A Date Idea For Every Month Of The Year

You always hear people say, “Keep dating your spouse.”

But let’s get real. It is very easy to neglect your relationship – especially date nights – once kids come along.

Parents are so busy and exhausted, so planning dates usually doesn’t make it to the top of the To-Do list.

How many of us have thrown the towel in and settled for simple date nights at home or the go-to dinner and a movie?

While it’s better than nothing, it is possible to step it up and find yourself looking forward to date night like you did when you were dating.

To help get you started, here are suggestions for every month of the year.

January Date – Spa Day

After the chaos of the holiday season, plan a spa-like date. Whether this means going to an actual spa for a true spa day, booking a couples massage, or turning your bedroom into your personal spa, use this date to relax and reconnect.

February Date – Dinner and a Show

With Valentine’s Day this month, it is a good idea to take advantage of the special menus that restaurants offer. However, since dinner dates are kind of the norm, take it up a notch by also going to a show, gallery, or museum.

March Date – Weekend Away

March is an ideal time to plan a weekend getaway because you can find great rates and don’t have to deal with winter tourists or spring breakers. Yes, a weekend away is hard to pull off with kids, but it is so important! Make it happen this March!

April Date – Get Physical

When the weather starts to warm but before it gets too hot, plan an outdoor date. Go hiking and enjoy a picnic from a scenic view.

May Date – Brunch Date

Instead of date night, enjoy a date morning. Head to a Farmers Market and then enjoy a casual, lengthy brunch before you go back home to kids.

June Date – Lots of Laughs

Laughter is great for relationships. Laura Kurtz, a social psychologist, tells Time Magazine, “Moments of shared laughter are potent for a relationship. They bring a couple closer together.” Plan a date night designed to make your spouse or partner laugh, such as attending a comedy show or watching a stand-up special.

July Date – Play Together

Let loose and play in July! Couples have fun in different ways, but the goal is to find an activity that encourages you to simply have fun together. This may look like going to an adult arcade like Dave and Busters, visiting an escape room, or working together to solve a crime (i.e., Hunt a Killer).

August Date – Movie Night

Movie nights are a date night tradition for a good reason – we get to share an experience and discuss it later. But you can step this date night up. Consider going to an old-fashioned drive-in movie theatre, a retro theatre, or hosting your own backyard movie screening.

September Date – Road Trip

As summer winds down, find time to escape for the day with your spouse or partner. Book a babysitter for the day and simply go explore a nearby town.

October Date – Fall in Love Again

Embrace all things Fall this month. Go to a corn maze, enjoy a cider tasting, and visit a haunted house.

November Date – Get Busy in the Kitchen

Learn how to cook something new with each other before the holidays. Whether you attend an in-person cooking class or use an online video, enjoy the learning process and the meal together.

December - Christmas Date

I’ve said it before, but I love a good Christmas shopping date. Not only do you get to enjoy holding hands while looking at all the holiday displays, but you also get to knock something off your gigantic holiday To-Do list.

A Few Other Date Ideas

In addition to the above suggestions, here are some other ongoing date night ideas to consider.

• Subscription boxes – There are many different date night subscription boxes that make it easy to enjoy something new and unique each month.

• Season tickets – If there is an activity you both enjoy, consider getting season tickets or passes for easy date nights.

• Classes – If you have shared interests, consider enrolling in a class together.

A Few Ways to Keep Love Alive While You’re Busy Being Parents

I’d be lying if I said marriage is easy. It’s hard work, but it is work that is worth it.

According to a study reported by Consumer Affairs, “The researchers learned that parents’ romance had an effect on their kids. When kids saw their parents love and affection for each other, they were more likely to marry later in life and complete more schooling than those whose parents reported lower romantic feelings.”

Plus, who doesn’t want to be in love with their spouse? Yes, people fall out of love, but that isn’t what we are hoping for when we walk down the aisle.

That being said, I know that it is hard to keep the spark alive when you are working parents.

Here are a few suggestions to help you keep love alive while you’re busy being parents.

