#Thursday13 - Autumn Date Ideas

I love FALL.  Everything about the season is wonderful! Acorn squash smothered with butter and brown sugar cooks in the stove while a hot apple pie cools. Burning leaves and then enjoying a glass of wine with friends. Here are a few ideas for you and your honey to have some time to yourselves.

1. Visit a local orchard or pumpkin patch.

2. Go apple picking then make caramel apples.

3. Bake an apple or pumpkin pie together then eat it before it gets cold. Have fun with the left over whipping cream. Enjoy a glass of local wine or brew.

4. Find your inner child and go on a corn maze and hayride. Rake leaves into a pile and jump in!

5. Make Apple Cider Floats and snuggle in front of a fire.

Apple Cider Float

1 cup of real apple cider

½ cup ginger ale

1-2 scoops vanilla ice cream or a seasonal flavor such as cinnamon or apple pie

Ground cinnamon and nutmeg for sprinkling

1-2 TBSP caramel sauce

Pour apple cider and ginger ale into a glass. Add vanilla ice cream. Sprinkle on nutmeg and cinnamon to taste and drizzle caramel sauce on top. Serve with straw and spoon.

 

6. If you are in a warmer climate, take your lap top and a bowl of popcorn to the backyard and watch a movie.

7. Have a thermos picnic at the park. Pack soup and hot cocoa.

8. Go on a Fall Foliage Drive. Pick up some pumpkin spice coffee and enjoy the ride.

9. Visit a local book store. Many offer special autumn displays and events.

10. Hop in the car and go for a drive to find a coffee shop or a local pub to visit.

11. Go on a Sunset Date. Grab a thermos of cocoa and a blanket then head off to a park to watch the sunset. If a park isn't in the cards, simply step onto your porch or back deck.  Weather permitting, do some star gazing too. Super romantic!

12. Have a “Power Outage” Date. Turn all the lights off, light some candles and have some fun.

13. Try a Spa Night. Take a bath together, give each other massages and put on your comfy-cozies.

What word do you use to describe this season? Autumn or Fall?

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Thursday 13- Cheap Summertime Date Ideas

Doing activities together strengthen the bonds in a relationship. However, not everything has to lead to lovemaking, simply being together doing non-romantic things gives a relationship a boost. Social science researches have discovered key activities that seem to help couples stay healthily bonded.

* Taking on a challenge together

*Being active together

*Sharing interest or exploring new ones

*Celebrating or learning more about your partner

*Doing the sexy stuff

*Making time for talking and laughing

Here is my list of 13 Cheap Date Ideas:

1. Visit your childhood... 

visit your old elementary schools, climb on the monkey bars. Share stories about your childhoods.

2.Take a camping class....

North Face, Columbia, Coleman and Bass Pro shops offer one day Camping 101 classes.

3. Just get in the car and drive...

Pick up some iced coffees or ice cream cones and go for a drive. Need a destination? Open a map, close your eyes and put a pin on the map and see where you might head off to.

4. Picnic...

Pack a picnic and head to a park. A change of scenery is nice.

5.Visit an observatory...

Many are open to the public once a month for free or a small fee. Some include lectures or concerts.

6. Find a night program at a park...

Many state and national parks offer nighttime programs such as moonlight hikes and star gazing.

7. Take dancing lessons...

many dance studios and clubs offer free dance once-a-week classes.

8. Volunteer...

Habitat for Humanity has programs running all summer long.

9. Reenact your first date...

If you can't go back to the original location, simply get creative.

10. Go shopping...

You don't have to save shopping for when you need something, but go just to go and not be interrupted by kids. Enjoy the ability to look at everything. Don't be afraid to get a little silly... just don't get thrown out by security.

11. Go to a community event….

Concerts in the park and outdoor movies are common in many areas. 

12. Attend a local movie festival…

See one-of-a-kind movies shown in smaller venues.

13. Visit your local coffee shop…

They often host local poets and authors for readings as well as musicians.

