Obviously, it cannot be the absolute first date. You need to have established a minimal comfort level with that person in order to be in such an intimate environment as a kitchen.

There are several ways in which you can set up your first cooking date, so to speak. The first option is going to his house, bringing all the ingredients and tools you will need, and cooking there. I find this is a great way to really get to know someone, because a kitchen is an intimate place, and you can learn a whole lot from a person just from the setup of his or her kitchen, and from the contents of the fridge!

You can also invite him to your place, and cook for him. Remember that the point of this exercise is not just to cook him a meal, but to do something to which you both contribute! If he has a great way with food and can cook really well, then you may want to involve him as much as possible – and who knows, you may even learn something! If, on the other hand, he is a complete boob in the kitchen and doesn’t know his beef from his veal, then involve him in little tasks that will keep him busy and entertained, and do the majority of the work.

Remember that you are on a date, not on the line in a restaurant, so if you are cooking with wine – a nice risotto or Osso Busso, for example, then make sure you keep a glass of wine or three for you and your date!

Let him talk as much as he wants – guys love talking about themselves – although if he knows what he’s doing, you’re the one that’s going to end up doing the talking!

Cooking with your date is a fantastic way to really get to know someone, and I heartily recommend it. Just make sure to follow the usual safety rules for someone you don’t know very well yet. You may want to invite a non-competing chaperon which won’t get insulted if you kick him or her out is the evening is going well!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

First of all, everyone has been to Starbucks at some point in their lives. It therefore makes for a comfortable, non-threatening environment from the get-go.

Even if your date has not been to that particular Starbucks, they all have the same basic layout and offer the same products.

Meeting at Starbucks for the first date is conservative and non-commital. It basically says, and there is nothing wrong with that, that you don’t want to spend either too much time or too much money without knowing more about your date.

From a woman’s point of view, Starbucks offers visibility and anonymity. They are almost always situated in safe, well-lit and busy parts of town. There are always lots of people in a Starbucks, so you don’t need fear for your safety, especially if you are meeting someone you met online for the first time.

From the man’s point of view (or still from a woman’s, for that matter) Starbucks is a relatively cheap way to meet someone and decide if there is enough of a connection or interest to warrant a more intimate second date.

Always remember to tell someone you trust where you are going and who you are meeting. This can be a real life-saver if things go horribly wrong, and at the worst you’ll have someone to gossip with when you get home!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Wherever you live, there is  bound to be an amusement park nearby, whether it is a summer fair or a full-fledged Six Flags super park.

Many parks have specials that allow you to get in for cheaper than the regular price if you visit during off-peak hours, such as Tuesday afternoon, if both your schedules permit it.

An amusement park gives you plenty of opportunity to skip over the awkward moments of a first date by giving you many things on which to focus your attention, as well as plenty of time to get to know one another as you – most probably – wait in line for the more popular rides.

Having your first date at an amusement park will also provide great memories and a great story to tell friends – and maybe kids! – about the first time you met. And if things don’t work out, well hey, at least you got to spend the day at the park, enjoying yourself!

It also has the advantages of being a very public place, putting to rest any safety doubts. There are also usually many restaurants and a multitude of activities to do besides the rides, which can lead to laughter and sharing of opinions and memories.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Your soulmate.

The Perfect Woman – for you. She’s out there somewhere. and you will never meet her if you don’t get out of your house. So here are the top three ways to meet her.

Number Three. Through a friend. Your friends love you, right? They know what kind of person you are, and what kind of person you want to meet. Sometimes they know better than you do.

Number Two.  Through a common interest activity. Pottery, sky diving, jewelry making, a book club, Kung Fu. It doesn’t matter what it is. What is important is that you go because you want to do that activity, not just to meet women. If you do that, then you are the worst kind of loser, and women will smell your stench of desperation a mile away. Do things you enjoy, for their own sake, and it won’t be long before you meet your mate.

Number One. Online. Everyone and their mothers are online. Everyone has a Facebook account. If you don’t then you are missing the boat in a very serious fashion. Of course it can be very intimidating in the beginning, but keep at it and soon online dating will become a very enjoyable activity, and you will meet you soul mate. While there are many “free” dating services, most of those are scams designed to suck you into disreputable pay services. You are much better off signing up from the start with a respectable company, such as Match.com or FriendFinder, and save yourself expense and heartache.

