By Jennie Busker LCPC
As Chicago temperatures dive into the teens, leaving the house for a date can feel like a frigid unromantic chore. Dating in my own apartment has been a godsend in the nasty cold of January and February. But where is the fun, the romance and the togetherness that is crucial for date night? The answer lies in getting the kids to bed early and creating a dating scenario that uses the your home to the fullest.
The home date that is popular in my house and with my clients, rests in the hands of hygge. Hygge is a Danish word that describes a certain coziness and comfort that leads to a feeling of well being and true awsomeness. This way of living in the wintertime is not new to those of us on Pinterest or anyone who’s read a magazine in the last five years. Trends aside, it rocks in every way come January.
For your date night, I have the following suggestions:
Light a few of candles and place one in the living room, bathroom and kitchen
Make popcorn, add lots of butter and sprinkle with your choice of shredded Parmesan, cinnamon and sugar or half an envelope of ranch dressing seasoning and place in large bowl. This is not the time for Skinny Pop folks! Create a taste sensation and go crazy.
Next, start a shallow bath in your tub and add bath salts, bath bomb or a few squirts of shower gel. With towels at the ready, each of you can have a seat and let those toes soak for at least five minutes. After the soak, give those hooves a quick scrub with soap and a washcloth and dry with the towels.
Bring the popcorn, some lotion and cotton socks to the living room. Also, you will need a cozy fleece blanket for the ultimate in snuggling. Next, fire up Netflix, Amazon or Hulu for movie time!
As the two of you melt into the couch, sitting on either end, provide each other a foot massage with the lotion. After a good kneading, put on the cotton socks, pause the movie to wash your hands and then eat the fancy popcorn while snuggling into your gorgeous partner. Enjoy!