That's when I started researching date nights. We were told in our pre-marriage classes and books that date night is essential to marriage. It keeps you accountable to spending quality time together that isn't doing the laundry or watching tv. In our first four years we have done a decent job at date night. We definitely go on dates, just not on a weekly basis. Because of the circumstances we've been in, we really did get a lot of quality time together. But back to the researching! I went to my favorite place to search the internet : PINTEREST! I searched "dental school wife" and wouldn't you know it, there were results! That is when I came across this blog and found this post! I was inspired! What an awesome idea!
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| Our Date Night Jar - all dates in one jar |
Week 1 : 4th Wedding Anniversary - celebrated our anniversary downtown - definitely a 4+ red date
Week 2 : Welcome to the Profession Ceremony - celebrated Taylor's white coat with his family
Like I said, we just pulled a card for the end of week 3! It is a green card because Taylor has his FIRST test on Tuesday!!! I can't wait to blog about our dates and share the fun we have! I hope that if you have a husband that is restrained for time on date night that you will be inspired by Kate's awesome idea and make some of your own! I used a lot of her ideas, but I also added some that were specific to San Antonio, Taylor & things we like to do! Get creative! Even if you don't have a husband with time constraints, don't forget how important date night is! I know that ideas are hard to come up with but that is the beauty of Pinterest! AND I'm going to list our ideas below! Just don't tell Taylor as I'm trying to keep them a surprise as he pulls each week! STOP READING NOW Tay! :)
Date Night : Green : <90 minutes
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| Card Night | Let's play some card games - Uno, Speed, Phase 10 & Nertz |
| Basketball | Let's play a game (or two) of HORSE & grab Sonic drinks to cool off |
| Puzzle | Put on some music & let's do a good puzzle (it's ok if we don't finish) |
| Picnic in the Park | Let's pack a picnic basket & head to the park with Princess (our dog)! If the weather is gloomy we'll sub for our living room floor |
| Dos a Rita | Let's chill & make dos a ritas at home! |
| Big Food | Let's go to Lulu's & have a giant cinnamon roll or huge chicken fried steak |
| Thrifting | Let's go thrifting! We each get $5 to spend on each other |
| Dial a Friend | Let's go spend 60-90 minutes caling as many people as we can |
| Pudding Pictionary | Let's use our fingers to draw in pudding - who said you can't play with your food? |
| Paint Portraits | Let's try to paint (or sketch) portraits of each other |
| Video Game Marathon | Let's plug in the Wii & play some Mario Kart |
| Resolution | Let's work on one or two of our new year's resolutions & complete one if possible |
| Cookbook Dinner | Let's grab a cookbook & randomly select courses for a 4 course meal - then start cooking! |
| Coffee Date | Let's head to a coffee shop for some caffeine and conversation |
| Formal Night | Let's dress up in our finest attire & eat by candlelight at home |
| Wine Tasting | Let's pair our favorite wines with cheese & chocolate |
| Minute to Win It | Let's look up some Minute to Win It games & try them out! *must already have supplies* |
| Donation Time | Grab a bag & I will too! Take 30 minutes to clean out your closet/desk anything and fill the bag! When we're done we'll take it to Goodwill |
| Bucket List | Let's start planning the rest of our adventure |
| Restaurante Replicate | Let's replicate a meal from a restaurant - but make it EVEN better |
| Game Night | Let's play board game & pig out on pizza |
| Play at the Playground | Let's channel our inner child & swing, slide & monkey around! |
| Would you Rather | Let's get to know each other a bit better by playing Would you Rather? |
| YouTube Session | Let's LOL & swap showing funny/favorite YouTube videos |
| Indoor Camping | Let's build a tent, make s'mores & cuddle |
| Paige's Choice | Whatever Paige wants to do for 90 minutes or less |
| Taylor's Choice | Whatever Taylor wants to do for 90 minutes or less |
| Brinner in our PJs | Put on your PJs & let's have breakfast for dinner - complete with 90's cartoons |
| YouTube Dance Lessons | Let's learn something new! Swing? Tango? Crump? Dougie? Lean/Whip? Whatever the new craze is! |
| Paint by the Numbers | Try to stay in the lines |
| Tennis Match | Let's grab our rackets & hit the court - LOVE : LOVE |
| Family Tradition | Let's make a list of potential Family Traditions - then pick one and start it! |
| Ice Cream Sundaes | Let's make decadent sundaes that any fro-yo place would envy! |
| Cookie Cook Off | Let's see who can make the tastiest cookies! |
| Personality Tests | Let's take some online personality tests & see how compatible we are on paper |
| Dance Party | Let's put on the best tunes & dance it out! |
| Dollar Store Hunt | Let's go to the Dollar Tree with $4/each with a mission : 1 - the worst gift 2 - the best gift 3 - ugliest item 4 - best value - ALL in 15 minutes |
| Make a Princess Calendar | Let's grab our cute little pup & take photos of her for a Princess calendar |
| Dream Home | Let's draw/map out of dream home |
| Flip a Coin | Let fate decide where we eat! We'll get in the car & flip a coin every 30 seconds - heads: turn right - tails: turn left - after 15 minutes we will eat the closest restaurant. Taylor chooses if it's a tie! |
