Date Night In a Box Series #1~ Unbox Love

Are you ever too busy to go on a date or even plan a date? It seems like we all have become so busy that sometimes we simply forget or don't have time to plan! Well, there are some great companies out there that are willing to do 100% of the work for you! They are Date Night Subscriptions where every month they send you a dat in a box and you take part and have fun with your spouse! We are going to run a series on some of the Date Night Subscriptions and give our honest opinion on just how well we think it works and if we felt like it was worth the month that they charge!

Up First! Unbox Love My husband and I received the November box from this great company to try out! It came at a perfect time because I had just found out I was pregnant and was suffering from terrible morning sickness and did not feel like going out and spent many days in bed.
I opened the box prior to Ty coming home from work. I love that they provided me with Time Saving Tips and a recipe to try! Along with that, Unbox Love sent directions on just how to go about our date with 4 simple steps. They sent for His Eyes Only and Her Eyes only Cards as well, which you will use during the date on the Appreciation step!

It asked us to "pop" our snack and while we did this appreciate one another with various things that it told us to do in the directions. After this. we got to get competitive, who doesn't love a little competition? They sent us Tummple Time A challenging twist on Jenga. And Yes, we did have a little side competition going and I won! They encourage you to share using #unboxlove! After the game they give some wrapping up ideas.
Overall, we really loved our Unbox Love Date Box. It was so nice that everything was planned out for us and gave us ways to connect as well as ways to have some friendly competition. If you are a busy couple who needs a pre planned at home date this is a good company to go through.

There are three subscription options: Month to month, 3 months, or 6 months. The prices vary depending on which package you choose. from $39.00 to $34.00. You can also gift these boxes, but that does cost a little bit more. For the pricing click here! Shipping is free and arrives right on your door step and is all ready to go! I would recommend this Date Night Subscription Box to others based on the box we received for November!

Be sure to follow Unbox Love on Twitter! #UnboxLove


*These opinions gave are the honest opinions of Date Night Rewards. We were in no way paid for our opinion. We did receive a complimentary box to try and and review.

Gratitude Date

 With it being close to Thanksgiving, ask yourself, when was the last time I thanked my spouse? Thanked them for making the bed, mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, or just being them? What if you incorporated thanking your spouse as part of weekly date night? When you think of things you are thankful for write them down! At the end of the day tell your spouse all the things about them that you are thankful for. Expressing gratitude towards your spouse will go along way! When someone is expresses gratitude it shows them how much you care about the things that they do! We don't have to just express gratitude this time of year! Make it a habit of doing it all year long!

Smore Fun with Your Spouse!

 As the weather is cooling off we were feeling adventures and decided to build a fire pit in the backyard. We have been out there a time or two with the kids and they have loved to roast smores. That gave me a great idea for our next at home date. We decided to have "smore" fun with one another in the backyard. We went out there started the fire and roasted our marshmallows for a tasty treat! We sat by the fire snuggled and just talked. It was such a nice relaxing night! So grab the graham crackers, the chocolate, and the marshmallows and head outside on your next stay at home date!
If you are feeling adventurous substitute your chocolate bar for other tasty treats like Cookies and creme bars, peanut butter cups, or kit kits to name a few. Trust me! You won't be disappointed!


Relationship Tip!

While making smores, talk about each other's day and really listen to one another.  One way to connect is to be present and know about what's going on in the life of your spouse.  So, go ahead and show "smore" interest.

Picasso's Pizza Pasta Grill and Bar

     On Saturday my husband and I had the opportunity to slip away for a late lunch after our son’s football game. We headed out to Picasso’sPizza Pasta Grill and Bar and let me tell you it did not disappoint. There are three locations in the Dallas area and we went to the one on Dallas Parkway right down the street from the Galleria Mall.

