Oh, date night. Having date night is the best. Planning date night, not so much. But, relationships take work and skipping date night isn’t the best long game solution. Cue up the at home date! Add a fun game and date night is exciting again. And this Couples Jenga Game is PERFECT. Simple, inexpensive, fun and intimate. Just what date night should be!

AT HOME DATE: COUPLE’S JENGA GAME

COUPLE’S JENGA – AN AT HOME DATE NIGHT GAME THAT WILL HELP YOU DEEPEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP

Life gets busy. Date nights and alone time are often sporadic. I love my kids and they make our family complete; but, I also treasure the relationship I have with their dad, my husband.

The young adults from years ago who were still discovering the world, themselves and each other are still here. It can be hard to find that woman sometimes in the mess of responsibilities and obligations she has now.

This Couples Jenga Game is perfect for rediscovering the excitement in your relationship. Reminisce and even learn new things about your sweetie while having fun together!

COUPLES JENGA IS THE PERFECT DATE NIGHT GAME FOR COUPLES LOOKING TO GET AWAY FOR A BIT

As nice as it would be to run off for the weekend, that’s not really an option, right? If you’re looking for a way to escape all the responsibilities and stress for a little while, this Couples Jenga date night is perfect! Are you: 

• stressed out?
• tired of people wanting things from you all day?
• looking to relax a bit?
• a board or card game enthusiast?
• on a budget?
• wanting a different kind of date night?

If any of those were yes answers, you need a Couples Jenga Date Night! 

3 SUPER EASY STEPS TO MAKE YOUR COUPLES JENGA GAME

Truth bomb. Ready? The hardest part of this project is coming up with ideas of what to write on each block. But, there is a silver lining. Two, actually.

One: I made a set of 60 questions and activities that are ready to print. If you want an easy peasy project, you can find those in my Etsy Shop. There’s even an editable PDF file to help you customize your game as simply as possible.

Two: You can make this game as sweet or saucy as you want. I included a mix of naughty and nice, but you can do whatever would benefit your relationship most.

Okay, let’s do this!

COUPLES JENGA GAME MATERIALS:

• Jenga Block Template – Download this from the button below. If you want the Editable PDF template or the Ready-to-Print labels, get them in my Etsy shop.
• Jenga Game – Get it on Amazon. You can find knock off versions and they will work (I used a knock off version), but the quality isn’t as good and the blocks may not line well.
• Paper and Printer – I recommend standard printing paper* and a laser printer. Ink jet will work too.
• Paper Cutter or Scissors – love my Swingline SmartCut. I used both it and a pair of scissors.
• Glue – wood, white glue or tacky glue will work best. I used white glue.
• Pen or Marker or image editing software – If you’re going to write the questions and activities by hand, I recommend Sharpie Art Pens. The ink is smooth, doesn’t bleed and won’t smear if it gets wet. You can also open the Jenga Block Templates in an image editor and type out your questions and activities before you print.

* Make this project even easier by printing on sticker paper instead. Forget the glue, just peel and stick!

STEP #1: DOWNLOAD AND PRINT YOUR JENGA BLOCK TEMPLATES

• Download the free printable templates with the green button below. Save the file to your computer and print with the “actual size” setting. This file is designed to fit a name brand Jenga block, but will work on other blocks too. You will need 2 copies of the template to cover an entire set of Jenga blocks.

* PRO TIP: If you’re going to fill in your block template digitally (on the computer), do it BEFORE you print your template.

* PRO TIP: Check your game for a count of how many blocks you’ll need to cover. Name brand Jenga has 54 blocks. My knock-off set had fewer. Each template page has 30 rectangle labels. You’ll need 2 pages (give or take a few) to cover an entire game set.

STEP #2: FILL OUT AND CUT OUT THE BLOCK TEMPLATES

• If you are writing your game prompts out by hand, write one question or activity on each rectangle. You can make these questions and activities as sweet and sentimental or as saucy and sexy as you would like. I did a combination of both sweet and saucy. 
• Cut out enough labels to cover every block. I used both my paper cutter and a pair of scissors.

