How to Have the Perfect Date Night at Home

Lately I’ve been thinking about just how important it is to date my husband. I never really put too much thought in to it before. But as our schedules get even busier, I’m realizing that I really miss spending time alone with him! Since I often have to utilize our sitter network (both grandmothers) for work events, I don’t want to spread them too thin with date nights too. I think it’s entirely possible to not leave the house and still spend alone time with your spouse. Here are my tips for what makes the perfect date night at home.This post is sponsored by Riunite. Happy 50th Birthday Riunite Lambrusco! I’ll celebrate all summer long on your behalf! 

Change it Up
Most of our date nights include going out to dinner and coming right home. That’s not all that exciting. Don’t get me wrong, having someone else cook dinner for me is AMAZING! but it doesn’t necessarily make for a spectacular date night. Change things up! Even though we have dinner at home just about every night, you can do it in a different way. Make things out of the ordinary by setting up a simple picnic just for the two of you. Taking date outside is immediately more interesting.

Just Chill
Don’t even think about planning date night if you have to go somewhere after (like picking up a kid from a friend’s house) or if you have an early soccer game the next morning. Take your time, hang out and enjoy each other’s company. Of course, depending on the ages and temperament of your kids, this could be an hour or more (or less – hang in there, age 7 is when we really turned a corner…). Don’t worry about the dishes. They’ll still be there in the morning. Just relax with your husband and enjoy your time together. Favorite Snacks
As much as I try to get my kids to think that cheese and crackers can actually be dinner (why do they resist it so much?!) my husband and I are totally on board (pun not intended). Grab your favorite foods or splurge on those things that you’ve been wanting to try. A few delicious cheeses, your favorite carbs and delicious deli meats totally make for a good date night dinner. A good charcuterie is a perfect idea. There is no cooking involved and it can be as elaborate or as simple as you’d like it to be. A Different Wine
We usually grab for a white wine with dinner, but I think this Riunite Lambrusco is the perfect wine for summer. Plus it pairs perfectly with oily meats (well, most things for that matter – it’s super versatile!). I like to choose a bottle that is not our usual go-to. Going with a different bottle of wine is another way to keep things interesting. I serve my Lambrusco slightly chilled since it’s the tiniest bit effervescent. This is what makes it so great for eating with Italian meats! It’s almost like a palate cleanser in a way. It’s slightly sweet and fruity while still being crisp. Plus how cute are these individual bottles? These couldn’t be more perfect for picnics!
Kid Adjacent
Set the kids up inside the house with a movie and their own dinner! If your kids are younger, consider getting an older neighbor kid to keep their eyes on them inside. For us, our kids are old enough to be in the living room while we are outside. This takes so much pressure off in terms of finding a baby sitter or worrying about what time you’ll get back in case your dinner is running long. You know your kids best so if having them this close would stress you out, see if one you can do a date night swap with one of their friend’s families! Everyone could use a date night! Set the Mood
Bring out a small speaker and your favorite play list. Bring out a cool blanket and maybe even some throw pillows so you can get cozy and comfortable. Use a cool cutting board and real glassware. Take a minute to set the mood and make it feel special. It may seem like a bit of work to lug this stuff outside, but it will make the evening really enjoyable and one that you’ll want to recreate again soon.
Do you have regular date nights at home? What do you do to make things feel special? These ideas are super simple and easy to recreate at your home. Riunite Lambrusco is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary! How cool is that?! It’s America’s #1 most imported red wine and a perfect, refreshing wine for summer (and beyond!). This wine is a crowd pleaser and will appeal to a variety of palates including people who may not usually be drawn to red wine, like me! So while it’s perfect for your at home date night, it’s also great for parties!

Banfi Wines, the importer of Riunite (and many other fine wine brands) is partnering, for the 5th year, with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). They are donating $1 for every bottle of Riunite Lambrusco (SRP $7.99 – BOOM) sold between Memorial Day and July 4th to the foundation. To start this program off on a high note, they donated ALL sales of Riunite Lambrusco sold over Memorial Day weekend! So you CAN give back and drink wine at the same time!

TAPS provides support, via numerous channels, to those who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Some of the help they are able to provide is through grief and trauma resources, Good Grief camps for children, casualty care casework assistance and help lines.

Thank you for supporting brands, like Riunite, who enable me to create fun content, for you and your family, through partnerships and/or compensation!