Daters: Emma & Denis Merkas

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Get Lips Guys Will Love!

Continuing our week of beauty, the divine Stefanie from The Lip Print imparts her beauty wisdom on us with great tips for great lips! Picture this: you’re enjoying a blissful Date Night with your partner. The mood is perfect, there’s ambient lighting and smooth background music. You close your eyes and lean in for a kiss [...]

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Fuss-Free Beauty – New Fun Things

There are three new things in particular that have come to my attention this week in the fuss-free beauty arena. I’m pretty excited about them! As we discussed earlier in the week, being in a relationship makes me lazy when it comes to grooming. I know a lot of other women in the same boat. [...]

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Fuss-Free Beauty – Things I Love

When it comes to my beauty routine, I’m kind of lazy. Add to that my general busy-ness and my hate of early mornings and what you get is a girl who either doesn’t have time or patience to spend hours in the bathroom every morning. In an ideal world, one of two things would happen. 1) I would [...]

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A Week of Beauty on $30 Date Night

Happy 201st Post, Daters! Just to mix things up a little bit, this week $30 Date Night is going to take a little deviation down the beauty route. Why, you ask? What does that have to do with dating and relationships? Plenty, it turns out. Because if you feel good about yourself you’ll feel better [...]

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Three Stages of Male Life

This made me laugh... an email sent to me by my baby sister - you should get a chuckle out of it.

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Experts Confirm: Couples Need Date Night

Well, we’ve known it for awhile and every month or so we find more research and more expert opinions confirming the same: Couples need to find time in their schedules for date night, or risk ending up a divorce statistic. This article from the Evening Tribune is a good one: “It is not only important, it [...]

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7 Great Date Ideas Beginning with G

G is for Green Date Ideas Which we already discussed awhile ago. Click this link to see our Gorgeously Green Date Ideas list, compiled for us by Cate and Chris at GreenRenters.org G is for Games Like, board games. And such. Either hold a game night at home for the two of you or tuck [...]

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6 Fruit-and-Flower (4th) Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas

Well I am completely taken aback to learn that the fourth wedding anniversary traditional symbols are fruit and flowers! I didn’t expect that. I thought after paper, cotton and leather we were certainly starting to head towards some sort of semi-precious something… Go figure. Okay, well – when you think about it fruit and flowers [...]

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mX Column: Casual Sex? Not Always Casual.

In the age of the casual hook-up, I’d hazard to say most people have had a bonk-buddy up their sleeve at some point for times of need. It’s a common belief that women, in particular, have difficulty adjusting adapting to a casual sex arrangement. But it turns out that is not our biggest worry when it comes [...]

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mX Column: The Etiquette of Dating

What has happened to manners? It seems everyone is so busy these days that there is no time for niceties – returning emails, RSVPing to parties and even saying thank you have fallen by the wayside. When it happens with friends, we can understand, kiss and make up. In dating, however, bad manners are unforgivable. I was out one [...]

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mX Column: There Is No “Mostly Equal”

NB: This column has been altered slightly from it’s original publication as I have an infinite word count on this blog. There are many things straight couples take for granted that gay couples have had to fight for. And on Monday, Eliza Bern’s article in mX sparked even more conversation on the topic. Bern suggested the [...]

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Why We Love, Why We Cheat

In the midst of researching for my new ebook, I came across this great presentation given by Dr. Helen Fisher at the 2006 Ted Conference. We love Dr. Fisher’s research and I don’t know how this particular clip has eluded me for four years now. In it, she explains the brain chemistry of the stages [...]

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Melbourne Giveaway: Bride Magazine Expo Double Passes and Mags!

Hi Melbourne Daters! I have an extra special treat for our readers that are engaged, or are in a wedding party for a close friend that is getting married soon. My dear friend Jason Grech is the talented fashion designer behind JASONGRECH White – and I’m not even exaggerating when I tell you they are [...]

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6 out of 10 People Not Trying Hard Enough

Wow, Daters. Did you know that 6 out of 10 people are unhappy with their relationships? That’s a lot of people. 60% in fact (I should’ve done maths and stuff). The Daily Mail reported last week that: “More than six out of ten adults in a relationship admit there is a lot they could do [...]