STEP #3: GLUE THE COUPLES JENGA GAME PROMPTS ON THE BLOCKS

• Glue one game prompt label on each block. A thin strip of glue on all 4 edges of the blank side of each label will give the best results. Smooth out the label with your fingers and let the glue dry completely. This part isn’t hard, but it does take a little time. 

* PRO TIP: You just need a thin strip of glue. Don’t use a lot or your labels will wrinkle.

* PRO TIP: Clean up any glue that seeps from under the edges of the labels with a damp cloth or paper towel before it dries. 

* PRO TIP: If any of your corners come unglued, secure them back down with a little bit of glue stick or white glue.

COUPLES JENGA: AN AT HOME DATE NIGHT THAT WILL REKINDLE YOUR FIRE!

In just 3 steps and an afternoon, you’ll be ready to light some fireworks on your next date night. Couples Jenga is the PERFECT simple, inexpensive, fun and intimate night you’ve been wanting. So, what are you waiting for? Light those fires, check out of reality for a couple hours and enjoy an evening with your favorite sweetie!

MAKE THIS PROJECT EASIER WITH READY-TO-PRINT COUPLES JENGA BLOCK LABELS!

The post Couples Jenga: The Perfect At Home Date Night Game appeared first on While He Was Napping.

In just 8 super easy steps and an afternoon, you’ll create a one-of-a-kind set of DIY scratch off cards that will add a little fun and mystery to date night. They are perfect for romantic gifts or just for a little change of pace.

DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS: SPICE UP DATE NIGHT WITH A LITTLE FUN AND MYSTERY

The best part about these DIY scratch off cards are that you can customize them to fit your needs. If date night has become predictable and lost it’s excitement, then something like a Date Night Lotto card would liven things up! Scratch off a square and you have a great date idea without adding a ton of stress or prep to date nights!

Or maybe you’re looking for a way to reconnect with your sweetie or to spice things up in the bedroom a bit? Then a set of Lover’s Lotto or Spicy Lover’s Lotto cards might fill your needs best. Scratch off one of those squares and forget your boring, old routine! Right at your finger tips is a great new romantic idea to fill your evening!

And I’ll give you the blank templates in just a minute! Doesn’t get much easier than that!

(But, if you do want it to get easier, I have pre-filled, ready-to-print cards as well as an editable PDF you can just plug your own ideas into in my Etsy Shop.)

ARE DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS YOUR KIND OF PROJECT?

This project is pretty simple, but it’s not for everyone. So, how do you know if it’s the kind of thing you’re looking for? Who is this post written for? What demographics will benefit from this information? Make an emotional connection and hit a pain point.

• Do you enjoy a good, simple DIY project?
• Are you looking for a way to liven up your love life?
• Do you need a romantic gift idea that doesn’t cost a lot, doesn’t take a ton of time to put together and is something your gift receiver will love?
• Are you trying to stick to a budget?

If you said yes to those – or any combination of those – then this project is exactly what you’re looking for.

However, if you’re looking for something RIGHT NOW or don’t like DIY projects this might not be what you’re looking for. (My printable Date Night Jar or printable Truth or Dare: Couple’s Edition bedroom card game might fit your needs better right now. They are literally print and cut and done.)

HOW TO MAKE DIY SCRATCH OFF LOTTO CARDS

With just a few simple supplies and an afternoon, you’ll have custom DIY scratch off cards perfect for your needs. A quick print job, some trimming and laminating, and a splash of paint is all you need to get one step closer to a spicier love life.

And don’t worry, most of the project time is waiting for the paint to dry. While it will take a few hours for your DIY scratch off cards to be all ready to go, you don’t need to carve out a whole afternoon to spend slaving away.

