Work That Core

When it comes to the core of your marriage relationship, shared beliefs can be very important. As you work on strengthening those beliefs together, you build unity, friendship, and companionship. As you strengthen your core, the rest of your marriage is strengthened. A fun and intense way to practice strengthening your core together would be to take a Core Physique Pilates class together. You can take your first class for just $10/person at Core Physique, located at 18415 Blanco Road, and can choose from a variety of days/times.

Photo courtesy of www.core-physique.com

Like your marriage, strengthening your core is not always an easy task but the benefits are highly advised! You'll feel stronger and healthier, both physically and in your marriage.

The Glory Days

What was your first date with your spouse? Was it special? Does thinking about it elicit old feelings of nervousness and excitement? For me, my first date with my husband ended up being 5 hours long! Now, I'm not suggesting that you must also take a 5-hr date. But what I am suggesting is that you go down memory lane and try to recreate aspects of that first exciting time together. As you do this, let the romance come alive and fall right back into those giddy feelings of new love. It'll add a spark to your well-established love fest and your marriage will be strengthened.

Photo courtesy of Brindle's Ice Creams Facebook

While the entire time of our first date was memorable, I'm going to recommend the last part of it as your next date night idea. We ended our evening at the delicious Brindle's Ice Creams. Located at 11255 Huebner Road, Brindle's is a cute ice cream shop that serves homemade ice cream, gelato, and espresso. You can grab a delicious cup of ice cream and cozy up with your loved on their comfy sofas. The atmosphere is way more comfy than your everyday ice cream shop and I guarantee the cream tastes better too! Most of us don't have time for 5 hours of nonstop fun, but you can take the time to run over to Brindle's and grab a quick treat to share (or if you are like me, eat your own cup and take bites of your spouse's too!).

Early Bird Gets the Worm... Or the Segway

Sometimes the desire to go on a date is there but finding the time just seems impossible. If you're willing to get up early, you can enjoy a wonderful, fun date and breakfast too! SegCity San Antonio Tours and Sales is a company that offers Segway tours in major cities throughout the state of Texas. In San Antonio, they offer the "Breakfast Tour" which involves 6:30am departure and a guided tour along the Riverwalk, King William District, and a hot breakfast at the Guenther House. The tour, including breakfast, lasts 2 hours so you'll have plenty of time to go about the rest of your busy day. If you are interested in the other San Antonio tours they have to offer, click here.

Photo courtesy of thesanantoniriverwalk.com

When it comes to your marriage, making time for one another needs to be a high priority. When you put each other first, you build love, trust, and appreciation for one another. So if you can't seem to find the time for a date during your day, try this Segway date before your day even begins.

The Grass is Always Gruene

The Texas Hill Country is the next door neighbor to good ole San Anton. The Hill Country is home to many gems including one of the greatest small towns in the state. Located along the Guadalupe River, Gruene, TX is home to the state's "oldest continually operating and most famous dance hall"- Gruene Hall. What started out as an 1800s dancehall has turned into a world famous venue. Famous musicians and artists have been performing here for decades. Your sure to catch someone exciting on a Friday or Saturday night. For a list of famous artists who have performed at Gruene Hall, click here. Ticket prices vary but are very affordable, usually $10-35/person. Whoever you see performing, your sure to work up an appetite. Located behind Gruene Hall is a delicious restaurant, the Gristmill. Open since 1977, the Gristmill stays in historic fashion with the rest of the town as the main building is an original cotton gin. You can learn more about the menu here.

Photo courtesy of gruenehall.com

Gruene, TX has remained true to its roots by saving the integrity of the businesses and people that founded this cute southern town. As you stroll through the strees of Gruene, enjoy live music in the dancehall, and satisfy your appetite with a delicious meal at the Gristmill, take the time to reflect on the foundation of your own marriage and family. What things are important to you? What standards or goals do you want to live by? Discuss these important things with your spouse. With the speed at which life seems to fly by these days, it's important to go back to roots every now and then and remember what things are truly important to your marriage. Doing this will help you stay on course together and build unity and confidence in one another.

