Date Idea: Roller Skating

Kris’ Take:  If you’re not sure of what to do one night you can always take a trip back to when the two of you were younger.  For me, this brings me back to about 8th grade.  Roler skating is cheap, fun, and a great way to spend your night out.  It allows for the two of you to get into a very vulnerable and funny position.  The truth is, no matter how good at skating you once were, if you haven’t been on skates in years, you’re bound to look funny at least the first hour.  This happend to me when Laura and I had gone out.  I didn’t fall… but I came very, very close.

Of course this isn’t the romantic dinner and sunset followed by the long walk on a beach, but it’s a really fun and innocent way to spend your night out, have some laughs, and just enjoy each others company.  You can hold hands, talk, and just have a good time.  And nothing strips your dignity more than doing the chicken dance on roller blades.

Date Idea: Mini Golf!

Laura’s Take: Seriously, How awesome is Mini golf?! It’s fun and makes me feel like a kid again! That has to be my favorite thing about miniature golf. Kris and I love going to play some mini golf because we don’t have to be serious at all, it’s just good, clean, childish fun! And childish can be a good thing. For instance, it’s your first date and you’re both having trouble opening up and being yourself. Mini golf lets you both lighten up and get to having some fun!

It’s fun, easy, and pretty cheap… I’ve never seen a mini golf course that charges more than $15.00 per person. A few things to remember about this date: make sure it is a nice course, not one that just looks like a few holes and a random clown, make sure that it’s one of those adventure themed courses. Congo River Golf is our personal favorite. It really makes the whole experience! Also, don’t forget to make plans for a nice lunch or dinner afterwards. I’m positive that this date will be a hole in one! Sorry for the cheesy phrase, I just had to!

Kris’ Take: I really enjoy playing mini golf. It’s like being at a random small piece of paradise. You have pirate ships, waterfalls, good tropical music. Of course, that all depends on which course you go to. No use in wasting your money, pay the bit extra and go to a nice one. This is a fun day out and it’s not too short or too long. You can still fit other things into your day also, like dinner. I think this makes not only a wonderful first date, but a wonderful date for just about anytime.

Hot Tamales rates this idea:

4 out of 5 Hearts

Date Map: Dinner, Shopping, Movie

Kris’ Take: Last night Laura and I had a little date night. We knew that we were going to go shopping, go to a movie, and go to dinner. We didn’t know where and in what order, but that’s what we knew. As we made our drive we originally were going to go to Olive Garden, but her and I are very much against doing the “same old, same old” so we decided to go to:

The Dinner

Smokey Bones Was great! Seating was courteous and immediate! They made a wonderful first impression when you walk in. The inside looks like a very classy log cabin with stone work and thick beams of natural wood everywhere. If you’re worried about kids, don’t worry. They have a little speaker box on the table that allows you to hear the sound from any of the many different televisions they have there. Once seated it did not take long for the waitress to greet us and present us with menus. She promptly asked for our drink order, two Cokes. After reading through the appetizers Laura and I decided on the cornbread with honey pecan butter.

For our entrees Laura and I decided upon their Top Sirloin steak. The waitress brought the entrees and everything looked wonderful, but this has happened to me before. Laura seemed to be enjoying her meal so I cut into my steak and I must say they did great! They cooked it perfectly, the taste was great, and not over or under seasoned. The check was only $41.00 which pales in comparison to many other steak houses I’ve patronized and left unhappy. The meal was very good, the service was great, and our glasses were never empty for too long, and that’s only if they got empty–Which I think happened once. All-in-all this is a restaurant I would visit again and recommend to friends.

The Shopping

We went to the local mall and went to a few stores. Nothing really all that interesting was going on here. Abercrombie was drenched in that horrible cologne as usual and phone salesmen were licking their chops at speaking with Laura and I, but we just kind of huddle up and keep talking and it doesn’t let them get a word in edgewise. Luckily dinner took up a majority of the time so we didn’t have to spend too much time shopping, or getting harassed by phone salesmen. The mall is very nice and has many stores but unless you’re looking for something this can get boring quickly.