So here are the top three ways to meet the woman of your dreams. Ideally you should employ all three, and you will meet your soulmate in no time at all.

Good luck!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

For some, introductions are coordinated in the first month of a relationship, while others wait until several months or even years into the relationships. The reasons can depend on culture, strength of parent-child relationship, strength of couple, horrible past introductions, and for a wide variety of other reasons. The ‘intro’ can happen at any time.

Things to watch out for:

• One person is pushing to meet the in-laws while the other one is adamant on not coordinating a meeting. While this could indicate simple discontent with the parents, or lack of regard for their input into the life, not wanting to allow a crossing over of lives can be a symptom of something major, such as fear of commitment, embarrassment, or worse! The lack of an introduction can mean that the other person is not sure about how you fit into their lives.
• After meeting the in-laws they want to be integrated into all aspects of your life. What can happen if you introduce the family too soon? They can begin to feel as though they have a responsibility to ensure the success of the relationship and start meddling. Be careful! Once you begin to allow it, if you suddenly decide to lead your own life, it will damage their egos.
• If you are dating someone from a different culture, ensure that you both understand the different cultural affiliations, and norms. Interracial or inter cultural relationships can present significant advantages and add different views and ways of lives. But, when meeting the in-laws, it is important to attempt to acknowledge and embrace their way of life. It may not be that different, but accepting the changes and slight variations in traditions can go a long way to your peaceful and seamless integration into the family environment. I’m sure you have invited a mate for dinner at your parent’s place, where after they left, your mother or father made a comment about his mannerism, accent, behavior, historical background. We live in a world that is much more tolerant than our ancestors; however, differences still intrigue us. So, ensure to brief both parties about the differences, or orchestrate an open discussion.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Online dating sites are a useful tool to select what may appear as great candidates. By going for coffee, or grabbing a bite to eat with one or many of these people you will refine your ability to also identify the fakes from the genuine. Further, online dating sites have chat-rooms for specific interest that can help you find a mate with common interest. Many free sites are offered and can help you to break out of your shell and laugh a little, hopefully with another.

Always ensure that when you going out with someone that you met online, that a friend, or family member knows where you are going, and where you will be.

I have shared a number of evenings with quite a few interesting dates… And, each one has taught me a little about who I am, what I am willing to put up with, and also a lot about other people, other cultures, other ways of life. Even if you don’t find the love of your life, you can still gain some benefit from dating, and eventually when the time is right, you will find that special someone that makes your heart sing.

Go out, let your hair down and enjoy your life in the warm embrace of another.

It can happen, if only you can allow another in.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I am not trying to discourage, believe me, and read on.

While it may be easy to say, “I will not settle for anyone under a certain height, over a certain weight, under a certain income”, it may not be in your best interest. Sometimes, happiness and love can occur in the most underestimated of matches and circumstances. I am not saying to abolish all standards! I am not saying to get hitched with the first guy who makes eye contact. What I am saying is that sometimes, we have a tendency to say “I want”, rather than “I need”.

Think about this distinction. It is often hard to conceive of because of the ability of so many goods, people, and services at our fingertips. Needs last a lifetime, wants are gone once we have acquired them.

Alexander Hamilton said, “Those who stand for nothing fall for anything” and it still rings true today. While it is important to distinguish need from want, it is also important to determine aspects that you absolutely will not back down from, whether it be sense of humor, child-rearing, politics, religion, income, financial stability, whatever it may be, stand proud and express your beliefs. It is up to you to decide whether or not a disagreement is a deal breaker.

Let’s take a classic example, shall we? While shopping you notice a cute little pair of Jimmy Shoes; do you need them? Probably not, but us girls can think up any possible reason to need them because that is what we want.

Start to think about qualities or attitudes of a possible mate. Is he tall, dark haired, muscular, intelligent, and ambitious? Does he make you laugh? Is he compassionate? Do his eyes give the impression of reading your soul? Do you share common values, common goals, and sense of humor?

Remember, Prince Charming can take many forms. The people you have dated obviously are not meeting the bar; did you ever think of asking yourself why?

