2016 was markedly absent of regular date nights for Chase and I. Aside from a cast party, a sparse dinner out or our family vacations, there was little time spent alone with each other. The extravagant steak dinner night we had on our Carnival Cruise made it painfully obvious how much time we spend working or with the kids, and how little is spent one on one with each other, talking and learning more about each other. Therefore, we made a pact together to get in some more date nights, and promised to plan it for the other.
Chase would take 6 months of the year, and I the other. Whoever the planner was would arrange for a night out doing something THEY wanted to do. Hopefully, the other spouse would enjoy it as well, but we saw this is a wonderful opportunity to see what kinds of things each other liked to do, and wanted to share with the other.
For the first month, I chose something I’d always wanted to do, but never taken the chance… painting, and cocktails! Following a huge Mexican lunch, Chase and I visited a Southern restaurant for apps, cocktails and a luscious set of desserts, which resulted in the clean plate club!
Next up, painting and wine (or beer!). A selfie to get the night started, and to prove that we indeed had a date night!
After a short tutorial on our open canvas night, we chose our copy projects, paints, and positions in the studio. There were about 15 folks present that night, but only a few chose the same canvas to paint. Chase made me all verklempt when he chose to paint an Olaf canvas for Scarlett, who is the newest (and biggest) Frozen fan on the block.
I picked a little coffee mantra to hang in my office, for my mornings always start with a hot cuppa joe. It was so soothing and therapeutic to once again create a wet scumble on the canvas, detailing as I went along. It took the stress away immediately.
I was quite proud of our finished products, and even more proud of Chase, who doesn’t often show his artistic flair. It made for a great date night, getting us out of our comfort zone and away from bingeing a movie. I can’t wait to see what Chase has planned for our next date!
The finished products look awesome!
Thank you! It was so theraputic to get there, too!
You are so cute and what a fun night y’all had! My husband is an artist, so I dont think he would be up for a painting class (he is a painter), haha… but I love date ideas like these that have you learning and doing things!
I have an MFA, too, so it was suuuuuper easy for me. But I absolutely loved getting Chase into the mix and helping him when he asked for it. It was amazing to see him grow! I also can’t wait to see what he’s planned for next month!
This looks like such a fun date night idea! Your paintings both turned out SO good (I love that Chase painted Olaf, haha!)
xo, Lydia | wheretheprettythingsare.co
Thanks! 🙂
So much fun! I love going to painting with a twist with my girlfriends but I haven’t gotten my husband to go with me yet. Maybe we can get a sitter and go together soon.
Wow your both so amazing at painting and what an original idea for a date night too. I really hope you get to have more date nights x
You guys did great! Don’t think this would be number 1 in the list of ideas for my guy, but glad you had fun!
That was part of the fun – the spouse picks the date, and then next month, the other; I kinda liked doing something really different, but that doesn’t mean we have to repeat! 🙂
What a fun way to plan dates. My husband and I hardly ever do dates anymore. Maybe I should try to bring them back to rekindle our fun we once had when we first dated.
Yes! Try it for two months or so… if y’all don’t like it, you didn’t lose a thing and spent more time together!
Love your canvases! We love to paint. We are more of a go buy some canvases, pull out the paint, pull up pinterest and copy a painting from there. I would love to go to a date night class!
This looks so fun! I have been wanting to try it but not sure if I can convince my hubby! 🙂
Such a great date night idea! My ex and I lost sight of this years ago. We worked, focused on our daughter and unfortunately, were gamers. Played Everquest and Dark Ages of Camelot. I would like to think if we did more TOGETHER, we could have made it. So, hearing things like this makes me happy that couples do know how to step back and focus on one another :). Good for you both!
This looks like so much fun, I am trying to find fun date night ideas for my husband and I. This would be great!
This looks like a brilliant idea for date night! I’m not married yet but my fiance and I had agree to go on a date night once a week and this sounds like fun and something we would enjoy.
I am in LOVE with your painting hahaha that’s so my life.
