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Little Book of Great Dates: 52 Creative Ideas to Make Your Marriage Fun
The Little Book of Great Dates will help build romance and fun into any marriage with its creative ideas for a year’s worth of weekly affordable dates. This book—a simpler, gift version of Focus on the Family’s The Date Night Challenge campaign—will help couples to proactively and intentionally build their relationship, showing how everyday activities can become “dates” that strengthen the marriage relationship. It includes plans for special-occasion dates, such as the couple’s anniversaries (first date, engagement, wedding), birthdays, etc. Couples can get to know each other better by sharing fun times and discover dating again in their marriage with this great little book of ideas!
- GenresMarriageNonfiction
145 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2013
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60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 8, 2013
Ask me to show you the person on earth who touches my life in the most special ways, and I will introduce you to my wife (Shawn). We’ve been together 32 years and I look forward to our next 32. Our relationship has been through many seasons, and we recently entered a new one - Empty Nesters. Little Book of Great Dates is small in size (and font!) but packs a wallop as it sounds the wake-up call that I cannot take my relationship with Shawn for granted. The authors, Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, urge me to be intentional about investing in my marriage.
The book is organized as a series of 52 ideas for dates. Each is introduced with an interesting quote followed by a mini-devotional. The dating activities do have some repetition throughout the book but provide a great starting point for the creative reader ready to improvise. Discussion questions are included for those having trouble talking with the spouse about couple topics.
I am not sure if Greg or Erin authored this line but it has attached itself to my mind - “remember to always act as if you’re trying to get a second date.” Good advice to let Shawn know how valued she is and the special place she holds in my heart. Date #2 suggests ballroom dancing lessons and I plan to redact that suggestion before Shawn reads the book. I do well to walk and talk at the same time!
Date #3 offers this admonition - “There is always something new to learn about your spouse” followed by the direction that I “continually be a student of my spouse.” Couple time provides a ready classroom for my research. Shawn did not come with a User’s Guide and after 32 years I am still learning how she thinks and what she likes.
Little Book of Great Dates would be a great gift for newly-weds or the experienced couple. It can be a stimulus to get the reader off the couch investing in his or her relationship. Ladies, I know some guys are not likely to pick up a book like this one but if you have a copy handy, maybe he will read the pages you’ve marked.
Happy dating!
Note - Tyndale House Publishers provided a complimentary copy of the book to facilitate this review.
The book is organized as a series of 52 ideas for dates. Each is introduced with an interesting quote followed by a mini-devotional. The dating activities do have some repetition throughout the book but provide a great starting point for the creative reader ready to improvise. Discussion questions are included for those having trouble talking with the spouse about couple topics.
I am not sure if Greg or Erin authored this line but it has attached itself to my mind - “remember to always act as if you’re trying to get a second date.” Good advice to let Shawn know how valued she is and the special place she holds in my heart. Date #2 suggests ballroom dancing lessons and I plan to redact that suggestion before Shawn reads the book. I do well to walk and talk at the same time!
Date #3 offers this admonition - “There is always something new to learn about your spouse” followed by the direction that I “continually be a student of my spouse.” Couple time provides a ready classroom for my research. Shawn did not come with a User’s Guide and after 32 years I am still learning how she thinks and what she likes.
Little Book of Great Dates would be a great gift for newly-weds or the experienced couple. It can be a stimulus to get the reader off the couch investing in his or her relationship. Ladies, I know some guys are not likely to pick up a book like this one but if you have a copy handy, maybe he will read the pages you’ve marked.
Happy dating!
Note - Tyndale House Publishers provided a complimentary copy of the book to facilitate this review.
October 9, 2013
About the Book:
"The Little Book of Great Dates" will help build romance and fun into any marriage with its creative ideas for a year's worth of weekly affordable dates. This book--a simpler, gift version of Focus on the Family's The Date Night Challenge campaign--will help couples to proactively and intentionally build their relationship, showing how everyday activities can become "dates" that strengthen the marriage relationship. It includes plans for special-occasion dates, such as the couple's anniversaries (first date, engagement, wedding), birthdays, etc. Couples can get to know each other better by sharing fun times and discover dating again in their marriage with this great little book of ideas.
My Review:
After we get married the fire and the spark that were before the marriage seems to fizzle out. And being married and all that goes with that title seem to take over and those feelings while dating your spouse get forgotten. I know for ma and my husband we will be married 19 years in a few weeks and it seems to have already left us. Your desire for the perfect home and the perfect children and the perfect marriage seem to overrun the love factor or feelings of love.
