I often consider myself the queen of procrastination. Deadlines and due dates motivate me best when anticipation of their looming approach stimulates my adrenaline. It’s better than an espresso.We all know the internet provides countless opportunities to waste time -- from stalking obscure friends on Facebook to watching a video compilation of adorable kittens on YouTube. But if you want to do some serious damage to your schedule, check out this list of top five ultimate time-killer websites.
WARNING: The sites mentioned may seriously compromise your work efficiency and productivity, drawing you away from boring tasks and entertaining you with silly photos and GIFs.
Get out your glue guns, oven mitts and wallets! Catalogued by image, Pinterest is the motherload of everything you never knew you could be so interested in. Making gourmet cupcakes decorated with gold? Check. DIY glitter (anything) project? Check. Homemade organic face mask with eggs and lemon juice? Check, Check. Pinterest is deceivingly addictive because you can browse lots of different categories at once. From fashion to health, food to humor; once you're in, you may never get out. But hey, you will look fabulous and know how to make some great food!
Offering a daily dose of pop culture and just plain ridiculousness, Buzzfeed is by far one of the best sites to waste time. It capitalizes on packaging viral content, usually in list form, and sharing it with the masses. With plenty of entertainment news, hilarious GIF compilations and a touch of real news sprinkled in, Buzzfeed keeps our attention with features like “30 Reasons Why You Love To Hate Pete Campbell” and “20 Funny Cat GIFs.”
Boasting some biting (yet often truthful) commentary on A-list celebrity families and their kids, Suri’s Burn Book is a must read. Written from the POV of Suri Cruise, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’s daughter, no one is spared from her commentary -- including her parents. Some of the best posts include her take on baby and kid fashion, and a hilarious rivalry with fellow A-list kid, Violet Affleck.
If you operate on a more visual level, and have finally logged off Pinterest, Imgur is the perfect place to waste the next 3 hours. With the best of viral photos from around the web, Imgur operates like Reddit. Users upload photo posts and the community comments, captions, and promotes photos to the front page.
If you love finding cool tricks for completing tasks more easily (since you wasted all that time everywhere else), Lifehacker is a great site for how-tos and “hacks” for complicated processes. We especially love the laundry hacks and tips on how to deal with annoying people.
We couldn’t end our list without mentioning these other great websites to waste some time. Animals Being Dicks has hilarious GIFs of animals, well, being dicks. The Oatmeal is a great site full of comics and quizzes that we can’t get enough of. Fail Blog has posts and images about pretty much anything that is a “fail.” And Cracked keeps us endlessly entertained with posts like The 7 Least Sexy Songs about Sex and 6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You A Better Person.
What are your favorite sites to waste time on? Tweet us at @MadeWomanMag, tell us on Facebook, or leave a comment below!
It’s been 10 years since you have seen your high school classmates. It seems like another lifetime ago. You may find yourself curious every now and again about ex-boyfriends and the “popular” crowd, but is that enough to motivate you to revisit the high school days? Plus, the five social networks you actively use have made it impossible to lose touch with anyone since 2004. I admit, I am a bit torn about attending my own high school reunion. So I did what any other 28-year-old professional woman would do and made a list:
Con:
One of the main arguments I’ve heard for not attending these reunions is that you can already catch up with those you care about (and some you don’t) via Facebook. The pictures, status updates and timelines already clue us in as to whether or not our ex is fat and lonely and if the “it” couple ever got married. And when you are looking on Facebook, it saves you the awkwardness of those face to face encounters (you know you don’t remember the names of half your graduating class).
Pro:
While social media does allow us to connect and share, the experiences we have connecting in the real world far outweigh that virtual high. While most of the people I do want to be reunited with are my Facebook friends, I still would like to see them in person, give them a hug and meet their spouses. I would like to hear about their travels firsthand rather than just browse a photo album. Plus, Facebook is a great tool for warming up for a reunion. If you are looking to make business connections or are struggling to remember a face, use “the book” to look it up pre-event and save yourself time and potential embarrassment.
