Materials needed:

• Overhead power lines that you can walk under (the bigger the better). Most areas have large overhead power lines, so this should be easy to find.
• A fluorescent tube light for each participant. These are the long tube lights you see in office buildings and schools. You can get these at Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, Home Depot, or any other store that sells light bulbs. It doesn’t really matter which model or brand, so long as it is fluorescent and several feet long.

What To Do:

Take your date and lights to the overhead power lines you found. Hold the light like a lightsaber, and point it to the sky. It will light up! You’ll get a better effect if there are lots of low-hanging power lines. You’ll also have brighter lights if the humidity is low.

Play around with holding the light in different places, having multiple people holding one light, holding the light at different angles, etc. You can also have some fun having a lightsaber fight (careful! the lights are fragile and you don’t want to break them..).

How It Works:

Those overhead power lines flood the surrounding area with an electromagnetic field. Holding the tube light allows one end to be grounded to the earth, and the other end collects wasted electricity from the power lines.

Instead of getting them a normal gift, try getting them some “coal”. A simple geode (available online or at many toy stores) painted black provides a fun yet rewarding gift to give to even the naughtiest boy or girl.

What special gifts are you giving your special someone this Christmas?

1. Don’t offer to pay for the meal. Guys, its your money. You barely know this girl. Make her buy her own food. Girls, it is the guys job to pay for your meal. Demand it.
2. Wear heavy cologne or perfume. Nothing says “look at me, I’m attractive” like the smell of whale barf. Wear enough so your date can find you by scent if you get separated at the theater.
3. Arrive fashionably late. You don’t want your date to think you are too interested. Show up 45 minutes late to show that not only are you interested, but you are cool. Ladies, even if you’ve known for days what time your date is going to show up, don’t bother to start getting dressed until 5 minutes before the date. Guys love sitting in your living room for 45 minutes while you try on clothes.
4. Talk about your ex. Make it clear to your date what you do/don’t want in a relationship by frequently referring to your ex. They’ll appreciate funny anecdotes and will feel closer to you as you rant about their shortcomings.
5. Talk politics. Hate Bush? Hate Obama? Let your date know! Surely they’ll agree with your position, because anyone in their right mind would hate insert hated political group/person here.
6. Complain about work. Your job sucks. They work you too hard, your boss is a jerk, you get lousy hours. Let your date know! Dump the cares of your world on their shoulders, and free yourself from the burden for a few hours.
7. Let them know how amazing you are. Won 2nd place in the Pinewood Derby in 3rd grade? Voted class president in Junior High? Your date needs to know how amazing you are. Whenever there is a lull in conversation, blurt out something you’ve accomplished or an award you’ve received, and your date won’t be able to help but become infatuated with you.
8. Flash your cash. Talk money! It is important to establish early in the relation who is going to be the sugar-daddy/momma and who is going to be the gold digger. If your date doesn’t make enough money, cut things short with a clever line like, “Oh no, I think I left the oven on!”
9. Dress casual. This is a date, not the opera. There is no need to dress up a little nicer than usual, or clean yourself up any more than you normally would. Haven’t washed your hair in a few weeks? Do your jeans have a few holes in them? Pit stains in the arm pits of your t-shirt? That’s fine! If your date isn’t cool with who you are, then it just wasn’t meant to be.
10. Answer your phone. Your date should understand that your friends/family/wrong-number-callers are important to you. If your phone goes off, answer it on the first ring and don’t be shy of talking for 5, 10, or even 15 minutes.

    Bonus tip: Let your date know where they stand by talking about your date so far with whoever just called you.

What did we miss? What would you do to fail a first date?

For several weeks I let everyone know that we were having a snail race and that people should invite their friends. I looked online and found some printable race car number decals that could be put on the snails. I made a “race track” for the snails. I had everything ready to go. Except for the snails.

The activity was planned for Monday, and it was already the Saturday before. I took my girlfriend and headed to the pet store to buy some snails. Unfortunately, when the store clerk found out what I’d be doing with the snails they sold, she refused to sell them!

Not to be deterred, we went to a park that had a pond to find snails. But alas, there weren’t any!

