Tag: dating

Inexpensive Date Night Ideas (At Home Or Out!)

Hello Lovelies!

As Con and I prep for the new year (and prep to become parents!!), one big goal for us has been prioritizing our quality time. So for 2023 something we hope to maintain even when baby girl is here is our weekly date night!

We already do not like spending much on date nights and since we first got to know each other through quarantine, we now feel like experts on dinner and a movie at home! Previously Con and I have shared some of our favorite dates during quarantine specifically, and below we are highlighting some new ideas as well as ways to make time for each other with a little one!

Thrift or Shop Second Hand Together

Go to a garage or estate sale together! Or maybe a curated vintage shop! You do not have to buy anything, but it creates a fun outing to see what interesting and unique pieces are out there!

Visit a Gallery

Another “go and see” opportunity! Visit a local museum or art show and wander around! You can also make this a fun opportunity to get to know someone by having set questions to ask regarding each other’s favorite piece – or one idea is to each pick out what work of art most reminds you of them!

Catch a Local Open-Mic Night

Another local venture! Check out local talent with snacks and drinks before or after dinner out!

Do an Online Class Together

Anything from yoga and fitness to parenting prep, meditation and more! This is one option to do something new together without needing a babysitter!

Build a Fort

Make it a fun movie night with nostalgic cozy vibes, and don’t forget the popcorn!

Picnic

One of our favorite ideas! Walk to your local park with blankets, cushions, snacks, and maybe even take-out and just chill outside for a bit! Bonus: if brining baby use the stroller to stash everything!

Visit a Bookstore

Bookstore dates are one of my favs because you can add a scavenger hunt to it! Maybe you are actually looking for your next read, but along the way find creative ways to get to know each other by looking for works/passages/etc that fit various things on the scavenger hunt you write beforehand!

At Home Spa Night

Do some face masks together while you cuddle on the couch!

Be Tourists in your own Town!

This one is more open-ended but see what there is to explore near you that you haven’t! Maybe there is a unique walking tour in your area!

And those are a few ways Con and I plan on spending time together (beyond new recipes and shows at home) as we prep for our next chapter! What are some of your favorite date ideas that didn’t make the list?

Xx,

A

Fall Date Ideas: 2020 Edition

Hello Lovelies!

I realize it has been a few years since I have talked date ideas, bu this might be my most requested article right now! Since I have shared 50 ideas here already, I figured I would mainly cover fall-themed dates and my new favorite quarantine dates!

I met Con barely two weeks into quarantine so most of our dates have been all about staying in. Seriously though, this brings me to my first favorite date.

The Quarantine Date

Cook a new recipe, let Netflix pick a movie at random (or start a classic Disney marathon), maybe take a walk to work off all that pasta, and just relax! This date is both sweet and affordable!

The Grocery Date

How domestic! You may think this is super boring, but before a quarantine date you can pick out what you need for that new dish you are trying! Maybe check out cheeses together or grab flowers on your way out!

Visit A Farm Together!

(for my Midwest friends) getting out of the boring at home dates, you cannot go through fall without carving some pumpkins, going through a corn maze, or cozying up on a hay ride! There are still ways to have this kind of fun with COVID, so get out there and pick up some cider while you are at it!

Host A Bonfire

This can be really fun for a group of friends! Do not forget the marshmallows!

Make Haloween Costumes Together

This can be really fun depending on how creative you are – visit a thrift store or two and see if you can create a couples costume together! This can be extra fun if you do not know what you want to do yet and bonus points if you find each others costume!

Tour Your City

Ok this last one is less fall themed but still something fun to do each season! If you plan on going out, see what is new or newly reopened in your area and finally have a night out!

Thank you for reading! I hope this sparked some fun ideas for yourself in your dating life!

xx,

A

Why You Should Have A List Before You Even Meet Someone

Hello Lovelies!

I’ll be getting personal with this post, but I am excited to open up even more with y’all on an important topic: dating! I have shared a few things about my dating life, but overall I would like to think I am an open book and will always be real and raw with you. You will see more content regarding my relationship and I am so excited that Con is interested in sharing in that content! I also intend to share with you the insight I have found in my own dating journey over the years: the good, the bad, whatever can encourage you or speak to your life. Let’s get into today’s thoughts: the list!

The List

What is this list? I feel like a lot of women (anyone really) already have one, but it is an actual list, written down, of a person’s desires in their future spouse. This list could include physical attributes, dating styles, core beliefs and values, and just other do’s and don’t’s. This seems simple but (trust me) it is not. I made my first list while sitting down to coffee with my best friend the summer after high school. I was hopeful at the idea of moving across the country and potentially finding the love of my life, and I just wanted to dream a little about who that person could be. Here is that list (not kidding here it is):

So it has been a couple years since I pulled this out (btw it says LAR bc those are my initials). There are a few inapplicable comments, and some things I could add. But a whole lot of this list remains true. The person I want to marry is someone I would not want to hide from my parents, someone who pursues me, respects my body, the way I look, and my boundaries, someone who is honest, and someone who shares my faith. I did not realize at the time how important this list would be to me, but when I went through my dating hardships, I remembered what I deserve, what I am worth, and what I really want out of a partnership.

Why Is This Important

Manifestation? Sure! By writing down what you want for your future, you can better focus your energy towards those goals – and this does not apply to relationships alone, but you can also manifest your career goals as well! When you write down that you want old fashioned pursuit it becomes easier to ignore trolls who offer you less than you deserve!

