Dinner at Eight :: Candlelight

I am so sorry for my delay in sharing about our first dinner at eight date night - I know I promised I would over the weekend but with the Superbowl excitement and everything I just didn't get a chance. Speaking of, is anyone else still in physical pain over the Seahawks loss? SUCH a huge bummer :(.

I am excited to share about our date night in though, it was seriously so much fun! This month I decided on candlelight for our theme which made it super easy to throw together because candlelight makes everything more special and romantic and it even makes a dirty house look great :)! I didn't tell Chris about the date which I might do every month because when he walked through the door I could tell that the little scene by the fire made him feel special immediately.

I had already given the kids dinner and instructed them to watch a movie together while Daddy and I ate our first course. Of course they all came in to check on us and ask random questions throughout but seriously it didn't even matter, it still felt like a date. I can't quite explain it but putting in the extra effort is so worth it.

I had forgotten that Simon had basketball that evening so after our first course we took a little break and Chris took the older boys to practice while I cleaned up and put the younger two in bed. Then when they got home the older two went to bed and we had dessert by the fire and got to spend some good quality alone time!

For dinner I just did a ton of yummy appetizers, cheese, meat, olives, nuts and fruit and yummy bread and wine. I also made some really incredible brie with broiled honey that was so good - the whole things was quick and easy and we really had everything on hand thanks to a Christmas gift from one of Chris's co-workers! Josie and Zeb and I had set out a bunch of tea lights in mason jars and strung some cafe lights over the fireplace and some pretty flowers on the coffee table was about it. Super easy and not at all stressful, the best kind of evening!

I am really excited about this monthly tradition and spending time being intentional about my marriage in a really doable and special way. This first date was just the thing to reunite us after a long and exhausting week and doing something thoughtful and special for Chris not only blessed him but it totally blessed me so much!

So did any of you join me this month in hosting a candlelight dinner at home too? If you did I would LOVE to see or even hear about it in the comments. The linky will be up all month - and for February I am thinking of doing a true valentine's date night theme…hope you will join me next month too! xoxo

on holiday + a ten on ten reminder

This past week Chris and I snuck away to the east coast to celebrate our tenth anniversary. This is our first trip together since before Simon was born almost seven years ago so I am sure you can image how surreal and amazing it has been to soak it all in! I will have plenty of proper photos to share when we get home in a few days but here are a few instagrams from our adventures...and I will be here in Cape Cod for tomorrows installment of Ten on Ten as well and I am so looking forward to it! Hope you will join me - the linky party will be here ready and waiting in the morning and I will share my set just as soon as I can, hope you have a great day today friends! More about the Ten on Ten project HERE.

dinner at eight :: sweetheart

{Dinner at Eight is a special project I am doing with my friend Andi this year - planning date nights at home for our husbands, putting the kids to bed early and being intentional about our marriages! Read more about the dinner at eight project HERE}

This past year I have been learning so much about Gods provision. Not always an easy thing to trust or count on I will confess but always, ALWAYS finds it way into our lives especially when we are looking for it. I love this dinner at eight feature it is very close to my heart but sometimes the thought of putting together a little more effort for a date night at home is hard. After we moved last Fall and I unexpectedly found myself pregnant again I was am tired. I don't always have the enthusiasm to try.

But this I know: God loves marriage and He loves to provide for us and last night I was so blessed by both of those things. A few weeks ago when I said I was bringing dinner at eight back I really was excited I promise but as it got closer pulling off a nice date started to feel so exhausting and on Sunday I still had so much to do.

I needed to go to the store. I had my Pinterest board going for inspiration and a loooong list of things that I wanted to make for the date. But we were out at Church until late afternoon and by the time we got home I just needed to sit my tired body down.

My step Mom, Julia hadn't seen the kids in several weeks and popped by for a little visit and she brought with her a bag of goodies to share. Guess what was in the bag? It was all the makings for the sweetest evening, oh how the Lord provided us such a gift through her!

First she brought me some red tulips to brighten up the place. She packed two rib eye steaks from their grass fed beef stash because she knows we aren't able to afford that kind of treat often and she thought Chris might like it especially. Some potatoes, mushrooms and a salad plus a little plate of veggies and dip for an appetizer. I think I almost cried when she pulled it all out of the bag and laid it on the counter.

