With Valentine’s Day right around the corner and a desire to not spend one hundred million dollars [resonable budget, I know] we thought it would be fun to come up with some fun date night ideas for staying in this holiday, or shoot, on any random day of the week because let’s be real, doing these things are often a lot more enjoyable when they are “just because” instead of a “had to” type of thing.

Ever since I was little I have been a huge advocate of forts. Recently I was doing a mental exercise where I was thinking about all of the things I am passionate about, forts obviously being at the top of the list. There’s just something magical about throwing a few sheets over some chairs and hiding away inside of it for a few hours. Add in some little lights, a bottle or three of wine, cheese [all the cheese] and a plethora of pillows and ladies, it’s almost like being on the West Coast staring at the Pacific [almost]. Here’s how we forted up the other night and how you can too —

First of all, grab some sheets, a blanket to sit on, clothespins and dining room chairs and whatever other pieces of furniture you may need to create this fort of awesomeness. Start draping those sheets and blankets all over the place to form your fort. You may need to use some of those clothespins to clip the sheets to the chairs or whatever else you may be using [for us, a floor lamp was involved]. To add a romantic little touch, clip some string lights around the inside of it and for extra glow, add in a few candles [we opted for those fake ones with the off/on switch because hi, I am a walking fire hazard]. To personalize the experience, we added some pictures from over the years on the inside of the fort with twine and clothespins which instantly upped the “awwwww” factor x10. Of course, you can’t go hungry or thirsty while in your fort so be prepared. I recommend wine [always wine] and then some delectable little treats. If you are doing this as a surprise for your partner, consider adding in some of their favorite treats to make it even more special – shoot, Mexican carry-out would be perfection, queso anyone? We went with a glorious charcuterie board and s’mores thanks to this indoor smores maker [who knew such a thing existed?] and wowza, this fort was the tastiest thing I’ve ever experienced.
Told you. For something to do inside the fort [you can create your own other activities, #wink] we brought in a laptop and watched a movie but again, the world is your oyster so get crazy with it. Maybe you’re sleep deprived due to kids, hide out in that thing and sleep for hours. Maybe you’re gamers, bring in some good ole fashioned Monopoly and knock your heart out. Perhaps you’re readers, a good book can go a long way. Do a little trivia, color, play cards, talk, laugh, eat, drink and be merry. It’s amazing what a fort can do for one’s soul.Who’s ready to fort it up this Valentine’s Day with your lover or kids? As for me and this house, we vote yes. BRB, I’ve got some fortin’ to do. Build your own fort of your dreams using these products below —