Three Tips to Enjoy a First Date: First Date Ideas for Men

Now that she has agreed to go out with you for the first time, where do you plan to take her?It’s true that first dates are challenging, what with all the nervousness about making a good impression. Not only you’ll be concern about your appearance, you’ll have to worry about where to take your date as well. Ah, the anxiety of first dates! That’s okay. Get an idea from these good first date tips and try to have a great time.

• Have an ice cream date
  • • Since it’s your first date, you are going to talk to get to know each other, something that you cannot do while watching a movie or something. On the other hand, it also provide a quick exit strategy without being rude if you notice that the air between you is deader than the Dead Sea.

• Take her to a carnivals or fair.
  • • If there’s a county fair or a traveling carnival comes to town, grab the opportunities to enjoy the fun and be a little romantic. The comfort provided by the crowd will let you lose your nervousness. Have a great time with the rides and enjoy the sights and sounds of the carnival. Be sure to ride the Ferris wheel and the tunnel of love for a little cinematic romance.

• Hit the Beach
  • • If you want to find out right away what she’s all about, or you’re wondering what she looks like in a bikini, take her to the beach and enjoy the sun and the waves. And each other.

To Flirt or Not To Flirt

It’s fun going out and meeting people. And if you are the adventurous type, you’d know that flirting is even more fun, especially if your goal is to find a date. If you are a little coy and you find that flirting is way over the top for a conservative like you, then you need to lighten up. After all, you might have flirted unknowingly on one occasion or another. Unconsciously, you may already know how to flirt.

Why we flirt?

Flirting is a two-sided coin. When a man or a woman flirts, it is to show their interest. It is a signal that he or she really likes you. On the other end of the spectrum, you “flirt back” to show that the attention is very much welcome. Flirting, therefore, could help you find a date or even initiate a successful relationship.

Flirting signals

More often, flirting involves non-verbal communications. At a party, have you noticed how a newly-acquainted person looked at you or behaved when you’re near each other? You don’t need to be a genius to realize that a person is actually flirting with you when he or she constantly makes eye contact during the whole conversation. Was he, or she, touchy during conversation? Was she always flicking her hair? Was he constantly playing with his tie? These behaviors are sure indicators of flirting and chances are, you have subtly done any of these whenever you meet someone you find interesting.

Be confident to flirt

Don’t be afraid to flirt, even just a little. And while there is no concrete rule on how to flirt, you can never go wrong in being confident. Whether you are aware or not of your flirting behavior, your confidence will inform your actions and the person you are interested in will find you attractive and sexy.

Get Up to Speed with Speed Dating

Speed dating has truly entered the mainstream, being featured on movies and TV shows, most notably Sex and the City. As more and more people become aware of this service, more people have been curious about it and going to speed dating events. Some do it for fun, some do it to actually find a match.

The main premise of speed dating is having a large number of people go on rotation for the night in an orderly manner, get to know one another and ask questions for 3-8 minutes at a time (depending on the organizer of the speed dating event) and then with a ring of a bell or clink of a glass move on to the next person. They say that it only takes about 3 seconds to form a first impression and determine compatibility with someone. These events also get you to meet more people. Just imagine, in a span of a half hour, you would have met between 3-10 people already. Certainly saves time.

But with that short time span to form opinions and get basic knowledge about another, which of the many questions you want to ask do you actually ask at a speed dating event? Asking the right questions can help you make the most out of this speed dating event. Some speed dating questions we thought you should ask are:

• His job – For a lot of people, their job tells a lot about them. It can give you a peek into what type of person they are and what they’re good at. If they hate their current job, ask them what they would rather be doing. These little snippets of information tell a lot about a person.

• His hobbies – Like a job, hobbies can give you a lot of insight about a person. Hobbies probably could tell you more about the person than his job ever could. These hobbies also bring out their quirks, eccentricities, and interesting bits.

