Play To Win

in Dominican Republic

The Husband and I have always enjoyed different hobbies.  In terms of our sporty hobbies, mine is running and his is golf.  When we first became serious, a few people asked me if it bothered me that we had different hobbies, but I have to admit that I think we both enjoyed it.  Not that we wanted to get away from each other or anything – it’s just that our hobbies were our own.  Our alone time or our time with our friends.  

 

A little independence is always a good thing.  Plus, they can’t miss you if you don’t go away, as my mother always said.

 

Anyway – lately our hobbies have begun to overlap a little bit.  He started to coach Girls on the Run with me and is discovering he kind of likes running.   And I’ve been watching him play golf more often or hitting balls at the range with him. 

 

So when he suggested we play 9 holes of golf on our vacation, I readily agreed.  I’m learning that it’s fun to have our hobbies overlap a little!

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Since the Husband is a great golfer, and I am a newbie, we established that I’d be given 6 shots per hole.  Which means I could swing 56 more times than the Husband over 9 holes and we’d be tied.

 

I NEEDED that handicap.

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To spice it up, we decided on a little bet:

 

  • If I won, the Husband has to take the dogs out every morning for the next week.  Normally, I’m on AM duty because he likes to sleep in more.

 

  • If the Husband won, I had to take the dogs out every night for the next week.  Normally, he is on PM duty because I get lazy at night.

 

Once we decided on the terms, things got SERIOUS.  I kept envisioning these little monsters climbing all over me at 7 AM, begging to go outside.

A

B

That, my friends, is motivation.

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Guess who won?!

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Yeehaw!

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Granted, he shot 3 over par (38) and I shot a 87, but I still won when the score was adjusted. I won!  Fair and square.

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Nothin’ like a little friendly competition to keep the marriage interesting!  I look forward to seven mornings of lazy, perfect bliss.

{ 80 comments }

 

  • Courtney May 18, 2011, 7:18 pm

    Congrats! 😀 😀

  • Christine May 18, 2011, 7:23 pm

    Yeah! I think separate hobbies (and bank accounts, but that’s a whole other story) are the way to go. For example on Saturdays, we both kind of do our thing in the morning and afternoon, but by 5 it’s date night. And then we actually have things to talk to each other about!

  • Julie @ Shining From Within May 18, 2011, 7:26 pm

    haha that picture of you jumping with the golf club is hilarious! you two are so cute. Booya for winning!!!

  • Mary @ stylefyles May 18, 2011, 7:32 pm

    hahahh nice! your celebration photo is awesome!!

  • Michelle May 18, 2011, 7:33 pm

    That last pic of him with the sad face…. awwwwww!

  • Alayna @ Thyme Bombe May 18, 2011, 7:38 pm

    That’s what he gets for underestimating you! I agree about the separate hobbies thing. My husband and I tried to teach each other some of our hobbies and both of us hated them, so now he doesn’t ask me to learn computer languages and I don’t ask him to bake vegan cookies. Win win.

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) May 18, 2011, 7:41 pm

    Haha, I love it! Congrats on your win! Mine and my husband’s hobbies totally overlap. We are pretty much tied to the hip. I am not complaining one bit…he’s my bestest friend ever!

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey May 18, 2011, 7:54 pm

    Congrats! The Husband and I have different hobbies too – I think it’s good for a relationship to have time apart! We start to fight if we’re together tooo much. 🙂

    GOod for you! Enjoy your time sleeping in!

  • Tessa @ Amazing Asset May 18, 2011, 8:01 pm

    Haahaa I love that you won, congrats lady 🙂

  • Sarah May 18, 2011, 8:06 pm

    Hahaha, this was seriously the best post ever, mostly because of that last picture of “The Husband” (he deserves those capital letters you always give him! What a sport!) My husband and I spend a ridiculous amount of time together and he tries to get on board with every one of my hobbies. It’s adorable and slightly sickening. He even tried Zumba–but it’s safe to say that hobby will remain solely mine. I guess I know where to go when I need some alone time? 🙂 Congrats on your win! You guys are such an adorable couple and it must make your parents very happy to know how happy you are with each other and what a healthy relationship you have.