Prime Time

When was the last time you got dressed up, went to a fancy steakhouse, and enjoyed each other’s company under candlelight? While it doesn’t have to be all of those, this sounds like the prime setting to really turn towards one another and connect. Put away your cellphones and tablets and really focus on connecting in meaningful, uplifting conversation. As you do this, you’ll turn towards one another which Dr. John Gottman says fills “the couple’s emotional bank account.” Spouses who do this are “building an emotional savings that are key to long-lasting romance.” Myron’s Prime Steakhouse, located at 10003 NW Military Highway, San Antonio, TX 78231, offers the prime time to bring your loved one for a special night of emotional savings. Myron’s is known around town for its savory steak, mouthwatering sides, and decadent desserts. It’s received several awards and high ratings, from quality, taste and service. Even better, Groupon currently is offering vouchers of $30 for Dinner for 2 and  $50 value or $60 for Dinner for 4 and $100 value.

Photo courtesy of groupon.com

If you're having trouble finding a sitter for the kids, take a look at our Parents' Night Out page for an ever-growing list of options for child care.

Party Art-y

For many parents, the conversation that happen inside their home revolve around a child’s vocabulary and interests. What’s going on with your children is central to your family life, but what’s going on in your marriage is vital to keeping that family life happy. What’s a better place to have an adult conversation than the San Antonio Museum of Art? Located at 200 West Jones Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78215, The SAMA offers an exciting event on the 2^nd Friday of every month called: “Art Party.” This event is $10/adult and is held from 6pm-8:30pm. This Friday, March 8^th, the Dirty River Dixie Band will be playing, drinks will be available for purchase, various gallery tours will be available, “Art Activity: TASK Night” will be happening, and a food truck might even show up. From their website, “TASK is an improvisational art event. Write a task for someone else to complete and add it to the TASK pool. Pull out a task and complete it using materials we provide.” For more information, visit their website by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of samuseum.org

Love Language Date

Do you know what you Love Language is? Do you know your spouse's Love Language? Gary Chapman has discovered the 5 ways people most often feel loved- aka: 5 Love Languages. You can read his book or just take the quiz online here to discover you and your spouse's love languages. Knowing how you feel most loved and how your spouse feels most loved can really help your marital relationship be strong and effective.

We took the test, got our results, and then put it to the test on our date night here. You can watch the video below and read more about the date from this previous post. We recommend taking the test and trying this out on your next date, whether that be at home or on the town. The purpose of the Love Languages is to apply them daily, so give it a shot and keep working at helping your spouse feel loved in the most effective ways.

The Rollercade

Keep the flame burning under the neon lights of the San Antonio’s Rollercade. One of the city’s oldies but goodies, The Rollercade is a family owned and operated skate rink that has been around since 1959. The Rollercade’s décor is full of neon and brings you right back to the glory days of the 70s and 80s. While the hair and clothing options have since improved, the Rollercade continues to offer the memorable entertainment found in a classic roller rink.  Located at 223 Recoleta, San Antonio, TX 78216, the rink is open Tuesday-Sunday. Specials run throughout the week making this an ideal weeknight date too. These including “Bargain Day” on Tuesday and “Adult Skate Night” on Wednesday. For more information on pricing, see here.