As a last resort, I sprayed the grass in the backyard with a hose in the hopes of attracting my slimy friends. Victory! I gathered a dozen tiny snails and put them in a plastic container with some grass.

Sunday came, and I gave my snails a little water, but didn’t think of them much.

Finally Monday was here, and it was time to race the snails! The snails weren’t being very lively though. They were bunched up, and several looked dead (I later learned they were eating each other to survive).

The race was a flop. In an attempt to encourage the other snails to get a move on, someone ate one of the more sluggish snails. Although it caused a moment of entertainment for everyone, it didn’t motivate the other snails to move any faster.

We finally gave up and released our snails into the wild.

More than anything else you want your gift to show her how romantic you are. These sane and sensible ideas can help you a lot in your search for a unique romantic gift for your woman.

Jewelry: We have all heard the phrase “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” Nothing says “I love you” or “forgive me” like jewelry. Surprise her with an extraordinary ring, necklace or bracelet with a unique design and watch the glint of pride in her eyes. She will wear it proudly.

Plan an entire day: Show your woman how special she is to you by planning an entire day of different activities with her. You can start the day by serving her breakfast in bed with a beautiful red rose. After that you can take her to a theme park, go shopping or visit an art gallery. In the evening surprise her with a romantic candlelight dinner and watch a movie together. The perfect ending to a perfect day.

Personalized gift baskets: Gift baskets are great because each one can be personalized to match the lifestyle of the woman you love. They can also be filled with articles that she enjoys. Perfume, chocolates, teddy bears, jewelry, and her favorite foods are excellent fillers.

A Pet: If your wife or girlfriend is a pet person don’t hesitate to buy her one. A dog, cat or bird is a unique gift that she will appreciate. Don’t forget to consider whether or not she has the time and space in her home to maintain a pet.

Love message in a bottle: A very unusual and romantic gift. With a few basic materials and your imagination you can make one yourself. Or you can take the easy route and have it done professionally. Either way your message should be romantic and unforgettable.

Surprise Party: Organize a surprise party for her. Try to get all her friends to come and make sure she doesn’t find out you are planning it. She will appreciate the effort that you put into the party and it will show you love and care for her.

A nice belt: Buying your woman a belt that fits her wardrobe and personality will show that you pay attention to her. If she is active and casual buy her a sporty belt. Or if she likes to stand out in a crowd, buy her a more glamorous one.

Shopping vouchers: Most women are shopaholics and shopping vouchers give them the opportunity to feed their addiction. Vouchers create opportunities for them to spend the day shopping, visiting and trying on clothes with their girlfriends. Be careful that she doesn’t get the idea that you are giving her the voucher because you didn’t want to go through the trouble of giving her anything else. Explain your intentions when you give her the gift.

Hot Air Balloon Flight: A hot air balloon ride together will be a unique experience for you both. The memory of it will last a lifetime. She will be able to brag to her friends about how attentive and original you are. Don’t forget to bring along a camera to photograph your journey.

If you want to use an easy method to think of a creative date idea, just ask yourself what is unique about your relationship with your sweetheart. You can figure out the theme of your date and where it could take place based on the answer to that question.

A successful romantic date is usually the combination of good planning and play-it-by- ear spontaneity. There are unlimited ways that you can be innovative and create dating ideas for wooing the one you love. Here are a few of them.

1) Outdoor activities: If you are a couple that enjoys the great outdoors, take a hike in the mountains. After that, pitch a tent for the night and cook some food outdoors. Nothing is more romantic than snuggling with your honey while you are on a mountain top looking at a starlit sky.

If you live near an ocean or lake, take a sightseeing cruise or rent a house boat and spend some quality time together. Wake up to the gentle lapping of the waves and head off to an island close by.

2) Surprise date: Everyone loves surprises and nothing works better than a surprise date. How well you are able to plan the date is the real surprise. Does he love sports? Buy front row tickets to a sporting event. Does she like flying? Take her for a helicopter ride. The element of surprise is always a winner.

3) Romantic evening at home: Plan a romantic evening at home. Make an exotic meal and play his or her favorite songs. Decorate the interiors with fresh flowers and pastels. Feed each other strawberries and chocolates.

