After a long day of work, kids, meals, cleaning the house, etc., we moms and dads need to relax, decompress, and regenerate together. So from one tired mom to another (or whoever you are), here’s a little list of all you need for a romantic stay-at-home date night – complete with a list of delicious gluten-free treats, and a wonderful massage.
A work in progress.
For those of you who don’t know me – which is probably almost all of you – I’m going to let you in on a little secret about myself: I am not a romantic girl. But as often happens, opposites attract, and I married a guy who cries during Return to Me.
But regardless of my personality, I know the importance of date nights. When you have five six crazy kids running around you like banshees all day (well, technically only five of them can run – one’s just learning to walk) you NEED time alone with your spouse! And even if you’re not being overrun by kids, a little one-on-one time for couples is a must-have for a healthy relationship!
Being the unromantic type makes planning date nights a tad tedious for me, though. While I’d be happy with a movie and a bucket of ice cream between us, my husband is more of a “let’s do something special” kind-of guy. So lately I’ve been working on more “something special.” Wanna know how?
Melt: Massage for Couples
Thankfully, something special doesn’t mean you have to leave the house. After the kids are locked in their room until they fall asleep snug in bed and the dinner dishes are washed soaking for tomorrow, my husband and I have been settling down and trying something new.
Through the Melt series, done by Australian massage therapist Denis Merkas and his wife Emma, my husband and I have been learning how to give each other killer massages. (Please note that the use of the word ‘killer’ is completely idiomatic, in case you were worried.)
Couples massage? Sounds way romantic, right? Yeah, and way out of my comfort zone! But getting out of your comfort zone can be a good thing, and in this case getting out of my comfort zone actually feels amazing!
The Melt videos are beautifully and elegantly filmed and teach couples how to give each other simple, soothing, in-house massages. With no fancy equipment needed, and easy-to-learn techniques, the routines are the perfect complement to your stay-at-home date!
Denis goes through everything: the best positioning for giving/receiving massages (and it’s not the bed – what?), how to properly apply massage oil (and what kinds to use!), as well as simple, easy-to-remember techniques that go way beyond a simple back rub. The massage routines don’t take long to learn, but they’re an amazing way to unwind and relax with your spouse.
My Take on Melt
While my husband and I chose to watch the sessions after our kids went to bed, they’re clean enough (no nudity or awkwardness) that you can watch them with the kiddos around, and the individual sessions are short enough that you can watch them in your down time (what’s that again?) during the day. In all, it took us three nights to get through the 2+ hours of Denis’ material, and it was totally worth the time spent!
Now, besides being unromantic, I’m pretty ticklish. Before we started the videos I was a little nervous that I would be tensing up and laughing hysterically the whole time. But as we got into the massage I was pleasantly surprised to find that the techniques Denis teaches both soothed and relaxed my achy mom-muscles. Even after just going through the basics, the massage my husband gave me almost put me to sleep, and the morning after our first session he even remarked that it was the first time in a long time he’d woken up and not been sore somewhere.
So, what are you waiting for?
Sound like a date night you’d love to give your spouse? Denis is giving my readers (that’d be you) 20% off the retail price of the entire package of Melt courses. (That’s only $89 (usually $147 in total.) You’ll get lifetime accesses to all the sessions, which includes learning 3 massage routines that cover basic and advanced massaging techniques, as well as massaging highlights.
- The Basic Series starts with going over some common massage mistakes and teaching the foundations of massage, ending with a 5 minute follow-along massage routine.
- The Highlights Series shows you how to find the tough spots and work them out. This series covers the neck, shoulders, lower back, arms, head and ends with a 15-minute massage routine.
- The Deep Tissue Series is left to the very end for good reason – it’s amazing stuff, but it shouldn’t be over-emphasized. This series also ends with an epic 30-minute massage follow-along massage routine.
Head on over and grab this fabulous deal and bless your husband/wife with a perfect date night! Because, as Denis and Emma, the creators of MELT say, every relationship deserves a little massage.
Click Here to Get Melt!
Before You Melt…
Need some tasty treats to go along with your massage? A few of my gluten-free blogger friends and I have put together a list of some of our favorite date-night treats for you and your special someone to enjoy!
