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?

Romantic Ideas for Valentines Day

When February rolls around, there’s nothing much on people’s minds for the next two weeks except Valentines 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 Valentines surprises. Let me give you some romantic Valentines Day ideas.

For one thing, a romantic Valentines 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 Valentines Day and you are in the comfiest place in the world.

Or let’s try another approach. Being such a big occasion and all, Valentines 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 Valentines 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 Valentines 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 Valentines Day ideas. Have fun with yours.

Have Yourself a Handful of Sage First Date Advice

Going on a first date? It’s safe to say that you may be on the nervous side, even for a bit. That being said, the first date advice I’m going to give you is try not to be nervous. Oh, perhaps a bit of the jitters is good, but none of that hands-shaking-and-sweating thing that you are a failure at conversation. Nervous excitement is good. Fearful nervousness is not.

Relax, it’s just a date. For many people, however, a lot could be riding on a first date, not that you should be discussing the names of your future children just yet. But it is understandable how stressful these dates are. Have a look at several words of advice from the many who have survived it, a chockfull of first date advice:

Wear Comfy Clothes. This doesn’t mean you wear sweats and go barefoot on your date, but do wear something sensible. Save the corsets and the suit you can’t move in for later. You don’t want to appear too fussy or too stiff for your date. And also pay attention to what you’ll be wearing. You don’t want to send the wrong message to your date now, do you?

Mind Your Manners. Honestly, this should be part and parcel of everyone’s lives, not just on first dates, but I’ve heard of enough first date horror stories regarding rude dates that I felt the need to include it here. Manners don’t grow old. Do open the door for your date. Do say “Please,” and “Thank you.” These little things could make the big difference between a winning date and a failed one.

Keep the Conversation Light. I’m sure you both have valid opinions with regards to world issues, politics, religion and all those topics that matter, but for a first date, stay out of these highly debatable topics. You’re on a date, not a debate society meeting.

Speaking of Conversations, Don’t Dominate. Roughly translated as:Don’t talk too much. Let the other person say something that would keep the conversation going. More often than not, talking too much is one of the reasons a second date is not in order. You two are trying to get to know one another. Let the other person have a say.

Respect Your Date’s Time. This means don’t be late, be ready on time, don’t cancel at the last minute, and worst of all: Don’t stand your date up. Not only is this a sign of disrespect, you scar your own reputation. Your date is a person too with his own schedules and activities and appointments. If something truly sudden comes up, like an emergency, inform your date and ask to reschedule. He may or may not agree to reschedule but at least you weren’t rude and bad-mannered.

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 brains 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.Sometimes when you’ve been together with your partner for long enough, things just fall on the wayside. Most times you rack your brains 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 a few 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.

Men Dish on 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 could 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 – 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.”

*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.”

Snooping on Irish Dating Sites

Oh, to be young and Irish! We Irish folk are known for being a happy lot, the life of the party, always great to be with. It is for these reasons that it seems hard to believe that there are free Irish dating sites around, the kinds where you register, upload info and a pic, and see if somebody in Ireland (or anywhere else) likes you. Or is it?

Of course we can party and make friends easily, but I have to agree that finding someone to date is not as easy. So, free Irish dating sites eh? What can I lose? As long as it’s free, I’m good. Let’s see what is floating on dear old cyberspace. We’re gonna do a bit of snooping around here.

A quick internet search will actually yield a considerable amount of dating sites dedicated to Irish people. It’s nice to know I have choices. The first site I came across isn’t actually an Irish dating site per se but rather an international one. They have an Irish page where men and women from Ireland put up profiles in the hope of finding true love. It’s free, has an Irish page, so I guess that qualifies for it being a free Irish dating site. It looks a bit dodgy though. Let’s see what’s next.

I hoped to see something that looks better than the first one. This next one’s called Flirtbox, and it looks modern, the layout’s clean. Like many other dating sites you also have to register in order to upload your data and pics and get in the game. However, you can browse through profiles even if you aren’t registered, an experience that I can only describe as interesting. Exploring further, I don’t know what to feel about the forums page where one of the discussions thread proudly displayed “**SEX REQUEST THREAD – DUBLIN**.” Moving on.

Spark! is the last Irish dating site on our tiny list, and one that promotes itself as “Ireland’s quality dating site.” Honestly when I first got to the page I thought it’s one of those placeholder pages. I don’t exactly know why. Must be the rather simple layout, or the orange and blue theme. You also have to register, of course, but you can search and browse even without doing so. A bonus is that they say they scream every profile before it goes live. I guess that’s to filter out the horn dogs and the creeps.

I couldn’t really imagine myself going on any of these, but who knows? Perhaps these free Irish dating sites (free is important to me, obviously) hold the solution to any love and/or dating problems I may have in the future. My friends may find the love of their lives on one of these. It’s all about keeping an open mind and knowing that the luck of the Irish never runs out.

Keeping Sane on the First Date

Ah, the first date. It is something that men and women have to go through before they can figure out that they’ve had their last first date. The first date is equal parts scary and exciting. If it goes well, both parties will look back with amusement. If not, chalk it to experience.

However, the first date shouldn’t be a pressure- and stress-filled event in your life. There are many women who stress about the first date too much as though they are meeting God itself. Relax, won’t you? Not everyone is your soul mate. There will be potential duds along the way, but life goes on. The reason most first dates fail is that the man or woman is so stressed out from trying to make everything perfect that they forget to be themselves.