DIY SCRATCH OFF CARD SUPPLIES:

• Blank scratch off card templates – Print your free blank templates HERE or you can grab all the pre-filled, ready-to-print cards and the editable PDF files to fill in yourself RIGHT HERE)
• Printer and Paper
• Scissors or paper cutter
• Clear contact paper, cold laminating pouches or a thermal laminator and thermal pouches (I absolutely LOVE this thermal laminator starter kit – works great and totally affordable. I have the older model and it still works like a charm.)
• Acrylic paint and paintbrush – any color will work, but a metallic paint will look most like a typical scratch off card. Follow your colorful heart, there is no wrong choice.
• Paint palette or something to mix your paint on
• Dish soap – the kind you hand wash dishes with, not the kind you put in the dishwasher.
• Skinny 3mm washi tape – optional

PRINT & FILL IN YOUR DIY SCRATCH OFF TEMPLATES

Step #1: Download and print your blank lotto card templates. I recommend printing with a laser printer and on card stock for durability. Ink jet and regular paper will work just fine though.

*If you choose to grab my editable PDF files from my Etsy shop, you’ll want to fill those in before you print them.

Step #2: Fill in the blank templates with a pen or marker. Leave some space around your writing to make sure it won’t stick out from under the paint when you cover them up. You don’t need to leave a lot of space, but try not to write all the way to the borders of the boxes.

COVER AND CUT YOUR DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS

*If you use laminating pouches or a thermal laminator, you will want to switch steps #3 and #4. Cut the cards apart first and then laminate each individual card. After each card is laminated, cut it apart and trim the cards, if desired.*

Step #3: Cover the front of your lotto card templates with the clear contact paper. You can cover the back too, if you want, but it’s not necessary. This cover will help protect the cards and is how the paint will scratch off your DIY scratch off cards.

Step #4: After the contact paper is on the cards, cut the cards apart. The files are formatted to cut an 8.5″x11″ paper into quarters. You absolutely can cut the cards smaller though. I did trim mine smaller for neater edges and smaller margins.

PREPARE YOUR DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS FOR PAINTING

Step #5: If you choose, mask off the edges of the cards. 3mm washi tape is perfect for this! Just put a line of tape on all the grid lines on the card. It’ll keep your paint lines nicer. Repeat with each card.

Step #6: Mix your acrylic paint and dish soap with an approximate 2:1 ratio – 2 parts paint, 1 part dish soap. It’s not rocket science and you don’t have to have precise measurements for this to work, so don’t stress over it.

PAINTING YOUR DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS

Step #7: Apply a thin layer of paint over the words on your card. Let the paint dry thoroughly.

Step #8: Repeat step #7 until you can no longer see the text through the paint. Depending on what color paint you use, you may need 3-5 coats. Let dry overnight once you can no longer see text through the paint layers.

That’s it, your ready to spice things up!

DIY SCRATCH OFF CARD TIPS & TRICKS

** A laser printer will keep your ink from smudging, should the cards get wet. Using laminating pouches will also accomplish this. An ink jet printer will work just fine, just be cautious not to get the cards wet if you don’t laminate them with pouches.

** Skinny 3mm washi tape is perfect for masking off your grid lines while you paint, however it is NOT a necessity. It will keep your paint lines neater, make painting easier, and make your cards look better overall, but free-handing the painting process is definitely an option and will save some time if you don’t have to mask off your grid lines. You could also cut down and use masking tape or scotch tape, if you prefer.

** Use fresh paint. By that, I mean not paint you’ve had in a cupboard for a few years… As you can see in that last photo, I started using silver paint. But it was old. It was clumpy and kept separating and didn’t mix well with the dish soap, so I ditched it for the red and pink paints. Newer, non-clumpy paint will give you a much better result with far fewer coats of paint.

** The painting and waiting to dry process is the longest part of this project, but it will turn out so much better if you do thin layers rather than a thick, globby one. You can use a blow dryer on low heat, low air flow to speed this process up.

