We all love date nights – getting dressed up, going to a favorite restaurant, relaxing and having time together with your significant other.
But they can be rare with our busy lives.
And pricey.
While we know you scheduled date nights in Week 5, why not add a date night to your plan that you can do at home?
The beauty of this particular date night is that it can be as simple or as fancy as you want it to be. It can coincide with an anniversary or just be a random act of romance. Regardless, a date night is a great way for you and your spouse to reconnect.
This week is the week that you and your spouse have an at-home date night as part of NextGen MilSpouse’s You Got This: 52 Challenges to Make 2016 Your Bitch.
Week 21 Challenge: Planned an At-Home Date Night
Challenge Details: Set aside one night this week to have a date night with your sweetie at your house.
Your deadline: May 30
Bonus Points if you post a photo of your date night on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #2016IsMyBitch.
10 Ideas for Your Cozy At-Home Date Night
Bring the restaurant experience to your house. Bust out that tablecloth and the china set. Set the mood with some candles and cook up a delicious dinner. It doesn’t have to be a 5-course meal, but shell out a bit of extra cash if you can for a quality cut of steak or fish.
Or maybe splurge on a meal prep box from Blue Apron or Hello Fresh. Regardless, cook up a nice meal (or order a nice one in) and enjoy! (Oh and put those cell phones away.)
Watch a movie or two. One of my favorite date nights is going to the movies – but ticket prices can be expensive! Plus, a busy life means that I don’t always get to see everything in the theater.
Catch up on a movie that’s been on your must-watch list by picking it up at Redbox or renting from Apple, Amazon, or finding it on Netflix. Then pop some popcorn and snuggle up on the couch, which is way easier to do than in those movie theater seats anyway!
Have a whole day to watch? Have a movie marathon!
Relax with a spa evening. Put on the Yoga Pandora (or something similar) and have a spa day at home. This could include giving each other massages, taking a relaxing bath together or maybe doing some facial masks. Whatever relaxes you both, definitely plan on doing those, you can even use DIY scrubs and masks with a little Pinterest sleuthing.
Challenge your spouse to a game night. Bust out those playing cards and board games and have a competitive night together. You can even make a bet against each to amp up the competitiveness. The trick will be finding a game that only two can play.
Create together. Sure there are the painting or cooking classes nearby but why not bring those home? Pick out a simple DIY project that the two of you could do – from making a photo album of those wedding photos you ordered but never did anything with, to painting artwork for your home. The possibilities are endless.
Plus, you’re making something together and bonding over how good (or bad) your DIY project turned out.
Head outside for a backyard picnic. Who said that picnics only happen in parks? Grab a blanket, your favorite picnic food and set up a picnic in your own backyard. Bring a book or something to read as you lounge and enjoy the hopefully not-so-hot weather yet under the shade of the trees you see out your window every day.
Enjoy a campout without the camping fees. Get creative with this one – you can build your own indoor fort with pillows or bust out that fire pit to make s’mores in the backyard.
Who said only kids get to make pillow forts?
Or s’mores?
Adults can and should have fun too!
Turn up the music for a dance-like-no-one’s-watching dance party. You may love dancing but not the club scene or don’t have a ball to dance the night away on your calendar anytime soon. Or maybe you prefer ballroom dancing.
Whatever type of dance you fancy, put on your favorite music and dance the night away in your living room.
Make a tasting plate. Maybe there are some fantastic looking cheeses at the grocery store you’ve always wanted to try. Or you love chocolate and want to pick a new favorite. Whatever it is you want to taste – create your own platter and try it out.
Want to go the extra mile? Make a score card to help determine your absolute favorite with your spouse.
Have a sexy evening. Take the time to reconnect with each other in the bedroom. This is a date night that both of you will enjoy.