      As we walked in an amazing staff greeted us. Each one of them was friendly and helpful! We felt right at home. There was no wait and we got right in. After a long morning at football I needed something cool and refreshing and our waitress suggested the strawberry lemonade. I would have to say the recommendation was perfect! As we looked over the menu there were so many delicious things so we decided to get a little bit of everything! We started with the quadruple dip. This comes with guac, queso, salsa, and a spinach artichoke dip. Each one of the dips was delicious. I am usually not a huge fan of queso, but I have to admit I loved it and the artichoke dip! It comes with plenty of chips so that you can savor every bite. Next we ordered garlic bread with marinara sauce. Again, I promise I am not just saying this, but it was to dies for and the price was perfect 4 slices for $1.99! You can’t beat that! It is a MUST order! We also ordered the Gorgonzola and Pear salad. This is not your typical pizza place salad, but a delightful treat with Gorgonzola

 , pecans, and fresh pears. Our pizzas arrived and boy did they look tasty! We ordered the Masterpiece and the True Italian with the calzone crust. I love how on the menu it points out favorites and these two made the list. After my first bite I could see why! Both were fantastic! We ended our date with Chocolate Cake and it looked and tasted great! Picasso’s is debuting a new dessert menu in the next week or so and I am excited to go back and try them. The waiters and waitresses were raving about the new Wiggly Whiskey Cake coming soon!

With a ton of food left over we boxed it all up and headed home. Of course our kids met us at the door wanting pizza and they were also raving how great it was. Our oldest son said that it was the best pizza he’s ever had and Chase asked if we could go there for his birthday! Picasso’s was definitely a great find in the Dallas area and a perfect place for your next date!

If you can’t make it in to Picasso’s they do deliver which is an added bonus, but I think it is worth heading in for a date or a family outing! The atmosphere is quiet, yet a place you can watch the big game! Head into Picasso’s and tell us what you think!

Take a Day Trip to Canton

 Have you ever been to Canton? I will be honest, I have been dying to go since we have moved here, but we just have not had time.

What is Canton you ask?

The City of Canton Welcomes You to First Monday Trade Days
What started more than a century ago as a flea market has become home to some of the most exciting, cutting-edge home furnishings, antiques and collectibles that can be found anywhere. Over the past 150 years, lots of things have changed in the Original First Monday Park; but the genuine, down-home human relationships between vendors and shoppers are the reason people keep coming back. This is a place where you can slow down, visit and ask questions, talk to collectors and antique dealers and meet the artists and craftsmen who create one-of-a-kind items.

Make plans to join us for the next Trade Days weekend and enjoy a shopping experience like none other.

Who has gone? Tell us what you think about it!

Relationship Tip! Spending time shopping with one another is a great way to connect! Talk about what you see that you like, what you don't really care for. Perhaps you might even find the next great find for your home together!

Our Masterpiece

Sometimes I feel like it is so easy for my marriage to slip into a normal routine with all the demands all around us. As this occurs it is easy for us to forget why we fell in love in the first place. Does this happen to you too? Please say I am not the only one?

When we aren't able to leave the house we try to do something special at home with one another or make a fancier dinner and enjoy each other's company! The other night we decided to make home made butternut squash raviolis with a sage butter sauce. By the way it was amazing! That is a picture of it! We went to the store together and held hands in the grocery store, even with our 4 kids in tow! We got home and got to work. As we prepped we laughed, talked, and made a huge mess, but we had so much fun! At dinner we fed the kids and they all ran off to play as we sat and just had nice conversation. When it was time to clean up, my husband kissed me and told me to go relax as he cleaned the kitchen. Husbands this is huge to your wives! I promise! Afterwards we enjoyed hanging out on the couch relaxing with one another. It was a perfect night with my hubby at home!

Relationship Tip!
Take the evening and talk about something fun. My husband and I like to talk about what our dream kitchen would look like in the "perfect house". It is just dreaming, but it is fun to think about how you would design it if you were ever given the chance!

Karaoke Night In!

