Win The Girl

Winning The Girl

Touchdown! The Football Date

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If you’re like me and in a relationship, no matter how casual or serious, you may find yourself wondering how you can blend both of your interests when it comes to planning dates. More often than not, the compromise comes easily. Perhaps you take turns choosing when and where the dates take place, what kind of food you eat, or what activities you do together. But in the pretty common occasion that your lady loves something far more than you do, you may feel inclined to go the extra mile and plan something that’s entirely about her. That’s not to say you’re going to be miserable, so long as you get in the spirit and recognize that it will mean the world to her.

In my instance, I am dating a woman who loves watching sports far more than I do (college football in particular). I’m not one for categorizing myself as a sports enthusiast, let alone do I know much about college football. However, I find myself, as some of you find yourselves, in one of those situations where I want ensure my special someone has a date that’s all about her and one of her favorite things. And though I haven’t actually gone on this date yet, it’s one I am looking forward to taking her on. Any feedback from those of you who execute this unique kind of sports date before I do is greatly appreciated. So, let’s get started!

Join the Team

The most important aspect of this date is doing your best to love the experience too. Your best bet is learning everything you can, within reason, about the team in order to fully get in the spirit. If she is a hardcore fan, you’re going to impress the hell out of her if you learn a little about the star players and the nuances of game day traditions. Hop on YouTube or Google and learn the team’s fight song and any other aspects of the culture. The more you immerse yourself in her team, the easier it is going to be for you to have an awesome time together.

Book Travel

This is the perfect opportunity for you to make it a surprise for her. Discuss some weekend options for time off that coincide with a home game and tell her you’re planning a secret weekend getaway for just the two of you. Depending on when the game falls, you can make a day that’s totally in her charge. Ask her to give you a personal tour of the campus and surprise her with a picnic or a disposable camera to document your moments during it. Go to her favorite college bar and order her favorite drinks and appetizers. Whatever you decide to fill your time with before or after the game, make it about her.

Gear Up

Probably the most creative aspect of prepping for this game day date will be getting decked out in the team’s garb. If you can swing it, matching jerseys will be sure to melt her heart. But even if finding matching jerseys isn’t feasible, coordinated shirts, colors and accessories will be equally adorable and special. The college’s bookstore or website will be an easy place to purchase smaller teams’ apparel. If it’s a bigger school, the internet is your oyster and finding gear won’t be a problem. As with the date in its entirety, going above and beyond is never going to hurt. Grab some face paint or make a sign, just show her that you’ve put a lot of thought and effort into the spirit of the game.

Above all, remember that this fantastic date is about the woman of your affections. Even if it doesn’t go exactly according to plan, assuring that she feels special and that it is truly about her will make for a day the two of you will look back on fondly. The more you get into the traditions of the game and her team, the more she will see how much you care and recognize the level of thought you put into making it a perfect day. So, put your game face on, and show her the date of her dreams.

The Hike

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Some women like to backpack, some like to camp, some like to hike and some think those are just activities for the homeless. This article won’t apply to that last group.

I’ve always been an avid backpacker. I love the beauty of the wilderness and the connection you can develop with people when you are cut off from the internet and all the random distractions of life. There’s something primal and wonderful about just being in nature with the person you love. I have always thought that hiking for a date was simple and straightforward, but I recently learned that I was doing it wrong, so I thought I’d share some learnings.

1. Pick the Right Distance and the Right Pace
I can easily hike 14 miles in a day, I’ve summited a quarter of the mountains over 14,000 ft in the US. It’s very easy for me to forget that others may not have the experience that I have. The first time I took my girlfriend backpacking I invited a professional couple who had a camping background similar to my own. My attempt to help make her feel more comfortable by including another couple backfired. I spent most of the trip begging the other couple to slow down and pushing my girlfriend to speed up. In the end it was a negative experience for everyone. I hurt both my friends and my girlfriend. In retrospect we should have gone alone and for a much shorter distance.

2. Bring Supplies
This is the space where you have to know the girl. Does she like Doritos or Lychee candy? Will she need 6 liters of water or will one bottle be enough for her? (Emphasis here- my girlfriend needs roughly 6 times the water I need). Are you hiking where it might rain? Do you need hand warmers? Will she need sunscreen? That’s just scratching the list that you need to think through before heading out on your hiking trip. Also, you should assume that you will be carrying this gear, unless you know she expects to split it with you, in which case you won’t want to offend her by suggesting that you should be carrying everything. I’m going to include my packing list below, but you should add or subtract depending on the girl and the destination.

3. Go Somewhere Awesome
The greatest thing about hiking is that you can go truly beautiful places. The summit of Half Dome in California, Punch Bowl Falls in Oregon, Mt. Evans in Colorado and Havasu Falls in Arizona have been some of the most moving places I have ever been. If you’re going to be dirty and sweat together, you might as well be going somewhere earth shatteringly beautiful. This one is going to require some Google-ing on your part and even a phone call to the ranger station, but it will be well worth it.

4. Relax

I’m always on a mission in life and sometimes it’s hard for me to stop and smell the roses. But that is one of the most wonderful rewards of hiking. It’s a chance to detach from our day to day lives and truly enjoy into the beauty of nature. Enjoy your time, stop often to appreciate a beautiful view, hold hands, have a picnic in a unique place. I once didn’t keep pace with my partner- that a huge mistake. Don’t do that! Hiking can be a time to learn new things about each other and experience an adventure!

My Hiking Checklist:
• Map (with protective case)
• Compass
• Weather Appropriate Clothing (don’t bring sandals to a snow hike)
• Sunscreen
• SPF-rated lip balm
• Sunglasses
• Headlamp or flashlight
• First-aid kit
• A lighter or matches in a waterproof container
• Firestarting material (I use dryer lint)
• Knife or multi-tool
• Food for the day, plus extra food
• Water bottles or hydration reservoir
· Daypack
· Energy beverages or drink mixes
· Lunch utensils
· Drinking cup
· Quick-dry towel
· Insect repellent
· Whistle
· Binoculars
· Trekking poles
· Route description or guidebook
· Interpretive field guide(s)
· Outdoor journal with pen/pencil
· Bag for collecting trash
· Post-hike snacks, water, towel, clothing change
· Two itineraries: 1 left with friend + 1 under car seat

Movie Night: Drive-In Theater

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Tips for Making your drive-in date a success. To find your local drive-in, use google or this website for a drive-in near you

 1. Arrive Early

This is going to be an all evening experience. Most drive-ins show double features, so this date is going to last at least three hours. You’ll want to arrive early so you can park in a location with the best view. This is also great opportunity for a picnic. Many people will bring lawn chairs or eat dinner sitting on their tailgate.

2. Prep the car

  • Pillows
  • Blanket’s if it’s going to be cold
  • Air mattress if you have a truck or SUV and your drive allows parking backwards.
  • Jumper Cables (you probably won’t need these, but you should have a set in your car no matter what)
  • Lawn chairs if you want outside of the car
  • Clean the window – it’s no fun to watch a movie though a lot of smeared bugs
  • Check to be certain your windshield wipers aren’t streaking—if you have summer thunderstorms you may need these
  • Bug spray if you’re opening the tailgate or in the back of a pickup

3. Don’t kill the car battery

Some drive-ins have  speakers that you hang on your window shield, but most broadcast the movie on a FM station, which means you have to leave your car in accessory mode. If your battery and alternator are healthy, this shouldn’t be an issue for you.  That being said, follow these steps to avoid an embarrassing situation on your date.

  • Don’t run anything besides the radio—turning the AC on is a bad idea
  • Turn your car on during the intermission between features, this will allow the alternator to recharge the battery
  • If you’ve had to jump start your car more than once, it may be time for a new battery—they never fully recover from dying.
  • If you do need to jump start your car—whip out your jumper cables and keep your cool. This a great opportunity to show off your manly car skills. If you don’t know how to jump start a car, head over to our friends at The Art of Manliness to learn how.

4. Buy concessions

Movie theater tickets feel expensive, I totally understand that. On the flipside drive-ins are a rare gem now and supporting such an institution is important. Fortunately, drive-in tickets tend to be cheaper than regular movie theater tickets. You can really support your local drive-in by buying concessions. Besides if you’re getting a double feature and making a night of it, why not splurge a little. On my most recent date to the drive-in, we spent around twenty five dollars for a double feature and enough candy, popcorn and drinks to make us both sick. At the local theater I would have paid just that to get in for a single feature.

+1up Bring a small child (sibling, niece/nephew) if you’re watching a family friendly film. You and your sweetheart can sit in the back and cuddle. You can show off how awesome you are with kids and have a good excuse for watching that Pixar film you really want to see.

You Can Have Your Cake and Eat for Two

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Cake-MJ

A guy who knows his way around a kitchen, knows his way around my heart. There isn’t a man in my family that doesn’t sauté, whisk, or grill. Personally, cooking stresses me out (too many things to keep track of at once). I have to drink a glass of wine before cooking if the recipe wants me to sauté garlic, bake some vegetables, and boil pasta all at once. Baking is so much slower and the instructions are never just “a pinch” of this or “a dash” of that (HOW MUCH IS A DASH??). All you have to do is measure out a few ingredients, throw them all into a bowl, mix it up, and pop it in the oven. And if you are anything like me, there is a strange satisfaction when you use a knife to level off the flour in the measuring cup before adding it to the batter (Nope? Just me?). Basically, baking is easy, fun, and so delicious! Why not impress your crush, girlfriend or wife with your skills?

This is a date that you can do at any point in your relationship. If you don’t trust me and baking still terrifies the living daylights out of you, you can get store-bought cake mix (along with a couple of eggs) and make your cake that way. If you want to step it up a notch, which you should, you can call your grandma to get a copy of her secret family red velvet cake recipe or use my favorite recipe at the bottom of the article!

Baking can definitely be a team sport. One of you can mix up the dry ingredients (step 5) while the other beats the eggs and sugar (step 3), and because there are no time sensitive steps there is plenty of time to chat, flirt, and lick the beater. When you pop the cake in the oven, feel free to pop on a favorite movie, TV show, or spend some time washing up the flour that spilled all over your counter and somehow got in your hair (Just me?). Cleaning up is pretty much the worst, but you gotta make room for the main event—frosting!

Now is when the magic happens. There are no limits to what you can put on your cake—sprinkles, chocolate chips, Reese’s pieces, M&Ms, etc. Pick up your favorite sweets or premade icing bags to create your masterpiece. If you are feeling truly ambitious, homemade frosting is a nice touch. Personally, I always get lazy by the time my cake is done and just buy store-bought cream cheese frosting, throw some food coloring in it an call it good—just make sure you have enough to go in between the layers and surround the sides and top of the cake (2 cans should do it).

The most important thing to remember is that no matter what your cake looks like, it will always taste amazing. And more importantly, you guys made it together! So kick your feet up, slice off a chunk of cake, and slip into a nice sugar coma. You deserve it.

 

Triple Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

Recipe makes 1- 8 inch round, double layer cake

2 eggs

1 cup white sugar

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 package (3.9 oz) of chocolate instant pudding powder

1/2 cup buttermilk

(Instead of buttermilk I typically use Saco Cultured Buttermilk Blend because it is dehydrated and keeps for months in your fridge.)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup boiling water

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

 

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C).
  2. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans. Set aside. This allows the cake to easy leave the pan after you bake, instead of sticking to the sides.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, add the following ingredients one at a time, beating well after each addition: eggs, white sugar, butter, oil, cocoa, instant pudding powder, buttermilk, and vanilla.
  4. Start boiling some water (make sure you boil more than a cup as some of it will evaporate). Set aside.
  5. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; add to the sugar and egg mixture. Blend well. (If you don’t own a flour sifter, I suggest mixing your dry ingredients together with a whisk– it makes it fluffy).
  6. Fold in 1 cup of the boiling water.
  7. Add the chocolate chips and mix briefly. Pour the batter into the two greased and floured cake pans. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool.

A Date at the Beach

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Geographically permitting, a day at the beach makes for an amazing date. The best thing about going to the beach is that it’s low-key and promotes conversation, and it can be done as a first date or a fiftieth.

All you really need to bring is a towel, some sunscreen, maybe a Frisbee or football, and if you want to kick things up a notch- a picnic lunch. Enjoy the sun, get a tan, have a sandcastle building competition, draw things in the sand, horseplay in the waves, and really get to know your date.

The beach is perfect for flirting and fun, and every beach date I’ve ever had has led to the girl and I hanging out later in the day, too. Whether this means grabbing dinner or going to a movie is up to you, but there’s something about the beach that makes you want the date to never end.

So get out there and let us know how your day at the beach goes!

The Urban Picnic

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Urban Picnics Rock

While your classic picnic in the park is always a good date idea, why not step it up a notch? If you live in a place that is close to a downtown metropolitan area, you can easily have an urban picnic for the same amount of money that going downtown and eating out at a restaurant would cost you.

So, to get things started, you need to scout for a location. Go downtown and find an open-air parking garage with a great view from the top level. If you don’t live close enough to your nearest big city to make this feasible, do some hunting on Google Maps or your smartphone’s GPS app.

Next, plan out what you’re going to eat. You can either make food at home and bring it with you, or you can pick up carry-out from your girl’s favorite restaurant (just about every restaurant offers carry-out these days, so your options are virtually limitless).

Alright- now put two and two together! Throw the food in the back of your car and take your girl to the top of the parking garage on date night. Suspended between the twinkling lights above you and the sounds of the city below, you can treat your significant other to delicious food and intimate conversation without ever having to leave the car. She’ll love it because it’s spontaneous and romantic, and there’s no doubt that it will be a memorable date.

To add a seasonal touch- if you go on your urban picnic during the summer, roll the windows down and let a gentle breeze blow through the car. If you go during the winter, make sure and bring a blanket big enough to stretch over the top of the two of you. And no matter what time of year you go, bring a CD pre-loaded with some relaxing music (like Jack Johnson or something equally soothing and acoustic).

And don’t forget- drinking and driving is never okay (even if your car is parked at the top of a parking garage), so drink responsibly and save the alcohol for when you get home!

 

Know the Girl to Know the Date

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While browsing our little corner of the internet, it’s important to keep in mind that there is no one size fits all approach to dating. As incredible as it would be for us to give you a checklist of all the things you need to do to win, date and subsequently keep the girl you’ve got your eye on, such a thing isn’t really possible.

The fact of the matter is that every girl is different, and while Ashley may love spending a day at your local amusement park, Brittany can’t handle the thought of being locked into a roller coaster. However, Brittany would get a huge kick out of barhopping downtown, whereas Ashley has never touched a drop of alcohol in her life.

Because every girl is different (which is actually a very good thing, by the way), you don’t want to go too big too soon- your first couple of outings should be very vanilla so that you and your date can get to know each other in an environment where you both feel comfortable. Coffee, dinner, a movie… these are fantastic first dates because pretty much everybody enjoys doing them.

The trick, though, is to start customizing your dates once you and your girl know each other a little better. As you and Ashley sip lattes in Starbucks, she mentions that she’s been to Disney World five times- that’s when you know that you have the amusement park date up your sleeve if things keep going well. As you and Brittany sit down for dinner, she orders a martini- now you know that she’d probably be interested in checking out some of the cool local bars that you know about.

Basically, use your vanilla dates to learn about the girl you’re with so that you can wow her with some awesome personalized dates in the future. Even if she mentions that she’s never seen Fight Club or that she loves greasy Chinese takeout, make mental notes so that you can plan things out in the future. Most importantly, though, make sure that you’re having fun too.

As always, good luck and let us know what your favorite “vanilla” first date is!