The Movie

It breaks my heart to give Semi-Pro this rating, but the movie did not live up to its hype. Laura and I are huge, huge Will Ferrell fans, and this is one out of maybe two of his films that has disappointed us. The idea behind the film is: Jackie Moon is the owner, coach, and forward for a semi-pro basketball team called the Tropics. Soon he learns that the NBA will be absorbing some of the teams and dissolving the league. It is then left up to Jackie Moon to get the team into shape so they can be one of the four teams to be absorbed into the NBA. We went in with high hopes, but the movie fell flat in many areas, and like many other films–the funniest parts were highlighted in the movie’s trailer. We did see a promising preview of an upcoming Will Ferrell movie which we hope to be much better, but this movie had people walking out of the theater. I gave Will Ferrell the benefit of the doubt and finished the movie but it was weak throughout. It was filled with the standard Will Ferrell comedy style, which I warmly welcome, but it lacked any freshness and suffered from a very weak story line. Ultimately the night was okay, made best by the dinner and being with each other, but we were disappointed in the movie. Overall the highlight of my night was spending it with Laura, and I think that will always be my highlight.

Night out with my honey:

Date Idea: Amusement Parks!

Laura’s Take: This is by far my favorite date idea! Kris and I love amusement parks. We’re what you would call “Adrenaline Junkies.” So every so often, Kris and I visit one of the local parks. Living in Florida gives us the advantage over other junkies because it makes visiting theme parks a breeze.

It’s not always a cheap date idea, but it sure is a fun one! It’s especially nice because you get to spend the entire day with your sweety! I can guarantee that both you and your date will have an amazing time, as long as you wear comfortable shoes. Also, make sure you bring zip-lock bags, believe me, you’ll need them.

This is a picture of the roller coaster, Maverick, at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. I don’t know about Kris, but if I could go anywhere in the country, this would be my first pick! 17 roller coasters! 17! The happiness is infectious!

Kris’ Take:  I love theme parks tons!  They are a lot of fun and it’s a good way to spend the day.  It’s fun because you get to be pretty much worry free for the day.  If you go to Busch Gardens in Tampa, you just made a trip to Africa, if you go to Islands of Adventure, you just stepped into the most famous comics ever created.  Theme parks create a great atmosphere for just about any date.  I would definitely suggest this idea.  But beware, calculate for food and souvenirs.  If you think you’re getting out of there without buying those you’re sadly mistaken!  This can be expensive, but so so so much fun.  I agree, 5 hearts!

Hot Tamales rates this idea:

5 out of 5 Hearts

Beautiful Day Out

Kris’ Take: We have so many great technologies; so much so that we stay inside, and we never leave! But I see, especially as of recently, that there are so many beautiful days passing us by. I can assure you that spending a beautiful day out with the person you love will feel so much better than staying inside. I endorse parks so heavily because they are serene, typically quiet, and the more people that go to parks the stronger conservation efforts will be when the time comes to determine whether the park should remain or be mowed down for a parking lot. Being in a calming and beautiful environment promotes a better feeling physically and mentally. This leads to better conversations and I think it would even help with tense situations. Being couped up inside with all of the artificial light and the stuffy air can only perpetuate sad or angry emotions and certainly does not promote a happy or good mental/physical disposition.

I highly suggest going on a nice walk or bike ride through a park, and just enjoy your time together in a beautiful place.

Date Idea: Bicycle, Bicycle

Laura’s Take: So today Kris and I bought a bike rack for the back of his car. I know we may say this a lot, but we really love being outdoors, so we figured it would be a nice idea to go bike riding. I’m excited about it, especially since Kris and I have been wanting to do this for some time. It’s not only a nice afternoon outside, but it’s also a fun way to exercise with your sweety.

Tomorrow we’ll be going down to one of our favorite local parks and going on a three mile bike hike around the park. Then after our bike ride, we’re planning on sitting down in one of the open areas and having a cute picnic on the grass (with a blanket, of course). It should be a really fun and interesting day. We’ll make sure to let you know how it goes!

Kris’ Take: So yesterday we decided to do our bicycle date idea which consisted of going to our favorite local park, riding our bikes together, and ending the day in a picnic. Here’s our day:

We loaded the bikes up at about noon onto the sweet, new bike rack. I’ll admit that I was a little hesitant because I don’t like trusting nylon straps to hold that much weight. But we arrived safely to our favorite local park. As we arrived Laura wanted to know where the bike trail was and as we approached I pointed it out. It was longer then the originally thought 3 miles. It was six and a half miles. We parked the car and I got the bikes off the back of the car, this was a little easier then putting them on! The day was absolutely gorgeous, the sun was out and there was a very nice breeze blowing. You could hear the sound of the tress and leaves being moved by it. There were many birds in the air. This was a very freeing experience.

