Island Adventure Date Guide

D AT E G U I D E

d n a l s I e r u t n e Adv

Welcome to your E D I TO R ’ S N OT E

Dear Date Night In Box Enthusiasts, Greetings to you and your significant other. If you are joining us for the first time, welcome! If you have joined us before, welcome back!

There is something romantic about the thought of warm tropical air and the idea of being on vacation in paradise with your significant other. Our hope during this date is to give you a little taste of island life with a dash of adventure mixed in. Transport yourself to another place and time, and let your mind wander to a tropical oasis!

Each month, we give a FREE DATE to a couple who snaps a picture of themselves enjoying that month’s date. To qualify, simply post your photo on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtags #DateNightInBox and #DNIIslandAdventure. Congratulations to last month’s winners!

If you received this date as a gift, we would LOVE for you to join us again. We offer a variety of plans to fit your needs, and we have a Kids Night In Box subscription. Simply visit www.nightinboxes.com, and use code 15OFFNIB for 15% off all subscription plans.

Warmly,

Megan Pruitt

Founder of Date Night In Box

Date Night In Box D AT E A C T I V I T I E S

SET THE MOOD C O M P L I M E N TA R Y D I N N E R M E N U TA B L E TA L K S E A S H E L L CAN D L E M A K I N G ISLAND GAMES ----

A MATTER OF THE BODY A MATTER OF THE MIND A MATTER OF THE RELATIONSHIP

L O V E AT S E A M E S S AG E I N A B O T T L E A N D S N AC K WAY S T O C O N T I N U E YO U R D AT E N I G H T

SET THE MOOD

Take a moment to consider the space where your date will occur. For a portion of your date, you will need to step outside. For now, dim the lights and prepare yourselves to be transported to a tropical island for this date night adventure.

Access your custom Island Adventure playlist at datenightinbox.com/island-adventure.

T Optional A u n e M r e n n i D B L E G R A B YO U R R E C I P E C A R D

Each month we include

Hi, friends! Can

custom recipes provided

you hear that? It’s

by Marina from

the sound of waves

(marinamakesblog.com).

crashing, palm trees

Our hope is that you will be

swaying and a ukulele

inspired to use this recipe

near by. The only

card again in the future.

thing missing is

Enjoy!

some tropical food!

Tonight, I prepared a menu fit for paradise, including a rum cocktail, fish tacos, mango salsa and macadamia nut

coconut macaroons.

The island fruits and fresh fish will make you feel like you’re relaxing in the tropics, and I hope you enjoy all of it.

I’d love to see how your food turns out, so please share pictures of your results on social media; don’t forget to use the hashtag #marinamakeseats.

Happy eating!

T A L K

It’s time to sit back and enjoy a little bit of table talk this evening. Enjoy some fun, light-hearted discussion sure to bring something new to the table in your relationship!

As you may have read on the Island Adventure date itinerary, you are going to have the chance to create your own message in a bottle. Along the road, I’m sure you’ve come across a little trinket, whether washed up on the beach, abandoned at a park or even in your old jewelry box, that you are sure once held a great amount of sentimental value. Being separated from its owner or simply forgotten over time can easily diminish the sentiment of an item. Words, however, are different. Words maintain their power forever.

Sharing stories is what connects the human race.

Author Dorothy Allison writes, “Two or three things I know for sure, and one of them is that to go on living I have to tell stories, that stories are the one sure way I know to touch the heart and change the world.” It is a liberating thought that though we are confined in time and space, our words could touch the heart of someone across the world and over many years. You might never fully know the power that your story could have in the heart of someone you may never meet.

Although storytelling is a natural part of who you are, it can be difficult to sit down and put pen to paper. Below are a few common roadblocks that might normally keep you from writing. Take a few minutes to talk through them together and see if it just might get you excited about telling your story!

Myth #1.

“But I don’t have anything important to say”

Truth: Your stories are intrinsically full of wisdom.

“Telling stories is not just a way of passing time. It is the way the wisdom gets passed along. The stuff that helps us to live a life worth remembering.”—Rachel Naomi Remen

Myth #2.

“I’m not a great writer.”

Truth: Honesty is what gives a story its meaning.

“Narrative is a simple thing, at bottom: chronology with meaning.”—Jon Franklin

Myth #3. “There are better gifts I could give” Truth: Our stories will never fade or tarnish.

“Colors fade, temples crumble, empires fall, but wise words endure.”—Edward Thorndike “By words we learn thoughts, and by thoughts we learn life.”—Jean Baptiste Girard Whether you have a recipient in mind or you feel inspired to let fate take its course with your message in a bottle activity later this evening, you are ready to begin your storytelling journey together!

Cheers to living stories with you and leaving them for the ones we love!

l l e h s a e S Island

Candle

It’s time to make your own candle, which will help set the mood for the rest of your date. Please be careful,

Games

Biennially, millions of people tune in to watch the Summer

and enjoy working as a team!

or Winter Olympics. Did you

W H AT YO U ' L L N E E D

to 27 islands or island groups

- Included sea shell - Included wick - Included wax - Microwave - Microwave-safe container - Metal spoon to stir - Pot holder or hand towel - Lighter

DIRECTIONS 1)

Using extreme caution, microwave the wax in a microwave-safe container in one-minute increments until completely melted. Between increments, use a pot holder or hand towel to remove the container, and then stir the wax.

2)

Next, place the wick in the shell.

3)

Working as a team, hold on to the top of the wick and slowly pour the wax into the shell.

4)

Place the candle in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

5)

Light your new candle and enjoy!

know that every two years, up participate in a similar challenge called the Island Games? Islands such as Saint Helena, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands duel it out in archery, cycling, gymnastics, sailing, tennis and more.