** If all this masking off and painting thing is more than you want to deal with, you can use scratch off stickers to cover your date ideas instead. Take this cute idea and simplify! Find scratch off stickers on Etsy or on Amazon.

Got more questions? You’re always welcome to leave a comment or shoot me a message!

READY TO MAKE SOME DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS AND SPICE UP YOUR LOVE LIFE?

In just an afternoon you can spice up date night and add some fun and mystery to your romantic life. This project is simple and fun. It’s a great romantic gift idea that is customizable to fit your exact needs. And who wouldn’t love to get some DIY Scratch Off Cards like these?!

Turn on some mood music, grab a coin and start scratching off those fun ideas!

If you want more romantic gift and date night ideas, check out the Date Night Jar (or HERE is a printable version!)

The post DIY Scratch Off Cards that will Spice Up Date Night appeared first on While He Was Napping.

RECONNECT WITHOUT LEAVING HOME

Life gets crazy sometimes, am I right? I’m a huge believer in “date night”, but I’ve honestly don’t remember the last time I went on an actual date with my husband. Between work, kids, church, chores, errands and all the other things that make up life it can be hard to fit everything in. And, if your budget is tight, it can complicate things in a whole new way. Finding a sitter for starters, right?

But, reconnecting with your dream boat doesn’t have to cost a lot. And it doesn’t have to take a lot of time either! You probably have all the things you need to put together a spa date night and massage kit already. And, trust me, you’ll both be thankful for the pampering and quality time. And you don’t even have to leave home.

IS A SPA DATE NIGHT WORTH IT?

A spa day with lots of fancy treatments sounds nice, but the small detail of wandering around in nothing but a robe with strangers touching me gives me second thoughts. And spas are expensive. But, I can get behind doing that with, and for, my husband. Especially if it doesn’t cost a week’s paycheck.

Is an at home spa night something you’d enjoy? Are you:

• looking for a romantic gift idea for the sweetie in your life?
• in need of a special date night that won’t mess up the budget?
• wanting to reconnect with your sweetheart without leaving home?

Then YES! This is the perfect date for you! Because it’s simple to organize, easy to do, it doesn’t cost a lot and you don’t need a sitter for the kids. Quality time to pamper and reconnect with your special sweetie. Who wouldn’t want that? 

THE PERFECT GIFT: AN AT HOME SPA DATE NIGHT AS A GIFT

An at home spa date night makes a great gift. A massage kit with some great coupons (who doesn’t love to cash in a coupon?) and some massage basics are the perfect tangible gift. Pair it with a scheduled night to get to use those coupons and the goodies in the kit, and you’ve got a romantic gift you’ll both look forward to using!

CREATE THE PERFECT AT HOME SPA DATE NIGHT

Whether you decide to give the spa kit and massage coupons as a gift and do the date night later or whether you choose to plan a whole special spa date night, just remember to focus on your sweetheart. Relax, reconnect and rejuvenate each other because that’s what this whole thing is about!

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR SPA DATE NIGHT KIT:

• Massage Coupons your sweetie will love. You can grab the coupons I used in my massage kit from my Etsy shop. There’s even an editable PDF file you can use to create your own coupons super easy.
• Comfy bath robes (my favorite women’s robe | my favorite men’s robe)
• Favorite body butter or body lotion (my favorite hand repair cream and it smells like cake!)
• Favorite massage oil or personal lubricant (I personally prefer lube and recommend this brand of lubricant. It’s smooth, not greasy and safe for all body parts, if things get carried away during your massages…)
• Favorite sparkling beverage and chocolates
• Relaxing music – I like this Spotify playlist
• Smooth stones. You can get a small bag of decorative stones at Dollar Tree and they work great so grab a bag of those next time you’re there!
• Rice bag or heating pad to warm up your stones or relax tense muscles.
• Massage tools – this is totally optional and definitely not a must-have for a successful evening.
• Favorite bath salts or bath bombs or make your own (My DIY Bath and Body Recipes Pinterest Board has some great ideas so come check those out and follow me while you’re there!)
• Favorite bubble bath

GATHERING TOGETHER YOUR SPA DATE NIGHT KIT

Step #1 – Make any DIY products if you’re going to do that. Or rummage through your body care 

stash and see what you can use that you already have because free is the best price, right? But, if you need to make any purchases, now is the time to do it. Just remember, simplicity is good too. This is all about your time together!

