Pizza Party

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At Home Date Night: Pizza Party

This weeks at home date night idea is a pizza party at your house. Make your own pizza dough beforehand or buy pre-made pizza dough. My local grocery store has it near the deli for less than $4. Buy all kinds of different toppings like mushrooms, peppers, sausage, pepperoni, different cheeses, etc. Pick up a salad and some drinks if you choose. Turn on some romantic music and make pizzas for your date. Or switch it up and make pizzas for each other. Spend time talking and doing something together. Pair the pizza party with a fun movie of your husband’s choice.

While your pizzas are cooking play this version of the newlywed game. The newlywed game judges how well you know your spouse. Here are some question ideas:

Name your spouse’s favorite movie.

Name your spouse’s favorite candy bar.

Name your spouse’s favorite restaurant.

Name your spouse’s favorite food.

What would be a romantic date to your spouse?

What does your spouse like to do when they don’t have to do anything?

Where was your first kiss?

What is your spouse’s favorite memory of you together?

What was your spouse’s first job?

What chore would your spouse like you to do more?

When did your spouse realize that they were in love with you? 

Game Night for Two

Picture Source: BYU

'[This next great date night at home is a game night for two. This is an easy to prep date night that is a lot of fun. First off gather the games in your house, or the store or even a thrift store. We find great games at our local thrift store for $3! Here is a list of fun two player games:

Uno

Picture Source: Gamasutra

Chess

Checkers

Battleship

Yahtzee

Clue

Risk

Life

Monopoly

Ticket to Ride

Trivial Pursuit

Twister

Backgammon

Connect 4

Poker

Scrabble

If you have a gamer in your home it may be fun to play some video games together, or incorporate at least one in your game night. Make some kind of scoresheet if you want to keep score, where the winner gets breakfast in bed, or some other fun prize. Then make this yummy skillet cookie for a treat. It is so simple! Get your favorite cookie dough from the store, put it into a seasoned cast iron skillet and bake for 15-20 min at 375. Top with ice cream or whipped cream if desired. Have fun eating your yummy treat and beating each other at different board games.

Picture Source: stayinnight

Relationship Tip: Even though you are at home choose to not let your home interfere. This is your special time, put the kids to bed or find some way to not be distracted by anyone during your date time. 

Spa Night at Home

Picture from youtube.com

 Take a break from your hectic schedules together with this spa date night. Relaxation and rejuvenation requires only a little bit of prep with some relaxing tunes, a few recipes and some candles.

Start off by gathering the refreshments. One nice thing to make is infused water. Simply get a water pitcher and fill it with sliced cucumbers. You can add grapefruit, lemon or any other fruits. Let it sit for a few hours and you have a nice refreshing pitcher of water. Get some dark chocolate and make up a little veggie and fruit tray. Light healthy snacks are a fun treat that go well with this date.

Next we want to create an ambiance. Try to find all the candles in your house and place them in your bathroom or kitchen, wherever you want to have your spa night. I like to put little tea lights in mason jars. The candles create soft lighting, or put up twinkle lights if you don’t like to use candles.  Clean your bathroom and put out some fresh towels.

Finally we will make our spa treatments. Make simple scrub using honey and brown sugar. Mix 2 cups brown sugar, ½ cup olive oil and ¼ cup honey together in a small bowl or Mason jar. Apply this scrub to lips, hands, elbows or even feet. Get some Epsom salt to add to a foot bath. Have some soap ready for a bubble bath, if you choose. 

Find a relaxing internet radio channel or create a playlist. Search for key words like meditation, yoga etc. to find calm, relaxing, spa like music. Begin the date by playing your music and give each other foot massages. Fill up a bathtub or a foot bath with warm water and Epsom salt. Soak your feet while enjoying the refreshments. Take a nice sip of that infused water. Talk about your day and relax and unwind together. Use the brown sugar scrub on your hands and or your feet. Be sure to apply lotion afterwards.

Relationship Tip: Take time regularly to relax and rejuvenate together. Talk about what each of you finds relaxing, and make plans to incorporate them into your schedule. 

