77380 Upscale Clothing and Dinner Date

Although you do not have to go to a fancy place for dinner every time you go on a date to have a good time,  it is fun to splurge sometimes by dressing up and enjoying a night at a fancy restaurant.  And if any of you women out there are like me,  I am always looking for a good excuse to buy a new outfit.  So, for your next night out to fancy restaurant, stop at Market Street in the Woodlands to do a little shopping before heading out to eat.  There you will find plenty of clothing stores like Brooks Brothers, Vineyard Vines, J. Crew, and more.  Your goal is to chose a nice outfit for each other to wear to dinner tonight.  Husbands, choose a dress that you think your wife would look stunning in.  

Wives, choose some slacks and a tie that your handsome husband will love.  Head out early so you both have time to try on a few outfits before your dinner reservation.  After buying and changing into your new clothes, head out for your dinner date.  At Market Street there are numerous top quality restaurants to choose from including Jasper's, Cru, Uni Sushi and more.  Enjoy your upscale clothing and dinner date together!

77024 Houston Arboretum and Nature Center

The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, located at 4501 Woodway Drive in Houston, is the perfect place to get peace of mind in such a busy metropolis. There are beautiful gardens to explore and a trail that you can take with plenty of scenery. As you and your partner are walking the trail or looking at the beautiful gardens, take the time to really look into your partners eyes.

This can be a very intimate moment to share thoughts and feelings. If conflict arises, just remember that it could be trying to fill a deeper need for affection or intimacy. Your partner may be trying to form a deeper connection. Ask your partner questions about life goals and their childhood. As you try to understand what your partner is truly about, your partner will try to do the same and thus improve your connection with one another.

77022 Book Club

Sharing interests is one way in which you can improve your relationship with your partner. This date idea is one that can be carried out over weeks, or you can even have one simple date night in which you discuss what you both have read. Take the time to find a book that you and your partner would both enjoy. It could be a self-help book, a work of fiction, or even a biography. You can either read it together, or read it separately and come together and discuss it.

Reconnecting Idea:
Reading together can be an awesome way to reconnect. Not only does it help you share interests, but it gives you something interesting or new to talk about. The books that your partner chooses to read can also show a different side of them that you maybe haven't even seen before. It can be a learning opportunity to discover their interests. Reading can be a very intimate thing, and to share this with your partner, can make your relationship even more intimate.

77375 Love Time Capsule

A time capsule is a great way to preserve your history for those in the future, or even for yourself.   For this date, you will be creating a Love Time Capsule.  Each of you will create a capsule for the other person.  The idea is to create capsules that you will open in a designated time in the future that will remind you of the things you loved about each other during this moment in time.  Sit down and create your time capsules together, but try not to let them know exactly what you are putting in there so it will be a surprise when you open it in the future.  Here are some ideas of things to include:

- Write a letter to them expressing why you love them and what you look forward to doing with them in the future.  Write about what things you enjoy doing together right now or maybe something funny that happened together.
- Write about an experience you had together recently that you really loved.
- Print off your favorite picture of them that has been taken in the past couple of weeks, and write on the back why you love it so much.
- A ticket stub from movie or a concert that you went to together in the last month.
- Put a sample of their perfume/cologne that they are wearing these days that you like.

You can be creative and think of lots of other fun ideas too!  You will most likely need some pictures to put in there, so choose your favorites and head over to Tomball Print and Copy to print them off.  Then, choose a place to put your time capsule that you will be able to access in the future.  Bury it in the backyard or hide it away somewhere in your house.  Set a time when you will open them together, maybe set a certain anniversary date that you will crack them open.  As you create these, you will most likely think of many different reasons that your spouse is amazing, and then be reminded of those things when you open them in the future! Good luck!

77098 Around the World Date

Have you ever wanted to just get away for a night and travel the world? Well, with this date you can!!! This date will take some time to plan, and some time to enjoy, so pick a night that you have time. Get into the car with your spouse and ask them if they could go anywhere in the world tonight, where would they go. Have 6 envelopes labeled Europe, Asia, Caribbean, Central America, Africa and South America. Depending on what they say, you could have a very different date.

