Stay at Home 

As long as you are intentional about it, then you can get all the same benefits associated with dating without ever leaving your home.

Here are some stay at home date ideas.  Please add additional ideas in the comments section

Go on an appreciation dinner date. Before you take each bite of food or each sip from your drink, tell your spouse something you appreciate about him or her or something you appreciate that he or she has done recently or in the past. Go on a virtual tour of museums online. Click on the name of each museum to start your tour Louvre, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, National Gallery of Art Make decorations for upcoming holidays. Make your favorite desserts. Chose a music CD and pretend you are going to a concert. You can buy An Evening with John Denver from Amazon.com by clicking here Adding a romantic twist to the board game Twister can be a lot of fun to play in the privacy of your own home. Make a music video. Recreate scenes from your favorite movies. Read a thought provoking book like Tuesday's with Morrie together. You can buy it from Amazon.com by clicking here Draw portraits of each other with crayons. Make a video documentary of your home. Sign up for a free long distance learning class together at the Barnes and Noble online university. Pick a room in your house and describe your favorite memories that have occurred in that room. Teach your spouse about your favorite hobby. Work on a scrapbook project together. Play board games and throw in creative rules to spice them up and make them romantic. Do some family history research together. A good place to start is Ancestry.com Play video or computer games together. Finger-paint a masterpiece on your spouses stomach with pudding and whip cream. Make a video documentary about your spouse. Write a children's story together and illustrate it. Plant an indoor herb garden. Play board games together. Settlers of Qatan is a fun strategy board game you can buy from Amazon.com by clicking here. Watch old home videos. Come up with romantic variations of your favorite card games. Write thank you letters to the parents of your spouse. Play indoor tag. When you catch each other think of something fun you can do like kiss for 30 seconds, etc. Play miniature golf with common household items. Decorate your home for an upcoming holiday. Read scriptures together. Make a fort together and think of creative romantic things you can do in the fort when you are finished. Watch a concert on video or DVD. You can buy James Taylor Live at the Beacon Theater from Amazon.com by clicking here Order a meal from your favorite restaurant to be delivered and have a candlelight dinner somewhere in your house where you wouldn't normally eat. Refinish a piece of furniture together. You can buy a book from Amazon.com that will teach you how by clicking here If you are pregnant read each week from a book about your baby's growth. You can buy The Mayo Clinic Complete Book of Pregnancy & Baby's First Year from Amazon.com by clicking here. Make cookies for your neighbors. Run through the sprinklers. Create a new kind of cookie. Have a shower or bathtub date together. Pretend you are a fashion photographer and do a photo shoot of your spouse. Create a different ending to a tv show or movie that you just watched. Brush your wife's hair and learn how to do different braids in her hair. Choose one room in your house and do a clean sweep by organizing it. Visit the Clean Sweep TV website for some helpful hints by clicking here Interview your spouse and write a biography about him or her. Play hide and go seek. Think of romantic rewards that you can give to your spouse when he or she finds you. Buy a ceramic item at a crafts store and paint it together at home. Do a service project for your neighbor. Go on a massage date. Take photos of common objects in your house and make a collage. Redecorate a room together. Create a family website together. Create a virtual garage sale by choosing items in your home you no longer need and putting them on eBay. Watch a sunset together. Go on a scavenger hunt in your own home. Make hot chocolate and watch the rain or snow together. Call friends and relatives and interview them together about their lives. Have a romantic pillow fight. Play a game of indoor basketball horse but use a small ball instead of the regular size one. Come up with creative and romantic things you can do each time you miss a shot and get a letter. Create a collage of pictures of the two of you. Find an online service project you can do together. Make a blanket or quilt together. Write a letter to the editor together. Make a big ice-cream sundae and eat it together. Feed each other a meal. Create a water slip and slide with a long piece of plastic. Give each other foot massages. Make an evacuation plan, practice it and put together a 72 hour kit. Visit the Red Cross website for more details. Paint each others toe nails. Research where your ancestors came from and make a common meal from that country. Play a game from that country. Write thank you notes to your kids. Make a romantic post it note treasure hunt. Earthquake proof your house. The Institute for Business & Home Safety has prepared a list on how to earthquake proof your home. Click here to visit their webpage. Brainstorm creative dates you could go on with out leaving your bed. Create original milk shake or smoothie flavors. Make a lot of paper airplanes and have a paper airplane war. Divide a room in two and see who can fly the most airplanes onto the other person's side in a 1 minute time period. Think of a romantic reward for whoever wins. Have a water fight. Spend some time together brainstorming a simpler way for the government to collect taxes. A good place to start for some ideas is the fair tax website. Play TV bingo or guess the commercial game. Draw a bingo board and write the names of various products on it. The first one to get bingo wins. The commercial game is played by seeing who can guess first the name of the product being advertised. Pretend you had Bill Gates problem of having Billions of dollars you needed to give away. Do some research on the Internet to decide which organizations you would give the money to. Write down a list of family history questions and send them to your oldest living relatives. Plan your dream vacation together. Create a daily exercise plan and do it together. Go on a dinner cooking date by cooking dinners for the next week and then freezing them. Work on a scrapbook of dating memories together. Buy potted flower pots and deliver them to older neighbors. Decide on a political issue to write your elected representatives about and do it. Bake your favorite cookies and give them to your neighbors. Go to the White House website and rewrite the budget together. Go on a meditation date. Put on some relaxing music and slip into a deep meditative state. Wash your car together. Plan a weekend getaway together. Then plan your dream weekend getaway. Have a water balloon fight. Bingo night Group Date:  Cereal night, every couple brings a box of their favorite cereal. Poetry night- each come up with a poem, and have a poetry read (this would also be a fun group date). Have a Puppet show Upside Down puppet show- This is when you lay upside down on the couch and cover your eyes and nose with a cloth.  You then put eyes on your chin.  -Have a game night playing some of your childhood favorite games! Take time to talk about certain memories you have from your childhood. We are all bound together from our families. This will help foster more mutual understanding between one another and it teaches us more about our families of origin; why we are the way we are. -Go for a run together, then make homemade smoothies. Physical exercise helps the endorphins in our bodies to refuel, just like a marriage needs refueling. Make goals together to make more time for exercise, and list objectives on how you’ll achieve them. -Have a picnic in your family room, top it off with candles and your love song playing in the background. Make sure to say 3 important things you love about your one true love during dinner. -Go to a library and pick out books which describe that person’s character traits or personality, then talk about it with one another. Then you trade books and read them. -Create a scavenger hunt of different things you love about your spouse. You can even do the scavenger hunt at home. Make it a time to be romantic and don’t forget to communicate feelings! -Make a video that you would want your children to see one day on the legacy you lived. Share certain morals you’ve both learned being married and raising a family. If you were to pass on anything important what would that be? -Cook childhood recipes together. Each think about a certain recipe you remember your mother/grandmother cooking that you especially loved when you were a child. Have fun cooking together and really spending quality time reminiscing about the “good old days!” -Date drama: Search for a t.v. show script and act out a scene, guess which show it is from. Take time to ask each other 3 questions, they can be anything. The thing is to talk to the other! -Be superstars in your family room: choose a favorite song and look up the lyrics online, spend an evening at home by learning to sing the song together, but aim for playfulness not perfection! Ask your spouse why they picked that song. You can pick a song that describes why you love them. -Forget your age! Date from a different generation older or younger. Eat ice cream cones and rollerblade, or eat applesauce, play bingo and watch a black & white film. Depending