Childhood Date Night!

April 8, 2010:
Where the Wild Things are and Fort Night!

She Said:

When I was a little girl, I was obsessed with building forts. So were my sisters… much to my parents’ chagrin.

We’d transform the piano room to a magical world, complete with couch cushions, furniture, blankets and pillows galore. It was an easy way to make believe. [Don’t pretend you didn’t do the same thing!]

Brett asked me a while back what my perfect date night would be, and without hesitation, I said, building a fort and camping out in the living room. Nothing says romance like a little bit of nostalgia. And a fort.

So, when one of my most beloved childhood books, Where the Wild Things Are, came out as a movie, I knew it was a Date Night in the making.

Brett of course was game. Any time I ask him to completely trash the living room with me, of course he’s in. A bit reluctant at first, not knowing where to begin building, he warmed up quickly, and was first to climb in after I concocted our magical mess of blankets and pillows.

Fort Disclaimer: Let me tell you, making a fort is MUCH more difficult as an adult. Furniture you were able to crawl under is a LOT smaller after 20+ years (and 100+ pounds!) ... Our imaginations aren’t quite as active, either, and what once would’ve been a magical land far far away, quickly became a huge mess in my living room that I would soon have to clean up!

But I digress... As I was building our magical retreat, Brett was busy in the kitchen creating our fabulous childhood dinner – Tomato soup and grilled cheese sammies!

Not just any grilled cheese though... He used a mixture of cheddar (standard!), bleu and goat cheeses to make the most beautiful mix of yummy that I’ve ever in my life experienced. Brett cut them up into little bite-size pieces, too, and I swear we could’ve eaten 100 more, they were so delicious, dipped in the roasted red pepper and tomato soup (Trader Joe’s! $2.95/box! The whole meal probably cost us $10!).

We ate our sandwiches while watching the film (on demand, $4.99 – didn’t even have to leave the house!), snuggled up in our magical tent of imagination goodness. I was euphoric.

Film Disclaimer: Don’t go into it thinking it’s going to be an exact rendition of the book... Because it would be a twenty minute film if that were the case.

Go in with an open mind and a big imagination, and have fun with it. The ending was a bit weak, but the costumes were brilliant, the characters lovable, and the nostalgia thick. And that’s what this Date Night was all about.

So grab your sweetie, a couple of couch cushions, some sheets, pillows, and an upturned coffee table... And have yourself your very own Childhood Date! It may be silly, but isn’t that what it’s all about?

Happy Dating!

RATINGS:

Romance: 4: Nostalgia is so romantic!

Cool Ambiance/Interior: 5: it's a FORT!

Cost: $: The whole night cost us less than $20!

Would we recommend it? 5: Yes! And can we come with you?