Date Night In
#DATENIGHTINBOX
-H
a h o l a e k ’o i hou (Let us fall
DATE NIGHT IN BOX
Date night enjoyed from home
)
gain. a r e v o l l a in love
Photo by Michael Olsen on Unsplash
Volume 3, 2018
a n i l e W
2
Date Night In Box // Aloha
(Welcome)
! n I t h g i N e t a D r u o y to
Our hearts go out to the victims in Hawaii!
EDITOR’S NOTE
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano began fiercely erupting on May 3, 2018 sending residents and tourists of the Big Island into sheer panic. Since Kilauaea’s eruption, the island has experienced many earthquakes causing lava to pour into residential neighborhoods, destroying hundreds of homes. As we celebrate our love for Hawaii’s Big Island with the Date Night In Aloha box, we also wanted to give back in support of recovery efforts. A portion of the proceeds from each Date Night In Box purchased in the month of June was donated to the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Hawaii Island Volcano Recovery Fund.
Kilauea Volcano
Welcome to your Date Night In experience. Get ready to indulge in the romantic Aloha
Spirit of Hawaii! Whether you have traveled to The Islands of Hawaii or have hopes to visit in the future, this date will be packed with Hawaiian fun and adventures for both you and your mea aloha (loved one) to enjoy. As we continue to grow, we LOVE seeing pictures of how you enjoy your date night. Post your photos and use the hashtag #DateNightInBox and #DNIAloha for a chance to win a FREE DATE next month.
Aloha // Date Night In Box
3
& Table Talk
4-5 Optional Dinner Menu 6 Set the Mood ocktail or Cocktail! 7 Prepare Your Tropical M uage 8 Learn the Hawaiian Lang 8-9 Lei It On Me 9 Snack Time 10 11 11 12 12
Kōnane Hula Time Aloha au ia ‘oe Bingo Enjoy Your Night Ways to Continue Your
Night!
a h o l a e k - Ho’i hou
t)
(What you can expec
1 DNI GUIDE 1 MAILE LEI 2 MINUTE MIXOLOGY DRINK MIXES 2 TROPICAL STRAWS 2 TROPICAL CUPS
2 BAGS OF KŌNANE PIECES
1 “LEI IT ON ME” NOTEPAD
1 KŌNANE BOARD GAME
2 HAWAIIAN® SWEET MAUI ONION KETTLE STYLE POTATO CHIPS
2 BINGO CARDS 1 BINGO CALLOUT CARD
2 PENCILS 1 CANDLE
Photo by Evi Radauscher on Unsplash
W H AT S INCLUDED IN YOUR BOX TO ENH A NCE YOUR DAT E NIGH T E X PER IENCE
4
l a n o i t u n p onner me di Date Night In Box // Aloha
U LE T T ARINeAsbH M g.com H lo IT W namak from ma
hawaiian e honey-lim fruit salad
PREP TIME: 5-10 minutes TOTAL TIME: 5-10 minutes INGREDIENTS: – 4 cups of your favorite fruit, sliced (I used strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, and grapes.) – Zest and juice of 1 lime – 2 teaspoons honey DIRECTIONS: In a small bowl, combine lime zest, juice, and honey. Stir to combine and set aside. Slice all of your fruit using a cutting board and knife. To assemble the salad, place fruit in a medium bowl and top with lime and honey mixture. Mix with a spoon and enjoy.
ri
luau pulledwiches pork sand with pineapple slaw PREP TIME: 5-10 minutes TOTAL TIME: 2.5 hours (oven); 4 or 8 hours (slow cooker)
INGREDIENTS: – 2-3 pounds pork roast (shoulder or butt) (Vegetarian Option: 10-oz package of BBQ jackfruit, which can be purchased at Whole Foods or online) – 12 oz BBQ sauce (Vegetarian Option: you do not need to buy this if buying the BBQ jackfruit) – 1/2 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced – 1/2 cup crushed pineapple – 1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar – Juice of half of a lime – Half of a jalapeno, sliced (remove seeds if you don’t like spice) – 2 brioche buns (Gluten-Free [GF] option: GF buns)
Aloha! I’m Marina from
marinamakesblog.com, and I’m so glad you’ll be enjoying this month’s activities at home. This month’s menu will take you straight to the lush mountains and sandy beaches of Hawaii. Get your taste buds ready for a Road to Hana experience of tropical flavors.