• His current status – As in, “Are you married?” Yes, most of the time the guy will probably say no, but sometimes you’ll get that just got from a relationship or recently divorced guy. From there you can ask in a bit of detail what happened and assess if he’s over that other person (especially if you are interested in this person). You don’t want to be the rebound girl, do you?

• Fun questions – these type of questions would seem mundane but actually reveal something about the person you’re asking them to. Questions such as “What would you spend your money on if you win the lottery?” or “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” or “If you were stranded on a desert island and could take only one thing with you, what would be that thing?” actually reveal more about the person than most questions.

That Second Date

Ah, the second date. You’ve earned this, but this doesn’t mean you have to slack in the creativity or fun department. After all, she has already agreed to go out with you.

The second date is ideally less nerve wracking than the first one. It is also more relaxed. This allows you to shine through more than you did the first time. You both have gotten past the shyness and the awkwardness. Now’s the time to have fun.

There’s a whole range of activities that would make great second date ideas. Pick an activity that showcases another side of you. Do you like horses? Why not take your date horseback riding? Love animals? The zoo or the local pet shelter is a good place to go. Typically you could arrange one part of the date and your date can take care of the next part. That way you both get to show things to one another that you love doing. Anything from cooking classes to interactive museum exhibits is fair game.

You can also do an activity that allows you to be together and talk a lot. This could be pottery class, or over a meal at a nice, quaint restaurant over a glass of wine. Of course you can also do a movie date, but you can also take a walk after to talk about it.

Be sure to inform your date what to wear on your second date so he or she doesn’t come overdressed or underdressed. Men, bring your date flowers or some other thoughtful gift. Any woman will appreciate the gesture. And just because you’re a bit more comfortable with one another does not mean you have to do away with politeness and manners. Be as dashing as you are on the first date. One false move on the second date and you can kiss the third date history.

Good luck on the second date, and here’s to hoping for a third one!

Making Date Night Fun

Couples who have been together for quite some time, date night can turn into an obligation as opposed to a night that both of you look forward to. Time to make date night fun again. Here are some fun date ideas to make date night more exciting:

· Go on a Picnic – Yes, picnics can happen at night. Don’t forget the wine, the nice picnic blanket, pack a picnic dinner for you to enjoy. Head on to a spot that overlooks the city for great views while you eat and tell stories, or to a park where you can lie down and stargaze.

· Dress up – Make a date to go somewhere where formal dress is required, such as the opera. Dress up, rent a limo, and live the high life even for a night. Dressing up and getting ready is half the fun. You may even go to a fast food place in all your black-tie glory just for kicks.

· Stay in – but have everyone out of the house so you can have the house to yourselves. Ship the kids to grandma’s house or sleepovers with friends. Then you two can have your date, candles and wine and all, without anyone intruding.

· Go on a day trip – A day trip is certainly a different take on date night. For one thing, it’s during the day time. To shake things up on the dating front, you and your significant other can go on a day trip to one or several locations. You can visit nearby tourist attractions, or spend an entire day at the winery or spa. Truly fun.

· Check out your city’s attractions – if you have lived for some time in a city, you may have known of restaurants, clubs, and galleries that have opened and put them on “will go there one of these days.” Most of the time you tend not to, because in your head it’s nearby. Well, now’s the time to check out the attractions you’ve been missing. Plan a date night on several destinations within the city and try them out.

Have fun – Make like a kid again and go to an amusement park. Try all the rides. Buy the candy you want. Try to win prizes.

It’s a Lunch Date!

Lunch dating, that new branch of dating that I seem to be hearing about every so often from work colleagues, seem to be catching on.  How do I know?  My own mother mentioned it to me.

I never really thought of lunch dating other than the times it was mentioned to me.  I just thought it was a bit unusual.  Does no one go to dinner on dates anymore?  But actually, the more you think about it, the more you understand why this lunch dating thing has been catching on.

