I wanted to do this last year for DH but didn't get my act together in time so I'm doing it this year. I know it's kind of Pinteresty but I think my H will really like it. Please help me think of dates to add, tell me if you think any of them are bad ideas, or make any other comments you see fit.
I do not want to spend a fortune. I want some dates to be < $10, I want some to be at home, and I want some to include C.
Here is what I have so far, what I will include in that month's envelope, and my thought process.
January:
February: Let's Talk! (I'm putting the "Book of Questions" into the envelope and will include a note that says we're putting away our gadgets, opening a bottle of wine and just being together).
March: Marvelous Marvin's Mechanical Museum (I'll include a roll of quarters in the envelope. This is a quirky arcade-type museum in our area that H always says we should visit but we never do).
April: On Demand Date Night (I'll include a bag of microwave popcorn in the envelope and let him pick the movie because he always lets me pick).
May:
June: Miniature Golf (I'll include a GC to a putt putt place. It just seems like something summery to do).
July: Movie Madness (I'll include a movie GC. We LOVE the movies. Love. We probably saw 50 movies a year before C was born. I chose July because a lot of blockbusters are released then).
August:
September: Game Night (I don't know what to put in the envelope but my husband loves when I'm willing to play PS3 games with him).
October: Cider Mill (I'll put $20 in cash in the envelope. C will go with us. We love the cider mill).
November: Let's Pick a New Restaurant! (I'll throw $100 cash into the envelope. It's our anniversary month).
December: Christmas Lights (DH likes to drive around the really rich neighborhood and look at the light displays. I'll throw in a Starbucks GC so we can all get a treat for the drive. C will go with us).
In one of the empty months I'd really like to include a class we could do together - maybe a cooking class but I'm having trouble finding one.
Post by lurknomore on Sept 22, 2014 12:54:56 GMT -5
I gave DH something similar for Vday one year...a year of under $20 dates, focused on stuff we don't do much/ever. Some of the ones I included:
--Omnimax (we had tix for this from joining the Science Center, so it was really free) --Bowling --Casino (for slots...Nickels or dimes) --Bike ride (could take C if you have a trailer/bike seat) --picnic with a local "band" (could be any band...we have little barbershop quartets that sing free in downtown center not far from us, the high school band plays sometimes outside...whatever you can find) --check groupon and LS for something to do in January. I bought a LS for a sleigh ride around one of the neighboring towns and we took the kids. It was fun, totally different and something I never would have thought of on my own.
January - are you sports fans? What about a Red Wings game? Or how long is the rink at Campus Martius open until? (just checked, it's open until March) August - we went to pick raspberries and then made freezer jam in August up at Millers.
ETA: scratch my Jan idea after seeing your update lol
Post by cricketwife on Sept 22, 2014 13:19:56 GMT -5
I did this for our anniversary one year. DH loved it! I had three "rules" 1. Couldn't cost more than $20 2. had to be something we'd never done together before 3. no dinners/no movies (didn't want to get into that rut)
I posted about it once, I'll see if I can find that post. One of the dates that you might like was a bookstore date. There were a few "tasks" to accomplish and then we had coffee afterwards.
ETA: found it! link it's near the bottom of the page - a full description of the dates with some links that explain the ideas. You've already gotten lots of great ideas hermione, but since I mentioned looking for my post, I figured I'd link it.
I did a date jar for DH for Vday this year. Some of them were family activities too. I divided them into three categories: romantic outings (for the two of us), at home dates, and family outings.
Romantic outings: - Lunch out al fresco - Starbucks and newspapers - Bowling - Donut run - mini golf - couples massage - desserts at whole foods - walk and hold hands - pub night
'home' dates: - movie & popcorn - wine and cheese - Scrabble - Take out and board game - Pizza and documentary - Massage and cuddles - Snuggles and stargazing
family 'dates': - ocean/beach - park and picnic - zoo - camping - local aquarium - local museum - visit the redwoods (hike) - Gymboree - Sunset at a local park
Look for festivals that suit your personalities - Irish fest, Oktoberfest, beer fest, etc etc and see if they're in the months you're missing (or you could swap some months - I know we have a lot of festivals in September, but you could do game date any month).
Post by Ashley&Scott on Sept 22, 2014 14:39:43 GMT -5
I would move July's date (movies) to January. Then in July you could do a family outing to a 4th of July parade other outdoor activity.
August - are there any local town celebrations or county/state fairs you would want to check out? Any other outdoor activities - Farmers Market, bike ride, watch a sunrise or sunset together...
Post by paigeparker on Sept 22, 2014 15:40:03 GMT -5
I love this idea. I sort of tried this for our anniversary last year but it was mostly just a handwritten piece of paper with a month and an idea for a date on it. My poor DH.. I didn't do the best job of following up with it. I think it is a great idea to have everything ready to go in envelopes so that you are more likely to follow through. One idea I had was a spa night at home. Massages, face masks (ha - I am not sure my husband would have gone for that), soak feet in the tub or a bubble bath together, strawberries and champagne
What a fun idea! I like picnic/hike, wine tasting, or going out for fancy cocktails and/or dessert for the remaining nights. Or maybe a play or concert if there is anything coming up that appeals to you.
Could you get a babysitter for a night and make one of the dates an overnight at a local hotel? Pricier, but would be fun and memorable.