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Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Date-Night Idea's





REDBOOK's new book, 500 Great Dates, has tons of fun plans for you and your guy — no matter how much (or how little) time, money, or babysitter access you have, So when the stars are finally aligned — you've cleared your calendars, you've found someone not featured on America's Most Wanted to look after the kids — you want the evening to be perfect, which practically begs for a Murphy's law moment. Don't sweat it. You can lay the foundation for lots of fun nights out (or in) by following these simple save-the-date guidelines.

First, make sure that at least every other date gets you out of the house and away from your daily life.

Second, be clear about who is doing what planning-wise, or you may end up doing nothing. Finally, take turns organizing your dates.This isn't about planning the perfect evening; it's about having time with the person you love so you can rediscover, talk, laugh, and enjoy each other.

Hera are a few of my favorites:

Dinner and a Movie With a Twist: The Saturday-night standard with these tips Turn your night into a mini-vacation by matching the menu to the movie:Kung fu action flick? Order some spicy noodles at your local Chinese restaurant. French film noir? Hit the nearest bistro. Italian family drama? Share a big bowl of spaghetti. Choose a restaurant that has small tables, or ask to sit side by side, so you can't help but rub knees.


Try brunch and a matinee: Your neighborhood's fancier restaurants are way more affordable (and just as delicious) in the daytime hours. Laugh like a kid again at the latest G- or PG-rated movie.


Go for an all-day hike: Check out trails.com for a listing of nearby treks and get lost in the woods together. Pack a picnick (bring wine)

Visit a museum: Museumstuff.com has links to thousands of art institutions in America and abroad; the Art Museum Network at amn.org lists links to the Websites and exhibition calendars of the world's leading art museums; and galleryguide.org will help you easily locate an art venue near you. If art really isn't your (or his) thing, don't overlook other kinds of exhibits, such as the history of hockey, or even surgical equipment! One good source for the weird and wild: museumspot.com.


Go camping overnight: There's no TV to interrupt your conversation, and the night is long, so you can retire early to your sleeping bags (zipped together, of course).

Watch the sun go down: Head to the highest point in town, or in my case any beach and when the light is romance-perfect for enhancing your sensuous mood, turn the scenic view into a background for a make-out session.


Take a dance lesson: Even if you end up stepping on each other's toes, you'll be forced to pay attention to how your bodies move together. Avoid dances that don't involve touching (like line dancing). Instead, try learning how to tango, waltz, or even square-dance. At the end of the lesson, be prepared for your dancing fool to sweep you off your feet and straight into bed.


Have a picture-perfect night:Take a camera with you and at different points on your night out, ask people to take your photo (make it a point to lock lips for some of the snaps).


Take a trip to nowhere: No packing, no planning, no idea. Just get in the car and start driving off into the sunset together. Stop when you're hungry or thirsty. If there's an interesting sight or town, pause and explore. So much of life seems to be about following the agenda. By following your heart instead, you'll recapture that exciting sense of the unknown you felt when you two first met.


Meet for a midnight snack: Nibble on whatever sweet thing is on hand or have a s'mores tent party (after the kids are in bed). Hook up a makeshift tent with a rope and a blanket, then roast a couple of marshmallows in the toaster oven and sandwich them with chocolate graham crackers. Don't worry about making a sticky mess — you can lick the crumbs off of each other later.

Plan a romantic "mystery night:"One of you makes all the arrangements and just tells the other where and when you'll meet (perhaps via a note in a lunch bag or a briefcase, in the car on the driver's seat, propped against the milk in the refrigerator, or scribbled on the kids' Magna Doodle). The destination can be anything from dinner at a nice restaurant to a scavenger hunt with you as the prize. It's not the venue that makes the evening special, but the anticipatory thrill that comes with not knowing what's coming next.


Check into a high-end hotel: Even if it's less than a mile from your own bed, you'll still feel transported to luxury land, where the only thing you need to concentrate on is each other. For one thing, there's a great big bed. For another, there is a "Do Not Disturb" sign that actually works. Lounge in the fluffy white robes, order room service and feed each other in bed, get hot in the steam room, have a randy romp in the hot tub (preferably in your room!), and sleep until checkout.

Take a class:Discovering something new together adds a layer of emotional connection to your relationship that will last long after the last lesson. Try scuba lessons, and dream about running off for a getaway at a remote tropical island; or learn a new foreign language


Go to an amusement park: A roller-coaster ride can jolt you into a "save me!" love clinch; a trip through the haunted house affords ample opportunity to sneak in some grabs or even a little necking; a challenge to a game of Shoot the Duck gets your competitive juices flowing (whoever nabs the teddy bear wins); and a communal stick of cotton candy lets you slip in a few sugary kisses as you nibble. Check out themeparkinsider.com/reviews.

I hope this gave you some idea's and some motivation to get up and get out of the house for a night!

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