Happy Wednesday!
It’s the March edition of LET’S LOOK!
If you don’t know what this is, once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!). It’s often a random little assortment of topics.
In January, we looked at our coffee bar areas.
In February, we looked at our love languages.
And today, we’re looking at our PERFECT NIGHT IN!
Well, this picture sums it up.
Andrew + a fun cocktail + a charcuterie board + the patio – the children = a perfect night in 😉 .
Okay, the kids can come outside and be a part of it too. Ha!
Really and truly, all of our “nights in” involve the kids because we’re never home without them. Sometimes, Andrew and I will leave the house for a date night without them, but thinking back in the almost 7 years that we’ve lived in this house, I think only twice have Andrew and I been at home and the kids be elsewhere. I mean, where are they going? We’re their ride. And their money. They can’t leave home without us, so it’s pretty much always the six of us.
With each different stage of life, “date night in” as looked different, morphed and changed, but right now, if it’s just Andrew and me trying to carve out some time with each other, we like to ask the kiddos to hang out amongst themselves while mom and dad enjoy some grownup time.
We typically sit in either the dining room or on the patio and enjoy a…
…fun drink (Our Easy Margarita is the fave!) with…
…a charcuterie board. Really? What’s better than meat and cheeses?!
Andrew and I can pretty much make a meal out of a board. I feel very proud that we have always tried really hard to connect even with younger kids in the house, but believe you me, it has gotten MUCH EASIER the older they’ve gotten. For all of you mamas out there with babies, make the effort, but please know, it does get easier.
When we have the perfect night in as a family, we have our own tradition…
…we like to eat a yummy dinner at home (right now, my kids top request is Cheesy Ranch Tacos), and then they LOVE to pile in our room and watch a movie in their sleeping bags. We say a silent prayer of thanksgiving every time it happens because we know, at any minute, the older kids will outgrow this, but for now, it’s a family favorite. We get all cleaned up, in our jammies and then cozy with a movie. On Sunday night, we did this and watched the new Disney movie Raya together. I cannot imagine looking back on my life and remembering anything sweeter than these moments here.
So, that’s how we have “perfect nights in” at the Shull house!
What do you do???
What are “musts” when you’re having a night in? Also, we’re always looking for new movie suggestions that will capture the attention of both the six year old and the forty year old, so if you have thoughts and ideas on that too, I’d love to hear them!
Next month, we’re looking at our fridge and pantries. I’m going to go ahead and warn you…mine is quite bare. If you’re linking up today too, make sure you do that at the bottom of today’s post!
One last little bit of randomness to add, but I just saw that Colleen Rothschild is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with Buy One, Get One 50% off with code LUCKY50! I love so many of their products, but these right here are mine and my mom’s holy grail, daily go-tos:
RADIANT CLEANSING BALM: This is the only thing we use to take off our makeup…even waterproof liner and mascara. It’s amazing!
SHEER RENEWAL CREAM: Our daily morning moisturizer
AGE RENEWAL SUPER SERUM: Put this on after you cleanse and before you moisturize…it’s a powerhouse of vitamins to make sure your skin glow, reduce lines and brown spots…it does it all!
RETINOL SUPREME EYE SERUM: This is the only eye cream we use both morning and night!
EXTREME RECOVERY CREAM: Our nighttime moisturizer
If you’ve ever been curious about their brand, now is a great time to try it!
Happy Wednesday!!! xo
Erika Slaughter says
Awwwwww!!!! Super fun night-in all piled in your room.
Elspeth says
I love this! Such a simple and easy way to stay connected and have 1:1 time even in a busy season!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Ooh thanks for the nighttime skincare product recommendations! ❤️✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Kristin says
Check out “Yes Day” with Jennifer Garner! Very cute family movie that we all thoroughly enjoyed!
Lauren Sheaffer Sims says
Our favorite thing to do as a family is grill and then watch a movie together. I’d love to do game night, but Chris and Carter aren’t game night people….and all of us are movie night people!
Katie Compton says
We have just one daughter and she’s 13 and we count our lucky stars she still loves hanging out with us! Our fave nights in involve my hubby’s homemade pizza on the Big Green Egg, a cocktail for us and fun seltzer water for her, and something Marvel related on Disney+. Lately it’s been Wanda Vision! We each have our favorite spots on the couch and our fave fuzzy blankets! Because we have an only child, we often get date nights when she’s at a friends house. But our favorite date nights basically look the same as when she’s with us. Ha!
kathy says
Those are precious memories:)
When our older kids were young, they would all sleep on the floor with all their blankets on Friday nights. They just loved that. I wish I could go back to those days. Maybe I can relive that when I have grandkids.
I’m so glad you enjoy those nights, too.
Heidi says
Yes Day…and Think Like a Dog were recent hits in our house (four similar aged kids)
Susan Crivella says
Yes Day on Netfix was really cute!
Carly says
Hi Shay, what age/ages did you start to feel that you got more alone time even if they were in the other room? PS I LOVE these posts.
Mix and Match Mama says
I think it was probably when the kids were all over four. That was probably the sweet spot for us (because then that made K 10). It will happen!! I promise!! 😉
Becky B says
So lately we’ve enjoyed Yes Day on Netflix, Matilda, and Night at the Museum. I have a 9, 8 and 5 year old.
