Friday Night Date Night

I'd imagine this happens to a lot of couples who live together (but who aren't married): you slip into a routine to make the transition easier, and six, eight, ten, twelve months later, you realize you haven't been on a date in forever, and, in fact, the only time you actually go out to eat is to grab lunch before hitting up Harris Teeter or Target for toilet paper and cat food.  You haven't dressed "cutely" (Read: not just jeans and a sweater) since before you moved in together, and that excitement that filled your relationship in the beginning has dissipated, replaced with monthly dinner plans and being unable to stay awake past 11:00 on a Saturday night.

The cure for this ailment?

Friday Night Date Night.
We don't have a lot of extra money, so we don't eat out a lot, but I cook five to six (sometimes seven!) nights a week, and I think we need to just throw caution to the wind and go out for burgers at some point.  Right?  After some cajoling, I convinced Nick to take me to the new burger place in downtown Silver Spring, Stage Burger (opening that night), and I'd take him to Cake Love for dessert.

The walls in Stage Burger are lined with vintage records

Verdict?  Stage Burger's food was awesome; we both had the Stage Burger with different toppings and an order of fries.  I'm excited to try the milkshakes and hush puppies in the future.  However, opening night is like the worst night ever.  The staff was confused and our fries were late; only a few of the menu items were available; and the decorating looked pretty lame.  But I'm excited for their future, and they're a good alternative to Potbelly and Chipotle.

Clockwise from top left: Neapolitan, Toffee Crunch, Coconut and Coconut Delight

After we walked around Silver Spring for a while, looking at shoes and make up in DSW and Ulta, it started to rain, which made for a perfect exit and a quick stop at Cakelove on the way to the car.  We were smart this time: instead of just buying one for the night, we each got an additional cupcake for the weekend.  There's no such thing as too much sugar.  It was delicious.

So, take my advice: when you're feeling blah, when you're wondering why you ever moved in with your boyfriend, when you are so tired of looking at raw meat defrosting in your fridge, tell yourself this: Friday Night Date Night.  And go out, if only for an hour or two.  It really is a good time, and I'm not going to wait another year for the next date.