Join a book of the month club and have pre-selected literature arrive at your doorstep or subscribe to a magazine or two in your areas of interest to provide good conversation-starting opportunities. If you have a variety of non-fiction and fiction books, and a melange of magazines, what your place says about you is that you're well-rounded and well-versed. Alternatively, pick up a few classics that you were supposed to read in college, but never got around to if you're looking for a traditional vibe. For even more impact, stop by a used book store and pick up some well-worn copies of books that look like they've actually been around for awhile and read a few times so that she won't think to question whether or not you've actually cracked them open -- unless it's a favorite of hers and just loves to talk about it.
Dirty bathroom
What it says: Poor hygiene
Do you know what your place says about you if you have a dirty bathroom? If the place you go to get clean is a disaster, she might end up questioning just how sanitary it would be to get close to you -- not a good thing at all. You need to keep the basic three pillars of bathrooms in mind when you're tidying up.
Surfaces should be clean. Keep the counter and floor mopped and cl**tter free.
Keep a tidy toilet. Women actually need to make contact with it so be generous and give it a wipe. If she has to squat, she isn't coming back.
Soap and towels are essentials. It's a scientific fact that women are more likely to wash their hands, so make sure there is good soap by the sink and clean towels available -- if you aren't going to use them, she is.
Stocked kitchen (cookbooks, utensils)
What it says: Knowledge of domestic skills
Want to know what your place says about you if you have a bar kitchen? Lots! But don't worry; plenty of department stores offer start-up kitchen kits that will give you all the basics to get set up with a matching set of the most-used items vital to all kitchen endeavors. Don't feel like you have to get a ton of recipes, just pick up one or two well-rounded cookbooks -- one all purpose (like the Joy of Cooking) and one specialty (like Latin dishes or pasta) or have some hand-written family recipes that have been tested and recommended. Some overlooked items that will also give the air of kitchen familiarity can be simple dollar-store purchases like oven mitts, tea towels and a cork screw.
Sports memorabilia versus sports equipment
What it says: Armchair athlete
An extensive memorabilia collection is a foreign concept to most women, so that wall display of college basketball caps won't be as impressive to her as it is to your buddies. For every piece of memorabilia it's a good idea to have an actual piece of usable sporting equipment so that you don't come off looking like a spectator rather than the buff physical guy that you are or would like her to think you are. The exception is of course your smelly hockey bag, which shouldn't be on display -- think inline skates or a basketball instead.
Mementos of previous relationships
What it says: An attachment to the past means you aren't available for her
Want to know what your place says about you if you have mementos of previous relationships in your home? No, you don't. This one is pretty simple: Pictures of exes are a big no-no and should be cleared out of sight. The same goes for that Mexican blanket you and the ex picked up on your last trip or gifts that are still hanging around long after a relationship has ended. If the items are purely decoration and can only be rationalized as sentimental, keep them out of sight. If they are functional, like a sofa you love and can't afford to replace, don't volunteer it's origin until after your lady is established as a girlfriend and has gotten the run-down on your exes. Whatever you do, don't lie about the identities of females in pictures that you do keep around; it will only be awkward later on when she learns their true identities.
Plants or other living things
What it says: Able to nurture something other than yourself
Since her good impression will die if your living things seem to be on the brink of extension, pick up some greenery that will always looked well-cared for, such as a cactus or small indoor tree (both of which are less demanding than *la*hming plants or animals). If you have pets that are picky about visitors, have a plan to keep them in another part of the house so they don't scare her or enroll in an obedience class to ensure well-behaved meetings between your lady and your devoted companions. It's important that she isn't uncomfortable and misbehaving pets will only give her the idea that you aren't able to adequately look after your charges.
Pictures of family or tokens from your childhood
What it says: You have a good head on your shoulders and are reasonably well-adjusted
Want to know what your place says about you if you have family pics hanging around? A pristine home devoid of any references to your past will leave her wondering what you are hiding, so endeavoring to add a few touches of your life before you met her that don't include snaps of you and your 10 best friends drunk on spring break or you and an ex passionately kissing under the Mexican sunsetsays you're sensitive and caring. At least one family picture should do the trick, and failing that, try framing pictures of just you at important times during your life, like a life-altering trip or at a graduation. If you have young family members that gift you with hand-made cards or ashtrays from summer camp, feel free to display them, she'll love that your reminders of family are more important than aesthetics.
Big screen TV, a Nintendo, Playstation and an Xbox
What it says: You have too much free time and a penchant for your younger years
Even if your living room turns into Saturday-night game zone for you and the guys, take the time to tidy the area up a bit, and perhaps put the game consoles away in a media storage unit when not in use. One is fine, but three will come across as obsessive and she won't believe you when you say it's a rare plaything if everything is out, hooked up and the controllers are right next to your fave chair.
Things hanging on the walls such as artwork or pictures
What it says: You're settled and your surroundings are important to you
You don't need to spend a fortune to look settled. Just putting old posters into frames before hanging them is often enough to take away the whiff of college decor. Those stolen Stop signs nabbed during a drunken night out in college and your extensive beer mat collection might send the wrong signal to a future conquest, so stick to more universal themes of art or architecture to make sure you look a little cultured and classy. If that isn't your style, try getting large prints of vacation destinations to highlight where you've been and give you built-in conversation topics.
Well-stocked fridge
What it says: Self-sufficiency
If your fridge only has beer and condiments, with eight boxes of cereal on top of it, your visitor might get the idea that you either eat out a lot, eat poorly or are unaccustomed to guests. It doesn't take much to throw a variety of fruit in a bowl on the counter or have some basics like eggs, toast and the makings of a salad to offer her if her visit extends beyond the evening. Empty pizza boxes and take-out containers might signal convenience to you, but to her it will only remind her that fine dining is a rarity, if not a complete non-issue.
ssugarlipss (Administrator) said
09:08 08/10 2010
Bathroom bedroom and kitchen MUST be clean at least
No books
What it says: No brainsJoin a book of the month club and have pre-selected literature arrive at your doorstep or subscribe to a magazine or two in your areas of interest to provide good conversation-starting opportunities. If you have a variety of non-fiction and fiction books, and a melange of magazines, what your place says about you is that you're well-rounded and well-versed. Alternatively, pick up a few classics that you were supposed to read in college, but never got around to if you're looking for a traditional vibe. For even more impact, stop by a used book store and pick up some well-worn copies of books that look like they've actually been around for awhile and read a few times so that she won't think to question whether or not you've actually cracked them open -- unless it's a favorite of hers and just loves to talk about it.
Dirty bathroom
What it says: Poor hygieneDo you know what your place says about you if you have a dirty bathroom? If the place you go to get clean is a disaster, she might end up questioning just how sanitary it would be to get close to you -- not a good thing at all. You need to keep the basic three pillars of bathrooms in mind when you're tidying up.
Stocked kitchen (cookbooks, utensils)
What it says: Knowledge of domestic skills
Want to know what your place says about you if you have a bar kitchen? Lots! But don't worry; plenty of department stores offer start-up kitchen kits that will give you all the basics to get set up with a matching set of the most-used items vital to all kitchen endeavors. Don't feel like you have to get a ton of recipes, just pick up one or two well-rounded cookbooks -- one all purpose (like the Joy of Cooking) and one specialty (like Latin dishes or pasta) or have some hand-written family recipes that have been tested and recommended. Some overlooked items that will also give the air of kitchen familiarity can be simple dollar-store purchases like oven mitts, tea towels and a cork screw.
Sports memorabilia versus sports equipment
What it says: Armchair athlete
An extensive memorabilia collection is a foreign concept to most women, so that wall display of college basketball caps won't be as impressive to her as it is to your buddies. For every piece of memorabilia it's a good idea to have an actual piece of usable sporting equipment so that you don't come off looking like a spectator rather than the buff physical guy that you are or would like her to think you are. The exception is of course your smelly hockey bag, which shouldn't be on display -- think inline skates or a basketball instead.
Mementos of previous relationships
What it says: An attachment to the past means you aren't available for her
Want to know what your place says about you if you have mementos of previous relationships in your home? No, you don't. This one is pretty simple: Pictures of exes are a big no-no and should be cleared out of sight. The same goes for that Mexican blanket you and the ex picked up on your last trip or gifts that are still hanging around long after a relationship has ended. If the items are purely decoration and can only be rationalized as sentimental, keep them out of sight. If they are functional, like a sofa you love and can't afford to replace, don't volunteer it's origin until after your lady is established as a girlfriend and has gotten the run-down on your exes. Whatever you do, don't lie about the identities of females in pictures that you do keep around; it will only be awkward later on when she learns their true identities.
Plants or other living things
What it says: Able to nurture something other than yourselfSince her good impression will die if your living things seem to be on the brink of extension, pick up some greenery that will always looked well-cared for, such as a cactus or small indoor tree (both of which are less demanding than *la*hming plants or animals). If you have pets that are picky about visitors, have a plan to keep them in another part of the house so they don't scare her or enroll in an obedience class to ensure well-behaved meetings between your lady and your devoted companions. It's important that she isn't uncomfortable and misbehaving pets will only give her the idea that you aren't able to adequately look after your charges.
Pictures of family or tokens from your childhood
What it says: You have a good head on your shoulders and are reasonably well-adjusted
Want to know what your place says about you if you have family pics hanging around? A pristine home devoid of any references to your past will leave her wondering what you are hiding, so endeavoring to add a few touches of your life before you met her that don't include snaps of you and your 10 best friends drunk on spring break or you and an ex passionately kissing under the Mexican sunsetsays you're sensitive and caring. At least one family picture should do the trick, and failing that, try framing pictures of just you at important times during your life, like a life-altering trip or at a graduation. If you have young family members that gift you with hand-made cards or ashtrays from summer camp, feel free to display them, she'll love that your reminders of family are more important than aesthetics.
Big screen TV, a Nintendo, Playstation and an Xbox
What it says: You have too much free time and a penchant for your younger yearsEven if your living room turns into Saturday-night game zone for you and the guys, take the time to tidy the area up a bit, and perhaps put the game consoles away in a media storage unit when not in use. One is fine, but three will come across as obsessive and she won't believe you when you say it's a rare plaything if everything is out, hooked up and the controllers are right next to your fave chair.
Things hanging on the walls such as artwork or pictures
What it says: You're settled and your surroundings are important to you
You don't need to spend a fortune to look settled. Just putting old posters into frames before hanging them is often enough to take away the whiff of college decor. Those stolen Stop signs nabbed during a drunken night out in college and your extensive beer mat collection might send the wrong signal to a future conquest, so stick to more universal themes of art or architecture to make sure you look a little cultured and classy. If that isn't your style, try getting large prints of vacation destinations to highlight where you've been and give you built-in conversation topics.
Well-stocked fridge
What it says: Self-sufficiencyIf your fridge only has beer and condiments, with eight boxes of cereal on top of it, your visitor might get the idea that you either eat out a lot, eat poorly or are unaccustomed to guests. It doesn't take much to throw a variety of fruit in a bowl on the counter or have some basics like eggs, toast and the makings of a salad to offer her if her visit extends beyond the evening. Empty pizza boxes and take-out containers might signal convenience to you, but to her it will only remind her that fine dining is a rarity, if not a complete non-issue.