Date Night Recap 9/11/12: Sushi Night

I'm so excited that even though my husband's least favorite food is seafood, he'll still take me out for sushi! Last night was his night to plan Date Night, and he picked Mikado Ryotei, rated No. 3 on Trip Advisor's top sushi restaurants in Austin (after Uchi and Finn & Porter).

Tuesdays are great to go to Mikado Ryotei because they have discounted prices on Tuesday for their sushi, which was delish! We got two orders of sushi and four rolls (I think), edamame, a beer for Mark and sake for the both of us, and the total was only $37. Nice!! It's not too often we get away with a total price of Date Night under $40.

After sushi, we headed home to watch "Courageous." I really enjoyed the movie, which was about a group of small town law enforcement officers who realized how important the role of fatherhood plays, and they all make a resolution to strive to become holier fathers and husbands. A tear jerker at times with a meaningful message and reminder to everyone -- everyone because we all have a father.

I recommend both the restaurant and movie!

June 13, 2009. Cheers to us!

Date Night Recap 3/27/12: Andiamo's Wine Dinner

What a fun date the other night for Date Night -- the idea courtesy of my father-in-law, Rich Crowley! Mark and I went to a Wine Dinner at Andiamo Ristorante, where I had rabbit for the first time! I enjoyed it, but I don't think Mark was a big fan (of the rabbit). The four-course dinner was led by an Italian gentleman who was a wine sommelier, so that was neat, too. He gave some good background and explanations of the wines. I believe these wine dinners are monthly, so you should definitely check them out! At $45 pp, it wasn't as expensive as most wine dinners normally are, but it is more than we usually like to spend on Date Night. Regardless, what a fun date. When it involves wine (and it usually does), it always is! :)

Oct. 10, 2008; Dad's and Debbie's wedding

Date Night recap 3/20/12

So last week's Date Night was Mark's, and here were the evening's events:

1. Hemingway Restaurant & Bar, 500 Cypress Creek Road, Suite 170, Cedar Park, Texas 78613
We headed out a little bit later than usual as Mark was getting ready to go out of town for work, so he worked late. We grabbed dinner at this new place, which is just down the road from us. Try their squash with dill -- delish! I also had their mussels, which were pretty good but there weren't enough to fill me up. I ordered the squash for dessert, ha! So healthy of me. Cheap bottles of wine here!

2. The Dig Pub, 401 Cypress Creek Road, Suite 600, Cedar Park, TX 78613
We headed across the street from where we had dinner to this bar, which is always pretty swinging every time we pass by. After having been Cedar Park residents for about three years now, we figured we should finally check it out! I thought it was going to have the atmosphere of a dive bar inside, but it was much different than I expected. I was pleasantly surprised! It was pretty nice and spacy inside. It had a nice bar area then another area that had a stage where some amateur comedians were taking the stage. I ordered a glass of rosé and we played a game of darts while we listened to the comedians. We eventually grabbed a seat near the front of the room close to the stage. While we didn't exactly have the same sense of humor as some of the gentlemen who were showcasing their talent, it was entertaining, and I had a good time. I definitely think we'll be back!

June 13, 2009

Top 10 favorite dates

As you know, Mark and I have date night every Tuesday, come rain or come shine. We never make other plans on that evening; our marriage is top priority.

What's fun about having our date night on Tuesdays is that it forces us to be creative about our dates; there's not as much obvious stuff going on on a Tuesday as there is a Thursday, Friday or Saturday! Luckily, I married a creative date planner, so I've had to try hard to match par with his ideas.