DESIGNING YOUR MASSAGE COUPONS

Step #2 – Make your massage coupons. While you definitely don’t HAVE to include any coupons, it would be fun to know that this isn’t necessarily a one-time deal. My husband and I have a deal that once one of us redeems the coupon I used Photoshop but you can make them with whatever you’d like. Open your favorite word processing program, image editing software or go old-school and grab some paper and pens.

Some ideas for your coupons:

• scalp and neck massage
• back massage
• foot massage (with or without a hot water soak)
• hot stone massage (if you do this one, keep it safe. We use a small rice bag heated in the microwave and sandwiched over our rocks for a couple minutes to warm them.  This is perfect because we can easily keep and eye on them and make sure they aren’t too hot. And, remember, different parts of the body have different heat sensitivities.)
• hydro-massage (hot shower or tub, especially nice if you have a shower head with a wand and adjustable pressure settings)
• full body massage

If you don’t want to bother with making your own, don’t forget you can get a copy of the massage coupons I designed in my Etsy Shop, along with the editable PDF file that will let you design your own really quick.

I also included an “exclusive members” coupon that pulls out all the big spa-like treatments.  Hot soak in a bubble bath with bubbly beverage, full body massage with lotions and oils, facial, his choice of other massage technique. Something super special for after a rough day… or week.

YOUR SPA DATE NIGHT KIT IS ALMOST READY TO GO!

Step #3 – Gather your massage goodies and put them in a basket or other container so everything is together and neat.

If you’re going to give them as a gift, you can dress them up fancy with a bow. If you’re going to use them as a date night, you can just use the basket so everything is in one place.

Cue up your music, put your bubbly beverage on ice (or in the fridge) and let the romancin’ begin!

A NIGHT TO RELAX, RECONNECT AND REJUVENATE WITH YOUR SWEETHEART 

Remember, it doesn’t have to be a crazy grand gesture that takes a lot of time and planning and supplies. Your at home spa date night should be about reconnecting with your dream boat so .

Keep it simple. Make sure you reciprocate equally. And enjoy each other.

Relax. Reconnect. Rejuvenate. And you don’t even have to leave home.

CHECK OUT MORE DATE NIGHT IDEAS TO KEEP THE ROMANCE ALIVE, EVEN WHEN LIFE GETS CRAZY!

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Click on any image in the collage below and you can find more information about that item. Or use the links below to navigate to the Star Wars gift ideas you like most.

Links in this post maybe affiliate links. I will receive a small portion of any purchase made through these links. Your cost is in no way changed. This is one way I keep this site running. Thank you for your support.

24 STAR WARS GIFTS FOR YOUR FAVORITE CHEF

1. R2-D2 Teapot
2. Death Star Tea Infuser
3. Heat Activated Lightsaber Mug
4. Death Star Waffle Iron
5. Lightsaber Immersion Blender
6. Darth Vader Toaster
7. Darth Vader Apron
8. Star Wars Cupcake Wrappers
9. R2-D2 Oven Mitts
10. Death Star Timer
11. R2-D2 Cookie Jar
12. Star Wars Rolling Pin
13. Darth Vader Cookie Jar
14. R2-D2 Measuring Cup Set
15. Lightsaber Chop Sticks
16. Stormtrooper & Vader Salt & Pepper Shakers
17. Lightsaber Pizza Cutter
18. Death Star Cutting Board
19. Death Star Popcorn Popper
20. Darth Vader Mug
21. Set of 4 Star Wars Mugs
22. Set of 4 R2-D2 Bowls
23. R2-D2 Salt & Pepper Shakers
24. Star Wars Cookbook

Which of those galactic gadgets do you want in your kitchen? That tea infuser and the heat activated lightsaber mug are pretty high on my wish list! And that Death Star waffle iron?! Now that would be some pretty awesome waffles to wake up to.

