COUPLES’ DATE NIGHT: Ideas, outfits, recipes, games, free, at home, etc.- I have a report!*
Vol. 3, No. 50, Monday, March 11th 2013
TITLE: “COUPLES’ DATE NIGHT: Ideas, outfits, recipes, games, free, at home, etc.- I have a report!*”
INTRODUCTION
Romance does not have to end after the honeymoon. It’s sad when it does and it tends to go from bad to worse. Spouses regularly going on a date with each other is one way to fight this unwelcome condition. My book of the week is, “I Do, Now What?: Secrets, Stories, and Advice from a Madly-in-Love Couple” [Hardcover] by Giuliana Rancic (Author), Bill Rancic (Author) I hope you take a look. (Editor’s Note: This is part of a continuing series on relationships, romance, dating and marriage.)
ANTOINETTE’S LIFE & TIMES*
My Parents: As a child, my parents took the children to family gatherings like weddings or parties. In part, this was due to my reaction as a child of four or five. According to the story told by my mother, she had a wedding to attend and she called a babysitter. Apparently, I cried when she left and was still crying on her return. She vowed never to leave me behind ever again.
Early married: While I was a young married – date night was something we rarely did.
Motherhood: Once with children, things changed. While we had many outings, they were mostly as a family.
My reasons were simple. First as a working mom, my time with my children was very precious. Since I worked during the week, I made sure to spend the weekend with my children. Second, I also wanted to include my children in our family outings. Third, I also had a story like that of my Mom. There was one New Year’s Eve when we had a get-together at the home of my grandparents. My daughter was only two years old and I was feeling under the weather. I called a babysitter to come for the evening. My daughter cried when I left and when I later called the babysitter, she told me that my daughter had cried herself to sleep. This news made me sad. From then on, I swore never to leave my daughter behind unless it was absolutely necessary.
Me & Myself: Now attached long term, we go out Friday night. It’s sometimes drinks and finger food but mostly it’s dinner together.
Grand Motherhood: My daughter organizes many outings with her husband and the kids. But occasionally, she and her husband go out for the evening without the children. She then calls the grandparents for babysitting duty. I am pleased to do this … it’s a pleasure … I enjoy the babysitting time tremendously. By the way, we’re cheap – we charge $0 per hour and we won’t lower our price under any circumstances.
P.S. I also have some stories of friends.
#1. A friend says that since the beginning of her marriage, she and her husband made every Saturday night, “Date Night”. This tradition still continues to this day. Her children apparently didn’t like this much, but with time, they got used to it. She’s convinced that this works and it’s important for a marriage.
#2. A coworker says that she would often bring her daughter to her mother’s for the weekend. The reason was not only to give her Mom the chance to have quality time with her grandchild, but also for this lady and her husband to enjoy the weekend together: sleeping in, going out for dinner and dancing. The only downside was that her daughter came to resent it.
THE AUTHOR: Giuliana Rancic & Bill Rancic
Giuliana Rancic (née DePandi): She is an entertainment interviewer and the anchor and managing editor of E! News. She wrote the book, “Think Like a Guy.” Giuliana & Bill star in The Style Network’s hit reality show, “Giuliana & Bill.”
Bill Rancic: Winner of Donald Trump’s show, The Apprentice, he is an American entrepreneur. He oversaw the construction of Trump Tower in Chicago. He is now a motivational speaker and wrote the best seller, “You’re Hired and Beyond the Lemonade Stand.” Bill and Giuliana are the hosts of NBC’s new relationship show upcoming Ready for Love.
SERIES/COLLECTION
Books/Articles:
Several are:
- I Do, Now What?: Secrets, Stories, and Advice from a Madly-in-Love Couple by Giuliana Rancic and Bill Rancic (Sep 28 2010)
- Youre Hired by Bill Rancic (Aug 19 2004
- Beyond The Lemonade Stand by Bill Rancic (Sep 13 2005)
- You’re Hired Cd Unabridged by Bill Rancic (Sep 1 2004)
- Orsinian Tales by Ursula K. Le Guin and Bill Rancic (Jan 30 1975)
THE BOOK: “I Do, Now What?: Secrets, Stories, and Advice from a Madly-in-Love Couple” [Hardcover] by Giuliana Rancic (Author), Bill Rancic (Author)
This show business couple are newlyweds, facing the average trials and tribulations of newly marrieds. They’re living the subject. Going behind the scenes of their real-life marriage, they provide an insight into such issues as Money (bank account: joint or separate); Household chores (neat vs disorganized); (c) Having a family. They offer suggestions regarding: (a) Communication, (b) Support, (giving or receiving); (c) Trust and jealousy, (d) Quality time, (e) Friends and in-laws, (f) Arguing and fighting; and (g) Romance and sex.