Here are my top 10 favorite dates so far (not in order):

1. Cooking class at Artisan Bistro
2. An evening at the Elephant Room, Ken's Donuts and Spider House Cafe (our first date, which we've recreated a couple times!)
3. Painting With a Twist
4. Paella cooking demonstration at Malaga
5. Ventana, restaurant for Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin, followed by Viva Chocolato, which is, sadly, no longer around
6. Dinner on a Lone Star River Boat cruise for two on Lake Austin (one of our dating anniversary dates)
7. Painting our own wine glasses one Valentine's Day at a ceramic place, followed by dinner at Gumbo's
8. Getting engaged during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (that's a date if it's just the two of us and we had the get together scheduled, right?)
9. One of our dates just before we went to Europe in 2010 when I made a French dinner, followed by Italian dessert, followed by watching "Wizard of Oz" since we would be seeing "Wicked, the musical" in London. A little foreshadowing of our soon-after trip to France, Italy and London!
10. Wine tasting classes with Wine for the People. We've taken classes from Rae at the Whip-In, House Wine and St. John Neumann Church. Always a fun time!

Think about how you can go beyond dinner and a movie to create a memorable dating experience!

The day we got engaged: Aug. 29, 2008. Out celebrating with friends!

Check out Artisan Bistro in Lakeway

All Austinites should really check out the French bistro / wine bar / bakery in Lakeway, Artisan Bistro! The sweetest couple, Laureen and her husband (the chef), own the place. They have cooking classes every Tuesday, which is how Mark and I discovered the place, so definitely check those out -- great date night idea! Laureen actually found my blog from my e-mail signature and made such generous comments about it, noting that she's been enjoying 17 years of "newlywed-dom," herself. Celebrating great couples!

June 13, 2009

March 1 / 2, 2006: Our first real date

Our first official date was the evening of March 1, 2006, and it was to celebrate my new job at Saint Mary Cathedral!  Mark and I had spent time together before then, but this was our first official, "Let's go out on a formal date," date.

We first went to my favorite place to catch live music in Austin, the Elephant Room.  It's your perfect jazz club -- down in a basement, dark and great music.  I haven't been here in a while, actually.  I'm sensing a revisit sometime in the near future ...

Next, Mark suggested getting donuts at his favorite place near campus, Ken's Donuts.  Now, what's funny about this is that while he had suggested it, I actually didn't want any, but if he wanted one, sure, I'd go with him to get one.  I didn't think this would be a big deal until we showed up and he looked at me when it was time to order.  When I mentioned that I was just along for the ride and wasn't interested in eating any donuts, he couldn't believe it and didn't understand why we'd come in the first place.  I kept laughing and said that I didn't mind going and that I just wanted to be with him, so it didn't matter.  He still gives me a hard time about that to this day.

Lastly, we headed across the street to Spider House Cafe to drink some coffee and chat some in a quieter environment than the jazz club had provided.  This was the place where we also later took some of our engagement photos because of the sentimental value; if you received our wedding save the date cards, the picture on that (because I'm sure you all remember which photo it was, ha!), that was at Spider House.

 Engagement photo at Spider House Cafe, November 2008

We also call this our first official date because it's the night we had our first kiss ... awwww, I know.  It was actually Ash Wednesday that day, March 1, so unbeknownst to me, Mark wouldn't kiss me until after midnight because Ash Wednesday is supposed to be a somber day of self denial.  Ha, so after midnight, officially March 2 when it was no longer Ash Wednesday, he kissed me.

And we lived happily ever after. :)

On our first dating anniversary, we recreated this date, which was a lot of fun!  We visited each place and relived that first fateful evening.  I'm sure it won't be the last time we will have done that.

Yay for falling in love!

August 2009, Touring the Hill Country wineries

Dating with a purpose

Mark and I always had a purpose in our dating relationship.  Neither one of us was looking to just have fun with someone or pass the time with another warm body.  At the same time, we weren't rushing to the altar and talking about marriage all the time -- we didn't get engaged until after two and a half years of dating and then married until after three years of dating. 

I'm not sure I understand couples that are in relationships with people they don't ever see themselves marrying.  Or if they're not even sure they ever want to get married.  Why are you wasting yours and that person's time?  What's the point?  Get a best friend, if that's what you want, but don't pretend the relationship is something that it's not. 

I think the old-fashioned term "courting" sums it up best: "to seek the affections of; especially : to seek to win a pledge of marriage from." 