So, which gift would your favorite chef just love to have?

The post 24 Star Wars Gifts that your favorite Chef needs appeared first on While He Was Napping.

I love that Star Wars fandom spans across generations. I love that my niece loves to receive Star Wars gifts just as much and my boys – and her dad – do. And I’ll admit, I love a good Star Wars gift too, even if it’s just because I know my little Jedi-in-training picked it out just for me.

But, are there really awesome Star Wars gifts that Mom would actually want and use? Absolutely! I’ve put together a whole collection of Star Wars gifts that will get mom through her day so you can be sure she will use it and love it! Here’s 19 Star Wars gifts that mom will love and actually use this holiday season.

STAR WARS GIFTS FOR MOM

From day break and that first coffee, what to wear and how to accessorize, all the way to bedtime, these are some awesome gifts that will get mom through her whole day:

1. The Force Awakens Travel Mug
2. Yoda Keep Calm Mug
3. Yoda Best Mom Mug
4. Every Great Mom Teaches her Children Tee
5. The Force is Strong with This Mom Tee
6. Star Wars Heads panties
7. Star Wars R2-D2 Death Star panties
8. Millenium Falcon Necklace
9. Millenium Falcon Earrings
10. Star Wars Watch
11. Darth Vader Slouchy Beanie
12. R2-D2 Scarf
13. Lightsaber Umbrella
14. May the Force be with You Tote Bag
15. Stormtrooper Satchel
16. Stormtrooper Wallet
17. R2-D2 tank top
18. Chewbacca Slippers
19. Yoda Pajamas

I’m pretty certain I need “the force is strong with this mom” t-shirt and those Chewbacca slippers just make me happy. How could you not love to open those gifts this holiday season?! Whether it’s starting the day off with a cup of Keep Calm from Yoda, fighting off gloomy raindrops with a lightsaber umbrella while running errands or ending the night with a wookie keeping toes warm, Star Wars will be there to get mom through the day!

The post 19 Star Wars Gifts that will get Mom through the day appeared first on While He Was Napping.

TRUTH OR DARE: COUPLE’S EDITION

The preparation on this is incredibly simple. You just have to print and cut. Seriously, that’s all there is to it.

Materials:
– Truth or Dare Download Cards (Disclaimer: You’ll have to click through the link to see the cards. Given the intimate nature of some of them, I haven’t included a photo of them in this post. If you want to check them out, just click the link.)
– Paper Cutter or Scissors

Directions:
– Download the game cards and save the file to your computer.

– Print the Truth or Dare Cards. The link above is to the trial pack of cards. You’ll get 16 cards to try out the game with. If you like it, you can get the full game from my Etsy shop. Not all the cards you see in the photos are included in the free download.

You’ll want to print the cards double sided; and, if you can print them on card stock, that’ll be even better. My printer has a two-side print setting, which eliminates the guess work of re-orienting the paper in the tray to print the back side. If you have that feature, use it! It’ll be so much easier for you!

If you don’t want to print the cards at home, you can have them printed locally almost anywhere you can make copies – I’m thinking office supply and copy stores. After you download the file to your computer you can upload it to whatever site you decide to get it printed from.

– Cut the cards apart with a paper cutter or scissors.

You are now ready to play!

PLAYING TRUTH OR DARE: COUPLE’S EDITION

If you’ve never played Truth or Dare before, here’s the rules. One player draws a card and asks the other player “truth or dare?” The other player chooses if they would like to answer a question in total honesty or perform a dare. The first player reads which ever option the second player chose. The second player then answers the question or performs the dare. Then players switch roles and the second player draws a card and asks “truth or dare?” and play repeats as many times as you want.