That evening after she had gone home I told Chris it was such an unexpected blessing and we both agreed that we could not wait to enjoy the steaks. I then decided to forgo all the over the top decorations and gathered up what I had around the house for the next nights date.

As luck would have it Amanda from Festivities Party Supply had sent me some adorable red and white striped straws and flags (thanks Amanda!) to use for our date night and they provided a little more red to go with the tulips. I also laid out the vintage fifties red roses table cloth (also a gift from Julia long ago it was her Mom's I love it!) and hung up my little xoxo bunting from the talented Stacey Winters etsy shop!

Then I got out my trusty glass jar collection and filled each one with white feathers and a battery operated candle to add a festive glow. So easy and yet so special especially when I set the card table out by the fireplace.

And that was about it. I waited to start dinner until Chris came home last night. Instead I fed the kids and then we both took turns getting them ready for bed and working on our food. 

I will be honest Josie went down pretty easily but our boys were NOT even close to sleeping while we enjoyed our meal together. It was pretty comical listening to them rough housing and carrying on. At one point we heard a terrible loud crash and lots of crying and my heart stopped but all ended up fine. And they did eventually go to bed. But to be honest it wasn't even a big deal they knew we were having some alone time and  even though they kept interrupting us it still felt really really special to get some good adult conversation mixed in. And the food was super yummy too!

We enjoyed Chris' favorite milk shakes in these sprinkle rimmed jars and I also made a vegan chocolate torte. So I am happy to report that dinner at eight was a blessing to our relationship once again and the Lord truly provided for us in really tangible ways. I am looking forward to doing it again next month!

So now it's your turn, did you host a little date night at home for your sweetie or do you plan too this month? If so please consider heading over to the dinner at eight page HERE and adding your date night post to the linky so that we can all see it and be blessed. I think Andi is planning a date night to and I will let you know when her post is up!

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

sweetheart date

I have been busy setting up a little date for Mr. Gough and I for this months Sweetheart Dinner at Eight theme! I am going very simple with the decorations this time but setting up something always makes it so much more special and I am really looking forward to putting the kids to bed early for a quiet night alone!

We are also filling out some store bought Valentines cards for Simon's class tomorrow - I am lame and didn't make handmade but he seems please with his super hero themed cards and I'm also trying to ignore the rest of the house and all of the mess...the farther I get in this fourth pregnancy the less energy I have to do just about anything. I will be back tomorrow with more details from our date - hope your having a wonderful Monday!

dinner at eight :: takeout for two

{Dinner at Eight is a special project I am doing with my friend Andi this year - planning date nights at home for our husbands, putting the kids to bed early and being intentional about our marriages! Read more about the dinner at eight project HERE}

Since we are in the middle of such a huge change with our big move underway the house has pretty much turned upside down and getting any sort of dinner on the table has been a hard one. But last week I said to Chris that I thought we needed a date night in the midst of all this crazy stuff and he got super excited at the sound of that. So I decided that this months theme needed to be takeout for two.

A super easy and casual night together without fussing around with cooking and shopping. It turned out so special, we had a really fun time. I let Chris pick whatever takeout he would like and he instantly chose sushi - one of our favorites!

We have a special spot down the street that we will miss greatly so we decided it would be the perfect time to indulge in all of our favorite rolls as well as miso soup and yummy bubble tea too!

All I did was set the table out on our deck and strung up a few paper lanterns to set the mood. The weather was gorgeous and the conversation much needed and truly a blessing to both of us.

I long to continue to be intentional about dating my husband even when my life is in total chaos and confusion. It really proved to me that taking a little time out even if it only means ordering in can truly be that perfect way to connect without going out for some big over the top date!

We talked about change and about how blessed we are even in the midst of trial - God is so good and we are so very thankful to have each other to walk this road with. Last weekend we also celebrated being together for a decade. I can not believe we have been a couple for ten years I still feel just as lucky as I did on our first date together Mr. Gough!

So now it's your turn to take the dinner at eight challenge. For the next month at any time I challenge you to set up a simple date night at home, put your kids to bed early and order some takeout for two. You will not regret it friends I promise. You can link up with blog posts and pictures HERE!

August Monday

I actually kind of can't believe it. August.

We had such a wonderful albeit ridiculously full weekend which included in no particular order: a birthday party, a community outreach, a garage sale, a baby shower complete with a pink ombre cake (eek), helping with worship, a few lattes, dinner on the deck with my bff, some tears, even more laughs, a sore throat, a rescued Santa found at the union gospel mission (here), and a midnight phone call to the city and the plumber when Mr. Gough discovered a sewer leak dumping into the basement last night...so not a lot of sleep either :) I love how I am always so pooped on Monday, does anyone else feel the same?