Again, relax. And seriously, be yourself. The more nervous you are, the more you are prone to make mistakes – talking too much, getting drunk, talking too much because you are drunk, that sort. Believe me, I’ve been on ones where I just wanted to go, “You know what, let’s just sit on the sidewalk and get ice cream and be like normal people because I could sense your nervousness to here.” Relaxing and not stressing out doesn’t mean you won’t put any effort to the date. Just don’t make it into such a big production that you’ll rival a Hollywood action movie. Don’t take on a weird persona just because you think it would impress him or her. Think about this: If your date doesn’t like you the way you are, what are the chances that person will like you at all?

To avoid going crazy in anticipation of the first date, remember that the purpose of a first date is to get to a second date. If you put things to perspective, you may function better. Little steps are better than getting on your date and instantly naming your children.

Also keep in mind that no matter how your date looks, even if he or she looks like she just stepped out of the pages of a magazine, your date is a person. Like you. Two people will always find things to talk about. If not, then move on. It’s not the end of the world.

First Date Tips for Men

Contrary to popular belief, men get as nervous as women as the first date approaches. How could they not? Most of the time, they do the asking, and the pressure of having the date become a success is up to them. As a woman who has had to be on these first dates, I believe I can offer some sage advice when it comes to doing well on first dates. Believe me, I’ve been on a handful of bad ones that could have been prevented with a little more caring.

Pay Attention to Hygiene

Certainly a shower or bath wouldn’t hurt, right? Brush your teeth. Floss. Make sure your breath smells flesh and you don’t have embarrassing sweat stains on your clothes. Something as basic as personal hygiene can make or break first dates.

Be a Gentleman

Believe it or not, chivalry still gets plus points in my opinion. Being a gentleman does not mean that you deem a woman unable to do things for herself such as open doors or pull chairs, but rather these things must be done for her because she is a lady and should be treated as such. Be polite to her and the people around you. Treat her special and you can bet on a second date.

Be on Time

On time, not 10 minutes early, and certainly not a half hour late. Respect her time. Turning out late certainly gives out the wrong impressions about not caring enough for her time. Never arrive too early as well, especially if you’re picking her up. Five minutes early is the earliest you can arrive.

Listen and Ask

The first date is usually the time when you start getting to know one another. As such, you want to keep conversations going. Ask thoughtful questions, listen to what she is saying and you’ll have a better conversation about yourselves and what is going on with your lives. Sitting in silence is not the best way to spend a date.

Keep it Casual

You’re nervous enough as it is, do you really want to stress about other details. I’m sure you want to make the best impression possible, but when you’re nervous, you are not yourself. You want her to know who you are. Keeping a first date casual allows both of you to relax and just enjoy each other’s company.

Men, remember that this is your one and only chance at giving out the right impression so you may want to refine the tiny details of your dating game. Keeping things simple and easy will help you be a success on your first date, and will help you land a second. Good luck, guys!

Sure-Win Romantic Date Ideas

Gone are the days where the only romantic date idea that exists is dinner by candlelight. While it is romantic, it has become somewhat of a cliché and somewhat boring. Fortunately, there really are a lot of good date ideas out there that people have done and recommend to shake up your dating game. It doesn’t even have to be expensive, just different and truly romantic. In fact, a lot of these romantic date ideas can be done at home.

Do Some Cooking

Have you heard that ladies love guys who can cook? You haven’t? Well, I’m telling you now. The stomach is not just the way to a man’s heart, it’s a way to everyone’s heart. Cook up a storm in her kitchen or yours, have all the ingredients ready, do the table setting, light candles, and put on the music. You may even do the cooking together. It sounds simple enough, but the effect is long-lasting.

Bubbles

Drawing a bubble a bath for the two of you and just soaking and relaxing is one of the most romantic things couples can do, not to mention very expensive. Open up a bottle of wine as you soak and reminisce about past experiences, childhood stories, and the like. What happens next is up to you.

Stargazing

Taking a page from romantic movies of late, head on over to a park on a clear night, have some blankets and hot cocoa, and have a grand time stargazing. Who knows, you might even see a shooting star you may both wish on.

Go to a Spa

Surely any woman will appreciate the pampering. Spas today offer packages for couples, with massages and treatments for both of you. There are also spa lodges that include accommodations and food in their packages. Great food, nice digs, and total pampering and relaxation – what could be more romantic than that?

These are just some of the ideas that you can do for a truly romantic and inexpensive date. Even the spa date is inexpensive, all things considering. You can add your own twist to these romantic date ideas for your own unique version. Enjoy your date!

Land, Water, and Air: Conquered on Dating

Most of the things we do are the common activities of our daily life. Eating, sleeping, going to work, and others. For years, these things are what we have been doing. Some parties, reunions, weddings and the like come on an occasional basis. Most of our life, we are doing the common routine.

Good thing that a romantic relation is also part of our daily activities. That adds vibrancy to our life. It serves to be one of the colorful and enjoyable part of surviving in this stressful world. With a special one, we are able to go on dates, although what we are usually doing are the typical dates. Anyway, even if they are usual dates, it does not matter for love’s sake.
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