January 21, 2016 by Krista

Between the Sheets Game: At Home Date Night Idea

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #KYALittleTouch #CollectiveBias

This is my love story. Please read on to see how K-Y® TOUCH® enhances our relationship and click here for a $2 off one K-Y® product coupon.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Do you have plans already? Our anniversary is almost a week before Valentine’s Day, so I go into romance overload mode once the new year starts. It’s a lot of fun for me… and Mr. Napping doesn’t usually mind it too much either. Wink, wink.

Since our anniversary is so close to Valentine’s Day we usually go out for our anniversary – when it’s easier to get reservations and isn’t so crowded – and celebrate Valentine’s Day at home. I love me a good at-home date. It’s low-key, comfortable, and usually costs a lot less than going out. I feel like those are the dates I really get to enjoy my husband and his company. We’re approaching eight years together and, while our bedroom time is still hot and steamy, sometimes it’s fun to spice things up a little. If you’re thinking about an evening at home, I’ve got a fun date idea for you. And be sure to grab the K-Y® TOUCH® at Walmart in the health and beauty section using this $2 off one K-Y® product coupon!

BETWEEN THE SHEETS GAME
AT HOME DATE NIGHT IDEA

Recently, things just did not work out with gifts for my husband. In a pitch, I shared the Between the Sheets game I made. This still got him pretty excited…

We finally got to do our date and it was fantastic. Our evening started with a snack – because the way to my husband’s heart really is through his stomach. He was mildly curious when he came into our room and found the bed made (not a habit I developed, unfortunately), but was promptly distracted by the offering of food and sparkling juice. We talked for a little while, mostly about what I was up to. Mr. Napping doesn’t love surprises; too bad for him, because I do. When he was done with the crackers, we peeled the comforter off and I had his complete attention.

We read the rules and started to play. I had everything set up beforehand. A playlist with romantic songs ready to inspire and set the mood, a fun wardrobe change (or two), and our K-Y® TOUCH® pleasure gel. We love this for giving couples’ massages! We love the warming feature that can be sensual and can help relax tired muscles so you can really focus on all the other amazing pleasures and touches during intimate time. And you don’t have to stop to switch gears. Get in the mood and just go for it. You’ll both be glad you used K-Y® TOUCH®. Check out the full tutorial and make your own Between the Sheets game!

The idea of the game is to spend time together enjoying each other without rushing straight to the finish line. I mentioned we’ll be celebrating eight married years in just a couple weeks and sometimes we get so busy trying to squeeze in our time together between diaper changes, middle of the night wakings, and all our other responsibilities that we don’t get to really enjoy just being together. It’s no secret that men and women don’t typically reach that intimacy finish line at the same time and it’s an age-old question on how both parties can find a happy finish. We were both completely happy and satisfied at the end if this date. Completely. (P.S. That was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in … a very long time. Ahhh-mazing.)

Before this date, Mr. Napping and I were in need of some time together. Over the holidays, life had gotten crazy and our together time had dwindled. This was perfect. It was a great night full of laughter and fun. And we were able to make that connection again! We were dating again! The kids faded away, the mortgage, the bills, the deadlines, the responsibilities… just kinda disappeared. It was just us. It was amazing. The tall, dark, and handsome 23-year-old I fell for nine years ago is still around. Our whole house is happier and runs more smoothly when Mr. Napping and I have that connection and intimacy between the two of us. So, really, we do date night for the kids… wink, wink.

So, if you’re ready to get your romance on this Valentine’s Day, get to planning your own Between the Sheets game night. I’ll have more detailed directions on making your own game next week, so if you want a little more guidance you can come check that out. I grabbed our amazing K-Y® TOUCH® at Walmart. Click here for the $2 off one K-Y® product coupon! So, grab that coupon and start scheming the best Valentine’s date… what will you do?

This Valentine’s Day, K-Y® is inspiring couples to connect more deeply via the power of touch by using new K-Y® TOUCH®, a new touch activated gel crème for massage and intimacy that gently warms and intensifies sensation with every touch. The warm sensation builds with every caress and encourages couples to slow down and explore more of each other for a more profound intimate connection. Pick up K-Y® TOUCH® at a Walmart near you!

Also, click both the images below to receive a total savings of $6 off any one K-Y® product and see K-Y.com for more information on the new K-Y® TOUCH® and intimacy tips that can help you deepen your couples’ connection.

I did a post on the K-Y® LOVE pleasure gels back in September… it’s good stuff, friends! So make sure you take advantage of these discounts and spice up your Valentine’s Day!

See the full tutorial on making your own Between the Sheets game HERE.

October 16, 2015 by Krista

Knocking Out My Sinus Congestion Nightmare with SUDAFED® #SinusStruggle #ad

I wrote this post as part of my participation in a blog tour on behalf of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division, the makers of SUDAFED®. I received compensation to thank me for taking the time to participate. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

October brings some pretty scary things: ghosts, goblins and spooky spirits. For me, one of the worst things I suffer from is sinus congestion. Big J brings home all kinds of germs from school and the other two pick up who knows what in Nursery at church on Sundays. The sniffles are bound to happen. I have sinus congestion most of the year, not just in October; but, it gets worse in the spring and fall, when the seasons change. So, combine sinus congestion with allergies and it’s a nightmare. My gross, phlemy, pain-filled nightmare.