Photo courtesy of therollercade.com

The Rollercade can be a reminder of simpler times. Life can be crazy, busy, and many things can fall to the wayside. However, your marriage doesn't fall to the back burner. You can keep the flame burning between you and your spouse through simply daily tasks. According to strongermarriage.org, these 10 tasks are just a few ways you can improve your relationship daily. Take the time as you skate down the floor with your loved one to try some of these out.
v

The Need for Speed

Got the need for speed? Hit the San Antonio Raceway with your honey and let the cares of the world fly by as you race down San Antonio’s ¼ mile racetrack. From their website, “San Antonio Raceway is a drag strip where all drivers are welcomed. Just outside of downtown San Antonio drivers of all ages and groups come out to feel the excitement of roaring down the ¼ mile.” If you don’t fancy getting behind the wheel, you can join the stadium that holds 20,000 fans cheering on the other drag racers. The raceway is located in a suburb of San Antonio at 3641 S Santa Clara Rd, Marion, TX 78124. The raceway holds special events throughout the year and the calendar of events can be found here. One exciting event that is happening at SA Raceway next weekend, February 25^th-28^th, is the Pride of Texas Carnival. Tickets start at $5/person and are purchased at the ticket gate. You can enjoy the carnival, food, racing, and more.

Photo courtesy of saraceway.com

Relationship Reconnection:

The raceway can be a fun environment for you and your spouse to connect and build a deeper friendship. According to John Gottman and Nan Silver, authors of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, “The determining factor in whether wives and husbands feel satisfied with the sex, romance, and passion in their marriage, is, by 70 percent, the quality of the couple’s friendship.” So have fun with each other, enjoy a yummy fried food from the concession stand, and cheer on the racers as they fly by and your friendship grows.

The Return of the Great Adventure

You may remember this line from a old favorite:

"Indiana Jones. Always knew you'd come walkin' back through my door. I never doubted that. Something made it inevitable."


No. This isn't an announcement that a new Indiana Jones movie is coming out. This is, however, a heads up that the oldie but goodie "Raiders of the Lost Ark" will be shown on big screen and accompanied live by the San Antonio Symphony. This is happening for 2 days only, February 19th and 20th, at the Majestic Theatre (226 E Houston Street, San Antonio, TX 78205). Tickets start at $25 each and are going fast so don't miss out on this awesome experience.

Photo courtesy of sasymphony.org

Relationship Reconnection:

Let's get a little personal, here. My husband was a HUGE Indiana Jones fan when he was a little guy. He loved everything about Jones' adventures. He also happened to take me to see the San Antonio Symphony for our first Valentine's together. When I saw this was happening this month, I knew I had to get us tickets. Not only would it be a blast from his childhood past but it also gives us a special time to reflect on the special memories we've shared together. Were you or your spouse fans of Indiana Jones? Maybe your spouse loves the symphony? Or maybe you'd like a good excuse to get dolled up for one another and enjoy the evening kid-free? Here's your excuse to spend some quality time with your loved one. Hope to see you there!

Today's Mission: Kayaking

The Riverwalk is a beautiful place to take a walk, but have you ever wanted to be on the water itself? Mission Kayak offers you that experience and much more! Located on the southern part of the San Antonio River, on what’s referred to as the Mission Reach, Mission Kayak offers an ideal combination of kayaking and sightseeing. The San Antonio Missions are all located along the river and you can see them as you kayak down the water. Tours begin at Espada Park, 330 Mission Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78214 and usually run from 9am- 1pm.  Aren’t an experienced kayaker? No worries because “95% of [their] customers are first time kayakers.” There are also several options to choose from. You and your spouse can rent individual kayaks or tandem. You can also choose between the 2, 3, or 5-mile guided trips or you can rent just the kayak and explore on your own. The guided trips last between 1.5-4 hours, depending on the length and pace. The trips include a shuttle service, life jackets, paddles, and the kayaks. Reservations start at $35/person and can be made for weekdays or weekends. Groups of 4 or more can receive a discount.

Photo courtesy of missionkayak.com

Relationship Reconnection:

Whether you ride separately or in tandem, exploring the river and seeing the missions can be an amazing experience. This wholesome activity can provide a physically and emotionally strengthening experience for both of you. The U.S. Navy says kayaking together and not alone is one of the most important safety steps you can take when kayaking. Similarly, working together in marriage and family is important and vital to the success of your relationships. We can’t just coast through our lives and hope that the waters of life stay calm and free of turbulence. Life is meant to have trials and tribulations to help us grow and develop. Marriage is a safeguarding relationship where we can help one another get through the turbulent patches and grow together. While this kayaking experience may not have many tough areas to navigate through, it is a fun way to build teamwork, positivity, and appreciation for one another’s companionship and support.