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Man-Colds Proven to Exist!

Man-colds do exist! I knew it! I’ve been saying it all along. Says the Daily Mail in London: “Half of men will upgrade a common cold to flu and describe headaches as a migraine to gain maximum sympathy. They will also moan more than women when suffering a bug or virus. This is despite the fact [...]

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LoveStars Astrology Date Night Review

I’ll let you in on a little secret: I really, truly believe in astrology. I’ve been scoffed at before for it, but that doesn’t matter to me. I’m still a believer. I could not be more of a Pisces if I tried. I’m your typical dreamy (read: flaky), emotional (erratic) romantic (unrealistic) type with an [...]

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MALE WARNING: Sex and the City is out!

The long awaited sequel to the Sex and the City movie is out – and cinemas across the globe will be jam packed with D&G, Manolo and Prada – with the exception of a few poor souls that have been dragged by their women to watch the movie. This message goes out to those women [...]

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Delight Your Partner with Inexpensive Nothings

Ahh… whispering sweet nothings is lovely, but handing over a sweet littIe gift to your partner for no reason whatsoever will melt them to a puddle of goo in a second. As you know, we’re all about relationships with intent here at $30 Date Night. Break your usual routine and make your partner’s day by [...]

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mX Column: Virtually Together

I’m sitting on a plane to Sydney as I write, on my way to visit my bestie, V. I don’t spend much time on planes these days, though V does. He moved to Sydney for work a year ago, while his partner still lives and works in Melbourne. They fly back and forth as often [...]

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5 Gorgeously Green Date Ideas

We’re up to week ‘G’ and in addition to the list of date ideas beginning with ‘G’ I’ll be posting later (when I’ve written it!), the wonderful Cate and Chris from Green Renters have guested today’s post, giving us five great, green, sustainable date ideas for you to try! Challenge yourself to a month’s worth [...]

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mX Column: Damn Smug Morning People

I hate morning people. They’re always so freakin’ smug. Me? I am, categorically, not a morning person. I resent getting out of bed before 9am. It takes me hours to wake up properly and God help you if you try anything smart with me before I’ve had a coffee. Nothing is more annoying than a [...]

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9 Fabulous Date Ideas Beginning with F

F is for Ferris Wheel Ah, the romance of being trapped in a small, swinging compartment with the love of your life, your lips all sticky from fairy floss as you gaze out at the view. This could either be very romantic, or in the case of people like Den – absolutely terrifying. Try and [...]

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Using the Mere Exposure Effect to Your Dating Advantage

I wrote in my column a few weeks back about the theory behind Office Romances and why they are so prevalent these days. The idea is that the Mere Exposure Effect dictates your hormones here… the more time you spend around someone, the more attracted you will become to them. And – obviously – vice [...]

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Win a Date Night at The Movies!

Hey Daters! We have a fun giveaway for you. The delightful crew at Sony Pictures have given us 10 x double passes to give away to go see Jennifer Lopez’s new movie The Back Up Plan. It opens in cinemas May 20 and it looks like a hell of a lot of fun. What a [...]

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mX Column: What Mothers Teach Us About Love

Thank goodness for mothers and their unconditional, all-enveloping love. I know my mum is the one person in this world who will pick up the phone every time I call, and she’ll be glad to hear from me to boot. I can also depend on her to be the first by my side if I’m unwell [...]

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An Interview With HitchedMag.com

Hey readers, as you know we love anything to do with couples, love and marriage that is available as a resource on the interwebs. We sent a few questions off to the founder of HitchedMag.com to see what inspires him and his marriage. The site is online, magazine-style and written by a team of experts [...]

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The Better Marriage Blanket

I am still giggling as I write this post from watching the commercial. In short, an American company has come up with the ‘Better Marriage Blanket’ made from the SAME CARBON FABRIC THE MILITARY USES TO PROTECT AGAINST CHEMICAL WEAPONS (I couldn’t make this stuff up, it’s that funny) to stop the odour of farts [...]

