Tis the Season

Photo courtesy of DavidCastiloDominici@freedigitalphotos.net

How about getting a little head start on your Christmas shopping?  Head on over to the Galleria Mall there's shops a plenty and much more to do too. Enjoy shopping, eating, ice skating, or just walking around together hand in hand enjoying the sites of the season. You can find more information here http://www.simon.com/mall/the-galleria  

Relationship Reconnection:

Do you trust your spouse?  Trust allows for shared power in a relationship and is critical for a strong marriage.  It's time to influence one another.  Buy each other a special treat and enjoy them together.  Learning to rely on each others influence can build trust and help your marriage grow stronger.

Tranquil and Relaxing

Photo courtesy of uptown-houston

This date is all about relaxing and enjoying a little tranquility.  Visit the water wall near Williams Tower in the Galleria. You can check out information here  http://www.uptown-houston.com/news/page/water-wall-park  Pack up a picnic and enjoy each others company for the afternoon.

Relationship Reconnection:

Your spouse has a lot of admirable qualities.  It's your job to point them out.  Take turns and set the timer on your phone and list as many qualities for each other as you can in 60 seconds. Highlighting each others strengths can contribute to the health of your relationship!

Service

This date night is a little different then the regular. This date requires service and selflessness. Together, you and your spouse will do random acts of kindness all over town. Even the littlest things can make a big impact in someone’s life. I have compiled a list that might be something you and your spouse would like to do together.  

• Leave kind notes
• Bake cookies for the neighbors
•   Visit the old folk’s home
•   Mow your neighbor’s lawn or rake their leaves

There are several things that can be done to help your community and neighbors. You will be surprised how great it feels to help others.

Relationship Reconnection:

Before, during, after, or whatever floats your boat, Try to know what is happening in your partner’s world. Sometimes we get so caught up with our own lives, we forget about people that are most important to us. Really communicate by asking each other questions and truly reconnect.

Let's Get Painting

The Mad Potter

Discover your inner artist.Take your date to this pottery studio and design and paint your own addition to your living room, bedroom or kitchen.They host date nights on Fridays and welcome the opportunity to share your desire to try something new.       http://themadpotter.com/

Relationship Connection:

Getting outside of your comfort zone allows you to see another side of your partner. Becoming vulnerable to new experiences keeps us humble and able to have fun and laugh together. It is nice to be on an even playing field with your partner where both are learning something new for the first time.

The Battleship Date

Battleship Texas

3527 Independence Parkway South

La Porte TX 77571

Neighborhood:Clear Lake/Bay Area Houston

Phone: 281-479-2431 x236     

Spend some time exploring a piece of history. The Texas is the last of the battleships to participate in World War l and ll. She started her life on May 18, 1912 and has been officially anchored since 1983 as a museum for the public to see and enjoy.

Take your date to explore this battleship and marvel in the history it contains.Enjoy the area and grab a bite to eat either before of after. 

Relationship Reflection:

You may have ancestors that had a part in this great time. Take some time to dive into your past and see who you discover. This will bring you closer by knowing more of who you are and where exactly you've come from.

Urban War Zone Paintball

Retrieved from:  http://www.urbanwarzonepaintball.com/pictures/

Time to enter the battle zone.  Take your spouse paint balling for a fun new adventure.  Get padded up and get ready to fight for your lives.  Paintball is a fun activity that will have you laughing, running around and hiding.

For more information on paint balling visit:
http://www.urbanwarzonepaintball.com/pictures/

Turn Toward Each Other:
After the date ask your spouse what they need from you.  Talk about what support they need, and how you can best help them accomplish their goals. Sharing with each other ways in which you can support each other, will keep your marriage fresh and alive.

Cupcake Wars

Have you ever watched the show Cupcake wars on Food Network?  Turn this show into your favorite at home date night.  This date night can be done with each other or with a group.  Create your own cupcake wars by buying a bunch of ingredients that would be fun to make into cupcakes.  Remember to get decorations as well to make it more fun.  Give yourself a theme and a time limit to cook 12 cupcakes.  Take the cupcakes over to a neighbors house at the end of the date, and have them judge the cupcakes according to: best taste, best use of theme, best appearance.  This date will have you using your creative side, and can be very fun!

