Relationship Renewal!

Bursts of crimson, gold and orange still delight us with sudden color after the sameness of green foliage. Relationships can bring the same delight. Crisp fall days are made for relationship revivals. It’s the perfect time to plan a overnight get-away.

Bed and Breakfasts always jump to mind…and there is none better than the Out of The Box Date offering called Pillars of Love.  It’s a beautifully packaged romantic weekend at the lovely Pillar Inn in Cold Spring MN.

 Another idea? Homeaway.com gives you the chance to relax around a house with a twist – the novely of a house that isn’t yours, with the time to enjoy the amenties, read a book or take a nap without guilt.  You can rent a lovely home for a night or a weekend, with none of the long lists of things you need to do around your own home running through your head.  And even more delightful, many of Out of The Box Date adventures can go along with you! Try a log cabin on Lake Superior with it’s own semi-private island close to a casino. Or a cottage in Duluth with a private sand dune  just made for romantic beach walks in the fall.

Want a wild and crazy idea? This may take a little planning, but if you don’t mind a road trip or can find a great airfare, many ports on the east or west coast offer a Cruise to Nowhere.  You get great off-season prices on cabin’s for 1-3 day cruises with no ports of call (usually a repositioning for the ship).  You get to enjoy all the amenities of the cruise ship, while cruising nowhere! Sometimes it’s a transfer ship from one city to another. Sometimes they just cruise out for two days and return to the same port. But the prices can’t be beat, and you get to enjoy the spa, casino, multitudes of buffets, wave pools, movies, deck games, night shows and any specialties they offer like wine tastings.  Go wild and crazy!

Sometimes the ”short trip” planning can be more fun than a long vacation. It allows a change of pace that revitilizes you as a couple, leading to opportunities for new activities, and extra one on one time that comes with enjoying a get-a-way!! Enjoy your Fall Get-Away!!

Anniversaries are a lovely time to recommit to each other and renew your relationship.  My husband and I just passed our XX anniversary (yup – it’s up there).

 We waffled a bit about a decision on how to celebrate…

 We thought about dinner out. (Always nice – we’ve celebrated that way many times) but his work schedule shot down the two weekend nights. We looked at a concert near our anniversary (we’ve done this 2 or 3 times – also a nice event if its an artist or group you both love), but it turned out the only dates for the group we wanted were on the same night as my book club, and our son’s band concert.  Then I received a Groupon or Social living discount email for a condo on the north shore – what an idea – a get-away-weekend!   

Ahhh!! – but while the kids are old enough to be alone for a dinner or concert, they are not quite the age for a weekend alone.

Have you ever been stumped this way?  We both knew the day would just slip by like any other day if we did nothing, and it certainly wouldn’t put our marriage on the rocks, but it still seemed disappointing! However, time slipped by in the rush of work, kids, and other commitments.  Before you know it, it was that night.

He had to work until 8, but I made him one of his favorite dinners.  Even lit a candle on the table. And, surprise! He brought home a dozen roses and a lovely cake from the bakery.

And being the crazy life we are all used to, we ended up eating a slice of cake for breakfast the next day!  But you know what? Classic is nice! Sometimes you just “let it go” and see what percolates up. (A+ Romantic Idea!)

If you would prefer a bit of planning, rather than an unpredictable percolation….we do understand, and recommend a truly unique and amazingly different anniversary memory.  Our advice is to visit our website for a Romantic Themed Date! ( You can even shop together….)   If you are still searching for making Staying Married memorable, here are a few suggestions:

Throw a Retro anniversary party—and dress the part!

Take your own anniversary photo and send announcements (maybe some will send gifts!)

Did you fake your way through that wedding dance? Maybe this anniversary you can recommit to dance lessons!

Throw caution to the wind, and have an anniversary sculpture made (when young – so you can look back and remember how you both looked with hair!)

 Customize your own recommit-vows ceremony! 

Then write us and tell us about your greatest hits (and fails) of anniversary celebrations. We’d love to hear from you!