Cheers, friends!
DIRECTIONS: Step 1: (Oven) If short on time, cook the pork in the oven. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and place pork in a large Dutch oven or roasting pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cover with 1/2 cup of water. Let it roast for 2-2 1/2 hours or until the pork is tender and falls apart. Check on the pork every once in a while to ensure that it is cooking properly, adding water as needed. Remove pork from oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Shred and mix in BBQ sauce. Step 1: (Slow Cooker) Place pork roast in a slow cooker, and cover with BBQ sauce. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4 hours. Dependent upon your method of cooking, pull the pork roast apart after the suggested amount of cooking time in Step 1 using tongs or a fork. Let it cook for an additional 15 minutes (oven) or 30-60 minutes (slow cooker). Remove the fat when ready to serve. Vegetarian Option: Please follow the directions on the package to cook the jackfruit. Step 2: While the pork roast is cooking, make the pineapple slaw by combining the red cabbage, crushed pineapple, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, and jalapeno slices. Let the pineapple slaw sit for an hour or two in the fridge. Step 3: To assemble the sandwich, add pulled pork to the bottom of a brioche bun and top with slaw.
Aloha // Date Night In Box
tools – – – –
Ice cube tray Medium bowl Small bowl Lime zester
tips
– Cutting board – Knife – Slow Cooker or Dutch oven – Tongs or large fork
– – –
Standing mixer (hand mixer if you don’t own one) Baking sheets Wire rack
Searing the meat on all four sides prior to placing it in the Slow Cooker will elevate the flavor and give it a bit of crispiness. Set a large frying pan or Dutch oven over high heat on the stove. Season the meat with salt and pepper, and brush with one or two tablespoons of olive oil. Allow the pan to heat up for a minute or two, and sear each side for 2-3 minutes each. Remove from heat, and place in the slow cooker.
5
tablkle ta
R WITH AMY MILLEom from freshlymarried.c
A NOTE FROM AMY MILLER…
“A few years ago, my husband and I took an anniversary trip to Hawaii, and it was so memorable! However, we were so jetlagged that we fell asleep too early each night to enjoy most of the beautiful tropical sunsets. I’m looking forward to reliving some of those Hawaiian nights we missed through the activities on this date!”
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AMY
Amy is a relationship specialist focused on helping couples to strengthen their marriages through her blog, courses, and workshops. She uses research, knowledge, and her own marriage experiences to create relationship education that couples can use on a daily basis.
macadamiaoknieust dipped oatmeal co ocolate in white ch PREP TIME: 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 20-25 minutes INGREDIENTS: – 1/2 cup butter, softened – – 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar – – 1/4 cup white sugar – – 1 egg – 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – 2/3 cup all-purpose flour – – 1/4 teaspoon baking soda –
1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats 1/2 cup of chopped unsalted macadamia nuts, plus more for topping 1 cup of white chocolate chips or melting chocolate Parchment paper
DIRECTIONS: Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, and stir them into the creamed mixture until just blended. Next, mix in the quick oats and macadamia nuts and drop tablespoon-sized balls onto ungreased baking sheets. The recipe should make about 22-25 cookies depending on how big you make them. Bake for 12-15 minutes in the preheated oven or until golden brown around the edges (may take longer based on the type of cookie sheet you use). Allow cookies to cool on a wire rack. Heat the white chocolate in a medium bowl in 30-second intervals until melted. Lay a piece of parchment paper on a hard surface. Then, dip each cookie into the melted chocolate, and lay it on the parchment paper. Top with chopped macadamia nuts, and allow them to sit to harden. Store in a sealed container for 2-3 days.
