Since it’s the new year, I wanted to start thinking about where I want this blog to go. This used to be our wedding website, which later transformed into a travel blog to primarily document our adventures, give tips, and inspire people to travel. Over the course of the year, the blog has continued to change as we continue to change (hopefully for the better). In 2014, along with travel related posts, I wanted to start sharing more about our marriage and our goals outside of travel.
I’m excited that as one of our goals this year, we decided to start dating again! ( Seriously, this time. ;) )
When you’re starting a relationship, dating is a natural part of getting to know each other. When you’re married, it’s easy to let other commitments take over and let dating fall to the back burner. We never thought we would be the couple who got too busy to date, but it takes a fair amount of work to be intentional. Even if we’ve told ourselves how important dating is in marriage, our actions haven’t always shown that it has been top priority. Since actions >> words, it’s time to walk the walk.
Our Dave and Busters Story:
While we were in Atlanta over the holidays, we ended up going to Dave and Buster’s as our first date for 2014. Dave & Busters is the perfect starting point for us. It was September of 2009. We had just met briefly a few days before when Jacob first invited me out to D&B with some mutual friends. I had just finished shooting a wedding and knew I could use a beer to help me wind down, so I agreed. The three of them were waiting in the bar area, and as soon as I arrived, I proceeded to order myself a tall Guinness and down it. It was refreshing after being on my feet all day. Afterward, we played a few games while our mutual friends plotted to set us up. They bet us on a game of basketball where the losing team has to cook dinner for the winning team. Sounds a bit like a double date, don’t you think? Not sure if they planned it exactly the way they did or if we happened to be just that good, but we won and dinner was on them!
As the story goes, we didn’t fall in love at Dave and Busters or even after our “double date”, but it was a starting point to where we are today. Later as Jacob would tell this story, he would always mention how impressed he was to see a tiny asian girl down a beer and how it caught his eye.
Dave and Busters Atlanta – 1 / 52 Dates:
We went in the afternoon and did the eat, play, win combo for $24.99 where you get a $20 power card and a meal. Jacob loves a good deal, and this one made the meal $5.
Basketball for old times sake. And Giant connect 4? I had no idea this existed!
Last game of the day…
… and I won the jackpot (2000 tickets)!!! It was the very last turn / last of our credits. It was a great end to a date feeling like winners! haha We won these solo cup shot glasses, but you can obviously buy all the prizes for much cheaper in a store.
Dave and Busters Atlanta
4000 Venture Dr,Suite 15
Duluth, GA 30096
Phone 770-497-1152
Or find a location near you
This year we made it a goal to go on 52 dates. Some might be more extravagant, while others will be on the cheap aka stay at home. The point is to try to carve out more intentional time to enjoy each other’s company. And no phones!
What is your favorite date you’ve ever been on?
We’re doing 52 dates this year. You can see the other dates if you click on the banner below:
I love this idea!!!!
Thanks girl! :)
You won so many tickets! I love the idea of dating again after marriage. In any long term relationship it’s easy to take togetherness for granted. I’m trying to put more of an effort into dating + other fun things in my relationship this year, and you gave me some wonderful inspiration!
It is a lot! :) Although.. when we got to the store, we soon discovered that things were a lot more expensive than we thought. haha Oh well, we didn’t do it for the prizes anyways.
So glad this inspired you! We’re always looking for new date spots, so if you come up with some fun ideas, let us know! :)
Aww, that’s so cute that you started your first date of the year at a place where it all sort of started :) so sweet!
:) Thanks! If you meet us and see our dynamic, though, we’re far from the cutesy, sweet couple. haha We’re more like old, married people who like to bicker at each other. :D
Oh thank goodness, I can’t stand cutesy couples! ^_^
Cute date! Congrats on wining the jackpot! I never won that much at one of those arcade games.
We went to an arcade in Bali and Taiwan. Bali had the traditional arcade games like shooting and basketball but the ones in Taiwan are more advance. There was a whiteboard waiting list for this one game that is like DDR for your hands. Looks like it was really popular with the kids. They also brought their own gloves to play the game. There was also these group of people (big range – high school to middle age) that was playing basketball and they were scoring in the 300s! I couldn’t believe my eyes. I didn’t think it was possible. Craziness. Some people got skills!
Thanks! :) It was REALLY lucky.. I think we spent $10 on that one game and just so happens that we won on the last try. Yeah, those people in Asia do not play around when it comes to arcades. haha
wow that’s awesome!
BTW – i just read this and thought of you and jacob! <3 http://jarridwilson.com/im-dating-someone-even-though-im-married/
update your photo on your disqus profile! :) & add your link!
lol ok let me see if i can figure that out :p i’m still a newbie!
y’all are so cute it’s disgusting. -_-
no we’re just narcissistic and like photos of ourselves. hehe :D
Love that you started back at the beginning for your first date of the year! I’ve actually never been to a Dave & Busters and never really seemed like it was something I would like, but seeing your pictures it looks so fun & now I totally want to go! Happy Friday :)
We thought it would be appropriate.. and for blog’s sake. haha :) Yeah, it’s definitely not something I would do on the regular, but it’s nice to try different things to mix it up. :) Let me know how u like it!
Another great idea that I’m going to have to steal ;-) You should never stop dating!
I hope you do & blog about it! :D
Esther, this is such a fun idea! We try to go on weekly dates but have totally slacked off now that’s it’s ridiculously cold here. We decided to jump back in and are going on a Detroit photography excursion on Saturday and are super excited! I also love Not Without Salt’s cooking series, “Dating My Husband.” http://notwithoutsalt.com/category/dating-my-husband/.
We tried to do monthly before and then started slacking. Thanks for sharing not without salt’s dating series. I might have to mix in some of those at-home cooking nights soon. :)