Write the addresses listed below on pieces of paper and place in each of the envelopes. Each envelope has a little activity that correlates with that area of the world.

Before you head to the restaurant, find your closest goodwill thrift shop here. Go in and pick out the best outfits to fit your date destination. Don’t forget your cameras!! After finding some cute outfits, head to the address in the envelope you picked.

While on your date talk about why you choose that part of the world to travel to. Ask each other what kinds of things you would really want to do if you could spend only a day there. Get to know each other better. What kinds of food would you want to try? Where would you spend your money?

Europe:
Paulie’s Restaurant--Italian Food
1834 Westheimer Rd,
Houston, TX

Activity: Find a fountain, throw a coin and make a wish.

Asia:
Kam’s--Chinese Food
4500 Montrose Blvd,
Houston, TX 77006

Activity: Watch a Korean, or Japanese anime online together.

Caribbean:
Reggae Hut—Jamaican Food
4814 Almeda Rd,
Houston, TX 77004

Activity: Sit outside and play some beach waves sounds and tan. Don’t forget the sunscreen!!

Central America:
Guatemala Restaurant--Guatemalan Food
3330 Hillcroft St.
Houston, TX 77057

Activity: Grab a soccer ball and play some one on one against your spouse.

Africa:
Peli Peli Galleria —South African Food
5085 Westheimer Rd Ste B2515
Houston, Texas 77056

Activity: Learn an African dance from youtube. Shake your hips and see how well you both dance.

South America:
Fogo de Chão--Brazilian Food
8250 Westheimer Rd,
Houston, TX 77063

Activity: Grab a soccer ball and play some one on one against your spouse.

77338 Movie Tavern

Step the classic "dinner and a movie" date up a notch on your next night out with your spouse by going to Movie Tavern.   While you enjoy a movie in their updated theater, waiters will serve you dinner from their chef-inspired menu.  The have all the new releases and a full menu to enjoy.  They also offer breakfast and a movie on Friday and Saturday mornings if you want to enjoy a morning date, and on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings they have "retro cinema" where they show classics like Jaws, E.T., Singing in the Rain and more. 

Relationship Reconnection Idea:
Take some time before or after dinner to go on a short walk together.  Try playing a game of Desert Island.  If you could take 3 books with you on a deserted island, which ones would they be?  What about if you could bring 3 movies?  You can be creative and think of your own questions too, and try to learn something new about each other!

77022 Rekindle the Love

As you face the challenges of every day life, it can be hard to remember to put time and energy into your relationship. With kids, work, and other duties, time can be hard to come by. As a couple, take the time to make a "Couple's Calendar". This CAN include your individual appointments, so that you can know what is going on in each other's lives, but I would recommend keeping it just to your relationship. You can use another calendar for your weekly events, if needed. John Gottman, Ph.D, speaks of creating "Love Maps". He uses this to refer to the part of the brain that keeps track of all of your spouses information. He suggests that this can greatly improve your marital satisfaction. Creating this calendar can give you an opportunity to do just that. You can read more about his love maps in his book, "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work."

On this calendar, I would suggest scheduling time for a weekly date, for 15-30 minutes of quiet conversation a few times a week, and time for intimacy. It may sound strange to have to schedule time for intimacy, but we all know how important it can be in a relationship. Making sure that it is part of your life can be a pivotal moment in your relationship. I would recommend finding a quiet place to create this calendar, maybe on a hike, in front of the fire, or even in a quiet park.

77024 Ooh La La!

Have a sweet tooth? Craving a tasty treat? Head over to Ooh La La bakery, where they have treats to satisfy even the craziest sweet tooth. Try their Velvet Elvis cupcake or their Funfetti French macaroons. They also have pastries, pies, cheesecake, and dessert bars! If you want to check out their menu in advance, feel free to do so, but be warned that once you look, you can't turn back! So. Much. Goodness. While you and your sweet are enjoying some treats, take the time to read and to share thoughts on this article:

Married couples, don't forget to date

This article from CNN.com is a great reminder of how important dating can be in married life. It also gives some tips or ideas of how we can make our dating more effective or how we can arrange time for these dates. The author asks us to pay attention to the three T's: Time, Talk, and Tenacity. Take this time to realize why you married your spouse; because you were in love! Don't lose that!

