Why I'm dating an older man

Recently I've been seeing a gentleman who is much older than I am. I'm not talking geriatric old (I'm no Anna Nichole Smith), but he is about my parents' age. But I have good reason for doing this. Lots of reasons.

1. He doesn't consider playing Call of Duty for a couple of hours a date. He doesn't own an Xbox or a Play Station console. He doesn't play video games at all, actually.

2. He doesn't talk like Borat, saying things like, "Very nice!" in that silly accent.

3. He knows his limits and doesn't have the "I need to be drunk to have a good time" attitude.

4. He doesn't pretend to know about things to seem "cool." I heard some boys (yes, they are still boys at my age) chatting, saying they wished they had gone to the Kanye West concert to listen to him "lay down some beats." Yeah...you white boys don't know what you're talking about.

5. He would never wear plaid shorts slung low on his waist while riding a skateboard (or while doing any other activity for that matter).

6. He enjoys going to see the symphony and appreciates classical music and simply the act of culturing oneself.

7. He has manners. He shows up for our dates on time, he gets the car door for me, he pays for dinner (unless I've specifically said I'm taking him out). Finding a younger guy who can even get the first part right is a stretch.

8. He doesn't play with his cell phone when he's with me. I don't even know what type of phone he has. I've never seen it.

9. He lets me know he likes me in a polite way. Young guys tend to play games, trying to be aloof and act like they don't like you. Or they're the exact opposite and clingy as hell. This man strikes a balance. He lets me know he's thinking about me with a text saying hi, or an email with an article he thinks I'll like. But he doesn't follow up his message with another one a couple of hours later saying, "Did you get my message?" And he doesn't use dirty talk to give me a clue that he's into me. If I had a nickel for every time a young guy said something disgustingly sexual as a come-on, I'd be a billionaire by now.

Need I go on?

Moonlit Monuments Hike

Last weekend I went on a moonlit hike around the monuments in DC. I think the last time I visited the monuments was on a school field trip, and even then I'm not sure if I actually remember the trip or I just assume I went to DC at some point on a field trip because I went to school in Maryland. Anyway, here are a couple of photos from our walk. I apologize that some of them are fuzzy: the lighting just wasn't very good!

We started at the Washington Monument. From there you could see the top of the Capital.

Then we moved on to the World War II Memorial, which has pillars all around the perimeter of this beautiful fountain representing the states (and DC).

Here is the Washington Monument from the WWII Memorial. There is still a lot of construction going on with the Washington Monument from the 2011 earthquake.

 

Next was the Lincoln Memorial (you know, that thing on the back of every penny). It looked spectacular in the dark!

Inside is the statue of Abe himself. He looks good as new after some crazy woman tossed green paint all over him earlier this year.

Then we saw the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, which is quite new. You walk through this large stone (actually cubes of stone all put together; the rock came from China), which represents his quote, "Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope."

 

His statue is HUGE! Around the memorial are more quotes from King; very moving!

Then we walked to the FDR Memorial, which I didn't even know existed! This one is very large with several different areas. It's like a maze walking through there!

This part of the memorial is really interesting. There are impressions of faces, hands, people, etc. along with braille. The community of people with disabilities really relate to FDR, hence this section.

There were several waterfalls throughout this memorial. And I'm not sure if it was jasmine or gardenia, but there was a LOVELY floral smell throughout the memorial! Mmm!

Here is FDR with his little dog!

Last but not least was the Jefferson Memorial. I actually took this photo from the MLK statue.

And I feel silly admitting this, but I didn't know there was an actual statue inside of this memorial! He's so tall that no one can reach up to wipe the cobwebs off of his face! This memorial has special meaning to me because it's where my dad proposed to my mom!

I know at some point we did see the Korean War Veterans Memorial, but because it was so dark out, none of my photos came out. But that one is really amazing! There are 19 statues representing soldiers, and then on the wall behind them are engravings created from real photographs of real veterans.

I recommend checking them all out! They each are unique and have something different to offer!

Fashion Trends Guys Hate

I recently read this article in the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/18/clothing-guys-hate_n_4293315.html. Because I'm a woman, I clearly have different ideas about this. But here's what I think:

I agree with a lot of these. The pockets-out-of-shorts is definitely silly because your shorts should never be THAT short; the wedge sneakers and any hats besides baseball caps are dumb. Shoulder pads have not made a comeback like other trends (ex. crop tops), and I'm not sure they will. The same goes for high waisted jeans: some people are trying it, but in general, I don't think that's a trend that will last. I'm more of a mid-rise person myself. Bows should be left for Minnie Mouse; hammer pants should be left for MC Hammer. And shirts where you can see the bra are silly because they are clearly too big. Just buy a smaller shirt! Fold over ankle boots don't look good on anyone, and fake nails are SO impractical (I let my natural nails grow a little out so that they make my fingers look long and thin, but I don't let them grow SO long). 

 And I am amazed by how many women still think men like lots of make-up. I have NEVER met a man who liked getting foundation all over him, and if you wear a lot of make-up, and then the morning after have no make-up on, that man is in for a rude awakening; if she needed that much make-up to begin with, she's probably not that pretty. I've always preferred natural-looking make-up (though a dark/red lip every once in a while can be sexy for special occasions). Embrace your natural beauty!

Some of these trends only look good on certain body types. Mullet dresses work for very tall women, but would make me look like I'm drowning in the dress (hence why I don't wear maxi dresses). Pant suits can look very flattering if they have a feminine cut and fit LIKE A GLOVE; a suit that isn't tailored to your specific body is never going to look good. Bandeau bikini tops sometimes look good; sometimes they don't. I have a couple, and I'm a fan, but I like my bikinis with straps as well.

But I like a lot of these even if boys don't. Peplums are definitely a hot trend right now, and I actually just bought two peplum tops! Leggings can be very sexy when worn the right way (and if you have a cute butt!), and while I can see why men don't like over-sized sweaters (since they hide a woman's figure), I like them because once the sweater comes off, you realize you have a thin girl under there! I love bangles for summertime, and in general jewelry is just an easy way to add a little something to an outfit. Super-high heels are very sexy, IF a woman can walk in them. I agree that a girl teetering on her shoes about to fall over is not hot. But if she can walk in them, I love it (and I'm talking stilettos here. I don't like platforms or really chunky heels). High waisted skirts actually are very flattering because they accentuate a woman's curves. All of these low-rise bottoms just aren't as flattering to a woman's natural shape (i.e. muffin top). I will say I prefer pencil skirts that are high waisted than A-line, so maybe that's what this article means. And pointy-toed shoes are like the finger nails: they give the appearance of length, and therefore make things look thin. I do prefer pointy-toed go-to black pumps: they make me feel tall!

What are your thoughts? What trends do you like (or hate)?

Christmas Shopping

It may seem like this post is a little premature, but just like with everything else in my life, I'm a planner, and I like to get things done early. So I've already started my holiday shopping, both for my friends and family as well as for myself; I can't spend a whole day shopping without finding some goodies for me! So here are some of my tactics for holiday shopping:

1. Make the gifts  personal. This is #1 for a reason. I HATE receiving body sprays or bath salts or anything along those lines. You could give that to any girl. It has no sentimental value and is not related to me; this shows me you put absolutely no thought into the gift. I always try to give people something that shows that I specifically picked it out for them: something about their favorite animal/color/food, something they mentioned in passing, etc. It makes your friends feel special!

2.  Buy things on sale. This is not to sound cheap, but when there are so many sales going on this time of year, it seems silly to pay full price on anything. Plus, then you can get people multiple gifts for the price of one!

3. Shop early. This just makes sense so that your stores aren't out of everything and you don't have to deal with the stress of waiting until the last minute.

4. Re-gift. I see nothing wrong with re-gifting as long as you do it politely (ex. don't use the gift and then try to give it away; don't give it back to the person who gave it to you, etc.). Maybe one of your friends loves the scent of lavender, and you just happen to have received a lavender body wash for your birthday (see rule #1). There you go!

What are your holiday shopping rules?

The Dos and Don'ts of Dating for Men

There have always been social normative rules for dating. Yes, they change over time, but in general, I think the rules for a man wooing a woman are essentially the same. The main sentiment should be that the man wants her to feel special. That's the gist. So here are some dating rules to do that (or things that will NOT make her feel special).

1. Old Fashioned Chivalry: Open doors. Pull out chairs. Help her into the car. These are certainly not necessary, and I usually don't notice if a man doesn't do these things. But when he does do them, my mind is blown. These little things can make a big impression!

2. The morning after: If she stayed the night last night, even if nothing happened in the bedroom, you should still be nice to her. Offer that she can use your shower (and your blow dryer). Ask if she'd like breakfast, or if she'd like to go to breakfast. If not, you can offer to walk or drive her home, or at least walk her to the metro. Notice that all of these are "offers." Even if she doesn't take you up on any of these, the fact that you asked means a lot.

