Date Night in a Jar

Maybe it’s just us, but planning a date night is hard. I’m not sure why, but it just is!

No matter what the reason, we found that we were always doing the same thing; going to a restaurant near home, shopping a few nearby stores and then going home.  Boring. 

That’s why my husband and I have been trying to come up with a creative way to solve the date night dilemma.  This summer, we decided to approach it the same way I approached the kids fighting summer boredom during the long, hot summer — I labeled popsicle sticks with ideas we brainstormed and then put them in a jar.  

At the end of every date night, we choose a new popsicle stick so we can start planning for the next time.

Here are 25 ideas in our jar:

1. “Cheers” night — go to a pub or a place where you can either hang out for drinks and appetizers together or invite a bunch of friends (so you can go somewhere where everybody know your name).  Eat at a seafood restaurant (foods you might find in Boston — clam chowder,  lobster, etc.)…basically creatively plan an evening that goes with the them of the sitcom “Cheers.”
2. His Choice — Husband has to plan date from beginning to end…anything goes
3. Her Choice – Wife plans date from beginning to end…anything goes
4. Picnic in the park — pack wine and cheese, picnic blanket, go for a walk together, etc.
5. Eat-in movie — Order in and rent a movie (kids still go to a sitter or grandparents house)
6. Couples Night — Invite another couple to join you for dinner
7. Spa Night/Day — go for a couples massage or create the spa experience at home
8. Italian night — Italian restaurant, Italian wine, watch The Godfather or The Italian job…you get the idea
9. Go to an art museum
10. Go to a coffee house
11. Movie night at a theater
12. Overnight date (plan a night at a hotel and find a sitter for the kids)
13. Find a new restaurant
14. Go to a sports bar and watch a game
15. Fancy dinner (white table cloth-type restaurant)
16. Take dance lessons (here in TX, a lot of country bars/dance clubs offer free two-stepping lessons prior to opening for nightly business)
17. Go to the botanic gardens
18. Play putt putt golf
19. Mexican night (similar to Italian night)
20. Go to a concert (find one at a park, a local pub, or a full-fledged large concert at an arena)
21. Bowling
22. Dessert night (eat at home but then find a great place for dessert)
23. Go for a walk together
24. Go to a local attraction you never go to
25. Go to a bar to play pool or play darts.

If you are dying for more ideas, I found some other sites that have some great suggestions:

The Nest
Stay at Home Susie
Redbook magazine
Marie Claire magazine
Intentional by Grace

Really, there are a wealth of ideas out there if you just give date night a little time and effort.  It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive…the point is just to spend time together without the distractions of kids, activities and the usual stuff.

I’d love to hear any great date night ideas you might have.  We’re always looking for something new and fun to do together!