Sinus congestion, for me, feels a little different each day. Usually, it feels a lot like my head is a balloon, just kinda floating along. I feel disconnected from everything else, groggy, and tired. Some days, it’s like an elephant is standing on my face. On particularly bad days, the sinus pressure is so intense it gives me migraines. My world feels a little blurry.

Part of that balloon-feeling I get makes my hearing and sight ultra sensitive. I have three boys… three loud, busy, mischievous, rambunctious boys. Or three eyes-burning, ears-throbbing, headache-inducing boys. I could spend my bad days curled up on the sofa, doing the very least I can while the TV entertains my boys. But, that’s not what I want my little guys to remember about their mom and childhood. So, instead, I reach for my SUDAFED®.

SUDAFED® makes my sinus congestion bearable. The pressure goes away. The sensitivity to light and sound isn’t debilitating. The balloon-feeling isn’t there. I feel connected and present. I can function. Even better, I can interact and play with my kids. We make memories and have adventures instead of just surviving. All thanks to the sinus congestion relief I get from SUDAFED®.

You can enter to win a $25 gift card when you watch Jessica’s Sinus Struggle Video or Lorenzo’s Sinus Struggle video on sinus pain on the SUDAFED® Facebook page!

Check out the Rafflecopter widget for full terms and conditions and how to enter!
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February 6, 2014 by Krista

Year of Dates – 12 date nights in one romantic gift

Looking for a gift for your sweetheart? One that will keep on giving long after the wrapping paper is discarded? Maybe a gift that both of you can enjoy? If that sounds awesome, then this Year of Dates kit is just what you’re looking for.

But, this isn’t just another Year of Dates gift idea.

Lots of other Year of Dates posts have the date ideas, the plan, and that’s it. I knew that wasn’t going to work for my husband and I. Not with our busy schedules, our houseful of kids, our jobs, church responsibilities and the never-ending list of to-dos and projects. We need something that will make date night easier, not something that would require more work later on.

A YEAR OF DATES GIFT THAT ACTUALLY SIMPLIFIES DATE NIGHT

Date night kits are great. But they can be expensive, and DIY kits can be a lot of work. I needed something that was inexpensive – we’re on a (tight) budget here – and something that wouldn’t need a lot of planning when it came date time. Here’s what I came up with for our kit:

one date for each month of the year.
various levels of preparation to choose from, depending on how much time was available.
totally pre-planned and (mostly) paid for to help us stay within our budget.

I have seen kits that easily cost a couple hundred dollars to put together. I had about a quarter of that to use and had to get creative to accomplish the pre-paid part. So, here’s how I pulled this together.

A YEAR OF DATES – 12 PRE-PLANNED, PRE-PAID DATE NIGHTS IN ONE ROMANTIC GIFT

MAKING A YEAR OF DATES GIFT: THE BASICS

I used 9″x12″ Mailing Envelopes to hold each date’s information and extras. There were two that were stuffed pretty full, but the other 10 were mostly flat.
I introduced my husband to the kit with a little note, explaining what was in the kit and how to use it. It was just a quick handwritten note.
Each date has an information page taped on the front of the envelop, detailing some of the things that would be nice to know, without giving away the date. I’ll go into more detail on that in a few minutes.
I just tied the envelopes together with baker’s twine and put them in a cardboard box. Then I wrapped it in wrapping paper. Simple, budget-friendly, effective.
There is also an information sheet inside each envelop detailing the date and how to carry it out. Again, more detail on that momentarily.

HOW TO MAKE A YEAR OF DATES GIFT: THE DATES

These are the dates I included in our kit. Adjust what fits your life, schedules, location and family.

For me, budget was one of the most important factors in my kit, so I aimed for dates that were budget-conscious. Figuring out ways to pay for as much as possible up front helped me keep that in my plans.

I found the best way to save money on date night without sacrificing too much were to have dates at home, after the kids were in bed. At home dates help us take time for each other while helping us feel like we don’t need to spend money on a babysitter and the date.

It also helped make our dates out a little more special.

AT HOME DATES

Game Night. We enjoy board and card games, so this envelop had the info sheet inviting him to choose a game or two from our game cabinet. I also included our Truth or Dare: Couple’s Edition game.

In the envelop: Truth or Dare: Couple’s Edition
Movie Night In. We have a pretty sweet little theater set-up right at home with a projector and drop-down screen. Because of this, we enjoy movies at home probably more than we do ones in the theater. We can wear pajamas, pause for bathroom or refreshment breaks and there’s no annoying teenagers behind you talking the whole time or a seven year old kicking the back of your chair.

