YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Plan a perfect date night!

    By | Work + Money – Mon, Feb 9, 2009 7:09 PM EST

    By Laura Hahn for Good Housekeeping


    Tell the truth: Did your date nights vanish years ago, along with sleeping in, Sunday brunches, and reading the newspaper over coffee? Or have they become as stale as, well, 15 years of the missionary position? In either case, you're due for a refresher. Turn up the heat with your hubby using these date-night ideas tailor-made to every couple - and budget.

    You're a planner. He lives for surprises. Perfect date? Find a view.
    Every town has a lookout point (or 15). Find one, then whisk him away without telling him exactly where you're going. "You can even blindfold your partner and make him guess what part of town you're in," advises Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D., a sociology professor at the University of Washington in Seattle and relationship expert from Perfectmatch.com.

    You like routine. He prefers trying new things. Perfect date? Split the day.
    Enjoy the familiar and mix things up - it doesn't have to be either/or. Go to one spot you know (like your local farmers' market) and one you don't (like that new bowling alley across town). "You'll feel comfortable and he won't get bored," says Schwartz.

    You're optimistic about the economy. He's cautious. Perfect date? Trade spaces.
    Newsflash: You can spend a luxurious night away from home without breaking the bank. Talk some friends into trading houses for the night. If you live downtown, switch with a couple who lives in the country. "It feels adventurous and romantic," says Schwartz. "Best of all, it doesn't feel like you're worried about money, even if you are."

    You love to relax. He likes to stay active. Perfect date? Separate ... together.
    Who says you have to do the same thing? "Not everyone enjoys taking it easy. For some people, relaxing is not relaxing," Schwartz points out. So find a place where you can chill while he gets his heart rate up, like the gym. Take a yoga class while he sweats through spin class, then share an energy shake afterward.


    Need more date ideas? Here are 3 more irresistible ways to celebrate your love!


    More Ways to Spice Up Your Relationship
    41 Ways to Spice Up the Bedroom
    Make a Decadent Valentine's Dessert, for Two!
    5 Things You Didn't Know About Married Sex
    Get a Marriage Makeover
    For More Tips & Tricks You Can Count On: Subscribe to Good Housekeeping & Save!


    Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.