Go Camping

I love summer and I love camping!  I used to go a lot when I was a kid.  While I haven't gone as much lately, I still think that this is an awesome date!  Whether you're going to a campground or going to stake your claim out in the woods, it will be a date to remember.

I feel like there is a lot that goes into this date.  Plan your trip together.  What are you going to eat?  How long are you going to be gone?  All those questions you should answer together and make sure that each of you is contributing to the trip.

There isn't anything more great than having a campfire, unplugging, and roasting your food.

Here is a list of some local campgrounds or state parks that you can pick from to camp at:
Annie's Campground - http://anniescampground.net/
Pine Grove Campground - http://www.pinegrovecampgroundwis.com/
Hickory Oaks Campground - http://www.hickoryoakscampground.com/
Council Grounds State Park - http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/councilgrounds/
Here is a website for many more state parks in Wisconsin if you're looking to travel a bit - http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/camping/

Relationship reconnection - Not only does it allow you to spend some probably much needed time along, but it connects you.  There isn't anything to distract you - don't bring electronics and play on them all day.  Talk about the things that you enjoy and love about nature and each other.  Make your spouse the priority for the trip.

Happy dating!

Learn a Language

Do you have an international trip coming up?  Do you love different cultures?  Is there a language that you and your spouse have a common interest in?  My husband speaks fluent Portuguese and I speak fluent Spanish.  They are so alike, yet have their stark differences.  However, we both enjoy giving each other little lessons in our respective learned languages.

We've done this before and we continue to do it.  You can do it like us if you know a different language than your spouse.  Or, if you both want to learn French, start learning French together.  My husband and I are both really interested in Latin based languages.  Maybe once we get Portuguese and Spanish mastered, we can move on to Italian.

You can learn via a tutor or books.  I know that there are programs like Rosetta Stone that help teach you.  I'm sure that there are apps that exist that would help you do that as well.  Whatever avenue you choose, learn the language together.

Relationship reconnection - Learning together and especially something new will really reveal what drives your spouse to succeed.  Use your strengths and build off one another.  I'm better at memorizing than my husband, so I could use my skills that way.  Whatever special skills you have, use them so benefit the both of you.

Happy dating!

Play the Wii

My husband and I love to play the Wii.  Neither of us grew up with any sort of video games, so when we moved closer to our family (who has a Wii), we learned how to play it.  Not that I'm all that good, but I will toot my own horn and say that I'm pretty good at Mario Kart.  

We like to have Mario Kart tournaments and play each other.  This is such a fun date because it doesn't take that long, but you can make it last longer if you want it to by playing more rounds on different tracks.

If you don't have a Wii, you can play any other game console that you have.  We check out Wii games from the library to change up the different games that we play.

Relationship reconnection - Do something different - allow your spouse to pick your character and kart for you.  The next round, change back to what you normally would pick.  Talk about the differences between the two rounds.  Compare that to your relationship.  What is familiar about your spouse that gives you comfort?  What familiar things do you love about them?

Happy dating!

Watch Sports Together

My husband loves sports.  He is always watching them, whether it's the NBA Finals or the World Cup.  One of the things that we have done recently is watched some of the trials for the Olympic games this summer.  (We also will be watching that together - I'm so excited!)

If your spouse doesn't enjoy sports, watch something with them that they love.  It doesn't have to be just about athletics.  Pop some popcorn, bust out the snacks, and enjoy watching a little bit of television together.

Relationship reconnection:  Keep this date light and fun.  Bet on who you think will win.  Maybe you wager a head or foot massage.  Maybe the loser has to do the dishes for the whole week.  There are so many different ideas to keep things fun.

Happy dating!

Make Something for One Another

I think that some of the most amazing gifts are ones that are heartfelt.  In this date, make something for one another.  This might take some planning, but it will be worth it.  I love doing crafts, so this is something right up my alley.
 

My husband is no stranger to the things that I make for him.  However, I love it when he makes things for me.  This can be as easy as breakfast or another meal.  I love it when my husband cooks for me.  There are so many different options and the sky is the limit. 

Relationship reconnection – Think of something specific that you want to relay in your gift.  Maybe you want your gift to say something that you love about your spouse or that you are grateful for.  Perhaps your spouse works really hard at work or you love their passion for life.

Happy dating!

Mini-Golf

I love mini-golf.  I think it’s so fun and also, I am pretty good at it.  My husband and I have been on a couple mini-golf dates.  We always have so much fun because it’s not a serious game.  What could be sillier than hitting a neon colored golf ball through the mouth of an animal? 

Here’s a few places/websites for some places to go mini-golfing:

Shawano Sports Park - http://www.shawanosportspark.com/
Kastle Park - http://www.kastlepark.com/
Sawmill Mini Golf - http://sawmillminigolf.com/

Badger Sports Park - http://badgersportspark.com/

Funset Boulevard - http://www.funset.com/

The mini-golf course that is closest to us also has go-karts and batting cages at it.  So, you can go there after you’re done on the course.

Relationship reconnection – After each hole, the person who had the most strokes has to say what they love about the other.  At the end, not only will you have had a blast, but you will also feel the love for your spouse.

Happy dating!

Book Swap

Here I am again, your friendly neighborhood PSA girl:  go use your public library.   I always feel like this when I go to the library:

I’ve helped my husband pick out books to read before and I have to admit, I’ve picked some winners.  Go to the library and pick out books for one another.  Don’t consult one another on what genre you should get for each other.

It’s always interesting to see what your spouse thinks your tastes are.  My husband pegs me every time.  However, it’s fun to see some of the different books he does pick out for me.  It definitely broadens my horizons.  My husband is pickier in his book selection, so sometimes my selections are duds.

Relationship reconnection – Keep each other updated on the book that you’re reading.  Have a mini-book club.  Go over each of your chapters that you’ve read and discuss them.  If you do this throughout each chapter, they will know what’s going on in your book.  At the end of the book, talk about the book that was selected for you.  Was it something you would have picked for yourself?  Did you enjoy it or not so much?

Happy dating!