DIY Date Night Ideas

With it being February, date night ideas and a couple of activities are on everyone’s radar. If you are on a budget or just want to stay home this year, I’ve got you covered. I’ve done a few date night idea posts before, but I wanted to tackle a couple of specific ones with a step-by-step guide so you can enjoy them now or save them for later.

Movie Night In Date

Supplies you’ll need:

• Movie
• Popcorn
• Drinks
• Blankets/pillows
• Projector/screen (Optional)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Set up a cozy spot to watch your movie. Have blankets, pillows, etc. set up on a couch or outside (if you’re doing an outdoor movie). Optional: set up the projector and screen to watch outside.
2. Pop some popcorn and pour some drinks.
3. Start your movie and snuggle up with your snacks.

Stargazing Date

Supplies you’ll need:

• Blankets/pillows
• Binoculars/telescope (Optional)
• Truck/car (Optional)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Find a spot outside, free of trees and lights to get a good look at the night sky.
2. Set up a cozy area with blankets and pillows, etc., to relax comfortably while gazing.
3. Optional: You can set up an area to view in the back of a car or the bed of a truck if you wish. You can also use binoculars or a telescope to get closer to star viewing if you choose to.

At-Home Spa Date

Supplies you’ll need:

• Bathtub
• Tub soak supplies (Epsom salt, essential oils, bubble bath, bath bomb, etc.)
• Mani/Pedi supplies (bucket, foot soak, foot massager, nail polish, etc.)
• Face mask
• Massage oils

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Gather the supplies you want to use for your home spa day.
2. Prepare a hot bath with chosen soaking supplies or prepare a foot soaking tub with chosen supplies.
3. Relax and soak.
4. Apply your face mask.
5. Give each other mani/pedi.
6. After the mani/pedi and face mask are complete, lay a towel down and grab the massage oils.
7. Take turns giving each other a massage using the oils. (If you prefer, you could do the massage first and then soak in the tub to wash off the oils after)

Cook Together Date

Supplies you’ll need:

• Food
• Cooking utensils
• Romantic table setting (flower, candle, etc.)
• Drinks

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Collect your cooking utensils and ingredients needed to cook.
2. Make your meal together.
3. Set up a romantic table with a flower or candle.
4. Pour drinks, eat, and enjoy.

DIY Date

Supplies you’ll need:

• Project supplies (any supplies you’ll need to tackle your specific DIY project)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Pick a fun DIY project to tackle. It could be a romantic project like truth or dare cards, a home project that needs to be tackled, or a typical DIY project like house decor, etc.
2. Collect the supplies you need for your project.
3. Work together to build/complete your project.

Paint & Wine Date

Supplies you’ll need:

• Wine
• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Canvas

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Set up a spot to paint with all your painting supplies.
2. Pour some wine.
3. Sip and paint away.

Game Night Date

Supplies you’ll need:

• Games

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Set up an area with your favorite games.
2. Play and have fun.

Whether you’re a big DIYer or not, these simple dates are perfect for anyone. Do you have a favorite DIY date night? Share in the comments below!

Valentine’s Day Bucket List Activities

Valentine’s Day has never been a big holiday for me. In fact, I never celebrated it or had a special Valentine's Day until I met my husband. But I have started to enjoy it more since having kids. There are so many fun things you can do to make Valentine’s Day fun and enjoyable for the whole family.

Are you in need of some Valentine’s activity ideas? I have compiled this list of fun activities to add to your Valentine’s Day Bucket List!

Decorate for Valentine’s Day

Break out the hearts and cupids. Think pink, red, and chocolates. Change out your garden flag and door wreath. Switch your mantle décor to Valentine’s items and put out the festive hand towels.

Make a Valentine’s Craft

Craft time is always a great activity to do something new. Search Pinterest and find some fun Valentine’s DIY crafts to make. I personally love doing hand and footprint crafts and homemade Valentines.

Make a Valentine’s Treat

Try your hand at some homemade chocolate-covered strawberries, decorative sugar cookies, or anything cut in the shape of a heart. Get creative and have fun with your festive baking!

Have a Valentine’s Movie Marathon

I love any good excuse for a movie marathon, and Valentine’s is the best because it’s all about love and rom-coms (which are my favorite year-round). So sit down and enjoy some Hallmark movies or classic rom-coms.

Have a Date Night

Valentine’s is the ultimate date night reminder for couples. But it doesn’t have to be the typical dinner and movie night. You could have a date night in or have a family date.

Read Valentine’s Stories

We love reading Valentine’s books/stories during the holiday season. Some of my kids’ favorites are the Biscuit dog series and Disney Valentine-themed stories. For the adults, you can break out a good romance book.

Do a Valentine’s Photoshoot

Maybe get a new outfit, get dressed up, and take some photos. You could easily do a cute photoshoot yourself or hire a professional photographer to take them.

Exchange Valentines

Everyone loves a good Valentine. Make DIY Valentines or store buy them and take turns exchanging them on Valentine’s Day.

