CTC Night (At Home) -- Flowering Together

Who doesn't like flowers!

This idea won't even require any special arrangements for the children, but is still a fun and bonding activity for when the budget is tight and the children are still small.

Put a flower arrangement together!

You can usually find the materials fairly inexpensively at a dollar store. A vase, some arrangement foam, some inexpensive flowers, and maybe some ribbon.

You could also grow the flowers in 5 gallon buckets or in your yard. There also may be a member of your ward with a rose garden who may be willing to donate some.

It's kind of like putting a puzzle together, but do it together. Make it as simple, or elaborate as you wish. Make three of them. Take your creation to a neighbor, someone who's ill, a random stranger at the hospital, your home or visiting teaching families, your mum-in-law.

While you're arranging, ask each other this question "Do you feel I give you enough affection in physical touch? What kind of touch do you wish I gave you more of?:"

Here's an arrangement idea from YouTube:

Happy dating!

CTC Night (At Home) -- Your Creamy Little Pumpkin

Hey all you married lovers out there. Ready for another fun continue-the-courtship night idea?
Well...hopefully this is one!

Icecream is great anytime, but it being October and all, how about home made pumpkin cheesecake icecream?

Break in that icecream maker you got as a wedding present and try the recipe below. I also included a video of a no-churn ice cream just in case.

While it's churning out, go get your box of old love letters you wrote each other before you were married and read them to each other again.

Happy Dating!

7 oz cream cheese
3 oz canned, unsweetened pumpkin
zest of 1 lemon
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
 2/3 cup sugar (I like doing half Stevia and Half Sugar)
pinch of salt
1 1/2 tspn ground cinnamon
1/2 tspn ground ginger
1 tspn freshly grated nutmeg (powdered is fine too)
1/4 tspn allspice
1/4 tspn ground cloves
(or 1 1/2T of pumpkin spice mix - instead of all the spices above)

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.  Adjust the taste of the spices if necessary.
2. Chill mixture thoroughly in the fridge, then freeze it in your ice cream maker of choice.
3. Serve with whole or crushed gingersnaps or graham crackers or shortbread cookies, or all three - knock yourself out.

Most important, make it together. Bumping into each other is part of the fun.

CTC Night (At Home) -- Pound Em HARD

Happy Continue-The-Courtship night!

Here's a new twist to an old favorite:

When was the last time you had a good old fashioned pillow fight!?

After you put the kids to bed or distract them with their favorite activity - retire to the bedroom and lock the door.

Put on some music.

Get naked.

You can even dress up in some sexy lingerie or a fun costume. The rules are, ladies first, but make sure the pillows are soft and don't have anything in them that could harm the other. Then, have at it.

Another twist would be to have a Nerf gun fight.

Be sure to follow up with extra hugs and kisses after you've worn each other out.

Happy Dating!

CTC Night (At Home) -- Wii? Oui!

Are you ready for another fun Continue-the-Courtship night?

This one was submitted by one of my readers, and one I thought was a great idea for young married couples on a tight budget, with small children, or stuck at home.

Too often these are passed up because it's imagined as an immoral activity engaged in by singles. TIME TO TAKE IT BACK as a fun and wholesome activity reserved for married couples.

If you've got a Wii or can borrow one, play strip bowling, strip boxing, strip tennis. Any of the two-player games will do.

Play a round. The winner gets to take an article of clothing off of the loser. Run out of clothes? The winner gets a kiss or... you choose the prize at that point.

Keep it sacred (no one else is invited - and don't post about it on social media). Be sure the kids are asleep or you play it in a room where the door can be locked.

Keep a towel handy as things can get pretty sweaty.

Happy dating!

CTC Night (At Home) -- Scare Your Clothes Off!

October has arrived and it's time to get geared up for some fun fall activities - including Halloween.

Time to break out your favorite Halloween films.

For tonight's date night idea, lock yourselves away in your room, turn the lights off, and watch your favorite holiday movie together...sans clothing.

Snacks are optional, but (if you've put the kids to bed early or put on their favorite Halloween movie) keep a robe handy in case you need to check on them.

If you're both mentally prepared for something to go wrong, it makes it easier to relax and enjoy your two hours together - alone.

Happy Dating!