*This post is done in partnership with Date Night In Box (DNIB), but all thoughts and opinions are 2LWithIt’s*
Date Night In Box (DNIB) is a monthly subscription that sends couples exactly what it’s called – a date night in a box! You’ll get everything from a curated soundtrack and recipes for a themed meal, to activities and conversation ideas to have with your partner.
One of my favorite things about this company is its partnership with Tri-Development Center of Aiken County (TDC). TDC is a community organization that helps individuals with autism, head and spinal cord injuries, and intellectual disabilities, find employment in Aiken, South Carolina. What you may not know is TDC provides the team who assemble DNIB packages each and every month. I really like companies that give back, but DNIB goes one step further by providing meaningful employment opportunities within their community – how cool is that?!
This month’s theme is “Painted With Love,” inspired by all those paint nights popping up in cities around the country. DNIB’s founder talks about these “date nights” and how, for some couples, spending a night out drinking wine and painting flowers isn’t feasible with young children, work, and busy schedules.
In order to bridge the gap between couples who can go out and ones who can’t, DNIB brings the paint night home to you. In the box, you’ll find everything you need to put together this experience: paint brushes, a six-color paint set, disposable plate for mixing, paper towel for cleaning brushes, two canvases, as well as an online tutorial with an artist who walks you and your partner through a painting “class.”
There is also an optional bottle of glue, which you can use in conjunction with the paint to create a more abstract piece of art. (Basically you apply designs with the glue, paint over it, then peel off the glue, and you get a unique work of art; check out my insta stories for a before and after)!
In the box, you’ll also find another candle from Northern Lights (featured in previous DNIB dates). This month’s scent is Anjou Pear and Lemongrass; so it has a nice twist of fruit and citrus when you light it.
This month’s recipes fit in nicely with the paint night theme, because if you’ve ever been to one of these events, you’ll know it’s easier to eat small appetizers while you’re painting, rather than a big meal alongside your canvas. The bites included things like: White Bean Basil Hummus, Pesto and Sundried Tomato Polenta Bites, Stuffed Mushrooms, and Strawberry Roses. Everything was super easy to make, and clearly I got too caught up in making and eating them…so much so, I forgot to take pictures!
Food picture regret aside, I think the activity and discussion guide were our favorites this month. Anyone can paint, but it took a level of patience and teamwork to create two paintings that line up to create one big painting together. The discussion guide builds on this; it is an option addition to the box that includes Christian-based conversation topics like prayer and faith.
If religion isn’t your thing, no worries, you don’t have to add this to your box. If you’re at all intrigued though, the conversation topics are pretty interesting. In theme with the box, one of the topics talks about a verse from Corinthians 13:4-8 (even though it’s a very well-known section, I did look up the exact reference). It goes a little something like, “love is patient, love is kind…it does not envy or boast…it always perseveres…love never fails.” It’s a beautiful passage I’ve heard read at weddings both religious and not. The guide then takes the section one step further and asks the couple to recall a time when patience was important during a particular situation, and how that ultimately brought about positive change in the relationship.
Personally, I like this addition to the box because I think it adds a layer of meaningful conversation you might not otherwise have with your significant other between the hustle and bustle of early wake ups, making dinner, and all of the other responsibilities we find ourselves consumed with throughout the day.
Overall, I really like the simplicity of this box. The painting activity is the focal point, but when coupled with the tapas, a “colors of love quiz,” and a list of recommended movies to watch together (art-inspired, of course), this is a complete “date night in a box.”
We really enjoyed having the opportunity to paint something together and can’t wait to see what’s in store for next month!
For pricing and more details about the boxes, check out Date Night In’s pages here:
Use code “FALLINLOVE18” for 15% off all plans (up to a $75 value).