The Little Book of Great Dates is a very small, pocket sized book filled to the brim with 52 different date ideas for the married couple. This book is mean to go along with Focus on the Family's Date Night Challenge Campaign which is a campaign to strengthen and unify the marriage unit. Nowadays, it is getting harder and harder to find couples that have been married for really long extended periods of time. Now we have a little help in this area. Each date has some words of wisdom to help you get in the right frame of mind, activities to do and questions to use while on the date with your spouse.
This book is perfect especially for that married couple wanting to rekindle those butterflies that new love creates. If you are interested in learning more about this book you can go to this link.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher.
"The Little Book of Great Dates" will help build romance and fun into any marriage with its creative ideas for a year's worth of weekly affordable dates. This book--a simpler, gift version of Focus on the Family's The Date Night Challenge campaign--will help couples to proactively and intentionally build their relationship, showing how everyday activities can become "dates" that strengthen the marriage relationship. It includes plans for special-occasion dates, such as the couple's anniversaries (first date, engagement, wedding), birthdays, etc. Couples can get to know each other better by sharing fun times and discover dating again in their marriage with this great little book of ideas.
My Review:
After we get married the fire and the spark that were before the marriage seems to fizzle out. And being married and all that goes with that title seem to take over and those feelings while dating your spouse get forgotten. I know for ma and my husband we will be married 19 years in a few weeks and it seems to have already left us. Your desire for the perfect home and the perfect children and the perfect marriage seem to overrun the love factor or feelings of love.
The Little Book of Great Dates is a very small, pocket sized book filled to the brim with 52 different date ideas for the married couple. This book is mean to go along with Focus on the Family's Date Night Challenge Campaign which is a campaign to strengthen and unify the marriage unit. Nowadays, it is getting harder and harder to find couples that have been married for really long extended periods of time. Now we have a little help in this area. Each date has some words of wisdom to help you get in the right frame of mind, activities to do and questions to use while on the date with your spouse.
This book is perfect especially for that married couple wanting to rekindle those butterflies that new love creates. If you are interested in learning more about this book you can go to this link.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher.
October 17, 2013
Do you know the saying, "good things come in small packages"? That is a very apt description of this little book. It is the size of a 5 x 7 card and less than a half inch thick but it is packed full of wonderful ideas for you and your beloved. It has a beautiful navy blue leather cover and I think it would make the perfect gift for that favorite couple in your life . . . that is after you've purchased a copy for yourself!
In the Introduction the Smalleys discuss how dating seems to take a back seat after we are married. We take on new roles and have a kid or two and then before we know it our dating life is just a distant memory. One of the things I like about this book is that they don't diminish the fact that finding time to date your spouse is hard work. Something always comes up but it is important that we make time for what is important and our marriages are important!
There are fifty-two dates included in this book. That is enough for one date a week for a year! Another thing that I appreciate about this book is that these date ideas are practical and affordable. There aren't crazy detailed preparations that you have to make. After all who would even wind up going if you had to spend hours preparing?!! The cost of the dates is kept to a minimum and they even suggest ideas that would keep the amount next to nothing.
I recommend this product to anyone that is looking for a way to enhance their marriage. I also think it would be a nice way to encourage that special couple you know. I'm personally going to get several copies for stocking stuffers for my married kids this Christmas.
I received a copy of the book to facilitate my review.
In the Introduction the Smalleys discuss how dating seems to take a back seat after we are married. We take on new roles and have a kid or two and then before we know it our dating life is just a distant memory. One of the things I like about this book is that they don't diminish the fact that finding time to date your spouse is hard work. Something always comes up but it is important that we make time for what is important and our marriages are important!
There are fifty-two dates included in this book. That is enough for one date a week for a year! Another thing that I appreciate about this book is that these date ideas are practical and affordable. There aren't crazy detailed preparations that you have to make. After all who would even wind up going if you had to spend hours preparing?!! The cost of the dates is kept to a minimum and they even suggest ideas that would keep the amount next to nothing.
I recommend this product to anyone that is looking for a way to enhance their marriage. I also think it would be a nice way to encourage that special couple you know. I'm personally going to get several copies for stocking stuffers for my married kids this Christmas.
I received a copy of the book to facilitate my review.
November 2, 2013
This little book is packed with creative ideas for fifty-two dates which are meant to encourage and inspire more intimacy and fun in your relationship with your spouse. The fifty-two date ideas are meant to be used at least once a month, but ideally one date a week for optimum fun.
This book is very well written, includes powerfully creative ideas to help encourage conversation, intimacy and growth by trying new things and working together, by celebrating milestones and reminiscing, but mostly by creating opportunities to get away from the busy-ness, the mundane and the chores and just have fun together.