on which generation you pick, talk about your past family history and learn about what they did on date nights. -Create a happy 100 list- to stay positive in your marriage ask your spouse to write a personal happy 100 list of things that inspire their happiness. Make sure to take note when reading the other’s on ways to rekindle that joy which started it all! Keep the list and reference it often. -Surprise date adventures- each spouse takes a turn to surprise the other on what that evenings date night will be, don’t spill the beans but it must involve a memory that you’ve shared together and it needs to be free! Spontaneity refuels that flame and helps couples grow closer. -Have an at home spa filled with massages, facials, etc., anything that can keep you relaxed. Intimacy is so important within a marriage, when time gets in the way that is when different problems occur. Make sure you reconnect on an emotional or physical level. -Tour open houses in the Houston TX area and find your dream home together, but the catch is you each have to agree on one! Then make a list of what needs to be included in your dream home. Why are those specifications important? Talk and figure out something new that you didn’t know before. -Photo memoir: each spouse finds a set of pictures from their life together (dating, wedding, new baby, fun adventure, etc.)  then take turns showing the photos and remembering those memories by sharing them together. Each needs to pick one that was important to them in one way or another. Pop some popcorn and make into a fun evening! -Take pictures like a tourist would in your local area. Spouses should play as if they don’t know each other. Husband should pick up his wife at a hotel or restaurant, act like you don’t know one another and let your imaginations run wild! Pretending to “re-meet” for the first helps couples remember why they picked them in the first place. Being playful reignites the flame of love. -Go on a walk in the park, bring a camera and each take turns taking pictures of something that is beautiful to them or brings back a specific memory that the couple shared. Then later on share why you found those things beautiful and relive the memories. Couples need to remember those moments that brought them closer together, make it a meaningful night. -Spend an evening creating a bucket list of various things you want to do before you die! But five things need to incorporate why you love the other person and how you want to cherish the years to come. -Take time getting to know the other’s love language, take the love languages quiz. Once each spouse knows their love language, figure out what your spouse's love language is. Spend the next week doing things tailored to their love language. See if your love grows over that week! -Set up a photo booth in your family room- dress up in silly ways and take photos. Search for your inner childhood side again, we can’t be grown ups all of the time! Then collage all the photos. Hang them up somewhere where they can be seen to remember the happy times you have together! -Instead of eating dinner, make a dessert only dinner. But you have to cook together! If you haven’t had much time together in a while, take this time to reconnect and grow closer. After dinner write a letter to your spouse or create something that shows why you love them, then share them together. -Have an egg dinner. It’s a great way to reconnect, after all, breaking bread is a means of sharing and often sparks good open communication between individuals. If you light candles and set the right mood, it can also become a romantic evening! Reconnecting emotionally:                                Married ouples have to make sure that they are taking the necessary time to ask questions to each other that way they can develop more closeness and reconnect on an emotional level before engaging and entering into physical intimacy. Males have a harder time with opening up emotionally and sharing those feelings. It is much harder for them to show and even express their emotions because they think that they will become less of a man, and "only women have feelings," is often a common misconception that most men have. In order for men to be able to open up all the way to their spouse they have to be doing something that interests them. A mutual understanding from sharing in an activity together will help a couple to re-find that spark again, since they are each tailoring to the needs of their partner; get physical bit by bit. Ways that men can connect: -Start off with having the male partner pick something that is appealing to them, and then the trade off would be the female partner gets to pick for her too. By having him go first it lets him feel like he is free to pick whatever it is that intrigues him (like any of the 5 senses). -Use the five love languages to explore a little deeper the emotional connection of their love. Here is a link to take the quiz: http://www.5lovelanguages.com Each couple will take a turn to answer the series of questions, but if you want an even deeper way to do this, it would be like this: If the wife is going first the husband will read off the questions to her, and vice versa. This way they will be communicating and interacting more emotionally, along with seeing the other's expressions throughout. That can help you to determine how they are feeling.  Once the love language is determined spend time digging deeper to find that love connection. This can be through physical touch and it doesn't always have to be intimacy (kissing, cuddling on the bed or couch while talking, holding hands while laying down, and stroking the others body are a few examples) So, if physical touch is one love language, then the husband or wife would have to figure out a way to be “physical” with the other. If you do not hold hands enough, take some time to work on this component of your love. The person who has this for their love language would appreciate having their hand held because it shows you love them. This emotional connection can help a man to feel more willing to engage in emotional intimacy. For women this can be done by the husband taking some time to talk with his wife and opening up to her through understanding how she is feeling, how her day actually went, what is she feeling, or what’s on her mind. This will allow her to feel that connection she needs in order to be physically intimate with her spouse. Home Versions for building an emotional connection: 1.) There is a path of rose petals in a very dimly lit level of a house that leads to a series of questions, once they reach them there they would need to have answered all of the questions in order to proceed. Then more rose petals would lead to the next section of questions (this should be ending in the bedroom or anywhere else you would like to end up). These questions can consist of articles of clothing to remove, something physical to do to the other, or something like giving a massage or spooning together. 2.) A couple can take a bath together. Before they take a bath they will take some time to look into each other’s eyes and then they will close their eyes while they help take off the other’s clothes in order to take a bath. Couples have to make sure that when they are engaging they can whisper one thing they love about them in their ear while taking their clothes off. Couples should take some time to ask the other how it feels taking the time and energy that was set aside to appreciate the meaning of their relationship. A question to ask: How can you each be more frequent with the love you share? 3.) Give one another a massage. This would be one way to create a spa right from the comfort of your own home. Start with playing relaxation music in the background that can help of you to relax and become centered with yourselves. The atmosphere needs to be romantic, and you can use things in your home to make this night unforgettable. (Note: this version would be good for a spouse to plan for the other a surprise to make it more spontaneous.) Make this meaningful by figuring out what it is you know that gets your spouse attracted. Tailor to their pleasure comfort level and indulge in the romance that you both share. A question to ask: What helps you to relax and unwind? What gifts of love can you give to each other? (think deeply) 4.) Have a romantic dessert in bed. Think back to a time when you felt really close and connected with your partner, a time when you felt emotionally intimate with him or her. Think about a time when you felt light and playful with your partner, or a time when laughter flowed easily. Maybe it’s even a time where you felt you could tell your partner your deepest secret and it would be accepted. Now, take some time to ask the other how they could maintain that wonderful intimacy together throughout the years to come. Then each share a moment where they remember the relationship being the sweetest (it can be from when you first met, started dating, or during early marriage, etc.) Is there anything that you both find sweet? 5.) Set up a blanket in front of the fireplace and have sometime laying together and creating a warmth between the two of you. You could even make it a heated blanket that way you have some added warmth. The idea is truly connect through the busy schedules and lives, and have a period of time where it is just the two of you, reconnecting. Enjoy romantic music and take some pictures together. Talk about your dreams and spend time creating some goals that can foster more excitement and less boredom. Accomplish these by making them objective enough in order to reach the end result together, not separate.