Have a Valentine’s Day Party

Attend or host your own Valentine’s party with friends and family.

Have a Galentine’s Celebration

Galentine’s is a traditional female friends’ Valentine’s party. It’s not just for singles; you can still have a fun girls’ day/night to celebrate Valentine’s with your friends.

Share Reasons Why You Love Each Other

Much like when families go around the table and say what they are thankful for at Thanksgiving, try going around the table and sharing what you love about each person for Valentine’s Day.

If you’re looking for some more Valentine’s activities, then check out my 13 Alternative Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day Ideas for Families. What are your favorite Valentine’s activities? Let me know in the comments below. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center

In honor of the Winter Olympics coming up, I wanted to highlight one of my favorite bucket list adventures at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. Back in the day, when I was like 13 years old, my family went to Denver for a wedding, and we visited the Olympic Training Center. I don’t remember many details of it, but I just remember that I loved it.

My husband and I had also visited the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA, while living in San Diego. I always knew I wanted to stop by the one in Colorado again…which we did on our cross-country move from California to North Carolina in 2015.

The training center is so awesome to see. It has a beautiful backdrop of the Colorado mountains. You can take a tour of the facilities, courtyard, and Olympic Hall of Fame, and get a little keepsake at the gift shop. There are many cute statues and picture-worthy spots throughout the training center. My favorite is the Olympic rings you can pose with and climb into.

Quick Facts

• It covers 35 acres
• It has 242 dorm rooms
• It is a U.S. Olympic & Paralympic training site
• It is home to USA Boxing, USA Cycling, USA Para-Cycling, USA Figure Skating, USA Gymnastics, USA Para Judo, USA Pentathlon, USA Shooting, USA Para Shooting, USA Swimming, USA Wrestling
• USA Swimming & USA Shooting have their national headquarters on the complex
• The Center can provide housing, dining, training facilities, recreational facilities, and other services for more than 500 athletes and coaches at one time on the complex

According to their website, public tours are available year-round, Monday-Saturday, for a variety of pricing, about $15/per person. Each tour is about an hour long, with a video presentation and a walking tour. After the tour, you can visit the US Olympic Hall of Fame, shop at the Team USA shop, and explore art exhibits throughout the park.

Make sure to check the tour schedule online prior to planning a trip. According to the website, tours are temporarily closed due to COVID-19 safety guidelines. There is a new U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in downtown Colorado Springs, CO, that you can still visit. Check out that site here.

If you are an athlete or just an Olympic fan, this center is a must-see! I would love to visit one day again and see the changes that have taken place since my last visit. Have you visited any of the US Olympic Training Centers? Let me know in the comments below!

Believe: My Word for 2022

Last year, my word was “change.” After a crazy 2020 and the pandemic, I was hoping for change and for things to get back to normal. But more than that, I focused on change in my personal life. I worked hard to further my screenwriting career and longed for other changes in the season of life I was in. While not all changes I hoped for happened, I did make many strides in the right direction.

When I started thinking about a word for 2022, one seemed to stand out to me: Believe. Some things in my personal life are still up in the air, and I’m still in a season of waiting. But I believe I’m where I’m supposed to be.

Believe

(verb): To have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so.

Believe in what’s to come.

Waiting is hard. I feel like I’ve been in a season of waiting for a couple of years now. Waiting to make moves and plans as a family. It’s hard to want something but have to wait on others and things outside of my control to make things happen. Sometimes I feel like I’m just going through the motions.

I want to really live. I want to believe in what’s to come and that we will move on from waiting to action. So I decided this year I’m going to try to let go and let it be. I’m going to stay present and live my life to the fullest. I’m going to believe in what’s to come and manifest it.

Believe in myself.

After a couple of tough years, I’ve been putting a lot of work into myself and my growth. I’ve prioritized my self-care and chasing my dreams again. In the past two years, I have made so much progress for the better. I want to continue my belief in myself, how strong I am, and that I can do anything.

Believe in God.

I want to grow in my belief in God and His plans. I know His ways are always better even when we can’t see them right away. Any relationship is a two-way street and this past year I have been focusing on growing in my faith and my belief in God.

Believe in the good.

I want to believe in the good things and the people of this world. There has been so much division over the last couple of years, but I have also seen firsthand the good in people along the way. There is so much good out there even when you can’t see it. I want to continue to believe in the good, focus on that, and be/show the good to others too.

Believe the best is yet to come.

I’ve always loved the saying “the best is yet to come”. It’s a beautiful reminder that no matter how tough times are or how long the days feel, there is something good right around the corner. You CAN make it through to something bigger and better. I still believe that. Whenever I doubt it, I remind myself of it.

All about believing.

Believe in what matters to you and make a difference today. Stay strong and believe. This year, I want to continue believing in my everyday life. I’m going to believe in change, happiness, myself, others…And I want to challenge you to keep on believing too.

Believe more. Believe bigger. Believe better.