DNI Winter Dreams Insert

Winter Dreams DATE NIGHT IN BOX

DATE GUIDE

Welcome to your Date Dear Date Night In Box Seekers, Seasons Greetings to you and your significant other. If you are joining us for the first time, WELCOME! If you have been with us for previous dates, WELCOME BACK! It is truly our honor to provide you with a date night to be enjoyed from the comfort of your home and thank you for allowing us to come into your home and make memories.

In the spirit of the holidays being magical, we wanted to design a date that built off that excitement and focused on the wishes and dreams you have not only during the holiday season but for the future. Take a reprieve and check out of the hustle and bustle of planning, gift giving, meal prepping and more and just enjoy this date by being present in the moment. We hope this Date Night In Box that was prepared for you will bring a smile and warm heart to you this holiday season.

If you were given 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 even have Kids Night In Boxes and Sensory Kits! Simply visit www. nightinboxes.com and use code 15OFFNIB for a 15% discount when you join us again.

Wishing you the warmest holiday cheer, Date Night In Team

DATE NIGHT ITINERARY

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SET THE MOOD COOK YOUR SUGGESTED DINNER RECIPES TABLE TALK OUR DREAM LIST & WINTER TREAT WINTER GARDEN DREAM CATCHER LAW OF ATTRACTION DREAM TOGETHER REFLECTION & WAYS TO CONTINUE YOUR DATE NIGHT

Set the Mood

MATERIALS: Beeswax sheet, candle wick

Ambiance is a critical step to a successful date night! To begin, you will be making your own votive candles out of sheets of beeswax!

Directions 1.

Locate your included sheet of beeswax. Decide the height you desire for your candle and cut accordingly. Simply bending and folding will accomplish this. If you decide to make your candles small you will have enough wax for 2-3 candles.

2.

Locate your included wick and gently fold the beeswax over the wick and press firmly to secure. (If your wax is hard due to cold temps, feel free to warm it up with a hair dryer.)

3.

Starting with the wick end, carefully and evenly roll your candle into existence.

4.

You are done! There is no heating necessary! Enjoy as a way to enhance your date night!

Don’t forget to access your custom Winter Dreams Playlist while completing your date. You can access it at datenightinbox.com/dreams

Cook Your Suggested Dinner Recipes

Table Talk Between the magic of the holiday season floating in the air around us and heading into a new year that is oftentimes accompanied with new goals, we saw this as a perfect opportunity to zoom in on the concept of exploring individual dreams as a couple.

There is something magical

Focusing on your individual hopes

about enjoying a hot dinner

and dreams has so many benefits

with loved ones on a cold

in a relationship. It reminds you of

winter evening. This month’s

who YOU are outside of a partner.

recipes are from Marina Makes

It also helps to fulfill some of

(marinamakesblog.com). Each

the passions and desires within

year, you look forward to the

yourself that ONLY you have the

first snowfall. Watching the

ability to satisfy. Your partner

snow glide down from the sky

can only do so much to satisfy the

brings so much peace - it’s

things you are most passionate

so beautiful and delicate. Of

about, and if you are relying solely

course, while watching the

on them to do this you are bound

snow, you have to have a hot

to be let down. We must strive to

drink and a warm meal on hand.

always remember who we are as

Priorities!

individuals, what we want most out of life, and what we ourselves

This month’s menu includes

need to do to make our dreams

some of Marina’s favorite

become a reality.

winter staples to keep you and your taste buds warm: a hot

On the flipside, honing in TOO

toddy, creamy pancetta with

much to our own hopes and

sweet pea gnocchi, parmesan

dreams can also create problems.

and garlic crostini and

We definitely want to make our

homemade peppermint pudding.

dreams a priority; however,

We would love to see photos

putting our dreams above our

of your meal; be sure to share

relationship is not the answer. The

them on social media with the

answer is to merge your dreams

hashtag #datenightinbox.

together - finding common ground and ways you can both help the other succeed. We are going to discuss 3 reasons why dreaming as a couple can be beneficial to your relationship. Read through each together, and then discuss the questions that follow.

JOINT PURPOSE By dreaming together you are cultivating a future together. You are both brought into this hope for the future together and can move forward as one. This can help you stay on track as well as limit actions that could possibly destroy your dreams. You have a purpose and a hope for the future and you will both do your part to make it happen.

Dreaming together creates a future that unites you together.