Cara says
Our whole family enjoyed Yes Day on Netflix. Just be prepared, your kids will want a yes day after watching! ?
Kizzi says
Love all of this! We watched the movie Oddball on Prime the other night and it was a cute movie that kept the interest of my son.
Marilyn says
Good morning! Check out the movie “My Spy” on Prime Video. It is a cute movie for adults and kids.
Amanda Utley says
We watched Yes Day on Netflix the other night, and it was so cute! A hit for our whole family – ages 6-43 😉
Lindsay @ Lindsay's Sweet World says
We just watched Yes Day on Netflix this past weekend and everyone ages 7 to 43 enjoyed it! It was cute and family-friendly, and I just love Jennifer Garner. Y’all should check it out!
Beverly says
Can you post the link to the Shay necklace. I couldn’t get it to open yesterday.
Mix and Match Mama says
https://www.baublebar.com/product/55141-custom-18k-gold-vermeil-nameplate-necklace?utm_content=generic_link&utm_source=pepperjam&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=20648&cvosrc=affiliate.pepperjam.20648&clickid=3509732235
Sara says
Favorite movies that both my 40yo and 6yo have enjoyed lately (all on Disney+): Holes, Race to Witch Mountain, and Swiss Family Robinson
Lizzie says
My kids are grown and out of the house. Looking forward to nights in with my grand kids. So happy you posted CR products. LOVE her products!
Theresa says
My 5 children did the same thing with sleeping bags! They are all grown now (19 yr old BGG triplets, 24, & 26 girls) and they STILL have a slumber party every year on the Saturday before Easter. It doesn’t take place in our room anymore but makes me so happy!!
Laci Murray says
Your kids are growing up knowing how loved they are!
kimberlee nelson says
What type of tequila do you recommend for your margarita? Looks easy and fun!!!
Mix and Match Mama says
We typically use Patron!
Gina says
You HAVE to try Trader Joe’s Jalapeno Limeade as a margarita mixer. Deliciously spicy–and only available seasonally in the summertime.
Mix and Match Mama says
Adding to my list!!!
Cris says
I’m not sure if it would hold the attention of the younger kids, but “Flipped” is great movie, if y’all haven’t already seen it!
Kelly Henderson says
Now that we have teenagers who no longer need sitters, we bought season tickets to our local theater’s Broadway series and have a guaranteed 6-8 GROWN UP dates a year now complete with fancy dinner. Our tickets are for Sunday evenings because we are less likely to have a sports/dance/school conflict on Sundays. We have been doing this for a few years now and absolutely love seeing the touring productions of Broadway shows. We hope this resumes some time this year, our tickets are already renewed and paid for. When the kids were much younger, we would get take out after they were in bed to have a date at home. Now that we have teenagers, one who drives, we find ourselves home alone a fair amount or at the very least, only have one kid at home.
Mix and Match Mama says
I love that idea so much!!!!
Sarah says
We love to do dinner (maybe grilled pizza) and then a big game night (Wheel of Fortune and Clue are big right now) with fun popcorn. The kids may have a sleepover together if all has gone well ?
Julie says
Right now, our kitchen is under construction (SUPER excited) so our temporary kitchen, dining room and my husband’s OFFICE (bwahhhh hahah) are all in our living room. He works in the corner through all the noise. Bless. Because there is a fireplace, our perfect night in is lighting a fire and doing a special takeout meal in front of it. (We’re big capital grille fans over here for something like a birthday!). Fire, family, food, doesn’t get better! Even during Covid there’s something about a fire that just elevates the whole night!
When the weather allows, we would cap it off with smores and boozy hot chocolate around our fire pit!
Kristen says
I heard that Flora and Ulysses on Disney+ is really good. I haven’t seen it yet with the kids, but it is on the list.
Suzanne Riney says
You should really try using fresh lime In your cocktails. It’s a game changer
Mary says
Love these real life posts! Such fun, practical ideas….thanks Shay! Our family recently watched the movie “Wonder” with Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson for family movie night and liked it!
Kelly Bonner says
We recently loved the movie Yes Day on Netflix! We’re also trying out the new Tom & Jerry movie on HBO Max tonight.
Lisa says
Our family loves the Paddington movies!! Super cute, funny and all around just a feel good movie! Perfect for all age ranges!
Rosemary Davis says
Oh, how I am loving your nighttime routine!
Rosemary
http://www.distinctlysouthernstyle.com
Maggie Eterno says
How fun!!! I love a charcuterie board! And movie nights are our perfect night in!
Dani Womack says
You should watch Yes Day with Jennifer Garner!
Jinjer says
I don’t have kids but I have my 93-yo mom and Disney’s Isle of Dogs DVD is on the way to us. I think it’s also on Disney+ I like Bryan Cranston and he voices the dog, Chief, so it will be a good movie for both of us, and for your kids!
Jinjer says
YIKES! I need to retract my comment about Isle of Dogs being a good movie for kids! I thought it was a feel-good Disney animated movie. It’s not! It’s a dark, Wes Anderson animated movie! Parents might want to watch it first and then decide if it’s suitable for their children. A lot of adult topics in that little cartoon.