3. Make plans: Nothing ruins a date from the get-go more than you showing up and saying, "So, what are we doing?" Unless she suggested an idea already, the girl is figuring you've got something up your sleeves. So when you straight-up admit that you didn't think ahead, you're telling her, "You're not worth thinking about unless you're right in front of me." The girl wants to be in your mind all the time! She wants to know that you like her! So when you don't try to make plans ahead of time, you're just resting on your laurels, which doesn't impress anyone.

4. Paying the bill: Since the feminist movement, this is probably the main game-changer in dating. Going dutch (or splitting the bill) is becoming more popular so that everything is fair/equal. And some women feel like if they planned the date (ex. it was their idea to see a comedy show), then they should pay. But most women still really appreciate it if the man pays for dinner/what-have-you. I always make sure to say "thank you" more than once when a man treats me on a date. It's a big deal!

5. Punctuality: One of my biggest pet peeves is when people show up late (not just dates, but friends, family, etc.). Tardiness is a smack in the face that says, "My time is more valuable than yours." When a man shows up late on a date, he's got to spend the rest of the date digging himself out of that hole. You want to show a woman respect? Show up on time. Show up early? She already wants to take you home.

This list could go on and on. What would you add?

Eli Young Band at Rams Head Live!

 

Last night I finally made it up to Rams Head Live! in Baltimore. I've been to many of the well-known concert venues closer to DC, like the Fillmore in Silver Spring, the Strathmore in Bethesda, the Kennedy Center, the 9:30 Club, etc. So I branched out and headed up north.

Rams Head Live! is nestled in the Power Plant, where many restaurants and bars are located, so that makes it easy to grab dinner and drinks before a show. The Power Plant is a go-to hang out spot in Baltimore, so it is easily accessible, and there is plenty of parking around the area. Inside, the concert venue is similar to other places, with a large open standing area surrounded by balconies around the perimeter higher up. There are several bars throughout for convenient drinks. I've already bought tickets to see Panic!at the Disco there, so clearly I enjoyed the venue enough to go again!

Now for the musical acts I saw. The opener was Eric Paslay, whose hit "Friday Night" easily gets stuck in my head. He did a great job, and I respected him even more when I learned that he wrote his own songs, even Jake Owen's "Barefoot Blue Jean Night." Following him was our headliner, the Eli Young Band. The crowd went crazy when they played "Drunk Last Night," but everyone also enjoyed their old favorites like "Crazy Girl" and "Even if it Breaks Your Heart." I will ashamedly admit that I didn't realize that "Eli" and "Young" are the last names of two of the band members; I just assumed the lead singer's name was Eli Young! Does that make me a bad country music fan?

The venue is cool, the bands were great, the crowd wasn't rowdy at all (granted, it was a Wednesday night...), so definitely a good night!

Favorite Fall/Holiday Foods

There are some foods that I just don't eat (or can't even get) until the fall/holiday season. Here are a list of my favorites:

1. Pumpkin: This really should go without saying. I LOVE me some pumpkin everything: Starbucks lattes, pie, scones, ravioli,the list could go on and on. Here is a recipe for my favorite pumpkin cookies from Nestlé:

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• VANILLA GLAZE (recipe below)

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease baking sheets.

COMBINE flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter and sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in pumpkin, eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.

BAKE for 15 to 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle or spread with Vanilla Glaze.

FOR VANILLA GLAZE:  Combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl; mix well.

2. Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes are under-rated. They are not nearly as popular as pumpkin, but I think they are very tasty! Sweet potato pie, sweet potato hash, mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar and marshmallows...Heck, I'll even just bake a sweet potato in the microwave as a snack!

3. Hot Chocolate: Although I sometimes drink hot chocolate at random times in the year because my office at work is quite chilly, I usually only have it when it's really cold out. My favorite kind is the Ghirardelli white chocolate mocha. And if I've got marshmallows on hand (maybe extra from the sweet potatoes, hmm?), those are definitely goin' in there.

4. Peppermint Bark: I like mint-flavored desserts, from Andes mints to ice cream. One time in high school, a friend of mine bought me a tin of Williams-Sonoma peppermint bark, and I've never looked back. Every Christmas, I have to have it.

This list could go on forever, so I think I better stop. What are your favorite holiday foods?