Con:
We all think of Romy and Michelle pretending to invent Post-Its and we laugh, but the truth is, we can relate. The thing about these reunions is that they can drive us to examine ourselves under a harsh microscope. We can begin to compare ourselves to other people who we feel have accomplished more. It also forces us to be harder on ourselves in terms of getting our butts into gear for starting that business, leaving that job, or writing that book. Not being where you thought you’d be professionally is a lot more depressing when you find out that the guy voted least likely to succeed is making $100k a year.
Pro:
While it is always tempting to compare ourselves to others, we should definitely refrain. Use this gathering as an opportunity to be proud of what you have done in the 10 years since you donned that cap and gown. I guarantee that when you compare yourself to how you were at 18 you will definitely feel like you have come a long way. This can also be an excellent eye-opening experience. Maybe a conversation will inspire you to move forward. This reunion might be the extra motivation you need, and you may find that your high school buddies are still some of your biggest cheerleaders. Remember, success is defined differently by everyone. You may have all been competing for the same guy, top spot in the class or prom queen, but you all know now that life is about so much more than all that.
Con:
You don’t want to drudge up past drama. Let’s admit it: high school is full of as many feuds, fails and awkward moments as it is fun times. There will always be those people you just don’t want to see and those things you just don’t want to remember... like your sophomore yearbook picture.
Pro:
True, there will always be that time you fell and ate it bad outside of French class (true story) or the girl who made fun of you for what you wore, but are these things worth missing one of life’s milestones? No matter how hard it is to be the bigger person or come back from an absolute embarrassment, it is always worse to not show up at all. Besides, everyone probably forgot about your fall (here’s hoping), and that girl who made your life miserable may want to apologize. Let’s all remember, there have been way more trying times since high school (college, anyone?), and those are great equalizers.
Con:
Reunions can be costly. I’ve heard of some that seem like prom (formal dress, exotic venue) 10 years later.
Pro:
If money is a factor for you, and you truly can’t justify a steep cost (especially if you have to travel to get back to your hometown) then don’t go. However, if you have advance notice and can find some other classmates who are willing to go with you and maybe carpool (think those who rode in and helped pay for the prom limo) then try and make it work. A great way to find out how much this will cost you and offer suggestions for savings would be to track down members of the organizing committee on Facebook and inquire. Ask them if they’ve planned yet and what they are thinking about doing so you can get an idea.
OK, I’m just gonna say it. A really great reason to go to your reunion is to flaunt what you’ve got. I was never the valedictorian or the homecoming queen or a star athlete, but at least I have some great clothes, a great job and a wonderful man to take as my date. I am really looking forward to showing all that off at the reunion. I don’t mean that to be snobby, I really want my high school mates to meet my guy and for everyone to know that if you work your ass off, you can have everything you want. That’s a message I love sharing with everyone. If you have three kids, go to your reunion with their pictures to show off proudly. If you have a blog, go with business cards ready to show off your space. Brag about those things that make you, you. And of course, network galore.
The last reason I have for going back to school is one of pure hope. There is always that one person who has gotten away. They don’t seem to be on Facebook and no one has heard from them. Sure, there is always a chance they won’t show, but if they were truly your friend years ago, you go in hopes that they do.
You don’t have to take my advice on all this. I am considering this as someone who has never been to a reunion before and still keeps in touch with a lot of the people I was friends with back then (case in point, Made Woman Editor-in-Chief, Serena Watson). Do I need a reunion with everyone? No, not necessarily. I could just as easily set up coffee dates and lunches via Facebook or send emails. But if my school is going to go through the trouble, I figure, why not? While we can’t go back and change the past, we can stare it in the face with new found confidence and relive those moments that made us the person we are today. The decision is yours, but whatever it is, make sure you are making it based on who you are today and not who you think you were then. Bring someone you know you will have a good time with and devote your evening to speaking with those who you truly miss or would like to reconnect with.
