My husband and I date - not other people, of course, but we date each other. Last night was a good date. Times are definitely tough right now and belts are tighter than they've ever been; somehow, we managed to have a great date night...free of charge!!
It started when he picked me up at my house. Okay, we live at the same house, but a lady likes it when a gentleman comes a-callin'. (Besides, it makes for a good story!)
Adrian has always opened doors for me. I'm a bit of a male-chauvenist, so it's never bothered me. I actually love it. He has opened my car door whether we are leaving home, a garage sale, or the opera...he does not discriminate and I love that. It's the little things that mean a lot. But it's especially nice on date night.
Anyway, back to the story. So he picked me up (or walked me out to the car).
We headed to our first destination, which was a (sooooooooo long-overdue) mani / pedi for me, while Adrian sat in a massage chair next to me with the power on full blast. Sipping wine and listening to soft music while getting my foot rubbins and arm and neck massage on was amazing...but what felt better is that it was all fer-ee!! (WHAT DID I JUST SAY?!?) You heard me right! Cameron gave me a gift card for Christmas to my favorite place (which I haven't seen in awhile) and we decided to start our date there because we knew they offered a free glass of wine with your pedicure. So massage, manicure, pedicure, (tip, of course, was covered by the certificate) before-dinner cocktail, soft lighting and music = all free. So far, so good.
Next, we decided to go to one of those places you can get dinner and a movie all in one place - not always the cheapest route to take these days, but apparently nothing's too good for us. Guess how much I'm gonna tell you it was? Come on, you see a pattern here, don't ya? Well, in case you're on the edge of your seat with anticipation and wonder - it was free! HOW THE HECK WAS DINNER AND A MOVIE FREE, YOU ASK? Chelsea and Sam gave us a $25 gift card for Christmas (yea, we made out like bandits from our kids) and that covered the dinner part. I received an email from this establishment for one free ticket. (The name of the place is not relevant, because I subscribe to tons of places for reasons just like this one and you can, too). I then searched through my Entertainment coupon book, found one for a free movie ticket to the same place, (did a yippee-doo-dah dance) and voila! Dinner and a movie = all free. WORD.
Now keep in mind that all the affection we showed each other throughout the night, holding hands (yes, we still do that), the laughs we shared, the time together = all free. Exhausted from being pampered all evening, we headed home.
I am grateful for the Christmas gifts, but even without them, we know how to paint the town red free of charge all the time, and we do it. Date night is necessary. PERIOD. It doesn't matter what the dynamic or make up of your family is: small kids, grown kids, no kids. Date night is essential to keeping your marriage healthy. And we're proof that you don't even have to spend a lot to do it.
I won't tell you how we ended the date, but I WILL tell you that didn't cost us a thing, either. ;-)