Grocery Store

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Although a grocery store might not sound like the most romantic spot for a date night, you can still use the store to enjoy a creative date, leave feeling a closer bond to each other, and do it all for free! 

Here’s how it works: split up for 10-15 minutes and find 3 or 4 items that describe the qualities you love about your spouse. For instance, Hershey Kissescould describe your spouse’s delicious lips orOxiClean could describe your spouse’s clean living habits. Be creative and have fun with it! Before you split, decide on a place and time to meet back up and share the items and the qualities they describe, with each other. Target usually has a small café/ food court where you can sit down, enjoy a snack, and talk about the items you picked out. After you share your items and the qualities they describe, switch your items. Put them back where you think your spouse found them. Don't split up this time. Go with each other and take turns trying to find the exact spot where your spouse got that item.  Try not to give any hints! 

Library Fun

There is more to do in a library besides checking out items. Below are a list of activities to do together that will cost nothing! This can also be done in a bookstore, and while there, grab some drinks or pastries. 

1.     Find your favorite book as a child, then read them to each other.

2.     Look through some cookbooks and find a meal you would enjoy making together.

3.     Pick out a joke book and share the best ones with each other.

4.     Choose 3-4 random books. Have a conversation with each other, but only use lines from those books. 

For information on your local libraries visit: http://www.mpl.org

Revitalize that Relationship!

Remember that marriage is give and take. Make sure to find time to talk with your spouse about the balance in your relationship. One person should not have to carry the whole load. Discuss the following points with each other:

-What do I do for my spouse on a daily, weekly, monthly basis?

-What does my spouse do for me on a daily, weekly, monthly basis?

-What do I appreciate most about my spouse?

-Ask your spouse, Where can I improve in our relationship?

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Dollar Store Crafts

Be a little crafty and inventive on this date as you make something to put in your own home. Use the website Pinterest.com to search for “Dollar Store Crafts.” Browse through the many options and pick something you both would like to create together or choose something for each of you to do. Examples might include a 'do it yourself' flower ball bouquet, a 'do it yourself' mason jar solar light, or a 'do it yourself' cupcake stand to show off at birthday parties. There are so many options! Make a list of all the supplies you will need and head to Dollar General. Be creative while you’re there since you might not find the exact items you are looking for. Bring everything home and work on the projects together.

While you’re crafting, answer these questions:


1. Do you like to do crafts? Why or why not?


2. What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever made/ created?


3. If you could completely customize your home or apartment, what would you change? Is there anything you would keep exactly how it is?


4. What would your favorite color or color scheme be if you were styling your home?


5. If you could have a themed room just for yourself, how would you decorate it? What kind of stuff would you have in it?

Massage Night
The colder winter months can take a toll on our skin and hair causing dryness.  For this date, go ahead and buy a few scented oils and/or lotions and pamper each other.  Having a spa night and giving each other massages is a great way to hydrate, relax, and unwind. 

Relationship Reconnection: Now if a couple massage and spa night doesn't say reconnect, I don't know what does.  It's time to relax, unwind, and rejuvenate those feelings. Physical touch can do wonders for reconnecting and improving your relationship.

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Fall
Enjoy the fall leaves together.  I love the vibrant colors of leaves in the fall.  Take a drive, a walk along a scenic trail, or find a local park.  Enjoy the crispness in the air and the beauty that fall brings.  Pack a thermos of hot cider or hot cocoa and sip as you enjoy the views.

Relationship Reconnection: With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it's a great time to focus on appreciation.  Did you know that being appreciative of your spouse and the little things they do can can help cultivate trust and respect for them also.  Research shows that appreciation and gratitude is a skill that anyone can cultivate in themselves.  When we make the effort to appreciate our spouse and use simple words like please and thank you, gratitude and appreciation will soon radiate back to us.

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Children's Museum

This is a great place to take the children if you are looking for a family date. The children will have lots of opportunities for hand on play and time to explore lots of new things in the museum. In the summer there are two outdoor exhibits in the summer.

For more information:

Address: 929 E Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Phone Number: 414-390-5437

Relationship Reconnection: Spend time during the date sharing your favorite childhood memories. Share any memories that you think of that remind you of the different exhibits. Make a list of things that the museum inspires you to do when you get home. 

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Italian Anyone?

If you are in the mood for a wonderful sit down Italian meal, Magliano's Little Italy is the place to go.  My husband and I enjoy going here for a little higher priced meal.

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Relationship Reconnection: The power of empathy is key to a strong relationship.  Empathy requires compassion and compassion builds a bond.  This bond is what holds a relationship together.  One way to practice empathy is to give genuine attention when our spouse is speaking.  When you are genuinely listening, you are focusing on them and taking action to truly understand them.  Listen without focusing on your own response. Truly listen.


RiverWalk

Take a stroll on the Milwaukee River. Hold your sweetheart hand in hand. Enjoy a relaxing date talking to one another. Try to ask one another about how your day was. Remember to not talk until your spouse has fully finished their sentence. Listen before you reply to their thoughts. 

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Relationship Reconnection: Sexual intimacy is an important part of a healthy marriage. Sexual relations isn’t just about the physical, but is very mental and emotional. Plan a night when you can spend time together without interruptions or other engagements. If you have children, find a babysitter and get a hotel room or arrange time so you can be together.



Chocolate

Do you love chocolate as much as I do? Indulgence Chocolatier has handcrafted chocolate truffles, premium toffees and other fine confections. 

Relationship Reconnection: Be adventurous! Try a different type of chocolate than you would normally try. Explore something outside your comfort zone. Better yet, let your spouse pick a sweet treat for you to try. Be thankful for for their efforts in trying to pick something that you would like. Thank them! It is hard to try to pick the perfect treat for someone. Be happy that they were trying to make you happy. 

