Posts Tagged ‘dating’
Date Night on a Dime
I will try to avoid making this post as cheesy as the title sounds. I won’t suggest that you watch The Notebook (although it is a great movie) curled up under a blanket with your honey, a mug of steaming hot cocoa in hand and a cozy fire in the fireplace… Not saying that doesn’t sound wonderful, but I’m here to give you some fun date ideas for you and yours to try this fall season!
My boyfriend and I are guilty of getting caught up in our routines. I’m in class all day, and he’s busy at work, and then 6pm rolls around and we’re both exhausted, starving, sometimes smelly, and wanting to do nothing but lie on the couch watching House Hunters International, with a Hawaiian pizza on its way. And usually, this is exactly what we do. But there’s something about the changing of the leaves, and the cooler temperatures beginning to creep in, that gets me excited to change it up a little, and try some new things! Here’s a list of my top 3 favorite fall dates… on a dime, of course.
1. Fall Festivals. There are TONS of fall festivals coming up in cities all around the country. Oktoberfest is an annual festival here in Lexington, Kentucky and is sure to be a good time with tons of live music, tasty fare, and pumpkin beer! These events are usually free to the public, so bring a few bucks for some treats, throw on those brown boots, and enjoy the night with your sweetheart! Check out funtober.com to find the nearest festival.
2. Pumpkin Carving. Childish? NO! Awesome? YES! There’s something about the idea of pumpkin carving that just gets me giddy. Maybe it’s those sweet childhood memories that I’m eager to relive, but come October, I will jump at any chance to make a trip to the pumpkin patch. You see, pumpkin carving to me is a win-win-win. Here’s what I’m thinking. A) Actually going to the pumpkin patch is half the fun, especially when you have your special someone with you. It’s a blast seeing who can pick the biggest/best/goofiest pumpkin. A little country store with hot apple cider is a major bonus! B) The pumpkin carving itself! Stick with the classic jack-o-lantern, or try something totally wacky. For a good laugh, try carving pumpkins of each other. Visit extremepumpkins.com to get those creative juices flowing! C) You can roast and snack on the pumpkin seeds! Rinse the seeds to get rid of the pulp, toss them on a cookie sheet sprinkled with some olive oil and salt, and pop them in the oven to bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, and enjoy!
3. Haunted Houses. Skip the dinner and scary movie date, and try a haunted house instead. They are actually incredibly thrilling and terrifying at the same time, and are sure to create some funny stories by the end of it! Check out hauntedhouse.com to find the best ones near you! Grab your date’s hand, and enter if you dare!
Calling All Guys—I Need Advice
Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m mad at you, so now what do you do?
In movies, on TV, and sometimes even in songs, you see or hear about flowers. Girls get them on Valentine’s Day, on their birthday, or just when you’re feeling thoughtful, at least that’s what I always thought was the case.
Until recently, that is.
Here’s what’s up for debate: Are flowers a nice gesture—a gift for a person to say any number of things—“I love you”, “I’m thinking about you”, “I miss you”, “You’re great”. Or, are flowers your “get out of jail free card” when you forget something, can’t find a present, or worse, you did something wrong?
I always thought they were just a nice gesture—a bright mix of color and smells just to show you care. But some people think differently. My boyfriend bought me flowers a couple of weeks ago. They were beautiful. There was no occasion, no anniversary, no birthday. They were just a sweet way to show he cared. But at the store when he picked them out the clerk and several customers asked, “well son, what’d you do?”
He was confused. He didn’t do anything, did he? What was he sorry for?
He had no idea why everyone read so much into it. He was just doing something nice. He knows that I love flowers, as most girls do. There are some that find them cheesy. Say my mom for example. She argues, why have flowers when you could have a gift card? Flowers die, gift cards spread joy and well, a free snack. And you can’t eat flowers.
But regardless of who likes them and who doesn’t, I need to know how they are viewed. What do you think about flowers? Girls see bright colors, a sweet gesture, and a chance to be the envy of all of her friends. What do guys think? Are you just being thoughtful, or are you trying to make up for something, and saying it with roses?
Leave your comments below—let’s get to the bottom of this!
Young and Married: The Latest Craze!
I’ve noticed lately a common theme among young couples, marriage! I personally know of four couples that are currently engaged/married that are 21 years of age or younger. One of the most popular young engagements right now is the engagement of Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth. Cyrus is currently 19 years old while Hemsworth is 22. Young marriage seems to be either very promising or a very bad idea.
My grandparents were married when they were both 19 years old and this summer they will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. I have learned by watching them that sometimes you just know when you’re young. If a young person can truly commit to the one they love and bypass their “wild 20’s”, they can usually make things last. Some may view it as a rush to grow up or a young and naive decision, but I see it as an early promise, one that most often cannot be broken.
