Ali from Homey Improvements was so nice to share this DIY Date Jar here for us today! I absolutely adore this idea, and can’t wait to do some of them:
Take it Ali:
Is dinner-and-a-movie just not doing it anymore? If so, it might be time for you and your significant other to roll up your sleeves and make yourselves a date jar. You can stuff it with out-of-the-box ideas for your next date, pull one when you’re in the mood to go out and you’ll have the perfect itinerary for your night.
DIY Date Jar
This DIY Date Jar is also a great idea as a gift, too! That way the date idea you pull can be a complete surprise to them. Below you’ll find all of the steps you should take to make your date jar, as well as a few great date-night ideas with which to fill it.
What You Need
A mason jar or similar-sized jar
Spray paint
Stickers, sequins, lace, etc. to decorate
How to Make It
Creating your date jar is simple.
Outside, place your jar facing down on a bunch of newspaper. Take your spray paint and evently coat your jar. I did two layers to give it a nice glossy look.
After the jar dries, it’s time to decorate it! Use letters to spell out your names, initials or the date of your wedding, for example.
Now, Fill It With Dates!
The Date Jar is designed to fight date-night rut, so don’t fill it with the things you already do regularly. Think of some out-of-the-box, “I’ve always wanted to try” activities; write them on slips; roll them up; and place them into your jar. We’ve thought of five to get you started:
1. Turn up the Heat
Rather than going to dinner, take a cooking class together. A cooking class is great for three reasons: One, you get a delicious meal; two, it’s fun and active; and three, you’ll think about your great date every time you whip that meal up from now on.
2. Set Sail
If you live in a city or town with a body of water nearby, take advantage of it. Research to see if there’s a boat tour company that’ll navigate your voyage; in larger cities, online couponing sites will often have discounts for boat rides, too. You might even find sunset or dinner boat cruises tailored to guests on dates. In Harrisburg, Pa, we discovered the Pride of the Susquehanna which has a murder mystery cruise that is to die for!
3. Get Sweaty
We’re not suggesting that you do your normal run or weightlifting session on your next date. Instead, read a few fitness magazines to find out what the trendy workouts of the month are, or search for gyms that offer the class you’ve always wanted to try. Then, sign up together. You might love it, or you might feel super silly trying; either way, you’ll be together and healthier.
4. Be a Player
A video-game player, that is. You and your love could spend a night out at the local arcade, battling it out in a Pac-Man or Skee-Ball match. It’s so much fun, especially if you make a competition out of it: Whoever wins the most tickets gets to choose where you’ll get dinner or dessert afterwards, for example.
5. Old-School Romance
Try putting an old-school twist on your go-to date-night routine. Rather than heading to the movie theater, find a local drive-in. Pack your favorite snacks, drive over and park. It’ll be even more fun now that you don’t have a curfew to consider.
6. The Birdies and the Bees
Golfing might not sound romantic, but a night at the driving range sure can be fun. Grab a bucket of balls and two clubs and get swinging. Like the arcade date mentioned above, this one might be made even more fun with a bit of competition. The longest drive doesn’t have to do dishes for a week!
7. Hole in One
Another golf-centric date: the putt-putt course. The game of mini golf requires a steady hand and strategy, which makes it the perfect place to taunt, tease and flirt while you play.
8. Ace Your Love
You might be seeing a trend here, but sports bring people together. A friendly tennis match followed by a cool ice cream is the perfect summer date night for you and your significant other.
9. Answer Life’s Questions
OK, so maybe they aren’t that difficult, but your local bar will ask some tough questions if you go to trivia night. This is a great night, especially if you’re trying to make it a double or group date with some friends. With enough team members, you can form a formidable team to answer questions about sports, pop culture, history … whatever the quizmaster has in mind. If you win, you might get a gift certificate or other prize to use on your next date.
10. Meet Mother Nature
It’s far less intimidating than meeting the in-laws, at least. A nice hike gives you and your partner a whole day to reconnect while breathing fresh air and exercising. When you reach the top of the mountain or the end of the trail, you’ll share a great sense of accomplishment, too. We won’t blame you if you roll this one up and stick it back into the date jar when you’re done.
If you’re heading out for date night, I’ve shared a date night outfit that you can use as inspiration!
Ali Lawrence is a tea-sipping blogger who focuses on healthy and sustainable living via her family blog Homey Improvements. She was born and raised in Alaska and dabbles in PR, Pilates, and is a princess for hire for kid’s parties. Twitter: @DIYfolks
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