Drinks
Paleo Black Betty (Blackberry & Sage Cocktail) from All the Nourishing Things
Easy Paleo Dark Chocolate Eggnog from Raia’s Recipes
Cranberry Coconut Daiquiri from Raia’s Recipes
Instant Pot Mexican Hot Chocolate from Cook With Me Darling
Elderberry Water Kefir from Raia’s Recipes
Quick Fix Dark Hot Chocolate “Shots” from Raia’s Recipes (pictured)
Sweet Treats
Triple Chocolate Mousse Shooters from Raia’s Recipes
Paleo Chocolate Nut Butter Tart from Raising Generation Nourished
Paleo Chocolate Coconut Bars from Raia’s Recipes
Keto Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars from All the Nourishing Things
Paleo Salted Walnut Butter Blondies from Raia’s Recipes
Death by Chocolate Paleo Blender Brownies from Delicious Obsessions
Raw Banana Brownie Parfait from the Unconventional Baker
Healthy Grain-Free Cranberry Cheesecake Bars from Recipes to Nourish (pictured)
Finger foods
Sweet & Salty Chocolate Bar with Fruit & Nuts from Raia’s Recipes (pictured)
Chocolate Rum Balls from the Unconventional Baker
Sprouted Candied Nuts & Seeds from Raising Generation Nourished
Toasted Coconut Truffles, from What the Fork
Crunchy Cinnamon Sugar Chickpeas from Strength & Sunshine
Homemade Honey Roasted Peanuts from Raia’s Recipes
Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Dates from Recipes to Nourish (pictured in pin)
Peanut Butter Turtles from Raia’s Recipes
This post is sponsored by Melt: Massage for Couples.
These are great ideas!!! Thanks for linking up at the Marvelous Monday Link Party!!! Pinned!
Thanks so much, Danielle! 🙂
Sounds like a great romantic date night. I may have to look into these Melt Massages!
Appreciate you sharing.
I came over today on Marvelous Monday, and I’m glad to find your site.
Hope you have a blessed day~
Melanie
Thanks so much for stopping by, Melanie! I hope you get a chance to check out the videos. 😉
What a neat idea! We’re always looking for ways to stay in and still feel like we’re having a date night! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Gloria! Glad to share. 🙂
What a wonderful idea! Learn massage together. Love it! And thank you for including my Flourless Nutella Cake! Have a sweet week!
Thanks for letting me share it, Elle! 🙂
Your husband sounds adorable Raia! Great ideas and boy oh boy, would I love a massage!
Yeah, I like him. 😉 Haha! And yes, massages are very *practical* things. 😉
What I would give for a great massage … and from my hubbie, to boot! Wow – this is inspiring, Raia! We’ll have to give this a go!!!
~jules
😉 Glad to be a help in the inspiration department. Hope you and your hubby enjoy! 🙂
Oh I could use this. But I would need my husband to actually be home and awake to do it. Better save it for Thanksgiving break.
Thanks for sharing on Creative K Kids’ Tasty Tuesdays link up. Hope to see you back next week.
Glad to share, Audrey! It would be good to have your husband awake for this… haha. 🙂
What a great idea, I think something like this would be just right for my son and daughter-in-law
🙂 I hope they enjoy it, Marjan!
Such a fun post and thank you for including my recipe!!
Thanks for letting me share it, Rebecca!
These are great ideas for a romantic night in! With little ones, we don’t go out much by ourselves but having a nice evening at home after they are in bed is great! Thank you for sharing and linking up with us over at Welcome Home Wednesdays Link Party!
Glad to share, Lisa! I hope other busy moms and dads can benefit, too! 🙂
Ha. I knew you were a kindred spirit, Raia 😀 It’s so hard for me to plan something “romantic”. I love romantic things — they inspire me in many ways, but the kind of “romantic” I like has nothing in common with the modern notion of cards, movies, or related activities… Romantic for me is something so much more intimate — like a connection with plants, nature, a special moment I’m having, a beautiful building, rock, animal, a wild wind storm, a pretty delicate texture or fabric, a subtle color palette, etc. Planning some kind of a romantic anniversary night or date night is just about the strangest / most awkward thing you could ask me to do : / I’d be totally lost!
Now desserts that make you melt away — I’m definitely down with that 😉
Haha! Yeah… that sounds about right. 😉
You work so hard with all the kids, you totally deserve a massage! And it’s much more comfortable and convenient with your husband massaging you at home. I think I need a massage soon!
😉 I’m sure every mom does.
Love these ideas Raia!!! Going to have to try some of them!!
Thanks, Sandi! 🙂