DNI Merry & Bright

Merry & Bright DATE NIGHT IN BOX

DATE GUIDE

Warmest Greetings Holiday Greetings to you and your significant other. If you are joining us for the first time, WELCOME! And, if you have been with us before for previous dates, WELCOME BACK! Let’s be honest, the Christmas season can be quite chaotic.

Our holidays are always packed with the hustle and bustle of preparation. Shopping, traveling, and holiday celebrations fill our calendar and there is not much time left for my husband and I to connect in meaningful ways.

I hope that you will find ease and comfort in checking out for a bit from the holiday chaos to reconnect with each other through the epic Date Night In Merry and Bright box our team has prepared for you this month. We have some amazing Christmas festivities planned to fill your date night. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for allowing us to come into your home to help make memories.

As we are officially in the holiday season, please consider gifting our boxes to your friends and family. And, don’t forget we have a Kids Night In Box and Sensory Kits for any special kiddos in your life.

If you received this date as a gift and enjoy your night, we would love for you to join us again next month! We sincerely hope you cherish this date together and Merry Christmas from us to you!

Till Next Month!

Megan Pruitt Owner and Founder And Team!

DATE NIGHT ITINERARY

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SET THE MOOD COOK YOUR SUGGESTED DINNER RECIPES TABLE TALK STRING ART SWEET TREAT TREES HOLIDAY HEADBANDS LOVE LETTERS REFLECTION & WAYS TO CONTINUE YOUR DATE NIGHT

Set the Mood Take a moment to consider the space in which your date will be taking place tonight. Gather some of your holiday décor to make a cozy space. Part of your date will need to take place at a table, but the rest can be enjoyed from any comfortable spot in your home.

To help set the mood, you are going to make a scented Christmas ornament. Locate your kraft bag and an electronic device, and head to datenightinbox.com/ merry and follow along with the instructions to create your ornament!

Don’t forget to access your custom Merry and Bright playlist to go along with your date at datenightinbox.com/ merry.

Cook Your Suggested Dinner Recipes This month’s Merry and Bright dinner menu has been thoughtfully prepared for you by blogger Marina Makes!

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO MARINA MAKES Hi, friends! I’m Marina from marinamakesblog.com. The first weeks of winter are the best.

Everyone is in hibernation mode eating warm foods, sipping hot chocolate and cozying up by the fire.

The first few snowfalls are magical and bright, and there’s a lot of joy in the air leading up to time with family and friends.

I created this menu in hopes that these eats will make you think about the magic and wonder of the first moments you experience in winter. This month’s recipes include a creamy fettuccine alfredo, kale and Brussels sprout salad, peppermint chocolate truffles and a spiked option for the hot chocolate included in your box. Don’t forget to share pictures on social media!

Happy eating!

Table Talk We have prepared some discussion topics for you and your significant other to ponder over while you are enjoying your dinner.

There is a reason why we find our favorite stores and coffee shops decked out for the holidays almost a whole two months before the big day. The holiday spirit brings with it all the anxiously awaited warm and fuzzy feelings. We fantasize about cozying up by a fire with a hot cup of cocoa, surrounded by everyone we love. In this version, everything is “merry and bright”. Schedules align, our casserole is a hit, and we never deploy our safe word to escape the scene.

Each year we joyously set new expectations for the holidays.

Like a snowflake, our story will be carefully woven together with each person we encounter this holiday season. Let’s talk about some ways that we can be intentional as we continue to weave together sweet memories.

PERFECT PICTURE OR CANDID SNAPSHOT A candid snapshot may not be a picture out of a magazine, but it will be a beautiful memory to hold on to full of love and laughter. When plans aren’t lining up perfectly, try to ask yourself, “Which photo would I rather hang on my wall?”

Do you tend to get caught up trying to create a perfectly posed moment rather than enjoying the moment?

If so, how can we stay

in the moment?

Can you recall a recent experience that didn’t unfold as planned, but brought laughter and lasting memories? Did you snap a pic?

What made the moment special? How did this moment deepen our connection?

HIT PAUSE Don’t let your holiday spirit roll down-hill simply because you aren’t taking a moment to hit pause. If your attitude isn’t reflecting a spirit of joy and thanksgiving, take a moment (or several) for yourselves and remind each other of your many blessings.

Take a moment to discuss how you each will assist in navigating each other through the holiday chaos. Through your solid foundation, this holiday season will be another filled with laughter and lasting memories. What are your biggest stressors in regards to the upcoming holidays? How can I support you through this holiday season?

A SNOWBALL OF GRATITUDE Sometimes all it takes to lift your spirit and the spirits of those around you is to spread a little gratitude. Go out of your way to say thanks. It may not always be easy to do, but it is always worth it.

String Art For this next activity you will be creating Christmas themed string art with our friend Lindsay from Lindsay’s Art Cart.