While dinner may have connotations of formality, lunch does not have that.  Lunch is more casual, lighter, and easier.  And I have to admit, lunch seems non-threatening.  “It’s just for lunch,” or “Let’s do lunch,” doesn’t have quite the same intimidating undertones of “Can I take you to dinner.”  I think I see lunch dating’s potential, and dating services have seen it too.

There have been several dating services and websites that somehow run on the platform of lunch dating.  They set up their clients who then agree to meet for lunch.  That’s kind of genius. I mean it doesn’t as orchestrated as a dinner is, nor does it sound like it takes some valuable time of your day.  It’s just lunch.  It’s so casual it’s almost nothing.  In many ways it’s perfect for the busy individual.  By setting them up in the casual, non-threatening environment of lunch it leaves it up to the two parties to determine whether they’d take it somewhere more formal, like a dinner perhaps.

So… have you ever been part of the lunch dating scene?  What have you taken from it?  Is it any better than other dating scenes?  Is it here to stay?

Getting Creative: Things to do on a Date

Sometimes when you’ve been together with your partner for long enough, things just fall on the wayside.  Most times you rack your brain thinking about things to do on a date.  Routines are good but sometimes you just want to feel like an effort is being made. When you’ve been together a number of years, the usual dinner and movies just doesn’t cut it.  So what to do when your love life needs a creative date push?

A creative date doesn’t mean fireworks and spectacular 6-month planning.  It may just be something that’s a little out of the ordinary for both of you, or a twist on something familiar.  All it really needs is a little imagination.

Go on a picnic. Seriously, nobody goes on a picnic these days and I don’t understand it.  It’s so much fun to sit on the grass and eat lunch or dinner at the park or at the beach.  Not creative enough, you say? Then why don’t you:

• Bring a guitar and spontaneously sing songs about each other or the people around.
• Test your culinary skills and bring the food for the picnic.  Let’s see what you’ve got.
• At the beach?  Why not build the tallest sandcastle you can make.  Make it a contest or team up on it.

Have a sense of adventure. This doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it sounds.  Go to your city’s historic or touristy area, that place where there are lots of museums, parks, shops, and all that, settle on a starting point (like where you park your car, for example) and then flip a coin.  It could be tails = you go right or heads = you go left, it’s up to you.  Let the coin lead you and see where it takes you.  After every stop you flip a coin to see where your next destination is.  It’s a great way to explore the city and quite a novel way of getting to know a person’s likes and dislikes.  Try it sometime.

Blast from the past. If you have been together for quite some time, how about reminiscing your first date?  Pick her up at the same time, wear the same things (if possible) or something similar, dine at the same restaurant, maybe even order the same food.  Talk about everything that happened that night, whether good or bad, and see how far you’ve gone from that day.  It’s like retracing your steps.  This is sure to bring out tons of memories.

These are just two suggestions, but of course there are more ideas out there.  You may want to try these two first, put your twist on them and see where it goes.  A creative date doesn’t need to be elaborate.  For the most part, the element of surprise is more important and more.

Romantic Ideas for Valentine’s Day

When February rolls around, there’s nothing much on people’s minds for the next two weeks except Valentine’s Day.  Some may hate the thought, some look forward to it.  Whatever you think about it, let’s face it:  It’s a full blown occasion.  Now if you’re one of those romantic types, then you’re in luck.  There’s still enough time to plan and hash out Valentine’s surprises.  Let me give you some romantic Valentine’s Day ideas.

For one thing, a romantic Valentine’s Day need not be expensive.  Case in point:  You can celebrate at home.  That way you don’t stress about being late for your reservation or being stuck in traffic on the way there.  Celebrating at home means you are relaxed and in your element.  You and your significant other can dress up just like a real date.  Set the table, light the candles, and serve the food you make.  Yes, nothing says romance better than actually cooking.  You could even eat by the fireplace and have some kind of indoor picnic.  Pop the champagne, feed each other chocolate, give her flowers, and pull out all the stops.  This is Valentine’s Day and you are in the comfiest place in the world.

