At-Home Date Ideas

Card Games

Rook (we both love this one)
Uno (a classic)
Quiddler
Phase 10
Ziggity
Set (we love this alone or with groups)
Five Crowns (we don't own this one yet)
SkipBo
Face Card games (my favorite is Texas Hold 'Em poker - watch the new Casino Royale for inspiration first)

Box Games / Board Games / Party Games

Scene It
Spy Alley
Trivial Pursuit (B hates this one)
Rummikub (our favorite date game)
Scrabble
Clue
Monopoly

Strategy Boxed Games (Brandon loves these and I do not partly because they last too long and mostly because I suck at them BUT if I'm to let him choose the game every other time we play, inevitably these will be the chosen ones. Those of you with math/strategy brains will love these).

Axis & Allies
Risk
Blokus
Chess

And finally, only my geeky husband would suggest a two-player game of Dungeons & Dragons.

Non-Game Dates

Bake cookies (or cook anything, cooking together is fun, even doing the dishes afterwards together can be fun).

Read out loud to each other (Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus; Five Love Languages, a novel, etc.).

Guys- let your wife help you shave your face (Brandon loves it when I give him a facial - just wash & moisturize his face while he lays down, use as many products as possible. All it takes is a few warm washcloths). Gals- let your hubby help you shave your legs.

Give each other massages.

Take a bath or shower together.

Check out sex books from the library! I was recommended 365 Nights: A Memoir of Intimacy, which I look forward to reading.

Play with your sex toys (naughty dice, silky scarves, handcuffs, lingerie, food items - whipped cream, chocolate syrup, ice cubes, etc...)


I've discovered that feeling disconnected with your spouse is a common malady in marraige. Dating is the cure. Use what you've got at home, these dates are all free. Don't own any games? Card games are cheap or borrow a game from a friend. For those of you with young children: put your kids to bed at an early hour (for other reasons why and tips on how read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child) so you have alone time every night with your spouse or really alone time to read or take a bath or unwind with a show. Look for a future post on away-from-home dates (email me your suggestions).

Thank you Megan who suggested that I turn my plea for help into a blog post to help others. Thank you to the friends who gave me suggestions.

Please post your favorite at-home dates and two-person games in the comments. Thanks!