Sometimes as parents we can't always go out on a date, but that should not stop you from dating your spouse! There are lots of things you can do at home after the kids go to bed to put a spark in your relationship! Throughout the blog we will suggest fun things for you to do at home! 

 I love to sing, but I am terrible at it! I mean almost to the point of shattering windows! I would never want to sing up on stage by myself, but because my husband loves me and is stuck with me :) I thought what a fun night we could have singing karaoke and dancing at home! Youtube.com has a lot of great karaoke tracks for you to choose from! Let loose have fun and take pictures!

To make it an even better night in, order pizza from Palio's Pizza Cafe and have them deliver!

Relationship Tip! Having fun together and laughing is the best medicine and it strneghtens relationships. Even when life gets challenging take the time to let loose and do something fun with one another!

 

Studio Grill Plano

 There are some things that have been on my husband’s and my date night bucket list that we have not had the chance to do yet, but last night we got to check off one of those items and we are so glad we did!

We headed out on Date Night to Studio Grill in Plano and took in the Jason Bourne movie. Good movie by the way! Go to Studio Grill and see it J. When we arrived we bought our tickets and picked out our seats with the help of the hostess. They do have self serve kiosks as well, or you can buy your tickets online at home before you arrive to make sure you get the seats you want. It was so nice that we were able to pick our seats and not have to rush in and look for two seats together right before the movie starts. We headed into the theater and we were greeted by our server for the night, Tim! He was amazing very on top of everything the whole night. If you go and Tim is your server you will be well taken care of! After looking at all the great choices on the menu, we decided to start off with Pretzel Bites for an appetizer. They came out piping hot and were delicious! I think I could have eaten those all night. Whenever we needed anything we would press the service button and Tim would appear. Our dinner soon arrived, Margherita Pizza and Med Salad with Grilled Chicken. Again these were really good, the prices are fair, and you receive a lot of food in my opinion! The servers have a way that is quite impressive of bringing you your food without distracting you or others. So nice! By this point I am pretty full, but you can’t go to the movies without a little treat so we shared the Brownie Sundae, and my gosh, I was in Heaven! It was amazing you have to try it when you go there! (I wish I could have taken pictures of all this food, but I couldn’t because I did not want to distract from those around me!)

The seats were super comfortable and the trays swivel in when you need them closer. I usually am tired of being at the movies after 2 hours, but not here! The theatre was clean and the atmosphere was great!

The staff was all on point and very helpful and friendly. Jeff, the manager, was greeting customers and very helpful. He went out of his way to interact with the customers and make them feel welcome! It appeared he had a great relationship with his staff too, which is always a great sign!

It was a very relaxing dinner and movie experience and we will definitely be headed back to Studio Grill Plano for the next box office thriller! To see what is currently showing check out their movie and showtimes here!

$10 Tuesday!

Do you love baseball? Well, a trip to the ball field makes a great date!
Go watch the Rangers play on a Tuesday and take advantage of $10.00 Ticket Prices! The tickets included in this deal are upper reserved tickets.You can also take advantage of $10 parking and $10 meal deals! Go cheer for the home team and maybe catch a foul ball! Can't go on a Tuesday? Well they have other offers on their website! Go enjoy America's Past Time!

(The meal deal is available online only and must be purchased more than 48 hours prior to the game.)

Palio's Pizza Cafe- Rockwall

This week my husband and I didn’t have a lot of time to go out, but we wanted to make sure that we went and did something, so we decided to head out to Palio’s Pizza Café in Rockwall. Palio’s Pizza offers 19 Gourmet Pizzas, as well as salads, pastas, and sandwiches. We started off with garden salads and then moved on to cheese bread and the King Pizza. Everything we had was delicious. The atmosphere is very inviting and makes you feel like you are not in a typical pizza place. The prices were very reasonable for pizza and the pizza dough was delicious! Palio’s Pizza does deliver to the area and they do offer catering services. We will definitely

be going back in to eat or ordering pizza from Palio’s for our next date night at home!