Most people that get married young were high school sweethearts. Because they started dating younger, they often get married younger. If you think about it, if a high school relationship started let’s say, junior year, and it survived all the way through college before tying the knot, the relationship would technically be a six year commitment before a ring was even involved. This same couple could marry right after graduation at age 22. To the world, this couple seems very young. To this couple, it’s been six years.
Obviously it’s true that some young marriages don’t last, but isn’t that with any marriage? I have learned that age isn’t a factor, it’s just the love that you have for one another. Anyone who says someone is too young to love is clueless; anyone can fall in love it’s just whether or not they make the decision to hold on and fight for it. It’s never easy to go into college with a relationship and come out with the same relationship; it’s a choice to put love over anything else: distance, a wild time, being free. It’s a choice that says my relationship is worth everything and I’d do anything to see it through. Young love is a beautiful thing, as clique as that sounds, it’s absolutely true.
The four couples I know of that are young and either engaged/ married and four of the happiest couples I know. One was married a year ago last week when she was only 19. I know she wouldn’t trade her decision for the world. The other three will be married within the next two years all before they’re 22. They’re all happily planning their weddings and enjoying their lives with each other. I am sure that all of these couple will be eternally happy together. No matter what the skepticism is about young love, it’s not something to worry about. When you meet the right person I guess you just know, whether you’re 16, 21, or 35.
What To Do When It Is Time to ‘Meet The Parents’
“I think it is time to meet my parents…” You probably haven’t felt that nervous, pit-of-your-stomach, pressured feeling since your partner agreed to start the relationship. The inevitable, with any long term relationship at least, has happened. Meeting Mom and Dad is in your near future. Here’s how to deal:
Let’s work from the outside in. This may be a little shallow, but first impressions are important and it is vital that you make a positive one if you want any chance of continuing the relationship or taking it to that next step.
A couple of senior guys I ran into at California State University of Monterey Bay agree it would be a good idea to wash your car as it may be the first thing they see upon arrival. The type of car does not matter, and if it does, are these really people you want to surround yourself with? Showing that you have good habits and value your things is important. If you don’t value your possessions and can’t take care of your car, how will his/her parents think you will treat their son/daughter?
It is probably a good idea to dress nice to meet the girl’s/guy’s parents. “A collared shirt doesn’t hurt,” another Senior student from Cal State Monterey says. “No sunglasses, no hat. And don’t put your sunglasses on the top of your head like this guy,” one of them say as he points to his friend. The friend adds, “dress clean. No ripped jeans, no ripped up shoes.”
Greg Kelley, 20, a resident of Toms River, NJ suggests, “I would wear something like Khaki pants with a nice button down and crew cut sweater, casual.”
James Pinelli, a sophomore at Purdue University agrees you should “make sure you look good.” To him, that means nice jeans and a polo.
Andrew English, a junior at Ramapo College of New Jersey says to “look good, but not too good” as you don’t want to come off as a suck up.
There are definitely behavior guidelines to follow when meeting a partner’s parents. The absolute first interaction you will have with the parents is the greeting aka the handshake. “The handshake is the most important [part],” says Devin Johnson, a junior at Cal State Monterey. “Look the father dead in the eye and give him a firm handshake. Politely shake the mom’s hand. You have to show you care.”
English has some specific advice in dealing with the father’s handshake: “Let the father know he’s boss but that you’re not weak so give him a firm [handshake] but let him have the better firmer shake.”
Cat Skelton, a freshman at University of Minnesota gives a woman’s perspective on a guy dealing with a mom: “you should turn her hand and place your left hand on top of hers.”
Next comes the conversation. A Grad student from Brown University advises to prepare and “do your homework ahead of time. Find out the dad’s sports interests as well as an area of interest of the mom. Conversation is key.”
Tony Zakarian, 25, a resident of Ridgefield, NJ agrees to prepare by buying the mom flowers.
Before the conversation actually begins, Santiago Quintero, a junior at Cal State Monterey comments: “My advice would be to speak up and maintain conversation with an animated voice. Parents will not be impressed with a shy, monotone voice boyfriend.”
Don’t forget your manners. Tyler Machado and Markus McMahon both juniors at Cal State Monterey agree to pose good demeanor and please and thank you’s go a long way. Yes mam and yes sir should also be a part of your vocabulary. Not cussing is a good idea. Also spark an intellectual conversation, “show him you have a brain,” says one senior from Cal State Monterey.
Everyone I have talked to, guys and girls alike, agree that it is important to be polite and nice but do not overdo it and try too hard. This is a fine line to balance.