A Spooky Stroll

San Antonio’s history has a lot to offer for those who like a little spook at night. Sisters Grimm offers many options to discover the rich history of the city through walking tours and dining tours. This month they even have a special Valentine’s dinner and tour- "True Love Never Dies." The Ghost Walk is a guided tour by candlelight that explores historic sites downtown. Starting at Alamo Plaza, the tour takes about 1.5 hours so be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes. Prices are $15/adult. The dining tour includes the Ghost Walk, a 3-course meal inside the famous Menger Hotel, and a 30-minute tour of the historic hotel. The prices for the dining tours start at $65/adult. Dinners can start as early as 6:30pm and the walking tours begin around 8:30pm. For tickets and reservations click here.

Photo courtesy of sistersgrimmghosttour.com

Relationship Reconnection:

Whether you go for the whole dining experience or just the walking tour, cuddling up with your loved one along the way can be a great experience for both of you. Hold hands, cuddle tight when things get a little spooky, and laugh along the way. While the tour may be haunted, your love story doesn’t have to be. Focus on the positive interactions and memories you’ve shared together. Make this night another one that adds to the joy you’ve shared together, even through the spookiest of times.

Cruisin' Together

There’s really no way to experience San Antonio like a riverboat cruise down the San Antonio River. The magic of the lights, trees, sounds, and nightlife of the Riverwalk really bring an exciting view from the comforts of a riverboat. Rio San Antonio Cruises offers affordable and convenient cruises along the river. Tickets can be purchased online or at several cruise stations along the Riverwalk. General Admission is $8.25 for adults or $6 for Bexar County residents, senior citizens, and members of the military.

Relationship Reconnection:

Pink Rink

Get cozy with your loved one as you cheer on San Antonio’s favorite team on ice. The San Antonio Rampage is San Antonio’s AHL team and their season is going on right now! Home games are held at the AT&T Center, 1 AT&T Center Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78219. This week’s game is held on Friday, February 5^th at 7:30pm and it’s a special night for everyone. In support of Breast Cancer Awareness, the ice will be pink, the players will be in pink jerseys, and the first 1,000 ticket buyers will receive a free pink puck. Tickets start at $10 and there’s a $1 special on all sodas for the night.

Photo courtesy of sarampage.com

Relationship Reconnection:

In marriage, it’s important to remember you are both on the same team. You’re both trying to bring happiness into your family life, trying to do your part and fulfill your responsibilities, and trying to strengthen your marriage relationship. An easy way to remind your spouse that you are on their team is to cheer on another team together! Surprise your spouse with tickets to Friday night’s game and cheer on the Rampage together. While this game may mean nothing more than entertainment for you, it can be an opportunity to build unity and have fun together.

Dinner and a Movie

Want to get a bite to eat and catch a movie but don't have a lot of time to do both? Well at Alamo Drafthouse you can get dinner and a movie at the same time. These theater seats have a table in front of you and a waiter available for you to order delicious food while you watch an awesome film. The vision behind Alamo Drafthouse is to give you the ultimate movie-watching experience. Dinner and a movie without the noisy neighbors, long previews, or distracting texters in the theatre. From their website, "We have zero tolerance for talking or cell phone use of any kind during movies.We also hate it when other movie theaters make you watch advertisements after you've already paid to see the movie, so we're vigilant about never letting ads hit our screens." Their menu is also innovative and ever-changing with new menu items every 3 months.

