Date Night Gift Box
As I’ve said many times, mine is a family of home-bodies. So it’s no surprise that I would have a blog about date nights at home. But just because we’re at home, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make every effort to make that time spent together intentional with a pre-planned activity or meal.
For Christmas, I like to think about the following year and use the opportunity for giving as a way to show my effort in making moments special for our family. Most of that effort goes into family plans and hosting but this year I really wanted to come up with more creative ways for Chris and I to hang at home, just the two of us. So I wrapped up a big box that held 12 date night packages – one for each month of the year.
And by having this all planned out ahead of time eliminates the people pleaser “I don’t know, whatever you want to do” decision making loop.
Date Nights at Home Ideas and Subscriptions
- My husband loves Chess. So, one of our dates is to have Fondue and Chess by candlelight. Now I highly recommend getting a fondue pot if you don’t have one, but you could also make it on the stovetop. The cheese is for me, the chess is for him. Everyone’s happy! And there’s something about candlelight that makes even the simplest activity more special. So pick your favorite game and meal/snack and do it by candlelight. Add in a special cocktail or mocktail and you’ve got yourself a date!
- My husband also loves darts so we have a board on our back patio. I love a dance party at home, so we’ll be taking the speaker out back, and playing a game of cricket. I love doing this is in the fall with a hot apple cider or hot toddy!
- One of the date nights I’m most excited for is a 3-part series. I was researching subscription boxes and came across Puzzling Pursuits. Think “an escape room in a box.” They have a few different themes available. I chose the La Familia trilogy which has that Chicago gangster vibe – one of my husband favorite history studies. We plan on making 3 separate dates out of this trilogy. Click below for some music to set the vibe.
- Finders Seekers is a similar subscription, but instead of the same story continuing over multiple boxes it has a complete mystery in 1 box. They have different options for subscriptions. I chose the 6-month subscription and bought a few of the archived boxes for our family to do all together. They have junior boxes as well. The regular boxes definitely need more adult reasoning skills but it was really fun solving all the puzzles to solve the final mystery.
- Borrow your kid’s Nintendo Switch for a Mario Kart competition! You could even make it spicey by adding stakes, like clothing teehee (maybe wrap up some new Mario socks for added protection!)
- Wrap up some blank canvases (you can get some really cheap ones) along with some paints and brushes and get ready to giggle because we’re painting each other’s portraits. I’ll never look so lovely… And of course, pair this activity with a fun new cocktail or mocktail!
- Teach Me Something Date! Wrap this one with a Open One Week in Advance warning. Is there something household task that your spouse always does simply because you don’t know how to do it? Or is there something they’re really knowledgeable about and you’re curious to learn more. Let your spouse shine as an expert by asking them to teach you something, and they’ll do the same with you. Examples: Changing a Tire, Grilling a Steak, Creating Reels on Instagram, English History during the Tudor Reign, How to Play Chess, The Rules of Football. Anything! The advance warning allows the other person to prepare materials needed to teach you whatever you requested. This could be overly complicated or just silly and fun. Whatever works for you!
- And not to be neglected is the classic at-home date: Netflix and Chill. But make it special! Order in, light some candles, get matching lounge sets/socks/hoodies, and start that series you’ve been meaning to rather than scrolling through endless bad movie options.
What's your favorite At-Home Date Night? Comment below!
So cool, Marie – great job!
Thanks Tom! Thank you so much for coming by and supporting!