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Thursday 13 - Valentine Ideas

Trying new things together brings back the feelings of excitement and the thrill that you felt when you first fell in love. So for this Valentine's Day, do something new and adventurous together. Use Valentine's Day as a marker for starting to incorporate novel experiences into your schedule. Each of you can brainstorm a list of new places you'd like to see or things you'd like to try together. Make a goal to try one new activity each month or weekend, depending on what your schedule allows.

1.      Take a confectionary class. If you can convince your honey to attend it will be twice as fun.

2.      Gaze at artwork while nibbling on chocolate and listening to jazz music. Many art galleries hold special Valentine events with a special sweet reception and live local music. Check to see if your local art museum is hosting an event.

3.      Find out if your local history museum has an exhibition on historical wedding attire. Displays of this kind often feature not only gowns but also undergarments, traditions, and cakes.

4.      If you live in a warm climate (or feeling adventurous in the north) go for a night time stroll.

5.      Sign up for salsa or swing dance lessons.  Many studios will host a fun dance party. Or... a night night dancing in your own living room can be very romantic.

6.      Dinner and the theater. Many historic theaters offer an evening beginning with champagne, dessert buffets, flowers and candy all in a candlelit lobby. Then sit back and enjoy a show or performance.

7.      Go ice skating. Local ice rinks may open to offer specials for the holiday. Outdoor rinks are fun and you can enjoy a break in a warming house with some hot cocoa. Skiing and snowboarding can be fun too!

8.      Have a cheap night in. Cuddle up with your loved one as you watch the classic "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and the passionate "Moulin Rouge." Best movie double feature ever.

9.      Simply relax. If you have crazy busy schedules then perhaps a night of doing absolutely nothing is in order. It’s nice to just snuggle.

10.  Go to a spa or create a do-it-yourself spa in your home. Take a bath together, use oils and give each other a massage.

11.  Make each other cards or write each other love letters. Create handmade coupons with gifts your partner can use anytime and insert into the card for your honey.  Don’t limit cards to each other… make cards or write letters to others who are important in your life. It’s a nice time to let others know how much you appreciate them.

12.  Host a Valentine’s Day Party. Blow up balloons with prizes (such as chocolate kisses) in them. Add paper hearts around the room for people to write “secret messages” on.

13.  Of course, my favorite involves cooking up some romance in the kitchen. Choose a fun or favorite dish to prepare together. Drink wine and have some strawberries with whipped cream handy while you heat up some fun. Don’t forget something chocolate for dessert!

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Thursday Thirteen - 13 Fun & Romantic Winter Activities

1. Play in the snow.  Ski, snowboard, have a snowball fight or simply go for a walk.

2. Dinner and a movie.  Order take-out and enjoy an evening under the covers with your honey in the comfort of your own couch.

3. Ice skating.  A playful activity and a chance to be silly.  Enjoy warming up in a local coffee shop afterwards.

4. Dinner by the fire.  Make a meal together. Spread a blanket in front of the fireplace and enjoy your meal "picnic style".

5. Go for a drive.  Pick a destination such as a little restaurant or a bed and breakfast.

6. Listen to an audio book while snuggled in bed.

7.  Play a board game or put together a puzzle.    Keep it romantic by adding wine, candles and music.  If you want to spice things up, purchase a sexy board game to play.

8.  Have an indoor picnic.  Use blankets, pillows, picnic ware and favorite finger foods.

9. Take a bath together.  Stop at your local bath and body shop to pick up bubble bath or some spa items.

10. Have a massage night.  Give each other sensual massages.

11.  Go on a moonlight snowshoe tour.  Check with your local ski resort to see if they offer this romantic event.

12.  Have a soup night.  Make a loaf of French bread and enjoy some wine with a warm winter soup that's been cooking in the Crockpot all day.  Don't turn on the TV but simply enjoy each other.

13.  Enjoy a snow day.  Spend the day in bed.

Thursday 13 - Date Ideas

I write for the 1 Night Stand series from Decadent Publishing. The characters don't have to worry too much about their first date, just the fact it's a blind date and sex is guaranteed. But let's hit reality for a moment. 