Book a Sitter

One of the best things you can do for your marriage is book a sitter and go on regular date nights. Even if you have been together for years, you want to remember what it feels like to date your spouse. It’s a good way to remember why you fell in love in the first place.

Helpful Tip: Put date night on your family calendar just like any other event or appointment.

Plan At-Home Date Nights

There may come a time when you can’t get a babysitter. That doesn’t mean you have to cancel date night. Some of our favorite date nights have been at-home dates! The thing to keep in mind with an at-home date is to do something different from every other night you spend at home with your spouse. Get out the candles, order in your favorite restaurant, and put on date night clothes.

Helpful Tip: Consider ordering a date night subscription box to get you out of the TV and dinner rut.

Sleep In Saturdays

Once our girls were old enough, we learned the magic of Saturday mornings. We tell our girls on Friday evening that they are on their own in the morning. We set out an easy breakfast on the counter that they can make themselves (such as cereal) and give them the remote and instructions not to wake us up until 9 am.

Share a Hobby

Find a hobby you and your hubby both love that you can enjoy on a regular basis. For example, we love playing board games together. This will look different for every couple. And there is nothing wrong with a shared love of television! The key is to use this time to bring you closer to your spouse. So, if TV is your thing, watch a show you both love and then talk about it after.

Spend Time Catching Each Other Up Daily

One of the simplest ways to keep love alive is to keep talking. During the school years, life is so busy. There were days when I realized I hadn’t talked to my husband about anything of importance. There were also times when he assumed he’d shared something with me and he hadn’t.

A simple five-minute conversation, no phones or other distractions allowed, has helped with this problem tremendously. Plus, it feels really nice when my husband is focused on checking in with me.

Keep Touching

Lastly, don’t stop touching. It’s easy to become complacent in a long marriage, but touch is important. Hold your partner’s hand when you are out. Cuddle on the couch when you watch a show. Give each other a hug and kiss before you leave and when you come home.

10 Quarantine Date Night Ideas

At this point, I’ve lost count of how many days I have been stuck at home with my husband. Thankfully, we still love each other and are not wanting to strangle one another. But, I’m kind of over Netflix and Chill-ing every single night. I’m betting I’m not the only one. To help you get out of your quarantine date night rut, I’ve come up with ten at-home date night ideas for you and your partner.

Mix Some Drinks

I always wanted to take a cocktail class as one of my date nights but never was able to due to our busy schedules. Since we’ve been quarantining at home, I finally have time to learn how to make some cocktails! I made a Manhattan and was excited for Joe to be the first one to try my cocktail creation.

Cook a Romantic Dinner

Yes, we are eating together every night, but it’s amazing what a few candles, a nice bottle of wine, and some extra time in the kitchen can do. It will take dinner from the same-old, same-old to a romantic night in a flash.

Create a Spa Experience

I love a good spa day, but it’s going to be a while before I get back to my favorite spa. In the meantime, why not turn your home into a spa for you and your partner? Treat each other to a pedicure or a massage and release some of that quarantine stress.

Play Some Games

Have your kind of game night. Game night looks different for every couple. Some couples like to play board games, others like card games. You may want to embrace nostalgia and play your old game system favorites like Tetris or Mario Kart.

Draw and Drink

Draw and Drink are popular date nights, so try to recreate this fun and unique date night at home. Get your canvases, paints, and drinks ready and find the masterpiece you want to recreate. You can even search online for “virtual drink and draw” events.

Enjoy a Tasting

While you can visit a winery or a brewery currently, you can enjoy a private tasting at home. There are several companies that offer wine tasting kits, and many breweries allow you to make your own six-pack of beers.

Take a Personality Quiz

If you’ve ever wondered what makes your partner tick, then take an evening to do some personality tests together. You can take a Myers-Briggs or Enneagram personality test online. Upon receiving the results, you will learn why your significant other is the way he is.

Gaze at the Stars

Escape the confines of your living room to gaze at the stars. Bonus points if you have a beautiful balcony or backyard. Spend some time trying to identify your favorite constellations.