Thirty. The big 3-0. Dirty 30. What exactly is it about this number that makes it synonymous the word “married” when mentioned in relation to a woman’s age? Who decided that the minute a girl is no longer a twenty-something, she must be, better be, should be married? It’s as if a secret memo was sent out to everyone in America stating:
Dear Americans,
Since most women are no longer getting married in their early 20’s, we’ve decided to increase the female marriage ceiling to age 30. Please make this information known throughout the land—from advertisements and word-of-mouth marketing to incessant Facebook posts from happy newlyweds—we need all ladies under 30 to be aware of this expectation so they can find Mr. Right prior to leaving their 20’s. So, if you happen to know a girl who is 27-29 years old, do pressure them to think about getting hitched for life ASAP.
Many thanks,
The Powers that Be (Creators of social norms and customs that are rarely updated to reflect changes and growth within society. While some of these “rules” might not feel right or make sense, just go with the flow until otherwise notified.)
I live in LA, a city where both men and woman tend to marry a bit later in life, and yet I still spent the last years of my 20‘s feeling that somehow, I’d messed up. I had followed the wrong trail and thus, my “important-life-moments” timeline was off. It began slowly at first, when I was 27 ... an engagement post on Facebook, an invite to a wedding—it was happening. People I knew were beginning the next stage of life and saying “I do.”
For a minute, I too was part of the engaged-before-30-crowd. Nearing 28, I pushed the issue of marriage with my then-boyfriend of two years and he gave in, asked my parents for my hand and ... we waited. A year later when no date had been set and more importantly, I’d realized he was not my Mr. Forever, we broke up. Now, at 31, I look back and realize that while I was heartbroken, I was equally distraught thinking that I had just lost my chance to get married before I was 30.
But my 31-year-old self, still unmarried, knows something that my 27-year-old self did not. I am worth waiting for. My genuine happiness is worth waiting for. As fabulous MADE women, we deserve to get married when, and only when, we find the man who makes us glow from the inside and fits the detailed description of what we want in a life partner ... and then some. I’ve seen too many friends settle for Mr. Right-Before-30 and frankly, they are either not that happy, or worse—divorced.
Today, I believe I have found my Mr. Forever. We’ve been together for three years and because I am over 30 the pressure to get married is SUPER intense—my parents, my friends, my Facebook page now booming with babies and the little voice in my head asking, “When will it be my turn?” And let’s face it ladies—if we want to have babies, there is a real timeline—but, that should not change the fact that your dream life will never become your real life if you settle. So to the twenty-somethings who are panicking because there is no ring on the horizon and to the thirty-somethings who have yet to walk down the aisle, remember this:
1. MARRY BECAUSE YOU BOTH WANT TO - not because you’re about to be 30 and you force an ultimatum. Come on. We’ve all been there, girls! A nudge is fine, a subtle hint, sure. BUT DON’T BE THAT GIRL. If he doesn’t want to marry you, you DESERVE TO FIND A MAN WHO DOES.
2. MARRY WHEN YOU FIND MR. FOREVER - not because you’re turning 30 next year.
3. NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS THAN YOU WANT - in love, in work, in health, in life.
When you finally say “I do,” if you ever do, there is a good chance that you’ll only say it once. And you’ll be saying it to the right person, not just the person you found right before you turned 30.
You may have seen Huffington Post's list of "30 Things A Woman Should Know by 30" getting a lot of buzz on the internet. Or maybe it was the Thought Catalog version... Either way. Men have shared what they think we need to know ASAP. Now it's our turn....
1. How to do simple fixes on your car and around the house (i.e. change a tire, fix a faucet). Playing the handyman is extremely sexy, and saves money over the years.
2. Your Own Strength.
3. That you should have a nice dopp kit and decent luggage--sports bags don't count.
4. When you unbutton your shirt past the second button you look like a douche.
5. Being the loudest person doesn't make you right.
6. Guys get mani/pedis too.
7. All the money in your bank account won't help you if you're morally bankrupt.
8. If she marries you for your money she won't stay with you when it's gone.
9. When, where and how to make a dinner (or lunch, or brunch…) reservation.
10. You can care about someone without controlling them.
11. There are other movie genres besides action.
12. “Bros before hos” doesn't work if you want to get married.