Consider your needs — your true needs — and then give the singles in your area a chance, a real chance, without preconceived notions. Have fun, enjoy life, and above all, keep smiling!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Those stories are funny enough, but those aren’t horror stories. Here are a few tips to make sure your first date doesn’t turn into a TRUE horror story.

Pick the place. Choose a well-lit, very public meeting spot. Arrange to meet at a coffee shop, or if it’s summer and you have to option, a public festival, or street sale. Not only will there be lots of people around, but it is a good occasion to see someone outside of what may be his natural environment.

Tell a Friend. I don’t mean call a friend to gossip about having a date — you can do that too, of course! — But rather to tell them where you are going and who you are meeting. Make sure to tell your friend or family member at what time you expect to be home. Remember to call them after your date so they don’t worry unnecessarily.

Plan to Receive a Phone Call. Ask that friend or family member you just told about your date to call you about 45 minutes into your date. It won’t be very much of an inconvenience to either you or your date, and should the meeting prove awkward, it will give you an opportunity to exit gracefully, pretending some emergency.

Avoid Alcohol. A glass of wine or a beer are always fun, but avoid them on a first date. Alcohol, even just a little bit, will impair your judgment and lower your inhibitions, which can lead to complications which I don’t need to explain. If you like him, there’ll be plenty of opportunities at later dates to have a drink together. If you don’t, then you can have a glass of wine by yourself when you get home.

These safety tips are as easy to follow as they are discreet. They will not make your date think you are thinking that he’s a creep. The goal of the first date is nothing more than to establish whether it is worth it or nor to have a second date. While, as the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression, do not go overboard. Smile, be polite, enjoy yourself and above all, be yourself!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

There is an old saying that when meeting someone new, there are two conversation topics that should be avoided: politics and religion.

Now depending on which part of the world you’re in, Religion does not really fit the bill anymore. In North America, religious views are considered personally held beliefs and religion can be discussed safely with almost anyone at any time. That may not be the case if you are living in the Middle East, for example.

Politics are an entirely different thing. Whether we like it or not, our entire lives are governed by politics, especially in the long run. The choice of a particular government NOW means nothing in our day to day lives, but it will have a major impact on the lives of our children.

People tend to hold extreme views about politics, and anything that lends itself to grand exclusionary statements should be avoided as a conversation topic on a date.

In keeping with wanting to avoid conversation that may lead to conflict and a ruined date, here are a couple of other topics that should be avoided:

• Global Warming – The “consensus” is not what it used to be
• Abortion – This should be obvious. No other topic creates so much discord

In general, keep to safe topics where a disagreement will always be perceived as an innocent difference of opinion, such as work, the weather, hobbies and outdoors activities.

This advice is particularly relevant if you belong to a group that doesn’t follow the herd. If you believe firmly in Global Warming, then there is little harm in bringing it up, since the odds that your date has the same beliefs are pretty good. If, on the other hand, you believe that it is a sham, then you will be better off shutting up about it until you establish a comfort level with your date that will enable you to talk about controversial topics without fear of ruining everything.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I’m talking about body language. 

There are many things a trained observer can tell from someone, even if that person is not saying a word. For example, looking at the eyes; is the person constantly looking towards the door, looking at someone else, or God forbid, looking at his or her watch? Is your date slightly shifted in his or her seat, i.e. not looking directly at you? If so, that may be an unconscious sign that he or she is ready to bolt, or at least would like to!

Unfortunately, all these signs may pass you by, especially if you are attracted to the other, or a little too animated and involved in what you are saying. 

One thing you can not miss, however, is the crossed arms. If the object of your desires, sitting across the table from you has his or her arms crossed, this is a sign that you are on extremely shaky ground.

You had better start paying attention to what you are saying, and see what kind of reaction you get. It is possible to recover from the crossed arms in terms of a successful date, but it is very difficult.  

Crossed arms denote that the person is closing in on himself, and has made the conscious or unconscious decision not to be receptive to what you are saying. That means that as far as your date is concerned, your jokes are not funny, your stories not endearing, and your conversation in general, boring.

One way to possible salvage something from this fiasco is to ask questions, and to make sure your date talks as much as possible. Everyone loves talking, and most of the time, people just love talking about themselves. So ask lots of questions and try to shift the conversation away from what caused the crossed arms in the first place.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.