For more information:

Address: 211 S. 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI 53204

Phone Number: 414-223-0123

Library


This is a wonderful library to go and visit if you have a Saturday to explore Milwaukee. It's gorgeous, the tour is super interesting and the original Audobon prints are beautiful. Lovely architectural features, beautiful detail and great location. As you are looking around, try to find a book that you and your spouse would enjoy reading together. 

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Relationship Reconnection: As you look around the library find a meeting place for you and your spouse. Make a list of things for both of you to find in the library.1.  Find your dream vacation spot.2.  Find a recipe you want to cook together.3.  Find your dream house. Separate to find these items, and meet back at your spot to share what you have found. Have fun with this activity and share your dreams with your spouse.

For more information:Address: 814 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53233Phone Number: 414 286 3000

Football Time!!

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Do you enjoy watching the Packers? Love putting on your cheese-head and cheering GO PACK GO?Why not take a trip up to Lambeau Field? You can take a tour of the field or if you feel like really getting into the football spirit you can purchase a ticket. Remember, if you go any later than November it is going to be cold, so cuddle tight with you loved one!

Relationship Reconnection:  Drink a cup of hot chocolate and have a hot dog together. After the game is over, talk about ways you have cheered each other on through the years.  Encouragement strengthens marriages and remembering these times of support can help you reconnect. 

You can find out more at: http://www.packers.com/lambeau-field/stadium-tours.html

Baking with Children

Fall is in the air. How about try your hand at some fall baking?  What's not to love about the smells of pumpkin and spices? Bake up something sweet together and then share the treat.  If you need some inspiration, cruise Pinterest together for a mouthwatering recipe. 

Relationship Reconnection: While you're baking up some sweet treats, do a little flirting, touching, and cuddling.  A little physical sweetness can go a long way in sparking that flame and reconnecting.

Leave it to Chance

The Penny Date!  Get in your car and choose right and left to mean heads and tails.  Have your spouse choose a number between 10 and 20.  Whatever number they choose is how many times you will flip the coin.  Take turns flipping the coin to choose whether you make a right or left turn.  When you finally flip the coin the amount of times you chose, STOP.  Wherever you end up, have your date there!  This date can be adventurous and fun, enjoy every second! 

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Relationship Reconnection: On your drive talk about what your strengths are as a couple and what your weaknesses may be.  Share with each other how you think you can change your weaknesses into strengths.

Play Dough

Sometimes it’s fun to feel like a carefree kid; wind in your hair, dirt on your clothes and a smile on your face. But how many of us have a time machine? A good way to feel like a kid again is by playing with play dough. Many childhood memories were created with our hands, either in paint, dirt or toys. You can pick up a few tubs of play dough at your Dollar Store or if you really like the name brand you can go to other retail stores. You can each pick out a color and just make what ever comes to mind. Enjoy the time to get creative.

Relationship Reconnection:

Ask your spouse these three questions about their childhood, and answer them yourself:

What was your favorite childhood toy?

What is a fun memory you have with your family as a child?

How can we create fun memories for our children?

Make sure not to worry about the mess or washing your hands. Just enjoy the date with your spouse and learn more about them.

Let’s Eat Meat!

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If you willing or able to spend some extra money on dinner, check out Carnevor. It is one of Milwaukee’s most famous fine dining destinations. They are consistently topping year-end “Best Of” lists, Carnevor has been lauded for its variety of culinary tastes – from their luscious barrel-cut beef to mouthwatering New York Strips and bone-in fillets. The service is always wonderful! 

Check out more at:

Phone: 414-223-2200

Address: 724 N Milwaukee ST, Milwaukee

Website: www.carnevor.com

Relationship Reconnection:

The power of positive thinking is important in relationships too.  We cannot rely on our relationships to make us happy and positive, but being happy and positive can improve our relationships.  Take time to talk about all the good/positive things in your life and relationship.  Being positive helps you look at things optimistically and gives you the fuel required to overcome challenges.  These are both important reasons to be positive and think positive in and about your relationship. This is a great way to reconnect.

Custard

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One of the famous Custard places to go in Milwaukee is Kopp’s Frozen Custard. They always have chocolate and vanilla, but then during the month they have a different flavor every day. This is one of those places that is fun to visit because it’s going to work you out of your normal routine with the flavor changes! You might try something new and end up loving it! What is something you want to emulate that your parents, grandparents, or other married role models did for their spouses? Do you want to say "I love you" more, or write a love note every week for example? 

Find out more at:

Phone: 262-789-9490

Address: 18880 W Bluemound Rd, Brookfield

Website: www.kopps.com

Relationship Reconnection:

While enjoying your homemade ice cream take the time to learn what made a happy home in your memories. Taking the time to talk about this can help you learn more about what your spouse might have expected from a marriage so that the two of you can work together to create a new home that makes both of you happy.

City Tour

Take a tour into Milwaukee’s famous attractions and history. You may already know about some of the sites, but maybe you will learn something new. Each tour includes cheese samples at a local creamery.

Website: http://www.untappedtours.com

Relationship Reconnection: Be affectionate. According to Dr. John Gottman, "You can show affection in low-key, subtle ways simply through quiet acts of tenderness: touching or holding hands". Movies are such a great time to do just that. So, cuddle up and enjoy one another's company.  A movie in the park may just be what you need to reconnect.

Fondue

Any chocolate lovers out there? I personally love any reason that allows me to indulge in my chocolate addiction!

There may be some weeks that date night seems virtually impossible and time seems to be granted to everything except for you and your spouse. These weeks are hard and often associated with stress, but if you are willing to find the time, it will present itself. This is a date night for one of those crazy weeks where it seems like nothing will go right and time is against you!

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If you don't have a fondue fountain, don't worry, that just makes it fancy and a little harder to clean up, a bowl will work just fine :) For this date night, all it takes is a simple quick trip to the store for some melting chocolate in the flavor that you desire, and some little snacks for the dipping! Once you have all of this ready, it takes almost no time to melt the chocolate, prep the snacks, and be on your way to a relaxing, chocolate-dipping filled night!

Relationship Reconnection: One of my favorite things to do when I get some downtime with my spouse it to just talk and see where the conversation leads us, and this date night provides the opportune time to do that. Get the fondue all melted and ready and start snacking together, and then just start talking, either about your week or something that happened that day. Just get the juices flowing and see where the conversation leads. I have found that it is times like these that we come back to evaluating our goals and where we see ourselves now and later and how to get there. It can be very rewarding to just talk and listen to our spouse, to help them feel appreciated especially when things seem like they won't slow down and wait for us!

Get Active

Walks are not only good for the body physically, but they are also great for your mind mentally and emotionally! I don’t know about you, but I have found that going on walks helps me solve the little worries I have and brings everything into perspective. Tonight, why don’t you and your spouse take a walk, either to a predetermined destination, or just wander and let your legs take you where they may! Explore the area around you, and explore each other and what each of you are going through.