Knowing the importance of dating your mate, Amy recognizes the value that Date Night In Box brings to couples each month. I mean, who doesn’t want to spend time with his or her spouse doing fun friendship-building activities?! Amy hopes to complement their carefully curated activities by providing content that can strengthen relationships and keep them fresh, too!
SOME TABLE TALK TO ENJOY DURING YOUR DINNER…
Did you know that people like to add salt to fruit because it supposedly enhances the natural sweetness and flavor of the fruit? It may sound weird, but so is dipping your fries into a frosty from Wendy’s, right?! And yet it is so good! Foods that mix salty and sweet have the potential to be amazing combinations, almost like they were a missing ingredient. I like to think that our relationship is a delicious combo of salty and sweet. Our individual lives might have been great on their own, but this wonderful person came into the picture and just enhanced it! This will be the topic of conversation while you enjoy the tropical luau feast you probably just prepared! As you taste the pineapple slaw on top of that tangy pulled pork, or the salty macadamia nuts mixed with the rich white chocolate in your cookie, consider and discuss the following questions with each other:
– How does your partner enhance your view of the world? – How does your partner enhance your goals and dreams? – How does your partner enhance your confidence? – How does your partner enhance your interests? – How does your partner enhance you as a romantic partner? – How does your partner enhance you as a parent? (if applicable) – How does your partner enhance your relationships with others?
I hope that by asking each other these questions, you are able to see the positive impact your partner has had on your life, no matter how small it might be. If you’re feeling that you could improve in some of these areas, allow your conversation to inspire you with ideas; then proceed to have fun with the rest of your date!
set the mood Date Night In Box // Aloha
First things first, transport yourselves to the soft, white sands of Kauana ‘oa Beach on The Big Island, where the tropical paradise is the perfect escape from the crowds. You are alone with your partner to enjoy your date, with the sounds of the turquoise waters splashing on the shore. To set the mood, we have included a custom playlist for you to enjoy by visiting nightinboxes.com/music If you haven’t already, now would be a great time to light your included candle from our friends at Northern Lights Candles. This custom-selected scent of Plum Orchid & Dalhia will help transport you to your Hawaiian oasis. Take a few deep breaths, close your eyes, and allow yourself to drift off to your island getaway.
Photo by Sean O on Unsplash
6
r u o y Makke tail or mo c c k t a i l co
coconut mojito cocktail: margarita cocktail: Step 1: Combine 1 Coconut Mojito–flavored Minute Mixology packet, 1.5 oz rum, 4-6 oz soda water (or water), and ice in your provided tropical cup. Step 2: Using a spoon, stir ingredients in cup until powder mix has fully dissolved. Step 3: Place your tropical straw in your cup, sip, and enjoy!
Step 1: Combine 1 Margarita-flavored Minute Mixology packet, 1.5 oz tequila, 4-6 oz water, and ice in your provided tropical cup. Step 2: Using a spoon, stir ingredients in cup until powder mix has fully dissolved. Step 3: Place your tropical straw in your cup, sip, and enjoy!
coconut mojito mocktail: margarita mocktail:
7
Aloha // Date Night In Box
Step 1: Combine 1 Coconut Mojito–flavored Minute Mixology packet, 4-6 oz soda water (or water), and ice in your provided tropical cup.
Step 1 Combine 1 Margarita-flavored Minute Mixology packet, 4-6 oz water, and ice in your provided tropical cup.
Step 2: Using a spoon, stir ingredients in cup until powder mix has fully dissolved.
Step 2 Using a spoon, stir ingredients in cup until powder mix has fully dissolved.
Step 3: Place your tropical straw in your cup, sip, and enjoy!
Step 3 Place your tropical straw in your cup, sip, and enjoy!
A tropical vacation is not complete without a refreshing drink. Our friends at Minute Mixology have included two drinks for you to enjoy! Kick back and savor the delicious flavors of your coconut mojito and margarita. These delightful drink mixes are made with non-genetically modified organisms, kosher, all natural, and GF. These drinks can be enjoyed as a mocktail or as a cocktail! We have included two themed cups and tropical straws to help to transport you to Hawaii.