Learn a New Dance

If you’ve always wanted to learn how to dance but never had the time (or were worried about dancing in front of strangers), now is the perfect time to sign up for online couple’s dance classes! In addition to just simply looking up dance videos on YouTube, there are also several dance studios offering virtual couples dance lessons during quarantine.

Purchase a Subscription Box

If all else fails, then sign up for one of the many date night subscription boxes. Each subscription box is different, but they are all designed to make it easier for you and your significant other to have an enjoyable evening together. With a variety of activities, these are a socially distanced approved way to get couples out of their quarantine date night rut.  

15 Fall Date Ideas That’ll Make You Feel Young Again

As a married working mom, I know how difficult it is to find time to go on a date with your spouse. But it is incredibly important. According to Dr. Dianne Grande, “[Date night] is not really a luxury after all. Consider it a necessity for a happy and life-affirming relationship.” It. Is. A. Necessity!

But, again, I know how hard it can be. That’s why I have come up with 15 different types of dates for NYC couples this fall. They cover a variety of budgets (which is important if you need to pay a babysitter) and lengths of time. Some couples will have to squeeze in time while others may be able to pull off a whole weekend away. The point isn’t to compare. It is to find time to do something fun with someone you love – no matter how much money or how much time you have.

Plus, these dates will remind you of what it is like to be young. And who doesn’t want to feel young and newly in love again? Fall is the ideal time for dates that take you back to your youth. Take a look.

1. Go Apple Picking.

Head to an apple orchard and pick some apples together. You’ll enjoy just being in each other’s presence, and you’ll leave with a bushel of apples.

2. Spend Time at a Tailgate.

If your youth involved tailgating, make plans to tailgate with your spouse. If you can’t tailgate at your school or for your favorite team, then choose the next best thing and cheer on the home team.

3. Carve a Pumpkin.

Be a little creative and carve a pumpkin. This date night works even if you can’t find a babysitter. Wait until the kids are in bed, turn on some music, pour your favorite drink, and get busy – carving a pumpkin, that is.

4. Visit a Brewery or Winery.

To me, fall screams beer and cider. Head to a local brewery and get a flight. If beer isn’t your thing, then head to a nearby winery and do a tasting.

5. Start Christmas Shopping.

If you have kids, then you know how chaotic the holiday season is. Beat the rush by going to the toy store now and get a jump start on your Christmas shopping.

6. Volunteer Together.

If you want to give back, find a local organization that you’d like to support and volunteer on the weekend. This is a great way to bond with your spouse.

7. Make S’mores by a Bonfire.

Enjoy a backyard fire pit or bonfire. Buy special goodies to make creative s’mores to enjoy together.

8. Put on a Brave Face in a Haunted House.

Before October ends, head to a haunted house together. You will find yourself clinging to your man like you use to.

9. Pack a Picnic for the Park.

A lowkey picnic is a perfect fit for the couple that is always busy. It is a great way to slow down, but it is easy to plan.

10. Go Camping (or Rent a Cabin).

For those lucky parents who have grandparents willing to babysit overnight, go camping. If camping isn’t for you, then rent a cabin. Fall is the best time of year to be outdoors with the one you love.

11. Cuddle and Watch a Scary Movie.

Take advantage of all the free horror movie marathons happening around Halloween and watch one late at night with your spouse. It is the perfect excuse to cuddle up close on the couch after the kids go to bed.

12. Hike Together.

For active couples, the cooler weather makes it a wonderful time to go hiking together. You will both work to overcome challenges and grow closer in the process.

13. Spend Some Time in the Kitchen.

Take all the apples you got when you went apple picking and make candy apples together. Or, bake an apple pie. Or make apple crisp. Here’s a list of 65+ easy apple recipes.

14. Take an Autumn Road Trip in New York.

Book a babysitter for the day and take a road trip through New York to look at the beautiful changing leaves. Remember, it’s about the journey, not the destination.

15. Try Not to Freak Out on a Ghost Tour.

NYC couples have their pick of spooky ghost tours. To find the one that sounds best for you and your husband, check out Time Out’s The Best Ghost Tours NYC has to offer.