I believe every relationship is on its own course.  There's no deadline (to an appropriate extent -- 10 years of dating may be pushing it) that must be met or race with other couples to see who bites the bullet first.  Every relationship will have its own unique story that unravels in the fullness of time.  I also believe, however, that dating must have its purpose -- to discern if this person is whom God has intended you to marry. 

Mark and I talked about this purposeful dating in the early stages of our relationship.  We began praying together that God's will would be revealed to us, and I prayed that He would make our relationship into something beautiful and that every purpose He had for our relationship would be fulfilled -- no matter if we were to marry or not.

Loving organization the way I do (thanks Mom!), I, of course, have my own prayer schedule.  I pray for certain things every day of the week so that I don't get overwhelmed in my prayer life or sit for hours and hours praying for everything under the sun.  Mondays are the days I pray for dating, engaged and married couples.  I have a list of all of my friends that I go through by name and pray for their relationships, whatever status they may be.  I certainly pray for my friends in dating relationships, that in the fullness of time, God would reveal His perfect will for their relationships to them, in the meantime granting them His peace and patience.  Again, that every purpose He has for their relationships would be revealed.

We need to encourage our friends in these times of their lives to be purposeful in their dating relationships.  Ask them how things are going from time to time, and keep them in your prayers.  Absolutely, breaking up is hard to do, but it's better than spending years and years in a dead-end relationship when you could've been dating your future spouse.

"All I'm saying is that somewhere out there is the man you are supposed to marry. And if you don't get him first, somebody else will, and you'll have to spend the rest of your life knowing that somebody else is married to your husband." 

~ "When Harry Met Sally"

Ha, wisdom from one of the greatest romantic comedies ever. :)

April 2008, My cousin's wedding

One year later

We've now been Mr. and Mrs. Mark Crowley for one year and two days!  We have lived every day of the year together as husband and wife, and it's flown by!  Maybe it's because we've been so busy with the special circumstances of many friends' weddings and the impending birth of our niece (next week!) and another niece / nephew later this year, but I'm not sure things will ever really slow down.  Such is life!  Next year it'll be a couple more weddings, etc.  I'm so grateful I have someone so wonderful with whom to share these experiences.  God is so good for finding it good and pleasing to have chosen us for one another.  He sure knew what He was doing when He set us apart for the other!  I couldn't be more joyful.

We had a wonderful anniversary celebration, planned by Mark.  He certainly set the bar high for me next year when it's my turn to plan!  I think I can measure up. :)

The weekend was incredible, filled with lunch at Trattoria Lisina (Mandola Estate Winery restaurant)...

a tour of Texas' only successful olive oil company, First Texas Olive Oil Co.,  and wine tasting at Bella Vista Cellars -- all located at Bella Vista Ranch in Wimberley ...

a stay at The Lakehouse Bed and Breakfast in Canyon Lake ...

dinner at a seafood restaurant on the lake ...

and general celebrating!

It was a perfect way to celebrate our first year together as a married couple!  God willing, the first of many, many more to come.

To close out this post, a little reminiscing on our holiest and most blessed day together yet ...

I can't think of anyone I'd rather be than Mrs. Mark Crowley.  Happy anniversary, hun!

Valentine's Day 2010

Our first married Valentine's Day!

God is good.

5 fruitful things you can do for your marriage right now

1.  Pray.  Pray for you two as a married couple.  Pray that God would enter into your relationship in a new way and renew your love for one another.  Pray that your marriage will stand the test of time and be protected from all temptations of evil and sin.  Pray that every purpose God has for your marriage might be fulfilled and that He would make something beautiful out of your relationship.  If you don't have children yet, pray that in the fullness of time God would allow you to become stewards of some of His children, if it would be good and pleasing to Him.  Pray that you and your spouse might reflect that of the Holy Family -- as a wife, striving more to be like our Blessed Mother Mary, and as a husband, striving more to be like St. Joseph.  Pray that you two would be given what you need to be a good husband and a good wife and that you would have the desire and courage to use those gifts to be what you've been called to become.