Turn toward each other:
After the activity portion of the date, cuddle up in some blankets and watch cupcake wars on Netflix.  Spend time choosing your favorite cupcakes, and enjoying the show.

Huff & Puff

Huff & Puff

http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/brazos-bend

Just a little ways out side of Houston is Brazos Bend Park. While Brazos’ main attraction is camping, there are a number of hiking trails that are easily accessible with paying nothing more than a daily entry fee of $7, since it is a state park. The grounds are open daily and offer weather updates on their Facebook page.

Their hiking trails are for the adventurous couple since they are a little more challenging, prepare to huff and puff your way up the hill, in a good way. The views are total worth it!

https://www.facebook.com/Brazos-Bend-State-Park-Texas-Parks-and-Wildlife-306833977750/timeline/

http://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_br_p4504_0110q.pdf

Huffing and puffing is a part of your hike. Huffing and puffing is a part of our lives. When you get to the top and look down at the perfect views of the alligators, tell your partner what makes you huff and puff in life. Is there something they can do or you can do to release the stress? After you’ve shared a stress or two, share a Hug and Puff. What makes you so happy you want to hug your partner? What makes you so puffed with pride that you’re happy to call them yours?

Walk This Way

Walk This Way

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/spotts-park-houston?select=r2QJccWOSOlOZh_QbXrl-g

What’s a little nature without a little city? We live in Houston after all. Spotts Park is the perfect blend. Trees and grasses as far as the eye can see with a wonderful metropolitan backdrop. From the north entrance of the park there is a paved walking trail that measures one mile in distance.

You and you sweetie can lace us your tennis and “walk this way”. Take your iPod/MP3/etc with you for your r&r.

http://www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/Spotts-Park/20265/

Use some free time prior to the date and make a playlist for you sweetie. While you both are strolling Spotts Park holding hands listen to the mix your sweetie has made just for you. Music can express emotion without vocalizing. Music can take you back to your first dance as husband and wife. Music is a powerful tool use it for love.

Printing Press Pitter Patters

Printing Press Pitter Patters

http://printingmuseum.org

The Printing Museum is one of Houston’s hidden gems. This museum does charge an admission fee most days but offers one free day a month. [Please call museum for specifics (713) 522-4652] Walk and talk your way through this historic piece of Texas.

The museum is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10am - 5:00pm. The landmark also offers family style education classes if, its something you like and want to bring the kiddos back to explore. The gift shop has a wide array of stationary that can help with this week’s r&r but is not required.

http://printingmuseum.org

Relationship Reconnection:

You guessed it a hand written, non-typed, non-emailed, love letter. Take your partner back to the good old days where everyone hand-wrote cards to express what they couldn’t say in person.

Love letter are special due to their tangibility and nostalgia. You can read and reread as many times as you like without having to fire-up the gmail account.

Putting pen to paper gets the thoughts flowing. To make this a little more fun mail it to each other, if you both work mail it to your office’s, or even mail it back to your own house the time it takes to will bring an element of surprise to the letter. 

I Choo-Choo-Choose You

I Choo-Choo-Choose You

Photo by Priscilla Dickson

http://www.hermannpark.org/visit/train-pedal-boats/

Why isn’t it Spring already? Unless you’re reading this post in Spring then, YAY SPRING! Hermann Park Conservatory has an amazing array of color in spring. Flowers and scents one can only dream of.   If you are going on a date, especailly in the spring, ride the choo-choo-train.

The train runs Mon. - Sun. 10am - 6pm. $3.25 per person and can be purchased at the Hermann Park Gift Shop. It’s a total steal! The entire ride is 18 minutes long and treks across 2 miles of Herman Park.

http://www.hermannpark.org/visit/train-pedal-boats/

While you’re on you 18-minute nostalgic train ride talk about child-like things. Does your spouse know what you wanted to be when you were 5 or 6? What was your favorite toy? Imaginary friends? Since the train isn’t very private keep the conversation light! Have children? Do you see any similarities between how you were at their age and how they are now?