Komo i ka (Enjoy)!
For the Coconut Mojito nutrition facts and ingredients list visit datenightinbox.com/aloha
For the Margarita nutrition facts and ingredients list visit datenightinbox.com/aloha
Minute Mixology margarita and coconut mojito enhancement PREP TIME: 1 minute
TOTAL TIME: 8-12 hours, or we included a faster option
INGREDIENTS: – 8 oz pineapple juice – Lime, sliced – Mint sprig
DIRECTIONS: Pour pineapple juice in an ice cube tray and allow the juice to freeze overnight. After following the instructions on the packaging of the margarita and/or mojito, add the pineapple ice cubes. Garnish the margarita with a slice of lime and the mojito with a mint sprig.
If you’re running low on time to make the pineapple juice ice cubes, add about 1/4 cup of pineapple juice to the drink as a substitute.
8
Date Night In Box // Aloha
learn the Hawaaiigaen langu
The Hawaiian language is one of the official state languages of Hawaii. Worldwide, it is recognized as the language with the fewest letters in the alphabet, with only 12 in all! Five vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and seven consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w) make up the entire Hawaiian alphabet. A 13th character has another consonant sound, a brief break in the word, and is represented by the ‘okina, or inverted apostrophe. In the Hawaiian language, a consonant is always followed by a vowel, which also means that all Hawaiian words end in a vowel. THE CONSONANTS ARE PRONOUNCED AS IN ENGLISH, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF W: – “W” after “i” and “e” pronounced “v” – “W” after “o” and “u” pronounced “w” – “W” after “a” or at the start of a word, such as “w” or “v” VOWELS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT: – “A” like the “a” in far (“ah”) – “E” like the “e” in “bet” (“eh”) – “I” like the “y” in “city” (“e”) – “O” like the “o” in “sole” (“oh”) – “U” like the “oo” in “moon” (“oo”) TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO TRY TO GUESS HOW THESE HAWAIIAN WORDS AND PHRASES SHOULD SOUND.
Aloha – E ku’u aloha – Mau loa – E hoomau Maua kealoha – No keia la, no keia po, a mau loa Aloha
Love, affection, greeting, salutation, Hello! Goodbye! Ah-loh-hah
E ku’u aloha
My love, Eh koo-oo ah-loh-hah
Mau loa
Forever, Mah-oo loh-ah
E hoomau Maua kealoha
May our love last forever, Eh hoo-mah-oo mah-ooah keh-ah-loh-hah.
No keia la, no keia po, a mau loa
From this day, from this night, forever more Noh Keh- ee-ah lah, Noh keh-ee-ah poh, ah mah loh- ah
Lei It On Me GAME T IN CARD DATE NIGH
Question:
NG TO WERE FLYI I WISH WE
. THIS WEEK
Lei it on me:
Question:
O EAT YOU T LIKE TO TR I’D REALLY
.
Lei it on me:
Question:
HEAR YOU I LOVE TO
Lei it on me:
.
Aloha // Date Night In Box
Lei it on Me
Next, it’s time to play “Lei It on Me.” This game, with its chosen rewards, can become as high stakes as you wish. Have fun playing, and take a moment to learn about Hawaiian culture and Maile Lei. MAILE LEI
The lei included in your date tonight is called Maile (pronounced Mah-ee-leh) and is one of the most popular lei materials used in Hawaii. The leaves are associated with the Hula goddess, Laka, and they are considered to be sacred to her. Laka would offer the leaves of Maile at her altar during hula dance parties and shows. In Hawaii, placing the lei over a person’s head exemplifies honor, respect, and most importantly the Aloha Spirit! One of our favorite ways in which leis were used in old Hawaiian traditions was during a traditional Hawaiian wedding when the Kahuna (Hawaiian priest) would bind the hands of a couple with the lei, which symbolized their commitment to each other. Now that you have learned a little history about the Maile Lei, let’s get ready to play! ITEMS NEEDED FROM BOX: 1 pad of custom paper, 2 pencils, 1 Maile Lei, and your “thinking cap”
OBJECT OF THE GAME:
Players take turns correctly guessing their opponents’ answers. If a player guesses wrong, they get “lei’ed” and will have to complete a preferred action associated with the lost card at the end of the game. The player who correctly guesses the most responses to their opponent’s card wins the game.
