Stay-at-Home Date Nights

My husband and I had just found our sweet spot in terms of a date night routine. An awesome sitter, dedicated time on the calendar, and blissful nights out sans kiddos. Then along came the coronavirus to ruin everyone’s day. And, more specifically, my Saturday nights. Suddenly we are confined to our home all day long with our children. And each other. I mean do you even need date nights in these circumstances?! My vote is yes. Like more than ever. Not only is it a small dose of normalcy during a very weird time, but it also provides an escape from all the stress. Because there ain’t a parent alive right now without stress. Date night reminds me to have fun, to love, and to look forward to things. In that spirit, I’ve put together a list of five types of stay-at-home date nights.  

Unwind at the Spa

As previously mentioned, everyone could use some relaxation right now. Why not have a spa night? Buy or DIY your favorite body scrubs and bath bombs. Organically Bath & Beauty offers a DIY bath bomb kit with all the equipment you need to create your own sweet-scented bathing experience. Level up your massages by booking a virtual couples’ Yomassage with Massage Movil. They will provide meditation based on yoga principles (hence the “yo”) and massage instruction to leave you both feeling peacefully connected. In the end, all you really need to make spa night happen is a big bowl for soaking those tired feet and a comfy bathrobe. 

Cook Up Some Romance

Things are about to get steamy because there are some GREAT options for date night in the kitchen. Capo’s Pizzeria on Blanco offers a pizza kit for you to take home and create your own delicious masterpiece. Along the same lines, Bakery Lorraine has take-and-bake cookies that would make a lovely date night dessert. For those wanting to hone their culinary skills or just try something new, Main Course Cooking School is offering virtual date night cooking classes. One of their chefs will walk you through each step until your fabulous meal is complete. Alternatively, just grab your aprons and whip up whatever is in your pantry! The important thing is that you do it together. 

Dance the Night Away

Turn your living room into a dance floor! Local dance instructors such as Serena Kirkland are offering a variety of virtual classes, including some for couples. Semeneya Dance Studio is posting free dance instruction on their Facebook page almost daily. To purchase a series of date night dance classes, check out the Show Her Off website. Also, consider looking up your favorite DJ on social media as many have started using these platforms to bring the party right into your home. If all else fails, just blast a favorite playlist on your phone and bust a move!  

Make Your House a Home

It’s time to channel your inner Chip and Jo because this is the perfect opportunity to tackle home improvement projects. You know, the ones you’ve been talking about forever. Refinish a piece of furniture, paint a room, or plant a garden. If you’ve already tackled all the home improvement you can handle, try putting those creative juices to work with some DIY home decor. The Rustic Brush in Hollywood Park has fun take-home projects you can work on together. Of course, Pinterest is also full of ideas in this department. And it never hurts to finish your night with an episode or two of Fixer Upper. 

Show Your Artistic Side

Of course, YOU are the greatest work of art that your sweetheart will ever see. But if you feel like creating some original pieces, why not make it a date? Painting With a Twist currently has Twist at Home Kits complete with canvas, paintbrushes, paint, and step-by-step directions. If you appreciate the art of the floral variety, try a virtual flower workshop with Blume Haus. Your workshop bundle includes flowers, vessels, and detailed instructions for creating the perfect floral arrangement. If your house is like mine and mostly full of Crayola art products, steal your kids’ crayons and take turns drawing funny portraits of each other while sipping on your favorite beverage. 

Date night possibilities are only limited by your imagination. Have a nerf gun war. Go on a virtual museum tour. Plan the trip you want to take when stay home orders are lifted. I’m loving all the creative ways people are finding joy and connection during this time of isolation. We are surely facing significant challenges when it comes to physical health, mental health, economy, and education. Part of relationships, though, is tackling those challenges together. Let’s find ways to date during this time, so we come out on the other side feeling more connected and unified than ever.

Whitney
When Whitney fell in love with a handsome Texan, she just knew that someday they would call Texas home. Her three favorite things about San Antonio are the tacos, the family-friendly feel, and the school her children attend--Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children. Whitney is a former ninth grade English teacher and proud mama of two redheads nicknamed GingerSnap (daughter born in 2014) and GingerDude (son born in 2017). Her son is deaf and has bilateral cochlear implants. Sunshine Cottage provided all the tools needed to turn GingerDude into a little chatterbox and Whitney into the hearing loss/listening and spoken language advocate that she is. When she isn’t volunteering at Sunshine Cottage, Whitney spends her time serving in organizations at church, spreading awareness and encouragement on Instagram, and keeping the Weaver household in working order. She tries to make time each day to go for a run and her favorite thing to do on a Saturday is hike at a nearby state park with her family. Favorite Restaurant: Thai Dee Favorite Landmark: The Riverwalk Favorite San Antonio Tradition: Fiesta Decorations and Attire