I’ve loved the questions from readers asking about our at home date nights and our favorite games. To be honest, our Monday through Thursday evening routine is pretty lame and usually consists of catching up on TV shows and/or working after the kids go to bed. So by Friday we are more than ready to kick off the weekend with some quality time together. Trust me, I loooove getting dolled up for a date night out with my hubby but babysitting + uber rides + cocktails + dinner can add up quickly so we definitely can’t do that every week! However, that doesn’t mean we can’t host our own little date together at home on the reg.
So after the kiddos are in bed (with both of their magical sound machines blasting on high), we retreat to our backyard with some cocktails and the baby monitor. We turn on the bistro lights, set out the patio furniture pillows, turn on the Thermacell to block the mosquitoes, and turn up our favorite Pandora station over the portable speaker deck (side note: if you don’t have one of these, add it to your Christmas list!!!! best gift ever!). Then we bust out the games — loser is responsible for refilling cocktails! Here are some of our favorite two-player games:
Phase 10 // Skip-Bo // Bananagrams // Jumbling Tower // Uno // Table Topics // Backgammon
For dinner we keep it super easy so our time spent together isn’t cooking. I usually make a low prep appetizer (caprese salad is our go-to recently), throw meat on the grill, oven roast or grill some fresh veggies and serve a pre-made dessert from the teeter bakery.
Some of our favorite EASY summertime grilled items include Grilled Cheese, Cabernet Burgers (prepped the night before), Pesto Shrimp, pork chops and steak! Side note: We recently started picking up our meat from Trader Joes and I am so impressed with the quality of their filet mignon and pork chops — highly recommend!
Also, we’ve been waiting all season long for patio furniture to go on sale to finally swoop up this beautiful and comfortable 5 piece rattan wicker sofa set for our backyard. My crazy internet sale shopping finally paid off when the price dropped to half off. I love that the cushions are plush, all of the pieces can be separated and positioned for larger group use, the cushion covers are removable for washing and it came with some pillows!
And that’s a peak into our at home date nite!
Would love to know your favorite games too!
Great game ideas, thank you!
My husband an I really need to get better at stay at home date night. I love your little outdoor get away. Maybe I'll add some lights and more comfortable chairs to our deck and try this out this fall.
Phase 10 and bananagrams are favorites of ours, too! With a few extra friends, we love pandemic, the game of things, taboo, and ticket to ride.
Oh I love this! Game night sounds fantastic! And your patio set up is perfect for date nights at home!
Will have to check out these games. We have a ton of board games but they all require at least 3-4 players so we don't use them very often.
Your patio furniture is so pretty! I love the style and colors. End of the season is the best time to find deals.
I absolutely love this idea! Such a great way to keep the "spark" without having to break the bank!
We love skip bo!!
Oh! In my dream world we don't just go to sleep as soon as the kids do. 😉 We use to play card games – canasta and cribbage (pre-kids.) This is going to make me try and make some effort to do something like this soon. Great ideas!
I love this post – what great ideas for games!! Your outdoor space is AMAZING!
http://www.saverrmarriage.comGreat ideas! I love the patio set! What a way to build closeness with game night!!! …and it's not expensive, right? 😉
http://www.saverrmarriage.comGreat ideas! I love the patio set! What a way to build closeness with game night!!! …and it's not expensive, right? 😉
How much fun! Love that y'all go "all out" (in my mind) for date nights at home!! Your new patio furniture is beautiful and perfect for an outdoor area!
We don't have kids yet but still love our date nights on the patio! The furniture looks great!
Patio furniture can be so expensive! Your set looks SO comfy 🙂 Where's it from? I've been on the lookout for one just like it!My husband and I much prefer at-home dates nights over leaving the house after becoming parents. I totally agree.
excellent blog. We don't get to go out often having 3 kids and struggling to find someone to watch them, but these ideas will definitely be used by us in the future. we need to relclaim us time
Thanks for the suggestions. While we don't have kids yet, we are saving for a house and trying for a lot more home dates. This is a great list.
I should say-a lot more home dates to save up extra money for the house. Lol
Did you get this set for the $400-something, or did it drop to $200-ish? I've been watching it too!
The cost of a sitter alone keeps our date nights out a minimum but, Matt & I have been at least having late night cocktails in the back yard & just talk & talk. They are absolutely some of my favorite times!
Love this!!! We live about an hour outside of the city and date nights rarely happen with 2 littles. Thanks for sharing!
Seriously love this post! I am a huge fan of at home date night, especially when wine + board games are involved!
These are awesome ideas, we never play games together – definitely something to try x
Love this post! Having two small kids and moving far away from family and friends has forced us to do more date night's in… banana grams has been a favorite, but I have to look into backgammon! Also, your backyard looks like the perfect retreat- great job!
I love your backyard furniture! #goals! And my husband and I definitely fall into the rut of watching tv and playing on our phones. I am going to try some of these games! Thanks!
Love this! Perfect going into Fall nights as well!
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