More Romantic Date Ideas

When planning a romantic meal at home, choose a menu that will include a favorite dish from one of your favorite restaurants that has take-out. For instance we love a particular salad from one of our favorite Italian restaurants, you know the kind with the "special" ingredients. On several occasions I have gone and purchased a large double order from them to add to our romantic meal for two. If you ask you may find out that the restaurant also has available for purchase their "special sauce" or in this case their "signature dressing". This adds a special touch to your meal that says I love You by taking the time to notice one of HIS favorites and putting out the effort to acquire the "special" item for your meal. This will turn even the simplest meal into a Special meal.

Here's to Romance!
Contributed by: Mrs. Deborah Wynn


One of our favorite for Valentines Day/ Dad's birthday celebration is a special candlelight dinner for two:

First off, let me tell you that our 4 children are ages 7-2. We choose a special meal, and shop for it the day before. Then, the day of, I have the children help me prepare the meal. The kids prepare special table settings - one time it was dough napkin rings - and then they help me design a "menu" on the computer. They help me set up a card table in the living room, with candles, a pretty table cloth, etc. (Just a note - That night, for the children, I will usually get frozen fish sticks and tator tots, or some other easy "heat in the oven" meal for the children.) As for our special meal for two, I will be sure that it is prepared and ready to serve so that the children will be handle things in the kitchen - they will be our "staff" for the evening. They usually like dressing up the part - with aprons, chef hats, etc. (This helps make it a fun evening for them too.)

When my husband gets home he is rushed in to shower and change (or whatever he needs to "wash the day away"). In the meantime, I will dress up as well - heels, jewelry, etc. When we're ready, we come out of our bedroom together, and immediately one of the children is on hand to show us to our table and seat us. They serve and clear our courses (sometimes with a little sideline coaching) and for the most part give us some privacy.

Just a note - That night, for the children, I will usually get frozen fish sticks and tator tots, or some other easy "heat in the oven" meal for the children. After they've eaten their dinner, in the kitchen, they head to the family room to watch the video (s) that we rented especially for this purpose, and my husband and I will retire to another part of the house, or outside if the weather is nice. (We usually let them campout in the family room and stay up late watching movies, eating pop popcorn, etc.)

It does take a lot of preparation and forethought, but it makes a very memorable evening for the children as well as my husband and me. (My husband still keeps his souvenir menus on his bulletin board at work.)

And even though in a lot of ways, it would be easier to do everything myself than to go through so much trouble to include the children, I think that it's important for them to see how much I prize my relationship with their father, and it gives them a sense of pride to be able to say that they helped, etc.

-Anna Moreira

One of the things my husband loves me to do is put little notes in his lunch.  Just little sayings like, "I Love You" , "I.O.U. a hug"  " Missing You".  or my favorite "Call Me" and when he does call me I tell him how much I love him and kiss, kiss over the  phone.  He loves that, it's something he gets and the guys he works with think it's too cute.  Still newlyweds as they say.   He saves them in his wallet and shows them to me occasionally, which surprised me, but he says it's like having a little part of me with him all day..  

- Leanne Hawley

For our Anniversary I made my husband his favorite meal as a surprise and had a candle lit dinner for two. I made chicken tortellini with garlic bread and a healthy garden salad with his favorite dressing and we drank sparkling cider out of chilled wine glasses with a bucket full of ice. It was very romantic

-Donna R.

I have a great date idea that my husband and I have thoroughly enjoyed.  My husband is a big movie buff and loves to watch them whenever he can.  I like movies, but prefer to go to drive-ins.  Well, the closest drive in is 45 minutes away from us, so we have found a creative way to bring the movies to our home. 

One day I planned our "romantic" evening.  I moved the couch out from our wall a little way.  I took 2 pieces of poster board and cut out the image of a car.  I stuck one image on one side of the couch (with double sided tape) and the other on the other side.  Then I rented a movie, ordered pizza, popped popcorn, and sat with my husband at our made for home "drive in" movie theatre.  It was more comfortable and I didn't have to pack bug spray. :-)

-Jennifer Cefaratti
 

A great date idea is a simple surprise.   These our two of my favorites all without spouses knowledge!!

Get a sitter, of course, then simply pack a lunch in a picnic basket.   Don't tell him anything tell him you are going on a mystery ride.  If your spouse is willing you can even blind fold him- he-he!!   Take a drive to a nearby park, lake, beach, or anything you know he will enjoy! Set up the picnic.   Guide him to the area remove the blind fold and enjoy!

Another one to have your kids sleepover at friend's house or grandparent's house.   Once again, without spouses knowledge, fix a simple candlelight dinner rent movie and have a night in with your sweetheart.  If you have a close girlfriend you could even swap one night she takes your kids the next night you take hers ,then everyone's a winner!

-Tammy Holmes

What my husband and I do is re-enact the times we dated and fell in love. The little things that made us smile and laugh still do.

-Keri Anderson

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