What Men Want

What Do Men Want From Women?

This is a popular article at AspireNow that provokes a lot of questions. Women have been trying to answer this question for ages, and shelves of self-help books try to resolve the differences between men and women by considering we're from different planets.


A recent poll said that the average person is willing to spend 6 months' salary to find their true love.

Many women ask the question "What do men want?" to their women friends and sometimes they'll ask their guy friends. If women would approach men with a few simple, effective guidelines, they'll be much more likely to get exactly what they want from men: a fulfilling, healthy, happy relationship.

Here are the guidelines to understand what men want:


1. Men want a fun and exciting (female) companion.
2. Men want great sex (consistent, frequent, and passionate lovemaking score high with men).
3. Men want to share meals with their woman companion (especially when she cooks for him).
4. Men want you to support them in their work and boost their confidence.
5. Men want you to look great, keep in shape, and express confidence about your body.
6. Men want you to listen to them and treat them with respect.
7. Men need private time, to unwind, to engage in sports and hobbies, and to spend time with other men.

For the detail on these tips, as well as further information about what men want, visit the top-rated article at AspireNow:

http://www.aspirenow.com/smooth_10_00_what_men_want.htm

An update: Even though I wrote this article 7 years ago, I'm finding that in my discussions with men, it's still pretty simple. Men want love as much as women, we just go about it a bit differently. You'll notice that guys will talk side by side, where a woman wants the man directly in front of her. There are subtle differences like this that make a man different than a woman.

As much as society is more supportive of women, men struggle with the modern woman. The reason for this is that the man still feels a need to provide. He still wants to hunt and kill, but in modern civilization this is simply not what's going on. We're in the information age: an age that women can thrive in. So, women need to recognize this and boost the man for what he can bring, and still ask him to do things, physically, for her -- even if she IS capable of doing it herself. A smart woman let's him do this for her, to some extent. A smart woman keeps herself in shape.

This is important to both sexes, but even more for a man. A smart woman will make trade-offs and compromise on activities to sometimes do what he wants, other times what she wants.
It's cool to go shopping if I know we might watch a football game together afterwards. It's fun to go dancing if I know you'll also come to my gig. See, those are examples from my own life.

A smart woman will make meals together a priority. Time together, in general, is critical to any relationship, but, especially meal time. I believe that the family that prays together stays together. The easiest time to pray together is before a meal, during grace. So, I make that a habit. It's just a heatlhy way to connect spiritually. A smart woman will keep the sex alive by trying new and fun things, suggesting things to him, and teasing him from time to time. Why is Playboy and Penthouse still the top two men's magazines, while Ladies Home Journal and Better Homes and Garden the top two women's magazines? Clearly, men are turned on by sex, women by homes. So, create a nice home for him, cook a nice meal, but then turn it on in the bedroom. Sometimes, I think it's fun to cook for her, especially if I know she's going to be cooking later. :)

Do you want to know more about what men want? Learn more at AspireNow.com - see Smooth Sailing for our relationship articles.

More related articles here at the A-blog:

Looking for fun things to do on a date? 31 Fun Dating Ideas
Find The Man Of Your Dreams
Why 'The Terminator' Is Deadly In Relationships

This article is copyright 2007 by AspireNow. All rights reserved.

Visit the A-blog at http://aspirenow.blogspot.com/ for more articles like this.
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This article is written by Scott Andrews, Founder of AspireNow. Copyright 2002/2007. All rights reserved.

You may republish this article only AS A COMPLETE WHOLE with ENTIRE LINKS and copyright messages attached. All rights reserved. To get more valuable dating tips and other advice on abundance, subscribe to the A-Blog.

Tips on The Big Idea

Joe Vitale was interviewed tonight on The Big Idea, my favorite TV show.

For those who don't know, Joe Vitale was one of the stars of the hit video called The Secret. I've covered this video in depth before at my articles: The Most Powerful Law In The Universe and The Law of Attraction.


Anyway, Joe shared several "millionaire secrets" with Donny Deutsch, the host of the show. I liked Joe Vitale's points, but wished he had more time to elaborate. So, I'm going to run through each of his points, then provide further commentary for those of you seeking to learn more about manifesting, the law of attraction, getting what you want, and attracting the things you seek for a better life:


1. Know what you don't want. I found it interesting the Joe started with this. But, in my coaching, I've often found that when I ask people their purpose, they'll start listing off what they don't want. It is useful as a starting place, but you must recognize that you'll need to SHIFT from this VERY quickly to the other points on this list.


2. State your intention. This is important. It is vital to know what you DO want, and to state it as an intention. Many people complain about things and then wonder why they get more of that. Try the challenge to stop complaining for 30 days! If you can rid your complaining about aches, failures, pains, loss, blocks, and other things, you just might stop attracting that in your life. Instead of talking about those things, SHIFT to WHAT YOU WANT MOST. This is where life transformation occurs!


3. Get clear. It is vital to find ways to get clear on your intentions and eliminate anything in the way of what you want most.


4. Nevelize. I didn't understand this word, but I did understand what Joe was talking about regarding internalizing your dream into present reality. The importance here is to FEEL the process of your intention. Note, I said process, not result. Manifesting is about the process as much as the result, and the feeling is what we feel in the process. Writing down your intentions, creating a journal, a collage, a video, an audio, and making sure to associate the moment of what you want with how it feels to experience that. He mentioned how it feels to be on The Big Idea and smiled. I liked that and could relate. I immediately imaged how it would feel to sit across from Donny and share my own ideas about collaboration, software, helping people launch dreams, and make a difference (yeah, it felt great!!). This is an important step in manifesting that many people (especially skeptics) hardly ever take into account. How will you feel when you experience your intention? Write, record, imagine, think, and speak from this position.


