Dinner and a Movie Date Night

You have no doubt heard (or figured it out for yourself over the years) that, for marriage longevity, date nights (with each other!) are good. Sometimes, however, there is not a babysitter to be had. Then what? Consider this: have a date night at home. You know, after you get the kids to bed (bribe as needed).

For us, Crazy Heart arrived in the mail from Netflix. It just happened to be next in our queue which was totally ironic since I was still reeling from the yuck of having watched True Grit at the theater the night before. We had no option to go out this week, so...dinner and a movie at home it would be.

I bucked up and we settled in to watch it. After all, earlier in the day my husband had done the laundry, picked up my books from the library, and done the food shopping so there was nothing to get in the way and delay our date.

For the dinner part: you can always feed the kids early and eat with your spouse after they are in bed. If one or both spouses are working, one can stop on the way home to pick up chinese, a pizza, or really, probably any of your favorite restaurants will pack up your favorite entrees for you to go; some of them (hello, excellent customer service and marketing strategy!) even meet you at the curb with it so you don't even have to get out of your car! (Keep bags out of site until children are squared away...hey, you can always save them the leftovers!).

Restaurants with (some) curbside service:

1. Applebees: Carside to go
2. Famous Dave's: separate "to go" entrance for pick up; some with curbside service
3. Outback Steakhouse: check their website to find one near you that has it
4. Macaroni Grill: most locations have curbside service

P.S. Consider tipping your server since they did bring out the food and take your payment.

None of these options grab you? Well, there's always the drive-thru window at your favorite fast food places: Dairy Queen, Dunkin Donuts, McDonald's, KFC, Wendy's, Burger King...so if this is what you want. go for it (hey, "any port in a storm" and "all's fair"; etc).

Consider having dessert after (or in lieu of) supper: pick up a bakery pie or cake and some ice cream, whipped cream, cherries....hey, you may even find other uses for these items after the movie has ended...:)