More information is power!
CONCLUSION
Everyone deserves true love. There is someone out there who is for you.
Relationship and marriage are really important. They contribute to happiness. Of course, we want to make them to be as good as possible. Like everything of value, it takes work. Learning more is good. Then build up relationship and marriage and make them stronger. I want you to be happy!
Personal Comments
I say:
- That over time, the tendency is for a couple to take each other for granted and drift apart.
- That all couples need time to stay connected and reconnect to rekindle the romance.
- That if a Mom working out of the home, we have guilt about leaving young children at home to spend time with their husbands. It should not be at the expense of the children. We want more quality time with children than is possible.
- That if with youngsters, it’s difficult to have a date night. Try a date night periodically.
- That if your kids are older, have a regular date night – it will give you special time to focus on each other.
The Point
Couples should have a regular date night. It’s a good idea. But consider your children, especially if very young.
ANTOINETTE’S TIP SHEET*
Everyone in a longterm relationship should:
1. Recognize that a successful relationship and marriage takes effort of each partner at every stage of life;
2. Show that you care – it can keep the romance alive in a marriage. To do this, ask questions:
- How are you doing?
- Is there anything I can do to help you?
- What are your present hopes and dreams?
- Can I do some of the housework?
3. Be aware that having regular quality time with your mate is important; here’s a few ways to make it happen at least once every week:
- Meet during lunch time if you can share lunch hour together.
- Set aside time at the end of the day to sit and talk … over a drink or a cup of coffee or tea.
- Organize something after the children are in bed … a candle light dinner for two not in the kitchen. Sitting in the dining room says it’s special – it would go a long way in the right direction.
- Do things together; it helps keep your relationship strong and healthy. For example,
- Go for a walk
- Play a sport that you both enjoy
- Go dancing
- Take a course
- Go to the gym and workout as a couple
- Have a game night at home and play one of your favorites from way back when. It’s fun and also free.
- Have a movie night at home or at the theatre. Don’t forget the popcorn and a drink …your choice …
4. Try date night to go out as a couple; it should help rekindle the spark in your marriage. To do this
- Ask him or her early in the week, say on Tuesday, to go on a date on Friday night for dinner and …… (you fill in the blank). The asking makes it special.
- Ask grandparents to baby sit. Both the children and grandparents would enjoy the time together.
- Dress in a new outfit and primp like it’s a big deal – it is … it is date night!
Don’t you think you could do with some romance this week? Pick up the phone, and ask your committed partner, wife or husband on a date. Wouldn’t you like to look forward to this weekend?
And that’s my thought of the week on books, what’s yours?*
Take it out for a spin and tell me if you agree.
ALP
“Books are life; and they make life better!*”
PREVIEW
P.S. Wowee …Wowee Shop Valente is finally open; and my new line of Antoinerte La Posta* brand of clothing is now available. There is still much more to come to the Save and Read* web site. Watch for it!
P.P.S. #1 I have a TWITTER page. Consider becoming a follower? Visit www.twitter.com – saveandread
P.P.S. #2 I also have a FACEBOOK page. Consider becoming a friend? Visit: www.facebook.com – Alp Save Andread – please check it out.
P.P.S. #3 I am on Linkedin. Consider becoming a connection? Visit www.linkedin.com – Antoinette La Posta
CREDITS
-Web Tech: richmediasound.com
The above is a new media production of Valente under its “United Author*” program.
*TM/© 2013 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved.
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TWO – “IT WORDS FOR ME!*”
For today, my word/phrase(s) are: “dating”
“Dating is a form of courtship consisting of social activities done by two people with the aim of each assessing the other’s suitability as a partner in an intimate relationship or as a spouse” (Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dating
THREE– STUDY/STATISTICS:
“From the perspective of the history of humans in civilization, dating as an institution is a relatively recent phenomenon which has mainly emerged in the last few centuries. From the standpoint of anthropology and sociology, dating is linked with other institutions such as marriage and the family which have also been changing rapidly and which have been subject to many forces, including advances in technology and medicine. As humans have evolved from the hunter-gatherers into civilized societies and more recently into modern societies, there have been substantial changes in the relationship between men and women, with perhaps the only biological constant being that both adult women and men must have sexual intercourse for human procreation to happen.[3]
If there is any aspect of dating which is common for both sexes, then perhaps the idea of being in love can be scary; one said “being really intimate with someone in a committed sense is kind of threatening” and described love as “the most terrifying thing.”[58] In her Psychology Today column, research scientist, sex columnist and book author Debby Herbenick compared it to a roller coaster:
There’s something wonderful, I think, about taking chances on love and sex. … Going out on a limb can be roller-coaster scary because none of us want to be rejected or to have our heart broken. But so what if that happens? I, for one, would rather fall flat on my face as I serenade my partner (off-key and all) in a bikini and a short little pool skirt than sit on the edge of the pool, dipping my toes in silence.
