A Few of His Favorite Things

Remember the song “These Are a Few of My Favorite Things”? This date turns it into the sweetest, most personal week your spouse will have all year. You pick a handful of their very favorite things, surprise them with one a day, then cap it off with a whole date built around what they love most — all for around $10. It works for a husband or a wife, a birthday or a “just because,” and it tells your person, loud and clear: I pay attention to you.

What Is the Favorite Things Date?

It’s a two-part surprise. First, a week of tiny gifts — one of your spouse’s favorite things each day, each paired with a sweet note. Then, a date night where every single thing you do is one of their favorites, from the food to the entertainment. The whole point is thoughtfulness over cost: nothing here is expensive, but it all says I know you, and I love who you are.

What You’ll Need

• Five of your spouse’s favorite little things — a candy bar, their go-to drink, a favorite snack, a magazine, whatever makes them smile.
• Five small notes or cards (a notepad or index cards work great) to leave with each surprise.
• A plan for the date-night finale built around their favorites (see below).
• Optional: a little scrapbook paper and ribbon to turn the notes into a keepsake book at the end.

A Week of Favorite Things

Starting Monday, leave one favorite thing (plus a note) somewhere your spouse will find it. Spread them out so the anticipation builds all week toward the date on Friday. Here’s the rhythm that worked for us — swap in whatever your person actually loves:

• Monday — Tuck their favorite treat on the car seat for the drive to work, with a note that a whole week of favorites is on the way.
• Tuesday — Set out their favorite breakfast (cereal, a pastry, a coffee order) with the next note.
• Wednesday — Slip a favorite candy bar into their bag or lunch.
• Thursday — Leave a favorite snack somewhere they’ll pause — next to the morning news, the coffee maker, or their side of the bed.
• Friday — The last little gift, with a note inviting them to their Favorite Things Date tonight.

The Main Event: Your Favorite Things Date

Now build a whole date out of their favorites. Ours went like this: dinner at his favorite spot (we used coupons and kept it under $5), an hour wandering his favorite store just for fun, and then home to the couch to go through his favorite music together — make a shared playlist, pull up an album, and talk about the songs you each love and why. That last part turned into two hours of the best conversation we’d had in ages.

The magic is that everything is centered on them. Favorite restaurant, favorite store, favorite playlist, favorite dessert — stack their favorites end to end and you’ve got a night they’ll never forget. (Bonus: ours ended with him promising to plan a whole day of my favorite things next. Win-win.)

Turn the Notes into a Keepsake Book

Don’t toss those daily notes! Once the week is over, collect them back and turn them into a little book. Line the pages up along the right side of a piece of scrapbook paper, glue the left edges so they’re secure, fold the paper over the top as a cover, and finish with a ribbon. It’s a five-minute craft that becomes a keepsake your spouse can flip through for years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the favorite things date cost?

You can absolutely do the whole thing for around $10. The five daily surprises are small (candy, a drink, a snack), and the date itself can lean on coupons and free-or-cheap favorites like a walk through a favorite store or a music night at home.

Does this work for a wife, not just a husband?

Completely. “A few of their favorite things” works for anyone — just tailor the daily surprises and the date to what your spouse loves most. It’s a wonderful birthday, anniversary, or just-because gesture.

How far ahead do I need to plan?

Just a quick trip to gather the five small favorites and a few minutes to write the notes. Start the surprises on a Monday and the date lands naturally on Friday, but any five-day stretch works.

Love a good thoughtful surprise? Pair this with our love notes & free printables, keep the momentum going with our at-home date night ideas, or make it a birthday with our birthday celebration ideas.