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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| 5 Cheap(ish) Things for a Romantic Date Night | |
| (4 days later) | |
| Welcome to the Smarter Living newsletter. We email readers once a week with tips and advice for living a better, more fulfilling life. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Monday morning. | Welcome to the Smarter Living newsletter. We email readers once a week with tips and advice for living a better, more fulfilling life. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Monday morning. |
| When I met my husband six years ago, we went overboard in an attempt to sweep each other off our feet: Elaborate dinners at fussy restaurants, loud, late nights at trendy bars, hidden speakeasies that required a secret password for admittance. (Remember when speakeasies were a thing?) | When I met my husband six years ago, we went overboard in an attempt to sweep each other off our feet: Elaborate dinners at fussy restaurants, loud, late nights at trendy bars, hidden speakeasies that required a secret password for admittance. (Remember when speakeasies were a thing?) |
| It felt like we were performing romance rather than inviting romance into our lives. Having every date be an Instagrammable moment was, frankly, unsustainable. While these whirlwind evenings seemed like they’d be a lot of fun, they were exhausting to plan and mostly left us broke, overstuffed and hung over. We realized we didn’t need a series of extravagant events to connect with each other — we just needed to carve out time to connect. | It felt like we were performing romance rather than inviting romance into our lives. Having every date be an Instagrammable moment was, frankly, unsustainable. While these whirlwind evenings seemed like they’d be a lot of fun, they were exhausting to plan and mostly left us broke, overstuffed and hung over. We realized we didn’t need a series of extravagant events to connect with each other — we just needed to carve out time to connect. |
| Now when I plan a romantic date, there’s only one rule I follow: Choose things I know my husband will enjoy. That’s it. What we do on our date doesn’t have to blow his hair back; it just has to make him feel relaxed, appreciated, excited and loved. | Now when I plan a romantic date, there’s only one rule I follow: Choose things I know my husband will enjoy. That’s it. What we do on our date doesn’t have to blow his hair back; it just has to make him feel relaxed, appreciated, excited and loved. |
| In collaboration with Wirecutter, a New York Times company that reviews and recommends products, here are five cheap(ish) items to assist you in planning a romantic night, whether it’s your first date or 100th. | In collaboration with Wirecutter, a New York Times company that reviews and recommends products, here are five cheap(ish) items to assist you in planning a romantic night, whether it’s your first date or 100th. |
| Candles | Candles |
| Not only does soft lighting make everyone look more appealing, but it can mellow a room with minimal effort. Set a few flickering tealight candles around the house or float a few in a shallow bowl to amp up the amorous ambience. | Not only does soft lighting make everyone look more appealing, but it can mellow a room with minimal effort. Set a few flickering tealight candles around the house or float a few in a shallow bowl to amp up the amorous ambience. |
| Wirecutter recommends the Richland Extended Burn Tealight Candles, which emit a subdued glow for seven hours. They’re unscented so they won’t overwhelm the room or compete with perfume or cologne. | Wirecutter recommends the Richland Extended Burn Tealight Candles, which emit a subdued glow for seven hours. They’re unscented so they won’t overwhelm the room or compete with perfume or cologne. |
| Hands-free speaker | Hands-free speaker |
| Fiddling with the background music means you’re not focused on your significant other. This is why you need a hands-free speaker. Wirecutter’s pick is the Sonos One for its terrific sound quality. Ask Alexa to play your favorite mood-setting tunes at whatever volume you choose without taking your eyes off your date. | Fiddling with the background music means you’re not focused on your significant other. This is why you need a hands-free speaker. Wirecutter’s pick is the Sonos One for its terrific sound quality. Ask Alexa to play your favorite mood-setting tunes at whatever volume you choose without taking your eyes off your date. |
| (Side note: The soulful Charles Bradley Amazon station is my go-to station to play when I feel like setting a romantic vibe. It’s pretty much perfect listening when romance is in the air.) | (Side note: The soulful Charles Bradley Amazon station is my go-to station to play when I feel like setting a romantic vibe. It’s pretty much perfect listening when romance is in the air.) |
| Wine glasses | Wine glasses |
| Sure, you can serve your date Cabernet in a juice glass, but if you want to make the night special, reach for truly excellent glassware. Wirecutter recommends the tulip-shared Libbey Signature Kentfield Estate All-Purpose Wine Glass, an elegant pick for both red and white wine. | Sure, you can serve your date Cabernet in a juice glass, but if you want to make the night special, reach for truly excellent glassware. Wirecutter recommends the tulip-shared Libbey Signature Kentfield Estate All-Purpose Wine Glass, an elegant pick for both red and white wine. |
| If champagne is more your thing, here are Wirecutter’s picks for best champagne glass. If you’re staying away from alcohol, opt for a general purpose Wirecutter-approved drinking glass. | If champagne is more your thing, here are Wirecutter’s picks for best champagne glass. If you’re staying away from alcohol, opt for a general purpose Wirecutter-approved drinking glass. |
| Serving board | Serving board |
| You don’t want to be weighed down by a heavy meal on your hot date. Setting out a selection of delectable finger foods helps temper the effects of any alcohol consumption and it also keeps the energy playful and sensual. | You don’t want to be weighed down by a heavy meal on your hot date. Setting out a selection of delectable finger foods helps temper the effects of any alcohol consumption and it also keeps the energy playful and sensual. |
| When it comes to serving boards, the Jono Pandolfi Oval Platter is Wirecutter’s pick. The attractive glazed stoneware is robust enough to handle whatever noshes you set out. | When it comes to serving boards, the Jono Pandolfi Oval Platter is Wirecutter’s pick. The attractive glazed stoneware is robust enough to handle whatever noshes you set out. |
| Sweets | Sweets |
| Why save boxes of chocolate for anniversaries and holidays? They’re the perfect treat to share whenever you want to make the night a little more special. Delight your sweetie with the Recchiuti Confections Black Box, Wirecutter’s favorite. A nip of decadent chocolate the perfect way to end any romantic evening (or at least transition to other activities you may have in mind). | Why save boxes of chocolate for anniversaries and holidays? They’re the perfect treat to share whenever you want to make the night a little more special. Delight your sweetie with the Recchiuti Confections Black Box, Wirecutter’s favorite. A nip of decadent chocolate the perfect way to end any romantic evening (or at least transition to other activities you may have in mind). |
| P.S. — Still looking for the perfect last-minute gift? T Magazine’s editors answered questions about what to get the trickiest people on your holiday list, from family members who already have everything to picky friends to significant others with singular tastes. Read all their gift ideas here. | P.S. — Still looking for the perfect last-minute gift? T Magazine’s editors answered questions about what to get the trickiest people on your holiday list, from family members who already have everything to picky friends to significant others with singular tastes. Read all their gift ideas here. |
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