date night :: nonna box

With our two babies so young, date nights out right now seem to be few and far between. We are happy with that and enjoying this phase of life. I am trying to be intentional, though, as we plan time together and with the craziness of all areas of life, a date night at home seems to fit our schedule pretty well! Without giving them much thought, though, these end up being just another night grabbing a bite to eat, finishing up laundry and the to-do list, and just watching our favorite shows!

So, here are a couple of things I’ve found helpful in making these dates special and making it a time to really enjoy time together.
1. Plan a specific meal.
Instead of just a regular weeknight meal, planning something special can make it feel like a date night without having to go to a restaurant. Take out, cooking together, or just a special meal can make the night a date. This time we tried a lovely Italian meal from the Nonna Box I recently received! It was so unique and we both loved it. I love the concept behind this, because I love the idea of families cooking together and carrying on traditions. Each Nonna Box is unique and comes from a different part of Italy. It carries the stories and traditions from different nonnas and delivers authentic gourmet Italian food to your door! My favorite in our box was the bruschetta, but it also included Croxetti noodles, pesto, chocolate, cookies, and walnut sauce! The products in these boxes are not things you will find in your local grocery store, so you will enjoy authentic culinary selections that are hard to come by. You will also get ideas for wine pairings and olive oil selections.

2. Dress up!

I don’t mean you have to put on your best dress or anything, but instead of getting in those comfortable clothes, get ready for the date as if you were going out.

3. Wait to have dinner until the kids are in bed!

This may make a late start, but it will help the night be more enjoyable! Sometimes I feel like we have to plan time just to talk, and a date night at home is a great time to catch up on the little things that get lost in the busyness of the every day. It’s my goal to make nights like these a regular on our calendar.