With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, and many of us still in varying degrees of lockdown or just winter, I thought I’d share some of mine and Arno’s favorite date night at home activities. I hope this list gives you some ideas on how to enjoy this time at home with your partner!
1. Eat a Slow Dinner Together
I love meals that encourage you to slow down and linger – a charcuterie board, a fondue, a fajita bar for 2, or a grazing platter. We’ve had some of our best conversations over dinners like this, and it’s such a nice break from the busy weeknight rush.
2. Do a Puzzle
Puzzles actually became one of our favorite at home activities right before quarantine. There are so many to choose from – we usually do the 1000 piece puzzles that are challenging but not grueling. It’s a great break from screens, and it’s fun to be working on the same project together.
3. Listen to an Audiobook
Recently we’ve been listening to Barack Obama’s A Promised Land on Audible. It’s read by Obama himself (and listening to 30 hours of Obama speaking is such a delight). We have read the same book before, but the audiobook format feels more like we’re experiencing it together.
4. Cook or Bake Together
If you and your partner like to cook and bake, this can be such a fun way to spend an evening together. We love trying new recipes and ingredients, and making something fancier than we would on a normal day.
Tip: divide tasks based on your individual strengths! I always make the sauces & marinades, and Arno knows how to cook a great steak.
5. Just Sit and Talk
I love long, deep conversations about everything, and just sitting and talking will always be one of my favorite ways to spend time with Arno. We also love these Our Moments conversation cards – they spark the most interesting talks! Each card has a question, some funny, some deep, and even if you’ve been together for a long time, the questions will still help you learn something new about your partner.
6. Watch TV or a Movie, but Make it Extra Cozy
Of course I couldn’t leave this classic date night at home out. Arno and I love watching a good movie or show together (and thankfully we have very similar tastes). But to keep it from feeling stale, try really amping up the cozy factor. Light a candle, have tea or hot chocolate, cuddle up under a blanket. It can also be fun to have a standing weekly date – every Sunday is movie night for us, which gives us something to look forward to and softens the Sunday scaries.
If you’re looking for something to watch, here are some shows and movies we’ve recently loved: The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix), Anne with an E (Netflix), The Expanse (Amazon Prime), The Dig (Netflix).
