Got a thing for Chinese food? Niiice… me too! It’s one thing to just eat some fried rice and another thing to make a whole fun evening out of it! Yep, the votes are in – making a whole evening of it is much more fun, engaging and memorable! This date is totally great for just you and the hubs OR as a group date. source Create an invitation for your spouse, letting him know about your Chinese themed evening ahead. Or feel free to download my simple invitation! I attached it to some chopsticks and left it on his chair to find at breakfast so he could think about me… er, I mean, the date all day long.
Name your “restaurant”! Use an online language converter to translate it into Chinese (or just find some random Chinese characters and then get a good laugh when you look it up and realize it meant “monkey ice cream” or something!) Print it out and hang it up near your dinner table. I named my restaurant “Love” (I know… I’m sooo original!) Feelin’ the LOVE? Sweet, you can use my sign. Create the atmosphere! Nobody wants to spend money on needless things, but don’t underestimate the dollar store when it comes to things like this! I found 2 battery operated Chinese lanterns there.
With some chopsticks that you can get from any Chinese take out joint, some folded napkins and any other cheap Chinese items (partyland or any other party store sells these several for a dollar) it can really make a difference to your table.
Signs say “Get trapped together” and “To keep love burning, fan the flames” These sayings are compliments of my friend, Melanie, who is the ultimate party planner! Oh, one more thing! To use as place mats and to look up your Chinese sign (by your birth year) you can easily print or refer to this handy Chinese horoscope page I found here. Whether you choose some Chinese food from the frozen section at the grocery store (EASY) or just grabbing Chinese takeout (even EASIER) try to serve dinner in at least a couple different courses so it feels more fancy. How can you go wrong with edema me, pot stickers, egg rolls, fried rice, and your favorite choice of meat? I chose to use our kids’ square plates just to be a little different.
It’s so obvious, I really shouldn’t say it, but… you CAN’T forget fortune cookies! source During dinner or afterward if you prefer, ya gotta play this little game of Wok Tok – it’s HILARIOUS! If you’re familiar with the game Mad Gab, then you already know how to play. Read the phrase on the paper and have your spouse tell you what he hears. Most of these phrases have something to do with love. In this game, it really is what you hear NOT what you see! Download your Wok Tok game instantly below. Cut the phrases into strips of paper and place them in a bowl or even better – in a little Chinese takeout box.
Need some convincing? Read this aloud: Wheel Yum Air Ream He What did you hear? Read it out loud again…. or have someone else read it out loud while you DON’T look at the words… and you’ll surely hear the answer: “Will You Marry Me?” The funniest part is listening so intently to your spouse talk like the village idiot (just kidding! Ooh, I did NOT just say that… I meant ME!) Really it’s more like a VERY FUNNY accent! (I love you, honey!) ?? (FUNNY!) If you don’t end up playing that the whole night (it’s quite a list!) then make something in origami for each other. (Not a shabby way to make a surprise love note for him another time!) There are tons of step by step tutorials online. Here is an easy to follow instructional video for an origami yin yang because “you’re my other half”. And here’s a video tutorial for a beating heart origami. (Btw, you might be surprised at just how handy knowing at least one thing in origami can be with kids.) Remember those Chinese lanterns from dinner? Turns out they work just poifectly for soft bedroom light at the end of the night, but you don’t have to take my word for it… you’ll see!