There are several Palio's Pizza around the Dallas Area. Click here to find the one closest to you!

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Let's face it we are all different from one another. That is just how we are made. At times we might wonder what makes you and your spouse think so differently from one another. You might have different views on politics, parenting, sports, money, dating ideas, and the list can go on and on. Sometimes we need to put ourselves in our spouse's shoes to fully understand where they are coming from on certain things. Let's take a trip down memory lane so you can understand a little bit better where you both are coming from!

Option 1: If you live close to where you grew up drive there! See your old house, your old school, where you used to play. While there talk about the memories they have and what life was like back then. This might help you to understand where they are coming from!

Option 2: If you have them, watch home videos of each other growing up or look at old pictures. Tell stories that you remember about your childhood. Share with each other memories of what it was like growing up in your family. This might help you to understand where they are coming from!

Relationship Tip:

Talk about your memories you remember. Share your greatest lessons you learned growing up! This might help you gain understanding and empathy for one another in certain situations. Embrace the differences between you and your spouse, they make your marriage fun and unique!

Uptown Food Walk

We have not been in Dallas for that long. We moved here about 1 1/2 ago when my husband got transferred here for work. Since moving here we have fallen in love with the city and the people in this area! With kids we have not been able to adventure off as much as we would like and try new things so when we saw Food Tours of America offer the Uptown Food Walk we definitely wanted to try it!
The tour consisted of a combination of walking and riding the McKinney Trolley as we strolled to 5 different restaurants, The Rustic, Babousa, a stroll through Klyde Warren Park,  Taquitos and Tacos, McKinney Ave Tavern, and Bisous Bisous. While at the restaurant we sampled some really tasty food, while we did this our awesome tour guide gave us the history of the restaurants, the food, the city, and other various interesting facts. The tour lasted about 3 1/2 hours and we were so full by the time we were done! You definitely do not want to eat breakfast before you go!
We loved seeing new places and trying food along the way. At each restaurant we got the chance to talk about foods we liked as well as meet new people. It was a great relaxing date to share on a Saturday holding hands and trying new things together! This is a perfect date to do with your spouse!
Food Tours of America offers 5 different food tours currently. Check out there website for tours they offer and plan your next Food Tour date!

Exercise

When my husband and I first got married every Saturday we would get up and exercise together. I know what you are thinking! This is the last thing I want to be doing on a Saturday, but it was a great way to spend time together and start the day off right! I am a runner, my husband is not! :) But what we would do is we would start off running a mile together at that point we would give each other a kiss and I would continue on a run and he would go home and lift weights. I would be gone for about 45 minutes and then when I would get home we would do some abs together and go inside and make a healthy breakfast. It was a perfect Saturday morning date! Who knows maybe one day you will even run a race together! That's what I am still trying to convince my husband to do!

 

 You don’t even have to run for an hour to count that as exercise! Make it fun! Grab your significant other and get outside. Here are some fun ideas for you and your spouse!

·      Grab a basketball and walk to a park, play around the world or horse

·      Act like kids and swing on the monkey bars

·      Play on the sings

·      Have a running race, you might be surprised who wins

·      Go for a bike ride

·      Play catch

·      Go for a walk (hold hands)

·      Climb a tree

·      Kick a soccer ball around, play keep away

·      If you have a trampoline, jump on it!

Whodunnit?

This Friday we went on one of the best dates ever! 

We got all dolled up, me in my poodle skirt and pony tail with a flowing ribbon and my husband in his cuffed jeans, white t-shirt, Letterman's jacket with his greased back hair. We were ready to hit the town! or at least the the Murder Mystery Dinner "A Dance with Death" at the Murder Mystery Co.

