Wanderhoney.com

My partner and I don’t get to see each other every day. In fact, we usually only meet once or twice a week, typically on weekends. He lives about a 40-minute drive away from me, which might not sound like a big deal to some people, but for me (a bit of a clingy one 😂), it’s just far enough to feel like a mini long-distance relationship. 

Still, even with the distance and our busy routines, we’ve made it a point to give each other intentional, quality time. Whether it’s just a few hours or a whole lazy Sunday, our weekends have become our tiny pocket of the world where it’s just us.

So, how do we make that time special? Let me take you inside our weekend bubble.

---

✅ Our Dates Involve “Put the phones away.”

One of the sweetest things about our relationship is that when we’re together, we barely touch our phones.

Like… seriously.

No endless scrolling. No sneaky TikToks. No mobile games or even replaying messages. It’s like we both silently agreed that when we meet, the rest of the world doesn’t exist. It’s just us, completely present with each other.

And I’ll admit… as good as that sounds… it drives me a little crazy sometimes. I’m someone who lives for capturing little moments. I love collecting memories… So after we’ve hugged goodbye and gone our separate ways, I’ll often find myself thinking:

“Wait… we didn’t take a single photo today?”  Not of us, not of our food, not even a cute mirror selfie. Nothing. 

I used to complain about this, especially during the first year of our relationship. I mean, of course I wanted more photos of us. Something to look back on, to hold onto, to remember the little moments. But deep down, I also knew that our habit of being fully present with each other is incredibly rare these days. And honestly? Really special.

The fact that he values that too, without either of us ever needing to say it out loud, has always felt like a quiet win to me.

Things started to shift in our second year. Since eatery reviews have become part of my blog content, we’ve gotten into the habit of (gently) reminding each other to pull out our phones—mainly to snap photos of the food, and sometimes the places we explore, too. And thank goodness for that, we’ve now finally started capturing more of us. Though, let’s be honest—one of us still has to remind the other to take the phone out. 😅

---

✅ Our Little Weekend Ritual: Food, Always

If there’s one thing that defines our weekends together, it’s food. Always food. Our time together doesn’t necessarily involve fancy dinner reservations or picture-perfect outings, but we always make time to share a meal. That’s our love language in motion: eating, laughing, chatting, and just being present with each other.

Our typical weekend usually goes:

🥢 Lunch, First and Always

Most of the time, it’s based on a craving I’ve been talking about all week. Other times, it depends on the mood we’re in. Some weekends call for something cozy and familiar, and others feel like an adventure, where we try something new or totally random just for the fun of it.

☕ Then Comes the Café

There’s always—always—a stop at a café after lunch. For me, a proper outing isn’t complete until I’ve had something sweet: a donut, a slice of cheesecake, a custard pastry, or a warm mocha to sip on slowly. My partner knows this about me. He doesn’t even question it anymore. He just looks at me and says, “Where to next?” with a little smile, already knowing dessert is coming.

🧺 Sometimes, a Picnic in the Park

And on those weekends when the weather is kind and our hearts feel like slowing down, we’ll switch things up with a picnic. I’ll cook—because cooking is my love language. 

We’ll pack up our food, find a quiet spot at the park, lay down a mat, have a little picnic, and talk about anything… everything. It’s peaceful. It’s grounding. And it’s the kind of simplicity that makes my heart feel full.

---

✅ We Often Make Our Dates “Theme Days”

One of the most fun (and honestly brilliant) things we’ve added to our dating life is theme days. It all started as a way to avoid the “I don’t know, you pick” conversation spiral when we couldn’t decide where to eat or what to do. Now, it’s become one of our favorite little rituals.

We’ll pick a “theme” for the day—like Korean, Italian, Middle Eastern, or even “something we’ve never tried before”—then we build the entire outing around it.

This little habit keeps things fresh, fun, and spontaneous. One of my favorite memories was when I told him, “Let’s try something completely different…something we’d never normally pick,” and we ended up at this quirky spot neither of us had even heard of. It was just a random adventure that turned into one of our best dates yet.

---

✅ The Every 1 & 3 Months Rules

When we first got together, we made a little deal—one that’s turned into one of my favorite parts of our relationship.

Once a month, he has to take me on a “big date.” Not just our usual weekend hangouts, but something a little extra. A proper outing. Dressing up, going somewhere new—something that feels special.

Every three months, he has to take me on a trip. Nothing fancy. Just a short getaway or road trip that pulls us out of our routine and into a mini-adventure.

This “rule” might sound silly on paper, but it’s honestly one of the ways we keep our relationship exciting. It helps us avoid slipping into autopilot. It keeps things fresh, playful, and fun—like we’re always dating, not just existing side by side.

I’m introverted in some ways (especially around people), but I love the outdoors. I crave new experiences, spontaneous plans, and little adventures—even if it’s just discovering a cute town nearby with a good cup of coffee and a hidden bookstore.

He knows that. And while he’s naturally more of a homebody, he tries. He really does. His effort always makes my heart melt. It reminds me I’m seen, understood, and loved in ways that matter deeply.

Fun fact:
In almost two years together, we’ve only been to the cinema three times.

We’re just not a “movie date” couple. Maybe it’s because we talk too much (guilty), or maybe it’s because sitting silently in a dark room for two hours just doesn’t feel like quality time for us. Don’t get me wrong—I love a good film. But when it comes to choosing how we spend our limited time together? It’s always going to be food + deep conversations over film + popcorn.

---

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:
You don’t need fancy plans to make beautiful memories.

Sometimes, it’s the small rituals—picking a restaurant, planning a theme date, complaining (lovingly) about not taking enough photos, or sharing a cheesecake in the car—that fill your heart the most.

If you’re in a relationship, I highly recommend creating your own little traditions. Give your time together some rhythm. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive—just intentional. That’s where the magic is.

And if you’re single? Don’t wait for someone else to make life meaningful.
Plan a theme day for yourself. Try that new place you’ve been eyeing. Take yourself out on a little date.

You deserve that kind of care, too. 💛

Xx, Auri. 

---

Coffee helps me write. Support helps me shine. 🥰

• 
• 
• 
• 
•