Welcome to the new year! Now that you’re getting back on track after the holidays, it’s definitely time for a date night. And why not plan some future date nights while you’re at it? During this date night, you and your honey will come up with a couple’s bucket list (that doubles as a memories notebook!) for the year. Here’s how to get started…

Supplies:

• 2 Pens
• A notebook
• Two pieces of brainstorming paper
• A timer

Instructions:

• First, take a moment and talk through the set of questions below. This will get your mind thinking about some great bucket list ideas for your notebook! 
• Once all the questions have been answered, set a timer for 5 minutes. Each of you grab one of the pieces of brainstorming paper. 
• When the timer starts, write down 10 things you want to do this year with your partner. 
• Then, when the timer goes off, come up with 10-20 more things together to add to the lists. (Use the list below if you need some ideas!)
• Now here comes the awesome part… Transfer all of your bucket list into the notebook, but only put 1-2 on each page with a big gap between them.
• Under each bucket list idea, write out these prompts:
  • Date Accomplished:
  • Rating on a Scale of 1-10:
  • What we loved:
  • What we didn’t love:
  • Best memory from this:
• Now, for each bucket list item you complete, fill out the prompts. You’ll have a whole memory journal by the end of the year!

Questions to Get Started:

• What was your favorite thing we did together last year?
• Was there anything you wish we could have done last year?
• What’s been your favorite thing we’ve ever done together?
• I get most excited with you when we…
• When was the last time you got butterflies because of me?
• How can we bring more new dates/experiences/things into our relationship this year?
• Would you rather spend a day together outside or inside? Do something creative or active? Spontaneous or planned out?
• What are you most looking forward to with me this year?

Example Bucket List Items for When You Get Stuck:

• Go to a park or a downtown area and do a photoshoot of each other
• See the sunrise together
• Get googly eyes and put them on random objects/signs in a public place
• Go on an all-day hike
• Try a new restaurant in the next town over
• Go to a city we’ve never been to
• Choose each other’s meals when out to eat
• Buy a two-person board game we’ve never heard of and play it
• Bake a difficult pastry recipe together (croissant, macarons, baklava, etc.)
• Pretend you’re tourists in your own town
• Go to a coffee shop and ask the barista to make you their favorite drink

Looking for more DIY date night ideas? Check out our library of creative, simple date nights here!

New Year’s Day is just around the corner! Now before you make that list of working out more, eating better, and getting more sleep… Have you thought about adding some resolutions for your relationship? This date night will walk you through it!

Supplies:

• Notebook
• Pen
• Dry erase markers (optional)
• Smartphone or 2021 calendar (optional)

Instructions:

We all know what the average list of resolutions looks like. Work out 5x a week, eat a salad every day, read a certain number of books, get 8 hours of sleep each night… The list goes on. But when it comes to resolutions for your relationship, it might look a little different! Both lists have to do with keeping your physical, mental, and emotional health in shape. Well, these resolutions aren’t much different! Instead, they’re keeping your relational health in shape. So grab that pen and paper, sit by the fireplace or snuggle under some blankets and write out a list of at least 12 resolutions for your relationship you want to accomplish this year.

Don’t know where to start? Here are some ideas to help:

• Kiss each other good morning, goodbye, and goodnight every day.
• When conflict gets heated, set a timer for 10 minutes to cool off, then come back to resolve it.
• Go on 3 date nights per month.
• Instead of sitting on the couch with our phones, we’ll put the phones down and have a conversation.
• Do something new together once a month.
• Call each other once during the workday to check in.
• Have our friends over once a month.
• Have 10 minutes every day with no distractions to talk about our days, our thoughts, our feelings, etc.
• Say “thank you” at least once a day.
• Speak our assumptions out loud.
• Do something active together at least 3 times a month.

Take It Up A Level:

Want to make it a little more interesting? Grab that dry erase marker, pick one of your resolutions, and write it on your bathroom mirror. It will be a daily reminder for you both to put the resolution in practice! Then set a reminder on your phone (or write it out on your calendar) to update the resolution on your mirror on the first day of every month next year. By the end of the year, you’ll have formed 12 great habits for your relationship!