 We had never been to a Murder Mystery dinner before so we did not know what to expect, but I tell you it exceeded every expectation we had. As we arrived they were there taking pictures, which we could not refuse and then headed inside. As we arrived we were given a "nice shiny table" where we were greeted by 4 other couples. All of a sudden one of the actors was there introducing themselves to us and that is when the fun began! Of course I don't want to spoil it and tell you all the details, but
 according to the Murder Mystery Co. website "This 1950s sock hop is a doo-wop disaster! When a death on the dance floor makes this fun night a party foul, it is up to you to figure out whodunnit and get this dance back on track. Trade clues with your guests, gather information about the crime, and reveal the punk who made this hop go to nowheresville. This night of laughter and dancing is now too heavy to razz anyone’s berries, so it’s up to you to find the murderer!"

 It was so much fun! It was interactive! The food was fantastic! And the 2 hours flew by. We could not believe we had been there that long when it was over!

This is a MUST do date night activity! The Murder Mystery Co. has amazing actors that really involve you and do a great job! "Barb" was amazing as well as all other other actors! Visit there website to find out more details and information on their upcoming shows! There is one more showing of the "A Dance with Death" with tickets still available and then starting in September it will be "Midnight at the Masquerade".


We will definitely be going back again soon! To buy your tickets go to http://murdermysterydinnerdallas.com

Just Dance!

Dancing with the Stars has been on for 22 seasons. I admit, I thought it was for the older generation when it first came on, maybe because my grandma was the one who originally told me about it, but I have sense asked for forgiveness and fallen in love with the show. This has become a Monday night activity with my husband to watch Dancing with the Stars. We pick our favorites and have side bets throughout the season as to who will get kicked off each night and who will win the whole thing. Because of this, I have a desire to learn to dance half as good as them, which is why dance lessons would be an awesome date activity. It is a way to  turn up the romantic side of your relationship as you learn to dance a new style together. The great thing about learning to dance with your spouse is the fact that you don't have to have a dance background to learn to dance, I mean look at some of the stars we have seen actually learn to dance fantastic after some lessons! This date could potentially be turned into a multi date over several weeks. The better you become the more confidence you have together as a couple. 

Dancing lessons can be expensive a great place to check for good deals is Gropoun.They are offering several deals right now! Just sign in to Dallas and type in dance and they will all pop up! Happy Dancing!

Relationship Tip! Learning something new together allows you to bond in new ways and find passions and interests you both have, not just adopting a spouses' interest.

Six Flags over Texas

Are you and your spouse looking for a thrill? As far as thrilling roller coasters go in Texas, Six Flags over Texas takes the cake! With rides for all different comfort levels, you're sure to find one that's right for you; the park's map is conveniently keyed with the rides' various thrill levels so you can be sure you're not getting in over your head. With coasters that seat you in everything from flying to standing positions, the variety offered in the park is remarkable. Six Flags over Texas is a little pricey, but they always seem to have great deals offered so check around or buy online before you go!

Relationship Tip! Trying something new and being a little scared doing it brings couples together. Snuggle into your spouse, squeeze their hand a little harder, cuddle while in line. Spending a whole day together reconnecting can really make your spouse feel special!

Movie Night

Do you ever have those days where you just feel like staying home and wearing your comfy sweats? Well, this date is right up your alley! Sometimes staying “in” on a date night is just what you need and the bonus is you don't have to pay a babysitter if you have kids! You can dress comfortably and snuggle on the couch. Step it up a notch by turning your living room into a movie theater. Make some popcorn. Grab some of your favorite candy from the grocery store and pick up the hottest new Release! 

Relationship Tip! Snuggling with your spouse is just fun. It allows you to unwind and steal a kiss here or there. 

Cupcake Wars

Who doesn’t enjoy a little friendly competition and yummy dessert?  For this date you can do it at home after the kids have gone to bed.  Make sure you have an ample supply of cupcakes, frosting, decorations and of course sprinkles.

Decoration ideas:

• Chocolate chips
• Licorice
• Marshmallows
• Skittles
• M&M's
• Graham crackers
• Teddy grahams
• Animal crackers
• Cookies
• Food coloring
• Any kind of candy --Peach rings, gummy sharks, gummy worms, gummy bears, watermelon candy, peppermints, etc.