5. Let go and take INSPIRED ACTION. This is where passion comes into play. People who are most successful are usually those who are most passionate about their dreams. Have you noticed this? It is for this reason that everything I do, I try to do with passion. If you act from inspired action, your actions will have more power.


These are all steps I've put in place at both AspireNow (http://www.aspirenow.com/) and ARRiiVE Business Solutions (http://www.arriive.com/). In fact, if you visit my blogs to those pages that I'm recommending and using these with the blogs, too.


Donny then asked Joe a few questions, having to do with "what if 'yeah, I heard all that, but I still haven't made it, or I'm struggling with my dream, or I'm doing things but it still isn't happening.' What do you say to those people?"


Joe accurately pointed out that what Donny was describing a problem with step 3 - getting clear. This is the biggest thing I've noticed with people in my life and business coaching: people block themselves! It is this inner critic (or even the critic from other people) that blocks the intention! Joe's advice was to DUMP the garbage and get clear. I loved it. How true that all of the critiques and naysayers - whether internal or external - are just garbage.


When we dump the garbage, we can get that positive feeling back that rejuvenates our soul! When we are clear of the junk blocking us we can manifest our dreams because we can truly act from inspired passion.


So, try these tips in your own daily life to manifest more of what you want. If you're finding your critic sneaking in - dump it! You don't want that, right? Get clear, restate your intention, feel how it feels to realize your dream, then let go and take the inspired action that will make it so!


Check it out: If you're seeking to learn more about The Secret, you might want to visit my article on The Most Powerful Law In The Universe and The Law of Attraction. I've also published products for helping people with their PURPOSE and GETTING WHAT YOU WANT called The Transformation Power Pack.


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This article is written by Scott Andrews, Founder of AspireNow. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. Portions of this article may be copyright Joe Vitale, the producers of The Secret, and The Big Idea by CNBC. No infringement intended.

You may republish this article only AS A COMPLETE WHOLE with ENTIRE LINKS and copyright messages attached. All rights reserved. To read more articles like this, subscribe to the A-Blog.

More Love In Relationships

I just read 9 tips to building more love in relationships, by Todd Goldfarb over at a We The Change (www.wethechange.com), who suggested I post it at AspireNow under my Smooth Sailing or "We Need More Love" column. I liked his tips, so here they are:

"There are always going to be people in our lives that we do not “vibe” with. Unfortunately, sometimes our situations dictate that we spend a lot of time with these individuals (i.e. a boss, sister-in-law, or co-worker), and it is imperative to learn how to best deal with it!

Here are 9 of the most effective techniques you can implement to begin seeing these people in a different light. Try a few of these exercises out over the next few weeks and I can almost guarantee you will notice an improved outlook:

1. Commit to LISTENING For One Full Day

2. Giving Up Being “Right” Even When You KNOW You Are Right

3. Sing Their Praises to Others

4. Ask Them For Help

5. Give and Expect Nothing in Return

6. Be Completely Honest With Them

7. Focus Your Attention on the Positive Attributes of the Relationship

8. Make a Journal Entry As If You Were Them

9. Sleep on It

Employing these 9 activities can improve almost any relationship you are in. Try them out, you will see results almost immediately! For the full article, click here.
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These tips are Copyright 2007 by WeTheChange.com. All rights reserved. Build more love in relationships in your life at AspireNow.com.

You may republish this article only AS A COMPLETE WHOLE with ENTIRE LINKS and copyright messages attached. All rights reserved. To read more articles like this, subscribe to the A-Blog.

ARRiiVE: The Right Place At The Right Time

Ever wonder why some people appear lucky? From finding love, to launching a business, to picking the right stocks, are their ways to improve our timing? Let's explore the idea of timing, and how to better maximize our time AND our luck.

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The Right Place At The Right Time

Have you ever heard about that Chinese guy, Tai Ming?

How many times have you seen people say the secret to their success was TIMING?

Or, in love, that the TIMING was just right?

Or, with their business launch, that they were IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME?

Clearly, TIME is a factor that determines, at the least, an influence upon our success with life, love, money, and more.

For example, if you had invested ONE MILLION DOLLARS in the NASDAQ on March 29, 2000, you would have essentially put your money into a market at it's peak of over 20 years.

If that was all the money to your name, you would have been considerably poorer, had you left that money in the top technology stocks on the Nasdaq in March 29, 2000 until today. In fact, depending upon the stocks you invested in, you might have roughly 1/10 the money, now, that you had on that fateful day. In essence, it might take you 20 years to recoup the losses you'd face over the next three years. What would you attribute the loss to? Timing.

Another example: a single man meets a single woman. She is on a train heading the opposite direction from him. They talk on the train for 20 minutes. During that time, they form a connection, and decide to spend the evening in Austria. They end up spending an entire day together, and see jugglers, an accordian player, a poet, enter several bars, dine at a dinner, make love in a park, and experience life through each other's eyes. Their conversation changes their lives, forever. This story is the story of two people, as described in one of my favorite movies, Before Sunrise. They agree to meet again, back at the same train station in six months. The subsequent story that unfolds in the next movie is also due to circumstance, and, also timing.

TIME is the one condition that seems to bind us to the HUMAN experience.

If you took away time, you more than likely take away LIFE as we know it. Clearly, time is important. We run our alarm clocks based upon time to determine the moment we awake in the morning. We have a schedule, from school, to work, to the television, to many aspects within our lives, based upon TIME.

It can be frustrating, to have a dream, and to have taken so many steps towards the dream, only to have to wait until the TIME is RIGHT for our ideas to germinate and people to accept them, buy them, and spread the word. Some people give up, just before this time occurs.

