Move over, Doctor Phil. I’ve got love and relationships in the bag. 😛
I’ll be frank. After 5 and a half years of being with Will, sometimes we get lazy about going on dates. Our dates start to consist of a lot of nights eating takeout Thai food in our sweatpants while watching episodes of One Tree Hill or Friday Night Lights. We are getting closer and closer to Hermitdom. Now, while I love those nights well enough in moderation, I also love when we go on real live dates outside the house like going to a show outside, walk around the city, go to a flea market, etc. I like to get all pretty for the occasion and, damn it, we have a good time together. Sometimes it feels like we are falling back in love. AWWW, look at me getting all mushy gushy on y’all. It’s the wedding hormones talking.
But guys, sometimes I put my lazy pants on because I don’t FEEL like planning a date for us nor does he. Then I go read books and I’m all SWOON SWOON SWOON that sounds like a perfect date. WAH WAH WAH.
So I decided to take some inspiration from books and plan a few dates for Will and I to go on soon (or perhaps after the wedding since our dates seem to now consist of stuffing envelopes and talking about flowers). Now go forth and have epic dates.
Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour Inspired Date
The Inspiration: The, um, EPIC ROAD TRIP they went on, sillies!! This one won’t be as LONG as Amy & Roger’s but it will be every bit as EPIC.
The Date:
Step 1: Make sure you have a car. Hot wire one if you need to.
Step 2: On your own, both of you should create the most epic, road tripping mix. There should be songs that bring the dance party, songs that you can belt out like a mofo, songs that you pretend you can sing really well too but totally can’t, etc. etc. This will be interesting for Will and I as our musical universes do not often overlap. Sample of My Mix: MGMT, The Naked & The Famous, Florence & The Machine, Journey Will’s: RAP, RAP, RAP.
Step 3: Purchase a map. You know, that thing made out of paper. Leave your GPS at home. It’s explooooring time. You are allowed to get lost.
Step 4: Pick your radius for how long you are willing to travel and then pick a place on the map as your final destination. Research places to go on the way (a cool diner, a state park, a funky museum) or just freaking wing it and see what random ish you find on the open road. You might run into a house that is in the shape of a SHOE or an Elvis shrine.
Step 5: Pack the goodies to eat, have your camera handy, fill up your tank, check those tires (thanks Dad!) and YOU ARE OFF.
Step 6: Roll the windows down and commence car dancing and loud singing. Bonus points if you don’t care about the wind in your hair. Take lots of pictures of everything you do. AND FOR GOD SAKE, JAMIE, DO NOT FIGHT ABOUT HIS DRIVING! It will only ruin the epic and memorable road trip you are about to have.
Anna & The French Kiss Inspired Date
The Inspiration: Ok, my IDEAL date inspired by this book would be for Will and I to go to Paris but that’s just not going to happen anytime soon with the wedding. But one of the places I loved so much is the cute theater that Anna would go to escape and watch old movies — sometimes in English and sometimes in French. I’m a SUCKER for cute little theaters and really loathe the big multiplexes. I loved the old man who walked his dog that owned the theater. BUT MOST OF ALL. I loved the first time they all went to the theater together and there was that tension between St. Clair and Anna. It was so reminiscent of my first “unofficial” date with Will. Sitting there feeling the proximity of his elbow to my elbow, my knee to his knee. Sneaking glances throughout the movie. I LOVE IT. It’s funny that was our first kind-of-sort-of date because I can count on my hands the number of times we’ve gone to the movies in the past 5 1/2 years.
The Date:
Step 1: Get on the Google machine and find the nearest theater that either 1) shows older movies or 2) is a cute old-time theater. Fortunately for me, I have some really great options nearby. They are playing Breakfast at Tiffany’s this summer and An American In Paris. I’m so going to get my Gene Kelly on!!
Step 2: To really add that Anna and the French Kiss touch, enjoy some crepes beforehand either by finding a fabulous little creperie or go all Betty Crocker and make them yourselves. Will and I found a fabulous recipe for Nutella and banana crepes I’d be willing to share for the occasion! Bonus points if you make them because you still have money to buy concession candies.
Step 3: During the movie, while perhaps taking in a little Gene Kelly, hold hands. Steal glances at one another. Share your Sno Caps. DOUBLE BONUS POINTS if you try to sneak a kiss but no makeout sesh please and thanks. You aren’t ACTUALLY a teenager again.
