out to movies as much anymore because we have a pretty nice set up at home. And we all know sometimes that staying home is just easier.

So my question for you. What are your favorite type of date nights? Any ideas I could add to my list? ;)
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This post is part of a list-making project called Lists With Friends 2014, an effort to document the year in lists of all types!

26 comments:

  1. i am a firm believer in date nights!!! they are truly a must for any couple!
    looks like you have some fun things on your list. hubby and i love to go out to eat and then go play trivia!

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  2. We love date nights too!! Now that Adam is older .. we have a babysitter too!! LOL!! I loveeeeeeeeeee these ideas!!!!!!

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  3. What a great, well rounded list, Mary Jo, hoping you have time to cross off many of them this year!

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    1. I am making it a priority. Have two sitters lined up already!

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  4. I would have to be dating to comment about date nights...lol, but all of your ideas sound like great fun!!!

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    1. You know, I am thinking of doing a post on one on one time with the kids, too. I almost did a little bit here, but then decided just to keep it about adult relationships.

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  5. These sound like great ideas! I'm definitely going to have to steal some of them for AJ and I!

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  6. What a wonderful list! Looks like you have some fun times ahead!! :)

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  7. How about a pottery date... There are a couple of places here in Minneapolis that do that and I think its so much fun to try to center a lump of soils after a glass of wine.

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    1. Ooooh, we have those here, too!
      That might be an option.
      I forgot to mention that I probably need him to add a few of his own ideas to the list, too!

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  8. Reconnecting is good - sounds like you had a great time. Love all of these ideas. Will have to remember this. :)

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  9. Great idea! We usually end up at a movie! Sometimes we drive to the next town to our favorite drive-in burger place! Ha, that's usually a blast!
    So which date idea will you choose for Valentine's Day? :)

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    1. We are going to the Arctic Monkeys concert! :) we love out music that is for sure!

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  10. Sounds wonderful. No date nights for us. Emma has to be close to someone to stay with. Would be wonderful though. I felt a breath if fresh air to be able to go to CHA. Much needed.

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  11. Wonderful ideas on this list, Mary Jo! Tom and I need to have more date nights (maybe even afternoon ones since Alexa's old enough now).

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  12. Love this, Mary Jo. We are doing Valentine's Day at a UNO hockey game ;) Two years ago we committed to one date night a month, and it has really been a good thing. It has also helped to have a few things on the list for "at home" date nights. We try to do something with the kids to wear them out for early bedtime first. Then, we've made fondue in the crock pot, picked up grown up desserts for a taste test, and we've had a designated game night (that isn't my favorite, haha). One other going out thing we've done is a late afternoon date with a walk at a park, gardens or nature center.

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  13. This frugal old retiree likes date nights too. But we are watching our pennies as we have the costs of home as well as the place at the lake to maintain.

    We purchase the local Entertainment book each year from my Grandaughters school fundraiser. Sometimes we buy two or even three of them...(if we are expecting company from England, for example).

    We use that book aasit is all buy one, get one free. We do lunch dates and supper dates using it. All the local attractions...museums, games, pool, gym, canoeing, kayaking, coffeeshops, you name it it are BOGO.

    Once we use up our tried and true favourites, we have great fun chosing a restaurant and venue that we have never tried. It is fun to try the pricier restaurants this way.

    Another fave of ours is a picninc supper at Stanley Park, Vancouver's huge park within the hart of the city.

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  14. This is such a great topic for your lists.
    You have some great ideas on there as well.
    We usually go out for dinner for our date night…when we have one.

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  15. Big fan of date nights here :) I'm a firm believer that if you and your spouse/partner aren't on the same page you'll be worthless for your kids ;). Great ideas!! We went to a comedy club one night, something completely different for us, and had the best time!

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    1. Too funny! I was just telling Mike last night that we should go to a comedy club! We haven't been in a long time and I love the comedy stations on Sirius radio :)

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  16. Oh em gee!!! Thank you SOOOOOO much for mentioning me! I'm really glad I could inspire you!!! I really LOVE all these ideas!! I just jotted down a few notes for our future date nights! :) xoxoxo

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  17. great list! i love date nights too.

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  18. Today Andy and I went on a run date- it was 30 minutes long and it was AWESOME. Best part of our day :) SO, yea, I totally get needing alone time with just your main squeeze :) I like your list!!

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  19. Great list! Enjoy all your future date nights!

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  20. Love your list!!
    We don't do date nights because we don't have a good baby sitter and we had 15 year together before we had our daughter. We had hope to have her in 10 years. Therefore we have had many dates nights before we had her. If we had another child then I would defiantly do the date night and find a sitter.

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