Standards? Ya! There is nothing wrong with having high standards for yourself or the people around you. Similarly to manifestation, you are setting yourself up to avoid whatever does not fit what you want. People say it can be harder to date this way, but I say it is worth it!

Dating With Intention

Here is the big kicker! Y’all have heard me discuss dating with intention before, and this is where it starts! Maybe you are praying for your future spouse, or maybe you’re just a badass boss babe and you want to only date seriously if they are the one. Whenever I explain my philosophy of dating with intention to anyone they get super confused at first but hear me out – I would rather not date at all than go out with a bunch of people who are no good for me. In that time I spend not dating, I am learning about myself and growing into the person I want to be. And when I find someone who I truly like, I only choose to date them because the intentions of the relationship are serious on both sides.

I hope this post served to encourage you in your life to grow into the person you want to be, beginning with self-love and intentionality!

xx,

A

How To Not Be A Clueless Idiot When Dating From Said Clueless Idiot

Hello Lovelies!

It’s been a while since I have shared a lighthearted, creative post on this page and as I tease this dating content I figure there is no better time to start releasing it! I have wanted to share various dating horror stories but I have remained hesitant to do so as those stories do not involve only me and I try to respect others privacy. With that being said, here are my recent experiences, to show you what not to do. You are welcome!

Dating Apps

By this point I have no idea how many dating apps are out there but there are certainly some top contenders and at least there is something for everyone! No matter what app you prefer, here are some helpful tips!

Instead of calling yourself an “Instagram Model” or “Lifestyle Blogger,” make that job title more convincing with words like creative, entrepreneur, or self-employed.

Do not swipe right on people you do not like. And do not stay matched with them after they send 10+ intro messages.

Do not forget to mention some of your top deal breakers in your bio. This way you do not end up talking to a criminal (or a fan of illegal activity) for weeks or months or years.

DO let people know what you are looking for, even if you do not know. Someone who explicitly asks for apples is much less likely to receive oranges.

Snapchat

I have a personal vendetta against this app and have honestly deleted it after many failed attempts to flirt with other humans. I am not saying to never use this app, but maybe do not give out your username if you do not want creepy messages from strangers.

Do not bombard your crush with literally every detail of your day in picture form.

But do not be afraid to message first.

If you do not like someone, stop sending photos of your face and switch to photos of the ceiling… maybe they’ll get the hint but also maybe not.

Do not use this app to say “I love you,” whether you have met the person or not.

Do not creep on someones location or snap score for literally any reason especially in the context of dating.

And never answer a “u up” text with an actual detailed description of what you are doing or how you are feeling at that hour.

First Dates

Ok Imma just dive into these tips:

DO NOT follow a stranger into the woods just because they say it is cooler than getting coffee. Coffee is great, the atmosphere is wonderful and all those people in that public place are your friends.

At least check if they have a mugshot before going to the woods or a mall or his parents house.

Do not say you are available all afternoon and then disappear 15 minutes in.

Here’s an icebreaker that has worked only one time: pretend you’re afraid of something and see if they hug you.

If the date is bad, do not act like it is not.

Meeting People Not On An App (aka IRL)

Do not stalk their Instagram and later pretend you have never seen it when it comes up in conversation.

Do hold extended eye contact with them as you make them more and more uncomfortable to be around you. This will make you memorable.

DO NOT pretend to be on the phone with someone just to get out of a potentially bland/awkward conversation with your crush. Not a good idea.

Do enlist a friends help when deep stalking – ask them to view the person’s story or investigate their age – this way you are much less creepy for not doing it yourself.

Ok I think that’s enough for now! I hope you all enjoy this very random post and you remember that it is designed to be funny and not to be taken seriously!

xx,

A

Dating With Intention

Hello Lovelies!!

I am not going to introduce this article with a cheesy “getting pretty vulnerable here” statement, because I have been vulnerable and that is something I want to shamelessly continue to do. In being so open I hope to inspire, to teach you all something important for your own lives. So introductions aside, let’s get into this.

Early this year I became single for the first time in a very long time, and re-learning to meet and date new people was such a different experience. It is all a little difficult to describe, it was new, sometimes exciting, and sometimes frustrating, but it was just different. Through this journey I learned so much about myself and what I want for my future. Through all the craziness of dating, the biggest lesson I learned for myself is the importance of dating with intention.

Sounds a little weird, right?? I remember hearing the phrase from some mentors of mine, as a method to finding a lifelong partner who shares in your values, but for me this is much more than a series of steps or rules for people looking for the one. You might think I am overthinking all this, but really this concept boils down to knowing what you want and pursuing exactly that.

My personal definition of dating with intention is figuring out what you need in a partner before you meet someone, and deciding to be clear about what you are looking for in a relationship, whatever that may be. Know what your intentions are and do not be afraid to make them known.

If you are someone who is not looking to get serious, let your potential partners know. If you are someone who wants to date for marriage, do not waste your time messing around with people who want to “play it cool” or “chill.” Dating with intention can be whatever you want it to be, just know what you want and do not be afraid to make that clear.

For me, I make my intentions clear as early as possible. Sometimes that can be as early as the first date, and in the world of online dating, the same information can be shared in your bio.

Again, I know this may seem brief and simple, but I feel like a lot of people get “caught up” in whatever and forget what they truly want and need. So figure out whatever that is and go for it!

xx,

A