Or let’s try another approach.  Being such a big occasion and all, Valentine’s is bound to be stressful.  No one wants to be stressed on such a special day, so why don’t you two head on over to a spa?  You can have dinner in restaurants all the time, but it’s best to avoid the V-Day crowds.  You and your partner can get a massage and avail yourselves of the pampering the spa offers. You’ll both feel refreshed and alive, and it certainly bodes well for a more romantic time later in the night.

Thinking of more traditional Valentine’s Day ideas?  Does your loved one relish the feeling of being a princess? Surprise her with a carriage ride.  Tell her to dress up really special and wait for you to pick her up.  You should be in a tux and lead her to the carriage that will drive you both around the city.  You two could drink champagne as you watch the people go about their Valentine’s Day.  This carriage ride could lead to dinner in a private dining room or an outdoor location.  It’s truly up to you, but believe us when we say nothing says princess and traditional more than a carriage ride around town.

See?   It’s not that difficult.  You just need to delve a little deeper into yourself to get the most romantic Valentine’s Day ideas.  Have fun with yours!

Real Guys Share their Fun Date Ideas

When it comes to fun date ideas, my mind draws a blank but it’s only because I’m a girl and the responsibility of thinking about where to go on a date has never fallen on my shoulders.  However, that doesn’t mean I can’t ask my guy friends about their date ideas and what they would recommend; maybe even get something that they’ve been planning to use.  I have to say I’m impressed and surprise by what my boys had to say.  Read on, it’s gonna be fun.

Fun Date Idea #1: Restaurant Hopping (Jeff, 25)

“I told my girlfriend that we’re gonna put a little twist to our usual dinner date night.  I thought if one could go bar hopping, why not restaurant hopping?  I searched restaurants in the city the week prior and searched the best of what they had to offer – the best pasta, the best salad, the best steak, the best dessert, the best cocktails, that sort of thing – and printed that out.  On date night I had the list of which food belonged to which restaurant and I gave my girlfriend a menu-type thing from which she could choose the food.  It was like a little adventure as we moved from place to place.  It was also a great way to try restaurants we haven’t been to.  We actually found a few gems along the way.”

Fun Date Idea #2: Disneyland (Matt, 31)

“Let me tell you something:  Grownups think of going to Disneyland* all the time but they always put it off because of work, or that there’s too many people, or whatever reason.  But let me tell you, once you’re there, you’re gonna have fun.  My Disneyland date was something that I’ll never forget and will likely do again.  You go on all the rides and eat as much caramel apples as you want and buy the stuff your parents won’t let you buy when you were there as a kid.  You really do what you want and being in such a place with great memories attached to it and then making new ones is pretty special.”

* By the way, it doesn’t have to be just Disneyland you know.  It can be any amusement park in your area.

Fun Date Idea #3: Think Out of the Box (Henry, 26)

“When I say think outside a box, I mean try something that you haven’t done before but you think might be fun.  In my case it was extreme sports.  I was lucky my date was game enough to try such things.  It was a series of dates, actually, and of course we had lunch or dinner nearby, but the highlight and focus was the activity.  We were both office types, but I soon found out that there was that spirit of adventure within us both, just waiting to be addressed to.  We tried our hands (and feet and all that) at indoor rock climbing, then on another date we went wakeboarding.  I remember on that wakeboarding trip she had a picnic basket prepared and we had lunch on the beach.  We also rode dirt bikes on one of those dates.  It was seriously fun and such a respite from the jobs and lives we lead.”

Cheap Dating Ideas For The Wholesome Hearts

Your excitement of finally going out for a date is about to kill itself because you run short of resources. Don’t just simply let go of the opportunity. Hunt for cheap dating ideas that are guaranteed to make your day. After all, dating is not only for the classy and expensive dates do not guarantee a perfect rendezvous either. So before you postpone a sparkling time of your life, grab your pen now and take note of these cheap dating ideas especially made for the wholesome and simple ones:
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