How to Create an Asheville Date Night Jar

Sometimes the hardest part about getting out and enjoying date night is simply coming up with a unique idea. Sure, we all enjoy dinner and movie but that ritual tends to feel a little stale after a while, right?  We thought it would be fun to inspire you to create your very own Asheville Date Night Jar. I know, I know.  Sounds cheesy.  But really, it’s a great way to shake up your date night routine and add spontaneity. Bonus: The act of making the Date Night Jar can be a crafty at-home date night in and of itself! Just pair this DIY activity with snacks, wine and mood music.

**For Valentine’s inspiration, check out our Couple’s Cooking Class and our 28 Days of Love Giveaway!

WHAT YOU NEED

  • Wooden craft sticks
  • Sharpie markers
  • Mason jar

And, if decorating…

  • Ribbon, glitter, buttons, stickers, paper or other desired decorations
  • Glue
  • Scissors
asheville date night jar
Photo credit: Silhouette America Blog

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1. Write a different date night idea on each craft stick.

STEP 2. Toss customized sticks into the jar.

STEP 3. When date night rolls around, reach into the jar to retrieve a stick and reveal your creative date night experience. It couldn’t be easier… the planning is taken care of!

LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD

Customize your date night ideas to suit your collective interests, but don’t be afraid to put in options that may be a little outside of your norm too. You may discover a fun new hobby, or learn something new about each other. Here are 20 creative Asheville date night ideas:

  1. Make dinner together, and toss a blanket on the floor or outside for picnic-style.
  2. Go to Well Played and share an evening of beer and games.
  3. Go for a late night stroll around the neighborhood.
  4. Have a wedding slideshow or video viewing and look for things you’ve never noticed before.
  5. Pull out the kid’s puzzles and have a race to see who can finish first.
  6. Recreate your first date, including the pick-up and drop-off.
  7. Bring a blanket and stargaze at Salvage Station.
  8. Go for ice cream at The Hop and order a totally random flavor for each other.
  9. Create your own bucket list for the upcoming year.
  10. Visit a new restaurant like Vivian and order for each other.
  11. Download a crossword puzzle and try to solve it together.
  12. Attend an Asheville Tourists game and get into the baseball spirit.
  13. Pop corn and cozy up for a movie night at home.
  14. Take a drive and park somewhere secluded to watch the sunset… or do something else (wink wink).
  15. Visit a local attraction and take nothing but selfies.
  16. Go mini-golfing at Fun Depot or Skylanes and use the opposite hand to play!
  17. Visit Malaprop’s Bookstore and read interesting back covers to each other.
  18. Go for a couples massage or his and her pedicures.
  19. Find a paint night to attend together like The Paint Bug, Fired Up!, Painting With A Twist or Claying Around.
  20. Hop on bikes and cruise around town or the local trails.

 

asheville date night jar
Photo credit: Personal Creations

SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS

While being spontaneous is a great way to fire up the fun on date night, we know it’s not always practical. There might be a budget to stick to or the need to call in a babysitter, for example. So we love the idea of divvying up your dates into categories. Here are ways:

  • No Bucks vs. Low Bucks vs. Big Bucks
  • Stay at home vs. Sign up the sitter
  • Spend a little vs. Spend a lot
  • On the fly vs. Plan ahead
  • His ideas vs. Her ideas

You get the idea… As you can see you can create any combination of categories that make sense for you two. If you decide to go this route, color code your categories so picking the appropriate date night will be even easier.

date night jar
Photo credit: B Superb

One option is to use colored craft sticks that you can pick up at your local art supply or dollar store. You can then assign one color per category, for example: No Bucks = Red; Low Bucks = Yellow; Big Bucks = Green.

Alternatively, if you only have plain craft sticks, write your date night ideas in different colored markers for the corresponding category. Then, create a simple label for the front of your jar so you know which category you’re picking from.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE

While we would all love to assume our partner would be just as excited to partake in a partner yoga class as we are, hitting the local batting cages might be more their speed. When brainstorming date night ideas, remember to include both of your interests. Maybe prepare the date night jar together so you each write fun ideas; or, if crafting the date night jar as a surprise, include options you’ll both love.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

If mason jars and craft sticks aren’t your jam, feel free to let your creative flag fly…

  • Go with folded pieces of paper in different colors for his and her date night ideas.
  • Or what about a box full of tiny envelops with notecards tucked inside? You can order this style ready to go from LoveMessagesXO on Etsy.
  • Or use a printable date night deck of cards (from Play.Party.Plan) and shuffle them up for a completely random date night deal.
  • Maybe just order a tin full of date night sticks from UncommonGoods.com.
date night jar
Photo credit: LoveMessagesXO (via Etsy)

The possibilities are limitless! So have fun with it and make it your own. Wouldn’t a date night jar make a great gift idea for your partner’s birthday or holidays? Just saying.

Happy crafting!


Feature photo credit: Personal Creations

Written in collaboration with Angela Long.  Angela is a freelance writer and lifestyle blogger who shares her love of design and DIY inspiration at perfectsmerfect.com. Angela is a proud momma to three littles and is raising her tribe with her husband in Brooklin, Ontario. And after ten years of marriage, she admits they’re still working on making date night a regular habit!


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