77373 Backyard Date

Take some time to spruce up your yard for your next date! Working out in the yard and deciding together what to plant and where will be a fun way to spend some time together this weekend.  If you need a fun place to help you decorate your yard, check out Baker's Backyard. They are a family-owned business that sells tropical plants that are not commonly found and the owner is great at helping customers choose plants that you will love and that will make your yard become the place you want it to be.  They also have a gift shop and fun metal art for your yard available.  Choose some yard art and some tropical plants, and then take them back to your home and make your yard a place you will love to be together!

77338 Jesse H Jones Park and Nature Center

A visit to the Jesse H Jones Park and Nature Center is such a fun date idea because it is something that has enough to do that you could make it a day date and spend all day exploring all it has to offer or just make it a simple, quick date when you are short on time.  Seriously, there is so many fun things to do here for your next date.  The best part is that it is open daily and is free of charge. They have over 300 acres of wildlife and nature to explore with paved paths that wind throughout the park.  They have white sand beaches that run along the Spring Creek where you can sit and enjoy the scenery.  The nature center offers numerous displays that you can use to learn more about the plants and wildlife surrounding the area.  You will also want to check out the Rosebud  Hill Homestead which is a re-creation of an 1820's-30's era Texas homestead and the Akokisa Indian village that features seasonal structures of tribes that once inhabited southeast Texas.  They have numerous free educational programs that might be fun to enjoy for a date night like fishing programs, birding tours, butterfly and wildscaping programs, and much more.  There is list of other things you might enjoy there like barbecuing at their pavilions, renting canoes to use on Spring Creek, or enjoying one of their four annual festivals.  Check out there website to check out more and to plan your next date to the Jesse H Jones park. 

Relationship Tip:

How do you express love to your spouse? There are so many different ways to do this, and hopefully the longer you are married, the better you will be at recognizing the best ways you can express your love for them.  The important thing is that you express your love and gratitude often.  Take some time to watch this clip on expressions of love with your spouse. 

77396 MaxBowl

Kick the classic bowling date up a notch by going to MaxBowl for your next date night.  They have plenty of fun activities available that will keep you both entertained all night long. You can choose classic bowling or try cosmic bowling if you want to try something different.  Cosmic bowling has glow in the dark lanes, bowling balls, and pins under disco lights and fun music. Or, they also have laser tag, arcade, billiards, and the SkyWalk which is an indoor adventure ropes course.  Lastly, why not try some karaoke?  You could choose to serenade your spouse on stage or team up together and sing a duet.  Just remember to let loose, and have some fun!

Relationship Growth Tip:
Dr. John Gottman calls criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse because they can lead to the dissolution of a relationship.  Check out this video with your spouse to learn more about this and how you can avoid using these things in your relationship!

77338 Mercer Aboretum and Botanic Gardens

Take some time to enjoy the great outdoors at the Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.  They have over 250 acres of flowers, herbs, ponds gardens, rock gardens, walking paths, picnic tables and more.  The best part is that they are open daily and admission is free.  For your date, print off a copy of their scavenger hunt, birding or butterfly checklist on their website and see how many of these things you and your spouse can identify.  Then, bring a picnic lunch/dinner to enjoy in the park, surrounded by the beautiful scenery.



Relationship Reconnection:
While you are having your picnic, have some fun with this I Love You A-Z activity.  Each one of you writes down every letter from A to Z on a piece of paper and then then writes something starting with each letter that you love about your spouse.  For example, A - your Adorable smile, B - the Big hugs you give me when you get home everyday, etc. When you are done, share them with each other. Be creative and honest about the things you enjoy most about each other!