This book, with its questions, was a bit overwhelming for me. I was also frustrated because some of the ideas would never work for us. My emotions ran from frustration to discouragement, to doubt, but then finally to hope that perhaps I could find a way to incorporate some of the ideas in the book. In truth, the adage to just start small and take baby steps brought me the bit of hope I needed. By taking advantage of holidays, birthdays and milestones, one can seize them as opportunities to make their mate feel special, affirmed and loved.
Personally, I think it was a great little book. But, it's best read and used together, as a couple. That being said, couples who already read together probably have conversations like these, probably are not threatened by these types of questions, therefore, may not need a book like this.
See review at: http://profitableprose.blogspot.com/2...
This book is very well written, includes powerfully creative ideas to help encourage conversation, intimacy and growth by trying new things and working together, by celebrating milestones and reminiscing, but mostly by creating opportunities to get away from the busy-ness, the mundane and the chores and just have fun together.
This book, with its questions, was a bit overwhelming for me. I was also frustrated because some of the ideas would never work for us. My emotions ran from frustration to discouragement, to doubt, but then finally to hope that perhaps I could find a way to incorporate some of the ideas in the book. In truth, the adage to just start small and take baby steps brought me the bit of hope I needed. By taking advantage of holidays, birthdays and milestones, one can seize them as opportunities to make their mate feel special, affirmed and loved.
Personally, I think it was a great little book. But, it's best read and used together, as a couple. That being said, couples who already read together probably have conversations like these, probably are not threatened by these types of questions, therefore, may not need a book like this.
See review at: http://profitableprose.blogspot.com/2...
October 24, 2013
What a cute little book, and full of so many great ideas!
When you get this book, be sure to read the introduction. Sometimes I skip the intros, but I was glad I read this one. The Smalley's are so open and honest, willing to put their struggles out there so that other couples might learn from them.
I have to say that I have not put this book of date ideas to use just yet, because I am hoping to share it with my husband first. We don't like to spend a lot of money on our date nights, and there are some great ideas in here that won't break the bank.
One of the dates is "Remember When," and I am already looking forward to that one, but I think it is #13 so I'll have to wait a while. Another one that sounds fun to me, is #39 Cooking Up Something Fun.
But let me warn you about something. #23 Time for a Check-Up is something that the authors want you to do on their website, and it costs $29.95, blah blah blah. I really quit reading that one at that point. I seriously thought this would just be a bunch of fun date ideas, I didn't expect or want someone to evaluate us as a couple. If you are someone that wants them to evaluate your marriage, etc. then that's great. I just wanted everyone to know that it is there, and I wasn't too crazy about it.
All in all, it is a cute book with lots of fun ideas. It would be a fun gift for anniversaries, or Christmas especially since it has 52 dates, and starts with A New Year's Date.
When you get this book, be sure to read the introduction. Sometimes I skip the intros, but I was glad I read this one. The Smalley's are so open and honest, willing to put their struggles out there so that other couples might learn from them.
I have to say that I have not put this book of date ideas to use just yet, because I am hoping to share it with my husband first. We don't like to spend a lot of money on our date nights, and there are some great ideas in here that won't break the bank.
One of the dates is "Remember When," and I am already looking forward to that one, but I think it is #13 so I'll have to wait a while. Another one that sounds fun to me, is #39 Cooking Up Something Fun.
But let me warn you about something. #23 Time for a Check-Up is something that the authors want you to do on their website, and it costs $29.95, blah blah blah. I really quit reading that one at that point. I seriously thought this would just be a bunch of fun date ideas, I didn't expect or want someone to evaluate us as a couple. If you are someone that wants them to evaluate your marriage, etc. then that's great. I just wanted everyone to know that it is there, and I wasn't too crazy about it.
All in all, it is a cute book with lots of fun ideas. It would be a fun gift for anniversaries, or Christmas especially since it has 52 dates, and starts with A New Year's Date.
February 9, 2016
I got a chance to review the Little Book of Great Dates: 52 Creative Ideas to Make Your Marriage Fun by Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley. Dr. Greg Smalley is the son of Dr. Gary Smalley and has followed in his father's footsteps of being a great marriage counselor. I was so pleased when I got this book to find it is a super cute little leather like book with a precious heart embossed on it. It would make a fabulous gift as it is not just paperback.
But it's not just the outside of the book that is great but the contents as well. It has 52 different date ideas but they aren't just your typical go do this or go do that dates. These are ideas for the themes of the dates and questions to talk about while you are on them. There are dates for special occasions and dates to remember your first date. Lots of great ideas!! I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to do some of these ideas with my husband once my back surgery is over and I'm up and moving around again.
