Its a simple question. Are you dating your husband?
Are you still making an effort to date the man you married and keep the spark alive? As most of you already know, my husband and I separated for over a year, and one of the most frequent questions I personally get is, “how did you guys make it work?” the second time around.We have date night almost every Friday night, and we make it a major priority. Some weeks its nothing special, just hanging on the couch kid free vegging, and some weeks we go all out on fancy dinners and dress up like real adults! (when a stay at home mom does her FULL make up and hair, it must be a big deal) I’m going to share with you some date night ideas my husband and I like, and some things I would love to bring out from our old dating days to try again.
- Netflix and Chill: Cheapest option by far for those of us on a tight budget, just don’t let the argument over who gets to pick the movie turn your nice date into a slug fest. We go for the old, “you picked last time, so its my turn next” decision maker, but I gotta say rock, paper, scissors or a thumb war works too! You think I’m joking don’t you, but just suggest a thumb war to your hubs and watch that little competitive flame ignite. Try it out and let me know how he responds! We like to make popcorn at home with our nifty air pop machine and gorge ourselves on take out. This is the best option if you don’t want to pay for a sitter, or like us, have a nursing baby at home you can’t be away from too long…who stubbornly won’t fall asleep without nursing. I suggest watching Turn or Vikings for all you history buffs, and Demitri Martin or Jim Gaffigan stand up if you just want to sip your wine and laugh. I our dating days we use to do Kung Fu sundays, where we ordered Chinese and watched kung fu movies on loop and stayed in our jammies. This is about as close to doing that again we will get for a while, unless its Kung Fu panda.
- Starlite Drive In Double Date: Guys, this is a classic right here. You get to watch 2 movies (if you can stay up that late) and you pay by the car load. Stick some lawn chairs in the trunk, pack a cooler with snacks and beers and go. This one could involve the kids if you pick a (lame) kids movie and only stay for the first movie, but its so much fun for adults only. Pick your favorite friends or (GASP) ask out that new couple you met that you think might be cool and make a night of it. My only warning here is going to be for bugs and heat. This is Georgia people, so don’t be a dummy, pack the bug spray and a portable fan and you should be fine.
- Braves Game: A good friend of mine has season tickets and I am constantly seeing her post pictures at the games and wishing it were me. Pick a friday evening game to beat the heat and stay after for the free fireworks and sometimes even a short concert. My husband and I don’t love ball park food, but we do love eating at the Bull Pen right outside the stadium before hand since its nice and close.
- Whole World Theatre: Think improve meets drunk adults with dirty minds, and it turns into the funniest night ever. Fridays at 9pm or Saturdays at 8pm, its $24 for the classic show, they offer a late 10:30 show not that’s only $15 too, but I haven’t seen it yet. I’m too old for something that doesn’t start until 10:30pm. Go to dinner nearby somewhere and make a night of it. Be ready to laugh at yourself and be silly, its more fun when the audience gets into it and hollers out ridiculous ideas. Let your hair down. Both of you.
- Day Date: This is for those of you who cant find an evening babysitter and have kids in school or day care. Skip out a few hours early and meet for lunch and a movie together or go walk around Piedmont park, hike some walking trails around Lake Lanier and relax with a picnic lunch. You already pay for the childcare anyway, so take a half vacation day or heck, even a sick day and put some time into your marriage.
- Ride and Romance: This is an over night stay at Lake Lanier Islands with horseback riding at sunset, a picnic dinner on the lake and some superb room service. They offer several romantic get away style packages and have a beautiful spa and really go all out, so if horses aren’t your thing, I bet chocolate covered strawberries, champagne and breakfast in bed are. I actually know Beth Pedaggi personally, she does my private lessons at the stables, send her an email and tell her I sent you, she will be glad to tailor any ride for any level. Branch out guys, you will be SO glad you did!
- The Flying Machine: This is the coolest place for a burger and a beer if your man loves heavy machinery or planes. They are the only place you can sit on an actual run way and watch the planes take off and land. If you have your pilots license, you could even go for an evening ride over there and taxi right up to it. This place is kind of a hidden Atlanta gem. If you have little boys or girls who love planes too, this is a MUST do. I can’t wait to take my son when he’s a bit older, he’s already an airplane fanatic.
- Senoia, Georgia: If you are a fan of The Walking Dead, then you gotta go to Senoia and check it all out first hand. This is a day trip that takes several hours, and lots of walking, so plan accordingly for a babysitter and comfortable clothes. The have guided tours, museums, coffee shops, restaurants and all the memorabilia you could ever dream of. If you plan it on a day they are filming, you may get to see some action or be a zombie extra! We just had some family in town from New Jesey a few weeks back, and this was on their Georgia visit bucket list and they loved it!
- Mani/Pedi night: I bet you just squinched your face up like, what? With my husband? That’s holy girlfriend only territory. No, and here’s why. Men secretly love a pedicure. Mine gets the hot stone massage with all the bells and whistles while he snoozes in the massage chair. Its totally relaxing after a long week, and his feet look a little less like the sasquatch impression they were giving off before and they don’t scratch me up in bed. Win, win. My place use to offer a free glass of wine too, but that ended recently and I may have to just start bringing in my corckcicle tumbler with a little spritzer in it for old times sake. Go for the 24 oz size ladies, it just so happens that’s how much wine is in a bottle 😉
- Let HIM decide: This is not a drill. We mommies have a knack for over planning, over expecting and over ruling the men in our life constantly. We are the planners, we over schedule ourselves and we never get down time. Where’s the romance in that? Let your man know at least a week in advance that you would love for him to plan a surprise date night. Ask him for an idea on what to wear (if your really trusting, ask him to pick it out!) and let him run the show. They are capable, remember when you first started dating and he was so suave and impressive? Not that extra child you keep reminding to pick his shoes up off the floor and for goodness sake put your dirty undies IN the basket, not NEXT to it! Give him a chance, don’t set your expectations too high, just be ready for a fun time with your man. Even if he takes you to Top Golf, (please, please, don’t take us to Top Golf) its still going to be a fun evening if your attitude is right.
If you try any of these out let me know how it goes! I would love to hear about your favorite date spots and activities to add into our rotation, comment below!
Photo Credit: Ben Helton, Photographer