    • Sarah May 18, 2011, 8:09 pm

      That last sentence made me sound like a 90 year old woman talking to “young lady” nice enough to visit her in the nursing home. Or Spencer Pratt’s Nana (have you ever seen the Hills episodes with Nana?!) I apologize.

      • Baking 'n' Books May 18, 2011, 9:06 pm

        LOL.

        It’s so wrong that I know what your talking about…hence my apologies as well 😉

  • Beth @ 990 Square May 18, 2011, 8:23 pm

    So cute! My husband and I don’t really share many hobbies. The man has to watch every Orioles baseball game. Seriously, who wants to watch that much baseball?! There are 160-odd games!

  • Ashley @ the fit academic May 18, 2011, 8:26 pm

    haha, hilarious! I love this post!!!

  • Laura I. May 18, 2011, 8:28 pm

    Monsters? Awwwww, poor babies. They are so cute.

  • Kelly May 18, 2011, 8:31 pm

    Lol this post cracked me up. My husband and I have totally different hobbies too and he has given up on getting me on board with golfing haha. However, if I could win someone to do chores for me I might be on board more!

  • erica May 18, 2011, 8:32 pm

    hahahahaha. love the last 2 pics!
    congrats on your win!

  • Holly @ The Runny Egg May 18, 2011, 8:33 pm

    That is awesome — I’d need that handicap too if I were playing golf. I have no patience and I’d probably end up throwing my clubs in a pond!

  • cathy May 18, 2011, 8:39 pm

    oooh, i love the fun bet you made! congrats on the win! nothing like a little competition to raise the stakes/bring out your A game!
    great post, caitlin – and that last photo of the husband – poor guy, so defeated!

  • Averie (LoveVeggiesandYoga) May 18, 2011, 8:43 pm

    I hate golf. There, I said it. I *can* golf if I want to, I just don’t like it. I will ride around on the golf cart and taunt the golfers though 🙂 kidding! But I can play caddy and hand out beers. That’s the extend of the golfing i do these days. Seriously, good for you for taking up golf with the hubs!

    • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday May 18, 2011, 9:59 pm

      I used to play golf but I hated it. HATED. I would get so angry with myself if I didn’t play well and every game would just end up with me frustrated (and even if I played well, I’d be bored by the 5th hole).
      Also, our club had a super strict dress code and I would always get in trouble for wearing shorts that were too short (ie. not down to my knees).

  • Laura @FoodSnobSTL May 18, 2011, 8:59 pm

    My husband never wants to play ANY sort of game with me because he says he will either feel bad for beating me or have to let me win. I think he is just afraid of really getting beat 😉

  • Gina @ RunningtotheKitchen May 18, 2011, 9:03 pm

    That’s impressive! Golf is just one of those things I can’t do.

  • Penny May 18, 2011, 9:10 pm

    Thanks to our Wii, I have dying to play real golf. I think it looks fun!!

  • LauraJayne May 18, 2011, 9:13 pm

    I would totally need that handicap and then some! Your vacation is looking lovely – enjoy every second!

  • Katy (The Singing Runner) May 18, 2011, 9:19 pm

    Haha! Adorable! Congrats to you! 😉

  • Kristina @ spabettie May 18, 2011, 9:24 pm

    haa… congrats! Jason and I have the same schedule for Basil – because I’m generally up by 5-6, I take Basil for morning walks, Jason does the LATE night after dark, because I’m scared to. (we live way out on a road with no street lamps – pitch dark!)

  • Abby May 18, 2011, 9:38 pm

    This makes me smile! 🙂 Love it!

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss May 18, 2011, 9:47 pm

    hahaha good job on winning!! I STINK at golf. Mini golf is a whole other story..but regular golf, yeah..I wouldn’t stand a chance.

  • Kate @ Kate Explains It Alll May 18, 2011, 9:53 pm

    Way to go on winning! I’m trying to learn golf right now so my future hubs and I can go play a few holes here and there but I have a feeling that is one hobby I don’t foresee myself picking up. 🙂

  • Kristen May 18, 2011, 10:05 pm

    haha hsounds like a great game! I LOVE friendly competitions!

