Our New Date Night In

When Sean and I were dating, Friday nights were a big to do. Teased hair, lipstick, heels. Now? It’s all about bringing the “night life” to us. Lucky for you, we’ve perfected the night in. And it’s so easy, you can do it too!

The biggest misconception to staying in? No effort required. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Now that we have our new home, we’ve mastered the art of good ambiance, food and entertainment. To guarantee a good night, a little planning is involved. Here’s how!

First, the ambiance.

I learned this tip from two of my favorite (and swankiest) spots in Chicago – Restoration Hardware and Soho House. When the sun starts to set, light a few white candles in clear, glass vases. The flickering flames transform the vibe of your home. This calming atmosphere after a long work week feels like magic. We love this ritual so much, we now do it all the time!

Second, the food.

This part is a no brainer. Keep it easy and order in! Sean and I LOVE Chinese, but the world is your oyster here. The key to take out? The presentation. Plate your meals on proper platters and trays. A fancy spread on the coffee table is fine dining at it’s finest. Oh, and don’t forget the wine!

The entertainment.

A good list of “movies to see” and a full DVR is a night’s worth of entertainment. Sean and I religiously bookmark movies and TV series we want to see. This way we have a great list to choose from. I’ve created a list of our favorite movies and shows below for inspiration!

Now before I give you the goods, a little backstory. I promise this all comes full circle.

When Sean and I settled into our new home, there was a great debate. What to buy first for the new house. I was envisioning a beautiful mid-century chair while Sean had another plan – a new TV. Ugh! Men roommates these days.

Well of course I caved. The way his eyes twinkled when he talked about 4K streaming, the big screen of his dreams and exactly where he was going to put it…this man had a dream. The only requirement? NO WIRES. So we had it professionally hung with every wire and electronic box tucked away, out of sight. It’s quite glorious if I don’t say so myself!

Now, you can’t have the prom dress without the shoes! So a proper cable company with 4K capability is a must. We of course, booked the major go to cable company, but we’ve been toying with other options for awhile. The customer service process and high bills (I swear they increase every year for no reason!) have been wearing on us. The wait time on the phone and setup is just brutal. We’ve also noticed our friends have had the same feelings too.

So when Layer3 TV (a new cable company in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs) asked us to give them a try, we said “ABSOLUTELY!”. If you’ve found yourself in the same boat as us, you should consider this cable option. The best part? You can try them anytime. Cancel at anytime. And retry them anytime. It’s that flexible!

Since there are so many benefits, I highlighted our favorite features below:

• First and foremost: Starting now through Sunday, they are running a 50% off total bill for your first 3 months of service promotion – 21-Day Risk Free; No Annual Contracts, No Hidden Fees. You can call here to get the ball rolling (312) 702-1647.
• It learns YOU: This may be the best part! Layer3 TV learns your viewing habits (down to distinct times of day) for the ultimate, customized experience. So when you turn on the TV, all your favorite shows and channels pop up in one location. Also, each person in your house has their own profile, so it’s 100% tailored to each person! I love this because Sean’s ideas of shows are a little different than mine 😉 This also results in less time searching and more time watching!
• DVR insanity: You can simultaneously record seven shows while watching TV live. In addition, you can store up to 400 hours of HD content. No more deciding what shows get clipped!
•  All HD all the time: Layer3 TV not only has crystal clear HD, but they offer more channels in higher quality HD than any other provider – for no extra fee. Also, no duplicate channels as each channel is delivered only in the highest resolution available.
• Sean’s favorite! 4K: If you’re not familiar with 4K (Sean taught me), it’s the highest quality picture you can get. It’s almost as if you’re viewing real life. Although new TV’s have 4K capabilities, you can’t always access 4K with your cable company. Layer3 TV has got you covered here!
• Flexibility AND transparency: This is the biggest advantage (and unlike any other cable company), so I wanted to mention it again. There are zero hidden fees and you can cancel online at anytime. Layer3 TV prides itself on the  mentality. Which is a characteristic Sean and I value too. Knowing all your costs and fees upfront is a rarity these days. In addition to their “what you see is what you get” mentality, their service is available on a monthly basis, commitment-free. No long term contracts and plans start at $79!
• Even more: A few more tidbits worth noting is the superb customer service (you actually talk to people!). It integrates with live TV, cable and premium channels with social media, streaming online video (YouTube) and smart home devices. And it’s all just one little box – which you can customize by color!

Not only is this just the tip of the iceberg in features and benefits but you can’t afford to not try it! What do you have to loose? Click here for more details!

As for those movies? Here are our favorites!

1. The Inside Job: An unexpected twist.
2. The Town: Suspense to the fullest.
3. Sliding Doors: The BEST chick flick ever with Gwyneth Paltrow.
4. Beaches: If you haven’t seen this yet, do it! Major tear jerker.
5. When Harry Meet Sally: A classic.
6. The Edge: One of Sean’s family favorites.
7. Shaw Shank Redemption: This movie never gets old!
8. Untouchable: Has subtitles but it’s so good you won’t even notice!
9. Sleeping With The Enemy: A thriller staring Julia Roberts)
10. Unfaithful: Scandalous!
11. The Count of Monte Cristo: Another family favorite of Sean’s. Old but soooo good. Reminds me of Shawshank Redemption.
12. A Roman Holiday: The best Audrey Hepburn movie in my opinion!
13. The Green Mile: Featuring Tom Hanks – so you know it’s good.

Can’t wait to watch one of these tonight! Happy Friday friends. And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask below!

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A huge thanks to Layer3 TV for sponsoring this post! Opinions are 100% my own!