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mX Column: The Sperm Shortage in Australia

Men once worried that advances in IVF and female independence would render them obsolete. Of course there are lots of things women need men for but, biologically speaking, sex and babies are the main things. But it turns out that women do still need men in the babies department. Sperm donations are at an all-time [...]

Asides

Date Ideas   |   Romantic Getaways   |   Melt List

Welcome to $30 date night | Date Ideas, Marriage & Romance Blog

This blog comes to you from Australian-based newlyweds Denis & Emma Merkas, reviewing date ideas taken from their $30 Date Night site, giving you new date ideas and offering a tiny insight into day-to-day dramas of life as a couple.

Recent Posts

6 Exciting Date Ideas Beginning with E
6 Exciting Date Ideas Beginning with E
April 30, 2010
By Emma
Hey Babe, Does My Car Impress You?
Hey Babe, Does My Car Impress You?
April 29, 2010
By Denis
mX Column: Office Romances are A-Ok
mX Column: Office Romances are A-Ok
April 28, 2010
By Emma
Newsflash: Couple Dates Each Other, Finds It’s Good For Relationship
April 27, 2010
By Emma
D is for Den You’re Freakin’ Disappointing
D is for Den You’re Freakin’ Disappointing
April 27, 2010
By Denis
Love Plug: Hello You Fool, I Love You
Love Plug: Hello You Fool, I Love You
April 23, 2010
By Emma
5 Date Ideas Beginning with D
5 Date Ideas Beginning with D
April 22, 2010
By Emma
Marriage is Good For Your Health!… Until It’s Not
Marriage is Good For Your Health!… Until It’s Not
April 21, 2010
By Emma
Sexy Christina Hendricks Has Advice for Men
Sexy Christina Hendricks Has Advice for Men
April 20, 2010
By Emma
mX Column: Dating Games
mX Column: Dating Games
April 19, 2010
By Emma
How to Save a Marriage
How to Save a Marriage
April 16, 2010
By Emma
One of These Things is Not Like the Other
One of These Things is Not Like the Other
April 15, 2010
By Emma
10 Leather (3rd) Anniversary Gift Ideas
10 Leather (3rd) Anniversary Gift Ideas
April 14, 2010
By Emma
mX Column: Starting Over at 28
mX Column: Starting Over at 28
April 12, 2010
By Emma
“Me? Oh, I’m Naturally Gorgeous…”
“Me? Oh, I’m Naturally Gorgeous…”
April 9, 2010
By Emma
Will Marriage Always Have a Place in Society?
Will Marriage Always Have a Place in Society?
April 7, 2010
By Emma
Alphabet Dating: 9 Date Ideas Beginning with C
Alphabet Dating: 9 Date Ideas Beginning with C
April 6, 2010
By Emma
Unleash Your Inner Bunny!
Unleash Your Inner Bunny!
April 1, 2010
By Emma
5 Cotton (2nd) Anniversary Gift Ideas
5 Cotton (2nd) Anniversary Gift Ideas
March 31, 2010
By Emma
mX Column: Man-Hot vs. Girl-Hot
mX Column: Man-Hot vs. Girl-Hot
March 30, 2010
By Emma
B is for Breakfast and Radio and Breakfast Radio
B is for Breakfast and Radio and Breakfast Radio
March 29, 2010
By Denis
The Same Four Tracks
The Same Four Tracks
March 25, 2010
By Emma
Mistresses vs. Wives – The Showdown
Mistresses vs. Wives – The Showdown
March 24, 2010
By Emma
Alphabet Dating: 10 Date Ideas Beginning with B
Alphabet Dating: 10 Date Ideas Beginning with B
March 23, 2010
By Emma
Real Life Couples: Brett and Mandy
Real Life Couples: Brett and Mandy
March 15, 2010
By Emma
mX Column: The Age of the Bromance
mX Column: The Age of the Bromance
March 15, 2010
By Emma
Alphabet Dating: 9 Date Ideas Beginning with A
Alphabet Dating: 9 Date Ideas Beginning with A
