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Quality Time

3-Course Conversation Menu

Your 3-Course Conversation Menu

By Connection, Quality Time2 Comments

Sometimes the date night conversation flows easily – you effortlessly segue from one topic to the next, making each other laugh while still hitting those meaningful and sweet moments – and you only talked about the kids once!

Other times, it doesn’t click as smoothly. Maybe you’re both tired or irritable from a long week or an exhausting day. Or perhaps you’re just blanking on things to talk about. You don’t mind companionable silence, but sometimes you could use a little conversational boost. For those moments, we’ve created this three-course date conversation menu. Read More

What Makes a Date?

What Makes a Date?

By Quality Time2 Comments

Do you have certain criteria that need to be met in order for something to count as a date?

Maybe it has to be somewhere outside the home and last at least two hours. Maybe you have to dress up and a meal has to be involved. Maybe it has to be planned in advance and take place in the evening.

While these are all characteristics of dates you’ve gone on in the past – and probably of ones you will go on in the future – are these the things that truly make a date? Let’s dive into some different perspectives. Read More

How to Make Date Night Happen

How to Make Date Night Happen

By Quality Time5 Comments

A regular, consistent date night sounds great on paper. But when it comes to actually following through, it might feel like there’s always something that can stand in the way. Whether it’s an unexpected last-minute event, your season of life, financial situation, or daily life obligations, you can usually come up with an excuse to skip date night.

But there’s one important reason why you shouldn’t: your marriage deserves the effort, and it benefits from the intentional quality time.

So let’s try to make it easier for you. Here are 5 tips to help make date night happen. Read More

10 Warm Weather Date Ideas

10 Warm Weather Date Ideas

By Quality Time3 Comments

Summer is just around the corner, and it’s warming up even in the regions known for their frigid temps – like here in Minnesota! Because the winters are so long and cold, the locals tend to spend as much time outside as possible during the warmer months, and that includes dates! If you can relate, then keep reading for some of our favorite warm weather date ideas. Read More

Weathering Weekend Mindset Differences

Weathering Weekend Mindset Differences

By Conflict, Quality TimeOne Comment

The weekend lies ahead of you – a blank slate of possibilities. Are you and your spouse on the same page about how to spend it? Think of the phrase, “That’s what the weekend is for.” To you, what is that, exactly? Is it for doing all the fun activities and outings you don’t have time for during the week? Is it for tackling your to-do list of chores and projects? Or is it all about relaxing and recharging at the end of a busy week and before starting the next?

The truth is, the way you want to spend the weekend might differ from what your spouse has in mind. You might have very different weekend mindsets overall, or even just from one weekend to the next. On their own, these preferences can cause conflict. Throw in a few unspoken expectations and less-than-stellar communication, and it’s a recipe for a disappointing weekend. If you and your spouse have experienced this before, then these tips are for you. Read More

7 Ideas to Bust Out of the Dinner Date Rut

7 Ideas to Bust Out of the Dinner Date Rut

By Quality TimeOne Comment

You’ve got date night down to a science – that’s awesome! It means you’ve made prioritizing your relationship a regular and consistent part of your marriage, and that’s often easier said than done. But what if things are starting to feel a bit too routine? We can help! Here are seven easily-implementable ideas to bust out of the dinner date rut. Read More

4 Ways to Redefine Date Night

4 Ways to Redefine Date Night

By Connection, Quality TimeOne Comment

When it comes to date night, many couples are just happy to get one on the books a couple times a month. If you’ve made them a regular occurrence in your marriage, kudos! It’s not always easy to stay connected in the midst of your busy lives, but prioritizing date night is a great way to do that. So what happens when your regular date nights are starting to feel a bit too “same-old”? Or you’re transitioning into a new phase of life and your usual routine is getting harder to fit in? Sometimes it can help to get yourselves thinking outside the box. Here are four ways to redefine date night. Read More

5 Tips for Finding a Shared Hobby

5 Tips for Finding a Shared Hobby

By Connection, Quality Time2 Comments

Another busy week is coming to an end. You and your spouse are excited to have a wide-open weekend in front of you. Sure, there are the usual chores to complete, and of course you’re planning on some time to just hang out and relax. This all sounds great, but you can’t help but feel like something is missing… like a shared hobby.

Pursuing hobbies and pastimes that bring you joy helps nurture a healthy sense of independence and fulfillment, which benefits your individual wellbeing. Likewise, sharing a hobby with your partner can enrich the time you spend together, ultimately strengthening your bond. However, finding a shared hobby isn’t always easy, for various reasons. Maybe you have very different preferences and interests, or you’re coming out of a season of life when you didn’t have much free time. Whatever the case, if you’re looking for some practical tips to discover a hobby you can share with your spouse, you’ve come to the right place. Read More

4 Realistic Ways To Add Spontaneity to Your Marriage

4 Realistic Ways To Add Spontaneity to Your Marriage

By Connection, Quality Time2 Comments

Do you and your spouse like to fly by the seat of your pants, or do you like to plan things out and know what’s going to happen? Or maybe you’re a combination of both. Wherever you fall, the realities of day-to-day life often favor planning ahead. While it might not seem like the most practical way to live all the time, spontaneity can have a positive effect on your marriage. It fosters a sense of playfulness, strengthens your bond, builds flexibility, and combats complacency. If you’re looking for some realistic ways to add more spontaneity to your marriage, keep reading. Read More

Couple reading a book together on the couch

10 Ways to Refresh Your Evening Routine

By Quality Time9 Comments

Bring the kids to their extracurricular activities, pick up the grocery order, rush home, get dinner going, help the kids with homework, scramble through baths and bedtime, clean up the kitchen – phew!

If your evenings are anything like this, it’s understandable if all you want to do is sit down and zone out when you finally get the chance. Whether you both work in or out of the home, have children, pets, or just a busy life in general, those evening hours are often time to relax and unwind before hitting the sack. If you’re sick of settling in for the same old streaming session, here are ten ways to refresh your evening routine. Read More