NOTE FROM JEANNINE:  Please enjoy this guest post today from the very talented Lauren Kelly.  Lauren is a wedding planner out of Waco, Texas, and I absolutely adore her blog, Love, Milk & Honey.  If you aren’t reading it, you definitely should be.  It is a wonderful online community for nearlylweds and newlyweds – or even “seasoned” married folks like me!  I think providing this resource for couples is such a wonderful thing – especially in a world where we are usually so focused on the wedding day itself and not the marriage.

Photo by Captivating Photo

I am especially excited to share that this is the first installment in a four part series from Lauren to be featured on The Stylish Planner for the next several weeks!   Next Wednesday, she will continue with part two of a great post on dating your spouse.  Lauren and I talked about this late last year and deliberately held off on sharing this with readers so that we could provide it just in time for Valentine’s Day.  This May, my sweet hubby and I will celebrate 14 years of marriage, and one thing we have definitely let slide is our dating life, so I am really looking forward to this series from Lauren.  I hope you will check in on the blog to read this great series.  In the meantime, check out Lauren’s style profile, get to know her a bit and follow her on Twitter: @theLaurenKelly!

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Ahhh, I remember the days when I could hear my football star boyfriend (now husband) turn onto my block in his incredibly loud truck.  I knew when I heard the rumble of the engine there was just enough time to layer on one more swipe of lip gloss and take a final glance in the mirror.  Then I was out the door with butterflies in my stomach and the hopes of stealing a goodnight kiss swirling in my head.  We were off on what promised to be a wonderful dinner date.

Something about having someone set aside dedicated time to spend just for you holds such meaning.  It’s the idea that you, as a woman, are being pursued and courted by a man.  In marriage, you can take comfort in knowing that the man who holds your hand also holds your heart and has spoken vows to handle both of them with care. I am a strong believer in the idea that both husband and wife should continue pursuing one another well past the wedding day.  One great way to do so is to frequently set aside time to go on a date.

Photo by Taylor Lord Photography

This is the first post in a series of four intended to provide a springboard to either help you jump back into dating your spouse or to enrich the date nights you already have set aside for each other.  This week we will dive into some fun ideas for budget friendly at-home dates.

Photo by Taylor Lord Photography

First, a few pointers that are considered rules of thumb no matter what type of date you go on::

1. Set aside a dedicated evening of the week (or every other week) to be date night.  I know a lot of you work on odd schedules and if you have kids added into the mix, your time is even more sparse but the first step in setting intentional time with each other is communicating about it.  Date night doesn’t have to be the same night every time it just needs to be an evening that is clearly communicated in advance as a time for the two of you.
2. Do not let budget be an excuse.  Some of the best dates James and I have had cost absolutely nothing.  Get creative!
3. OK – big statement coming your way… you ready? Date night means you unplug.  Leave the cell phones in the car, don’t sit by the TV’s if you go out to a restaurant and should you happen upon some friends, say hello and then move on.  The evening is about the two of you — no one else needs to steal hold any amount of priority.

Alright, now that the ground rules are out of the way, let’s get to the date ideas!

Photo by Taylor Lord Photography

At home date night #1: Kitchen creation

Working together as a team often presents options for grace and patience to be exercised.  For this date, pick a recipe out of the cookbook you haven’t cracked since you received it at your wedding from aunt Betty, make a trip to the grocery store for ingredients and then spend the first part of your evening creating the meal.  Choose something challenging but not overwhelming. Truly complete the meal as a team – share the tasks and encourage each other.  Stay in the kitchen together through the duration of the preparation process and then enjoy the meal around a candlelit, set table before changing into jammies for a couch cuddle with whatever dessert you created earlier or, if you skipped the homemade pastries, go out for an ice cream run!

At home date night #2: Living Room Lounge

This type of date night is a personal favorite of mine.  Gather up all your favorite blankets and pillows and clear out the furniture in the middle of your living room.  Now, hang in there with me, this next part is key.  Pull your mattress off your box spring and drag it into that cleared out space in your living room.  You heard me… a mattress… in your living room.  Pile on all the pillows and blankets and settle in for movie and popcorn night!  Each of you select a movie in your taste and flip a coin for whose movie goes first.  Remember to keep your phones at bay — this time is just for the two of you.

At home date night #3: Throwback Night!

Block out some time for this ladies, it’s time to get dolled up!  Pick your favorite dress from your past (think prom dress, church program dress, sassy Christmas party dress) and recreate your look.  Blue eyeshadow and poofy bangs may have to be included!  Guys, the same goes for you (except for the eyeshadow part… you don’t have to do that).  Pull out that favorite shirt from high school or the suit you wore on your first date.  Order in some take-out, turn on a few songs from your throwback time period and take a walk down memory lane.  Share your best moments from the past and laugh at all the crazy things you wore.

At home date night #4: What’s with your hobby?

Okay, this one is going to get me in trouble because I am the world’s WORST at being interested in my husband’s hobbies.  My fancy nails just don’t mix with gun triggers.  So this one is just as much a challenge for me as it will be for some of you.  Here’s the gist :: have your husband pick a hobby of his to teach you how to do.  Be it hunting, fishing, Xbox (yes, hunny, I said xbox), or poker.  The key is to be open minded and willing to set aside your opinions of whatever activity is at hand.  You don’t have to become an instant fan of whatever he does but showing that you are interested in him teaching you what he loves about his hobbies means a lot.   Spend the evening in his world. Let him take the lead as your teacher… you may learn even more than you thought!

At home date night #5: Under the stars.

Call me a romantic but you knew I would throw this one in.  Grab a blanket and head for the great outdoors.  If you have a yard, the grass is the perfect place if not, spread the blanket across the hood of your car and just be. Take in the wonder of the night sky, point out the constellations and just enjoy each other’s presence.  There’s nothing like the beauty of creation to make whatever problems the day held melt away.  There’s also nothing like creepy crawlies to kill the mood so don’t forget bug spray!

Pick a night, pick a date, and prepare yourself for the butterflies!  Next week I’ve got some great ideas for an unconventional night out on the town so be sure to head back over then to chime in.  Leave your favorite at-home date night ideas in the comments and let me know how your date night goes this week!

Happy Dating,

Lauren