Alphabet Dating Is The Trend You Need For A Thriving Love Life
The joys of being in the dating stages with a new partner are unmatched. Not only are you able to try new foods, activities, and experiences with each other, but you’re deepening your bond and making lasting memories all the while.
The zeal for exploration is still fresh throughout the honeymoon phase, and planning dates come with the same ease that falling in love did. But there comes a point in every relationship when finding new ways to spend bonding time with bae can feel redundant or even stale — and it’s at that point when it’s time to add a dash of spice back into your date nights.
What Is Alphabet Dating?
A new trend called “alphabet dating” is here to rescue couples from the impending boredom in their dating life. As the name implies, this spin on date nights leaves your next outing in the hands of the alphabet. Starting from A and working their way to Z, daters can organize their plans all by associating them with each letter of the alphabet.
The trend first rose in virality in 2022 from creator Abby Benson-Schwallie, who shared her list of ABC-themed dates on TikTok. Since then, the trend has garnered millions of views from hopeless romantics looking for their next sweet move with their sweetheart.
Okay, So What Is Alphabet Dating?
@t0nit0ne TikTok · TONI TONE
The goal of ABC-dating is to re-spark the excitement of a couple’s dating life when the fire hasn’t quite been flaming the same.
Making time for your significant other is essential to maintaining a thriving love life, but it’s not always as easy when responsibilities, children, and major life shifts come into play. Hitting bouts of boredom in your dating life is natural and doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re headed toward “the end” after a couple of nights in.
However, if you feel like you and your lover are approaching a place where the spice of your dating life is no longer hitting the same, it may be a good time to hit the emergency brakes and add a few new ideas to your date nights.
What Are the Rules for the Alphabet Date?
@honeychocolatedrip A-Z #alphabetdating, countless memories, and even long distance couldn’t keep us apart🫶🏽 🤎 here’s to never stop DATING your partner 💌 • • • • • #atozdating #datingideas #couplesdate #dateideas #alphabetdates #alphabetdateseries #couplesgoals #couplesgoals #dating #datingtips #datingadvice #coupleslove #blackcouples #blacklove #relationshipgoals #relationshipadvice #longdistancelove #datediaries
What makes this trend so appealing is that you can never really run out of ideas as long as you have the creativity to build new concepts around the alphabet.
Maybe you only want to do S-themed dates for one month and then B-themed dates the next. Or perhaps you want to start at the end of the alphabet and work your way up. Maybe you and your beau are the traveling types, and you want to explore cities that only start with M. Whatever you and your partner choose, there will always be an option available to you, and possibly discover a new hobby together while you’re at it.
To get you started, we’ve put together a list of date night ideas that are boo-, BFF-, and solo-girl-friendly.
Alphabet Dating Ideas From A-Z
A - Art Museum, Arcade
B - Bowling, Bookstore
C - Concert, Cooking Class
D - Drive-In Movies, Dinner At New Restaurant
E - Exercise Class, Exhibit
F - Flea Market, Festival
G - Game Night, Go-Kart
H - Hiking, Home-Movie Night
I - Ice Skating, Ikea Shopping
J - Jazz Club, Jewelry Making
K - Karaoke, Kite Flying on The Beach
L - Laser Tag, Live Band
M - Movies, Mini Golf
N - Night Club, Netflix & Chill
O - Organize Together, Outdoor Camping
P - Picnic, Paint & Sip
Q - Quick Bite to Eat, Quilting Class
R - Road Trip, Random Act of Kindness
S - Sports Game, Spa
T - Theater, Target Run
U - Unplug, Uncommon Date Night
V - Vineyard, Virtual Reality Game Night
W - Wine Tasting, Waterpark
X - X-plore a New City
Y - Yoga, Yacht Day
Z - Zipline, Zoo
Happy dating!
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Aley Arion is a writer and digital storyteller from the South, currently living in sunny Los Angeles. Her site, yagirlaley.com, serves as a digital diary to document personal essays, cultural commentary, and her insights into the Black Millennial experience. Follow her at @yagirlaley on all platforms!
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
The Summer Events You Need To Elevate Your Social Network And Social Circle
When we say we’re outside this summer, we mean a little more than the clubs and happy hours.
This summer feels different from the others following the pandemic. It seems everyone has caught the bug for forming new connections outside the digital worlds we’ve built for ourselves. This is evident in the recent rise of social clubs, supper parties, and curated third places that cater to a variety of interests, backgrounds, and tastes.
No matter the city you’re in, countless events are being designed to help us all expand our social circles, make new friends, and create unforgettable memories. From coast to coast, there's no shortage of fun and engaging activities and whether you're into festivals, workshops, or social meetups, there's something happening near you that’s sure to pique your interest.
So, if you’ve been looking to find your chosen family, pick up a new hobby, or simply seize the social season, we’ve curated a list of the best events and engaging activities for you to ensure the rest of your summer is filled with laughter, learning, and a lot of new connections!
Sad Girls Club Summer Tour - Ongoing Events
Multiple Cites
The Best Day Ever Fest - August 10th & 11th
Portland, Oregon
SIP N’ SLAY Summer Fest - August 27
New York
Black Girls In Art Spaces - Ongoing Events
Multiple Cites
Everyday People - Ongoing Events
Multiple Cites
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