Date Night Basket: A year of pre-planned dates.

So glad I finally got around to posting this before January ended. For Christmas because we didn't have much money, D and I decided we would have to make our gifts this year (tricky, I know). I decided to make him a date night basket with a year of pre-planned dates by me. All of which would be relatively cheaper (but more creative dates) since we're on a budget. This gift was really fun to make (and even more fun to use) and I plan on documenting the entire year of dates on the blog. 

So watch out for date night features each month as we go through our basket, and get inspired yourself to make a date night basket of your own for your hunnie!

The date night basket is a great gift for Valentine's day, anniversaries, or bridal shower gifts too!

D loved the idea (considering he is usually the one to plan our dates and do all the romantic things) and I had so much fun putting together a years worth of creative (and affordable dates). Not to mention it's a secret to D each month what we're doing -- so it definitely lends itself to creating excitement and anticipation. 

For January, I decided it would be fun to recreate the day we met, which was a cold January day in which we went bowling. Yup, you heard me. Bowling. 

The irony here is I am terrible at bowling, but as fate would have it, we both joined the same bowling team 3 years ago for something fun to do on a random Wednesday night. And the rest is history!

Each month I also included a second bonus date option that we could go on (in addition to the first date) if we feel like we have extra money to spend that month. For January, it was making pottery at this cool place where I grew up and going snow tubing. We haven't gone on the bonus date yet - but since January is pretty much over, I might make an exception and let us do it next month!

pics of his January date night invitation -- 

and now on to pictures of the date!

Although I wanted to really recreate the first date we met (complete at the ghetto bowling ally where we met) D thought it would be fun if we went into the city and bowl at one of those fancy/night club like bowling places. While this defeated the purpose of saving money -- omg this place Frames in New York's Port Authority is expensive, I mean they call it a bowling lounge -- I loved the idea so we went with. 

And this is why I love him!

Here's us in the freezing cold waiting for the bus into the city. 

Which by the way, got lost on the 15 minutes it should take to get there.

this place was definitely MUCH nicer that where we used to go....

it even had fancy food and drink menus with all kinds of artisan food. Smoked salmon while bowling?

interesting.

We settled for pizza, chicken fingers and hummus. 

us being silly.

cheers!

cutie.

And this picture. This picture is taken from the day we met, three years ago. Who is lucky enough to say they actually have a picture of the first day they met? 

I love this, and I love how awkward and young we look.

I also love how this kid put his arm around me trying to make a move!

Very presumptuous Mr. D! ; )

And three years later. We thought it would be fun to wear the exact same t-shirts we wore.

Because we're dorky like that.

Do you like the idea of creating a Date Night Basket?

Stay tuned for February's date night on the blog: coming soon! xo

-Steph