BETTER CONNECTION AND COMMUNICATION Having shared dreams connects you as one. Whether it is individual goals or goals as a couple, sharing these dreams together builds both connection and intimacy between the two of you. Dreaming together also requires communication. By increasing the communication level in your relationship you are instantly setting yourselves up for success.

DOUBLE THE MOTIVATION When cultivating dreams, two things that often get in the way are selfmotivation and self-discipline. Dreaming as a couple gives you both a support system to fall back on and someone to hold you accountable.

This means you will always have someone at your side to encourage you to keep going and give you constructive criticism when needed.

Use these questions to begin “dreaming together”: 1.

In what ways do you currently dream/plan for the future together?

2.

Why do you think communicating your dreams with one another is important?

3.

What is something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t for whatever reason?

4.

What is one thing that comes to mind that you both want for your future together?

You are never too late to turn your dreams into a reality. Stay true to yourself and cultivate a future you can look to with excitement. Finally, never underestimate the power in sharing and shaping your dreams with a loved one.

Our Dream List Making a dream/wish list with your significant other can be a great bonding experience. Sharing your hopes and dreams with each other means opening up and being vulnerable, which will make you feel closer than ever. Wishes don’t just have to be about your relationship. They can be about your individual goals, your family and friends, or even future plans.

No matter what it is, there is just something about making a wish that brings a feeling of magic and happiness into the moment.

Feel free to enjoy your included hot chocolate while making your dream list together. Place the hot chocolate stick into a mug filled with hot water or milk, stir until the chocolate melts completely, and enjoy!

A note before you begin: This task isn’t meant to be a to-do list. Our goal is to help you create a dream list that provides a roadmap or sense of mutual direction that will allow you to dream as one with the support of one another.

n o i t a r i p s n i m Drea

FINANCIAL: Budgeting, investing and saving for a purchase, etc.

Individual dream TERM LONG

list

GOAL

S

HOUSEHOLD: Menu planning, home improvement, projects, lawn care, moving, etc.

Individual dream list SHORT TERM GOALS

PHYSICAL: Exercise, healthy eating, stress management, etc.

SOCIAL: Hosting a party, getting to know neighbors, making more friends, etc.

SPIRITUAL: Prayer, Bible verses, family devotions, etc.

FAMILY: Expanding, more quality time, participating in activities, being present, etc.

COUPLE: Listening, improving intimacy, less screen time, growing old together, etc.

Step One:

Begin by filling out your individual short term

goals. To begin, find a cozy spot and grab your included Individual Dream List cards. You will fill these out separately and privately.

Take five minutes to open your mind and think about what short term dreams you would like to see manifest in your life. Now that you have had some time to think about your individual short term dreams, take the next five minutes to capture those dreams by writing them down on your Individual Dream List cards.

Step Two:

Isn’t it exciting to dream big? Now take a moment

to really think about your long term goals and dreams. Take another five minutes to imagine both large and small long term dreams. Next, take an additional five minutes and put “pen to paper” and fill out your individual long term goals.

Step Three:

Swap lists and take turns reading your partner’s

dreams aloud to each other starting with short term goals.

Discuss each dream on the list with your partner. What attracts your partner to each dream? How do you feel about these dreams and how do you think you can help support your partner in their dreams? Repeat the same process with your long term goals.

Step Four:

Find the common ground. The goal of this next

step will be to find a way to combine your lists into one. Your lists may not immediately align. Identify possible themes; for example, do you both have financial goals, emotional goals, physical goals, sexual goals, parenting goals, spiritual goals, material possession goals, etc.?

Step Five:

To complete this activity, you will now take a

moment to combine your individual lists into one master “Our Dreams List”. You can choose as a couple how to prioritize this list. Perhaps you will create a chronological timeline of achievable dreams. Another way to create the master dream list would be to alternate dreams between you and your significant other. Find the method of organization that truly suits you as a couple. There is no wrong way to prioritize the list!

Now it’s equally important that you both make a promise to each other to make your dreams a reality. Place this list in a visible location where you will both see it. Cross off your dreams when they become realities and revisit your list on a frequent basis to have it evolve as life changes!

Winter Garden Dream Catcher Inspired by the beauty of snowy walks through sleepy gardens, this modern take on a dream catcher will serve as a visual reminder to honor and execute your dreams and wishes together.

Follow the directions below, collaborate by working together, and even consider switching typical roles.