Visit www.lindsaysartcart.com/datenightin to watch the video with guided instructions for your ease and enjoyment! Work as a team to complete your string art and take turns swapping roles. We encourage you to truly live in the moment as mentioned in the Table Talk. Don’t stress over perfection; instead, just relax and cherish this time together.

IF YOU WANT TO TAKE IT UP A NOTCH, YOU CAN STAIN OR PAINT YOUR WOOD BEFORE STARTING.

Sweet Treat Trees INCLUDED TOOLS TO

Enjoy making and eating this festive treat

GATHER:

together!

Hammer

You Will Need:

Wood Square Embroidery thread Pack of Nails Template Card

INCLUDED: White chocolate chips Bag of pretzels Sprinkles FROM YOUR KITCHEN Baking sheet Parchment paper, wax paper or a plastic plate.

Instructions: Pour your white chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for one minute and then stir. Then, microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring after each, until totally smooth.

Arrange the pretzel sticks on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper or wax paper. A plastic plate can work as well.

Drizzle the melted chocolate chips, starting halfway up the pretzel stick to make the base of the tree and gradually narrowing as you reach the top of the pretzel to form a peak. See picture for reference.

While the chocolate coating is still wet, sprinkle it with assorted sprinkles.

Refrigerate the tray briefly to set the coating and then enjoy!

Holiday Headbands Get ready for some laughs while you prepare to play Holiday Headbands. We have prepared three rounds of play for you with a final customizable round included.

Round one will feature holiday people, places and things. Round two will feature popular Christmas music and movies. Round three will feature blank cards to write your own Christmas time favorites.

(HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES IF YOU NEED A LITTLE INSPIRATION...

Favorite holiday meal, gift you want, dream Christmas destination, favorite holiday song, holiday dream, favorite winter sport, favorite Christmas movie, favorite childhood memory, favorite Christmas memory)

You will need: Included elastic headbands Included cards

To play: 1.

Divide your cards into three piles: round one, round two, and round three. Shuffle the first round of cards and place them on a stack face down in the middle of the table. During this game you will have three rounds of play. Your final round will be customizable.

2.

Next, go ahead and split the cards from round 3 and write in your own Christmas time favorites using the inspiration above. Keep your answers private from your significant other!

3.

To begin round one, each player will select a card from the stack and tuck it into their elastic headband facing outward, without looking at it.

Now you can see which card your significant other

has, but not your own. Play a quick game of rock, paper, scissors to decide who will begin the game.

4.

Player one will begin the game by asking their partner a yes or no question in an attempt to guess what is on their card. Once a question has been answered, it’s your partner’s turn to ask.

Continue going back and forth asking questions.

Example: Am I a person? Am I an animal? Am I a song?

5.

When a player feels confident that they can identify their card, they can use their turn to guess. The first person to correctly identify the card on their head is the winner and gets to keep their card. The other person can now look at their card and place it in the discard pile. Continue this process until all of the round one cards are gone.

6.

Once a round is complete, players place the next round in the middle of them and each chooses a new card from the pile to start a new round. Don’t forget to customize your blank cards on your final round of play!

7.

Whoever has the most cards at the end of round three is the winner! Make it more interesting by setting an incentive.

(Example: loser has to clean the kitchen, winner gets a 5 minute massage, etc.)

Love Letters A note from Megan Pruitt, the Founder of Date Night In… Dear Date Night In Seekers, A few years ago, I received a holiday gift from my husband Brian that touched my heart. It was completely unexpected, lacked a price tag and was absolutely wonderful.

It was a simple letter, with sentiments from his heart. In the time since he sent it, I tucked it away in our holiday decoration bins and each year when I get ready to begin the holiday season I reread it and start the holidays off on a sentimental note with a focus on what the season is truly about.

To end your date, in honor of my husband’s sweet message and, more importantly, to focus on what’s really important this Christmas season, we have included two blank love letters in this box for you to write a note to your significant other.

Choose together when you will find a special moment to receive your message. Maybe tonight, or when holiday chaos becomes overwhelming, or even make it a tradition to read it every year like I did. Find that right time and ENJOY!

Reflection TAK E A M O M E N T T O RE F L E C T O N Y OUR MERRY AND B R I G H T D A T E N I G H T I N E XP E RI E N C E. D IS C US S T HES E Q UESTI O N S T O G E T H E R:

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Which part of the date did you enjoy the most?

Did you try something new as a part of your date? What was it like to experience it with your significant other?

Are there any aspects of the date that you would like to incorporate into your relationship in the future?

CONTINUE YOUR DATE NIGHT MOVIE SUGGESTIONS

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Miracle on 34th Street Home for the Holidays Love Actually The Preacher’s Wife The Holiday Bridget Jones’ Diary Four Christmases

#DATENIGHTINBOX @DATENIGHTINBOX

Don’t forget to share pictures from your date with our hashtag #datenightinbox on social media!