Unfortunately, we cannot transport you to these beautiful islands, BUT tonight, you and your significant other are going to take part in the first official Date Night In Box Island Games!

We have prepared three challenges to test your physical, mental and relationship strength.

A M AT T E R O F T H E B O D Y

First, we’re going to put your aim to the test. Locate your water guns, ping pong balls, golf tees and your emptied Date Night In Box. After filling your water guns, you’re probably going to want to head outside!

If you can’t head outside due to weather or other circumstances, consider going into the bathroom and placing a towel on or below your playing surface. Insert the golf tees slightly into the top of your Date Night In Box, leaving at least 1.5 inches between tees. Then, place each ball on a tee. Play rock/paper/scissors to determine who will go first.

Stand at least 7-10

feet

from the targets, and use a timer to see who can knock the balls off the tees in the least amount of time. Use a phone or visit datenightinbox.com/island-adventure to keep track of time.

A M AT T E R O F T H E M I N D

Next, we’re going to assess your mental strength. Locate your included word challenge cards, reusable Island Adventure drawing board and markers. On each card, you will find an assortment of letters. For each card, take one minute to come up with as many words as you can using only those letters, and write them on your individual reusable boards. Letters cannot be used twice unless they are on the card twice. Once the minute is up, compare answers to see who came up with the most words! Keep a tally at the top of your board.

T I P : Ti s s u e s w o r k g re a t fo r e r a s i n g !

A M AT T E R O F T H E R E L AT I O N S H I P

Last but not least, we’re going to examine your relationship. You will need your drawing board and markers to work your way through the questions below!

If a question applies to you individually, write your answer on the board AND what you predict your spouse will say (i.e., “What was your first impression of your significant other?” Answer with your first impression AND what you think your significant other’s first impression of you was). Other questions apply to you as a couple and will therefore only require one answer.

While writing, do not show your answers. Once you both finish answering the question, reveal your boards at the same time to see if they match.

1.

When and where was your first kiss?

2.

What is your significant other’s favorite junk food?

3.

What is your significant other’s most repeated sentence or phrase?

4.

Who is more responsible?

5.

Who takes longer to get ready?

6.

Who is most likely to ask for directions?

7.

Who is funnier?

8.

Who says “I’m sorry” first?

9.

What is your significant other’s best feature?

10.

What is your significant other’s best personality trait?

11.

Who is the better cook?

12.

Who has a shorter attention span?

13.

Who is more tech savvy?

14.

What is the best date you have been on together?

15.

What is your significant other’s biggest fear?

16.

Who spends the most money?

17.

Who would survive longer in a zombie apocalypse?

18.

Who said “I love you” first?

19.

What is your significant other’s shoe size?

20.

What is your significant other’s favorite TV show?

Love at Sea

All is fair in love and war! If you’ve ever enjoyed the classic game of Battleship, you will love what’s next. Locate your included Love At Sea boards and dry erase markers.

Keep your board private, and do not allow your partner to see. Start by positioning your five ships on the top grid. Place however many letters there are in the same number of touching boxes (if 5 Z’s represent a ship, place one Z in each of five touching boxes).

Yacht - YYYY Ferry - FFF Cruise ship - CCCCC Summer Sailer - SSSS Lifeboat - LL

Each player takes turns calling out a spot on the board using a letter and number combination, such as D3. The other player lets the opponent know if it is a hit (part of a ship is in that box) or a miss (no ship is in that box).

The players can keep track of their guesses by writing H (for hit) or M (for miss) on the bottom grid.

You can also keep track of your opponent’s guesses on the top grid.

Once a player hits all of the boxes occupied by a single ship, that ship is considered sunk. When a player has a ship sunk, he or she must let the other player know and tell the opponent what ship it is. When you sink an opponent’s ship, to celebrate, you must shout out a past adventure that you’ve enjoyed together or a future adventure you want to explore!

The first player to sink all of his or her opponent’s ships wins the game.

e g a s s e M e l t t o b a n i

In January 2018, an Australian couple was picking up trash along the beach when they discovered the world’s oldest message in a bottle.

According to the Guinness World Records, the message was nearly 132 years old and originated from a German ship in the Indian

Ocean! Tonight, you and your significant other will get the chance to create your own message in a bottle.

Thankfully, for this date, you are hopefully cozy in the comfort of your home instead of stranded at sea. However, for this Island Adventure, take a moment to imagine you are out at sea and have the opportunity to create a message in a bottle. What would you say?

What might you tell others about your relationship?

Below, you will find suggested topics to include in your message in a bottle. Feel free to pick one or create your own!

-----

Describe yourselves (what you enjoy doing together, what you treasure about your relationship, how long you’ve been together, etc.)

A note of encouragement for the finder A request for the finder to write you Offer a bit of advice (something you’ve learned together in your relationship)

Now, what you do with this message in a bottle is up to you! Whether you want to hide it around town for someone to discover, store it away for a loved one to open one day or keep it as a memento of your date, it’s completely up to you!

E N J O Y YO U R S N A C K !

While you brainstorm, take a moment to enjoy your delicious tropical mix from Mavuno Harvest.

bye, for now WAY S T O C O N T I N U E YO U R D AT E

----

Plan your next adventure (whether it’s island-based or not!)

Continue playing Love At Sea Make your own version of the Island Games (each partner can create one or more rounds)

--

Host a luau for a group date night and

--

On a clear night, spread out a blanket in the

feature the recipes included in tonight’s date backyard, or park and stargaze.

M OVI E S

------

50 First Dates Couples Retreat Forgetting Sarah Marshall Jaws Pirate of the Caribbean

Share the Love

#DATENIGHTINBOX @DATENIGHTINBOX