13. How to keep your room as clean as your car.
14. How to love your mom without being a momma's boy.
15. That emotional intelligence is just as important as cognitive intelligence.
16. On what occasions to give a woman flowers.
17. Not to underestimate the power of a tailored suit.
18. You can be a good dad even though you didn't have one or didn’t get along with yours.
19. Start planning for the future. If you haven't invested in a retirement plan, do it yesterday. “The future” will be here before you know it.
20. It's OK to cry.
21. Always be working towards something. Continuing to set goals keeps you from falling into a rut, and will help you better yourself, too.
22. It's OK to not have it all figured out. As long as you keep trying new things, what's right for you will present itself.
24. Sometimes you don't always have to wait until the cards line up right. Sometimes you have to step out on a leap of faith.
25. How to cook at least one meal really well.
26. How to prove a point without being condescending.
27. The importance of having a mentor--and how to be one.
28. That making a living is not the same as making a life.
29. The point in a relationship when “your plans” become “our plans.”
30. How to tie a tie.
So, what do you think? Did we miss anything? Tell us in the comments section below!
Dear Drake,
You walk into the office Monday morning, ready to take on the world with your new outfit from the "Damn I Look Good" corporate collection... and then Here. She. Go. Little miss can't be wrong. Little miss my 'ish don't stank. You may also know her as The Office Mean Girl or as the woman who lives to make your day a living hell. But you are a Made Woman, right? And you're not going to let her see you sweat. Here are some ways to beat down.... I mean handle her in a professional manner that makes you look great while neutralizing her mean girl ways.
Sound Therapy
Beats By Dre headphones are not just fashionable ear candy for basketball players and rich kids from the suburbs, they are also great for drowning out the insane chatter of the office mean girl. The noise canceling headphones provide the perfect escape from the 15 loud and meaningless phone conversations she has all day long that your boss never seems to hear. To add a little bit of kick to this tactic, listen to the most hardcore rap lyrics you have in your iPod and quietly whisper them to yourself at your desk. She will think twice before coming to your cubicle as you recite lyrics from "Straight Out Of Compton."
Picture Perfect
Photoshop makes everything better and it can do the same for your mean girl situation. Photoshop some pictures of you on a tropical island with a hot guy. Or maybe one of you on Fifth Avenue in New York having fun with your best girlfriends. Take these photos and hang them up in your cubicle and watch the mean girl crumble. Deep down inside she is as insecure as they come, and seeing photos of you being fabulous in your everyday life will tug at her ugly soul.
Be Fabulous
You don't really need Photoshop to be look your best, you are pretty damn amazing in real life. So let's show her. Come to work in your best outfits with your hair perfect for a week straight and watch the compliments start flying your way. When people compliment you stay humble and say things like "I've had this for years" or "Got it on discount girl." Little miss mean girl will see this and possibly spontaneously implode in her cubicle.
Two Can Play That Game
She didn't invent the mean girl game and she certainly won't finish it, so if you can't beat 'em join 'em. She isn't the only one who can rat someone out for taking too long of a lunch hour. Also, remember when she took home those pens and Post-Its from the office supply cabinet? That's pilfering company property and your boss should know about it.
The Face
When she wants to strike up conversation about her trip to Cabo San Lucas and how she has no split ends and you need to moisturize, don't answer back or reply coyly. Give her the face. She won't know what hit her.
Discover Her Kryptonite
Is she a vegetarian with a gluten allergy? One day you should order meat lovers pizza filled with gluten goodness that mean girl can't enjoy, unless she fancies a trip to the emergency room. Or maybe she is going on a diet, even though she looks emaciated already, and you just happened to order two dozen Krispy Kreme donuts. Oopsie!