In the envelop: I made up fake movie tickets and included those. Include a couple favorite candies to sweeten the deal.
Game Night. We have a Wii console we enjoy. This makes for a fun night together, a little good-natured competition. And it’s more interactive than watching a movie. Sometimes, we go all out with a Just Dance competition and sometimes we keep it to a MarioKart tournament.

In the envelop: just the info page inside the envelop for this totally free date.
Fondue Night. This could be a whole fondue dinner with cheese fondue and bread for appetizers followed by an oil fondue to cook meat in and concluding with a dessert fondue. We enjoy dessert fondue with chocolate, fruits and marshmallows.
In the envelop: I included $10 for ingredients.
Nerf Gun War. We invested in four of the basic models about a year ago and they are a blast, I think it cost us about $25 for all four.
In the envelop: a new pack of darts, to help replenish the ones we’ve lost over the last year.
Spa Night. This envelop included some massage oils, a couple candles, bath salts and sugar scrub, some bubble bath, a small bag of large river rocks (for a hot stone massage) and a scalp massager. I made the oils, scrub, salts and candles – from recipes found on pinterest; the bubble bath was some we had from the kids.

In the envelop: massage oils, candles, bath salts, sugar scrub, bubble bath, river rocks, scalp massager.
Romantic Night. I wrote “For your eyes only!” on the seal, hoping that would be clue enough to my husband that he shouldn’t open that one while our parents were sitting there, watching us open gifts and maybe that his interest would be piqued enough to do this date.
In the envelop: A new little lacy something, a small bottle of bubble bath, some lotion, some intimacy items and candles and chocolates. A Between the Sheets game would be perfect to include in this date.

OUT OF THE HOUSE DATES

Mini Golf. We scored a coupon for a free game from a hole-in-one a while back. Like two or three YEARS ago. But, there was no expiration date on it. I put in that coupon and a $5 bill to cover the cost of the other player. See if you have any BOGO coupons or punch cards that you can use to keep costs low.

In the envelop: free mini golf coupon, $5 cash

Movie Night Out. We don’t go to the movie theater often. It’s a treat for us and this was a splurge date. This date will hopefully cost less than $10 out of pocket, when we combine it with the gift card and cash.

In the envelop: I was able to use some credit card reward points we had and got a $25 gift card for Fandango. I included another $5 for extra treats.

Dinner Out. This was another splurge. I used some more of our credit card rewards to get a $25 gift card to Outback Steakhouse. I also included $15 in cash as well. The gift card and extra cash covered both our meals and half the tip. We also like to get gift card packs at Costco for a discount. They make great gifts for others and we save a little money too.

In the envelop: $25 restaurant gift card, $15 in cash

Shooting. We enjoy some good target practice and are lucky enough to live about a block and a half from some BLM land. We can get a sitter and go out for a couple hours for the cost of ammo and gas in the ATV’s.
In the envelop: just the info page inside the envelop for this totally free date.
Sonic Slushie Date. We are regulars at the drive-in chain, especially during the hot summers in the desert. I included a $15 gift card in this envelop, but it actually only cost me $11. You can reload Sonic gift cards; and, we still had a few dollars on one that we’d previously been gifted, so I just added my $11 to what was already on the card and called it good. We could get dinner for the whole family or several trips for slushies out of the $15.
In the envelop: $15 Sonic gift card

MAKING A YEAR OF DATES GIFT: THE DETAILS

Information Cover Page
I taped this page to each envelop and used a highlighter to indicate the appropriate option for that date.Things I included were:
– Whether the date was at home or out of the house, so we can decide if we want a night out or a night in.
– If we needed specific weather for the date – mini golfing in February… uh, no.
– Whether it was something we could do with our boys or if we need to get a sitter. Sometimes, a sitter just isn’t available. We are lucky enough to live close to grandma (and free babysitting), but it isn’t always available.
– How much more money the date was estimated to cost out of pocket. We can choose a date that fits our budget and enjoy it without worrying that we will be breaking the bank.
– If there is prior preparation that needs to be done and how long it will take to do. For example, Fondue Night may require a little grocery shopping before hand.
– How long the date will last. If we have all day, a long date is no big deal. But, if we only have an hour or two, we don’t have to worry so much about cutting our date short. It’s already planned to help us keep our schedule.
– And a spot for other info. For the most part, I left this blank.

You can print this page if you want to use it in creating your own kit. Right click the image and open in a new tab or window. Right click the large image and “save as” to your computer. You can then print it. It is formatted to 8×10″.

The Detail Sheet
This sheet is included in each envelop; it introduces and explains each date. It’s just a quick write up, but gives all the details necessary for the date to happen.

You can find other date ideas to include in your kit in yesterday’s post. Check it out for more ideas.

Make your Year of Dates gift even easier to put together. You can grab the printables, including the detail pages, I used for my gift from my Etsy Shop. They are available as an instant download, so you can get started with your project right away.

BETWEEN THE SHEETS GAME AT HOME DATE NIGHT IDEA