SanteSavvy: September 2016

Date nights!! OK, this is newer to us. I've heard of some couples that, on a certain night of the week, they disappear. You can't call them, you can't find them. (unless you have their kids).

That's just like us, once every... wait, I don't think we've ever done that..Bummer...

It's not because we can't, it's because we get used to a routine and that's just easier. But lately I've been thinking (since our kids are wonderfully tiring) we should have a date night to solidify our relationship and recoup.

Being far from family makes it hard to get babysitters. That's why its probably not realistic to go on a "no kids" date every week. (Unless you have the money to pay for a babysitter) And friends could babysit, but still, every week would be a lot to ask...

Every week could be a family date, and every other week (or once a month) could be a couple only date.

I've also heard of couples whom take turns babysitting each others kids then go on dates in rotation...

Also, dates do not always have to cost money...

If you just don't have the extra cash for gas, then stay home. As long as you can do something different together, that you both feel the romance, then that's A-OK!

Even if every night you sit on the porch and gaze at the stars that is more romantic then watching TV or being on the Internet...

Sometimes we don't go out because we are tired and think that the only way we can relax is by watching the TV or (what ever we are used to) This is a habit we need to change. (If you're bored of the same old same old.)

I've gathered up some ideas from a few web sites on fun date ideas. Some are pretty expensive (you could always have a budget and save up for those once a year)... And some are free!

It's about being creative, silly, and willing to do something you wouldn't usually do for someone you love!

If you have the energy an willpower you can make a

"date night" jar with labelled tongue depressors in a jar. Or even print out all the point form ideas and cut them out then fold them up and put them in a jar to pick out from.

Taking turns organising the dates is a fun way to mix things up... It needs to not only one person making the effort...

(I don't think I've ever said the word "date" so much in such a short period of time!) I could go for a date square right about now... :P haha I know, lame...

If you actually read through all these 132 ideas, you will be considered a trooper in my pages! For the ADHD people (like me) I put in bold writing the basic points...

These aren't even just date ideas. They can just be fun quality time fillers...