There are 3 locations in San Antonio- Park North (618 NW Loop 410), Stone Oak (22806 US Hwy 281 N), and Westlakes (1255 SW Loop 410). So whether it's a new blockbuster you're wanting to see or an old classic, Alamo Drafthouse can offer you the ultimate dinner-and-a-movie date night.

Photo courtesy of centraltexasmom.com

Relationship Reconnection: 

Movie time can be the quiet time you've both been needing. Sitting together uninterrupted by life's responsibilities, enjoying a laugh or a cry, can bring you the physical and emotional closeness your relationship needs regularly. Life can be busy and sometimes it's hard to find even a few minutes to just sit and enjoy the same moment together. Make the most of your time. Sit close, share a dessert, hold hands, and turn off your cell phones. Escape from the worries of the world and focus on enjoying the evening together.

Rodeo San Antonio!

It’s that time of year. Let’s rodeo, San Antonio! The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo offers entertainment involving attractions, food, musical performances, horse show, livestock show, and of course the rodeo. Located at the AT&T Center and Freeman Coliseum at 3201 Houston Street, the SA Stock Show and Rodeo begins February 11^th- 28^th. You can play in the Carnival, see a show, or explore the grounds together. Tickets can start as low as $15 each, with deals on wristbands and other packages and tickets found on the SA Stock Show and Rodeo website.

 

Photo courtesy of fairguideusa.com

Relationship Reconnection:

The Stock Show and Rodeo offer a variety of entertainment and activities to choose from. What kind of activities would your spouse be interested in doing? Is he/she an animal lover? Do they enjoy country music, R&B, hip/hop, or even music from the 80s? Maybe they would love to spend time with you over a fried twinkie and funnel cake? A helpful tool in identifying which activity would be most meaningful for your spouse is identifying their love language. In doing so you can ensure a meaningful and fun night at the SA Stock Show & Rodeo.

A Swingin' Good Time

Falling in love is easy but keeping the romance alive is the real deal. Every couple needs to nurture their relationship and continually feed the fire of romance. Help him sweep you off your feet with a couple’s swing dance class. The San Antonio Swing Dance Society is offering a special Groupon deal: 4-week couples classes for $35. The package include 4 weeks of classes and a dance social following each class. Classes are held at Blossom Park at 12066 Starcrest, Building 2, Suite 210, San Antonio, TX 78247. According to Groupon, “Classes take place at the Semeneya ballroom on Wednesdays from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. After each class, dancers can practice their steps in two-hour social dances, which are included in the cost.”

Photo courtesy of meetup.com 

Relationship Reconnection:

Taking time to nurture your relationship will go a long way. Psychology Today found several studies that show where physical touch is “crucial in creating and strengthening romantic relationships, is highly correlated with overall relationship and partner satisfaction, and conflicts are resolved more easily.” Swing dancing involves plenty of physical touch with your partner. So put this to the test and see which areas in your relationship are strengthened over the course of your dance lessons. 

SA Japanese Tea Garden

Escape to nature in the historical, sunken garden. Cultivated from an old quarry, this beautiful garden offers a waterfall, koi ponds, pagoda, and lush vegetation. Free to the public and open daily until dark, this beautiful garden will give you a glimpse of life in the Far East. While you’re there, take time to enjoy a bento box, salad, sushi, or other delightful food items at the Jingu House, located at the entrance of the Garden. The Japanese Tea Garden is located at 3852 N St Mary’s St., San Antonio, TX 78212, near Brackenridge Park and the SA Zoo.

Photo courtesy of Flickr- Drew Kolb

Relationship Reconnection:

While you’re exploring the serene paths of the Japanese Tea Garden, take the time to connect with your spouse through conversation. Just as the Garden has a historical story of its own, so does your relationship. Take the time to reconnect by sharing fond memories with each other. Ask sincere, loving questions. Be an active listener and give sincere compliments. Focus on each other as you embrace the calming atmosphere. The cares of the world will go away and all that will be left is the stillness of the Garden and the nurturing of your relationship.