4) Blindfold date: Blindfold your partner and take him or her out for the evening. Select a romantic spot maybe even the place where you first met! Have a candlelight dinner and pamper the love of your life. Take along some sparkling cider.

I had the most amazing first date with my girlfriend several months ago.

We started off by attending a talent show given by children with mental disabilities. The kids were hilarious and they put on a heartwarming show. I think my girlfriend was impressed that I was willing to support her in a cause she believes in very deeply.

After the talent show, we went to the Las Vegas strip and caught a show at one of the casinos. It was dazzling and exciting… the perfect kind of experience to have on a first date.

We topped the evening off by going to a quaint little restaurant not far from the strip. It was cozy and quiet which gave us the chance to talk and get to know each other better. A great way to finish a perfect date.

Romance is where you find it! Use some of these creative dating ideas and bring the fun back into your dating.

Guys, do you think your lady is hot?

Then let’s compromise!  Walking around the mall can be a really fun and relaxing date night.  Sometimes this can even start out as a group date and then you can split up when interests diverge.  But whether it is hitting up the candy store, sharing a slice of pizza, or listening to the newest CD releases in your malls music store, the mall can be a fun place.

One of my favorite activities in the mall is shopping for clothes.  There are so many fun styles.  Even if you know you would never buy an article of clothing it can be fun to try on if you have friends to go with, or your significant other.

I really enjoyed this kind of date because it let me know what kind of stuff my S.O. liked on my body.  Plus, I like attention; so I got to feel like a model and he got to ogle.  Now, be warned, a guy in a lady’s section dressing room can come off as a bit odd.  But most men will not give up this opportunity even if it involves receiving those looks from older ladies.

There are so many fun things to try on.  My personal favorite is prom dresses.  My significant other has never seen me in a fun dress like that since we started dating after we had both graduated high school.  What’s more, I got to feel very pretty, all dressed up.  But in general, guys like skirts, I would always compliment any shirt you want to show him with a skirt.  You should to let him be a part of the shopping process, if he wants!  Beware: some men might take this too far and only pick out the skankiest stuff imaginable, so remember it is still your body, you are the one who needs to feel comfortable.

This is just one part of a fun mall date, but it is one that can really be fun for both of you.  Relax, get goofy, and do not worry about what others think.  This is a great opportunity to connect and communicate.

A scrapbook can be as easy as pasting pictures onto colorful, or not, printer paper and sliding them into sheet protectors. Also, with one of those craft store coupons we all get weekly you might purchase a scrapbook you both like for 40% off. There are many different styles, and no your scrapbook doesn’t have to (and in my eyes, shouldn’t) look like any magazine about the craft. It should be about the two of you, make it personal. I love stickers, my pages are covered in silly stickers. I also like to write quotes I remember, or journal-type entries on the page. My significant other put one of my stickers next to me at the beach, it was a whale…he was teasing me about looking like a beached whale when I was buried in sand. That is who we are, we laugh about things (guys, that is not a suggestion, just an example of our personalization!), we tease and it is who we are. Let your book shine with your personality.

There are many possibilities for a page. If you only have one picture from an event, or one good one anyway, maybe a journal-type comment would help fill the page. Or maybe you two just have a ton of random pictures of you two, cut them up so they really are just the two of you and fill a whole page so you cannot even see the page they were pasted on. My companion is not a fan of his handwriting so he likes to print out comments, and titles on vellum and tack them on the page with brads. The possibilities really are endless, and you can do this without ever setting a foot inside a craft store, if you men have issues with that. But, honestly, us girls really adore you trying to be interested in our interests. So if she is an avid scrapbooker, offer to help with a page, or ask to start your own couple’s book. (I apologize if that sounds sexist, but I have yet to find a guy that is into scrapbooking without a woman catalyst yet.) If you both are new to the craft, then by all means explore together, learn together, and have fun laughing at both your own and your companion’s mistakes.

Remember:

• Be willing to try, just one time might get you hooked.
• Keep it personal, let it be soaked in your inside jokes and personal memories.
• And it is ok if the book is light and fluffy, or all black and white and coffee table ready, as long as it matches your style.