Slip ‘N Slide.

Set up a Slip ‘N Slide in your backyard. Old tarps and a hose should do the trick. Not only is this silly date a sure success, but it’s refreshing way for the two of you to cool off in the heat of Houston.

Relationship Reconnection:  Physical touch is an important way to reconnect with your spouse. On the take date time to just give him a huge hug.  A long hug can help you relieve stress and help your worries flow away.  After the Slip ‘N Slide you guys are going to be sore.  Take some time to give them a nice back rub or neck massage. A nice massage can go a long way in rekindling love and romance.

Spa Night In

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The colder winter months can take a toll on our skin and hair causing dryness.  For this date, go ahead and buy a few scented oils and/or lotions and pamper each other.  Having a spa night and giving each other massages is a great way to hydrate, relax, and unwind.





Relationship Reconnection:

Now if a couple massage and spa night doesn't say reconnect, I don't know what does.  It's time to relax, unwind, and rejuvenate those feelings. Physical touch can do wonders for reconnecting and improving your relationship.

Quality Time Together

Take some time to just relax and be together. Watch a favorite movie, play a card game or just talk with each other. A fun video to watch together is Weird Things All Couples Do found here. This channel has a few videos about couples, and could be something relaxing to do together. Find time to be together, that is the key to a successful date. 

Revitalize that Relationship!

Sexual intimacy is an important part of a healthy marriage. Sexual relations isn’t just about the physical, but is very mental and emotional. Plan a night when you can spend time together without interruptions or other engagements. If you have children, find a babysitter and get a hotel room or arrange time so you can be together. 

The Patio Date

This will probably be one of your most relaxing date nights! I find it hard to find time to have conversation with my spouse because I of work, kids, and everyday life. Sometimes I think, “We will never be able to go out EVER AGAIN!” But I found that the most time my spouse and I have with just the two of us, is when its bedtime for our little one. I am sure that is how a lot of people are who may have children.

Try the patio date!  Put the kids to bed, or lock them inside the house.  Yes, inside!  Go out to your patio with hot chocolate, or your favorite drink, and strike up a conversation.  This will give you the time to just be together and catch up on each other’s lives. It is also very convenient! Anyone couple can do this because it is so simple!

Relationship Reconnection:

While spending time with your spouse outside try to really connect with them by listening and being attentive. Talk about your past, your present, and your future. It is always good to plan out some of your future and also reminisce about the good times in your past. Make the conversation meaningful.

Fall in Love, with This Questionnaire

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Okay, so you aren’t really going to fall in love with the questionnaire, but hopefully be more in love with your spouse. A study was done to explore intimacy levels between two strangers. During this study couples had a list of questions to ask and answer. They rated their intimacy level with their fellow participant before and after the questionnaire. Many couples rated their intimacy levels higher after engaging in the questionnaire together. It takes 20-30 minutes to ask each other these questions. It is a great way to spend time together, and get to know each other all over again.

Here is the link to the questions: 36 Questions

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.

Build A Fort

Some nights it's nice to have a date night inside your own home, and sometimes it is necessary.  Make this date night special by building a fort together.  Take time building an elaborate fort together and more importantly have fun!  Once your fort is built, put on your favorite movie and cuddle up close together.  

Relationship Reconnection: 

Turn toward each other.  Take the time to massage your spouse and make them feel how much you appreciate and love them. Show them don't tell them.  

Touch Down

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Stay at Home Date

It's football season, how about a game night at home?  Cheer on your favorite team and share some stadium foods too.  Hot dogs, nachos, whatever is your thing.  Root and cheer and enjoy your time together.

Relationship Reconnection:

After the game is over, talk about ways you have cheered each other on through the years.  Encouragement strengthens marriages and remembering these times of support can help you reconnect.

Fondue For Two

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Stay at home date #4

Fondue is a fun and delicious way to spend an evening together.  Rather it's sweet or savory, fondue dipping can be such a fun and yummy date.  You can melt chocolate; milk, dark, white, as well as many cheeses too.  The skies the limit, whatever you enjoy.  Choose the fondue and the items to dip and enjoy a fun night together.

Relationship Reconnection:

Over fondue, have a couples year in review.  How has the year gone?  It's fun to look back and remember all the things that have happened, places you have been, struggles you have conquered, and memories you have made.  This will strengthen your marriage and help you look forward to another great year.

Lights Out

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Stay at home date #4

Blackout is the theme of this date.  Light a candle or start a fire in the fireplace.  Turn off all the lights and all electronics too.  Snuggle up and tell ghost stories, or just chat.  Of course sharing a yummy treat is always encouraged.


Relationship Reconnection:

The key to this date is just spending some quite down time alone.  No distractions allowed.  Talking and snuggling are great for reconnecting.  Talk about hopes and dreams.  Looking forward to things in the future together will strengthen your relationship. 