132 Date ideas!

Watch the sunrise or sunset (before and after kids are sleeping.
Cook or bake together (clothes optional, unless you have kids, then that's just nasty).
Take a Bubble bath and talk with funny accents.
Go to a game store, buy a new game and play it!
Have a picnic somewhere random
Exercise together (gym, lifting weights or each other).
Hike.
Ride a bike.
Go swimming.
Go wine tasting.
Go to a museum or art gallery.
Go camping (In your back yard if no where else).
Give each other a massage (or take turns on different nights if you fall asleep).
Take a class together (art class, cooking class at grocery store, DANCING CLASS!)
Read together or to each other .
Try Geocaching (Hunting for and finding a hidden object by means of GPS coordinates posted on a web).
Go roller skating or ice skating.
Make a bucket list together and check off things from it one by one (Maybe try to do one thing per month).
Go on a trip or a drive down a road you've never been down before).
Go to a random little restaurant or coffee shop or store that you've never been to before.
Go to an antique shop.
Visit the zoo.
Play mini golf.
Quiz each other on the "36-questions-lead-love" ?
Go to an amusement park or water park.
Spend a day at the beach.
Go horse back riding.
Go to a dinner theatre.
Go to a musical or ballet.
Go to a shooting range.
Take a ride in a hot air balloon.
Go to a local musical venue or comedy club.
Go fishing.
Volunteer together (at a food bank, humane society,etc.).
Go to a local sporting event together.
Go to a karaoke bar or have an at-home karaoke night.
Go to a drive in movie theatre.
Go bowling
Make crafts together or build something together (Bird house perhaps?)
Wage a war on each other, (using water balloons, Nerf gun, water gun, snow balls, ice cubes, manure) hehe just checking if you're actually reading everything. :P
Do an at-home version of chopped, (assign each other mystery ingredients from your kitchen and see what you can make out of them, for supper!)
Camp out in the living room with a DIY blanket fort (no dutch oven please)
Play a game of basketball at the park (ladies, show that dude who the boss is:)
Play tennis.
Do yoga together.
Go for a cup of coffee and sit outside.
Go for happy hour at a restaurant and sit outside.
Go to a farmer’s market or flea market.
Go to a local historical site. Check prices ahead. Some have days that offer free admission
Picnic at home with another couple or do a potluck with a crowd. Each couple brings a dish to share.
Go swimming. Call around to local pools and see who offers admission at low cost.
Go berry picking.
Visit beautiful trails in your area.
Reserve a book from the library and pick a spot outdoors to read and just be together.
Have fondue night and make it a challenge to keep the ingredients under $20
Buy a bottle of cheap wine (or 2) and have a wine tasting outdoors.
Buy a half gallon of your favourite ice cream and make sundaes.
Take advantage of outdoor church activities.
Have a fire and make s’mores.
Plan your goals for the summer together.
Go do a dive bar and play a game of pool or darts.
Go to a local high school baseball game.
Make grilled pizza together.
Go for appetisers and drinks at a restaurant.
Go for a walk at night and look up at the stars.
Wash the car together.
Wash the dishes together.
Fold the clothes together.
Play some old music and reminisce about the past.
Bake cookies together.
Play on a local playground (without the kids).
Play some board games outdoors.
Dollar Date- go pick out your favourite candy at the dollar store and your favourite dollar themed activity.
Take the baby monitor outside (if you have a baby) and enjoy a game of horse shoe, croquet, kube or Frisbee/football together.
Have a wrestling match. Make things fun and give each other disabilities (One person has their legs tied together, the other is blind, etc.) This also helps if one person has an unfair advantage physically.
Look at old photo albums together.
If it is summer time, plant something outside together such as flowers or vegetables. Or a tree and watch it grow over the years
Progressive Dinner (appetiser at one restaurant, entree somewhere else, and dessert somewhere else!)
Build and fly a kite!
Day long road trip (ours would be no further than 2 hours away).
Hammocking.
Monopoly Night.
Old cartoon movie night. with nachos.
Trip to a local orchard or farm to pick fruits and veggies.
Technology FREE night (no computer, phone, TV, ipad...nothing, just enjoying each other).
Movie Marathon! (Harry Potter, The Matrix...)
Youtube Dance Lessons (Line Dancing, Swing Dances, Ballroom Dancing, belly dancing?)
Coffee Shop Date (maybe you will be lucky and can enjoy some local live music while you are there too)
Go pick blueberries. (or anything for that matter).
Go to the pet store, or the humane society.
Slack line.
Wander through a bookstore.
Get coffee + go on a walk.
Pick pecans, make pecan brittle.
Dinner and a movie (classic).
Watch a documentary together.
Chocolate/Wine Tasting. (Whichever you prefer).
Portable Drive-In. (take a laptop, and a movie and drive somewhere in town and watch a movie, or do this is your backyard)
Dinner at the County Lake (this is a lake in town and you don't have to pay any thing to just go out there and cook on their grounds)
Wash your cars together.
Bowling Night!
Camping, classic couple retreat for an evening or a weekend...
Night car ride. windows down...that is a must. (unless kids are freezing in the back).
Light a fire in your fireplace, enjoy an evening on the floor with your love.
Put together a puzzle.
Watch the sunrise + breakfast date on the deck.
Pottery night. (clay cafe).
Homemade, candle light dinner.
Grill out night.
If cooking isn't your thing, pick up a meal from a fast food or take-out restaurant and enjoy it in candlelight.
Go for a walk and hold hands.
Eat super with only tooth picks.
Dress up for supper (as a vegetable, superhero?).
Have a "sing don't talk" rule for dinner time.
Make a CD of your favourite love songs and slow dance.
Play strip poker or any other fun adult game (naked Twister anyone?).
Go on a scavenger hunt in your house/backyard.
Have a pillow fight.
Plan a picnic in your backyard complete with candles and wine (if its too cold have it in your living room.)
Go to bed early, snuggle up and talk (and do whatever else comes naturally).
Take turns asking each other questions. Even married couples can get to know each other better
Buy some banana's and a jar of Nutella and climb on top of a parked train and snack while watching the sun set. Because this is not illegal at all...
Do you want to build a snow man...!?
face masks and blackhead strips on nose!
Get ladder and sit on your roof with grapes and cheese. And eat them.
Teach your partner some of your talents,(musical instrument, how to paint, how to sew, cook...)
Go four wheeling
Get two people games on your phone or tablet. (Wheel of fortune, Family Feud, Hang man...)
Go to the thrift store and try on ugly stuff for fun.
Go for a boat ride
Kayaking
Look for new Jokes