Hot Date

My husband and I are very committed to staying connected with frequent date nights. I have a small battalion of babysitters in my phone book for our Saturday night dates that we've collected over the last year (after a few memorable mishaps). But I have to admit that since the pregnancy, our date nights tend to be at the local movie theater in the same sweaty jeans and t-shirt I've been wearing all day. The romance and intimacy definitely goes down a notch without makeup and clean clothes.

This Saturday, our date night regimen got a major makeover thanks to the PR team at Cottonelle. They sent a chauffeured town car over to our house with a $200 gift card for our enjoyment and a $25 for the babysitter and the kids to get some pizza. When the chauffeur opened the door, I went from feeling like a pudgy pregnant whale to feeling like Cinderella with her prince.

We drove into Chicago for a unique meal at Blackbird restaurant. The waiter fussed over us, explaining the exotic ingredients in each dish: mandarinquat, sesame powder, and duck fat poached elk were consumed. After a decadent caramalized banana bread with bourbon ice cream, we lingered over fragrant coffee, laughing and talking, feeling like royalty with our chauffeur outside.

I'm always amazed by how the little things make the biggest difference in marriage. A touch on the shoulder. A hand stroked at dinner. In the middle of our hectic schedules, a few hours with clean clothes and a white tablecloth are like a luxurious Caribbean vacation.

A big thank you to the Cottonelle Ultra team for a very special night. I'll remembering it every time I reach for one of the 24 rolls they gave me in the bathroom, a little lasting touch of luxury. Stay tuned for a special giveaway I'll be hosting to bring a little Cottonelle Ultra in your lives.

Happy very belated Wordful, Five Minutes Wordless, and Way-back wednesday.