Don’t just let weekends fall to cleaning the garage and watching football. Spark your marriage with a weekend A+ Romantic idea!  Enrich your marriage mindfully with our Twin Cities destinations for romance and fun. What could be more romantic than heading back in time?

Take a stroll through the Renaissance Festival!  Open weeknds through Oct 1, you can spend the day or a few hours renewing your relationship. Try on a new role with each other, think “a simpler time” and join the fun at the Ale Festival this weekend!

The Royal Ale Festival will include Byggvir’s Big Beer Cup’s National Homebrew Competition, free beer tastings from Shell’s, a home brew demonstration, and much more. Byggvir’s Big Beer Cup features more than 250 beers from across the nation.

The festival is located on Hwy 169, three miles south of Shakopee.  Price of admission is $19.95 for adults.  Discount tickets are available at participating Super America and Walgreens stores.  Parking is free. 

Not in the mood for time travel? Then take your love to enjoy the end of summer at the last outdoor music festival!

The Concrete and Grass Music Festival, besides being one of the last festivals of the season, is certainly one of the most eclectic. This free outdoor event held at Mears Park, downtown Saint Paul is a unique partnership of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, Ordway Center, Schubert Club and the Twin Cities Jazz Festival.

On Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th, the Concrete and Grass Festival takes to the outdoors with two stages in Mears Park. Friday night, the Main Stage gets things started with The Minnesota Opera at 5pm. Irv Williams takes the stage at 6:30, followed by the hip hop and soul stylings of Dessa at 8:30. Meanwhile on the Acoustic Stage, you can catch an acoustic set from Desdamona at 6pm, then Molly Maher at 7:30.

Saturday kicks off at noon on the Main Stage with Salsa del Sol followed by Schubert at 1:30, and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra at 4pm. The evening features two established local rock acts. Communist Daughter hits the stage at 6:30, then at 8:30, catch the Suicide Commandos.

The Acoustic Stage includes performances by Eve & the Apple, Tanner Taylor, Moses Oakland, and Young Relics. You can read bios for all performers online if you’re curious. For a full schedule of performances and set times, visit the schedule page.

So make it a Romance Weekend with these fresh date ideas. Improve your relationship with the unexpected. And enjoy the weekend TOGETHER! 

So what does this A+ romantic idea company  have in common with Bed & Breakfast Getaways?  Well, Out-Of-The-Box-Dates Founder and CEO, LeeAnn Williams participated in our very first trade show – which means YOU are going to see some more cool and unique dates around Minnesota and Wisconsin.

LeeAnn displayed Out Of The Box Dates (OOTBD) at the Crown Plaza North in Minneapolis with the specific purpose of sharing our Romantic Dates and offerings with the Bed & Breakfast community of Innkeepers.

 The Bed and Breakfast owners, all 55 of them, primarily in Minnesota, and some in Wisconsin are very proud of their properties and the experience they offer their guests.  In LeeAnn’s words, “it was a privilege to meet the owners, and hear their excitement as they shared their unique offerings. ”

OOTBD offered a free assessment of the B&B’s current romance package… and we discovered the number one reason why people don’t stay at a B&B when traveling is because… they didn’t think about it.

 We’re about to change that!  Stay tuned as each of a myriad of proposals we received to create custom dates at B&B’s  in and around their hometowns become available. You can be the first to experience an exceptional new Date!

 In the meantime, don’t be one of those people who stay in some sterile suite with bagels for breakfast, when you can  experience an OOTBD at a B&B! Check out our current exciting, no planning required,  romantic MN date called The Pillar of Love!  And feel free to click on these B&B search sites and enjoy a unique and personal travel experience!  

B&B Directory  B&B Planner  B&B Online  BnB Finder  Lanier B&B

And one more fun and amusing fact?

During the show, we found out that the first thing a male guest will do is check out the shower head to see how nice it is!

Well, we recommend you watch for Out Of The Box Dates updates regarding weekend get-away Bed & Breakfast Dream Dates…which make great gifts….(we’ll let you know about the shower!)

