dinner at eight :: italian style - part 1


{Dinner at Eight is a special project I am doing with my friend Rebekah 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!}








So this week's Dinner at Eight is going to be a little bit different. I am going to be sharing it in two parts- one today and one hopefully tomorrow. 

You see, this week has been rough. In almost every sense of the word. I have been tired, the kids have been naughty, my heart is hurting (about several situations that are completely out of my hands), and...did I already mention that I am so tired? 

Anyway...

Last night was supposed to be Erik and my Dinner at Eight, Italian style. But I just couldn't.pull.it.together.

I almost tried to. To rush around, stressing myself and the kids out. But I decided to just let it go and try again a different night. 

So today, I am just going to share my plan for my date with you. Then tomorrow, I will share photos + details about how it all went. Sound good? 

Here's the plan:  

  • pull the little square kitchen table into the living room  for something different
  • cover it with a tablecloth ( hopefully red + white checkered + vinyl (!), if I can find one at Joann's...)
  •  lots and lots and lots of white tea lights in little canning jars, Rebekah-style  
  • fiestaware plates (as usual)- maybe the green + red this time...or would that be TOO Italian?
  • red wine 
  • garlic bread
  • a green salad with homemade balsamic vinaigrette
  • this pasta for the main course (we've never tried it before, but it looks like a good hearty man's meal!)
  • creme puffs for dessert (don't know if they are truly "Italian", but they are yummy! and super easy because I can just grab them from the freezer section at Costco today)
  • the conversation will include lots of reminiscing about our trip to Italy five years ago
  • and the night will end with a showing of one of the following movies (I am still undecided. Or maybe I will let him choose!): Roman Holiday, Gladiator (needed to throw a guy/action movie in there), or Return to Me. I am kind of leaning towards Return to Me because we haven't seen it in forever, but of course, I always love Audrey Hepburn...
See you tomorrow!

6 comments:

  1. Hi dear! Red and Green plates are NOT too Italian :) Yes,to the table into the living room, I LOVE the menu (how could I not) and I love that you "let it go" until tomorrow. Excellent plan!
    PS Red and White plastic for the table cot is totally Italian restaurant. However, it easy to be authentic Italian home-style by using a white cloth with many wine and red sauce stains :) The kids could help with the staining past!

    PSS my word verification fits the theme-- redioni :)

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  2. You know I meant table CLOTH :)

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  3. SO glad that you moved the night this week...your PLAN is great!
    Those Costco ice cream puffs are awesome, I had some for the first time at Milla and Hudson's neighbor girl's birthday party.
    Can't wait to see pix!

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  4. I love this theme! We did this with friends last year. I have 2 bottles with drippy wax all over them if you'd like to use them for tapers candles.

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  5. Sometimes I think planning for things is as much fun as doing them, so I'm happy to have a peek at your plans! Souns like lots of fun- and I don't think red and green plates would be over the top! Last time I was at Costco I saw gelato... mmmmm...

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