Rise and Shine

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Stay at home date #2

Now, all dates don't have to be in the evening.  This is an early morning, before the kids are awake, date.  Bundle up with a cup of hot cocoa or hot apple cider in hand and watch the sun rise together.  It's an amazing sight to see the day just beginning with the one you love.

Relationship Reconnection:

While the sun is rising, talk about things that are on each of your bucket lists for the Holiday season.  Make some plans together to be able to mark some of these off.  Making plans and accomplishing things together is a great way to feel a continual connection.

A Recipe For Success

Do you ever feel like it's challenging with kids to get out and go on a date.  Well, how about a stay at home date?  I've got five fun and free stay at home dates for you.

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Stay at home date #1:
Fall is in the air. How about try your hand at some fall baking?  What's not to love about the smells of pumpkin and spices? Bake up something sweet together and then share the treat.  If you need some inspiration, cruise pinterest together for a mouthwatering recipe.

Relationship Reconnection:

While you're baking up some sweet treats, do a little flirting, touching, and cuddling.  A little physical sweetness can go a long way in sparking that flame and reconnecting.

Fresh Pasta at Home

Sometimes I feel like marriage can easily slip into routines and we find ourselves forgetting why we fell in love in the first place. That may sound cheesy, but think about it for a second, you may be surprised to realize that you've fallen into that trap too.

One thing that helps my husband and myself to feel special when we can't leave the house for a date, is to purchase special food for our special night in. Just taking a little bit of extra time to shop for our date at a unique, or specialty store can help a lot to get us excited about having some time together. If you're interested in this kind of date, check out Fabio's Fresh Pasta where you can purchase your own fresh pasta to make at your house with your spouse.

My husband is wonderful about making special meals and going out of his way to make me feel important. I love this about him, one thing I would say as a word of warning, however, is this: please take time to work together after the meal to clean up. I will say again, my husband is so sweet, but it takes away from the enjoyment of the night to know that I will be cleaning up alone after the date. So plan to bond with each other over the food, but also over the work that you put in together.

Relationship Reconnection:
Take the evening and talk about something fun. My husband and I like to talk about what our dream kitchen would look like while we cook, or we plan the biggest and craziest trip we can imagine while we cook together. It's just dreaming, and it's fun, but it gets us laughing and smiling together, and you can learn a lot about who a person is from what they want. Enjoy the conversation together.

"Smore" Fun

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This date is all about having a little "smore" fun.  Build a fire in your own back yard (or you can even roast marshmallows in your oven if you're not feeling quite as adventurous or don't have a private yard) and make smores together. Share a sweet,m gooey treat and just snuggle up and talk.

Relationship Reconnection:

While making smores, talk about each others day and really listen to one another.  One way to connect is to be present and know about what's going on in the life of your spouse.  So, go ahead and show "smore" interest.

Let's Time Travel

Let’s face it, you and your spouse are very different! We are just not wired the same. Sometimes we may think, why does my spouse have such a different viewpoint then I do on, money, sports, dating, time management, work, etc.?  Sometimes we have to put ourselves in our spouse shoes to understand understanding of certain topics. Let’s go back in time and see where our spouse has came from!

Option 1: If you live somewhat close to the houses you and your spouse grew up in, take a trip together and look at your old house. While you are there, talk about your memories there and what life was like in the house. This may give you and understanding where they have come from and why your spouse has different viewpoints.

Option 2: If you have them, watch home videos of each other growing up. Share with each other memories of what it was like growing up with your family. This may give you and your spouse understanding where each other have come from and different viewpoints.

Relationship Reconnection:

After you are either watching home videos, or visiting the homes you and your spouse grew up, talk about each other’s memories and thoughts on how you grew up. Share what was the number one thing that you learned growing up in your family with each other.

This might be an “AHA” or “No Wonder” experience for both you and your spouse. This will help you find understanding and empathy for each other. Embrace the differences between you and your spouse, they make your marriage fun and unique!

Cupcake Wars

Who doesn’t enjoy a little friendly competition and yummy dessert?  For this date you can do it at home after the kids have gone to bed.  Make sure you have an ample supply of cupcakes, frosting, decorations and of course sprinkles.

Decoration ideas:

• Chocolate chips
• Licorice
• Marshmallows
• Skittles
• M&M's
• Graham crackers
• Teddy grahams
• Animal crackers
• Cookies
• Food coloring
• Any kind of candy --Peach rings, gummy sharks, gummy worms, gummy bears, watermelon candy, peppermints, etc.

Come up with a theme and start decorating!

Theme ideas:

• Your biggest dream
• Your spouse's dream
• How you met your spouse
• Your first date
• Best vacation you went on
• Dream vacation spot
• Best describe your spouse
• Best describe your family

Relationship Reconnection

Take this time to talk about your dreams and goals in life.  Our spouses are not mind readers and don’t know what our dreams and goals are if we don’t talk them. By talking about our dreams and goals and the meaning behind them we can help each other achieve their dreams.