Email Ninja
There is no more powerful tool in your office arsenal than email. Like a ninja, you must learn to use it in your ambush on mean girl. Send an office-wide email to a hot new happy hour that your friend from Warner Brothers is throwing where Common, Kirko Bangz and other cool people will be present. The trick is to leave mean girl off the email list. Put everyone's name in the BCC: field so that she can’t see she wasn't invited. Another stealth email trick is when mean girl decides to send you the third snarky and condescending email of the day, BCC: your supervisor so s/he can see her true colors. Checkmate, chick.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess the last time you said “let's talk about sex, baby,” to someone else, with a smile on your face, it was because Salt -N-Pepa was blaring in the background and you were a few cocktails in with your girlfriends. There was probably a dance floor involved.
Not a very long limb, eh? That's because for the majority of women (myself included), those are five words that--unless accompanied by the above circumstances--are closely related to the most awkward of conversations we can imagine having with a significant other. And unfortunately, there are more uncomfortable phrases where that came from. “What are we?” and anything with the word “money” can (and will, if you're anything like me) make you squirm right out of your mind just imagining the agonizing directions these conversations can go.
Enter Made Woman. We make no promises, but we strive to make you feel just a bit more secure as you conduct these conversations. Because, let's face it, unless you have “the talk,” there will surely be an expiration date on your relationship.
Sex… The Safe Kind
I've known many confident, beautiful women who crumble at the mere thought of this conversation for all the wrong, but very common, reasons: They feel embarrassed or ashamed, a loss of empowerment, or they worry about the other person leaving them.
What would happen if you entered the conversation with this mindset: This is my body, and I'll be the one who has to live with it even if he decides to leave. I am not my parents, or my grandparents, whose biggest risk to having unsafe sex was the possibility of pregnancy. I can’t hide my head in the sand in the age of genital warts, cervical cancer (a happy byproduct of HPV), HIV and AIDS. I have the power to protect myself against all of these, and he has the choice to work with me or hit the road. When all is said and done, if the conversation goes horribly wrong, it's in your power to eliminate the idiot who can’t see past a good time in bed. It’s not just about the act of sex, it’s about your health. Your wellbeing is not something to be timid about.
So yes, be empowered! But for God's sake, don't go into the talk anticipating that World War III lays ahead. And also, make sure you talk about this before any belts unbuckle -- bringing it up in the heat of the moment is bound to make it awkward and will definitely kill the mood. Start it off as casually as you can, during a relaxed moment between the two of you. Maybe tell him that you care about him, as well as both of you as a unit and that you want there to be a mutual understanding in your relationship. Then let the rest flow, as naturally as you can. You know your boundaries, what you're comfortable with and what you’re not comfortable with. Guess what? He may have been waiting for you to break the ice. Talk and listen with an open mind.
Who knows, you may find that talking about it actually turns you on, and once each person’s expectations are out in the open, you’ll be comfortable enough to finally have a good time. Safely. ;-)
Defining the Relationship
Let's start by not calling it the “Defining Our Relationship” talk in the first place. I'm not even a guy and my chest got tight just typing those words out. What about having a “Sell The Relationship” talk instead? You've got something that he will only get should he choose to become exclusive with you, right? (If you don't, I'll get to you in a second). What is it? Is it sex (or having it more often)? Is it your promise to stop giving your number to other guys who come your way during a girl's night out? Is it more sleepovers? Is it the opportunity to spend more quality time with wonderful you? These are all benefits to being with you. Use these bargaining chips to your advantage. Negotiate. Present him with the benefits, instead of putting him on the defense.
Okay, so what if you have already given up all your relationship goal before securing a title? Fine, it happens, we can lose our minds once in a while as we fall head over heels. There can still be a positive outcome for you if you realize two things: It will be harder, and you will need self-control. Tell him you have a desire for you both to be exclusive to each other, you're falling hard, and you wish to enhance your connection by becoming singular. a committed couple. Tell him you'd be hurt if you knew he was doing the same things with other people that he is doing with you. Remain calm as you tell him you understand if he's not on the same page, but you'll have to distance yourself from him should he not be. If his answer is not the one you're looking for, hold true to your statement and back the hell away. This is where the self-control comes in. Have respect for yourself –no one wants to be, or look like a lost puppy. Attractiveness goes hand in hand with confidence, and once he sees that you have the confidence to move on, the confidence to stick by your word and not call or text him... he might just remember it was that confidence that attracted him to you in the first place and come back around. Should he not? Like my mama always said: There's always, always more fish in the sea. Never settle for less than what you're asking for.