  • maria @ Chasing the Now May 18, 2011, 10:05 pm

    My husband and I have separate hobbies, but we occasionally try to get each other involved, which I like.

  • Sarah @ The Pajama Chef May 18, 2011, 10:12 pm

    congrats!

  • Emilee May 18, 2011, 10:17 pm

    Ha Lar Rious!!!!

  • Miranda @ Working Mom Works Out May 18, 2011, 10:35 pm

    Hahahaha! Awesome!!!

  • Nicole May 18, 2011, 10:42 pm

    Aaaahhhh..hahaha. Love your victory photo!

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing May 18, 2011, 10:53 pm

    How awesome that you won! Poor husband 🙂

  • Khushboo May 18, 2011, 11:25 pm

    You’ll enjoy that lie-in even more now! I agree about the different hobbies thing- having a few differences keeps the relationship interesting

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife May 18, 2011, 11:26 pm

    That is SO awesome! GO YOU 🙂 I love a little friendly competition in a marriage. ha. my husband practically beats me in anythings….except word games 😉 love it.

  • Lauren @ Sweet and Twisted May 19, 2011, 12:28 am

    LOL at those last two pictures 🙂 I wish my husband would at least come out and walk around the neighborhood while I’m running!

  • Jen May 19, 2011, 12:43 am

    You two are absolutely ADORABLE!

  • Emma (Namaste Everyday) May 19, 2011, 12:50 am

    lol that’s so funny! It seems a little unfair 😉 but that’s all in the fun! next, you guys can race compete for the best PR percentage or something!

  • Jumanah @ Healthy Living in the Middle East May 19, 2011, 4:17 am

    Congrats on winning! This post made me laugh!

  • Carol May 19, 2011, 5:18 am

    Very cute! Congrats on your win!

  • Emma @ Getting There & Going Places May 19, 2011, 5:31 am

    Haha that’s hilarious! 😛

  • Sarah@The Flying ONION May 19, 2011, 6:51 am

    Haha…congratulations on winning at golf! This post is so fun. 😀

  • Hats @ See How She Runs May 19, 2011, 7:30 am

    Nice job! I’ve never golfed properly nor been to a driving range. I also don’t watch it on TV. However I am partial to a spot of mini/crazy golf now and then – even if I’m playing with my super-competitive friends. I’ve only scored a hole-in-one once, but it was a great moment!

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin May 19, 2011, 7:44 am

    Haha you guys are hilarious! Congrats on winning! 😀

  • Kelly May 19, 2011, 9:29 am

    So glad you guys are having a great time!

  • Cindy @ The Flipping Couple May 19, 2011, 9:42 am

    Haha! I love it. : ) But 7am?? You’re a lucky girl. My little monsters are crawling all over me at 4am because they wanna get up! (they slept until 5:30 today. it was a record breaking good day! : )

  • Julie (A Case of the Runs) May 19, 2011, 9:49 am

    Good job! I just read something about having little competitions like this to keep the marriage fresh. =)

  • Ashley @ The Vegetable Life May 19, 2011, 9:51 am

    I loved this post! Sooooo funny! My hubby and I make bets like that all the time!!!!

  • Melissa @ Be Not Simply Good May 19, 2011, 9:52 am

    Congrats! I golf with my husband once in a while too, and I could use a deal like that. He points out that since I don’t hit the ball far, at least I don’t lose the ball! Ha! (He hits it far, and occasionally it veers off into the woods or who knows where…) We definitely have separate hobbies, but we also have a little overlap. I say we’ve each expanded the other’s horizons that way.

  • Sam May 19, 2011, 9:57 am

    Haha, I love it! go you!!! Your vacation is looking awesome. I can’t even get the ball off of the ground so i am impressed 🙂

  • Rachel @ Fit Fun and Fabulous May 19, 2011, 10:11 am

    We have the exact same doggy potty arrangement! I’m on AM duty and he’s on PM. I’m lazy too at night, but I’m also scared to go out in the dark alone at my apartment complex (my dog has never met a stranger so I can’t guarantee he’d protect me if an incident were to happen).