Relationship Reconnection: A great conversation topic for this walk would be expressing to each other what it means to you to be a husband or a wife. Oftentimes when we marry we sort of just fall into these new titles without understanding what they mean. No matter how long you have been married, this activity can be uplifting for all! Each of you will find meaning in different things, but be open-minded and really listen to what your spouse has to say; you may learn something new about them! Understanding and working on these amazing titles that we hold as husband and wife can help us appreciate all that our spouses do, and also be motivated to be the best husband or wife we can be!

Craving Seafood?

Seafood lovers shouldn't miss going to the St Paul Fish Company. The seafood served at this restaurant is always fresh and delicious. Having great seafood at reasonable prices is why this is one of the best date restaurants in Milwaukee. 

Relationship Reconnection: While you are there take some time to “nurture your fondness and admiration.” John M. Gottman’s work had helped describe how to do this. Gottman says that fondness and admiration are two of the most important elements in a satisfying and long-term relationship. If these elements are completely missing, the marriage can’t be saved.  Make a list of three or more of your partner’s positive characteristics along with an incident that illustrates each quality. Then read your lists to each other.

For more information:

400 N. Water St, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

(414) 220-8383.

Need a Vacation?

Enjoy a meal at Torcadero. Guests often feel like they are in France instead of Milwaukee when they enter this beautiful restaurant. Guests enjoy all the choices they have on the extensive menu at this restaurant. Having a beautiful outdoor patio and heated indoor patio to enjoy meals on makes this one of the best first date restaurants in Milwaukee. 

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Relationship Reconnection: While you are there work on “turn toward each other instead of away.” Gottman says that couples that turn toward each other have more in their “emotional bank account.” For instance, romance is leaving an encouraging voicemail for your spouse when you know he’s having a bad day, Gottman says. However, over dinner you can work on listening to your spouse’s bad day.

For more information:

1758 N Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

 (414) 272-0205. 

Fly a Kite

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Milwaukee has its own kite store located at the lakefront, where it’s always breezy. It’s usually a hotbed of kite-flying activity around there, so you can watch people with those crazy trick kites, then buy your own and laugh when you can barely get it off the ground. But hey, at least you spent a lovely day at the lakefront. Take turns flying the kite. 

Relationship Reconnection: Work together to keep the kit up in the air.  “Let your partner influence you.” Gottman said that, letting your partner influence you isn’t about having one person hold the reins; it’s about honoring and respecting both people in the relationship. Make decisions together. Choose which kite you want together. Choose where you should fly the kite together, etc.

Tiny Boats

You can now rent kayaks from the Milwaukee Kayak Company and paddle around the city at your own pace. Stop at some of the many restaurants along the Riverwalk with docks and make a day of it. 

Relationship Reconnection: You can work on “overcoming gridlock.” Gottman says that the goal with perpetual problems is for couples to “move from gridlock to dialogue.” What usually underlie gridlock are unfulfilled dreams. “Gridlock is a sign that you have dreams for your life that aren’t being addressed or respected by each other,” Gottman writes. Happy couples believe in the importance of helping each other realize their dreams. Each of you should take turns talking about your dreams. Express your goals that you want to achieve. Do not discredit your spouse’s goals and dreams. Talk about if they are possible to achieve. Talk about how you work together to achieve them.

State Forest

Situated on more than 22,000 acres of glacier created hills, valleys, lakes and woodlands, Kettle Moraine State Forest, has amenities and activities for outdoor lovers of all ages. Abundant camp sites, hiking and biking trails, fishing, and swimming. 

Relationship Reconnection: While hiking you could take a stroll hand in hand, and focus on learning more about your spouse and their personal life.  Ask questions that help you understand their stress level, worries, dreams, and excitement.  

For more information:

W7796 Kettle Moraine Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53190

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Food Tour

At Milwaukee food tours, you and your spouse can tour the city’s finest culinary stops and sample a wide variety of local food. You can sample: pizza gelato, Mexican s’mores, and more. 

Relationship Reconnection: During your tasting, talk about the things you love to do and why you like them so much. Discuss doing these activities for future dates. Planning them ahead of time will give you something to look forward to and have ideas for what you want to do. This will help you find things to do together that you both will enjoy and have ideas to fall back on when you need them.

For more information:

2419 N. 62nd Street, Milwaukee, WI 53213

Would You Rather...

When we think of dates, we usually think about big ideas that tend to cost money. Dates like those are nice, and help to build great memories with your spouse. But what about those weeks where you are seemingly too busy for a date? Play a little game called "Would You Rather." Take a half hour, sit down together and try and answer the following questions. These questions are for fun, a great way to laugh and spending time with each other in a hopefully novel way.

WOULD YOU RATHER…

-Be half your height, or double your weight?

-Fight a horse sized duck, or 100 duck sized horses?

-Live in the world of Harry Potter or Narnia?

-Have a zombie apocalypse or WWIII?

-Be super-fast or super strong?

-Have no internet, or no phone?

-Change the past, or see into the future?

-Be invisible, or fly?

-Lose sense of touch or taste?

-Be able to talk to all animals or be able to speak all languages?

Relationship Reconnection: Life can be hectic and your relationship may be the last thing on your To Do List. However, marriage can be an uphill battle. Research shows that once kids enter the picture, marital satisfaction goes down and continues that pattern until the children leave (at which time marital satisfaction goes back up). You can’t afford to slip away from each other. Even taking an hour a week to just be together can strengthen your marriage, and help fight the odds.

Fruit Carving

This is a great way to have some fun without leaving your house. Grab some fruit or veggies from the kitchen. It can be apples, oranges, mangos, whatever you have and a couples of knives. Watermelon are a great fruit to carve, but they aren’t as readily available. Each of you carve your fruit or veggie into a masterpiece of your own choice and then show each other.

Relationship Reconnection:  Make conversation while you carve away and then enjoy the fruit afterwards. This gives you the opportunity to sit and talk as well as test your artistic skills in carving. Talk about your favorite fruit or veggie and why it’s your favorite. Share stories about foods from your past whether good or bad and learn about each other’s like or dislike of certain foods.

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All about Pie

Ever get a craving for an amazing pie? Take a drive and go see the Elegant Farmer! They cook their pied in a paper bag. Honestly, the best one is their caramel apple pie. Yes, you can purchase their pies at many local grocery stores, but going out their farm is way more fun. They have a corn maze in the fall, which is fun for the whole family. If you feel like getting two pies, each of you should pick one and then try them both.

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Apple Picking

Fall is in the air and so it’s time to enjoy the beautiful colored trees before all the leaves fall off. Why not take a Saturday and go pick a few apples? Head on down to Patterson Orchards.  Very close to Milwaukee and yet, you will fell that you are in the country and enjoying a nice little get away from the city life. 

