insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 21 - November 2016 | Page 38

Have a Picnic If the weather is being kind , why not use your outside space to have a picnic ? Lay a blanket on the ground and serve up some finger food . Nights are a bit chillier at the mo and the nights are drawing in , so , better still , turn that picnic into a cookout – fire up the barbecue , or make a small fire then toast some marshmallows and bake some potatoes . Wrap up warm and enjoy dinner and a cuddle under the stars .
Romantic Meal You don ’ t have to be a masterchef to create a romantic three-course meal ; it ’ s the effort you put into it that makes all the difference . This is your chance to create a special night with no distractions ( put those mobiles away now ) and just relish being together . Clear the dining table , set out some candles and serve up your own romantic creations . If you really want to make a night of it , pick a course each and surprise each other with your culinary skills .
Chocolate Tasting Not all chocolate is the same , and the cheap stuff is cheap for a reason . If you decide to go down the chocolate-tasting route , you ’ ll soon find that out for yourself . The best way to play is to pick six or so different chocs , ranging from high to low cacao percentages . Break them into bits , pop the bits into bowls , and score each one out of 10 . Once you ’ ve finished , you can nibble at the remaining chocolate as you discuss why you gave the score you did !
Reading It may not sound like the most exciting or enticing of date nights , but just give it a try and you might realise just how relaxing and romantic snuggling up with a partner and a good book or two can be . Let the world around you fall away as you tumble into the story and , thanks to being in close and peaceful proximity to your nearest and dearest , your heart rate and stress levels will drop . Good for your relationship and good for your health too .
Film Night Whether you delve deep into your DVD collection and settle on a classic , or rent a brand new blockbuster for the night , it doesn ’ t matter – just as long as you both agree on the film you ’ ll have a fabulous ( argument-free !) evening . Or , make a night of it , start a little earlier and have a double bill ; that way you can both choose a film . Dim the lights , grab some snacks ( popcorn , crisps and dips , and ‘ sharing ’ packs of chocolate always work a treat ), and snuggle down on the sofa under a blanket . Or , better still , bring the duvet down from the bed and set up camp for the night .
Video Games When you want something a little more hi-tech , why not plug in the games console and have a good old video games battle ? It doesn ’ t matter what kind of games you ’ re into , it ’ s the winning that counts , right ? Joking . It ’ s about playing together . Make sure you ’ ve got snacks and drinks within easy reach as time flies when you ’ re gaming .
Karaoke The thought might make you feel silly , but a good blast of karaoke always makes everything seem alright . Really ; try it . Go for some romantic duets , or sing love songs to one another . Try an epic rap battle , or perhaps go back in time and pull out some truly classic tunes . Anything that you can sing along to is great , and you don ’ t need a fancy machine either .
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