—[59]
One dating adviser agreed that love is risky, and wrote that “There is truly only one real danger that we must concern ourselves with and that is closing our hearts to the possibility that love exists.”[60
One Ethiopian writer described a couple, when dating, as happy, at parties and movies and recreation centers and swimming pools, while they appeared to be less so after being married; still the writer thought marriage was the “lesser of two evils” when compared with the single life.[78] Marriages link families in Ethiopia since the dowry paid by the family of the bride is often significant financially.[79] According to one source, there are four ways that marriage can happen in Ethiopia: (1) arranged marriage, when well-respected elders are sent to the girl’s family on behalf of the boy’s family; (2) courtship or dating after a friendly meeting between boy and girl such as at a market place or holiday where there’s dancing; (3) abduction, such as during a blood feud between families; (4) inheritance.[79]” (Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dating)
FOUR – BONUS ARTICLES
S & R*NEWS ALERT*#1: Treat your date to dinner at home
“Friday night dinner dates and Saturdays at the movies are not only heavy on the wallet but a fling of the past. Why not break out of the typical date night routine and wow your partner with a simple and delicious home-cooked meal?
With just a handful of ingredients, you can create an impressive dish bursting with exciting flavours. For a quick, stress-free dinner, try this simple stir-fry recipe below. The tangy Asian-inspired sauce mixed with fresh vegetables will make you swear off takeout for good.
Shrimp, Egg and Asparagus Stir Fry
Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp (30 mL) vegetable oil
- 2 cups (500 mL) asparagus pieces, cut into 1 lengths
- 1 lb (500 g) peeled medium-sized shrimp, thawed
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 jar (355 mL) VH Szechuan Stir-Fry Sauce or the General Tao Stir-Fry Sauce
- ½ cup (125 mL) finely sliced green onions
- ½ lb (250 g) rice noodles, cooked as directed on package
Directions:
1. In a large non-stick skillet, heat oil over high heat. Add asparagus and stir-fry for 4 minutes; add shrimp and cook while stirring for 3 minutes.
2. Lower heat, add eggs and let set slightly without stirring, about 1 minute. Break up eggs with spatula, pour in the Stir-Fry Sauce, green onions and stir to heat the mixture through, another 2 minutes. Serve on cooked rice or noodles.
Tip: To avoid overcooking the shrimp, make sure they are still undercooked before adding the eggs.” www.newscanada.com
S & R*NEWS ALERT*#2: Small gestures add up to big romance
“Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and men everywhere are breaking into a cold sweat. They’ve bought into the fallacy that romance equals money. But when we think of the most romantic and breathtaking stories of romance, they almost never involve flying off to Europe or drinking the most expensive champagne. It’s usually small gestures like holding hands, kissing in the rain, or simply stargazing that we remember. Opportunities for romance exist just about anywhere, and this Valentine’s Day, you can spoil your loved one without spending a fortune, like this:
1. Be savvy, not cheap. Buy flowers that are in season or shop around for deals and avoid delivery charges by buying locally.
2. Write your loved one a romantic letter and place it under their pillow. Or, write multiple love notes and post them throughout the house. Write something romantic on the bathroom mirror too.
3. Make love coupons. These are really up to your imagination. You can include coupons for a passionate kiss, a favourite meal, breakfast out, or a massage.
4. Take a walk down memory lane and visit some of the special places from your early days of dating.
5. Recreate your partner’s favourite romantic movie scene.
6. Pretend you’re going on a first date. Show up at the door with flowers, dressed up, with your car washed and cleaned. Re-live the first time.
7. Prepare strawberries with fondue chocolate.
8. Cook a romantic dinner together or enjoy take-out by the candlelight.
9. Hold hands and walk to a scenic area that has lots of pretty lights.
10. Make the world a better place together. Purchase a small gift like a bag of rice for just $10 through a non-profit organization like Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (www.ccfcanada.ca) and help fight poverty around the world.
11. Create a visual scrapbook of your everyday life together.
12. If you are feeling really creative, write a short story and make sure you and your partner are the lead characters destined to find love. Each year together, you can add a new chapter to the story.” www.newscanada.com
*TM/© 2013 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved.