Date Night

Hubs and I have been together since the beginning of 2008, and we have always attempted to treasure time set aside for just the two of us.  It's been a tricky thing to figure out for us, as far as time and finances go.  I know that once we begin to grow our family, we'll have to reassess a few things, but I wanted to share a few date ideas with you.

1. Shoot to have a consistent time for dates.  We've tried weekends before, and that does not work for us, as something usually comes up that we don't really want to miss.  For now, we're sticking with Tuesday nights.  Sometimes our weeks are so slammed, that we might have to miss a week or two, but we both understand that we should try to protect Tuesdays as much as possible. 
2. A date does not have to revolve around a meal.  We have been able to save quite a few pennies by not limiting ourselves to the idea that a date has to include dinner out.  Lately I have been trying to reserve the easiest meal for date night, whether it be a crockpot meal, leftovers, or something I can prep in advance.  It's great to not have to spend the energy cooking, and to not have to spend the money on a meal out.  If food is involved in a date, we usually go for coffee or dessert for a much cheaper outing. 
3. Utilize God's creation.  We love walks together in our neighborhood, and even though it's something we do most days when the weather is nice, a walk is usually incorporated in our date night somehow.  We have found that some of our best conversations have taken place while we are on a walk.  We don't usually take our phones, and it's a great time to talk about life without distractions.  We talk about homes (or dogs) that we see in our neighborhood, and the things that we like about each one. 
4. Check out local universities for concerts, plays, or art exhibits.  I was a music major for a few years in college, so for some of our dates in those days, Nate would go with me to recitals and concerts.  We recently started back this tradition at a local university.  The events are almost always FREE, and we usually feel so very classy when we leave. 
5. Support church members in their hobbies.  Since we work with the teens at out church, we love to support them in activities they are participating in.  We have been to all sorts of sporting events, recitals, concerts, or plays.  Though we usually sit with family members of the students, it still feels like a date of sorts, and we always have fun watching the students in their elements. 

I think I'll stop there, since this is getting fairly long.  Hope some of these tips help!   What are some of your favorite date ideas.  Tonight, we're walking a few blocks to a local restaurant for a $5 french press for two.  Can't wait!