DNI Thankful for Every Moment

thankful

FOR EVERY MOMENT DATE NIGHT IN BOX

Warmest Greetings As we head into what can be a crazy time of holiday planning, I hope you will find comfort in this date as a time to pause and reflect. This date was a fitting theme for the current stage of life I’m in, as my mom is in the ICU fighting COVID. It’s a new chapter for my husband and I, as, for the first time in my life, I have had to learn from my partner in ways I could have never imagined. The way I’m getting through the days (sometimes minutes) is to simply be thankful for each moment, every small victory, and truly cherish what a wonderful source of support my husband has turned into.

While I hope this mindset never comes to you in the form of tragedy, we have designed a date for you tonight that will dive deep into the concept of gratitude. It can be easy to be thankful for the big blessings in your life; however, tonight we want to focus on the simplicity of life. If you try hard enough, there is truly something to be grateful for in each and every moment. Whether its growth, love, support, lessons learned, or laughter, each moment in our lives plays an important role.

Through completing this date, we hope that you are able to find gratitude in all areas of your life and relationship.

As we officially head into 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. As a current customer, please enjoy a discount of 15% off the entire site by using the coupon code ‘THANKYOU’ at checkout!

If you received this date as a gift and enjoy your night, we would love for you to join us again next month! Thanks to all of you for allowing us to help build memories with you and your significant other.

Till Next Month!

Megan Pruitt Owner and Founder And Team!

Date Night Itinerary - - - - - - - -

SET THE MOOD COOK YOUR SUGGESTED DINNER RECIPES TABLE TALK SPIN THE BOTTLE SNACK & GRATITUDE CHALLENGE GRATITUDE PROMISE BEYOND THE BOX REFLECTION & WAYS TO CONTINUE YOUR DATE NIGHT

Set the Mood Take a moment to consider the space where your date will occur.

Setting the mood is essential to a good date night! To begin your evening, locate your included

cinnamon

sticks and follow the

instructions below .

Don’t forget to access your custom Thankful for Every Moment playlist and recipes to go along with your date at datenightinbox.com/thankful.

Instructions Fill a saucepan approximately halfway with water. Add cinnamon sticks to the saucepan. Push the cinnamon sticks under the water to submerge them completely. Set the saucepan on a burner and turn the burner to medium heat. When the water simmers, reduce the heat to medium-low. Monitor the simmering. When the water level goes down, add more water to keep it at the same level. Simmer the cinnamon sticks for four to six hours and then discard them.

Cook Your Suggested Dinner Recipes One thing we can always be thankful for is good food and we have the best menu planned for you tonight.

For tonight’s menu we have Cranberry Crostini, Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto with Brown Butter Cinnamon Pork Loin, and Pumpkin Trifle! We would love to see photos of your meal; be sure to share them on social media with the hashtag #datenightinbox.

Husband and wife duo, Virginia and Joshua Townsend, have been in the cooking world for over ten years. They have a passion for food and the idea of using it to bring people together. Feel free to follow their journey on Instagram @offthepepper or at offthepepper.com. Our hope is that you will be inspired through the Townsends’ passion for delicious food and will even use this recipe card again in the future. Have fun cooking and enjoy!

GRAB YOUR RECIPE CARD

Table Talk The holiday season is quickly approaching and for many of us, this is a season of thanksgiving. During the holidays it can seem a tad bit easier to express gratitude. However, we want to encourage you to adopt a gratitude mindset - searching for reasons to be thankful in every moment we encounter.

As days come and go, it’s important that we take the opportunity to stop and reflect on the things we have to be thankful for. There are many experiences, both positive and negative, to be grateful for. Gratitude is all about perspective. When we take on life with a mindset of looking for reasons to be thankful, we will find them in abundance.

We can all probably agree that it’s easy to focus on what we don’t have, what we didn’t achieve, what we’re not doing and what others are doing. It’s especially challenging today with how connected the world is on social media, giving us a greater opportunity to compare our lives to someone else’s. And, sadly, we tend to look at the negative side of those comparisons, rather than using them as a chance to appreciate our partner and the simplicities of life you encounter together.

When we take on this gratitude mindset and try to find the good in every moment, we are setting ourselves up for a happier and healthier life. This has the potential to overflow into our relationships and begin a wonderful cycle of gratitude for each other that will only strengthen your love and commitment for one another!

Take a few moments to discuss these questions together:

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How can being thankful for every moment benefit our

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What characteristics of our relationship are you thankful we

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relationship? have?

What are some moments you’ve been thankful for our endurance through hard situations?

When we experience hard times how can we encourage one another to step back and search for the good?

