Date Ideas!!

Hey ladies!

Whether you're a single mom taking your kids out on the town or married for 14 years (shout out to Jen), we've got some GREAT date night ideas for you! We came up with these at our meeting today and wanted to share them so we could all enjoy the fruits of our collective experience. Enjoy!!

Overnight Dates
The Quality Inn in Louisville has rooms with two-person hot tubs ;)
Look for a deal on Travelzoo
Get a hotel in downtown Denver and walk to brunch the next day (try Jelly)
Bed and Breakfast (Highland Haven is a great one)
Cabin in the mountains (try VRBO, Home Away, or AirBnB)
Estes Park for the weekend: Got to the shops and Rocky Mtn. National Park. It's close, but not TOO close.
Hotel Teatro in Denver
Go camping
Telluride, CO-- Worth the drive!!
Vail Cascade Resort and Spa-- they have $99 deals

Cheap (or Free) Dates
Take a drive to see the fall leaves
Bring a board game to Starbucks
Check out Groupon and see what deals they have
Go to Barnes and Nobel and read, grab a Starbucks
Bingo night!
Free concerts-- mostly in the summer, but most malls and shopping centers host these (Flatirons, 29th Street, Orchards, etc.). Check their calendar for year-round free events.
Take a blanket and a sack lunch to the park
Do your own "book club." Pick a book to read or listen to; discuss.
Free admission 2x per year to national parks
Take a night bike ride around the town/parks
Get a Red Box move and "theater candy" from Walgreens
Window shop
Netflix TV show binge
Bass Pro Shop (they have a shooting game inside)
Sit by a fire pit

Romantic Dates
Stroll through Denver Botanic Gardens
Get a couples massage
Go to a drive-in movie and sit on the hood of your car for a picnic
Color Me Mine
A bottle of wine, two glasses and a blanket
Go to the hot springs (Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Steamboat isn't too far away, but, also good for an overnight)
Go to a nice bed and breakfast
Visit the places you went when you were first dating
Chautauqua Dining Hall has a heated porch adn incredible views
Drive up Flagstaff and enjoy the view. Panorama Point is awesome at night.

Dates with your Daughter
Let her dress up in a princess dress and go out to tea
Go to the American Girl Store
Check out the Carousel of Happiness
Dushanbe Tea House (probably for ages 6+, Tea is M-F 3-5pm)
Cheese Importers in Longmont
Paint Pottery (Crackpots in Longmont)
Get pedicures
Whimsy
Take her to the mall and have a free "makeover" at Macy's or Dillards or Bare Mineral and then do a "photo shoot"

Dates with your Son
Rocket Fizz
Grand Rabbits
Rockies Game
Bowling night
Menchie's
Sweet Cow Ice Cream
Soccer in the backyard
Valmont bike park
The rec center (many have climbing walls)
A museum (Firefighters Museum or Colorado History Museum are good ones)
Laser tag
Boondocks or Gateway
Six Flags
Coffee shop and card games
Music class
(Free) Zoo Day
Children's Garden at Botanic Gardens
Georgetown City Park

Special Occasion Dates
Go back to the place you got engaged and rewalk all the steps from the night
Flagstaff House
Frasca
Melting Pot in Louisville
Camping or Cabin
Get drinks at the Peak Lounge
Climb a 14er
Go happy hour hopping
Showshoe and fondue (in Estes Park- Apexex)
Return to the restaurant of your first date
Gold Hill Inn in the summer

At-Home Dates
Put the kids to bed and make a candlelit dinner together
Game night/XBox/Wii
Fire in the fireplace
Read a book aloud together
Vacation daydream
Take a long walk
Do a puzzle
Drop the kids at grandma's, go home for a peaceful, kid-free dinner and night (way cheaper than a hotel)
Get a babysitter and stay home all night!
Get takeout (no dishes!), rent a special movie and drop the kids at grandmas
Build a grown-up fort in your room and watch a movie

Dates Your Husband will Love
Georgetown Loop Railroad has Oktoberfest beer tasting included
Rockies/Broncos game (or watch the game at Buffalo Wild Wings). For a Rockies game, get a reservation at the "Bar Top" in the Mountain Ranch Club.
Mountain biking
Soccer game
Progressive dinner (go to a different restaurant for each course)
Brewery (or several!)
Mountain getaway (try vailonsale)
Dave and Buster's
MadCap Comedy Club
4-Wheeling in Pike National Forest
Snowmobiling in Estes
CU Buffs basketball (or CSU!)
Rock climbing
Motorcycle trip

What ideas would you add to this list? Any creative ideas for babysitters?? Please continue posting your ideas and suggestions!

