Heavy petting, hot for teacher, a way to a man’s heart … Dating iVolunteer style this Valentine’s Day!
iVolunteer’s Guide to Dating Done Right
Let’s be honest, romance just isn’t what it used to be. Love letters have been swapped for sexting and the movies have gone from classically romantic (Cary Grant) to romantically comic (Matthew McConaughey). But you can still have a date night to remember, if you do it iVolunteer-style. Here’s our tips on Dating Done Right:
Heavy Petting
The Romantic Idea: You meet her for an ice cream on Main Street, then walk down to the local pet shop where she’d spend 45 minutes getting all cuddly with that spotted beagle. Dogs and babies always work.
The Problem: While it’s a great tactic to invoke those lovey dovey pheromones, many pet shops don’t actually carry pets anymore, and the ones that do are often part of puppy mills. Definitely not romantic.
The Date Done Right: Forget the Pet Shop and head on over to your local animal shelter. Call ahead to make sure they are open to dog walkers (most shelters are happy to have the help). Browse the selection and choose 3 or 4 dogs (why not make it interesting) and hit the streets for a romantic and surely entertaining afternoon walk.
Hot for Teacher
The Romantic Idea: You’ve been dating a cute co-worker for weeks, so you offer to help her with that big assignment your boss just saddled her with. You’ll order Chinese, work late into the night… she’ll be so appreciative of your help she won’t be able to resist you.
The Problem: Really? You think that’s going to work? If she’s not totally offended and actually goes for it, you won’t have enough time to get your own work done and even worse, she might just be using you and may not realize the so-called romance .
The Date Done Right: Avoid this pitfall all together. Working together is more romantic when you do it outside of work! Join a local mentor or tutoring program and work together to help someone else. Not only will you be collaborating and bonding over the joint effort, you’ll each have a chance to show off what you know, without the office politics.
The Way to a Man’s Heart . . .
The Romantic Idea: You invite him back to your place to show off your fancy cooking skills: you’ll wow him with a braised pot roast with a sweet pea brodo and a squash mash; all topped off with a bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
The Problem: Post-dinner food coma.
The DateDone Right: Skip the heavy meal and impress him with your philanthropic chops instead. Take him with you to a local Homeless Shelter and work together to chop the veggies and stir the soup to prep the nightly meal service. Talk about quality time together. You’ll really make a meal worth remembering.
Bottomline: Find the best ways to show your date a good time this week. Check out iVolunteer.org’s Do Something list of volunteer opportunities (if you live in LA or Chicago) and use our nifty opportunity search in our Do Something section if you live in other cities. Better yet, try out one of our recommended Go-To Events featured each week on our homepage. You’re sure to have a date that makes a difference!
Photo credit: Flickr/ by latteda