You both did a great job on your paintings. It’s not always easy to make your spouse a priority, but it’s always worth it.
That’s really cool that the paint night was open. I’ve only been to ones where we all had to paint the same thing. Date night ideas can be hard to come by but stuff like this is fun.
Fun. Hubby and I did this for our 3 year anniversary and it was a lot of fun!
Yours is so cute! I actually love painting, not that I’m amazing at it, but I got really into it as a hobby in college. I’d like to start again with my boyfriend… plus, it’s cheaper when you do it at home!
What a fabulous idea and brilliant paintings! We made a goal of at least 1 date night a month for 2017 and we are now at the end of January and have failed at the first hurdle!! We did make it out for coffee one morning so we might just have to count that. I look forward to hearing about your other locations for date night!
I have always wanted to do one of these painting party things, they seem like so much fun and such a great way to create some great artwork for your home!
This looks like so much fun!! There’s a similar event (paint & wine) in Birmingham, UK on Valentine’s Day and I’m really tempted! x
Date nights are something that’s a luxury in our house since we don’t live close to family and our regular babysitter moved. I’ve always loved the idea of a wine and paint date night and it looks like you guys had a blast! I love your coffee painting!
Whoa! I never thought of that….but what a clever and fun idea it is to do a date night painting! Thanks for sharing! I just might consider that as the next date for myself and my hubby 🙂
Oh my heck, I love this! I totally want to do this with my husband. So fun! Thanks for sharing.
This is such a cool idea, unfortunately both me and my husband bond over the fact we are art illiterate haha and would get nowhere near your cool finished paintings!
I have been telling my husband that I want to do this for a date night forever! What a fun night for you guys!
Ive never been to a paint nite but heard they are super fun. Date nights like these are different but fun.
Looks fun. Such a great idea for date night. I will have to convince my hubby to do this with me. Thanks for sharing.
How much fun was that?! Dates are so important, have to keep the romance alive. Groupon is a good place to find adventures
I can see where this would be a lot of fun with the husband or even with a group of girlfriends.
I love those painting classes, actually celebrated my birthday with a few friends at one. This would be a great date night or girls’ night out.
That’s an amazing idea for a date night, and looks like you’re guys had so much fun. I started to learn how to paint a few months ago, it surprises me that it takes a lot of concentration to do it. Your paintings are cute!
This is so cute! I’d never thought of a date night painting. I love the but first coffee painting too 🙂
I wish we had a babysitter we could trust!
I have been wanting to do a night of painting too. I like the idea of making it a date night!
This sounds like a fun date night idea, one that couples won’t normally think of doing! I’m glad you gave it a try, it looks like you both had a great time. I love your artworks as well, especially yours!
I love this idea for a date night. We have been wanting to do it and I like that you were able to paint two different things.
My husband and I did something similar about a couple years ago. I’m not an artist in the least, but I had fun, nonetheless!
This would be SO much fun for a date night! I need to try this with my guy. And your paintings turned out super cute. Good for you on having more date nights. 🙂
I have always wanted to do something like this with my husband. It looks like it would be such a fun night out.
I have done something like this with my girlfriends but never with my guy. I actually think that he would enjoy it.
That looks like such a fun night! Love that you are being intentional about spending time together just the two of you!
This is so fun! My husband and I painted pottery for my birthday and while it’s not really his cup of tea, we had a lot of fun and got something to keep after!
I love this! I’m always trying to think up fun ideas for my hubby and I on date nights. We used to do the same thing each week, but now we’re being more adventurous.
oh wow! You guys did a great job with the paintings! I’ve been wanting to do this with a group of friends!
We have several of these in town and they are great for couples and girls night out! I have a girlfriend from church that actually hosts one at her studio in Santa Fe, NM and I haven’t checked it out but I hear its amazing! I would love to do something like this for Valentine’s Day! It’s totally out of the norm and my husband and I need that!
I love this idea and that he was so happy to go there with you…..sending ideas to Mr. Serious!