Fondue Night

Picture Source: The London Standard

Today's at home date ideas is a fondue night. This is a relatively easy and fun date night idea, with minimal preparation. Below is a recipe for yummy cheese fondue.

Cheese Fondue

2 cups lightly packed shredded Gruyere cheese (about 8 ounces)

1 1/2 cups lightly packed shredded Swiss cheese (about 6 ounces)

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup low-sodium, good-quality chicken broth

1/8 teaspoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon finely minced or pressed garlic

1/4 teaspoon ground black or white pepper

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Dash of paprika

DIRECTIONS

Place both the shredded Gruyere and Swiss cheeses in a gallon-size resealable bag with the cornstarch and shake until evenly coated.

Once the cheese is melted and begins to just barely simmer, add the remaining spices and move it immediately to the table on the fondue stand with the sterno flame below. It should be the consiste

In a stove top-safe fondue pot (or in a regular saucepan or electric fondue pot), add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and garlic and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the cheese, a small handful at a time, stirring constantly, but not briskly. It works best to use a wooden spoon and and stir in an S-shaped motion, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pot so it doesn't burn.ncy of warm honey. Add more or less cheese for perfect consistency and additional salt and pepper to taste if needed.

Recipe Source: Mel’s Kitchen

Serve this cheese fondue with veggies like broccoli, potatoes, crackers, bread etc. For the Chocolate Fondue simply pick up some chocolate melts and melt them in the microwave or your fondue pot. Dip ideas include strawberries, bananas, angel food cake, wafers and other cookies and fruit. Create an ambiance by finding a romantic playlist on an internet radio site. Light some candles if you choose. For an activity to do look over the questions listed below. Print them up, cut them apart and put them in a bowl. Ask each other questions, or even make up your own. Using conversation starters can help provide something new and exciting to your regular routine.

What is your favorite memory of us?

When was the last time I made you laugh?

What is your favorite outfit that I wear?

Is there something that you wish we did for a date night?

What is your favorite thing to do together?

What is your favorite thing to do, when you have nothing to do?

Where is one place you would like to visit?

Where do you believe we go after we die?

What makes you feel loved?

How can we create a better marriage?

How would you spend a million dollars if you were given it?

What is something that is worrying you?

What are your plans for the next 5 years, the next 10?

What has been your favorite date night?

What is something I do that makes you feel loved?

Relationship Tip: Take time to have conversation about your marriage, and about your life. Don’t get so caught up in talking about kids or work that you don’t take time to have meaningful conversations that will help your relationship to grow. 

Romantic Indoor Picnic for Two

Having a romantic date does not mean that we have to pay for a sitter, and have an expensive dinner at a 5 star restaurant. At home dates can be just as romantic. With a little bit of preparation you can have a romantic date after you put the kids to bed.

Decorate your living room, spare room, or wherever you have enough space for a picnic. You can decorate with twinkle lights, candles, blankets and pillows. Anything you think can help make the space more romantic. Add some flowers if you choose.

 Put together a cheese plate. Use a wooden cutting board to arrange your picnic food. To do this you need to some meat like prosciutto, summer sausage or even pepperoni. Then add the cheese you can add Brie, Gouda, Mozzarella, Goat Cheese or even Cheddar. Add some fruit as well like grapes, strawberries, pears, dried cranberries and dried apricots. Next get some fancy bread and crackers. French bread works great. If you want you can add some jelly to your plate too.

A romantic evening is not complete without some kind of beverage. We love sparkling cider and juices. You can put the bottle in some ice so it will stay cold during your picnic. Get some long stemmed glasses out to make the night really special.

Having a fun activity can help stimulate conversation and bonding together. This activity is a new twist on a love letter. Get an old book from your collection or a thrift store, and a permanent marker. Pick a page and make a love letter in the book by crossing out the words you don’t want to use. You can then rip the page out and keep it or you can keep them all in the book.. If you want a romantic movie is also a great addition to this date.