FIRST, LET’S DO A LITTLE PREPARATION. Step 1: Find a comfortable spot with a surface for you and your partner to play Lei It on Me. Sit on opposite sides of the table or selected surface. Step 2: One player will now tear each piece of paper out of the included pad of paper and place them into a pile face down. These will be your playing cards for this game.
Step 3: Keeping your playing cards face down. Player two will now shuffle the cards. Step 4: Each player will take turns drawing one playing card at a time until no cards remain. Step 5: Each player can now look at his or her selected playing cards; do not show your partner your selected cards. Step 6: Players, you will find a sentence containing a blank line on each playing card. Please fill in the blank for each sentence on your playing cards with your desired response. Step 7: On each of your selected playing cards, you will also find a blank line below the text “Lei It on Me.” On this line, you will carefully select an action that you wish your partner to perform if he or she does not properly guess your response on this card. Some “Lei It on Me” actions for your partner to perform if he or she loses the card: (GET CREATIVE) – Empty the dishwasher for me. – Do your best hula dance. – Give me a two-minute foot massage. Step 8: Players, challenge each other to a quick game of Rock-Paper-Scissors to decide who goes first.
GAME TIME!
Player 1, select one of your cards. Read the sentence on the card aloud without filling in the blank. Player 2 now takes a guess at what Player 1 has written on his or her card.
9
snack t im e
Take a quick break and munch on your Hawaiian® Sweet Maui Onion Kettle Style Potato Chips. Discover a new world of flavor when you crunch into Hawaiian Kettle Style Potato Chips. These crispy, golden chips are cooked to perfection, then seasoned with just the right amount of Sweet Maui onion flavor. They have combined only the finest ingredients to create a unique chip that captures the freshness and authenticity of the islands. Open a bag of Hawaiian Kettle Style Potato Chips and you’ll imagine yourself sailing on the blue waters of the Pacific, headed toward an island of tropical paradise.
e n a n o K 10
Date Night In Box // Aloha
–
an ains of Lapakahi, m re e th g n ri lo p ex ala. your partner are d n a u yo and Hawi in Hoh t a a e th h e ia w a K n Imagin e e etw u and your village located b yo g , in d a sh te fi s n In iia y. a a w d a g to ancient H o rough for fishin to re a s ve a w e aiian sun invites th w a d n H a e , p th u s a is rf ze e su bre The d enjoy the calm n a ck a b t si to e e. loved one decid de of a palm tre a sh e th r e d n u ne you to play Kōna
OVERVIEW:
Hawaiians love their leisure time and have mastered the enjoyment of playing games. Kōnane, one of the most popular Hawaiian games and a variation of checkers, is typically played on a slab of lava rock. Kōnane is an ancient Hawaiian Polynesian board game of strategy played by two people. ITEMS NEEDED FROM BOX: Kōnane game board, two pouches containing purple and blue game pieces, and your best poker face.
PLAYING THE GAME:
The two game pieces used to select colors are returned to the board. The first player removes either one of the two purple game pieces at the center of the board or one from a corner of the board. Example One:
SETTING UP:
Step 2: Place the included Konane game board in the middle of the selected surface. The Konane game board can be in your box. Step 3: Now, place the purple and blue game pieces on the game board, alternating purple and blue until each spot on the game board is filled. Step 4: One player then selects a game piece of each color from the board. Putting their hands behind their back, the player now places a game piece in each hand, concealing each game piece. Now, the player presents both hands to their opponent, who touches one hand, thus selecting the color of the game marker with which they will be playing. The purple game piece is always played first.