The dream catcher you create will symbolize the hopes you weave together and you should protect them. The feathers you attach will act as a fluffy pillow-like ladder that allows your dreams and wishes to gently descend upon you. Place this dream catcher in a visible location. We hope that each time you see it, you are reminded of the dreams you made together on your dreams list completed in the last activity.

Directions 1.

Locate your included dream catcher kit. Each of you will have enough materials to make one.

2.

To begin, take whatever color string you desire to cover the hoop of your dream catcher. Tie a knot and then wrap the entire ring along the string and pull tightly as you go. Tie in another knot to complete.

3.

Choose your design pattern and use your imagination. Our example features a simple triangle. Wrap your string accordingly. Use the other colored thread as an accent feature.

4.

Next, you will tie the string that hangs from your dream catcher that features wooden beads and feathers. To accomplish this you will use a head knot. Fold the string into two equal parts. Slip the folded end behind or beneath the place where the knot will be tied.

Pull the string up around the ring of your dream catcher and slip the other two strands toward the loop.

5.

Choose your wooden bead and thread it to the desired length. Tie your feather with two knots and then pull your wooden bead slightly over the feather. Repeat as desired.

6.

ENJOY! Place this somewhere as a reminder to accomplish your dreams together.

Law of Attraction Having hopes and dreams is a beautiful thing.

It gives us motivation, hope, excitement, and lights a passion inside of us to keep pushing forward toward the things we desire.

However, these dreams can be useless if we are not actively doing anything to manifest them.

Every moment and every day you are actively shaping your future - whether you realize it or not. The thoughts you have, the actions you do, and the words you speak in the present day all play a part into creating the days and years to come.

The Law of Attraction is a powerful universal principle that states you will attract into your life whatever you focus on. Many people are aware of the Law of Attraction but tend to dismiss it as “woo”. However, once you truly understand how to harness the power of the Law of Attraction into your life, you can direct your thoughts and actions to effortlessly attract the things you want.

If you are unfamiliar with the Law of Attraction we encourage you to do your own research to gain a better understanding of the way that it works. For now, we have a meditation video prepared for you to listen to together that will help you put the Law of Attraction into practice. We encourage you to take this meditation seriously and truly visualize/manifest your hopes and dreams within yourself.

Head to datenightinbox.com/dreams and click the video titled “Spoken Meditation”.

Dream Together You will end your date with a more light-hearted feel. Dreaming together can be exciting but also can take a mental toll at times.

To wrap up your date night enjoy this version of the newlywed game with a dream spin. Take this time to relax, laugh, and just enjoy each other’s presence.

Hint: Before playing, spice things up a bit by setting an incentive for the winner (ex: 5 minute foot massage, no dishes for a week, date night of their choice, etc.)

Directions 1.

Begin by grabbing your dream together prompt sheet and cutting out each square along the dotted lines. Place the prompts into a cup or jar, or lay them face down when you are finished.

2.

Gather your Dream Together dry erase cards and dry erase markers.

3.

Take turns flipping over a prompt or drawing a prompt from the cup. Read the prompt and take a second and think of your answer, and what you think your partner’s answer will be.

4.

Without letting your partner see, write down your answer on the top half of your dry erase card and what you think your partner will write on the bottom half.

5.

Once you are both ready, count to three and reveal your answers to each other. If only one of you guesses the other’s answer correctly, you get to keep that card; if you both guess the other’s answer correctly, place the card in a “tie” pile; if neither of you guess the other’s answer correctly, place the card in a “discard” pile.

6.

Continue this process until you have gone through all of the prompts! At the end count up the number of cards you got to keep. Whoever has the most is the winner!

D R EA M

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D R EA M

R G U AG E O N EW LA N RU M EN T LE AR N A EW IN ST AR N A N

Reflection TA K E A M O M ENT TO RE F L E C T O N Y O U R W I N T ER D REAMS D AT E NIGHT I N EX PER I EN C E . D I S C U S S T H E S E Q U E S TIONS T OGET HER:

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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?

MOVIE SUGGESTIONS - TH E H O L I D A Y - LOV E A C T UA L L Y - TH E P U R S U I T O F H A PPIN E S S - A LE A GUE O F T H E I R OWN - H ID D E N F I GUR E S - J OY - REM E M B E R T H E T I T AN S - TH E F A M I L Y S T O NE

Dream Together MY ANSWER

read minds SWER PARTNER’S AN

be able to fly

DRE

AM S UPE RPO WER TO H AVE

#DATENIGHTINBOX @DATENIGHTINBOX

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