March 12, 2010
By Emma
A 3-way Relationship? Bingle, Clarke, and the Rest of Australia
A 3-way Relationship? Bingle, Clarke, and the Rest of Australia
March 12, 2010
By Emma
Alphabet Dating: A is for African Cuisine
Alphabet Dating: A is for African Cuisine
March 11, 2010
By Emma
Love Plug: Hollywood Make-Out Mints
Love Plug: Hollywood Make-Out Mints
March 11, 2010
By Emma
Alphabet Dating
Alphabet Dating
March 10, 2010
By Emma
Getting Back on the Date Night Horse
Getting Back on the Date Night Horse
March 10, 2010
By Emma
The Post-Break Up Makeover
The Post-Break Up Makeover
March 8, 2010
By Emma
mX Column: Lessons from Marriage
mX Column: Lessons from Marriage
March 8, 2010
By Emma
8 Paper (First) Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas
8 Paper (First) Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas
March 4, 2010
By Emma
mX Column: Money Matters
mX Column: Money Matters
March 1, 2010
By Emma
Rate your Woman’s Driving Skills
Rate your Woman’s Driving Skills
February 25, 2010
By Denis
mX Column: Hand-in-hand
mX Column: Hand-in-hand
February 21, 2010
By Emma
Me and Febusave
Me and Febusave
February 16, 2010
By Emma
mX Column: The Rise of the Cougar
mX Column: The Rise of the Cougar
February 14, 2010
By Emma
Melbourne Daters: Something Special for You!
Melbourne Daters: Something Special for You!
February 11, 2010
By Emma
How Much Does Your Man Pay Attention?
How Much Does Your Man Pay Attention?
February 10, 2010
By Emma
Top 5 (Non-Soppy) Valentine’s Day Date Ideas
Top 5 (Non-Soppy) Valentine’s Day Date Ideas
February 8, 2010
By Emma
mX Column: Blind Dates? Bad News.
mX Column: Blind Dates? Bad News.
February 7, 2010
By Emma
For Men: How to Buy Lingerie for Your Sweetie
For Men: How to Buy Lingerie for Your Sweetie
February 5, 2010
By Emma
Why Don’t Men Listen?
Why Don’t Men Listen?
February 3, 2010
By Emma
mX Column: The Problem with Valentine’s Day
mX Column: The Problem with Valentine’s Day
January 30, 2010
By Emma
Denis! You can’t be friends with your Ex-Girlfriend!
Denis! You can’t be friends with your Ex-Girlfriend!
January 25, 2010
By Denis
We Went Plane Spotting
We Went Plane Spotting
January 24, 2010
By Denis
mX Column: How Was it For You?
mX Column: How Was it For You?
January 24, 2010
By Emma
The ‘Top 10′ Date Lists Collection!
The ‘Top 10′ Date Lists Collection!
January 21, 2010
By Emma
Worst Date #4: The Nudist Beach
Worst Date #4: The Nudist Beach
January 18, 2010
By Emma
How Long is a Piece of String?
How Long is a Piece of String?
January 14, 2010
By Emma
Real Life Couples: Rebecca and Murray
Real Life Couples: Rebecca and Murray
January 6, 2010
By Emma
From the Velveteen Rabbit
From the Velveteen Rabbit
January 5, 2010
By Emma
New Year, New Goals
New Year, New Goals
January 3, 2010
By Emma
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
December 25, 2009
By Emma
To Have and to Hold, and to Buy All the Presents.
To Have and to Hold, and to Buy All the Presents.
December 22, 2009
By Emma
Mystery Date Box Idea!
Mystery Date Box Idea!
December 13, 2009
By Emma
Is Music Unhealthy for Your Relationship?
Is Music Unhealthy for Your Relationship?
December 2, 2009
By Emma
In Sickness and in Health?
In Sickness and in Health?
November 29, 2009
By Emma
20 Festive Christmas Date Ideas
20 Festive Christmas Date Ideas
November 25, 2009
By Emma
How to Survive the Festive Season Together