Zak Coffey, another senior at Cal State Monterey advises, “I think people will probably say something along the lines of “be yourself,” but I think that it’s perfectly fine to be better than yourself for a little while.”
Understanding where you fit in and where your place is a good idea to have when meeting The Parents.
Coffey says, “I would probably say it is important to figure out the girlfriend’s families dynamics. Then figure out where you fit in. So sometimes it’s acting really familiar, and sometimes it’s all about acting really well composed.” Thus, analyzing the situation and adjusting from there is a good skill to have in your pocket.
Understanding family dynamics is something Casey Berg, a junior at Rutgers University agrees is a major aspect: “make sure they know that you want to get to know the whole family. Cook a family meal for everyone, show that you can provide for a family in more ways than just money.”
Once acquainted with the family, going above and beyond and acting as if an extended family member is perfectly normal. “Being sincere, always being stuff for the family when I visit, obeying their rules, helping the family with chores or lawn work,” says Brian DLG Salas, a junior at University of Guam.
Jake Panchito Rosas, a freshman at Bergen County College says, “be respectful and honest. [You] can never go wrong with that.”
-TravelBug
I’m reading Basic Marketing
On a Date or Dating Your Cell Phone?
We all do it, in fact it’s become an unconscious habit. We check our phones, update our Facebook status, and even use our phones as a pseudo watch. Advances in smart phone technology have helped transform our cellular devices into an extra appendage! Although it may be difficult, we need to remember that face-to-face communication trumps all and sometimes it’s okay to put the phone down.
I used to be offended when my dad would snuff “I’ll just wait until you’re done texting” before he would carry on with the conversation we were having. I would get so defensive, stating “but dad, I’m still listening! I can do both!” But what I didn’t stop to consider was the message I was sending him but directing my focus at a screen instead paying attention to what he was saying. Multi-tasking ability aside, I was being rude. We all think that we can do a million things at once—check email, walk and text, check the time, respond to a text, etc. but we should stop and smell the roses! If someone is standing if front of you—regardless of who it is—resist the urge to let your fingers do the talking and give them your undivided attention. How would you feel if you were trying to tell a story and someone found his or her little screen to be more interesting than you?
Here are my top situations when it’s best to hold off on the “oh so important message” blinking on your device:
Meal Times: We all want to feel important when surrounded by others. We want to feel in the loop and well informed. But texting at the dinner table, or table for that matter is just not okay. Consider the message you are sending. You’re supposed to be breaking bread, not making people want to break your phone. Save this time to converse with your family or friends, and wait to text your crush back for those extra 10 minutes, it won’t kill you! Bringing any device out during dinner shows that you aren’t interested in the people or the conversation. Show you care by taking part, and send your next words with friends play after you clear your plate—think of it as extra brainstorming time.
One on One Conversations: If someone is trying to talk to you—it doesn’t matter what time of day, in the morning, or the way to class, in the hall—resist the urge to play with your phone. Odds are you are only in short conversation; there is no need to see if time has passed, or if a new email has come through. Unless your talking partner explicitly asks for a contact, keep you’re electronics locked safely in your pocket. The art of conversation is sacred. If you have to reach for your phone to feel comfortable, chances are you need more one on one practice making small talk.
During Class: So we all know the drill. You are sitting in class, the clock is behind you and you’re desperately awaiting the end of this lecture. Now sneaking a peek at your “watch” that conveniently has a keypad and large-scale screen is okay every once and a while, but texting the whole time? That’s a violation of every college rule. It’s important for you to catch up on last night’s activities and hear the gossip that’s floating around, but did you forget you’re paying for each second you’re in class? Why waste it or something that can wait? Your texts will still be there, your gossip still intact. Plus won’t you feel cooler when you have lots of messages waiting for you, inside of getting out of class to an empty box because you already read them all? The professors get mad, you miss notes, you lose your place, wouldn’t you be doing yourself and all of us a favor if you just left your iPhone in bag for the whole 50 minutes? Try it. See how it feels. Do you notes look different? Did you do better on the test?
At the Movies: Enough said. How is anyone supposed to sufficiently watch “The Vow” with all the glaring phone lights going off in the theater? Everyone wants to watch their movies in peace, so let’s eliminate the problem and invite miss chatty Cathy to the movie with you so you don’t feel the need to text her in the middle of it!
So remember, there is a time and place to be on your phone. You can hurt someone’s feelings by always being glued to your keypad and you may miss important details if you’re always plugged into technology instead of reality. Remember to switch off and live in the moment—talk to friends, don’t text them. Phones don’t last forever, and neither will your friends if you spend more time tweeting than talking.
-Ring Queen
I’m reading Financial and Managerial Accounting