Relationship Reconnection: While you are looking for the very best Honey Crisp to pick, take some time to walk the orchard hand in hand, before your basket get’s too full to carry with one hand. As you are picking apples, ask each other questions about this time of the year. EX: Do you like fall? What is your favorite season? WHY? Remember to listen to your spouse’s full response. Don’t try to respond until they have finished their full sentence. Sometimes we too often like to jump in when someone is talking. Work on becoming a better listener.

For more information:

4607 S 124^th St., New Berlin, WI 53151

Pumpkin Patch

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We are getting closer and closer to Halloween. It’s time to pick out a pumpkin before all of the good ones are taken! Lidners Farm Pumpkin Patch is fun place to take the family or just go with your spouse. They are located at 19065 W Cleveland Ave, New Berlin, WI 53146. It’s close to Milwaukee, so you won’t have to drive too far to get there. They have goats the kids can go and look at. There are hay bail all over you can also get a family picture if you bring you camera and have someone take you picture.

Relationship Reconnection: While you are picking out your pumpkin you can turn it into a game. See you can find the tallest pumpkin or the roundest. The winner gets to choose where you go for a cup of hot cocoa or what ever you would like your prize to be. If you choose to just go with your spouse, enjoy a warm drink like your hot cocoa and sit on a hay bail and cuddle close and just talk. Ask your spouse about their day. What was the most frustrating part? Why was it so frustrating? What could have made it better? What was the best part? Why was it the best? Could it have been any better?

Lighthouse

The North Point Lighthouse is a maritime treasure that has recently been restored to its original early 20th century charm. Located in Lake Park, this lighthouse is one of Milwaukee's most beautiful historical landmarks and is located well off the beaten path. Avoid the crowds at the shores of Lake Michigan while still taking in the beautiful sights on your romantic date. 

Relationship Reconnection: Take some time to hold hands. Give your partner a kiss on the cheek. Enjoy one another’s company and focus on their happiness.

For more information:

Address: 2650 North Wahl Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53211

Phone: (414) 332-6754

Web: www.northpointlighthouse.org

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Coach and Carriage

Make a reservation for Milwaukee Coach & Carriage, the most romantic carriage rides in the city. See the beautiful architecture of downtown as you snuggle together for an intimate ride.

Relationship Reconnection: During the winter months, be swept into a winter wonderland with the lights and sights along Wisconsin Avenue.

For more information:

Phone: (414) 272-6873

Web: www.milwaukeecarriage.com

Bed and Breakfast

If you are looking a getaway but want to stay in town, head to a bed and breakfast. Spend a memorable night or weekend at the Schuster Mansion Bed & Breakfast. Spend a restful, romantic night and rise to a sumptuous homemade breakfast. 

Relationship Reconnection: This is the perfect time to enjoy an intimate evening with your spouse.

For more information:

Address: 3209 West Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53208

Phone: (414) 342-3210

Web: www.schustermansion.com

Jelly Belly Factory

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A flying Mr. Jelly Belly. Giant Jelly Belly beans. And an Elvis made entirely of jellybeans. These are just some of the creations you will see at the Jelly Belly Visitor Center. Hop aboard the Jelly Belly Express Train for a warehouse facility tour to learn more about how the candy is made. It also includes plenty of tasting opportunities and a store to further your sugar high. Having been there myself, I would like to warn you that you don’t get to see the Jelly Beans being made, but you do get to try as many as you want and they have the Harry Potter Jellybeans! 

Relationship Reconnection: You can pick different Jellybeans for your spouse to try. I would suggest not going straight for the crazy flavors. Try to give them something that they would enjoy. 

Polar Bear Plunge

I know it seems early to be talking about January, but it’s coming faster than we know it. Milwaukee is famous for the Polar Bear Plunge. Each year on New Year's Day, folks gather at Milwaukee's Bradford Beach to jump into Lake Michigan. (Yes, they strip off their warm winter clothes, in the freezing temperatures, to take a dip ... crazy! ) The proceeds go to the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. If you are feeling daring and want to do something crazy with your spouse this year, now is your change!

Relationship Reconnection: While you're out and about in nature, take time to talk about some of the sacrifices you've noticed one another making for your relationship.  Research has shown that perceiving ones partner as making a sacrifice increases trust, which in turn increases commitment to the relationship.  Appreciating each other and the sacrifices made can help you appreciate one another more and help you reconnect.

For more information:

http://www.polarplungemilwaukee.com/main.html

Pumpkin Carving

After you have picked your pumpkin it is time to carve!

Before carving your pumpkins, each of you decides something to carve into each pumpkin.  Do your best at carving what your spouse chose. Try you very best and be excited for what they chose. After each of you is done carving, show each other.

Relationship Reconnection: Be excited for his or her efforts, remember carving is sometimes difficult and not everyone is an artist.

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ABC Relationship Scavenger Hunt

When there isn’t a night out available in the budget or the possibility of getting a sitter, you can still date your spouse from the convenience of your own home! All you need for this date are:

A few pieces of paper

A writing utensil.

Here’s what you’ll do: starting from the top of the page, write the letters A through Z, one letter for each line, in list form. You’ll then proceed to write down qualities that your spouse possesses that start with each letter. Once you are done, share what you wrote about one another with each other. Some of the letters will be hard to come up with a word or phrase, but be creative! You don’t always have to start off the phrase with the letter you’re on. For example, with the letter “X” you could write, “great eXample” or “always eXcited about life.” Proceed to then explain the quality in detail if more elaboration or explanation is needed, such as providing examples or instances when the quality was seen or put in place.

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Relationship Reconnection:This activity can be a relationship booster or relationship destroyer, depending on how you handle it. Make sure you are writing down positive qualities that your spouse possesses, looking for the good in each other rather than the bad. No relationship is perfect, and we all have our flaws, but for this activity, look past all of that and try to see the good in your spouse that made you fall in love with them in the first place. They’ll be doing the same for you. 

Living Room Camp Out

Looking for a cheap date or just don’t want to go out? Time to get out the blow up mattress. Blow it up and have a camp out in your living room. Bring out lots of blankets and pillows. Make your favorite dessert. You could each pick a movie that you are interested in watching. While watching your show or shows don’t be afraid to cuddle and get close to one another. 

Relationship Reconnection:Take time to each say one thing you love about the other person’s body. You can even turn out all the lights and use flashlights and camping chairs to make it more like camping. If you find yourselves really enjoying each others company don’t be afraid to kiss one another and who knows where it may lead!

Karaoke Night

For this date you should each take a few minutes to look on YouTube for songs with lyrics that you would like to sing and one song that you each choose for your partner to sing. Pop a bowl of popcorn or bring out a bag of cookies that you can enjoy while you watch each sing your hearts out. 

