{More Than} 50 First Dates

Know what I love about that movie? 50 First Dates? I loved how love stayed fresh...because it really was brand new every single day. And I'm just dumb enough to believe that love really can be that way in real life - minus the memory loss, of course.

So this past weekend, I went to a bridal shower for my friend Katy. I babysat Katy once. But we won't go into that because it makes me feel ever so old. I wanted my gift to inspire her and her fiance to keep dating. Always, always, always keep dating. Ryan and I find that so important. So I gave her, among other things, this little jar full of date ideas - many of them FREE to do.

So I thought I'd share this list with you today. The ones in italics can be done for free if you choose. Some of these are tried and true in Shafferland. Others are on our someday list. Happy dating!!! {Tuck them away for later if you're still praying for your Mr. or Mrs. Missing!}

* Build a blanket fort and watch a movie in it.
* Camp in the living room for a slumber party.

* Go ice skating.
* Have a Disney movie marathon.
* Go sledding.
* Paint the snow with spray bottles filled with water dyed with food coloring.
* Play snow football: paint the snow to look like the field.
* Make chocolate covered strawberries. {And eat them.} {Obviously.}
* Drive through town and build a buffet made of dollar menu items.
* Have an indoor beach party in the middle of winter.
* Watch movies on mute and make up your own dialogue.
* Play "Would You Rather?"

 * Fly a kite.
* Walk through the park.

* Be a tourist in your own hometown - check out the stuff you've never seen.
* Take pictures in a photo booth.
* Have a "power outage" date at home - no electricity allowed!*
* Make a wish list while window shopping.
* Have a funny movie night.
* Write letters to yourselves in 20 years...hide them to read in due time.
* Go on a photo scavenger hunt.

* Watch clouds change shape - just like Carl and Ellie in "Up".
* Cook family recipes for each other.
* Have a chocolate tasting night.
* Go to the driving range.
* Go to the zoo.

* Go hiking at a state park.

* Have a fire pit date.

* Plant a perennial for future years' enjoyment.
* Make homemade donuts.
* Have a water gun fight.
* Go stargazing together.

 * Go to a drive-in movie.

* Have breakfast in bed.

 * Have a picnic for two in a boat at the lake. 
* Watch fireworks.

 * Go up in a hot air balloon.
 * Play Twister.
* Make a goofy video.
* Watch a sunrise...and then take a nap in the warm sun.
* Go to a Farmer's Market
* Watch funny YouTube videos after a bad day.
* Go on a garage sale scavenger hunt.
* Watch a hit movie from the year of your birth.
* Watch a whole season of a TV show at one time.
* Create your own pizza and name it after yourselves.
* Go to an apple orchard.

* Go to a pumpkin patch.

* Go through a corn maze.

* Have hot chocolate at sunset.
* Have a fondue night at home.
* Rake leaves and jump in.
* Play board games.
* Have a movie marathon all weekend long.
* Put together a puzzle.
* Build a snowman.

 * Have an indoor picnic.
* Build a gingerbread house.
* Have s'mores inside over candles.
* Drive around looking at Christmas lights.

  * Go tubing.
* Go to a Christmas tree farm.

Keep dating!!! Make as many first dates as you can!