I’ve always had a bit of a love/hate relationship with Valentine’s Day. The pressure to do something loving and to feel loved on the spot just takes all the spontaneity out of things for me. I don’t know. Somehow I’m always left with the ominous feeling I’m going to be disappointed before the day even has a chance to begin. Yes, it’s definitely the pressure of it all. So instead of focusing so much on “THE” day, in 2011 I really want to start (and maintain) some sweet traditions that help keep intimacy, friendship, sharing, laughter, playfulness and love alive in my marriage.
Here are some things I am currently doing:
Before we had kiddos, we used to read together all the time. And by together, I mean out loud taking turns. Somewhere along the way we forgot to keep doing this, so we have recently started back up. Sometimes we’ll read something fiction and fun, sometimes it will be something spiritual, and sometimes it will be a book on marriage. Right now we are reading a marriage book.
Redbox Night
We love movies. And we love movies for $1 even more! Did you know that you can reserve the movies from your favorite location online? I will often reserve a movie early on Friday afternoon and have the hubs pick it up on his way home from work. (Just try and remember which favorite location you reserved your movie at. I recently had hubs go to THREE different locations before he could find said “favorite”. Oops.) Movie night is a fun tradition that we look forward to and makes for a very cheap date night.
And here are some things I want to start doing!!!
Cocktail and Hor D’oeuvres Night
My little sister Christianne introduced me to Little Wonders’ Days who has a series called “Happy Friday Nights”. She comes up with a cocktail and appetizer for her husband every Friday night and blogs about it! Here is a picture of one of her creations. She is also starting a link party every Friday for those who want to play along!
Little Wonder’s Days |
Little Wonder’s Days |
Color Me Mine Date Night
Erica says
I love the Redbox Movie Night! I had no idea you could reserve your favorites online!!
I am recently a new follower and love your blog! I just awarded you with the Stylish Blogger Award!!! You can go to my blog for the details!!
Erica @ http://bigsislilsislove.blogspot.com/2011/02/stylish-blogger-award.html
Carmen says
Great ideas! I have done up one of the collages and want to post it on my blog. I saw it here first, so I'll link back to you! Thanks for the idea!! Hope you're doing well. =D
Tammy@InStitches says
Awwwe, I love your collage !
Debra from Bungalow says
My husband isn't romantic at all, but he does do little things for me all the time. He makes coffee every morn and brings it to me in my fav mug and I absolutely love that he does! I always say thank you so he knows how much I appreciate it.
I love the idea of reading together but he won't do it, he'd rather watch tv. And I totally agree with you about the pressure of Valentine's day…..appreciate the everyday things.
Valentine's day isn't a big deal to me, it should be called Hallmark day because of the amount of cards sold.
Rebecca says
Such fun ideas. We are due with our first child in one week and so it's been a lot of baby baby baby talk. We have been setting aside Friday nights for just the 2 of us where we do not mention the baby and we just go out to dinner and a movie (or whatever) and talk and enjoy each other's company. I've been trying to post some of our "last few weeks without a baby" adventures on my blog. 🙂
Janell @ Isabella and Max says
You've got it right!! Love the reading part…well all of it!
Janell
Willo says
We are trying to stay on a budget this year so we have really cut back on going out. We do Redbox nights, or catch up on our favorite shows online. For Valentine's Day, our local Relay for Life (American Cancer Society) sponsors a Chocolate Fest. The $10 ticket goes right to a good cause and we get all you can eat chocolate.
Pattie says
What a nice post. Sure wish I had a Valentine..
Pattie
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
Gosh, I wish I had more time with my hubby, but he's in retail AND a store manager so his hours are so off mine. Plus his days off are all over the place. Sometimes though when he is off on a weekend, we will just go to the store together, we talk in the car and kid around. Other times we will watch a movie and just sit quietly enjoying each other's company. After almost 26 years married, I think you can do that sometimes and still feel connected. Oh and every morning, we do have time for a hug and an "I love you"! : )
littlewondersdays says
Thanks for featuring my little Happy Friday Night, Beth! I love your blog and your style and have long been a blog lurker. I'm also a regular reader at Christianne's too, she has a wonderful blog.
Blondie's Journal says
I agree with you on the pressure, Beth. I really think it is a day geared towards young couples that haven't been together very long. Romance is year round! Hubby and I SUPPORT each other. For instance like now…he can't sleep so I am up with him at 5:00 in the morning!
XO,
Jane
Jaimie says
Love it!! We try to go to bed together at least 4 nights a week, and we hold hands and talk (sometimes more) 😉 but it is a sweet time of reconnecting. We also try to do a date night once a month. We used to do game nights together and we're trying to reinstate that, too.
Chandeen says
My husband and I just tried cross country skiing. It was so much fun, and we got a good work out too. We can't wait to do it again.
Love the ideas you gave. My hubby and I are going to take a class together but we can't decide between cooking and dancing.
Megan {Honey We're Home} says
Talking without the laptops open is a must! We usually do that early in the evening, but I'd love more "date" time too.
Jennifer @ Studio JRU says
I love these ideas Beth! It is so important to remember to do things all year long together and not just focus on one day a year. We read together… love that.
Pam - diy Design Fanatic says
Great post! Our church just did a series based on the Love & Respect book. My husband usually brings me flowers and makes me dinner (he used to be a chef) This year, both our girls are working so we are thinking of going out for the first time on a Valentine's day.
Lauren K. says
I really like the tuesday night talks. We try to take time to just talk, but we don't do it often enough. So assigning a night will be great for us. It will have to be Saturday or Sunday though, he works 2nd shift during the week and is home after I'm in bed. I hate it!!
Thanks for the post! 🙂
Julie says
Love your photo collage!! That book is one of the best. Making pottery would be so fun thanks for the great date night ideas!
Laura says
Valentines Day used to be full of expectations, but these days we just enjoy the day. This year my husband is painting our dining room (finally some color) and we will enjoy our new room and a home cooked dinner. The shrimp cocktail pic looked delish!
PS- Love your ides Beth! You Rule!
Erin @ In Between Laundry says
My husband and I used to read aloud to each other before we had kids, too and we just finished reading Love and Respect together last month (to get back into the habit as well). What a coincidence!
Jemsmom says
What a great post! We have found that our evenings are spent watching t.v. or me on the computer and him on his! I love these ideas and am determined to start a few of my own! Thanks for the great ideas!
Heidi@TheCraftMonkey says
how fun! We always do the "boring" dinner & movie date night, but I'm thinking we really need to shake it up, I think bowling would be fun! We did that a few times while we were dating!
Jenny says
Oops, meant to say the 6 week course is at Church.
Jenny says
These are great ideas! We don't really have plans for this year. We are taking a 6 week course and it's on Mondays. So, we'll be there on Valentine's Day.
Christina says
Love love this post! Thanks for sharing some great ideas, that are really reminders of some of the things we used to do more regularly. I think sometimes our favorite thing to do is say "no" to a social gathering just to stay at home in our sweats doing nothing together. Sounds so anti-social, but we found we were so overcommitted with always saying "yes" to everyone…and it's been freeing to say "no" every once in a while too!!