With two empty spaces on the board, the first player now jumps over one of the blue game pieces and removes it. All moves from this point on must be made by jumping over one or more of the opponent’s game pieces. Jumping must always be toward or away from the players, or to the right or left. A move may NOT be diagonal or in more than one direction on a single play. A player may jump as many of his or her opponent’s pieces in a single play as they desire, provided that they end in an empty space and that only a single empty space is present between the pieces they are jumping.
Object of the game: Players hop over one another’s pieces, capturing them. The game is similar to checkers. The first player unable to capture his or her opponent’s pieces is the loser, and his or her opponent is the winner.
Step 1: Find a comfortable spot with a surface for you and your partner to play Konane. Sit on opposite sides of the selected surface.
The second player then removes one of their blue marbles that is immediately adjacent to the empty space. Both of these game pieces are set aside, and the game begins.
Example Two:
A player, however, may elect not to take all of the jumps available to them in a single play. The player must make at least one jump, but can decline to move further if they feel this is no longer to their advantage. When a player cannot jump over an opponent in a turn, the game is ended, and the player who is unable to jump is the loser.
Aloha // Date Night In Box
11
hula time!
Now it’s time for some lighthearted, hip-shakin’ hula dancing! Head over to datenightinbox.com/aloha for your hula lesson. Embrace the Aloha Spirit while you dance the night away. Bonus points if you share a pic with us using the hashtags #DateNightInbox and #DNIAloha!
A l o h a DATE NIGHT IN BINGO
1
Get up and dance to a song on your Spotify Playlist
Snuggle up on the couch
Take a sip of your tropical drink
Give each other a 2 minute massage
Tell one reason you care about your significant other
2
Show off some of your new Hula moves
Text something fun & save it for the end of the night to read
Create a bucket list together
Kiss
Reminisce by talking about your first date
3
Dare Your choice!
How do you say My Love in the Hawaiian language
Talk about the best and worst part of your week
Ask me anything you want to know
4
Take a couple “selfie”post- use #datenightinbox
Share the moment when you first got butterflies for your significant other
Whisper sweet nothings to each other
Write ALOHA on each others back
Reveal one goal you want to accomplish in the next 30 days
Cheers to a great date
Talk about what paradise inspired places you would like to vacation at
Without looking, what is the traditional lei called?
Try to say “e home mama kealoha”
Ask your partner to Hula for you!
5
Fr ee
a i u a a h Aleo Bingo ‘o This Date Night In is not complete without a game of Aloha Bingo. ITEMS NEEDED FROM BOX: 2 pencils, 2 Bingo cards; 1 Bingo chip card, pair of scissors; your empty Date Night In box, and your “competitive spirit.”
A5 4 A A3 2 A A1 l5 4 l l3 2 l l1 o5 4 o Fr ee 2 o o1 h5 4 h h3 2 h h1 a5 4 a 3 a 2 a 1 a
BEFORE WE GET STARTED: Step 1: Each person will grab their included Bingo and chip cards. Step 2: Players will now cut out the flower Bingo chips by cutting along the blue circle line. Step 3: Collect all of the cut flower Bingo chips and place them in your empty box.
WHO IS READY TO PLAY ALOHA BINGO? Player 1 will draw a flower Bingo chip from the box and read the letter and number aloud. Next, Player 1 will locate the spot on the Bingo card and read it aloud. Once you have found the correct spot on the card, Player 1 reads the letter and number aloud. With your pencil, mark an X on the space noted on the flower game piece. Player an X on your board until someone yells
Aloha!
If you are interested in extending your Date Night In, we have a few suggested movies that incorporate the Aloha Spirit! These movies either have a tropical feel or were filmed in Hawaii!
Enjoy!
FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL 50 FIRST DATES BLUE CRUSH RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK PEARL HARBOR MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES THE DESCENDANTS and JURASSIC WORLD.
until next month! THE NIGHT IN BOXES TEAM