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One of my personal 100 life goals is for us as a couple to participate in and complete classes together to strengthen our relationship. In fact, this was one of my top three goals for the year. So, I was so happy when we found the Strong Couples Project (Love Takes Learning e-Prep).
The Strong Couples Project is a six-module course that can be completed online that takes you through various modules to strengthen your relationship as a couple. Topics include communication, commitment, problem-solving, and fun and friendship. You also get five brief video calls with a trained coach.
After completing the course last week, I wanted to incorporate some of the principles we learned into our relationship in a practical and fun way. I decided to go with the final module on fun and friendship.
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Keeping fun and friendship in mind, I planned a day trip throughout Champaign, IL, which focused on creating fun memories and strengthening our friendship. To keep things interesting, I included thoughtful prompts for each activity designed to bring us closer.
Five prompts and activities were typed on a sheet of paper and placed in a small coin-sized envelope with an approximate time written on each envelope. I also include two additional envelopes, a “Let’s Begin” and a “Wildcard” envelope.
In the “Let’s Begin” envelope, the prompt was to take photos at each stop and create a mini scrapbook or slideshow later. The “Wildcard” envelope simply said to take a pause to kiss. Muah!
With all of this being said, here’s how our day unfolded:
We kicked off our date with my partner opening the “Let’s Begin” envelope. I chose to take photos on my phone and my partner chose to vlog. It was hilarious and added a playful, behind-the-scenes element to the day. I know that sitting down later to watch the footage will be enjoyable and give us a chance to relive the fun.
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8:30 AM – Breakfast at the Original Pancake House
At about 9 AM we started our day with a delicious breakfast at The Original Pancake House. We’ve been there a handful of times and always enjoy the warm food and welcoming service. I’m not one for experimenting and trying a variety of new things when we are out to eat, so I opted for a classic plain, Belgium waffle (I love waffles!), a scrambled egg, and turkey links while my partner opted for a Scramble and pancakes. And, of course, we sipped coffee as we chatted about the day to come.
10:00 AM – Window Shopping at Harbor Freight Tools
A little after 10 AM we pulled into Harbor Freight Tools. Talk about excitement! My partner was pretty excited about opening this envelope because he enjoys tools and it showed that I do actively listen to him when he speaks. He said, “Ouue. I like this. I really like this!” That made me happy.
As we browsed through the store, I learned quite a bit about tools and equipment, and also took a few mental notes of possible future gifts. The prompt for this stop was: If I were a tool, I would be this, and here’s why. It sparked laughter and some deep insights into our personalities. After about half an hour wandering through the store, we decided to move on to the next envelope which was heading to the Spurlock Museum.
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11:30 AM – Exploring Spurlock Museum
We pulled up to the meter very close to 11:30 which put us very close to our scheduled time. We sat in the car, chatted, and laughed for a while before taking photos and heading indoors. Neither of us had been to the museum before, so it was a new experience for both of us that we could enjoy together.
We strolled through each exhibit and each floor, where we explored exhibits like “The Gift of the Nile” (Egypt) and “Looking Forward, Looking Back” (Africa). Initially, we planned on participating in the gallery activities, like Bingo to add a layer of interaction, but we didn’t need it.
We enjoyed browsing the exhibits and discussing what we could remember from being in school and reading. The prompt for the museum was: If you were an ancient king or queen, what item would you bring to this realm or your current life, and why? But, honestly, we never even made it to the prompt. After each of the exhibits, we headed out, ready to move on to the final few envelopes.
12:30 PM – Dollar Tree Snack Pit Stop
Next, we stopped at Dollar Tree for a quirky snack treasure hunt. The prompt and idea was to find a treat for Alto Vineyards and a funny or meaningful item that reminded us of the other. This simple activity brought plenty of laughs and thoughtful moments when we revealed them while having wine at the vineyards.
For kicks and giggles: He got me a teal bucket for me to clean out and organize my car. Ha! Hilarious and practical! I got him a million-dollar candy bar for lottery manifestation.
1:00 PM – Wine Sampling at Alto Vineyards
Upon arrival, we parked, went in, and learned about how the wine sampling works in the tasting room. The last time I had been to Alto Vineyards was a little over five years ago when a co-worker and I were completing the East Central Illinois Wine Trail. At that time a wine sampling consisted of seven pours for $5 with a souvenir glass. This time, you get a flight of four pours.
Nevertheless, we sampled a selection of wines and reminisced about the day. The prompt: What does each wine remind you of — a memory, a place, or a person? brought out creative and heartfelt answers. It was the perfect way to end our date, especially having the wildcard as our final card. Muah!
Explore nearby vineyards in the Chicagoland area.
Final Thoughts
By blending structured activities with spontaneous fun, our day trip throughout Champaign helped strengthen our bond and created memories we’ll cherish for years, especially the photos and videos that we captured throughout the day.
As a final takeaway, I think it is important to invest in your relationship sooner than later and incorporate what you learn much sooner than later.
What is something that you would have recommended for this day trip?
