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Tuesday

The Importance Of Date Nights

I remember the first date Ian and I ever went on.  It was a chilly December night.  He picked me up from my apartment where I'd just been getting ready, listening to music and experimenting with my best makeup.  Not drinking a glass of wine as I got ready, as I typically like to do, but who wants to be that girl who has one too many glasses of wine on a first date?!

We had dinner reservations at 300 East in the Dilworth neighborhood of Charlotte.  It was Ian's choice, and he truly knocked it out of the park with that one.  It fit all of the perfect criteria: local (please don't take me to Applebee's on a first date), not huge (quaint and cozy is the perfect atmosphere for getting to know someone), and not extremely expensive (please don't take me out to the nicest restaurant just to try to prove that you CAN.  Ugh.). 

As dinner was coming to an end, we were having such a great time, and I was secretly sad at the prospect of going home.  Ian then asked if I wanted to choose a place for us to go for one last drink.  YES!

See, this was my perfect night.  A languid time getting ready -- special makeup -- an inspired restaurant with delicious dinner -- sharing dinner and drinks -- a nightcap drink.

And this Saturday, we did it again.  Not only did we have a fantastic time together, but we were perma-smiling the whole next day about what a great and relaxed evening it was. 

We began our evening with music on the stereo -- Damien Rice.  Perfection.

I whipped out the good stuff -- my Chanel eye makeup that I only wear on special evenings out.  (This, if you are interested.)



I enjoyed a glass of sauv blanc as I got ready for the evening.


We drove to the restaurant and pushed back our reservations to enjoy a drink together at the bar.

We devoured the most delicious dinner at Zink. and talked and laughed the whole time.

We decided we weren't ready to end the night, so we stopped in to Bricktop's for one last drink together.

And we took silly kissing photos in the big mirrors above the bar.


It's not so often anymore that we do date nights like this ... but it was the perfect refresher for how fun a night like this can be, and how great it is for keeping your relationship strong.  We have made a vow to have nights like this more often!

PS - On our first date, Ian let me choose the glass of wine for each of us, he let me take a sip of his before he even tasted it, and he made me a big fork-full of his delicious hangar steak and mashed potatoes.  A sharer.  A good trait in a man, methinks.

26 comments:

  1. Liz,
    Hi!! I'm so happy you stopped by today. Loved your date night with your hubby. My husband and I had a date night last Friday night and it was so much fun. It is SO important to keep the relationship a top priority.

    Loving your fridge oatmeal. I love oatmeal all winter long, so this is something I have to try this summer.

    I never went to the Sleepy Poet...I will put it on my list for next time!

    I really miss Charlotte.
    Have a great day!
    xoxo Elizabeth

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  3. This sounds like you two had such a sweet date night! I wrote a post about dating your husband a couple of weeks ago (http://laurensweetnothings.blogspot.com/2012/06/on-dating-your-husband.html). It's so easy to get into a routine. Brian and I realized we had, and we've been purposly going out more and have had so much fun. Summer is the perfect time for romantic date nights! :)

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  4. Datenights are the best and Charlotte is such a fun town:) My husband and I met there and we both miss it (though Nashville is a close second)!

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  5. so sweet! i love date nights when we go all out!

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  6. I have a love hate relationship with first dates! They can either be amazing or torture...but those amazing ones are soooo worth it!

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  7. Date nights are VERY important. I, too, enjoyed a glass of my favorite Sauv Blanc before our date night this weekend. Not sure what kind you like, but my favorite is anything from the Marlborough New Zealand area!

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  8. YOU LOOK SO PRETTY for date night!

    300 East is definitely a great first date spot. Our first date was at Phat Burrito in SouthEnd, and then we went to a concert nearby. It was so perfect.

    I absolutely love date nights - good conversation over a long meal! Such a good way to "reconnect" after a long day or week!

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  9. thanks for the wonderful post april...i needed a reminder that jeff and i still need to have a date night every once in awhile!! planning starts NOW

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  10. I love Charlotte! My friends Aunt has a house on Lake Norman, so we visit all the time!
    You and your hinny are precious and your date night sounded perfect! I completely agree when you say how important they are...gotta keep that spark going ; )

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  11. You and your hunny** haha gotta love autocorrect!!!

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  12. Love date nights and think they are so important! This date night sounds and looks like it was so much fun! Good for you and cute outfit!!!! Erica

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  13. precious! I am a big believer in still having weekly or bi weekly date nights with the hubs. it is so important!! you looked gorgeous!

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  14. I absolutely love this post. So so much. We haven't been able to do this nearly as much as we'd like, but it seems like such a great idea!!

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  15. You two are precious! It's nice that you can enjoy each other's company, and pretend like you are going on that first exciting date over and over :)

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  16. I agree about the importance of date nights! I like your cute kissy pics, so cute!

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  17. I totally agree! Date night is a great idea for married couples. It's important to take that special time together.

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  18. I also agree! My husband and I try to go out to dinner and do date night like this at least like 2 times a month. We went out for sushi last friday and ended up going out to a craft cocktail bar afterwards, and it was sheer perfection!

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  19. Oh my gosh, most adorable post ever. Thanks so much for sharing this sweet, romantic moment with all of us. I wish we did more of these. You look great! Tell me about that fabulous bracelet??

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  20. Umm, I love you two. Is that creepy? You guys are just darling and I love that you love spending time together. Very inspiring.

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  21. Great post! What a great first date y'all had. Mr. Smith and I need to be more deliberate about going on dates ALONE. We always want to turn things into a social event, but every once in awhile you need that time together, out of the house, where you can both relax and not have to do dishes after!

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  22. Such a sweet post. Date nights are so key. It's always fun to get dressed up for your man!

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  23. Love this! I also think date nights are so important! I loved seeing this pics on Instagram! Y'all are adorable!

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  24. We love date nights too! I can't wait to be able to drink wine again! :)

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  25. What a sexy man, sharing even on the first date? That is super sweet!!

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  26. Love this post! We ate at Zinc when we were there - cool restaurant!

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