Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Are you wondering what to do for Valentine's Day?


Today, Shalee over at Shalee's Diner is hosting a Fifty Cheap Dates party. She's asking all of Blogland for inexpensive date ideas that don't involve wandering around a bookstore for a few hours. (Rats! There went my first idea!) If you have any ideas for us her, post on your blog and then go back to Shalee's. She has a Mr. Linky all set up.

Here are my other ideas, since Shalee nixed my first thought right off the bat.

  • We like to go to a dollar movie. Since there isn't a lot of talking to each other at a movie, we try to go out for dessert after the show for some "face-to-face" time. Knowing that we're eating something afterwards, usually keeps us from having to mortgage the house for popcorn and drinks at the movie.

  • A great date can be grabbing one of the those books that we bought during our last bookstore date, going out to a coffee or snack shop, ordering a drink or a small dessert/snack and then reading to each other.

  • This date costs nothing - we took along a worship book full of all sorts of songs, drove to a wonderful nearby park, found a picnic table in an empty corner and then spent the afternoon paging through and singing every song we could remember. It was a fantastic time, very encouraging. Don't worry if you're not a terrific singer. Remember Psalms 98:4, "Make a joyful NOISE unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud NOISE, and rejoice, and sing praise." (emphasis mine)

  • Try going to the airport or the mall, find a comfortable place to sit and then people-watch. People are so interesting!

  • Finally, if you don't have money for a sitter or you don't feel comfortable leaving your baby, wait until the kids are in bed and then have an at-home date. Just plan ahead, rent a movie and get a yummy dessert (put it someplace safe so it doesn't get eaten before your date), then once the kids are in bed, enjoy the rest of your evening together. You don't have to watch a movie either, you could read to each other or play cards or a game or just stare lovingly into each other's eyes. Sometimes while I put the kids in bed, Pastormac will drive down to Dairy Queen and bring back blizzrds for us to eat during our "at-home" date. MMmmmm.


There are tons of great cheap date ideas over at Shalee's Diner. Go over there to be inspired! I really liked Amberly's idea of getting a sitter to watch your kids at HER house so you can stay home and relax at home sans kids.

Don't forget Shannon's Works-for-Me Wednesday Valentine's Day Edition tomorrow. And on Friday, Overwhelmed is hosting her Favorite Ingredients Friday Valentine's Day Chocolate Edition. Yum! Don't miss that one!

8 comments:

Michelle said...

Great ideas- never thought of hitting the airport to peoplewatch! I love your "production" blog theme!

Shalee said...

Ann, once again we're on the same wavelength... And yay for you for keeping away from the bookstore!

You cracked me up with the NOISE emphasis. Are you saying that you or Pastormac can't sing? Just trying to clarify...

And people watching is a fantastic way to spend your date time. It can lead to so many topics of conversations.

Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic ideas, especially the one that involves ice cream!

PastormacsAnn said...

Actually, I sing pretty well. And Pastormac is an amazing singer. I just didn't want someone to say, "Oh we could never do that on a date because I'm such a terrible singer."

TheNormalMiddle said...

Ann your airport idea reminded me of a date from LONG ago. My hubby took me to the airport and we "parked" and watched the planes take off. It was very cool. We were young and foolish too, if that matters. :)

Heather @ Marine Corps Nomads said...

Oh, people watching is soooo much fun. I'd completely forgotten about that! Thanks for the reminder.

Overwhelmed! said...

Great ideas! :) I love to people watch and you can do that just about anywhere.

I offered one, cheap and fun idea in my post!

Oh, and thanks for the shout out about my upcoming chocolate edition recipe exchange! :)

Ms. Kathleen said...

I forgot about the airport idea! YEARS ago a guy took me on a date and later in the evening he took me to the airport and we watched the planes take off and land and wondered who the people were...we made up stories about them. It was fun.

Beck said...

Those are really good ideas - I like the at-home date idea.