I received a free copy of this product from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.
But it's not just the outside of the book that is great but the contents as well. It has 52 different date ideas but they aren't just your typical go do this or go do that dates. These are ideas for the themes of the dates and questions to talk about while you are on them. There are dates for special occasions and dates to remember your first date. Lots of great ideas!! I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to do some of these ideas with my husband once my back surgery is over and I'm up and moving around again.
I received a free copy of this product from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.
December 17, 2013
This is a great little book of ideas for dates for you and your spouse! Ideas of things to do, tidbits on improving your marriage, and even questions you can ask each other. Some things are so super basic that it did affect my rating a bit, but there's some good stuff in here. I like how it gives you an activity idea (or a list of ideas to choose from, sometimes an alternate activity, and then questions. For instance, for "A New Year's Date", it's suggested that with the idea of new goals and new beginnings you switch it up and have a breakfast date, or some other morning activity such as maybe taking a hike together. The questions to ask each other are "What are some positive goals we can set for our marriage over the next six months? The next year? How can we work together to achieve these goals? Is there a specific area you feel God wants us to work on together, as a team, to make our marriage the best it can be?" This is a nice little book for anyone wanting to strengthen their marriage, or just keep it strong.
I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 7, 2016
A cute little leather book filled with creative and fun ideas for dates to enhance your marriage. Use the book to have one date a month for a year, or jump around in the book to fit the date to the occasion. Each date chapter begins with a story, then has the list of activities that fit with the subject. At the end of the list is some questions to ask your spouse at the end of the date.
The ideas were fun. Not all of them will apply to every person, but there are enough in each chapter that everyone will be able to find something to fit their style. The questions were prompt deeper intimacy and will help you learn more about the one you love the most. The authors shared their own stories which gave it a more personal feel and helped to bring across some important points. I also liked the pretty blue cover. It added a nice touch. I really enjoyed this and look forward to going on these dates with my husband.
I received this book free of charge from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.
The ideas were fun. Not all of them will apply to every person, but there are enough in each chapter that everyone will be able to find something to fit their style. The questions were prompt deeper intimacy and will help you learn more about the one you love the most. The authors shared their own stories which gave it a more personal feel and helped to bring across some important points. I also liked the pretty blue cover. It added a nice touch. I really enjoyed this and look forward to going on these dates with my husband.
I received this book free of charge from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.
October 3, 2013
I have always appreciated the marriage related book by the Smalley's so I was super excited to hear that they came out with a book that looked just like something I need! "Little book of great dates:52 creative ideas to make your marriage fun" by Dr Greg and Erin Smalley is a little gem of a book that is great to give as a wedding gift or to a couple who has been married any length of time! The book is packed full of great ideas that are creative, inexpensive ways to keep the romance alive in your marriage. I have to say that being poor college students I really appreciated most of the ideas, and a lot of them are things we could totally do! I also like how upfront and honest the Smalley's are, willing to share their struggles and give helpful suggestions for way to improve your marriage.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is getting married, thinking of getting married or is already married, as I think it would benefit any of the above!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is getting married, thinking of getting married or is already married, as I think it would benefit any of the above!
January 8, 2014
We went along with what the book tells us on the New Years date to do, which is talk about goals for our marriage for the upcoming year. We did that. It was neat to hear my husband tell me what he would like us to be doing, and where he would like us to be at the same time next year. We have never really talked about that before. 12 years of marriage and we never put any goals into our thought processes. I see this book really strengthen our marriage. It certainly will give my man and me some ideas to do instead of just going out to the local Chinese joint. I am seriously glad I was able to review this book. If you are interested in building up your marriage to your husband/wife, get this book!
November 5, 2013
The Little Book of Great Dates will help build romance and fun into any marriage with its creative ideas for a year's worth of weekly affordable dates.It is written by Dr. Greg & Erin Smalley who lead marriage seminars world wide. They have been married and "dating" for 20+ years.
This book will help couples to proactively and intentionally build their relationship, showing how everyday activities can become "dates" that strengthen the marriage relationship.I love the lay out of the book.There are great questions to get you talking too.
This book will help couples to proactively and intentionally build their relationship, showing how everyday activities can become "dates" that strengthen the marriage relationship.I love the lay out of the book.There are great questions to get you talking too.
March 7, 2015
Date night ideas
This book gives great ideas for date nights. As a married couple progress on in their marriage, dates can become mundane or even non existent. Dive in and let the creative juices flow. Happy dating.
This book gives great ideas for date nights. As a married couple progress on in their marriage, dates can become mundane or even non existent. Dive in and let the creative juices flow. Happy dating.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews