8 first date ideas for outdoorsy types

If you looking for something a bit more original than the typical "Dinner and cinema," more power to you. As a woman I can tell you that boys get big brownie points for coming up with and creative planning meetings that prove that more than a newspaper has been opened. If your wife loves communing with nature, are here are some ideas for your first rendezvous that appeal to their casual clothing page and make sure that you get a second date.

Trails - the great mystery about hiking, which says no one, is that it really only by a different name foot. Find a shady way in the neck of the Woods and charge them with for the ride. The landscape will provide a welcome distraction, while learning two each other. 

Rock climbing - one of my all-time requires favorite events, this one a plan, such as the two of you need to take an intro class, if you do not experienced mountaineers. However, there are many gyms to offer the affordable introductions, and generally you will receive your own teacher. Develop trust from backup each other, then you meet your post-climbing appetite through access to eat something. 

A picnic in the Park - a classic first-date tour, is it hard to go wrong with a blanket, a picnic basket and some home-made treats. Make your thoughtfulness shine through you, then seal the deal with PB & j.riding - risk of over-generalizing, women love horses. Whether it angle the "White Knight" or just the excitement of the session on an animal several times your size, riding lessons or even a tour à la Cheval, will the romance factor of each excursion above. 

Kayaking - for those who happily enough life close to a body of water, why not a kayak rent (Yes, only men... one,) (You do paddling) and float around? While swimming probably a little much is (it would be almost naked probably would rather not for the first time, that the two of them depend on that), the water is ideal for Sparks, see below.

A daredevil skydiving – you have in your hands, you create by jumping from a plane accompanied by a lifelong bond. Not for the faint of heart, it is an incredible rush - and the thrill of touching back down on the Earth is sure to bring you two together closer sweet, solid.

Ride bikes - looking for something a little tamer? Area of the city on two wheels. If you're serious about advertising this one, you should also a tandem bicycle for rent. There is a risk, and may be a little cheesy side, but it's hard to deny the appeal of "a bicycle built for two".

Camping - it could be a stretch for a first date, but if you really jonesing for an outdoor adventure, throw a tent in the truck and wipe your way to a secluded place. Advantages: No TV, menu-review or snotty waiter, you distract. Disadvantages: Bears!

Where do you stand on love and money?

What kind of money-savvy do you look for in a significant other? If you're baffled by the question, it's time to get wise. In tough economic times like these (heck, in any times at all), money and how the person you might want to eventually marry handles, thinks about and spends their greenbacks can have a massive impact on your would-be relationship (not to mention whether your future kids go to college or work at Burger King).

Most dating sites take you through the in's and out's, asking you practically everything about the kind of person you'd like to be with. What do they look like? Where do they hang out? What size shoe do they wear? You're grilled about everything except how they manage finances, who they go to for advice about monetary setbacks, and what they'd be willing to give up if they lost their only source of income.

But Perfectmatch is different. The site's Love & Money Assessment lets you evaluate your financial compatibility with your matches, addressing this crucial (but often taboo) subject before the ball gets rolling. Integrated into the Duet Total Compatibility System, these 7 questions ask about your financial habits and values to help you determine the ideal economic profile for your potential mates.

Are you searching for a saver or desperate for someone who's willing to shell out for spontaneity? Find out how you stack up financially, and save now with our Perfectmatch.com discount!

Long Distance Romance: Staying Close Across the Miles

 
You decided to go for it.  You and your significant other have examined your relationship and determined that, however challenging it may be, what you have is worth hanging on to, regardless of physical distance.  Congratulations!  It’s a big deal to find a relationship that means so much!

Even so, you know perfectly well that there will be challenges.  You may even be a little worried about maintaining that special connection that keeps your relationship solid when you’re face-to-face.  With a little creativity and a little time, you and your sweetheart are bound to develop some long-distance rituals of your own.  In the meantime, here are a few ideas to get you started:

The Virtual Ritual

A long-term relationship is made up of hundreds of those little rituals you develop with your partner.  Thanks to modern technology, you can still share some of those rituals regardless of distance.  Keep having lunch together through Skype.  Bring your phone along and chat through the evening walk you used to share.  If you’re in different time zones, record that show you both love so you can watch it “together” when it comes on in your sweetheart’s city.  By maintaining a few rituals, you not only continue to bond through them, you also reassure yourself and your partner that you’re still united, never mind the miles.

Give A Little Love Every Day

Writing a love letter or sending a gift every day might not be practical.  But here’s a way to deliver your most heartfelt sentiments to the one you miss every day.  For each day that you’ll be separated, write down something you love about her or a quote that makes you think of him.  Fold them up, put them in a box, and tell your partner to read one every day at the time she most needs your love and encouragement.  It’s a great way to still be there when you can’t physically be there.

Play Online

A little friendly competition is good for a relationship.  Help nurture the playful side of your relationship by challenging your partner to an online game, like chess or scrabble or whatever your style may be.

Sit Under The Stars

Unless your significant other is on the other side of the world, you can always draw comfort from the knowledge that—no matter how far away he may be—you’re still under the same moon and the same stars.  A sappy sentiment, but reassuring nonetheless.  Celebrate this little commonality by sharing a moonlit picnic over the phone.

Share The Small Things

What makes serious relationships so meaningful is that you share nearly everything.  No hears more of the details of your day than your significant other, and probably no one else is as good as she is at deciphering the cryptic texts you send about your boss during business meetings.  When distance separates you, resist the instinct to broaden your communication.  Yes, some details may have to fall by the wayside, but don’t forget to send a text about the weird duffle-bag guy in the subway or to give your full review of your new coworker’s nose-blowing ritual the next time you’re on the phone with your partner.  It’s the little details that keep you both mindful that this relationship is special.

Send Your Scent

You don’t have to spray your letters with perfume if that’s a little too clichéd for you.  But do be aware of how powerful a familiar scent can be.  When you and your sweetheart part ways, make sure she has an article of clothing or a blanket or something that would carry your scent.  It’s a wonderful, wordless way to keep the connection.  Fragrances have a way of conjuring up vivid memories and emotions in ways that nothing else can.

Nothing beats real face time, and you’d never be able to fool yourselves into believing that this time apart is no different than your moments together.  But there’s no need for all-out wallowing.  You can still nurture your love from across the miles if you keep in mind the things that make your relationship so wonderful.  Romance is all about finding creative ways to celebrate your bond.  Consider this an opportunity to expand your repertoire.

About You: Tackling the Self-Description in Your Online Profile

You’ve found your most flattering photos.  You’ve filled out your age, height, and zodiac sign.  You’ve even listed your twenty favorite bands.  But the Self-Summary section is still blank, the cursor blinking incessantly in the empty box as if to say, “C’mon, let’s get this done.”

Most online daters hate the About Me section of their profiles.  How do you sum yourself up in just a couple hundred words?  Harder still, how do you sum yourself up in just a few hundred words while making yourself desirable to prospective matches?

The first step is to relax.  You don’t have to capture the true essence of your being, you just have to spout off a few facts about yourself that might pique someone’s interest.  You also don’t have to dig up amazing accomplishments or wow the crowds with your crazy experiences.  Most singles aren’t looking for someone with amazing stats; they’re looking for someone whose personality and interests mesh with theirs.  All you have to do is give them a small sample of who you are.

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

What are your likes/dislikes?

This little maneuver has been done to death, but that’s because when you get specific, it really communicates a lot about you.  The old “I like honesty, I dislike bad attitudes” won’t help you much, so think of the details.  “I love girls who laugh at old Adam Sandler movies, and I can’t stand trendy cupcake shops.”  That statement reveals a lot about who that dude is, and—because it’s so specific—he now has all Sandler-loving girls imagining themselves nestled in the crook of the profiler’s arm and laughing it up over Billy Madison.

What are your hobbies?

Again, this is a generic approach that can be made stronger through specifics.  There are plenty of people online who play guitar . . . so maybe use up a few more words to say that you play guitar for your all-girl Aerosmith cover band.  But as always, err on the side of safety when you talk specifically about your free time.  It’s a great idea to talk about your favorite trail, but avoid details like “Every Saturday at 8 a.m., I hike Secluded Trail at Creepy Woods State Park because the park is totally empty at that time.”  An exaggeration, of course, but you get my drift.

Where are you from and why does it matter?

“Where are you from?” isn’t just for small talk.   People usually ask because where we come from shapes who we are.  When you talk about your hometown, elaborate.  How has your background shaped you?  What values of your culture do you still embrace?  For example, “I grew up in a small town in Iowa, and while it’s kind of a relief to me to be in a big city for once, I’m trying to hang on to the friendly habits I learned while living in a place where I knew all my neighbor’s names.”

