That being said...obviously something had to give, to allow for the budget change. So, we decided to be more creative with our date nights. I thought I was as cheap as they get, since we rarely get sitters or go to movies. But every now and then we do something that is a little more expensive (for us), like rent a pontoon boat, or pay $10 for Reese to have a 3 minute horse drawn carriage ride (still totally worth it).
2008 is the year our creativity kicks in! When our racist frig decides to say, "No More" to the color integration in the kitchen, we want to be more financially prepared to replace it.
This is where you, our beloved fan club, come in! What has been your favorite FREE (or at least really close to free) date? So far, we have come up with a few great ideas on our own, but many of them require warmer (non winter) weather or daylight...and we are short on both of those for the next 3 months! Let's get creative-but not too out there (scott.) We want real date ideas to use.
Tonight we are going to the fitness center to play racquetball or basketball and then work out. We haven't been to the gym together (kid free) since....well before kids. We used to go together all the time at Boise State and we loved it so tonight should be a fun evening. I'd like to plan the next 5 or 6 date nights...so we'll be less tempted to just go out to dinner when we are short on ideas.
Also, feel free to include "dates-in", meaning fun date night ideas to do at home once kids go to bed. Last weekend I kicked Aaron's trash at that Mastermind game Dad gave everyone. He was such a sour sport that he "accidentally" knocked the game over and all the tiny pegs flew everywhere. Quincy's been finding them and eating them all week. No need to vacuum with Q around...she's like one of those Roomba things that wanders around picking the carpet on it's own.
Wow I get off topic easily. Date Ideas....Let's hear 'em!
...and Yes, there will be a prize for the winner.
...and Yes, there will be a prize for the winner.
13 comments:
date night? what is that?
#1: Go to Costco and get hot dogs. It sounds silly, but we love it and it's super cheap.
#2: Put the kids to bed and have a candlelit dinner.
#3: (my favorite) Go to a museum. We're lucky enough to have the MoA close by, so we go there often.
ok a little bit off topic...but i know you like free stuff and coupons and all so go here...my friend Kelli has a few she is giving away.
http://pam-randomthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/01/coupons.html
ooops sorry its my friend PAM...duh, i don't know why i said it was kelli...lame!
so many friends...lol
holleeann, share the friend wealth please--you obviously have way too many.
I really can't wait to read all the fun answers all your creative friends come up with. We're in desperate need of new and improved datenights. (every week it's redbox.....which btw, please tell me you have???)
So we have done this....kinda silly but it was actually fun. We've built a full-on fort in the living room. Pillows, blankets, chairs--everything. And then watched a movie from inside the fort. We've also played games in the fort--like Scrabble or something but then we usually end up fighting and going to bed angry--which kind of defeats the purpose of date night.
that is really the best I can do....so sorry.
We get stuck too, so one year we decided to make a rule that we would try something new every week. We switched back and forth every week, and it was always fun to find out what was planned. Be warned... it is very hard.
A few ideas:
Wrestlemania. With names and signature moves its a lot of fun. I personally enjoy utilizing a hybrid korean/ guatemalan accent for the pre-fight taunting.
For a boring night in with the tv, you really can't beat the spectacle that is Jewelry with Mike on JemTV. The script is made up on the spot, the narrator cant read, the prices are made up on the spot, and you get to see them typed in on the screen. Plus, the jewelry is horrible horrible, horrible.
A good one to spice up the olympics this summer is a little game called, "Bob Costas" get a pack of pingpong balls, and keep them by the tv. When Bob comes on the screen the first one to hit him with a ball wins/ gets a point. We've ben doing this for years, and its great the first time you inadvertently "play" when someone is over at the house visiting. It turns out the instinctual desire to throw things at his image is very easily brought to the surface.
Paint a (small) room together.
Try to duplicate the meal from one of your favorite restaurants. Like for red lobster, you could make cheesy biscuits, garlic mashed potatoes, and crab legs.
Ice Cream Testing: This was one of my favorites. The key is, cheat. Part One: At the Grocery Store
You need to get the following...
Super cheap plain flavored ice cream, like chocolate or vanilla.
Some containers like the ones Safeway uses for its soup
Part Two: You split up and each of you needs to find the ingredients you want to combine to make your new flavors.
Part Three: Back at home, take half the (softened) ice cream out of the carton and mix up one of your creations in the mixer. Repack the new flavor in one of the containers with a new name.
Use the other half of the carton to make another mix.
Part Four:
Taste test. Let it refreeze for at leact 4 hours, and then begin the testing. We invited another couple over when we did it, and played games between samples.
Scott you are sooooooo Martha Stewart, but cool! i am impressed with yours and Kristie's creativity.
really. impressed. awesome.
great ideas...keep em coming! btw...the fitness center closes at 6 on saturdays...LAME! so we went to barnes and nolbe and read free books, then ended up watching a movie at the house of the friends watching our kids....at least e got out of putting them to bed!
Also...i know i have many blurkers...this is a great opportunity for y'all to leave comments but be warned that there are no prizes for "anonymous said..."
also geno and shelly...I'm counting on you guys for some good ideas because you are both super creative AND you are super schmoopie, so you really have an unfair advantage over my other readers to begin with. DATE ideas please!
Ok one more. This is something my family used to do, and was really fun until I married someone who spoke Spanish and it ruined all the fun. Find a Spanish soap opera (there are many fabuloso ones to choose from) and make up what they are saying. It can get pretty intense. This could be after you're done watching the Jewelry showcase scott suggested.
and scott, for our next date night will you please just come over and entertain us.
Have you actually INSTALLED your new dishwasher?
There's a free shooting range out near the Highlands. That's actually a pretty fun date for the cost of ammo. We don't usually go through very much at one time. Most women are a better shot than men with a handgun, so you could totally trash Aaron. It's kind of empowering to know how to handle a firearm, even if you never own one. I know you guys don't have guns. Let's make it a double date on a Saturday afternoon!
OK, Meg! I decided that instead of just leaving a comment that I would post some ideas. I don't know that any of it will help, but the offer of a babysitter is always open!!
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