Cheap Date Roulette- Week 4

Week 4

Number 9: Spread the Smile

An opportunity for the perfect venue presented itself- a wedding! Amidst the sand, sun, rain, and waves we shielded our eyes as we watched the nuptials. Wife knew one person (the bride) in this casual celebration (husband knew a handful more). Could you think of a better place to spread the smile? Wife smiled at everyone, whether they chose to study the floor or be aware, and husband struck up conversations with others. It was a great time to help spread happiness to others, but any venue or location would do. Purpose- spread the smile to as many faces as you can, all while having a great time yourself.

Everyone won this round.

Lessons learned: don't drive two hours away in a time crunch, Oregon beaches are not California beaches, smiles really are contagious, and this cheapest of dates can be quite rewarding.

Optional step: bring other people in on your smiley scheme.

Optional optional step: eat more cake.

Can't stop, won't stop spreading the smile!

Cheap Date Roulette- Week 3

Week 3

Number 8: Public Hide & Seek

Have you ever seen adults behaving strangely in public? (If you've watched us in the park then you have.) We chose a wooded and grassy area to begin the shenanigans. Hiding commenced during a count to 60, and seek began with a timer (set on our phones) for 5 minutes. We found one another within the time limit each round, and at one point husband employed a lookout, which backfired and gave him away ("I think she saw you man").

I would say husband won this round because of wife's poor wardrobe choice lending to a strong handicap in locating a hiding place among the trees and brush.

Lessons learned: bring water for hydration instead of a can of sparkling water, wear colors that blend in with the natural environment instead of broadcasting your location, listen when bystanders tell you that the spot isn't a good choice, and don't wear a dress while squatting in weeds.

Optional step: pick a different venue such as a mall or professional garden.

Optional optional step: $1 ice cream afterward at McDonalds.

Happy hunting!

Cheap Date Roulete- Week 2

Week 2

Number 5: Selfie Scavenger Hunt

It all started with a simple list of 5 items each and a 15 minute time limit. We pulled into a busy parking lot as we looked for the best place to do the deed. We split up, each with the list that we had made for one another, to take selfies holding/discovering each item.

Wife won (wife 2, husband 0) with 7 minutes to spare, and unfortunately husband never finished number 4 (he blames the elusive ant) and only completed 3 of the items within the time limit.

Lessons learned: (husband) pick more difficult items, realize that you will likely feel a bit like a creeper taking selfies in a grocery store, wearing a "body by pizza" shirt will get you compliments, getting a sample of cheese is harder than it sounds, and ants don't like photos.

Optional step: $4 dinner from the dollar store. I'm not sure if I truly suggest that or not, but feel free to partake.

Optional optional step: take a photo at the dollar store with a certificate of achievement to really seal the deal.

Wife's list:
1) With a yellow car
2) Holding a banana
3) In sneak mode with a person in the background
4) With flowers in your hair
5) Drinking from a water fountain

Husband's list:
1) Hiding behind a tree
2) Reading a book about a monkey
3) Standing under a street sign with the letter "W"
4) Holding a bug
5) Eating cheese

What will next week bring?

Cheap Date Roulette- Week 1

New Edition: Cheap Date Roulette

 

Introduction

We all should recognize that dating your spouse is vital to a happy and healthy marriage. What is holding you back? For us it was cost, setting aside time, having good ideas, and just plain laziness. My husband and I recently came up with a list of 19 date ideas that are both fun and inexpensive. Some of them seem incredibly crazy and stretch the bounds of our introverted-ness, so to avoid avoiding these we have set up a system. Each Monday we use a random number generator (thanks Google) to pick a number between 1 and 19, then commit to that date for the upcoming Friday. No weaseling out of the date ideas this way (husbands)!

Week 1

Number 10 : Board Game in the Park

Wife picked the game (Catan 2 player card game) and husband picked the park (beautiful and green). Nature contributed a wonderful breeze (picture scrambling for flying objects and holding down the table of cards), a lovely watery backdrop, and the culmination of a passion fruit sunset.

Wife won the game (of course), but husband was a good sport.

Lessons learned: think of potential airy hazards while picking the game, setting matters to bring the ambiance of date-ness, be goofy, and accept the inquisitive bemused stares from fellow park-goers.

 Happy dating!