Tuesday, Oct 14: Courage in Marriage

"Mawwiage has brought us together..."  "Princess Bride" anyone?  Maybe I'm dating myself.  Well, that is our topic for Tuesday - marriage that is - not "The Princess Bride". 

MEETING TOPIC: Courage in Marriage

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct 14th from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)

FOOD will be provided by Jen's table (thank you!)


Our speaker for this week is Andrea Binder.  She is going to speaking on cultivating a healthy marriage, especially during a chaotic season - such as having preschoolers at home!  Andrea is a counselor, author and speaker - check out her website! 

Don't forget to register for the year as well!  On Tuesday we'll have the next drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card for all those that have registered!  Hope to see you all Tuesday!

Crock-tober

Hey Mamma,
I think cooking dinner is my least favorite "mommy job".  It is inevitable, that by 4:30 when its time to get dinner started, the baby is crying, the 3 year old needs help putting doll clothes on, the dog vomits, so it takes me about 20 minutes to chop an onion.  Thus, my love for crockpot dinners!  They involve little prep, are generally super yummy, the house smells so good, and the hubs is welcomed home to a much more peaceful environment.

I though I'd post a few of my favorite crockpot recipes (not created by me- I am no Martha Stewart) and would love if people comment with their favorite slow cooker recipes as well.  Let's make 4:30 better for us all :)

Pulled Pork Tacos (Kate Walsh)

• 2.5 lbs boneless pork butt or shoulder (or 2 lbs chicken)
• 2 cups salsa
• 2 TBS chili powder
• 2 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 TBS dried oregano
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• Corn Tortillas
• Fixin's for tacos (sour cream, cheese, guac)

In the slow cooker, combine salsa, chili powder, oregano, cocoa, and salt.  Add meat and turn to coat.  Cover and cook until meat is tender (4-5 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low).  Shred the meat with 2 forks in cooking liquid.  

Chicken Cacciatore

• 1.5 lb chicken breasts
• 1 red pepper cut into strips
• 1 onion chopped
• 1-2 jars pasta sauce
• 1 pkg portobello mushrooms sliced

In the slow cooker, put chicken breasts on the bottom then layer with veggies.  Top with pasta sauce. Sprinkle with dried oregano.  Cover and coon on low 8 hours or high for 4 hours.  Shred the chicken.  Serve over egg noodles and top with Parmesan cheese.  

Tuesday, Sept 23: Courage To Be A Sticky Faith Mom!

Hey Ladies,
Hope you are all enjoying the weekend and the beautiful weather!  And hoping everyone can join us for the 2nd MOPS meeting of the year...

MEETING TOPIC: Courage To Be A Sticky Faith Mom

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept 23rd from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)

FOOD will be provided by Lindsay's table (thank you!)



Our speaker for this week is Rebecca Cores.  Rebecca lives on a small farm in Loveland with her husband and six children.  Her first four children are all boys and then she had a little girl and they adopted another little girl of similar age.  She home-schools all of her children, oh my!  Rebecca will be answering questions related to our topic "Courage To Be A Sticky Faith Mom".  

Don't forget to register for the year as well!  On Tuesday we'll have the first drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card for all those that have registered!  Hope to see you all Tuesday!

MOPS Annual Fall BBQ

Come one, come all to our MOPS Annual Fall BBQ!  Bring your hubs, kiddos and a side dish, drink, or dessert to share!

What:  MOPS Annual Fall BBQ

When:  Saturday, September 27th at 4:00 pm

Where:  Jacqui Reddick's Home - 36 S Gay Dr, Longmont CO 80501.  Her number is 303-817-5520.

RSVP:  Click Here

Tuesday, September 16th: Playdate at Erie Communicty Park

Tuesday is forecasted to be 84 degrees, so we're hitting the playground!  

Where:  Erie Commons Park, 450 Powers St, Erie

When: 9:30-11:30am

Hope everyone can join us!  Let's enjoy the sunshine - before we know it we'll be covered in snow!

Tuesday, Sept 9: Be You Bravely!

The weather this morning proves that fall is just around the corner, and you know what that means - time for MOPS!!  Hope you can join us Tuesday for the first meeting of the year.

Our theme this year is "Be You Bravely!"  This year, we'll be exploring what it means to break out of our ruts and live courageously!

MEETING TOPIC: "Courage to Fave Your Mom Fears"

WHEN: Tuesday, September 9, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Boulder Church (3245 Kalmia, Boulder, CO 80301)

Food will be provided by the Steering Team.

For our first meeting of the year, we'll be hearing from our mentor moms on facing our mom fears and emotions. 

Don't forget to take the Three Mom Challenge as well - if you invite three moms to MOPS, you'll be entered into a drawing :)

We look forward to seeing each and every one of you at MOPS on Tuesday! Please contact us if you have any questions.

Stephanie