Relationship Reconnection:Cheer each other on. You can join in and do songs together if you would like. Even pick a song that has two parts if you are feeling adventurous. In between breaks, take some time to talk about each other’s day. Remember to look in your partner’s eyes and really listen to them.

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Newly Wed Game

How long have you been married? One year? Twenty years? No matter, let’s play a round of the newly wed game. Take turns asking each other’s questions. You can have prizes for each question that you get right. You can do small prizes like starbursts or larger ones like a cookie. You can even make it a competition. Who ever can get the most right earns the choice to have the favorite dessert for dinner. 

Dance Date

Have you ever just wanted to “bust a move” in your own house? Put together a play list with your favorite songs as well as your partner’s favorite songs. Push back the furniture and get ready to dance your hearts out until your feet hurt.

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Relationship Reconnection: What better way to reconnect then to dance and enjoy the night. Dancing gives you the opportunity to talk with each other as well as rekindle your love through dancing. Something as simple as dancing closely can help reconnect a couple that has started to grow apart.

Watch the Sunrise

There is just something special about getting up early in the quiet of the morning with your spouse to watch the sunrise.  During this peaceful setting you can sit and talk about your dreams and desires for your marriage.  In what ways can you build your friendship? 

Relationship Reconnection: Daydream about places you want to see together.  Just enjoy each other's company. When you are done watching the sunrise come back home and make breakfast together. You can make waffles with fresh strawberries on top. Or what ever your favorite breakfast treat is.

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Dinner on a Budget

Chick- fil- A is the perfect place to eat when you are looking for quality on a budget! The crispy chicken sandwich and fresh squeezed lemonade are the most popular menu items. Chick-fil-A started out with two missions- "Be America's best quick-service restaurant.”  and "To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” They have worked hard to accomplish these missions and are now a leading food service retailer. 

 Relationship Reconnection: If a business didn't have a mission statement or goal- how would they know what to achieve and where to put their focus? A goal can become clouded if it's not written down and referred to often. Just like businesses, married couples should also have a purpose and goals! While you eat or as you wait for your food, write your marriage mission statement. (Bring a notepad and pens or pencils on this date.) What are some main goals you have together? Some general ideas might be to bring joy to each other and other family members, work together in raising children to be upright adults, or travel the world. Write down some things you want to accomplish in your marriage and then specifically how you will do it. Write one sentence that will capture the overall mission for your marriage. As you discuss these things, practice really and truly listening to your spouse when he or she is talking. 

For more information:

Website: http://www.chick-fil-a.com/

Feeling Daring

If you are feeling like you and your partner want a steamy night together here are few things you can do:

Play twister NAKED

Strip Trivia-ask each other steamy questions and have some fun

Naked game night

Massages-you can use lotion or oil

Enjoy the time to get intimate with your spouse. 

Marshmallow War

Make marshmallow guns and have a marshmallow war. Buy some PVC pipe from a hardware store and make your guns. Then have an all out war!  

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Relationship Reconnection: After you are done, you can make some rice-crispy treats. While you are enjoying your treats ask each other the following questions:

If you didn’t have to worry about making a living, what would you most like to do for the rest of your life?

If we could just drop what we’re doing and go do something fun, what would it be?

Wisconsin Dells

Up for an adventure? Plan a trip to the Wisconsin Dells! You can stay the night, go to the water part, and go out to eat. 

For more information:

 http://www.wisdells.com/wisconsin-dells.htm

Relationship Reconnection: While there you can enjoy some time to reconnect. Talk to each othere about your favorite rides. Why what that ride your favorite? Is there anything else you wish you could do next time you come to the Dells?

Art Museum

Have you ever been to the art museum and a particular piece makes you think of your loved one or a moment that defined your relationship? On Wednesday at the Milwaukee Art Museum admission is free to all Milwaukee County residents. Admission is typically $8, but on Wednesday it’s FREE! All you need is a valid ID to get in. 

Relationship Reconnection: While you are there take a few minutes to each look around by yourselves. Find a painting that makes you think about your spouse. Then take the time to explain why to one another.

Domes

Have you ever had the that feeling on Monday morning where you just want to call in sick to work? Well do it one day and take a trip to the Domes, also known as the Mitchell Park Conservatory. On Monday mornings from 9-11:30 they are free. However if you can’t make it on a Monday morning it is only $5 for Milwaukee County Residents. 

Relationship Reconnection:While you are there, take some time to enjoy one another’s company. Enjoy an intimate conversation. Try to see where each other are coming from. Take turns talking and let the other one finish their complete thought before you start talking again. 

The Domes are located at 524 S. Layton Blvd.

Ice Skating

We all know how cold it can get in winter here in Milwaukee, but if you are willing to brave the cold there is a great place down town to go enjoy some ice-skating. If you already have your own ice skates, it’s free to get on the ice. If you need to rent a pair, it’s only $5.50. Take this time to skate hand in hand. Try something new if you have never gone.

Relationship Reconnection: Help each other learn how skate. Hold hands as you go around the rink, even interlock your fingers. Talk about how you are feeling and if you are scared about being on the ice. 

The rink is located downtown at 920 N. Water St.

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Baseball

Most everyone enjoys going to a baseball game and eating a good ballpark hot dog. Downtown Milwaukee has a beautiful stadium the Miller Park, which is home to the Milwaukee Brewers. You can usually get tickets for pretty cheap if you don’t mind sitting a little higher up, or you can spend a little more and get pretty close seats.

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Relationship Reconnection: While at the game you can talk about your favorite foods at the park, or try a different sweet treat together, like a new flavor of dip n’ dots.

State Fair

The Wisconsin State Fair is a big deal around Milwaukee. There are all sort of fun fried foods and rides to go on. This is a state favorite and a summer must do every year. Typically they will have a few specials running and a few deals for families. This could be a fun date that you can take your family to. You can go on a ride and try new foods together. You can find out more each year at: wistatefair.com. 

The state fair is located at: 640 S 84th St, West Allis, WI 53214.

Discovery World

Discovery World is a science and technology center. There are also a few exhibits located within Discovery World. There is: The Reiman Aquarium, Les Paul’s House of Sound, Helen Bader Foundation’s Great Lakes Future, City of Freshwater and Badger Meter Liquid House, and Rockwell Automation Dream Machine. 

Relationship Reconnection:This would be a great place to take the children and enjoy some time walking down the hall together holding hands. Who knows, you may even learn something new. 

For more information:

Discovery World is located at: 500 N. Harbor Dr., Milwaukee, WI. 

Hours and time are located on their website: http://www.discoveryworld.org.

Pizza Night

The Pizza Man has quite a large menu. You can have a date night with just your spouse or you can order family style. They top their pizzas with 100% Wisconsin mozzarella cheese. After you enjoy a pizza go home and put a puzzle together. 