First dates can be incredibly tricky and nerve-wracking. It is therefore very important to establish in your own mind what you expect from the date beforehand. If possible, arrange to meet in a public place that you are familiar with, and do not forget to take your cell-phone, or a "back up plan" with a friend in case of an emergency.

If the first date goes well and you're onto the second and third dates the important thing to remember is to have fun and do not expect too much. After all, what is a first few dates are a fun way to get to know one another, and to explore the possibilities of developing a strong and lasting relationship?

Here are thirteen ideas for those dates in the beginning of a relationship.

 

 

1. Go out for dinner then a movie. Having dinner together lets you get to know them better while watching the movie together provides the perfect atmosphere to just get used to them without having to talk too much.

2. Go out to eat, sit and talk and give a small kiss goodnight.

3. Have a picnic at a lake under the moonlight.

4. Walk along the beach or in a park at night.  My honey & I used to enjoy walking in a ritzy area and pick out our dream homes and cars.

5. Have dinner, watch a movie and end the night by playing video games at a local arcade together.

6. Holding hands while walking in the park, getting to know each other.

7. Go out to eat, watch a movie, have a moonlight walk on the beach or through a park ending the evening with the perfect kiss.

8. Go out to dinner then spend time together at a coffee shop getting to know each other.

9. Getting to know each other in the back of a truck on a back road under a starry sky.

10. Laying by the fireplace with romantic music and candlelight getting to know each other.

11. Go out dancing together.

12. Visit an amusement park or county fair.

13. Sit on the porch sipping wine, sharing a snack and talking.

Thursday 13 - Ideas for Dates in the Beginning

First dates can be incredibly tricky and nerve-wracking. It is therefore very important to establish in your own mind what you expect from the date beforehand. If possible, arrange to meet in a public place that you are familiar with, and do not forget to take your cell-phone, or change for a payphone in case of an emergency.

The important thing to remember is to have fun on your date and do not expect too much. After all, what is a first date other than a fun way to get to know one another, and to explore the possibilities of developing a strong and lasting relationship?

1. Go out for dinner then a movie. Having dinner together lets you get to know them better while watching the movie together provides the perfect atmosphere to just get used to them without having to talk too much.

2. Go out to eat, sit and talk and give a small kiss goodnight.

3. Have a picnic at a lake under the moonlight.

4. Walk along the beach or in a park at night. My honey & I used to enjoy walking in a ritzy area and pick out our dream homes and cars.

5. Have dinner, watch a movie and end the night by playing video games at a local arcade together.

6. Holding hands while walking in the park, getting to know each other.

7. Go out to eat, watch a movie, have a moonlight walk on the beach or through a park ending the evening with the perfect kiss.

8. Go out to dinner then spend time together at a coffee shop getting to know each other.

9. Attend a theater play, museum or art gallery opening followed by coffee.

10. Laying by the fireplace with romantic music and candlelight getting to know each other.

11. Go out dancing together.

12. Visit an amusement park or county fair.

13. Sit on the porch sipping wine, sharing a snack and talking.

Happy Thursday 13!

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Thursday Thirteen - 13 Date Night Ideas

Juggling jobs, kids, after-school activities, and more, it is hard to find time together as a couple. Setting aside one night a week as a Date Night helps relieve stress and keep the flame burning. If you don't have a honey to share with, grab your best pal!

Consider not leaving the Date to just nights, include any free time during the day or weekend.

Here are a few ideas.

Ideas for staying home.
1. Give each other a massage.

2. Cook a meal together.

3. Have breakfast in bed.

4. Have a movie marathon.

Ideas for going out.
5. Go out for dinner.

6. Skip dinner and just do dessert. Try sharing a huge banana split!

7. Visit a local bookstore or hobby shop.

8. Stop in your favorite coffee shop.

9. Bowling.

10. Take a walk at midnight and go stargazing.

11. Take a winery or brewery tour.

12. Balloon rides.

13. Attend a festival together.




HAPPY TT!

Check out Romance Writers Behaving Badly for another Thursday Thirteen - 13 Romantic Bath Tips.