My mom has offered to babysit tomorrow night, so my husband and I definitely want to go out, but the holidays kind of cleaned us out financially so we really don't have much to spend. We are looking for ideas of what to do that might be very inexpensive or free. We live in Denton. Since we are kind of in the middle of the metroplex, we can go to Dallas or Ft. Worth or pretty much anywhere in between. Any ideas?
We ended up going to the Kimbell Art Museum in Ft. Worth. It was really nice and fun to do something different than what we usually do. Then we went to dinner afterwards. It was a great night. Thanks for the advise, ladies. :)
If mom has offered to babysit would she consider doing an overnight at her house? That's my favorite free date night. We stay home, eat whatever we want, cuddle on the couch and watch a non child friendly movie and then well you know, we enjoy each other without the worry of "Mom!" in the night....
The Kimbell in Fort Worth is lovely, very romantic and peaceful, and the permanent collection is free! Fridays from 5-8 is half price of whatever exhibition they have in- right now it's Carvaggio. They frequently have live music in the atrium. Worth the drive, IMO!
https://www.kimbellart.org/Index.aspx
My husband and I sometimes go out and share a dessert. Not very expensive and we have time to talk.
What about just walking around the mall (or sporting good's store) and maybe going for ice cream? It gives you time to talk and reconnect but w/o spending much. Also, keep an eye on Groupon. I know it's too late for tomorrow night but we recently got tickets to the Movie Studio Grill for a show AND a drink for $5 each. . . . holding on to those for a possible date night!
Whenever we can put the kids out and send them away we do. Then I convert our livingroom into some kind of wonderful fantastic place. I use throw pillows covered with satin and or silk fabrics I pick up here and there during the year when I see fabrics on sale. I try to keep the colors coordinated. We have indoor picnics, play games (board or card games), talk, laugh, eat food, drink, and enjoy each others company.
Sometimes I dance for hubby. He loves that and it doesn't cost him our hard earned money and I am his reward at the end of every dance.
I have also at times transformed our dining room to an expensive restaurant by pulling out all the stops. Candles, flower petals, fine china, and dinner (Chinese, Mexican, Italian or anything affordable even fried chicken works). Dim the lights and eat by candle light and just talk about everything but the kids.
What about an inexpensive take out and a movie rental.
One of the best date nights we ever had was going to Barnes and Noble. We got 2 comfy chairs next to each other and spent a couple hours together just picking up whatever book interested us. Pointing stuff out to each other and talking. There were no distracting kids, music, loud drunks. Just me and him. It was beautiful!
In DFW there are tons of free things to do. Look up Frugal in Ft Worth. There are museums, concerts, sometimes movies for free. You could go to the drive in movie. It's usually a double feature. You can bring your own food and drinks in. You could just drive downtown to eaither Ft Worth or Dallas and walk around looking at the lights and storefronts. Have a hot chocolate on a park bench. Very romantic.
Are there any light displays you could visit, grab a hot cocoa and just enjoy each other's company?
Make a picnic, go to a well-lit outdoor spot and enjoy. Then walk around, hold hands, get ice cream and enjoy the solitude.
Assuming the weather is on the mild side and going through The city's interesting neighborhoods is an option? Find somewhere to go and "park", bring a picnic dinner with stuff you both like. Pretend you're going out on a second or third date. Be a tourist in your own community or in DFW - go to TripAdvisor and see what tourists do in your town. Just being away from the kids will allow you to have fun. If given the option, my husband would always want to to to an hourly motel with gel-beds and mirrors, and I always want to go shopping. :o)
Go park somewhere off 121 or 114 and watch the planes fly in and out of DFW.
Or go to Las Colinas w/a thermos of hot coffee or cocoa and watch the Mustangs from the green.
We just got back from Grapevine. You don't need tickets or a reservation to go to the Gaylord. And you don't have to buy anything. You might need to pay for parking in their garage but you can walk around their atrium which is divied up into 4 different sections of Texas, complete w/canyons and running water. Plus, all the Christmas decorations should still be up and they have tons of Kodak moments scattered throughout the atrium and outside grounds.
Historic Grapevine should still have their lights up. Lots of cozy places along Main Street to sit, watch people, talk, kiss...
We are PEOPLE WATCHERS. When we go to Vegas we RARELY gamble but people watch. BEST PLACE EVER for that!
We even make up stories about people and try to guess what they are saying or thinking.
At restaurants we play "first date, "having an affair" or heading for a divorce. Body language is so much fun to try to figure out!