How can we show gratitude for one another in our everyday lives?

Spin the Bottle Get ready to turn up the romance through a light hearted game of spin the bottle. Locate your Spin the Bottle “pie” and take turns spinning your included bottle. During your turn, complete the physical challenge or answer the gratitude topic that you land on.

Have fun with the challenges and dive deep with the discussions. This game will help to build intimacy and connection between the two of you. Use this time to cherish the love you have for one another.

Snack andGratitude Challenge Pull out your included cookies and cider. Use the directions on the packet to make your cider.

Enjoy your treat while reflecting on a few meaningful moments in your life. As days, weeks, and years pass by, we experience so many moments that fill our hearts with gratitude. Many times we may not even realize how grateful we are for a specific moment until we are looking back on it. Use this time of reflection to realize just how much you have to be grateful for.

Go through each of the prompts below and find a picture (either on your phone or in your home) that best represents the moment expressed. There are only two rules - no taking new photos during the challenge and you must explain why you chose each photo.

Ready, set, go!

Gratitude Challenge

yful… you felt jo A moment th… onal grow used pers a c t a h t t A momen peful… you felt ho A moment … ere in awe hen you w w t n e m o A m … something taught you t a h t t n e A mom d… complishe you felt ac A moment laxed… you felt re A moment … felt simple when life A moment ved… you felt lo A moment . preciated. you felt ap A moment

Gratitude Promise Next, you and your partner will be creating a gratitude keepsake.

Locate your included frame, leaf, paper, and a writing utensil.

You will start by cutting the paper to the size of the frame. We suggest doing this by removing the glass front, tracing it onto your paper, and then cutting it out.

Then, work together to write down a promise to one another to always strive to find gratitude in every moment you encounter.

Once you are done, it is time to reassemble your frame! Add the glass back to the frame, place your leaf in the center of the glass and secure it with the promise on top. Close the frame back up and place it somewhere as a reminder to be thankful for every aspect of life. Through the ups and downs that come with life there is always something to be grateful for.

Contest alert UPLOAD A PHOTO OF YOUR PICTURE FRAME KEEPSAKE DISPLAYED IN YOUR HOME TO FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM, MENTIONING @DATENIGHTINBOX AND USING HASHTAG #DATENIGHTINBOX FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $100.00 AMAZON GIFT CARD! Details: One lucky couple will win a $100.00 Amazon gift card in honor of the month of giving. Submissions must be posted on a public Facebook or Instagram profile. Join us on Facebook (@ DateNightIn) or Instagram (@datenightinbox) for more contest details. Contest valid until December 31st 2021.

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”

—Robert Brault

Beyond the Box As we end this date, we want to provide you with an activity that will go beyond your date night. Grab your included sticky notes and divide them between the two of you. Then, take a few moments to think about the reasons you are thankful for your significant other. Write each reason on a separate sticky note and don’t let each other see! Once you have finished, HIDE your sticky notes around your home (maybe even in your partner’s car or wallet) in places where your partner will find them over time.

Our hope is that you will find these notes throughout the next few days and be sweetly reminded of all the reasons you appreciate each other. Here’s to making gratitude intentional and truly being thankful for every moment.

ou T h a n ko o kyi n g g r eH a v e for c r last t at a f o rh a n k d a y dinneght ni m m a l w ay o u , aki ys Than ng f o r c oko k y o u i n g dinner n i g h tl a s t ou T h a n ku t tyi n g for p ids to the ked b I a t h a n k mf u l for p a t i eyn ocuer

Reflection TAK E A M O M E N T T O RE F L E C T O N Y O UR T HANKFUL FOR EVER Y M O M E N T D A T E N I G H T I N E XP E RIENC E. D IS C US S TH ESE Q U ES T I 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 H ER E AR E S O ME W A Y S T O C O N T I N U E YOUR D AT E NIGHT : Show interest in your partner’s life.

Ask for specifics about your partner’s day. Use active listening by making eye contact, giving cues that you’re listening, and paraphrasing back what your partner says.

Give compliments.

Remember to compliment your partner just like you are two young kids in love.

Surprise them.

We all love surprises. Plan another date, give a small gift, pack their lunch with a loving note, or complete a chore that your partner usually does. Even a small gesture can show your appreciation.

Mind your manners.

“Thank you” and “please” are important, even when someone has been doing your laundry for 10+ years. Try to catch your partner being helpful just so you can express gratitude.

Give an evening off.

Many people cherish alone time, although it can be hard to come by. Surprise your partner with a personalized evening off. Get their favorite meal and some treats, rent a movie they love, and leave them be!

#DATENIGHTINBOX @DATENIGHTINBOX

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