How to Survive the Festive Season Together
November 23, 2009
By Emma
Worst Date #2: Swimming at the Local Pool
Worst Date #2: Swimming at the Local Pool
November 18, 2009
By Emma
Are You and Your Sweetie Speaking the Same Love Language?
Are You and Your Sweetie Speaking the Same Love Language?
November 15, 2009
By Emma
When Musical Tastes Collide
When Musical Tastes Collide
November 11, 2009
By Emma
Date Night Review: Joint Manicures
Date Night Review: Joint Manicures
November 9, 2009
By Emma
Worst Date Challenge: Date #1 Coming Tomorrow
Worst Date Challenge: Date #1 Coming Tomorrow
November 4, 2009
By Emma
Elizabeth Gilbert Talks Soulmates
Elizabeth Gilbert Talks Soulmates
November 1, 2009
By Emma
The Secret to Hugh Jackman’s Happy Marriage
The Secret to Hugh Jackman’s Happy Marriage
October 29, 2009
By Emma
The Stupidest Idea We’ve Had Yet
The Stupidest Idea We’ve Had Yet
October 28, 2009
By Emma
Love Plug: Old School Polaroids
Love Plug: Old School Polaroids
October 26, 2009
By Emma
Do Soulmates Exist?
Do Soulmates Exist?
October 25, 2009
By Emma
Date Night on Deck 88…
Date Night on Deck 88…
October 16, 2009
By Denis
Tinky-Winky-Pummy-Umpkin-Snookie-Bum.
Tinky-Winky-Pummy-Umpkin-Snookie-Bum.
October 14, 2009
By Emma
Rove Interviews Tasma – Adorable!
Rove Interviews Tasma – Adorable!
October 13, 2009
By Emma
Government Gives Second Honeymoon for Troubled Couples
Government Gives Second Honeymoon for Troubled Couples
October 12, 2009
By Emma
Pleased to Meet You!
Pleased to Meet You!
October 8, 2009
By Emma
I’m Breaking Up with You!
I’m Breaking Up with You!
October 5, 2009
By Denis
“Some People are Just Happier in a Relationship”
“Some People are Just Happier in a Relationship”
October 1, 2009
By Emma
What are the Best Breakup Songs?
What are the Best Breakup Songs?
September 28, 2009
By Emma
How to Make a Love Map
How to Make a Love Map
September 27, 2009
By Emma
Do Opposites Really Attract?
Do Opposites Really Attract?
September 24, 2009
By Emma
Guest Post: $30 Cake Night
Guest Post: $30 Cake Night
September 23, 2009
By Emma
Man Cold Syndrome (aka, poor Den)
Man Cold Syndrome (aka, poor Den)
September 19, 2009
By Denis
Planning Holidays Together
Planning Holidays Together
September 16, 2009
By Emma
Time Apart Does NOT Mean Break Up!
Time Apart Does NOT Mean Break Up!
September 15, 2009
By Denis
Table for One?
Table for One?
September 11, 2009
By Emma
Domestic Goddess, I Am Not
Domestic Goddess, I Am Not
September 9, 2009
By Emma
The Heart Grows Fonder
The Heart Grows Fonder
September 7, 2009
By Emma
5 Fresh Date Ideas for the Mornings
5 Fresh Date Ideas for the Mornings
September 6, 2009
By Emma
How Much Time Do Couples Spend Together?
How Much Time Do Couples Spend Together?
September 2, 2009
By Emma
Living With Messy People
Living With Messy People
August 24, 2009
By Emma
Does the dating world need a Daters Lemon Law?
Does the dating world need a Daters Lemon Law?
August 23, 2009
By Denis
The Proposal: Part 1
The Proposal: Part 1
August 20, 2009
By Emma
In Pursuit of Healthiness
In Pursuit of Healthiness
August 19, 2009
By Emma
My Wife is a Petty Thief!
My Wife is a Petty Thief!
August 18, 2009
By Denis
Pho Fo’ Date Night
Pho Fo’ Date Night
August 17, 2009
By Emma
Things I Wish My Husband Would Let Me Throw Out
Things I Wish My Husband Would Let Me Throw Out
August 16, 2009
By Emma
In Defense of Marriage
In Defense of Marriage
August 13, 2009
By Emma