I’m bringing back the Seven on a Saturday series for at least this Saturday. I blame it on Valentine’s Day that got me thinking about all the fun things you could do for a date night with your significant other. It doesn’t have to be wild and crazy nor do you even have to leave the house. Hope one of these will appeal to you and yours.
Week night special at a local restaurant– This is typically what Paul and I do for our regular date night. We both enjoy tacos and a good beer, so we head to Wintzell’s for $2 tacos and $2 pints. It ends up being a cheap date that works easily into our budget each week. Sometimes it’s just the two of us, and sometimes we meet up with friends. Either way we do it, we have a great time catching up on our day and visiting with each other and some of our favorite locals.
Movies– Well, if you’ve been around for very long, you’ll find it as no surprise that I’d choose a night at the movies as a date night idea. Something about grabbing a bucket of popcorn, sharing a coke, and cozying up to watch a movie. There’s a few good ones out right now: The Upside, Aquaman (Hello Jason Momoa), Isn’t It Romantic?, Green Book
Cook together– The key word here is together. For us it often looks like Paul on the grill and me preparing things inside. However, on those warm spring and summer nights, we like to slow down and sit out on the deck together and enjoy each other’s company. Here’s a few recipes for you to try together: Meatless White Pizza, Cheesy Potato Soup, Shrimp Lo Mein.
Go shopping at a new grocery store together.-I have always wanted to do this, but Paul isn’t the most excited to go to a grocery store. Good grocery stores within walking distance is something I miss about Louisiana. We had the best ones. However, I hear very good things about the Aldi in Prattville and hear there’s one being built in Montgomery. I also really enjoy walking around Publix and Whole Foods. And can we please get with the rest of the world and get a Trader Joes?!
Take a class together– I know a lot of couple’s classes aren’t easily available to us in Greenville, but wouldn’t it be fun to just go and be silly at a dance class? Or learn about your artistic abilities in a paint class? Or grow closer together in your faith and strengthen your marriage at a Bible class? Maybe you live somewhere where cooking classes are available? That was something else available in Baton Rouge, and lots of people did them. Or be super adventurous and take an exercise class together or start an at-home program together.
At home date night– Paul and I have had some of the best date nights doing this. It’s the perfect way to wrap up a long week by just staying in, opening a bottle of wine, ordering take out, and turning on some of your favorite tunes. We eat, drink, and sing at the top of our lungs like idiots. I’m sure our neighbors don’t appreciate those nights, but we sure do enjoy them. If music isn’t your thing, I get that you’d think this was a weird date night choice, but I’m telling you, sometimes it’s just nice to sit in your pjs, totally comfortable, and let the power of the music wash away all the junk you had to deal with at work all week.
Staycation- I think getting out of your house and staying in a different place can be super fun. We don’t really get to go on long or far away vacations, so we like to do stacations. We will get a room at The Renaissance in Montgomery for the night, eat a delicious dinner at Saza’s downtown, and then head back to the patio bar at the hotel to listen to that night’s live music. It’s low-key, a change of scenery, and you don’t have to clean up dishes or make the bed the next morning. It also just gives you some good quality time with your significant other that you might put off when you’re at home.
I’m no expert on this whole date night thing, nor am I in a perfect relationship. We have found that the longer we’re together the more we appreciate having a standing date night once a week no matter what it looks like. So, do you do date night regularly? If so, how do you do it? Are you and dinner and a movie kind of couple? A Netflix and pizza couple? Or are you a couple that looks for some lively night life for some dancing? I like all of those options! If you’ve got any other ideas for date nights, leave them in the comments.
Happy Dating and Happy Saturday!