We began our ride down the bike path, and there were lots of really friendly people out. It was nice to see so many families, but despite how many families were out, the trail was surprisingly private for most of the ride which allowed for Laura and I to have really lovely conversation. Every mile or so on the side of the bike path there were these small pavilions where you could stop to rest. Laura and I would occasionally stop to drink water. At one point we stopped and sat under the shade of a large pine tree and I took many pictures of some of the birds. We’ll have to post some of these. We were at the 4 1/2 mile mark on the trail and decided we were really hungry so we turned around and headed back.

Once we got back to the car I handed Laura the keys so she could start it up and get the air conditioning going because it was warm out. I loaded the bikes onto the car and we drove over to a picnic area so that we could enjoy the lunches I had packed. I packed roast beef sandwiches, chips, apple sauce, and brownies. All in all, Laura and I had a great day together and I really liked it.

Hot Tamales rates this idea:

3.5 out of 5 Hearts

Date Idea: Strawberry Parfait

Laura’s Take: Kris and I absolutely love parfaits! They’re delicious and refreshing! Mmmm! So anyways, I found this recipe on Yahoo! Recipes and thought it sounded quick, easy, and delicious so I figured I’d share it with you all. We haven’t tried this recipe out yet, however it’s definitely on the list. Kris and I love cooking together! We’ve made some pretty awesome coconut shrimp, of course with the help of my cooking connoisseur mother.

It’s always fun spending some quality time together in the kitchen, cookin’ up something yummy. Whether it’s making a romantic dinner for two or just making a ice cream sundae, it’s just nicer doing these things together. Even clean up is a breeze when you’re both helping out. I’m not saying that you should force your date to do dishes, but if you’re married or in a long-term relationship, cleaning up together can actually be just as enjoyable as the cooking itself. Now keep in mind that this alone would not be enough to fill up a whole evening, so make sure that you plan your date accordingly.

Kris’ Take: Can we do this tonight? Please? That looks and sounds so good! This would be perfect for a movie night.

         Ingredients:

1. 2 ounces PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
2. 2 tablespoons strawberry jam
3. 1/4 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
4. 1/2 cup sliced strawberries, divided

        Directions:

1. Mix cream cheese and jam until well blended. Gently                                  stir in whipped topping.
2. Spoon 1/4 cup strawberries into each of 2 parfait or                             dessert glasses.
3. Top with cream cheese mixture.

Hot Tamales rates this idea:

3 out of 5 Hearts

Special thanks to Kraftfoods.com and Yahoo! Recipes for providing this one!

Gift Ideas for Men

Related Articles:
The Fishing Man Gift Ideas
The Grilling Man Gift Ideas

Kris’ Take:  Women always want to know what to get their man for holidays, I’ll do the best I can to provide some general ideas that may help you out.  You’ll have to gauge your guy to make sure these fit with his personality or career, but I think this will be a decent start:

• A nice watch (Laura got me a very nice one and I loved it!)
• A new briefcase (This is better for businessmen so get this if it’s needed, or if it’s better than the one he has.)
• A nice suit (Men like looking good for their women, so if you had him a suit that you say is hot, he’ll probably like it.)
• A better phone (These have become integral to businessmen)
• New shoes (I wear my shoes until the sole is gone, Laura doesn’t let this happen to me anymore.)
• A nice wallet (Nothing worse then a businessman busting out his gray nylon wallet with blue trim.)
• Cologne (This is kind of a last ditch effort unless the guy doesn’t shut up about it.  Laura had to skew the truth for a whole year about a cologne I liked.  She kept telling me she didn’t like it so I wouldn’t buy it so she could get it for me.  She actually loves the stuff.)
• Something from one of his hobbies or (I hate using this idea, but it’s safer if you’re unsure of what to get) a gift certificate to one of his favorite hobby stores.
• If he needs or uses tools a lot you can speak with a home improvements store employee about what tools are nice for his trade.  They can make recommendations on things that can make the job easier, or just upgrade what he already has. (Be sure to keep receipts just in case.)
• Things for his vehicle like satellite radio, GPS, or various decorations to enhance the look.  (Men typically like their vehicles a lot, and getting things to enhance the ride or make it look nicer are usually a pretty safe bet.)
• A sentimental gift like a picture frame with your names engraved (As long as your man doesn’t smash beer cans on his head.  Laura did this for me and it sits upon my desk, I really like it.)
• A vacation. (A little more pricey but fun for you both!)

