Date-a-rama!

I taught a workshop last night to the older youth about the importance of group dates. While we don't have to group date anymore (unless we want to) I did some research and Shauna helped me come up with a pretty snazzy list. I think you all should pick some of these dates to do!

The best dates are planned yet casual, inexpensive yet fun. Be creative!

Artsy Dates

- First Thursday Free Museums (Seattle Art Museum, EMP, Science Fiction Museum, The Burke Museum, Museum of History and Industry, Museum of Flight and Seattle Asian Art Museum) - First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square (Similar gallery walks happen in Kirkland, Ballard, Fremont and Capitol Hill) – Frye Art Museum (always free) - Free Shakespeare, concerts & movies at Seattle Parks (summer) - Seattle Sculpture Park - Hear the Compline Choir perform every Sunday at 9:30 p.m. at St. Mark's Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave. E

Seattleite Dates

- Pike's Place Market (goes well with a picture treasure hunt) - Mix-it-up Ice cream on the Ave - Take a tour of Theo Chocolate factory - Folklife Festival, Bite of Seattle, SeaFair - Laser show at the Seattle Science Center - Ferry ride to Bremerton or Bainbridge - Woodland Park Zoo, Aquarium, Pacific Science Center - $5 to go up the Columbia Tower Observation Deck - Feed the Ducks or ride bikes at Greenlake - Watch ships pass through the canal and salmon swim through the "fish ladder" at the Chittenden Locks - Fremont Troll (N 36th St, Seattle, WA)

Sporty Dates

- Cross-country skiing or tubing - River rafting on the Skagit - Miniature golf at Interbay - Canoeing at the UW Arboretum - Driving range at UW - Rollerskating/Iceskating at Highland Ice Arena in Shoreline - Ice Skating at the Seattle Center (winter) - Cheap bowling/pool/DDR at the UW Hub even for non-UW students - Go for a swim at Matthews Beach, Madison Park & Madrona Beach - Kickball, capture the flag or fly kites at any Seattle Park - Hike at Snoqualmie Falls - Batting cages - Rollerblading/biking/or fire pit at Alki Beach -

Just for Fun Dates

- $5 swing or salsa dancing with free lesson ($7 on weekends) at Century Ballroom - Board game, puzzle challenge or charades night - Organize a potluck dinner, and assign people to bring certain dishes or ingredients – Surprise sidewalk chalk someone's driveway (nice things only!) - Wii, DDR, Rock Band or Guitar Hero night at someone's house - Cheap Eats: Dicks & Ivars – $3 movies at Crest Theatre in Shoreline - The Fair (get tickets from school) - A service date (rake a neighbor's leaves, wash windows etc) - Have a contest to find the best/funniest book at a used book store (Twice Sold Tales 905 E John St usually has a $1 rack in front) - Creative Story (write/say one or two lines of a story, the next person continues with another line or two) - St a dollar limit and go to a thrift shop. Then go somewhere wearing the outfits you bought. - Dessert contest (making or eating) - Homemade pizza party - Progressive Dinner - Go berry picking -

Holiday Dates

- Gilman's Village in Issaquah - Snoqualmie Santa Train - Visit a pumpkin patch or corn maze - Christmas lights and hot cocoa - Candycane lane in Ravenna – Bellevue Square's Snowflake Lane

For more ideas, check the newspaperor Internet for free or discounted tickets. Or check out some Seattle events websites for current activities, concerts, festivals and holiday activities!

Keeping the honeymoon alive

i originally posted this on my blog and shauna asked me to post it here as well:

we have several old men couriers who come by work once a week or so from the hospital. they are always cheery with a twinkle in their eye and they have grandpa-y type things to say like, "show me that smile!"

today the courier handed me the envelope and i told him to stay dry... expecting him to quickly be on his way. but he was still standing there.

how long have you been married? he asked.

two years next month, i said.

we're going on 54, he said. may i give you a bit of advice? make sure you do the little things that make him know you still love him. he told me about how he serves his wife by feeding her latte habit. on the days he is a courier he calls her from his last stop and asks her if she'd like a latte. her response, "i've been waiting for you to call all day!" he said he cleans up and does chores for her. when i asked how she shows love to him he said by forgiving him when he forgets birthdays. she also knocks him on the nose to demand smooches.

it was a brief conversation. it lasted but a few minutes and for whatever reason he shared part of himself with me. it does come back to the little things - like surprise chapsticks because i seem to lose mine. critters in the mail. a weekend getaway to a town posing as bavaria. making me fantastic naked pasta when i don't want to think about cooking.

i should probably start smacking him on the nose to redeem my smooches!

Quick & Easy Romance

I was recently blessed with an adorable baby boy. Needless to say, diaper changing and sore nipples have taken precedence to thoughts of romance, let alone going on a date. My darling husband bless his heart (I think desperate for some one on one time) surprised me with a sweet and simple gesture. He picked up some scrumptious chocolate hazelnut gelato, lit some candles and we enjoyed a solid uninterrupted 5 minutes reconnecting over the kitchen table. . . . perfection!