What do you value most?

One of the best things about dating online is that we’re likelier to be upfront about the important things in our profile than we are when we’re chatting someone up at a bar.  There’s usually no smooth way to slip in a comment like, “I really believe in open communication.”  So take advantage of the opportunity to get on your soapbox of values for a minute and talk about those priorities in your online profile.  You’re likely to strike a chord with someone who can relate.

Where are you headed?

Most prospectives are going to be curious about your personal goals.  Whether you’re focused on your career ambition, personal development, or a bit of both, revealing your vision of a future self will reveal a lot about your priorities.  It will also help you snag the attention of someone who envisions a complementary future for herself.  Of course, the key here is to choose your topic carefully.  You may want to avoid saying things like, “In five years I hope to have a handle on this body odor issue.”

What are you looking for?

You’ve probably already answered this question to some degree in other aspects of your profile . . . what sex you’re interested in, whether you’re looking for something serious, you may have even listed an age range and a body type preference.  But this is your chance to get into the details . . . to tell the folks browsing your profile that you want someone with whom you can laugh or take road trips or talk politics.  Just be sure that you separate your actual standards from your fantasy.  You don’t want to lose a great match because you mentioned that you want to have a relationship with someone who can jam with you as you explore the hip-hop/country music hybrid you’re creating.  Also make sure you keep this portion of your profile positive.  Griping about all the losers who didn’t live up to your expectations is a guaranteed turn-off.

Share a few random facts.

I’ve found that this is weirdly affective.  Does it seem relevant that you have an irrational fear of koala bears or that you broke your leg when you fell out of a shopping cart at age four?  Nope.  But these things are interesting, they’re quirky, and they add a little more demension to your character.

Describing yourself is a daunting assignment.  So give yourself a break by looking at it from a new perspective.  It’s not about defining who you are in one paragraph.  It’s about offering a teaser of your full personality . . . a collection of facts that give other singles a taste of what you’re about.  And if you find that the profile you’ve developed isn’t working?  Well, nothing’s permanent; you can edit any time.  Relax and have fun with it.

Choose Your Battles

All couples have disagreements from time to time. Many people consider arguing sometimes to be healthy for relationships. Of course, if you argue constantly that may be a sign of some different issues. However, getting back to the positive side of fighting, there are some benefits to doing some verbal slugging it out on occasion.

First of all, when couples argue, there’s a release of any tension build up. Sometimes, when you’re with someone a lot, there are things that can get on your nerves about each other. These things build when they’re not addressed and resolved. So, there may be some little thing that causes the blow up but the fight is actually about other things that have been allowed to fester for too long. Once the air is cleared, the fight is over and the tension is gone, or at least clearly reduced.

Having a difference of opinion is a good way to show that you’re not completely alike. There’s a lot to be said about having enough things in common, but nothing is more boring than being exactly alike. The things that you disagree over can be debated in a mature manner, or should be. But if yelling and throwing things is more the way you and your partner like to handle issues, go for it. Just try not to disturb the neighbors.

Something else you also need to understand about arguing is that you cannot always win. There’s no way to do that and hold onto a successful relationship. You need to be aware that you’re not always going to be right 100 percent of the time and your partner isn’t going to be, either. That’s why it’s important to choose your battles. Some things are just more important than others. When you’re positive that you’re right about something; that’s the thing to fight for. Of course, you should also be prepared for your partner to be equally adamant that he’s right about the same issue.

Another thing that turns out to be pretty nice about having a fight with your partner is that once it’s over, you get to make up. There’s just something about make up sex that’s unlike any other kind of sex you’ll ever have. It has an intensity to it that only anger and repentance can bring out. You almost feel as if you came very close to losing one another and then you were snatched back from the jaws of death regarding your relationship. The love and passion you feel for each other at the moment you make up is stronger than even the first time you were ever together physically. That’s a delicious feeling to hold onto.

Again, remember to choose your battles. Yes, the makeup sex if amazing and the end of a fight can mark the beginning of your love all over again. However, don’t fight over stupid things. Make your battles count and make them bring about a lasting joy and compromise into your relationship. Things will be so much better if you can do that.