What is your favorite fall date? Tell me in the comments!

10 Ways to Keep Your Love Strong 10 Years In

My husband and I recently celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary. I am so thankful that I have spent the last ten years married to the best man, best father, and best husband. But, after ten years, I have learned that marriage takes work. If you want to keep the spark alive ten years in, there are some things you have to do.

1. Schedule Regular Date Nights

Date nights are an absolute must – especially a decade later! You need a night away from the kids to remember the two of you as a couple. Date nights give you an opportunity to dress up, flirt, and enjoy each other’s company. Go ahead and schedule a monthly babysitter – it is worth it!

2. Do Things You Love Together

This many years later, I am so glad my husband and I have common interests. If you can find something you love to do together, it can make a huge difference. We love eating and traveling, so we try to do these things together as often as possible.

3. Keep Communicating

It’s easy to stop communicating as often when you think you already know everything there is to know about your spouse. Believe it or not, my husband still tells me stories I haven’t heard before. Keep talking to one another. Text each other throughout the day and indulge in some pillow talk each night before bed.

4. Give Gifts

I love it when my hubs surprises me with a special gift – it never gets old! To this day, if I see something I think he’d like, I either go ahead and buy it for him or add it to the wishlist for a future holiday gift. This reminds your spouse you know what he loves and that you think about him even when you are apart.

5. Make an Effort

Let’s be honest for a second. It is really easy to let yourself go a little when you are comfortable. While it is great to be comfortable enough with each other to no longer feel the need to get all dolled up, you should still try to make an effort to look nice for your spouse (especially on date night). Go ahead and wear that outfit he loves you in!

6. Try Something New Together

If things are starting to feel predictable after ten years, that is normal. But, it is also a sign that you guys need to freshen things up a bit. Find something new to try together (and we don’t just mean in the bedroom). Find a new hobby the two of you can enjoy together.

7. Say Thank You Often

After ten years, you may find that you take each other for granted. Instead, make an extra effort to continue thanking your spouse for the things he does. Gratitude goes a long way in keeping marriages healthy and happy.

8. Spend Time with People Who Value Marriage

Spend time with people who value marriage rather than people who spend all their time complaining about their husbands or marriage in general. Those who value marriage will encourage you to work things out when you inevitably have a fight, and they will be the ones most willing to babysit for a much-needed date night.

9. Reflect on Your Years Together

Ten years of marriage is a big deal! You have 10+ years of memories to reflect on. Take time to share favorite memories and talk about the difficult seasons you overcame with each other’s help. And, make plans and dream about the next ten years!

10. Don’t Stop Touching

Finally, don’t stop touching. For some reason, when couples have been together for a while, they stop holding hands, cuddling, and kissing as often. Don’t let this happen to you. The next time you are out, grab his hand! Tonight when you binge-watch tv, sit close and cuddle. Tomorrow when you get home from work, give him a smooch.

Why You Need to Prioritize Your Marriage (and How)

Ask anyone who has been married as long as I have, and they will tell you it hasn’t always been easy. And, if they tell you otherwise, they are lying. Marriage is hard, but a strong marriage is worth all the hard work it takes to get it there.

If you and your spouse and both working, you have to learn to balance your relationship with your work life and schedule. If you are parents, you have to learn how to keep prioritizing your marriage when little people are demanding so much of your attention all the time. Between work and kids, if I didn’t prioritize my marriage, it would be easy to let it fall apart. Thankfully, that hasn’t happened.

Whether you are newly married or have been married for decades, the following tips for how to prioritize your marriage may be just what you need to remember why you two got married in the first place.

Date (and Date Some More!)

Remember when you were first dating, and you could not wait for date night? Do you remember how much effort you put into picking out your outfit and getting ready? After you’ve been married for a while, it is possible to let date nights fall to the wayside – especially if you are busy and have children.

Don’t let this happen! Book a babysitter, get dressed up and go somewhere special! And, if you can’t find or afford a babysitter, go for a lunch date while the kids are in school!