2.  Do something unexpected for your spouse.  If you are apart, send him a text message or e-mail for no reason other than to remind him that you love him more than anything.  If you are together, go find him, give him a big hug and tell him that you love him more than anything.

3.  Plan a date night within the next week.  If you haven't already, do everything you can to establish a regular date night to keep your love alive.  This is the most important relationship you will ever have.  Ever.  Spend time on improving it.

4.  Ask forgiveness.  I guarantee you there is something for which you can apologize.  Being grumpy last night or not following through with something you said you would do.  How have you put yourself above the needs of your spouse lately?  Recognize it and make amends.

5.  Work on yourself as a spouse.  Take some time to really reflect on how you, personally, can be a better wife or husband.  What is an honest answer to the question of what's keeping you from being the best spouse you can possibly be?  Is it trust?  Patience?  Not making enough time for him?  Make a commitment to try to go the rest of today working on that one area.  "I'm going to work on being more ______ today."  Then wake up tomorrow and commit to working on that one area again that day.  Repeat daily until you feel like you're making progress.  If you focus on a specific area of improvement, you will feel more fruitful and have some measurables in feeling like you're truly doing something to improve your marriage and yourself as a spouse.

 

February 2009, Engagement Celebration dinner at the Merhars'

Planning for Valentine's Day

Sometimes Mark and I have taken turns in planning the various celebrations in our lives: Valentine's Days, anniversaries, date nights.  When I asked him this year what we wanted to do for Valentine's Day, he came up with a new idea for us -- we each take half the day.  Oooh, a whole day of celebrating our love for one another??  Sounds much better than just a few hours at dinner!  We agreed upon him taking the morning and I'm taking the afternoon.  As it turns out, he now has something planned for us until 5 p.m., so I take charge for our evening plans.  I've gone back and forth over what I want to do, but I think I finally settled on the bulk of it.  Details need to be pinned down, but I think it'll be a fabulous evening!  What I'm really excited about is his gift, though ... been planning it for a while!

 

An oldie but a goodie ... my 26th birthday '07

Tuesdays = Date Night

Don't ever try to plan anything with the Crowleys (us) on Tuesdays.  It just won't happen.  After a few months of marriage, Mark and I committed to Tuesdays being a regular date night for us, no matter what.  We realize how important it is to continue dating one another after the wedding day and plan to take the same seriousness of it even after we have children. 

Our marriage preparation emphasized the importance of always making sure your relationship with your spouse is the most important relationship outside of your relationship with God -- more important than your relationship with your children, siblings, parents, friends, etc.  How beautiful!  How true.  The most basic ingredient of a strong, everlasting marriage, if you ask me.

We take turns planning Date Night, which has been a lot of fun!  Mark's always been a pretty amazing date planner, and I try to follow in planning new places for us to go and new things for us to try.

Some of the places we've been on Date Night include:

• Mansion at Judges' Hill Restaurant
• Ventanta, the Texas Culinary Academy student-run restaurant  
• Viva Chocolato
• Paggi House
• House Wine 
  
• Spec's for a Wine Tasting Night

Last night was Mark's turn to plan, and as always, he came up with the coolest idea!  We went to Malaga Tapas and Bar for Paella Night, and it was yummy.  The reservation got us a seat at the table in the back where the restaurant owner spent an hour and a half making Paella De Pollo a la Pipitoria (Chicken Pipitoria Paella) and a glass of wine.  We enjoyed some amazing calamari while watching the Paella being made and good conversation with the owner.  Every Tuesday there is Paella Night, which is apparently a pretty big deal!  You have to call in advance to get a reservation and seat at the intimate table in the back.  We plan to go back when he makes Crayfish Paella!  It kind of looks like jambalaya, but the flavor is pretty different.  It's delish!

Mark has so many great ideas that he's even started his own blog on date planning, which you can check out at http://austindates.blogspot.com.

Can't wait until next Tuesday!  My turn ...