Create a Killer Online Dating Profile

 
So many single people are turning to online dating these days that it’s considered to be just as normal as how dating used to be conducted. Admittedly, though, there are many major differences between the two. One of these is you have to come up with an entirely new way of talking about yourself. You know how when you first meet someone new and you both want to know all about each other’s likes and dislikes? That has to be done with online dating, too, except you’re going to be telling prospective dating partners about yourself BEFORE they even meet you.

That sounds a bit odd, but it’s actually part of the entire online dating experience. People find each other through their dating profiles left on various dating websites. Of course, you must become a member of each website before you’re allowed to put up a profile about yourself, but once you do, you want that profile to be, well, PERFECT! This is the way that people of like minds will find each other so you want yours to be the absolute best that you can make it.

That may sound like a tall order, but it’s not really all THAT hard. Following is a checklist of sorts to help you along in creating a killer online dating profile that will draw the right people to you and have them drooling in anticipation:

Take a new photo: One of the biggest mistakes that you can make on a dating profile is to put up a picture of yourself taken ten years ago or, even worse, use a photo of someone else. It’s vital to use your own photo. After all, you DO plan to actually MEET one of these people and you want to be upfront about what they’re going to see. It’s good to take a new photo if possible, so that you can take some time to prepare for it and look your most amazing. 

Be honest: Never write down what you THINK people will want to see. You’ve got to be honest about everything. This includes your appearance, your taste in music, movies, and television shows. Don’t make up things just to seem more exciting. Think about it this way: Don’t say that you’re 5’8 and weigh 125 pounds, love metal music, like gory horror flicks and enjoy skydiving if the truth is actually that you’re 5’3, weigh 140 pounds, love country western music, romantic comedies and that you’re terrified of heights. You can see that these two descriptions will attract completely different people and they WILL notice the difference in your tastes. 

Be a little mysterious: Don’t give everything about yourself away where everyone can see it. A little mystery is a good thing. Just be sure to find that delicate balance between being a bit mysterious and an out and out weirdo.

If you take some time to make your online dating profile a work of art, you’ll like the type of people it attracts more than if you just slap something together and stick up there. That’s a guarantee.

Help! His Best Friend is a Woman

 
It’s certainly not uncommon for a man to have a woman as his best friend. While it’s not uncommon, it CAN become problematic if the relationship is closer than a romantic relationship will ever be for either of them. Sex certainly does not have to be involved for a man and a woman to be monumentally close. It happens all the time with Internet relationships. However, if your partner has a female best friend and she seems to be more a part of your lives and relationship than you would like, you need to do something to change that.

Of course, the first thing you need to figure out is if there’s actually anything inappropriate with their friendship. If your partner is spending hours on the phone with his best friend on a regular basis to the extent that he’s ignoring you; that’s a problem. When you and your partner go out for the evening, if she always has to tag along or, worse yet, he makes plans to go out with her ALONE; there is a very big issue. If she’s invited by your partner to come along on your vacations, then you may definitely want to mention it to him.

Basically, if your partner is treating his “best friend” more like a girlfriend, you’ve got every right to make your feelings known. Hopefully, he’ll be reasonable about it and see your point of view. If he doesn’t, there are a few things to try so that he’ll finally get it.

Once you’ve talked to your partner about including his best friend LESS in your relationship; that should be the end of it. However, if it’s not, and he continues to put her ahead of you, it may be time to go out and find your OWN best friend: a male, of course. This is known as giving him a taste of his own medicine. Show him how it feels to be left at home while you go out for a night on the town with your best friend. Be sure to bring your best friend along on outings and trips with you and your partner. Actually, this could work better than you had hoped if HIS best friend and YOUR best friend hook up.

If his best friend has a partner of her own, you may try sitting down and talking things over with him. It may be that he’s just as frustrated as you are with this friendship and the two of you can work together to tone things down a notch. It’s certainly worth a shot.

Only use an ultimatum as a last resort. Men can be pretty strange creatures when it comes to telling them what they can and cannot do. If you make him choose between his best friend and you, things may not work out like you want them to. Even though he’s not having a sexual relationship with his best friend, he may decide that he would still rather keep her in his life and get rid of you. If that happens, all you can do is chalk it up to a lesson learned. Next time, you’ll know what to watch for in the BEGINNING of a relationship rather than spotting it after you’ve settled in.