Some helpful tips for a game you’ll both enjoy:
– This is something you’re gonna want to set aside some time for. It could be some good organized foreplay.
– Stop whenever you want… to finish other things. The idea is to spend some one-on-one with your sweetie.
– The only change to the original rules I would make would be to encourage you to look through the cards and make sure you’re both comfortable with everything. In the original rules, truths are usually embarrassing and dares are usually embarrassing and/or dangerous. The bedroom is not the place to try to embarrass your partner. Make sure you both feel comfortable with the game or it won’t be enjoyable!

WANT MORE TRUTH OR DARE: COUPLE’S EDITION?

If you want more dares and more questions, I have an expanded version of the game in my Etsy shop. There is a blank template included so you can write in your own questions and dares to make the game totally your own. There’s even a box you can put together to store your game in. So, if you’re looking for a quick and super easy gift idea, check out my TRUTH OR DARE: COUPLE’S EDITION in my Etsy shop.

The post Truth or Dare: Couple’s Edition appeared first on While He Was Napping.

Well, you’re in the right place, because this date night is all about hot and steamy. It’s perfect for anniversary celebrations, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Hey, romance ain’t dead, even if the money tree is bare.

I had planned to do this Between the Sheets Bedroom Game date night on Christmas Eve, but that didn’t work out. And I had a terrible time getting my hands on a gift for Mr. Napping this past Christmas – three different gifts fell though – and I ended up giving him our Between the Sheets Bedroom Game.

We played one night shortly after he got it and it was a magical night, indeed. You can check out how I set up our date at the link above. Today, I’m going to walk you through making your own Between the Sheets DIY Bedroom Game.

Disclaimer: If hot and steamy is not what you’re looking for, you might want to skip this post ’cause we’re about to fog up the windows…

BETWEEN THE SHEETS
DIY BEDROOM GAME

Materials you need to create your own Between the Sheets Bedroom Game:

• Fitted Sheet – it should fit your bed and be a light color
• Fabric Markers – these are the kind I used
• Plastic drop cloth – a precaution in protecting your mattress
• Something you can use as a template – I traced a dinner plate and a saucer on pieces of cardstock, cut them out and used the cardstock templates as my pattern to create spaces on my game board.

Directions for creating your own Between the Sheets Bedroom Game

1. Lay out the plastic drop cloth on your undressed bed. This will protect your mattress from any bleed through from the markers. I didn’t have any issues with that, but I figured I’d take a better safe than sorry approach. If you don’t lay down the drop cloth, and the markers bleed through onto your mattress, I’m definitely gonna say I told you so.
2. Pull the fitted sheet, over the drop cloth, onto your bed.
3. Decide what to use as a template for your game board spaces. I just traced one of our dinner plates and a saucer onto pieces of paper. You can get fancy if you want, but I just went with simple circles.

4. Use the fabric markers to trace the template on to the sheet, creating a path from the top of the sheet to the bottom. I had four rows of spaces on my board. I made a little trail of dots from one space to the next so we didn’t get lost.

5. Now comes the fun, and hard, part: filling in the spaces. This is where you can personalize it to your relationship. Get as risque and steamy as you are comfortable with. Shortly after we got married, Mr. Napping and I discovered that both our love languages are physical touch. So, I focused on that in our game board. If you don’t know which love language you and your mate speak, I highly suggest you find out. It has helped so much in our relationship to know how to make the other feel loved and appreciated. It also helps that we are both the same, but we just got lucky there!

The best part of the Between the Sheets Bedroom Game

6. This was what really made the night! I included bonus spaces in our Between the Sheets Bedroom Game. They were the large circles and each was labeled “BONUS BOX”. If one of us landed on those spaces, we got to choose a box; in which I had little mini-games for us to play. You can get some ideas for these if you click that yellow button below. I had a box for every space, but we were allowed to choose any box we wanted. That was fun. Seriously, don’t skip this part.