  • Clarissa May 19, 2011, 10:22 am

    Congrats!! Leo is an awesome golfer and I suck, but I like to ride along when he’s in a good mood 🙂

  • Clarissa May 19, 2011, 10:22 am

    Congrats!! Leo is an awesome golfer and I suck, but I like to ride along when he’s in a good mood 🙂

  • Rachel @ No Need For Speed May 19, 2011, 10:25 am

    Here’s your golf rule of the day: the club cannot touch the sand in the bunker before hitting a shot!

  • Clare - Never Niche May 19, 2011, 10:40 am

    Awesome.

  • Laurie May 19, 2011, 10:43 am

    Congrats! Aww, poor husband, love that last picture of him!

  • Amber K May 19, 2011, 10:43 am

    I love that my husband and I can enjoy some things together and some things apart. It helps liven things up. It gives us a chance to catch up and tell each other about what we did. Congrats on your win!

  • Joanna@ Drizzle of Sunshine May 19, 2011, 10:52 am

    Haha! This is your cutest post ever! I love your pictures on this on…tells the story of your victory so well. My husband and I would totally bet the same thing…walking the dog morning or night! That’s a fine wager!
    Congrats on winning! You two are so cute!

  • chelsea May 19, 2011, 11:27 am

    My hubby and I always make bets that involve taking the dog out too! lol!!

  • Faith @ lovelyascharged May 19, 2011, 11:40 am

    I love competitions like that, haha. With my old college roommate, the stakes were usually taking out the recycling!

  • Amanda May 19, 2011, 12:06 pm

    That looks like so much fun. Golf is such a touchy subject with me. My whole family golfs and the women in my family are AMAZING. I, on the other hand, am not. But I think it’s so fun! I just need to invest in some lessons I suppose.

  • Molly @ RDexposed May 19, 2011, 12:14 pm

    I love making bets, maybe because I never lose? Way to go on yours!

  • Tiff @ Love, Sweat, and Beers May 19, 2011, 12:24 pm

    I wish I could play golf! The last time my hubby and I had a minigolf match we were soooo competitive. Thank goodness I won! (poor guy)

  • Courtney May 19, 2011, 12:29 pm

    BAHAHAHA!

  • Jennifer Vergin May 19, 2011, 12:48 pm

    Congrats on the win!!!!!!!

  • Katherine May 19, 2011, 1:07 pm

    Haha, glad you won! I wish I could shoot even under 100 on a golf course lol

  • Leanne (Bride to Mrs,) May 19, 2011, 1:43 pm

    Good job Caitlin! It’ll be sweet victory when you hear the pups every am and you can roll over and say “okay hubby… outta bed you go!” 😉

  • kristina@beancakes May 19, 2011, 3:03 pm

    looks like you’re right on track!!

  • monicanelsonfitness May 19, 2011, 3:53 pm

    so awesome! I make bets with my husband all the time too. 🙂

  • Zulkey May 19, 2011, 4:11 pm

    I feel like golf with your spouse is a metaphor for marriage in general. Often one of you has to be patient and supportive even if you don’t feel like it. Sometimes you both rule. Sometimes you both suck. And if you can spend that much time together and still like each other, then you’re all good.

    • Caitlin May 19, 2011, 4:54 pm

      Agree 🙂

  • Sonia (the Mexigarian) May 19, 2011, 4:17 pm

    LOL! I love it. Congrats on wining! I completely agree that having hobbies that are our is great, and if they overlap a little, no biggie. It’s a great ‘me’ time when I’m running or swimming. He gets to play his games and we hike together when we like 🙂

  • Teacherwoman May 19, 2011, 4:21 pm

    I love that you guys have different hobbies but enjoy spending time doing them together from time to time! Love the friendly competition! keep that spice alive!

  • Katherine: Unemployed May 19, 2011, 4:46 pm

    too funny! I’m terrible with golf

  • Shannon May 19, 2011, 5:30 pm

    what an adorable post! Congrats!!

  • Caitln May 19, 2011, 9:32 pm

    We have the exact same dog duties! I take our dog out in the morning (mostly because I wanted the dog more in the first place, so that was one of my bartering tools)and he takes him at night (cause we live in NYC and I get a little scared, but also mostly the laziness factor) 🙂

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