My husband and I have put a valiant effort into keeping up with our “Monthly Date Night Coupon Book” as best we can, while juggling two full time jobs and two children. I’ll be honest with you mommas, it seems as if the shininess of the coupon book gift has worn off and the effort it takes on both of our parts to make a monthly date happen in some capacity increases monthly. BUT focusing on intentional special time together is important to my husband and I, so we are determined to make it happen one way or another. We got creative this go around and managed to fill our coupon book with a few new experiences as well as a treasured tradition date idea.
Here are our date nights from April, May, and June:
April: Day Date at Home
aka “Painting Day”
They say you should update your interiors every seven years, but who really has the time and/or money to go full Chip and Joanna even once a decade? We had only painted bedrooms before we moved into our house five years ago, so we decided that it was time to take the girls bathroom from builder beige into the modern era for our April Day Date. Yes, that’s right we were flipping Date Night on its head this particular month!
This “project” actually turned out to be a pretty fun date for us. I mean think about it- teamwork in close quarters transforming a space in your home into a slightly prettier space with the person you love and live in that space with everyday? Win Win. We taped and prepped and then sent the kids outside to play while we turned up the tunes and painted away! Can you think of an area of your home that you’ve been meaning to spruce up a bit? Instead of looking outside of your home for your next date option, why not make it a Home-and-Heart Improvement Date and tackle that space together? You’d be surprised how much fun you can have and may even discover some HGTV-esque talents!
May: Local Music Date Night
Innertrust at Shannon’s
Supporting local artists has always been a passion of ours. Whether it’s art we can hang on our (freshly painted) walls, culinary arts, or, in this month’s date night idea, local musicians. We have a friend who plays in a local band, Innertrust, so even though most of their set list isn’t on our typical playlists we decided to step outside our comfort zone and head to a bar we had never been to before and I’m so glad we did! It’s incredible and inspiring to see your friends doing something they are passionate about. We had a blast playing pool and rocking out to the songs we knew. Don’t get crazy now, of course we can’t hang like we use to and we were definitely home by midnight.
Lafayette is full of talented artists! Check out the ACA for performances, wander downtown on the first Saturday of the month during Artwalk, or hit up Downtown Alive and Rhythms on the River this fall. And if you are on the fence about a date night idea, just go for it! The experience can always make for a good story later on!
June: Hands on Family Fun
Blueberry Picking at Bayou Blues Blueberry Farm
So there always seems to be a Family “Date” within a 3 month date span, but such is life! One of our favorite family June/July traditions is blueberry picking at a quaint little family operated blueberry farm in Broussard named Bayou Blues. Let the kids run ahead and pick berries while you are your sweetie spend some QT filling your bucket. Pro Tip: Head there during the morning hours to beat the heat and listen to the birds, or stop by around sunset for a nice evening of blueberry picking. We always try to find a new blueberry dessert recipe each season and of course, make all the blueberry basics such as muffins, pancakes, and cobbler.
It’s fun to involve the kids in a little outdoor adventure while spending a few minutes here and there alone amongst the bushes with your sweetie. Make sure to put berry picking on your calendar to check out next summer!
