This post is sponsored by Jord Wood Watches. Check out the end of the post for a special giveaway!

It is pretty rare that Rob and I will splurge on the money to go out for a date night. Both of us are very frugal and just cannot seem to justify the cash to hire a babysitter, eat dinner out, and pay for drinks.

Instead, we like to do date nights at home. Zoey goes to be bed between 6:30-7, which gives us plenty of time to hang out together (if I do not pass out by 8:30, which happens more often than not) and make the night a little more special than the usual sweatpants and dinner in front of the TV.

Want to create your own at home date night? Try these methods to make it feel like a special night out.

Dress up. Ditch the sweat pants and actually spend some time getting ready as if you were leaving the house for dinner. Shave your legs, put on some makeup, and wear something that makes you feel good in your skin.A unique watch can help dress up your outfit as well, and this Jord Wood watch is no exception.

Use fancy plates and actually set the table. Give the couch a break and have dinner at the table. Sure, you have to do a little more leg work than you would if you went to a restaurant in order to set the table, but putting out some linen napkins and using the china (or just real plates in general) can add a completely different atmosphere to your at home date. 

Play mellow music and turn off the TV. Pandora has some fantastic playlists for dinner music. Play something light and fun and keep the TV off. You might actually find time to talk about other things besides the kids, schedules, and house chores.

Dim the lights or use candles. Set the ambiance even further by lighting a few candles on the table, or at least keeping the lights dim. You will feel like you are in your own world and it will hide the mess of toys, laundry, and dishes around you.

Plan a special meal. Hopefully it is not one that is too intensive to cook, but you can always make that part of your date night! Opt for non-kid friendly foods that you normally do not get to eat. Think mushrooms, asparagus, and non-breaded chicken or fish.

Have your spouse “pick you up”. This one might make you feel a bit silly, but that is part of the fun of a an at home date night! To get that little silliness back into your alone time with your spouse. Have your spouse pick you up from your bedroom door after you are done getting ready, or from your child’s room as you are putting her to bed. It will definitely add a touch of fun to the whole night.

Move locations for an after dinner drink or dessert. When Rob and I used to go out, we liked to have dinner in one location and dessert or another drink at another location. Do the same thing at home! Whether that means you move to the porch (if the weather is nice), or you sit on the stairs, changing locations makes it feel like your date is lasting longer and gives you a new atmosphere to continue chatting in.

Plan a special cocktail or mocktail. Part of the fun of going to a restaurant for me is ordering a speciality cocktail that I would never make at home. Well, create one at home for date night! Check out Pinterest for some fun cocktail ideas and enjoy mixing a few of them together during your date. 

Do not do any house chores. As much as you might want to catch up on the laundry, dishes, and the other endless list of to do items, leave it for the morning. If you were out of the house on a date, those things would not get done anyway, so why do them tonight? Instead, just enjoy this precious time with your spouse.

Need the perfect accessory to your date night, whether you have one at home or out of the house? Jord Wood offers beautiful womens watches as well as men’s wood watches. Use the code wreckingroutine for an immediate $25 off a Jord Wood Watch of your choice plus free sizing. Do not miss out on this incredible deal!

What is your favorite way to date your spouse without leaving the house?

Brooke Selb

I’m Brooke Selb, a Personal Trainer and Health Coach specializing in helping busy moms and moms to be to easily juggle mom life with family friendly recipes, and easy exercise routines to help you achieve your fitness goals that fit in with your already busy life with sound nutritional advice.