I am working on my make something monday feature post for a little bit later today but wanted to pop in and update you all on the dinner at eight stuff. First of all I have been SO blown away by the dates that have linked up this month. If you haven't please do check them all out HERE!

 I was especially giddy when I saw Rachel's morning picnic that she hosted for her sweetie recently complete with pancakes and coffee. It turned out adorably you can see her entire post on her blog, so pretty Rachel!

I have decided to extend the "pretty picnic" theme into the month of August since we got such a late start with it in July. If you have been wanting to jump in and get involved with this now's your chance. I will also be hosting another date for Chris in August and thought I might do a bonus idea for those of us who already did the picnic challenge to do something on the grill, think late summer bbq or a fancy grilled dessert and feel free to link up again so that we can all see what you come up with. I will have another theme ready for you in September too so be on the lookout!

Thanks everyone for your continued encouragement and support with the diner at eight project it is so dear to my heart that idea of being intentional with our spouses in the midst of a crazy season of life and to see you guys rising up and feeling the same is confirmation of all that God is doing in our marriages!

Ok I will be back soon but in the meantime have a wonderful first day of August!

dinner at eight :: a pretty picnic {and a challenge}

{Dinner at Eight is a special project I am doing with my friend Andi this year - planning date nights at home for our husbands every other week, putting the kids to bed early and being intentional about our marriages! Read more dinner at eight posts HERE!}

Andi and I thought that this Summer needed a little picnic date night at home something simple and pretty and easy to set up in our own backyard. And let me tell you guys this was SO simple - the only thing I was worried about was the weather holding and just after Mr. Gough came in the door the sunshine poked it's sweet face out and it made our backyard so beautiful and romantic. Our boys have vacation bible school this week at church so I told Chris to go drop them off and then hurry home because I had a surprise picnic dinner all ready for him.

I brought out a big toy basket to set some candles and dessert out and used a big vintage quilt that my grandmother made years ago. We kicked off our shoes and enjoyed each others company for awhile.

Little miss Josie joined us on the grass and got to partake in a little bit of everything but she was most excited about the striped straws that I put in the ice tea...can you blame her those straws are seriously so cool :)!

The menu was easy I bought a roasted chicken and made my favorite black bean and corn quinoa salad with french bread. We had strawberries and vegan chocolate chip cookies along with peach ice tea for dessert. I lit some candles in jars as per usual and also picked a handful of daisies from the yard for a little decoration.  

I had planned on us lingering outside to do some star gazing after the kids went to bed but both Chris and I are still sick (getting old) so we opted for a shorter date than usual. It was special nonetheless to be with my sweetheart for a few hours hearing about whats on his heart with work at UGM - ps. any of you local friends would you ever be up for serving with me at the Union Gospel Mission? Let me know I think we could organize something pretty awesome!

These date nights at home are always so much fun even if it is a little bit more of an effort the rewards are truly worth it when I think about how blessed I am to have intentional time as a couple!

So what about you? You guys ready to get involved too - Andi and I are excited to take the Dinner at Eight feature to the next level and challenge all of you to a little intentional date night once a month with your sweethearts too. It's going to be super simple our heart in the project is to really just encourage all of you who might feel tired and weary or not have the means to go out for a date on a regular basis. Dating our husbands at home is possible with a little bit of creativity and a willingness to laugh if it doesn't go perfectly. Each month we are going to come up with the theme for you and set up a linky on THIS PAGE (you can link from the heart on my navigation bar above) so that any time during the month you are welcome to plan a date night at home and then post about it on your blog, add the Dinner at Eight button to the post and then come back and link up so that we can all see and be inspired and encouraged.

For the rest of July the them is "a pretty picnic" we want to see how you guys would stage it. Inside, outside, a surprise, lots of pillows and a fire? The skies the limit and the only rule is you must link back to the Dinner at Eight page. Andi and I will choose a few favorite dates to feature on our blogs too!

 We hope that you all feel really encouraged and uplifted by this project and adding a bit of accountabilty really helps us we thought it might help you too. May you be blessed this month and have fun planning a sweet date night at home!

Read all about the project and get involved HERE!