Want more ideas for at-home date nights? Check out our huge list of unique, fully planned date nights here!

‘Tis the season! Buuuut… Sometimes season might not seem quite as merry as you wish it was. Whether you’re hesitant to even start the process of decorating the house or you’re trying to keep your Christmas cheer on a budget this year, this date night will check all the boxes you need to get you in the spirit! The goal is to get in the mood for a great date night, some Christmas crafting, and making decorations out of things you either already have or can pick up at your next grocery run. Let’s get started!

Instructions:

This date night totally depends on how much you love to craft and how creative you want to be! You can either come up with something on your own, or use one of the ideas below to get you started. Be sure to take a look at the list of conversation starters for this date night!

Ideas to Get You Started:

• Use an empty toilet paper, paper towel, or wrapping paper roll. Cut it into ½ inch strips. Using glue and some gold or silver paint, make star ornaments for your tree!
• Grab some ribbon, go on a walk outside and find pine cones, and use little trinkets you have around your house to decorate a wreath.
• Get a white candle, some ribbon, a black and an orange sharpie, a button, and some glue and turn that candle into a snowman!
• Make a “snow” garland with cotton balls and fishing line.
• Use a tomato cage (upside down and ends tied to make a cone shape), garland, and lights to make mini Christmas trees.
• Put ping pong balls on top of Christmas lights to give them an upgrade.
• Make your fridge or your front door look like a snowman with some black and orange construction paper, and some fabric for a scarf!
• Make a cone out of cardboard or poster board. Wrap twine or colored string around it so it’s totally covering it. Paint glue evenly all over the twine. Once it’s dry, separate the paper from the twine and you’ll have a little tree!
• Combine ½ cup hair conditioner (white) and 3 cups baking soda to make fake snow.

Conversation Starters While You’re On Your Christmas Crafting Date Night:

• What’s your favorite Christmas tradition?
• What’s the best memory you have about Christmas?
• If you were served a 3 course meal tonight, what would you want each course to be?
• What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
• Favorite and least favorite Christmas songs?
• Is there an overrated Christmas side dish?
• What’s your favorite Christmas movie?
• What’s one food that you would (or do) hide from me during the holidays?
• Finish this thought, “It wouldn’t be Christmas without _____.”
• Do you have a favorite ornament? What is it and why?
• Are there any traditions you want to start this year?

To see a list of all our DIY date nights, click here!

Image from Unsplash.com

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, gratitude is on many of our minds. Normally the first things we list when being thankful are the roof over our heads, the clothes on our back, or the food on the table. But what does gratitude look like in relationships? This date night will help you find out! It’s all about showing your honey how grateful you are for them, and helping you realize it, too!

Supplies:

• 1 jar of some sort (Glass or porcelain jar works best!)
• 2 full sheets of paper, each a different color
• 2 pens
• Scissors (optional)
• Decorations for your jar (optional)
  • Sharpies
  • Stickers
  • DIY decor

Directions:

• Each person takes one sheet of paper.
• Either cut or tear the paper into 10 different pieces.
• Now, without showing your partner, write down 10 reasons why you are grateful for them and/or your relationship. (Use the questions below to spark a little creativity if you get stuck!) 
  • PRO TIP: Start each one with “I’m thankful for…” or “I’m grateful you…” to keep things on the right track.
• When both of you are done, put the lid on the jar and decorate it if you would like.
• Place the jar in a prominent place in your house.
• Over the next 20 days, take turns pulling out one of the papers and read why you’re thankful for each other!
• When you run out of slips of paper, have another date night and make more!

Questions to Help Spark Creativity:

• What’s your favorite thing your partner does for you?
• What’s your favorite memory of your relationship?
• What is the best thing that has happened to you because of your relationship?
• What’s one way your partner balances you well?
• What first made you fall in love with your partner?

Turn this date night into a marriage challenge with our FREE Marriage Guide: 30 Days of Gratitude and Love! Download it here.