| ICE CREAM | Let's go to Amy's & sit outside and catch up like pre-dental school |
Date Night : Yellow : 2-4 Hours
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| Pizza | Let's go have a giant pizza at Big Lou's - friends optional |
| 1950's | Let's pretend it's the 50's! Dress up like Danny & I'll be Sandy! We'll have burgers & shakes and watch Grease! |
| Ice Skating | Let's find a rink & go |
| Viva Las Vegas | Let's go back to our Honeymoon! We'll dress up, watch Ocean's 11, eat M&Ms & play poker! |
| Invent a Board Game | Let's get creative & invent a board game that can be played by two people |
| Nickelodeon Night | Let's watch shows like Doug, Rugrats, Hey Arnold, etc & eat all ORANGE food |
| Driving Range | Let's see if you've taught me anything |
| Blast from the Past: Teens | Let's pretend we are teens again! Dress up, eat pizza & watch our favorites from Jr. High & HS |
| Scattergories Date | Let's roll a scattergories die & everything we do/eat must start with that letter (one free re-roll if needed) |
| Zoo | Let's go find the monkeys, elephants & FISH |
| Food Network Copycat | Let's watch a random Food Network show & copy what they're making |
| Italy | Let's go to Italy! We'll eat Italian food & watch a movie that reminds us of Italy |
| 1990's | Let's party like it's 1999! Put on your best 90's garb & watch some Saved by the Bell |
| Paige's Choice | Let's see what Paige wants to do for 2-4 hours |
| France | Let's go to Paris! We'll eat French food & watch Anastasia (and sing "Paris holds the key to your heart!") |
| Mad Scientists | Let's look up a science experiment (you haven't done) & give it a go |
| NEW | Let's go eat somewhere close that we've never eaten before |
| Double Feature | Let's see two movies in a row at the theatre |
| Halloween Night | Let's get our spooky on! Regardless of the time of year! Put on a costume, watch the least scary Halloween movie & carve something |
| 1980s | Let's pretend it's the 80s! Let's eat all microwavable food, dress the part and watch TMNT |
| Sports Night | Let's watch our favorite 2012 Aggie Football game & eat food from the concessions |
| Mexico | Let's pick up Alamo cafe to go & watch a movie that reminds us of Mexico |
| Western Days | Let's go partner! We'll dress & eat like cowboys! Then watch a movie about them |
| Dive Bar | Let's go to a dive bar & play billiards and/or darts! Oh & eat bar food! |
| Disney | Let's play a Disney game (or two) & watch your favorite Disney movie |
| Blast from the Past: Kids | Let's pretend we are kids again! Let's build a fort for two, dress up, eat kid foods & watch our favorite childhood movies |
| Taylor's Choice | Whatever Taylor wants to do for 2-4 hours |
| Play House | Let's go babysit for friends for a couple hours as a treat to them! |
| Mini-Golf | Let's go brush up on our putting game |
| Christmas in... | whenever you pull this! Christmas movies, ugly sweaters or Christmas jammies & Christmas cookies |
| Cake Decorating | Let's bake a cake & go all "Ace of Cakes" on it! |
| Bowling Night | Let's see how that hand/foot coordination is going for you! |
| Progressive Dinner | Let's go to the 3 restaurants tonight : Appetizer, entree & dessert |
Date Night : Red : <90 minutes
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| You & Me, Texas | Let's go on a day trip to Paige, Texas & Taylor, Texas. & take lots of pictures! |
| Paige's Choice | Let's see what Paige wants to do for 4+ hours & do it! |
| Flea Market | Let's find a flea market & spend $10 on each other while there! |
| Mini Road Trip | Let's choose a place that's within 2 hours of San Antonio & go visit |
| Food Truck | Let's go to a food truck park & try foods from multiple trucks! *weather permitting* |
| Canoe/Kayaking | Let's go rent kayaks & take a ride down a river *weather permitting* |
| Boerne, Texas | Let's go to Boerne - Dodging Duck, Boerne Wine Company & maybe some antique shops |
| Gruene, Texas | Let's go to Gruene - eat the Gristmill & take a dance around the dance hall |
| Disney Marathon | Order pizza, pull out our Disney scrapbook & watch our top Disney movies |
| Salt Lick BBQ | Road Trip to Salt Lick & enjoy some BBQ |
| Taylor's Choice | Let's see what Taylor wants to do for 4+ hours & do it! |
| Go Rock Climbing | Or my version of it - Enchanted Rock for the day |
| TV Marathon | Let's get in our PJs, order delivery & watch at least 5 episode of a TV show we've been wanting to try |
| Six Flags/Seaworld | Let's go to a theme park & ride all the rides we can/see the shows we can! |
| Comedy Club | Let's do something new & go to a comedy club. If it's a flop we'll go to Alamo Drafthouse for a comedy |
| Top Golf | Let's go spend an afternoon or evening at Top Golf |
| Alamo/Downtown | Let's spend a night learning more about San Antonio |
| Brewery/Winery Tour | Your choice! Let's learn how beer/wine is made & then taste some! |
| Fredericksburg, Texas | Let's go explore Fredericksburg & go to the Nimitz! |
I hope this list is helpful to all! If you want to read more about Kate & their dental school journey, she has moved her blog! I love it when I come across a dental school wife's blog, I feel like we are in the battle together! Thank you for reading!
Love you all!
-The Kauffman Krew
Thanks so much for the mention! Hope you guys have a ton of fun with the dates. Good luck to you guys as you embark on this journey. Please feel free to private message me if you have any dental school questions or just want to chat with another dental school wife :)
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