Spicing Up the Dating Life

A couple weeks ago I co-hosted a Provident Living Fair at church.  We had asked four people in the ward to teach 30-minute classes on specific topics to the whole group--"Emergency Planning" (such as wills), "72-Hr. Kits," "Debt Reduction," and "Fun/Cheap Dating Ideas".  There were also displays set up showcasing the classes that will be taught at the next fair.

Last Fall was my first time working with the Provident Living Fair, and it was well done but very poorly attended.  I was so afraid the same thing would happen this time, but surprisingly there was a terrific turn-out of ward members!  It was really fun having everyone's participation through the classes, and it was a touching, thought-provoking, laughter-filled evening!

The night before the event, the couple that was supposed to teach "Fun and Cheap Dates" had to cancel, so I took it on instead.  Thankfully it was the easiest topic!  I had a really fun time researching ideas and also got some feedback from friends and family.  But I had even more fun teaching the class!  Dating is the highlight of your life when you're single, and when you're newly married, but once you're married with kids it sadly can get neglected and hard to arrange.  I've always had a hard time leaving Eli (even though he's only ever been left with family), which makes going out on dates rather difficult.  Every weekend David and I mechanically resort to the same dating ritual--dinner out as a family (after much begging and pleading on my part, and almost always using a coupon), and a movie and popcorn after Eli's in bed.  Even though our dates are still enjoyable for us, we both miss the creative and active nature of our dates pre-baby.  So for those of you who also feel like your dating life is in a bit of a rut, look over my list and find something different that you and your honey can do together.  : )
Indoor:

• Attend the temple
• Read a book together by the fire
• Take a trip to your local hobby shop.  Pick out a project to work on for the afternoon--maybe build a boat, or a rocket, something that you can play with!
• Find a tricky jigsaw puzzle to put together.  This is a great time to just talk!
• Volunteer together at an animal shelter.
• Walk through the library or a bookstore.  Find a corner to sit and read a children's book together.
• Visit your local planetarium.
• Tour historical buildings
• Chaperone a Youth dance/Go dancing yourselves
• Store Time--Take turns recording pieces of a story.  One person starts recording a story while the other person leaves the room ending their segment with, "and then..." The other person picks up telling the next part of the story and ends their segment with "and then..."  This goes on until someone decides to say "The end."
• Play board/card games
• Write love letters to each other
• Describe your life in pictures by cutting them out of magazines or make up a story from the pictures
• Visit a nursing home.  You can just talk with the residents, or sing to them or play games with them.
• Exercise together
• Play UNO in the middle of a public place
• Bake cookies or make smoothies
• Go to sporting events or free concerts
• Bowling
• Draw pictures of each other--show off that artsy side!
• Make life lists together--all the things you want to do before you die.  Be creative and help your date come up with some fun things!

Outdoor:

• Go on a nature hike.  Pick wildflowers or have a picnic.
• Go for a bike ride in your nieghborhood
• Go to a playground and swing on the swings
• Take a walk around a ritzy side of town.  
• Plant something together--a tree, flowers, vegetables, anything at all!
• Play your favorite sport together, or try a new one!
• Go canoeing/kayaking
• Visit garage sales/flea markets
• Play frisbee
• Play putt-putt/hit a bucket of balls at the driving range
• Do some service--rake leaves, plant flowers for a neighbor, shovel snow, etc.
• Watch the sunrise/sunset
• Pull out some bug spray and a cozy blanket and curl up together in your backyard or a local park for some stargazing.
• Take a penny hike together.  Once you are outside, flip a penny.  Heads, turn right.  Tails, turn left

More Creative:

• Make a time capsule to put in a park or your own backyard full of pictures and objects that represent your relationship.  Dig it up for a big anniversary.
• Play the game "Bigger or Better."  (Group Date) Each couple starts with something small.  Go door-to-door in your neighborhood asking people to trade you for something bigger or better than the item.  At the end of a specified amount of time, gather together as a group and vote on who got the biggest and best item.
• Find a little stream or small river and make boats out of aluminum foil and race them!  Bet something fun for the winner, like buying them ice cream.  
• Take an adult education class together, such as cooking an interesting food or listening to a lecture about modern film.
• Challenge each other to a contest, such as sand castle building, hop scotch, name that tune, marbles, or kite flying.
• Blind-fold miniature golf: Play a round while wearing blind folds.  Could also try three-legged, tying you and your date's legs together.
• Pick a culture of the world and imitate with food, activities, and clothes to match.
• Get plain white pillowcases and paint and create your own pillowcase (could also do with t-shirts).
• Have a progressive dinner (Group).  One couple could host appetizers, one a main course, and another desserts.
• Set up a tent in your front room.  Sit in the tent and eat dinner on a blanket.  Roast marshmallows over a candle.
• Take a roll of pennies and make wishes out loud as your throw them in.
• Go to the thrift store with 5 dollars.  Have a contest to see who can get the best item.  Or, buy clothing for your date and wear the clothing on the date.
• Make your date decide.  Make it mysterious for your date--take your ideas to them throughout the week, asking random questions.  For example: red or white (flower you bring), fast or slow (fast food or sit-down), hot or cold (ice cream or hot chocolate).  You ask them during the week, then reveal to them what they decided during the date.
• Survivor date (Double date or Group).  Select several activities such as games, puzzles, eating contest, etc. and have competition with other couples.
• Read through the Guinness Book of World Records together, and find something the two of you could potentially achieve together as a couple, and then do it on your date.
• Plan a vacation in your own town.  Go to your local visitors center or Chamber of Commerce and pick up brochures of places to see and things to do within 25 miles of your home.

Happy Dating!