Movies, dinner, concerts….been there, done that. Here’s a list of free dates you can try with your spouse the next time your broke or just too cheap to pay for quality time!

1. Open Houses - Find open houses in your area in houses that look fun to go through. The more expensive the better! It’s fun to get ideas or just pretend your in the market for a new home.

2. Cemetery Walking - Not all cemeteries are creepy and sad. Many have walking trails and guides to graves of famous people to look at. The architecture can be beautiful and it’s good place to talk because it’s quiet. Be mindful if there are people there visiting loved ones.

3. Metro Parks - People don’t take advantage of their local parks system. Do a little internet research, find a trail that looks doable based on your activity level and hit the road. You don’t have to go to a big state or national park to find beautiful trails.

4. DVD Time - How many of you have a shelf full of DVD’s have you watch only a handful? Dust off a movie you haven’t watched in eons. Better yet - if you have a DVD that’s never been open. OPEN IT. Break away from the old standbys.

5. Organize Pictures - Go through your old pictures that are in a box or on a hard drive. Take the time to look and organize them together. Don’t look it at like it’s a chore, it really can be fun to go through the past together!

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I recently met someone who admitted to me that she wasn’t in love with her husband, even when she married him. She loved him and really liked his company and his friendship, but she was head over heels in love. I’m pretty sure he knew that too. She said she wasn’t looking for romance; the relationship was mutually beneficial. I guess you could call it a marriage of convenience.

Why not just live together and if it turns into a common law marriage, so be it?

Do people like this get married to fit in with others? To make their family and friends happy? To gain tax breaks?

Honestly, I think people should get married for their own reasons, but I feel bad that people settle for less than fireworks, romance, friendship, stability and most importantly love. I would hope that everyone who has a wedding days feels the same euphoria I did and it’s sad that not everyone gets that chance.

Technorati Tags: common law, marriage, convenience, husband, wife

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Since the move to Cleveland, I’ve started to get acclimated to the area. We’re enjoying our new neighborhood and the fact we can walk to a lot of restaurants and stores, plus I’m settling into my new full-time job nicely to boot! And I currently possess a fantastic and wonderful thing - a househusband. I come home from work to find my husband chopping stuff up for dinner or a new room in our home a little more unpacked. The place is clean and he’s taking care of all the bills and the final details on the closing of our home. Let me tell you, a good househusband is a wonderful thing!

How many of you out there think a househusband is lazy for not working? Shamefully, I know the thought would cross my mind if it wasn’t my husband tending to the house. I’m thankful that while we’re getting settled he’s at home taking care of things and I know that soon enough we’ll both be out of the house working. We’ll be more harried in the evenings and the mornings, but right now I’m glad things are the way they are. But I have to admit, I miss cooking dinner.

When it comes to marital and gender roles, how open minded are you? Do you still look at your marriage in stereotypical gender roles?

Technorati Tags: househusband, gender roles, marriage, husband, wife

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I know we’re in a recession-type situation and all, but who doesn’t like to spend cash frivously every once in a while. You know, walking into a store just because you’re *looking* and coming out with a new purse or putter you don’t need. We all do it from time to time and a vast majority of us probably have some buyer’s remorse after the deed. Well, if you’re going to go spend some cash, you might as well buy something that’s good for you marriage. Here’s a list of products that I’ve used or know people have used that help build a healthy marriage!

1. GPS: End the battle of the directionally challenged! This was simply the best $150 we have spent in a long time. It makes long trips more leisurely because you know how and when you’ll arrive at your destination. I felt like my husband and I can enjoy long trips in unfamiliar areas more.

2: The Book of Questions: If you have the GPS, you have more time for conversation. This fantastic little book has hundreds of value-testing questions. Remember, you always have more to learn about your partner.

3. Wii: I’ve talked about our Wii a bunch of times before, but seriously it’s a great way to do something together. You can have a date night of bowling and tennis in the same evening! Fun for the serious and casual gamer.

4.*Ahem* Marital Aids: Too embarrassed to go to your local adult bookstore? Never want to step foot in a Hustler or other adult oriented shop? Now you don’t have to. Drugstore.com has a tab called Sexual Well Being (don’t worry, the link is just to the homepage for you at-work readers). You can get a rather impressive variety of toys to keep your marriage hot!

5. Crockpot: Speaking of hot, who doesn’t love a hot meal? Crockpots are a quick way to have a home cooked meal without having to sacrifice time together. Think crockpot cooking isn’t cool or inventive? Read on.

6. Biggest Book of Slow Cooker Recipes: Great cookbook for those how think crockpot cooking is for old people or those with bland taste.

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In the nearly 7 years I’ve been married, I’ve learned a lot from my husband. I think I take a lot of it for granted but I took a few minutes to reflect and think about what he’s taught me.

1. How to make tuna casserole. I didn’t come from a casserole eating family, he did (4 BIG boys in one house - casseroles were a must). I never thought I’d like noodles, cream of mushroom soup and tuna quite so much.

2. How to enjoy foot massages. I used to HATE having my feet rubbed. Oh how I enjoy it so now.

3. How to play strategy games (and like it). Ok, I’ll NEVER like Risk, but I have been introduced to some pretty fun games that don’t just involve drawing a card and heading to Gum Drop Mountain.

4. I look at packaging. Being married to an engineer who has dealt with how products are packaged in different jobs he’s had, he’s always looking at how products are kept safe harm. I do that now and then ask him about their process. It’s really dorky but without him I never would have noticed.

5. How to let go. I’ve always been a really tense person and he’s really helped me to take time to enjoy what I’m doing and take a break from the worry. I don’t know what I’d do without him.

I think spouses should always try to learn and teach from on another. What have you learned from your husband or wife through the years?

Technorati Tags: learning, teaching, education, husband, wife, spouse

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