Stay in Love. Keep Dating!

In honor of LOVE month coming up in a few short days, I thought I would share a post I discovered on a blog I have been following for some time now. The name of the blog is How Does She?, and it focuses on celebrating the good things in life...family, holidays, marriage, cooking, and running a household!  In her most recent post, Shelley, states that investing in your marriage brings long term rewards. That there people, is a million dollar statement. Taking a little time to show your spouse how important he/she is to you is vital to a happy, healthy marriage...not to mention it teaches your children how to do the same when they grow up!  Check out the list of some of the fun ideas to stay in love!

Cheap Ideas...

1.Go out for pizza

2.Try live entertainment, such as a band at a local bar or restaurant, instead of a movie. (One of my favorite things to do!)

3.Pick a TV show, get a season’s worth on DVD and make a running date to watch it together every night.

4.Head out to the dollar theater and splurge on snacks.

5.Pick up a bucket of fried...or grilled=)...chicken and head for the drive-in. (If you're lucky enough to have one close by!)

6.Dress up your backyard picnic table with a white tablecloth. Add candles, fancy cheese, chocolate and voila: five-star fun!

7. Too cold or wet for an outdoor picnic? Spread a blanket on the floor and have a carpet picnic.

8. Bring home your favorite fast food, but serve it on your best china.

9. Museums usually have one free night a week or month, so hit one then.

10. Find a happy hour half off appetizers and order a few for your dinner!

11. Grab a basketball and hit the free courts at the park.

12. Sample international food at a street fair.

13. Hit the local video arcade. (As dorky as this sounds, Ryan and I do this a lot! We have a little competition going at Dave & Busters playing old school Galaga!)

14. Go to the library and page through the coffee-table art books, or any books!

15. Suit up and spend a late afternoon at the indoor pool of the Y.

16. Head to the highest point in town. Spend an early evening watching the twinkling lights turn on.  (Love doing this. There are some great places in every city to do this!)

17. Drive out to a country field, lie down and snuggle under the stars.

18. Make yourselves the biggest, craziest ice cream sundae ever.

19. Take a tour of the house you’d (someday) love to own.

Lets get creative...

20. Sign up for a one-night class at your local college. (I think it would be a lot of fun to take a cooking class together!)

21. Hit a farmers’ market and scavenge for your dinner.

22. Get an easy-to-operate remote-control plane, go to a park and take turns trying to avoid the trees.

23. Hit a flea market and shop interesting finds. (Or just people watch!)

24. Take a tour of garage sales in the ritziest neighborhoods.

25. Poke around an antique shop.

26. Ride the Ferris wheel at a local carnival.

27. Find a fountain and throw in 10 pennies, taking turns making wishes.

28. Stop at a nice bakery and pick out a treat for each other.

29. Feed the ducks.

30. Hold a kiss for one elevator ride.

31. One word: Frisbee.

32. Ride a tandem bike. (This one made me crack up when I thought of Ryan and I doing this together! Don't see it happening!)

33. Get up early or stay up all night, to watch the sunrise.

A little more out and about...

34. Head to a batting cage and swing at some balls.

35. Hit the bowling alley.

36. Get in the saddle for a horseback-riding lesson.

37. Hit a sports bar and cheer on the team.

38. Map out a long bike ride through a local park.

39. Fire up the grill for burgers and sticky s’mores.

40. Play paintball.

41. Check out the action at the nearest racetrack.

42. Hit the golf-ball driving range.

Mini Getaways ($$$!)

43. Book a double massage at a spa.

44. Take a balloon or helicopter ride over your town.

45. Rent your hubby's dream car. Tool around as if you actually own it.

46. Find a nearby bed-and-breakfast. Spend the night someplace where someone else makes the bed and cooks breakfast.
47. Spend a weekend at a hotel in a nearby city and live it up!

Little Personal Touches...

48. Write a quick love note on the bathroom mirror

49. Use sticky notes around the house to say a quick I love you!

50. Write an encouraging, sweet, short (or steamy) email during the day.

51. Make a homemade card, “just because”.

52. Make breakfast for him (or with him) on Saturday or Sunday morning

53. Surprise him with a new shirt or something you’ll know he’ll enjoy.

54. Plan a date and take him out!

55. Use chivalry. Say your please and thank you’s!

56. Hold hands whenever you can. We sometimes forget this simple notion of affection.

57. IF your spouse is a reader, find a book and read too! (If your spouse isn't a reader, choose a book together and read it TO him.)

58. Cook together

One last interesting statement from the post that made me think...
"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.
Make it a priority today to begin putting dating back into your marriage! "

Happy LOVE month!!