Enjoy the Colors

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphots

Enjoy the fall leaves together.  I love the vibrant colors of leaves in the fall.  Take a drive, a walk along a scenic trail, or find a local park.  Enjoy the crispness in the air and the beauty that fall brings.  Pack a thermos of hot cider or hot cocoa and sip as you enjoy the views.

Relationship Reconnection:

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it's a great time to focus on appreciation.  Did you know that being appreciative of your spouse and the little things they do can can help cultivate trust and respect for them also.  Research shows that appreciation and gratitude is a skill that anyone can cultivate in themselves.  When we make the effort to appreciate our spouse and use simple words like please and thank you, gratitude and appreciation will soon radiate back to us.

Ice-Skate Date

Let’s bring the winter to Houston! OK, I know it is almost impossible for that to happen. But, what if I told you there was a way?

Try Ice-skating with your spouse. Don’t know how? Take some ice-skating lessons. At Ice Skate memorial City, there is a chance to go and experience a winter day. The Link below is information on a really great place to go ice-skating!

http://www.iceskatememorialcity.com/

303 Memorial City Way #902, Houston, TX 77024

Relationship Reconnection:

While you and your spouse are ice-skating, if it is possible to hold hands while not falling do it! Sometimes life gets so crazy that we forget about the sweet physical touch of holding hands. Here is a chance to hold on for dear life if you have trouble skating! Also while you are together communicate about your everyday life. But most of all, have fun together! 

Skate Park

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos

This date is all about tricks.  Visit the Lee and Joe Jamail Skate Park and watch others perform some pretty cool tricks. You may not be a skater yourself, but this skate park offers much to see.  It's one of a kind and boasts a 30,000 square foot indoor facility. You can check out more at http://houstonparksboard.org/projects/past/lee_and_joe_jamail_skatepark/  Grab a snack and just watch others be daring and perform their tricks.

Relationship Reconnection:

Now, this is no trick.  A great way to reconnect in your marriage is to spend time together.  It really is not about what you do, but who you do it with.  Enjoy each others company; talk, hold hands, laugh, and just be together.  You'll find that just some time alone can be just what your relationship needed.

For the Birds

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos

For this date, take a little day trip and check out Bolivar Flats Shoebird Sanctuary.  You can find out more here at www.houstonaudubon.org  and look under sanctuaries.  This is a combination of salt marsh, mud flats, and beach.  You can walk on the beach and watch the birds for free.  This could be romantic, especially around sunset.


Relationship Reconnection:

In a marriage, it's easy to fall into the trap of taking each other for granted.  Today, make your spouse know they really matter to you.  Switch the focus for the day from you to them.  Your wants, what you have to talk about, to your spouse and their needs, wants, and let them do the talking.  Focusing on our spouses needs and desires is a great way to strengthen your marriage.

At the Zoo

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos

There is so much to see and experience at the Houston zoo.  There are many exhibits and experiences available.  Go see your favorite animal and enjoy the beautiful outdoors.  Visit www.houstonzoo.org to find out more.


Relationship Reconnection:

Relationships are strengthened by seeking out the positive in each other.  See how many good things you can think of about each other.  When we focus on the good in a person, we are much less likely to become irritated or annoyed with them.  Focusing on their positive qualities can help you reconnect and foster love and compassion.

Safari

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos

Have you ever dreamed of taking a safari?  Now you can and it's just over 30 min. from Houston.  Bayou Wildlife Zoo offers a safari-like adventure throughout the park.  You can see and feed animals from all over the world.  They roam freely across 80 acres of natural habitat. Find out more here.
http://www.bayouwildlifezoo.com/




Relationship Reconnection:  

Since you're getting an up close and personal view of the animals, it's time to get up close and personal with your relationship. According to Dr. John Gottman, it's important for couples to solve their solvable problems.  Working together to overcome situational dilemmas such as intimate preferences, who does what around the house, etc., can help alleviate tension in a marriage.  Accepting differences and habits, forgiving shortfalls and mistakes, and working out practical solutions for disagreements can improve your marriage and help you work together as couples should.

Cruisin

Photo courtesy of boattours.poha.com

See Houston cruisin on the water for this date.  How about a free 90 minute round trip cruise along the Houston ship channel.  The Port of Houston Authority offers tours free of charge, but reservations are required.  Find out more here. http://boattours.poha.com/boattour/default.aspx  Just click on
boat tour faq for all the details.

Relationship Reconnection:

The power of positive thinking is important in relationships too.  We cannot rely on our relationships to make us happy and positive, but being happy and positive can improve our relationships.  Take time to talk about all the good/positive things in your life and relationship.  Being positive helps you look at things optimistically and gives you the fuel required to overcome challenges.  These are both important reasons to be positive and think positive in and about your relationship. This is a great way to reconnect.

Festival of Lights!

This date will help you notice and accept bids of connection. A “bid for connection” is when one partner attempts to engage the other in conversation, for example, by initiating a discussion or asking a question. The more bids for connection you accept, the stronger your relationship will become.

What better way to discuss this while having a beautiful view at the Festival of Lights. Through Nov. 14 – Jan. 10 you can visit the festival of lights in Houston. There is ice-skating, artic ice slide, light displays and nightly entertainment. This will be a good time for you and your spouse to enjoy the upcoming holidays and each other’s company.

Here is a link with more information:

https://www.moodygardens.com/festivaloflights/

Relationship Reconnection:

While on your date night, ask each other meaningful questions to engage in conversation. It’s that simple. This will allow your spouse to know that you truly care. You can make a game out of it. Play 20 questions or two truths and a lie. More importantly have fun!

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!

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.

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?

Gardening your Love

Gardening your Love

 

http://houstonarboretum.org

This lush 155-acre garden has 5 miles in nature trails and is free to get in. Along side the majority of these trails are beautiful flowers, some wildflowers, some pruned to perfection.

Date night or date afternoon can be enjoyed walking or hiking through Houston’s most beautiful cultivated lands.

http://houstonarboretum.org

https://www.facebook.com/HoustonArboretum

For this reconnection dig deeper than the “our love is like a flower” … if your love is the flower, what is the soil that grounds you and keeps your deeper roots safe? What is your water? What keeps you and your partner’s love from drying up and eventually dying? What is your sun? What provides warmth and growth without ever really being a tangible element? We often bypass or don’t acknowledge what is keeping our relationship alive because like the air we breathe we take it for granted. Lets bring it to consciousness and appreciate how our partner creates elements that sustain and grow our love.