Those are my ideas for now.  As I think of more I’ll be sure to add them, and if you have any ideas or ones that really worked out well leave them as a comment and I’ll add those too.

Date Idea: A Day in the Park

Kris’ Take: Just yesterday Laura and I went to a wonderful park that’s about 45 minutes away. It was a really fun time for the both of us. The day started out with a quick breakfast and then we were off. I know this idea might sound a little cliché, but it’s a great way to break up the monotony of everyday life. We walked around for quite a bit looking at some of the wildlife and we did a lot of talking. I think that’s probably my favorite part about the parks. They are normally such a quiet and tranquil place, and that makes for a great talk. After a while of walking around we drove to find a pavilion and I began grilling food. Laura liked watching me do this because she hasn’t seen many people grill using charcoal, so she enjoyed watching me stack the briquettes. I like cooking for Laura on grills because it’s not very hard but it looks impressive, and to be completely honest I’m no expert on a stove. It allows me to show that I have some cooking skills.

We brought a bit too much to eat and her and I are not fans of wasting food, so we decided to feed some of the local wildlife, but don’t tell the park rangers . There were these two squirrels that were scampering around so I walked towards one slowly, put the sandwich down and slowly backed away. Then Laura and I watched it from a distance. It was adorable; he approached the sandwich and looked at it for a second. Then he picked it up and started nibbling at all of the bread. I suppose he didn’t notice the delicious barbequed pork in the middle. After watching the squirrels for a while, Laura wanted to do some shopping so we hit some of our malls and accomplished very little, but we did manage to find her mother some very charming candle holders that would go perfect on the fireplace mantle! Well, I hope you all have a wonderful day, and remember that even these simple dates can be quite fun. Oh, not to forget, Laura and I intended on flying a kite, but the wind had different plans: To take the day off!

Laura’s Take: The park was such a nice way to spend the day! I really enjoyed the nature walk most of all because it gave us a chance to chat. Plus is was so secluded from the rest of the park that it really felt like we were someplace else, like in a jungle. I wish we had gotten a chance to fly the kite, but I guess we should have checked the weather forecast first. Anyways, glad we got a chance to finally go to the park! And you were quite the cook if I do say so myself!

Hot Tamales rates this idea:

4 out of 5 Hearts

Undivided Attention!

Kris’ Take: All the world needs is love, love, love — Love is all you need. WRONG! Okay, so the Beatles were onto something but they should add another word in there; Attention. Yes it’s true, if you love someone you should give them attention, but it doesn’t mean it is required. And this happens to be a big problem in many relationships: A lack of attention. Guys are notorious for this, whether it be work, sports, or electronics in general. It seems like they’d rather be married to those things than you right? I sympathize on this subject just because I see it happen all too often, and it can wreak havoc on relationships and end marriages. Ladies, the only advice I can give is to try and talk about it. There’s no magical cure unfortunately.

Men, please pay attention to the woman you love. If you can’t give proper attention then you need not be seeing someone. Do both of you a favor and don’t engage in a relationship: that way she can find a man that will treat her right, and you won’t be bothered taking your attention away from what is truly important to you. It’s not only stupid, but completely selfish to try and say “I love this woman, and no one else can have her” and then turn around and say “okay, go do something while I watch this show, and the show after that, and the show after that.” Because that is what is essentially happening.

If the two of you are already married, then I suggest talking it out. If you have the ability to, you can even speak with a marriage counselor. There is this huge stigma about marriage counselors, but I’ve only heard good things. People are afraid that if they go to a marriage counselor, they’re admitting they have a problem. Well, yes, but you’re also admitting that you care enough to fix it. Not going to a counselor means you have a problem and you couldn’t care less whether it gets worked out. If you don’t have the money there are many other resources out there, many churches can arrange for you to speak with a counselor free of charge or at a steep discount.

If you love each other enough, then provide the attention that you two need. It’s not enough to just be married, part of the job is to make each other feel loved and encouraged.