What can we do about time?

Are there ways to speed up time?

Are there ways to cut corners with time and get more done in less time?

I'll offer five ways I've learned to maximize time, to the best of my ability:

1. Be an early riser. Some people claim they get more done, in less time, by rising earlier. They avoid distractions, interruptions, and think most clearly when they awake in the morning.

2. Be a night owl. There is probably an equal number of people who are not early risers, but rather late-to-bed. These people may also get more done because there are fewer distractions late at night. In addition, there are more quiet hours late night than at any other time of day.

3. Don't wait behind lines. If you can avoid lines, you will save time. I'm not advocating cutting in front of other people, out of rudeness. I'm simply saying that if you are approaching a stop light in your car, and there are 10 cars in one lane and 3 cars in the other, you will likely save time by switching to the lane with 3 cars. Or, at the grocery market, you may see a line with two big carts full of food, or two people with nothing more than milk and water in their hands. Who is going to check out first? Clearly, the lane with only a couple of items ought to be through the check out the quickest.

4. Avoid commutes. If you live close to where you work or go to school, you can reduce the time lost in the commute. I've heard people say "I can live in a bigger house if I buy my home an hour away from the city where I work." That may be true. I'd rather live in the smaller house and save the two hours. Those two hours represent time I can spend developing other products, services, and business ideas, or they could represent time spent with those I love the most.

5. Focus on trends. Amazingly enough, if someone had spotted search engines as a trend, and bought and held ONLY those who performed well, this investor would have made a killing on looksmart, yahoo, infoseek, and others. I know, because for a time, I accomplished this.

Another way to spot a trend is to look at the background of the Cabinet of elected officials when they take office. For example, had people bothered to look at the background of people behind George H. W. Bush, they could have easily predicted the background of people behind George W. Bush. People like Dick Cheney, and the like, had worked for Halliburton. You could have reviewed what these companies did, then invested in them. For example, Bush is big on oil and the military. Bush, as VP, President, and also Bush II have both built up the military. Many of Bush's cabinet members had backgrounds in Defense and with the military. So, it would only make sense that you might have considered investing in military-related companies once Bush took office.

Another trend is to spot when major wars break out, you can find some things that will go up in value. For example, Gold almost always goes up during times of war. I predicted, in 2001, that Gold would go over 500, and possibly much higher. As of the date of this post Gold is trading over $780 per ounce. At the time of my first prediction, I had several people tell me I was crazy and that Gold was already "high" by standards at that time. Well, time proved me right. But I knew Gold would likely increase, because we were entering into war.

Oil is a form of black gold. So, if Gold will go up, so, too, might oil. They are not mutually bound, but often oil prices will increase during war, too. The price ber barrel of oil has increased dramatically, from around $20 to up over $80 now.

These are good investments, if you can predict, in advance, that they are likely to occur. Another prediction I made was the housing market would increase as long as interest rates went down or held a low. And, that was true, too. I predicted that the housing market (at least in the US) would crash once the rates increased, and certainly if the rate went above 10%. The coming housing crash has already diminished values of homes in the Midwest by up to 50%, and in places like the SF Bay Area, by 15%. I feel that the worst is yet to come with housing, as rates are STILL quite low, comparing to rates from previous years decades ago.

What I'm trying to illuminate is the fact that you can CREATE your luck by knowing how to be in the right place at the right time.

If you know that a development is occuring, or a spurt of growth is occuring, you can target that growth. For example, my fellow salespeople called me "lucky" when I worked at D1, and later, at Data General. Why? Because deals would seemingly plop into my lap at the most opportune times. But, to me, although it would sometimes SEEM lucky, it wasn't really that lucky, at all. I just have the knack of knowing how to be in the right place at the right time. With the dot-com movement, I spotted the trend towards infrastructure, as with any boom it is the companies providing infrastructure that often succeed the most. Even Google, as a search engine, is a form of internet infrastructure. I also targeted firms like Brocade, Gadzooks, and Copper Mountain during that era, and found success with those firms.

You CAN build your luck, by spotting trends, and then moving to secure your own piece of the action within those trend areas.

I believe that my company ARRiiVE Business Solutions (www.ARRiiVE.com) is also in the right place at the right time, because ARRiiVE is targeting collaboration software at a time when businesses are struggling with the mountain of electronic information massing online. It is becoming more and more difficult to build teams, and CEOs will admit that they can't be the source of all original and innovative ideas: they need help!

If you're seeking a Big Idea to help you get in the right place at the right time, look to see a hole, something someone else isn't providing, and provide that (as long as you're passionate about it). An example of this is G-diaper: the GREEN diaper company. What a great idea! How many diapers are building waste on a daily basis? Billions! G-diaper is the first company I learned of who was figuring out how to offer biodegradable diapers to help de-clog our congested landfills. They're now making millions and I predict even greater success for this small company.

To recap, if you want to create your own luck, and maximize your time, try these tips:

1. Be either an early riser or a night owl. The extra hours you gain during quiet time (either morning or late at night) will be highly valuable to you in building your success.
2. Avoid waiting in lines. Lines suck up your time.
3. Avoid commutes. If you can avoid your commute, you may gain one to two hours a day. This tip could be worth THOUSANDS over one year, and over a MILLION over your lifetime.
4. Focus on trends. Watch the backgrounds of parties who take office (in major countries). Pay attention to emerging trends. If you hear people say "this is the next big thing" do a little research.

I'll never forget when I was out to lunch and overheard two well-dressed business women talking about their latest "stock finds" and mentioned Infoseek and Excite.

Keep in mind that this was back in the golden years of SEO : Go.com, Altavista, Excite, HotBot, Lycos and Yahoo were the more popular search engines on the market. These sites determined the Web 1.0 success of a website, prior to the dominance of Google. Well, in hearing about Infoseek and Excite, I went back to my office, did a little research, and after reading a Bottom Line recommendation on these sites, too, I figured it was worth a shot. I bought shares of those stocks. My initial investment in Infoseek and Excite grew over 5x over the next 2 years. Not bad growth, by any measure.

Another way to spot a trend is when people build up infrastructure to support something. For example, the trend SEEMED to be long-distance companies, when they put down all the pipes for Fiber Optic technology. However, they overbuilt. This opened the door for India, though. A wise investor, in spotting the early trend in outsourcing call centers and programming to India, might have invested a little money in those firms.

With love, it's often the same thing. Put yourself in places where people are HAPPY and living their best life. That may be school, work, church, and non-profit organizations. Join a cause you care about. Then go out to coffee or tea with those you meet. You just might find love.

Some people stay at home, watching television, killing hours of valuable time. Then, they wonder why they can't launch their business dream, or why they aren't meeting anyone.

See, with timing, we can create a more successful life, and maximize the time we have. It just depends on how aware we are with the time we've got.

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This article is written by Scott Andrews, Founder of AspireNow. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

You may republish this article only AS A COMPLETE WHOLE with ENTIRE LINKS and copyright messages attached. All rights reserved. To read more articles like this, subscribe to the A-Blog.

What To Do About PMS?

PMS Survival Tips:

PMS is a challenge for many women. Surviving a woman's PMS is a challenge for many men. When a woman has PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome), a man often tries to wrestle with what to do about this phenomenon with the women we love: how can we still love this woman when she suddenly asks strange questions or behaves in ways that don't run logically with other times?

Women, on the other hand, are coping with PMS symptoms that often make it difficult to feel happy or normal.

According to Dr. Marilyn Glenville:
What are the symptoms of PMS?

"This is where a lot of confusion has arisen because over 150 symptoms can be classed as PMS. These can include:

Mood swings Irritability
Anxiety and tension
Bloating
Breast tenderness and swelling
Water retention
Acne Tiredness
Weight gain
Headaches/migraines
Crying Spells
Depression
Sugar and food cravings
Constipation
Dizziness

Quite a list! Personality changes associated with this time can be very severe with some women describing a Jekyll and Hyde change where they literally become a different person pre-menstrually." Dr. Glenville goes on in her website to discuss the difference between anxiety, craving, hypdration, and depression symptoms. I'll keep it a little more basic, here, and deal more with how we RELATE to each other during times of PMS.

If your woman starts asking questions like:

Do you still love me?
Does this dress make my butt look fat?
Did you take out the trash this morning like I asked you (when you know it's not even trash day)?

Or, perhaps she demonstrates a sudden burst of anger that defies logic. Well, guys, consider your responses carefully. I saw a film doing a parody on PMS and one comment they used to sum up the feelings a woman experiences during PMS as "somewhere between Christmas and being BURIED ALIVE!" So, perhaps, it might help to have a sense of humor about the matter.

This video, albeit from a male perspective, offers some amusing tips to PMS (complete with a new definition for the acronym!



When your woman says "honey, do I look fat?" Don't answer "YES" because the question is a trick question! Instead, do like the guy does in this video:

Honey, may I draw a hot bath for you... with your favorite bubbles? Because, I really love you, and thought you might appreciate it. B-I-N-G-O! Ha!

Now, say, he had said, "yes, you look fat." Then what?

Well, he had better be prepared to run before the next available object (near her) finds its way to the back of his head!

But, then, being a guy, I couldn't help but think of the classic ways to better manage the physical challenges of PMS and perhaps finding ways to MINIMIZE it. These are not things you can suggest to a women DURING her PMS cycle. However, they might be useful later. And, for women, these might be ways you can minimize the crying meltdowns or episodes of unexplained anger or frustration.

Women, do you have PMS? Well, maybe this is one you can forward to the man in your life. We all can use a little more understanding to help each other build more love. Beyond that, maybe these tips (not from me, but from doctors and other women) can help minimize this troublesome period each month.

Solutions for women:

1. Get medication. For heaven's sake, how can you expect the rest of the world to "just deal with it" when it isn't anything logical or expected! There's a lot of good medication out there to help minimize and balance hormones. Just be aware of the side effects and seek medical advice, of course. Caution: I'm not giving medical advice here. Before taking any drug, talk to a licensed practitioner about what is best for you.

2. Try herbs. Sometimes, it can be better to take herbs than a drug. However, with any herb or drug, these can produce certain side affects. Make sure you talk with a licensed practitioner who specialized in herb treatments, and also be careful if you're taking the pill or other supplements/drugs that might interact with the herb. Again, I'm not dispensing medical information and I strongly recommend that you begin any herbal or medical treatments under the care of a licensed doctor or specialist.

3. Vitamins. Again, my caution/disclaimer applies, but according to Dr. Glenville, the following vitamins have been found useful:

Multivitamin, especially B6 (B6 in the form of pyridoxal-5-phosphate - can help with moods and balancing chemicals in your body, E (balances moods and helps with breast symptoms), Magnesium (reduces tension, anxiety, and migranes), and "A number of studies have shown that evening primrose oil (EPO) is effective in reducing the symptoms of PMS and especially helpful to women whose main pre-menstrual symptoms is breast tenderness or fibrocystic breast disease." There are some other tests at this site which could be useful for diagnosis and treatment of symptoms.

4. If you find the urge to yell at someone for something, refrain. Remember, you might have something going on to justify feeling angry or hurt, but that may be magnified by your symptoms of PMS. If that is the case, why say something now that you'll regret later. Apologies only go so far and I've never been one to agree with the concept that [PMS = Get Out Of Jail Free card]. I know, it seems like it ought to be, though.

Maybe a better idea is to EXERCISE whenever you feel like yelling or crying. Sometimes, we can work out our emotions by physically moving our body. And I'm not talking about taking a swing at the man standing closest to you, either!

5. Do NOTHING different. That's right, just go on being mean, emo, and bitchy. There, I said it. Does that give you permission to be mean? Is that better?

I really don't know. I'm not sure it will make the people AROUND YOU like you any better, though!

6. Write the author of this article a flame message. If it really helps, write me hate mail. If it saves the man in your life the abuse, I can take it. Better yet, why not just write it, then delete it! Once you get it out of your system, it will probably be easier to go on with life. That's my rule of thumb: write it out, then save it to the draft folder. Two days later read it again. If anything is negative in there, delete it! I had to learn this one the hard way, unfortunately.

7. Improve your diet. Besides herbs, drugs, or vitamins, there are other dietary steps you can take to remain balanced.

8. Retreat a little from society. If you know you experience particularly difficult PMS, you might want to keep your calendar and block these days off and put your PEAK PERFORMANCE on other days. After all, if you know you get migraines during PMS, why schedule that big presentation during this day. Or, why make this the day of the big party. It's like putting an elephant in the room before the party ever happens. And, if you've ever seen the movie with Peter Sellers called, "The Party" you'll know that elephants at parties create one wild party.

Hmm. I could go on, but I think I've covered enough for now. If you're still struggling, seek professional help!

Okay, I can't just talk to women. If would be unfair, right? Surely, there's more than one man who will read this article. Just so you know I've got ideas for you, too, men. Guys, check this list out!

Solutions for men:

1. Relate to her.



Besides taking Monthly Man, what can you do to help relate to a surge of hormones rushing through your body every 28 days? Well, you certainly can't TALK about it. Yes, this is a no-no. All you can do is act in ways that show you understand. Yeah... I know... easy... (er, not)... I was tempted to just put a blank in this section. There aren't any EASY solutions!

2. Mark your calendar! In some cases, it is better to just be gone during this time. If you're dating, this is easier to arrange than if you live together. This is often why a man will create his own little kingdom out "in the garage". It's a place to escape during, eh, certain times of the month. ;)

3. Be aware of changes in behavior. If you live with or are around a woman who experiences strong PMS cycles, take note, and stay on-guard in future months. If you've been attacked once, or if you've experienced unusually high emotional swings, this might be something to look out for in, eh, 28 days. Just a word of caution, guys.

4. Make sure your woman eats regularly (balanced sugar levels help) or make sure she gets an extra dose of chocolate during this time! I've noticed that I am also affected by sugar levels. It is important to eat regularly, eat healthy, and exercise regularly no matter what our gender.

5. Don't initiate sex. Come on. Get a clue. Why do you think this is an issue with women, guys? If a woman's body is going through a rash of hormone changes (as in flushing out), she is likely not feeling as good as normal. Let her initiate during this time. It's just a wise idea. Then again, I have a friend who is a bit chauvenistic who thinks he should just "take" his woman and she'll thank him later. Apparently she says sex makes her PMS symptoms diminish. Every woman is different, no? Well, I can't recommend this, for obvious reasons. Just learn what works best in your relationship and be respectful of each other's wants and needs.

6. Rather than telling her she looks tired, tell her she is still as pretty as the day you met her. Oops, I might have just recommended you lie to her. But, guys, the truth is, sometimes a lie will help soothe strange emotion better than logic. Better than a lie is this: let her know she is SPECIAL to you. That's really what she wants to know the most, anyway. Be smart, treat her special - whether during PMS or not!

7. Offer to do something nice for her. Not what YOU would normally think is nice for her, but what SHE would normally think is nice for her. Examples include picking up your things around the house. Pampering her a little (like drawing a bath). Cooking the meal. Doing the dishes. All of that type of stuff might help you during these days her "friend" is coming to visit.

8. Give her a gift. Remember the expression "diamonds are a girls best friend"? Actually, most gifts of jewelry, perfume, lotions (ooh, you can even add a massage with the lotion), and more show her you still love her. Rather than answer that question with words, answer it with a gift. Hey, if it works at other times, it might work now, too. Just don't be surprised if she criticizes the gift is she doesn't like it!

9. Don't make excuses for things. Don't go around like a pansy saying "I'm sorry" for everything. Just say this: "You're right. I'm wrong." Nothing else you say is likely to matter at this time. If nothing else helps, well, THEN say "I'm sorry!" (Saying this once, used last, can be effective.)

9. Don't ask if she is on PMS (or on anything ELSE). And, whatever you do, do NOT mention any word that might pop up in a thesaurus as related to CLOTH (hint: GAR spelled backwards)! If someone is having an anger episode, you're probably not going to find THIS the best time to suggest anger management. You know what I mean?

As with most of my articles, I'll remind you that love is an action word, as much as a doing word. So, act smart. Act loving. And if all else fails, RUN!

I wish I had all the answers on this one. Truth is, like most men, I don't. And for double-jeopardy PMS (PMS in lesbian couples), ladies, you're on your own on that one!

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Note: I know I took a humourous look at this subject. But, in all seriousness, if PMS is causing serious havoc in your life, please seek out medical help from a qualified specialist. Why put yourself through monthly torture? Why put those around you through mood swings? Life can be better! As with all of our articles, our focus is on helping people love more. Love is always the answer.

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This article is written by Scott Andrews, Founder of AspireNow. Copyright 2007. Videos are copyright their respective owners. All rights reserved. No infringement is intended.

Disclaimer: The contents of this site are for information only and are intended to assist readers in identifying symptoms and conditions they may be experiencing. This site is not intended to be a substitute for taking proper medical advice and should not be relied upon in this way. Always consult a qualified doctor or health practitioner, especially if you are pregnant, taking the pill or on any medication. Your situation will need to be looked at individually and you should not attempt to self treat. The author and publisher cannot accept responsibility for illness arising out of the failure to seek medical advice from a doctor.

The views expressed by third parties placing material on these pages are not representative of the views of the author or publisher. The Author and Publisher cannot monitor the content not produced by us and has not reviewed all the third party material published on this site and the Author and Publisher accept no liability whatsoever in relation to the content of third party material placed on these pages.

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31 Fun Dating Ideas

Ever get stumped with "Honey, what do you want to do tonight?" when you're planning on a night out with your partner or a new date?

Whether you're a couple of single looking for fun dating ideas, this article may be handy for you. I've put together a list of 31 Fun Dating Ideas that will make it easier for you the next time you're stumped and trying to find something enjoyable to do. Some of these will be expensive, others will cost you hardly anything. But the main focus, from my perspective, was to make sure they sounded FUN.

Here's the initial list.

31 Fun Dating Ideas:

1. Walk on the beach. When polled as to their favorite and most romantic first date, a vast majority of people said a walk on the beach. This is great if you live NEAR a beach. If you don't, consider a walk in the park, a walk by a stream or lake, or other romantic water setting that enables you to get exercise in nature, along with a chance to get to know each other better. Popularity: 10. Fun Factor: 8. Cost: free. The expanded version of this is to take a portable fire pit and roast marshmallows around the fire after you watch the sunset over a glass of wine. That's a little more elaborate but adds to the fun factor if you have the time.


2. Cup 'o Joe. This may not seem like a date to some people, but sometimes, if you only have 30 - 60 minutes, a brief meeting over coffee, tea, or other beverage in a nice coffee house can be a nice setting where you can better get to know each other and determine what you have in common. For couples who've been together for a while, a cup of coffee gives you a chance to reconnect. Popularity: 9. Fun Factor: 3. Cost: less than $10



3. Cozy up to a fire. Nothing like snuggling up in front of a fireplace with a glass of wine together. Watch the sparks and share stories from fireside sessions before. Popularity: 6. Fun Factor: 7. Cost: Free (or a bundle of wood and some matches).
   


4. Comedy club. While it costs a little to go out to a comedy club, laughing together at silly or funny comedians is always a fun date. Popularity: 9. Fun Factor: 9. Cost: $30 - 50.
   


5. Be a tourist in your old home town. I did this last summer on a vacation back to San Francisco. My girlfriend and I took turns taking pictures of all sorts in popular spots, like museums, restaurants, and other landmarks. The whole idea was to pretend we were a tourist and capture "moments" from our vacation on film. I've never had so much fun taking pictures, and our photos from that trip are still my favorite. This is more fun if you're in a larger city than a small town, but you can find "spots" for photos in either. Popularity: 9. Fun Factor: 9. Cost: a couple rolls of film (or free if you've gone digital)
   


6. Treasure Hunt. This requires some advanced planning. But, if you have a little money, and a day of time for preparation, you can have a ton of fun taking photos of your partner as they "discover" all the clues you've left them. It can be as simple as a backyard hunt or as elaborate as cross-town clue-chasing. It's all up to you. Popularity: 9/5 (it takes work and imagination on one party to entertain the other one) Fun Factor: 9/5. Cost: Varies.
   


7. Finger Painting. I know, it sounds juvenile. I got this idea when a friend of mine hosted a "bring your own spray paint" party at his art gallery. At the part, he left out his acrylic paints and a huge canvas. See this, I started to work on my own masterpiece. I noticed this was fun as a group activity, too. I hadn't painted since Junior High, so it was a blast for me! Acrylics can be expensive, so you might want to start with finger paints. And who knows? If all goes well, you may soon be getting creative with your own engagement rings and create rings as unique as your bond. Popularity: 7 (some dig, some don't). Fun Factor: 7. Cost: $25 - 30.
   


8. Board Games. In the early years of dating my ex-wife, my sister and her husband used to get together with us and we'd play card games or pictionary. It's a lot more fun if your partner can draw or guess what you drew. Popularity: 6. Fun Factor: 6. Cost: $20 (just for the first time you buy the game). After that, it's free!
   


9. Virtual Reality Exploration. Try a go at SECOND LIFE. I found two new friends the first time I signed up, and one friend led me on a journey to find a coke machine (dispensed free coke to my avatar), a hover board, roller skates, and new dance moves. It made it more fun that just wandering around looking at billboards for clothing. Popularity: 6. Fun Factor: 5. Cost: Free if you own a modern computer and an Internet connection.
   


10. Road Trip. The weekend road trips can be very fun. I love adventuring through nearby forests, finding streams and rivers, and then getting out of the car for a hike in nature. It's enjoyable, you learn from each other while on the road, and the only cost is the gas to get there. Popularity: 9. Fun Factor: 6 - 10 depending. Cost: Usually just gas.
    


11. Shopping. Some guys hate this. But women usually enjoy it. Just make sure you set-up rules. Go to two stores that he chooses (can even be Home Depot) and two stores for her (can even be Victoria's Secret). I know, I just stereotyped, but, use your own judgement for your guidelines. Help each other buy things and pick out ideas for an "ideal house" or imagine you're dressing a mutual friend. That can get crazy! The key is to make sure it is fun for both of you. Popularity: 5/10. Fun Factor: 7. Cost: Varies.
    


12. Go Dancing. Okay, it's easy to say "let's go dancing" but you'd be surprised how many local dance studios offer "drop-in" dance lessons. Always start with the basics, then work your way up if you enjoy it. I find Swing and Salsa both highly enjoyable. If your toes get a little bruised, find a video store that rents classic movies and pick up Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers in the classic, "Top Hat" which has terrific dancing to make up for your sore toes. Oh - and a toe massage may be in order. Popularity: 7. Fun Factor: 8. Cost: $10 per person typically.



13. Backyard Camping. I've never done this, but I read about it. Some kids love it. Some adults enjoy it, too. Camping in your backyard to me sounds like an experience of dog-barking, slobber, ants, and lack of a view. If your own backyard offers a better experience, you might try it. Popularity: 5. Fun Factor: 5. Cost: Free if you own a tent. BETTER: REAL Camping. It requires going to a campground, but there's something to be said to get out of the typical routine of life and spend a couple of nights around a campfire under the stars. Keep the meals simple (or better yet, pre-cooked), pick some place closer to home, and it won't be as much work. Popularity: 8. Fun Factor: 8. Cost: $20 - 50 a night, in many campgrounds.



14. Jam session. Try learning to play an instrument together. It helps if you have a "how-to" guide and a decent instrument. This one will be more popular with musicians than non-musicians, but it's fun for a while for more people. If you already own instruments, try switching off or learning a song or two together and pretend you're starting a band. Popularity: 6. Fun Factor: 7. Cost: Varies.
    


15. Imaginary People. Go someplace new together and use different names, different occupations, and make up a story for your past. This can get interesting, as you'll find out how your partner weaves you into their imaginary story! I've seen this in two movies, and in both cases, it was pretty funny. The first was in Mad About You, where Paul and Jamie were on a cruise ship together. It helps if you're at a potluck, mixer, or other place where interaction is EXPECTED of you. Only problem: Paul picked a doctor (bad idea, think about it). The same thing happened in a movie with Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck in the movie, Forces of Nature. Popularity: 9. Fun Factor: 9. Cost: Free/depends on where you go.
    


16. Art Museum. This might sound boring to some people, but I've always found art museums interesting. My brother, an artist, taught me a fun game you can play when viewing art. Pick your favorite piece in a room, then explain why it is your favorite, and how it moves you. You will find yourself challenges to explain and understand your feelings, as well as motivations for choosing each piece of art. Popularity: 6. Fun Factor: 6. Cost: $10 or less.
    


17. Come Fly With Me! There are several versions of this date. One goofy one is fly rubber band airplanes in a park. Play songs about flying, like Red Hot Chili Peppers Aeroplane, or Frank Sinatra's "Come Fly With Me" while you're driving there. Make it a fun theme! I did this in high school and it was a blast. You can step it up from there, to flying a kite, or get even more intricate and fly a remote control airplane. Or, if you're the type who enjoys heights and a bit of a dare, try sky-diving or bungee-jumping together! Popularity: Varies. Fun Factor: 8. Cost: Varies.
    


18. A Trip to the Zoo. I've taken someone to the zoo on a first date and it was a blast. You can enjoy looking at the animals and have fun playing with the different experiences. A zoo is fun at all ages. So, if you've missed out on the Zoo lately, check it out. An aquarium is also cool, if you have one close by (we're lucky to have the Monterey Aquarium in California). Popularity: 8. Fun Factor: 7. Cost: $20 - 40 per person.



19. Meet Me At The Fair. I've always felt fairs are fun. Usually, I'll go once or twice a year to hear the live bands. Sometimes, the best bands are the bands playing at the side stages for free with entrance to the fair. I've seen Hank Ketchum, War, Ozomotli, and others this way. The fair is also fun because you have: the FERRIS WHEEL! Ha! You probably thought I was going to say THE ZIPPER, huh. Well, I puked on the zipper once, so it's off the list. But the rest of the fair can be a fun change of pace date - especially if you haven't been for a while. Popularity: 9. Fun Factor: 8. Cost $7 - 35 per person.
    


20. Amusement Parks/Disneyland. Amusement parks are fun. I used to have a season pass to Great America when my girlfriend was this total daredevil. She loved roller coasters. So, even though I'm scared of heights, I'd conquer my fear every week and we'd jot over there after work, hit a few roller coasters, then go out to dinner at Gordon Biersch and listen to the live jazz bands. All in all, not a bad way to spend an evening with your honey. If you're close to Disneyland, that can be even more magical and fun. Popularity: 10. Fun Factor: 9. Cost: $50+ per person. Season passes help make it a lot less if you're close by.



21. Test Drive Cars Together. Especially, new, sexy, sports cars. There's nothing more fun than the smell of a new car, and tooling around the curves of the local mountain road in a Boxster or Thunderbird convertible. I've made this a "fun date" on two different occasions and both times it inspired us to dress up (had to look the part of a buyer, at least), and then talk the salesperson into letting us drive off the lot with their cherry sporty car! How much fun is that?! Popularity: 8: Fun Factor: 7. Cost: Free! (Just maybe a little karma cost due to the white lie you're sure to tell!)
    


22. Canoeing or Kayaking. If your date loves the water, take them out on a lake or the ocean for a little kayak or canoe trip. It's a lot of fun. Who knows, if you bring your fishin' line, you might even catch a trout or bass for dinner. Popularity: 6. Fun Factor: 6. Cost: $35 per person (unless you own your own canoe or kayak).
    


