Staying In For Date Night – And Doing It Right

Married couples who dedicate a date night together once a week are reportedly much happier in their relationship than those who don’t consider it so much of a priority. It is also reported that couples who prioritise date nights (and don’t talk about finances when they’re out) have a healthier and more substantive sex life. Therefore, when aiming to break up the mundane, how you spend your date night should always vary. Going for a bike ride and stopping in the park for a picnic of nice cheeses, crackers and wine on a beautiful day will definitely keep things fresh. Yet it’s also vitally important to mix it up and keep it interesting on the occasional date night in.

 

The Pleasures Of Cooking

 

22% of couples reportedly wish their partners would cook for them more often. When a couple spends quality time in the heart of the home, they’ll often engage in conversation, creating a unique connection that wouldn’t otherwise occur. The greatest triggers for evoking memories are taste and smell, so with a well planned evening, you’re bound to create some memorable experiences. If only one person is cooking and good conversation is stoked, you should learn more about each other than you’d otherwise know. If cooking together, you’ll have the added benefit of sharing your knowledge of cooking with each other.

Touching and sharing throughout will enrich the entire experience. Sampling the ingredients together and asking for input is not only romantic, but shares in the creation of the meal and breaks down boundaries. It’s always important to create an atmosphere of equality. If the dish is a winner and all your senses are satisfied and nourished, you’ll feel more closely connected, experiencing pleasure, and the person you’re cooking for will feel intimately cared for. 87% of couples feel cooking is one of the most relationship-strengthening activities at home. Like any aspect of a relationship, that meal is so much more than the food. It’s everything that builds up to it.

 

Setting The Mood

 

Get the ambience just right. Make sure your home is clean. Bring in some romantic lighting. Light scented candles throughout the room, choosing scents whose aromas will complement the smells of your cooking. Take your time and make the evening last. Keep it interesting. Put on soft romantic music you both like. Set the table nicely, and have an elegant hors-d’oeuvre spread. Consider starting with an appetiser of figs wrapped in prosciutto with a warm croissant and a nice brie. Have a lovely bottle of wine already opened. Treat your partner as if it was your first date and you’re really trying to impress. While cooking, stir up an interesting conversation. Share funny stories or experiences they might never have heard before, and they’ll likely reciprocate. You’ll learn more about each other. Find a fun or spicy trivia site online, and play some two-person trivia. The winner wins a backrub or a foot massage.

 

Plan Out Your Intermission

 

Once your cooking is at a good stopping point and everything is prepared, take a break and go for a brief walk through the neighbourhood. Watch the sunset together, and get your blood moving. Come back and share with your partner that art book you love that they’ve never seen. Or read that romantic poem you know. Whip up some truffle oil popcorn and watch a movie. Consider a documentary that’ll stir up conversation and get you both exchanging ideas. Or listen to a podcast or old time radio mystery. Both of these ideas are good for being able to pause, allowing you some snuggle time and physical interaction. Don’t be in a rush. The whole idea is spending quality time together so as every aspect of your relationship feels nourished.

 

The Decadent Main Course And The Joy Of Dessert

 

When it’s finally time for dinner, surprise your partner with steamed artichokes with a garlic goat-butter dipping sauce with a sprinkle of saffron on the top, and oysters on the side. Nothing’s better at breaking through barriers or inhibitions then indulging in sexy, messy food that forces you to take it slow and enjoy all the dish has to offer. After dinner, dive into ripe halved pomegranates and a plate of rich broken chocolate. Chocolate contains the same chemicals that your brain creates to induce a feeling of falling in love, and thereby triggers the release of endorphins. 

After your messy dinner and dessert, finish off the evening bathing together in a sparkling clean tub. Turn the lights off, and fill the bathroom with scented candles to keep that romantic atmosphere going. Nearly half of British couples spend more time together in the bath for conversation and catching up than over dinner. All the more reason to break up the routine and create some intimate memories that go beyond the everyday mundane. Share in intimate conversation with your partner. Keep learning, and keep asking, and keep sharing. In every regard, there should be consistency in showing that you care.

 

It’s no secret that couples have a strong need to understand one another and be understood. Casting any mind reading aside, certain things should be fairly obvious. Not taking your partner for granted and not being self-centric is a pretty basic start. Remember, everyone’s favourite subject is themselves. Focus on your partner’s favourite subject. Getting to know someone for the first time isn’t hard. The getting-to-know-you questions are simple, and it’s easy to feel as if you’re standing on firm ground. But once you’ve been in a relationship with someone for a while, you have to realise that there’s an entire universe within that person. Making an effort to continue to explore the depths of your partner will lead to opening new doors between you, and encourage continual growth together. This should be what every date night boils down to, from the very first date to this next Friday night.

About the Author CindT

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