Dash & Lily’s Book Of Dares Inspired Date
The Inspiration: The notebook full of crazy dares left by Lily at the Strand that Dash finds and plays her game which results in some gut busting, hilarious moments!
The Date:
Step 1: Have a sense of humor and a sense of fun. This one is going to be super silly and possibly make you turn fifty shades of red. Possibly have a flask with you for liquid courage. BUT DEAR HEAVENS, don’t drive nor should you get sloshed in public.
Step 2: Come up with 5-10 fun dares/challenges for the other person (nothing too illegal or too crazy unless you can handle it) that can be done in the span of an afternoon. I would DEFINITELY be making Will jump in a fountain with his clothes and pretend to drown for a minute or make him, a la Anna style, scream “I LOVE KISSING BOOKS” in a bookstore. Or maybe I’d make a gross concoction and make him drink it or make him sit on Santa’s lap like Lily does to Dash! Get creative!
Step 3: One by one do the challenges. Document them. Laugh your ass off. And remind yourself of how fun it is to be in love.
Be on the lookout for more book inspired dates because I’ve got a whole lifetime of dates to have come August 17th. I’ve got a whole list of them! What did you think? Which date would YOU be more likely to go on?
Melissa @ Writer Grrl Reads says
Awww… this is such a cute post! I love the roadtrip one — this is something that my hubby and I love to do! We’ll often get up on a Saturday morning, grab a coffee and head out to a nearby city on the hunt for a new used bookstore to fall in love with =)
Rie @ Mission to Read says
If I could convince the hubs that the dares date was doable I’d so do that one, but sadly the hubs would just look at me like I was insane. The roadtrip date is my favorite. Ever since I was a child my favorite thing to do was climb in the car and just go randomly. I usually end up at a lake.
Anna says
I DO love kissing books and I’m not afraid to YELL IT! HAHAHA this post is so cute!
Jen says
Fabulous post, I can’t wait to see more. Kevin and I have a date night once a month and I so look forward to spending that time with him. We love road trips!!! I would totally do the Dash and Lily date but I know he wouldn’t 🙂
Sarah @ Breaking the Binding says
Awww, these are all so adorable! I shall keep these in mind once I’ve moved back into the dating world (still recovering from a rather depressing breakup). It’s good to have some fresh ideas rather than the same ol’ dinner and a movie thing everyone does.
Christa @ Hooked on Books says
I love all these ideas! They are super cute. And they make me want to read the book that inspired them – I know it’s shameful I still haven’t read Anna and the French Kiss.
jess ramos says
ive driven by the shoe place a billion times and i dont remember ever actually stopping and going inside haha
April Books & Wine says
I am also very lazy about my dates. Let’s see my dates with Tony consist of heating up a store bought frozen pizza and watching The Simpsons or the Office. I like these ideas but I think the only one Tony would be down for would be the Anna And The French Kiss one. He’s a bit uptight about getting lost and being spontaneous and he’d never go for those dares.
Please more of these posts you creative genius who I am so envious of!!!
Sharon @ Fictionally Inclined says
Oh my gosh! PERFECTION! You should totally do more of these. I’m going to have to investigate in order to contribute some next time. 🙂
Amanda @ Late Nights with Good Books says
I have not read any of these books – but this sounds like such a good idea! I definitely know what you mean about sometimes “going out” dates sometimes seeming like more of an effort than anything else when you’ve been dating a person for a while. But these sound like so much fun! This is just a really neat idea to get inspiration for things like dates from books. I loved reading this!
Heidi says
Hahaha, I love this post, Jamie! My boyfriend and I are totally on that ship to hermitdom with you guys. In seperate compartments. That are sustained by room service. Because putting on real pants is sort of an occasion round these parts. So I love the idea looking to books for date inspiration! All of these are fun things that I personally don’t think are too cheesy for boys. I hope you get the chance to try some of them not too long after the wedding!
elena says
ooh I LOVE this post, Jamie! I especially love your steps for the road trip (a good soundtrack is CRUCIAL!) and a cinema date sounds adorable. I don’t think I’m adventurous enough for the date date but it sounds super fun!