23. Cooking A Special Meal Together. This particular date is a lot more fun if you try a NEW recipe together. Both of you pick out the ingredients, go shopping, then roll up your sleeves and get in the kitchen to show off your best gourmet skills. Popularity: 7. Fun Factor: 6. Cost: Varies. Benefit: you get to eat what you cook. If you're not up for the challenge of cooking, take a cooking class together. My experience with the last cooking class was I ate incredibly good food, watched how they cook, and ate more yummy food. It was rough, but someone had to do it. Popularity: 8. Fun Factor: 7. Cost: $50 per person.



24. Tour New Homes. I love touring model homes. Why? Because you get all kinds of DESIGN IDEAS when you go around touring model homes. You find new patterns of furniture, drapery, kitchen stylings, carpet, moldings-- you name it. It's especially fun touring multi-million dollar homes and dreaming a little. For couples, this can serve two purposes, as if you think you might want to live together, you can learn about each other's likes and dislikes in a rather harmless way. Popularity: 8. Fun Factor: 7. Cost: Free.



25. Go to a Professional Sports Game. Now, ladies, it's only fair. I've always said, "a wise man shops, a wise woman watches sports." There's a good reason for this: you balance each other and show you care about each other's interests/teams. Men bond a lot through sports. So, the woman who goes with him to professional sports events is showing she can be real and bond with him. I don't recommend this for a blind date, though (bad experience). Popularity: 9/6. Fun Factor: 9/6. Cost: $30 - 120 per person.



26. Pool Sharks. I love shooting billiards. A lot of women are surprisingly poor at it, until you put something worthwhile on the game as "stakes" for winning or losing. Then, suddenly, she starts to make every shot. Uh huh. I thought so. Test your own ability for being a pool shark. Pretend you're meeting for a high-stakes tournament. Winner of the best of three gets to decide where you go and what you do next... Popularity: 7. Fun Factor: 7. Cost: $20 per person.



27. Poetry Slam. There are several varieties of poetry slams. You could find a poetry "slam" or reading in your town, or take a trip out of town for one. Perhaps you both decide to participate and write your own poem prior to going. Dare each other to get up and read their poem at the slam. Gutsy, but fun! If you don't have the gumption to do the slam, you could always go to a bookstore and seek out your favorite poetry books and poems and share with each other over a cup of coffee. Popularity: 5. Fun Factor: 6. Cost: Free.



28. Wine tasting/Pub crawl. If you live near vineyards, like I do, going wine tasting can be a ton of fun. You learn about the wine, and experience beautiful views at the vineyards. Bring along turkey sandwiches and yummy cheese and crackers and make a picnic out of it. I recommend stopping at two or three wineries unless you have a designated driver or limo to take you home! (Be safe!) If you do not live near a winery, try a pub crawl or beer tasting at the local microbrewery. Those can also be fun. Popularity: 6. Fun Factor: 7. Cost: $ varies.



29. Get Vertigo. I'm watching Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo while I write this. So I just thought of this idea: Go to the TALLEST buildings in town, meet on the rooftops. It works great in a city like San Francisco, where you can share an appetizer of cheese plate at the Marriott, taxi across town, and watch the sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge from the top of the Grand Hyatt while nursing a cocktail in the piano bar, then later kicking up your heels at either the Top of the Mark, or Harry Denton's Starlight room. Of course, Vertigo was set in San Francisco, so it could be a follow-up movie to watch later if you get dizzy! Popularity: 6. Fun Factor: 6. Cost: $50 or so per person.
    


30. Miniature Golf or Bowling. These two sports are both fun for guys and girls. Men and women still have bowling leagues. I've always loved bowling. Miniature golf is frustrating. So, maybe try taking turns, or do both! It depends upon time, and how much fun you're having, of course. Popularity: 8. Fun Factor: 7. Cost: $10 - 20 per person.



31. That's Amore! One of my favorite dates is to make spaghetti. This is a twist on 23, because in 23 you didn't know the recipe. In 31, you do. Of course, you have to be comfortable enough to bring your date over. So, use this with caution and common-sense, of course. While you're cooking play a little Louis Prima, Dean Martin, and classic Italian music. (I enjoy spicing it up and playing my sax, sometimes, too!) If spaghetti is too fancy, try Capellini, as Angel Hair pasta is pretty easy. My recipe calls for a few Sun Dried Tomatoes, a few rings of onion finely chopped, and two full cloves from a head of garlic cooked until medium brown in olive oil, then a 8 - 16 oz. of pre-sliced mushrooms, cook those while boiling your water for the noodles. Add sliced Roma tomatoes when the mushrooms are half done. Put the noodles in the water. Add the bread into the oven. You can either garlic/butter or oil up the bread, or dip it in olive oil with balsamic vinegar. Toss some heads of romaine with a few slices of tomato and a couple of onion rings (uncooked), mix in olive oil and balsamic in the salad to blend with the bread and the sauce mixture. Add fresh cut basil to the sauce mix while the tomatoes are still cooking. Grate the Parmesan cheese (yes, buy in solid form - it's always better than the Kraft carton type) while the sauce and noodle finish cooking. Remove the noodles al dente, strain water, then pour the sauce over the noodles. Take out the bread and serve as you like, and top both with a little cheese. Serve with a bottle of Chianti, Merlot, Pinot Noir, or Syrah, if you like to mix wine with your meals. Popularity: 8. Fun Factor: 8. Cost: $20 - 50, depending upon the cost of the wine, usually.

So, there they are. 31 fun dating ideas. I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do. I can pretty much say that there isn't a dating idea here that I either haven't tried or wouldn't like to try again. But, we all have our favorites. What's the funnest date you've ever had? Care to share with us? We love to hear stories!

Have I missed your favorite date idea? Please share!
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This article is written by Scott Andrews, Founder of AspireNow. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

You may republish this article only AS A COMPLETE WHOLE with ENTIRE LINKS and copyright messages attached. All rights reserved.

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