Travel Together

If you have been following me, you know I believe it is important to travel kid-free with your spouse. This is such a good way to reconnect with one another without the usual distractions.

Don’t Act Like Roommates

After living together for a lengthy amount of time, you may find yourself acting like roommates instead of spouses. If you seem just to be passing each other on your way in and out the day, it’s time to make a change. Instead, try to identify the behaviors that are more like roommates than husband and wife (see Are You a Roommate or a Spouse Checklist) and then look for ways to reconnect.

Embrace Couple Rituals

Whether you realize it or not, the smallest rituals can make the biggest difference in a marriage. For example, make it part of your daily ritual to give your spouse a kiss when you get home from work or make a point to discuss your day before you go to sleep.

Find a Hobby You Can Do Together

A great way to reconnect with your spouse is to embrace a new hobby together. In most relationships, the husband and wife have separate hobbies. But, when they have a unified hobby, it provides a wonderful way to spend time together doing something you both enjoy.

Don’t Check Out – Check In!

Finally, marriages depend on each spouse being emotionally invested. The best way to stay emotionally invested is to keep checking in. Instead of checking out of the emotional day-to-day of your spouse’s life, check in. For instance, throughout the day, send texts or DMs to one another rather than checking out and talking less and less. Not only will this help you stay connected to one another, but it will also let your spouse know you are thinking of him when you are apart.

10 Festive Christmas Dates for Couples in New York City

During the busy holiday season, I think it is super important to spend time with my husband. It is too easy to get caught up in all the holiday busyness and stuff with my girls before I realize I haven’t had any good quality time with my man. Plus, the holiday season is romantic – why not take advantage of the added twinkling lights this time of year? I’ve gathered up ten wonderful Christmas date ideas for couples in NYC that will have you hunting for places to kiss under the mistletoe.

Go Ice Skating

There are several places to go ice skating in New York, but my favorite place to go ice skating this time of year is The Rink at Rockefeller Center below the giant Christmas tree. Yes, it is a tourist trap, but that just means it is perfect for people-watching!

Shop Til You Drop

Christmas means shopping. Why not turn one of your favorite activities into a date with the one you love? You both have to buy gifts for the people in your life, so enjoy spending time together while you check off your lists.

Marvel at the Holiday Window Displays

If your man claims he hates shopping, then take him window shopping instead. Trust me – this is a date you both will love. The holiday window displays at New York City stores is something to see. Take your time to hold hands through the city streets and talk about which holiday window displays are your favorites.

Watch a Broadway Show

For theater-lovers, there is always a show to see in NYC. These make some of the best date nights because you get to experience it together.

Enjoy Holiday Menus at Restaurants

Dinner dates are always my favorite types of dates, but I love them, even more, come Christmas time. Why? Well, many restaurants in New York City rollout special holiday menus so you and your date can try new dishes and holiday-themed drinks.

Cheer at a Basketball Game

If you are a basketball fan, a date to cheer on the New York Knicks is a must. While the weather outside is frigid, the atmosphere in the arena is on fire!

Play Like a Kid at FAO Schwartz

Yes, you are a grown up. But, I promise you, something amazing happens to adults when they visit FAO Schwartz! You become a kid again! Let go of some of your holiday stress by trying out toys with your guy and shopping for the little people in your life.

Tour Dyker Heights

Photograph: Teddy Wolff

For a truly festive date, take a tour of the Christmas lights in the affluent Dyker Heights neighborhood. This neighborhood goes all out with illuminating their homes – some even hire professional light decorators! If you want to do it right, take the Slice of Brooklyn Dyker Heights Christmas Lights tour.

Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art

During the Christmas season, the Metropolitan Museum of Art adds some festive art to the museum. For those who love to explore museums for date night, this one is a must. In addition to beautiful Christmas trees, you will also see an eighteenth-century Neapolitan Nativity scene.

Take a Carriage Ride in Central Park

Those of you looking for romance straight from the tv screen, look no further than the carriage rides offered in Central Park. Cuddle under a warm blanket, drink a hot beverage, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city during this special time of year.