** I had a reader send in a suggestion with an alteration they made to their game. She says:

“I also included a “finish” bonus. Something fun for him and something fun for me, depending on who ‘won’. Obviously this had to be tailored to us personally, but I added extra fancy wrapping to this one for the big finale.”

I love this idea! What a fun way to celebrate your win, especially if you’re both competitive. Thanks for the suggestion, Jessi! **

7. Then I wrote out the rules. I didn’t want to have to make up rules as we were playing, because the focus was supposed to be on the two of us during game play. Having the rules already written out made it so we could focus on us, not how to play the game.

The rules included:

• set time limits for each activity
• who was the giver and who was the receiver
• described game play and what happened when one of us landed on the BONUS BOX spaces.

Our rules were:
1. Players roll a dice and move along the board in turn.
2. Players have 2 minutes on each space they land on until the next player gets a turn to roll. Everything must STOP at the end of 2 mins.
3. If you land on a bonus box you get to open a bonus box! Follow the directions inside the bonus box to complete the task.
4. The winner is the first player to land on the finish space. Both players are then obliged to ensure their opponent finishes in a satisfactory manner.

What I would do differently next time I create a Between the Sheets Bedroom Game

That’s all there is to making the game. It’s pretty easy and, truly, the difficult part is coming up with things to write in all the spaces. You could leave some blank if you wanted, but I decided I wanted lots of intimate opportunites. Follow the directions on the fabric marker packaging to set the ink. I waited 48 hours and then washed and dried our sheet, per the directions on my fabric markers.

Having played it once, I can say now, I wish I would I have put in a few more spaces that weren’t so physically involved with more sensitive areas of the body. It was awesome and I loved it, but it wasn’t something I could have enjoyed again the next day. We ended up on “Twin Time” far more often than I expected and the girls were a bit tender the next day… Maybe consider a few “skip a turn” spaces to give yourselves a little break and make the other spaces more enticing! Despite that though, I absolutely can’t wait to play again. In all honesty… the sheet is still on our bed… Oo-la-la!

Don’t forget to download your Bonus Box ideas! Hit that button below for the download page!

The post How to Create Your Own “Between the Sheets” Bedroom Game appeared first on While He Was Napping.

PRESCRIPTION FOR LOVE
PRINTABLE LABELS

Materials:
– Printable Prescription for Love Bottle Labels (or you can use the extra spicy versions)
– Clean Medicine Bottles
– Glue Stick
– Scissors
– Washi Tape
– Candy that will fit through the neck of your bottle

Directions:
– Print out the Prescription for Love labels and cut them apart.

– Clean off your medicine bottles, if you’re reusing them. I used an empty infant pain reliever bottle, an empty allergy medication bottle and an old prescription bottle. I had to soak the labels off in hot water and scrub the sticky off. This is the hardest part.
– When the prescription bottles are clean and dry, glue the label to the bottle. Put the glue on the back of the label, on the end that doesn’t have any text on it. Stick the label on the bottle and wrap the label around the bottle. It will overlap a bit, but that’s okay!

– Glue the end of the label down with the glue stick.

– If your lid has a label on it, you can use washi tape to cover it up. I just put a couple strips on the top and bottom of the lid and then one down the middle to cover the edges of the tape.
– Fill up the bottle with your candy. You’ll want something small enough to get in… and back out… of the bottle without too much trouble. Round candies or long and skinny candies seemed to work best.

There are two sets of Prescription for Love labels for your printing pleasure. One is more lovey dovey and one is a little more spicy. There are also two sizes of labels. One that is two inches tall and one that is three inches tall. Those seemed to be the most common sizes of bottles when I was looking though my medicine bottles.

Please note: These labels are not intended to be used with children – I don’t encourage anything that associates medication and candy for children. So, please don’t use them with children! Share all the love-inducing candy you can with your sweet special someone though. Valentine’s Day is all about sweet right?!

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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.

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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.

• 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.

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