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Relationship Reconnection: Get excited for each other whenever your spouse connects a piece. Marriage is about encouraging each other to be better. Be happy for one another when  something good happens. 

For more information:

The Pizza Man is located at 2597 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee, WI. 

You can take a look at their menu ahead of time if you would like at: http://www.pizzamanmke.com/#anchor-u1261

Market Adventure

If you are feeling up for a new adventure you should take an evening and go check out the Milwaukee Public Market. They have tons of vendors and things to look at. Give each other a budget. You could keep it small and give each other $10 or go bigger if you want. As you walk around buy something that you think the other will like. 

Relationship Reconnection:After you have both spent your money, talk about why you bought each item and why it made you think of your spouse. Remember to say thank you for every item that they bought for you. 

For more information:

Milwaukee Public Market is located at 400 N. Water St., Milwaukee, WI. 

You can check it they have events going on and their hours at: http://www.milwaukeepublicmarket.org/main.html

Zoo Animals

The zoo is such an amazing place to go and enjoy the beauty of so many animals. This is a date that you can the whole family to or just enjoy a quite night together. Make it a point to visit each other’s favorite animals, if they have them.  

Relationship Reconnection:Ask each other why they love that particular animal. Try finding an animal that represent your spouse’s best qualities and explain why you chose that animal to describe them. 

For more information:

The Milwaukee County Zoo is at: 10001 W. Blue Mound Rd. 

The hours depend on the month, as does the price. 

You can check it out at: www.milwaukeezoo.org 

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Game Night!

Play a game of scrabble, but this time only spell out words that describe one another. When you spell a word explain why that word makes you think of your spouse or significant other. You can also do variations of this where only ever third word you spell has to be something that makes you think of your spouse/significant other.

Picnic in the Park

The Boerner Botanical Gardens, an internationally renowned horticultural showplace in the Milwaukee County Parks.

Relationship Reconnection: While you are having your picnic, have some fun with this I Love You A-Z activity.  Each one of you writes down every letter from A to Z on a piece of paper and then then writes something starting with each letter that you love about your spouse.  For example, A - your Adorable smile, B - the Big hugs you give me when you get home everyday, etc. When you are done, share them with each other. Be creative and honest about the things you enjoy most about each other!

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For more information:

Boerner Botanical Gardens
in Whitnall Park


9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners, WI 53130


(414) 525-5600

 Ages 6 and up

Price: $3-$5.50 (Can purchase a membership)

http://county.milwaukee.gov/BoernerBotanicalGard10113.htm?docid=10113

Enjoy the Stars

If you have a kiddie pool laying around at home, or one that you could borrow from a friend or neighbor, this may be a fun date to try! Clean out that old kiddie pool and fill it with blankets, pillows, and all things cozy. Snuggle up and watch the stars! This works best if you have an inflatable pool but any would work. If you get the timing right you may even see a shooting star, planet, or other galactic feature! 

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For a list of meteor showers and their dates, you can visit:

http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors

Start a Love Journal

Keep a love journal by your bed. Take turns every other night writing in it. It doesn't have to be fancy - it can just be a plain spiral notebook. But the point is, it keeps love on the mind. It forces you to find the good things in each other - the little things - every day. 

Up Your Cooking Game and Learn a New Dish

HERE is a list of the most popular cooking channels on YouTube. Learn how to cook something you've never made before.

Technology Free Zone

 We live in a world full of technology. Instead of using snail mail to contact distant relatives and friends, we can communicate with them in just seconds! We can watch the president speak on TV, stay connected with lots of people at once through social media, and do online networking to increase our chances of employment. These, along with many more, are the amazing benefits that come with technology. However, when technology isn't properly balanced in life, it can get in the way of our relationships. It's possible to stay connected with thousands of friends online but neglect the people that are right next to us- even our spouse.

Do you have your cell phone handy 24/7? Are you constantly checking Facebook, text messages, a digital calendar and emails?

Plan a  "Technology Timeout" date! For an evening, put away all electronic devices including cell phones, computers, tablets, TV's, and anything else that keeps your attention.

Relationship Reconnection: One way to experience a technology free zone is to go camping!! Dust off the tent and sleeping bags that have been sitting in your garage and head out to the camp site for a night. If you are in a situation with family or close friends near by, ask someone to babysit for the night while you experience a night under the stars as a couple. If you don't have that option, consider taking the kids with you and making it a technology free family camping trip!

The Selfless Date

Have you ever noticed that after doing something really nice for your spouse you feel really good? Ever spend time serving someone and then come home to realize that all your worries have been forgotten about? Research has it that it is not by chance or coincidence that this happens.

At the National Institute of Marriage a research article shows, as many other research articles have shown as well, that those who spend time serving are much happier than those who do not. These people have greater personal relationships with others, have higher self esteem, and most applicable to you and why you are here on this blog...they have higher marital satisfaction.

Since we all want to be happier and we all definitely want to have higher marital satisfaction then maybe it's about time we start planning our dates more selflessly!

So lets get started: get out a paper and pencil and think up your spouses favorite things, maybe favorite memories, favorite activities, favorite food, even favorite sexual setting and in the case that your a girl, his favorite lingerie. Keep yourself out of the brainstorm activity completely and try to only focus on your spouses loves, some might coincide with yours which is all the better but try to keep the activity as unbiased towards your interests as you can.

Once your brainstorm is complete and you feel like you have enough to work with, create a date out of the things you have written down. For example: if one of his/her favorite memory is your proposal then try and visit the place it happened, or a place similar and have his/her favorite dinner there while listening to their favorite music. If you took your brain storming activity seriously then the date possibilities will be endless and incredibly endearing.

Relationship Reconnection: Take a minute after the date is complete to write down how spending all your energy trying to create your spouse's favorite date made your feel. Being able to reflect back on the positive feelings this date will inevitably bring will ensure you want to create more and more selfless dates in the future. You might be surprised to find that you spouse starts doing the same for you as well!

Harley Davidson Museum

Milwaukee is the birthplace of the Harley Davidson Motor Company. The company dates back all the way to 1903. The best day to check out the Harley Davidson Museum is Friday. In addition to everything the museum has to offer inside, the parking lot is transformed into a vintage car show each week. Milwaukee residents gather there starting at 5 p.m. to show off their old fashioned hot rods and  Model Ts to anyone caring to stop by. 

CHEESE!!

One of the things Wisconsin is well known for is their Cheese. The Wisconsin Cheese Mart offers a variety of over 175 locally produced cheeses. Located on Old World Third Street in downtown Milwaukee, The Wisconsin Cheese Mart has been around since the 1930’s. At the cheese bar you can sample and taste cheeses and spend less than $5!

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