Jasmine Rose says
Such a fun post! My husband and I are kind of like hermits too. We go on dates sometimes, but it’s mostly just out to eat or to the movies. I don’t know that I’d have the guts to do the Dash & Lily thing, but it’s still a fantastic idea 😀
Lori says
I love this post and all the dates! Hubby and I have been married for 5 years, together for 8. So yeah, we’re lazy when it comes to dates. (We stay in and watch FNL or The Office) But we always seem to have the most fun when we’re not trying. Planned things always seem to end up in mild disasters. I would love to do the Amy & Roger one, though!
Estelle says
I so know what you mean. I was getting dressed up on Friday for a “date” with James. I review theater around our neighborhood so we like to call it a date. And it was fun! We don’t do it entirely enough but I do find myself dressing up at least one time on a weekend for when we go out. We also spend a lot of time catching up on TV and writing on separate laptops on the couch. Cue the romance, right? I love these ideas & James is always up for anything, which is so great about him. (As we speak, he is cleaning chairs outside and I’m commenting on blogs. Aren’t I the luckiest?) Can’t wait to see more! What a cute idea!
Jen says
You are adorable and I love you.
This is such a friggin’ cute post that my face might fall off. I get lazy, too. We get way too caught up in our busy lives and we usually just end up going out for beers and wings (which honestly isn’t a bad thing!) We are primarily homebodies. But I think it’s definitely important to get a little bit romantic after so many years together. Matt and I have been together for over 6 years and have seen one another in every single form, so it’s fun to get dressed up and do the date thing every now and again 🙂
Kim says
Just found your blog and am sooooo loving it. I feel like I’ve finally found someone who shares my taste in books and gives reviews that I can relate to. You’ve completely filled up my summer reading list—and I have to be honest…most of them came from the Hunger Games themed list. 🙂
Kristen Evey says
These are all fantastic ideas! I can totally relate to dating hermitdom. It definitely feels like a very special occasion when my husband and I go “out” for a date! Thanks for the great suggestions. We actually have a fantastic indie theater, and also a theater that plays classic movies. Need to go to those more! 🙂
Jessie Marie says
I think this is the most genius idea… EVER.
And, though Danny and I have been together all of a year, I find us doing the same that you all do – couch potato status on the regular. Going out on dates keeps it fresh and wakes those lazy butterflies up. Absolutely genius.
I think I’ll probably try to get the Amy & Roger and Anna & The French Kiss ideas going for us – we’re both just too darn chicken for the dares so nobody wants to play Truth or Dare with us, regardless of liquid courage involvement. Ha!
Anyway, do these more often. You’re a freaking genius for lack of a more creative term and my relationship would be all the better for it!
Laura Ashlee says
I love this idea! It’s awesome. I also can’t believe you and Will have been together for five years! That’s awesome. I’ve only been with my boyfriend for three years and I’m ready to get married already, but he’s still in school. Anyway, I can’t wait for more of your date ideas!
Jennifer A says
Love that picture of you guys! Awesomeness. This was such a cute post!
a. knight @ paranormal indulgence says
Can I just say that I LOVE that pic above? Super cute and sweet, OBVS, but also the vividness and YES, you’re gosh damn expressions, which – hullo – super cute and sweet, as I said. WHY YOU SO CUTE?
Oh, gosh, Hermitdom sounds awful and appalling. How do you SURVIVE? But, it’s so lovely to see you all doped up on happy wedding endorphins and whatnot. I hope I find that one day despite my innate AWKWARDNESS and high level of SHYNESS. And these dates? All I have to say is, WHY DON’T I HAVE A BOYFRIEND YET TO TRY THESE WITH?
a. knight @ paranormal indulgence says
*giggles* YOUR. My english teacher would indeed have a conniption. Don’t know why it’s not INGRAINED by now.
Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books says
Jamie, I don’t know how you do it, but once again, you’ve come up with a post that is SHEER GENIUS. I LOVE your suggestions for dates inspired by the books you’ve read. Each date (and their step by step breakdown) is pretty darn cool. Personally, my favorite is the road trip date 😉
Jess says
I love this! I’m sorry I missed it and just read it! I will definitely be doing the Dash and Lily date idea! I’m always trying to find new date ideas for me and my boyfriend. It’s hard to break from your normal routine (of being too lazy to go out and watching movies in your jammies…)Hopefully you write another book inspired date post 🙂
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