Come up with a theme and start decorating!

Theme ideas:

• Your biggest dream
• Your spouse's dream
• How you met your spouse
• Your first date
• Best vacation you went on
• Dream vacation spot
• Best describe your spouse
• Best describe your family

Relationship Tip!

Take this time to talk about your dreams and goals in life.  Our spouses are not mind readers and don’t know what our dreams and goals are if we don’t talk them. By talking about our dreams and goals and the meaning behind them we can help each other achieve their dreams.

Celebration Station

Last night we headed out to Celebration Station in Mesquite for a low-key Wednesday night date night. I have heard good things about it, plus my kids have been dying to go try it ever since we moved here, so I thought my hubby and I would go check it out on date night! Celebration Station has so much to offer for the kid in you! They have Paintballing, a bungee trampoline, Rock Climbing, Laser Tag, Go Karts, Boats that spray water at each other, Arcade games, a train ride (for the Kids), and it appeared to even have batting cages.

We started with the Boats, which squirt water at each other as you drive around. This was exactly what we needed on a hot night!  It was perfect when my husband got stuck in the corner and I was able to park right behind him and squirt him for awhile. The length of the ride I thought was the perfect length of time.

We then decided to test out our driving skills at the Go Karts. The Go Karts seemed like they were in great condition and working well, except I think mine was broken because how else would my hubby have been able to pass me? ;) Just kidding apparently, I am not aggressive enough! I will win next time! I was pleasantly surprised at the length of time you are able to drive. I recall as a kid going Go Karting and it would seem like as soon as you got out there it was time to come back in and your turn would be up, not here at Celebration Station.

            They have two miniature golf courses at the facility for you to choose from. It was a nice simple course, which allowed for us to have plenty of time to talk and laugh. It appeared that one or two of the holes were missing the water feature, but I didn’t mind because my ball just happened to find it each time and I did not need penalty strokes added to my score.  By the way I won! :)

           

 We decided to head inside and check out some of the arcade games. All the games seemed to be super popular and they had a variety of prizes you can buy with your tickets. We found the photo booth (similar to one at the malls) so we snapped a few pictures. The one downfall is it is a little pricy ($3.00 for 3 pictures) and the camera is aimed at kid level so my husband who is 6’1” had to shrink to my level to be seen, other than that it was great!

           

 By this point we were pretty hungry and didn’t feel like stopping anywhere on our way home to grab something to eat, so we ordered the house special pizza and some boneless BBQ wings for dinner. I would have to say the Boneless Wings were phenomenal. The pizza was fresh and delicious as well! We were glad we tried it! In fact I might just have to go back to eat the Wings again!

             

We had a great time and it was well maintained. It was great to get out and have fun, but next time we definitely will be bringing our kids with us so they can participate in all the fun as well!

Be sure to check out Celebration Station's Website for deals and coupons before you go! Let me know how your visit is to Celebration Station!

Body Paints

Sometimes as parents we can't always go out on a date, but that should not stop you from dating your spouse! There are lots of things you can do at home after the kids go to bed to put a spark in your relationship! Throughout the blog we will suggest fun things for you to do at home! 

As a kid I loved to paint, but what I loved more was the feel of it... Please tell me I'm not the only one! So when we couldn't find a babysitter on Saturday night I decided that it was a great opportunity to paint, but not on canvases, but our bodies. I mixed up some paint, the recipe is below and we tested it out. What a fun date with my spouse!

 The recipe is simple:

2 tsp. Cornstarch

1 tsp. lotion

1 tsp. water

Food Coloring

* This recipe is good for 1 body paint color.

The paint is totally safe to go on your skin and washes off! Be creative! Make a game of it and most importantly have fun with it!

Relationship Tip!

Sometimes it is important to just have fun and see where it takes you! This is one of those times! Make body paint and discover where your relationship goes with a little bit of paint!