 Thanks to the OOTBD staff’s help in preparation for this show!

HUGE thanks especially to Scott for his help at the show!

Where do Relationships fall on the Worry-Meter?

In a recently conducted LHJ.com poll, they found that 18% of readers worry about their relationship. 

http://www.ladieshomejournal-digital.com/ladieshomejournal/200908?pg=47#pg47

Now maybe that doesn’t sound too earth-shattering. After all, 46% worry about their job. (Another good reason not to mix romance and work – it ups the worry-anti to 64%)!  But what if you are in that percentile currently worrying about your relationship?

The LHJ.com poll goes on to say that 33% of us cope with our worries by creating an action plan; 25% exercise, 25% pray, and 17% eat a pint of ice cream.

Maybe we could also “dissect” what we mean by relationship worries. Is the picture at the top what comes to mind when you think worry? Or is it more like:

and this:

The key thing to remember about “worry”, when added to “relationship”, is the lack of a couple in your picture.  Worry is in one mind, un-communicated, restless and tense.  That’s why the idea of an action plan to cope with your worries about your relationship is a great first step.  In setting up an action plan, you may find TALKing to him/her is right up there at the top of your list.

Let’s be honest, sometimes it is easier to worry and keep it to yourself.  To actually voice the worry, might mean you could hear a response, like bad news. You begin to worry about facing the results of talking to him/her.  But this is where you discover NOT facing your worry means

• irritability
• difficulty concentrating
• muscle tension
• headaches 
• insomnia

and the list could go on.  You have to make a choice. Live with the worry, or readjust your view, and begin to believe that tomorrow is more likely to bring something wonderful than something frightening. (The Worry Cure by Robery Leahy, Ph.D.)  http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=The+Worry+Cure

 So consider a personal worry action plan that includes talking with your spouse/partner/date about your concern.  You know him/her best, so think about the best way to handle it – with humor? With coffee? On a weekend get-away? On a walk?  You’ll know which approach feels right.

But, just in case your lover doesn’t even sense a concern, and you have to face the fact that you might just be a worrier…if you aren’t sure, sleep on it, try giving your partner the benefit of the doubt, and if things still look the same in a couple of days, then decide whether or not you need to put that worry on the table.

Because we are in the business of romance, we are always seeking romantic ideas.  Here are a few that made the grade:

Magical Moments

• For Valentine’s Day I usually make my husband’s favorite cookies. He also gets a special bag of cookies with other goodies including wine glasses, candles and something sexy for me to wear for his pleasure. He very much enjoys pulling each item out of the bag and, of course, the activity associated with the item.
• An Anniversary get-away in our own city! A truly magical boutique hotel, champagne, a show, and brunch the next morning. I’ve never felt more romanced at 25 years!

Surprises your Love bestowed upon you

•  Pass on giving flowers on Valentine’s Day or anniversary. Instead give a bouquet of her/his favorite flower or favorite color on a completely random day just because you love her/him.
• I was so stressed out about a company party….and I’d had no time to shop. My husband came home the next day with 6 varieties of Little Black Dresses. I got my own private dressing room and he got a private showing. And I had a dress for the party. Fabulous Husband Award! (He even returned the extras!)
• We dedicated one day to each other – doing whatever the “day owner” wished

Dream Dates

• My dream date is to have my husband surprise me with a weekend get-away to Manhattan. I would love for him to make all the child-care arrangements, time off from work with my boss, and pack me a small bag. Then show up at work on a Thursday morning and whisk me away to the airport. Once we arrive in New York, my surprises would continue with a shopping outing and salon visit to prepare for a romantic evening out with dinner and a show. (Sigh… maybe when we win the lottery☺)

• The perfect dream date is a North Shore cabin on Lake Superior, walks along the lake, a bonfire under moonlight, and then coffee in beach-chairs on the same shore in the foggy soft morning.
• A very long 4 course dinner. No show/no movie, just lots of talk time.

• How about making desert together? Check out the date “Somethins Cookin’ by us!     http://www.outoftheboxdates.com/somethins-cookin.php