What's Mine is... Mine.
I've read it's estimated that money leads to 90% of divorces. This number does not seem out of control to me. Money means different things to different people: power, love, security, control, etc. What does it mean to you? What does it mean to him? You need to find out before walking down the aisle, as I'm sure you don't want to be the couple who adds any more decimals to that percentage of divorcees. As with the two subjects above, find a calm moment to broach the subject. Don't be afraid to kick the conversation off yourself by offering your own opinions about a financial issue. Maybe use an example of something you saw in the news, on TV, or in a friend's relationship and go on to say what you would have done in that same circumstance.
Then begin to share more personal experiences about money issues. You might start with how you were raised to thinking about it, how your own family dealt with it, and how it's been dealt with in past relationships –and whether those memories are positive or negative for you. Be honest with yourself –If you earn more than your partner, would you feel resentment if he skimmed some of your funds for himself? Do you feel more secure with two separate accounts should you get married, or would you prefer one shared? How do you feel about debt? How do you feel about him taking care of you financially? (In this age of the independent woman, more and more have differing feelings on this issue). In money discussions, a game-changing moment where you both realize you are not on the same page with an issue could arise. Work to come to an agreement, but remember, just as in our “Selling The Relationship” talk –never, ever settle for something that makes you discontent.
If you are married (please, please be married before doing this) and decide to merge your accounts into one, make sure you each retain a credit card that is detached from everything else. Should divorce, death, or anything else unexpected and tragic occur, it will be extremely difficult for you to get a mortgage or loan without it.
Personally, my game-changer is credit card debt. I will never, every marry someone who has it (or who can't seem to pay it off before walking down the aisle), and I would never bring it into a marriage. No way around it. It's something I was raised believing and it's something I continue to believe now as an independent woman. What's your game-changer? Whether it's an issue of sex, what a relationship means to you, or money, figure it out before the time comes to sit down and talk about it. Don't let anyone take that away from you, and know that if you can’t reach an agreement with your man, there is someone else out there (we're not being corny, we're being honest here!) who will see eye-to-eye with you.
I was a video game virgin for quite some time.
I grew up without technologically inclined parents (they still can’t operate a cell phone or figure out Facebook) or boys in the household (not a single brother,) so needless to say, I did not catch on to the phenomenon of video games.
Then I met Ray, my fiancée, who just happens to work in the video game industry. He would try to get me to play but I fought it for quite some time, despite multiple opportunities for indoctrination.
In the long run I guess I had no choice. Suddenly games were always around me, and I began to appreciate the fun and creativity from a distance.
Late one night, it was time. Ray came home with what he thought was the perfect “first game” for me. Controller in hand, sitting in front of our living room TV, I pressed ‘A’ and the game began. It was called “Fez”.
Picture a cute little robot intermingling with other cute and friendly robots, climbing walls of vines and castles, and entering secret rooms to find pieces of a rubix cube. All you have to do is explore the various little lands to help your character find all the colored pieces in order to save the entire universe!
It’s a 3-dimensional game played in 2 dimensions at a time—quite clever. You’ll have to see the trailer to understand what I mean.
Fez was my gateway game. Soon after playing, I started experimenting with some other more “hardcore” games. Next, I tried Wii Fit and was I impressed.
You mean to tell me I can do yoga in front of my television screen and it can sense if I hit my poses correctly? It can really gauge my sense of balance and my areas of strengths and weaknesses? It added a new element to yoga that I had never experienced.
I absolutely love the yoga, no doubt about it, but Wii Fit also encompasses much, much more. Other activities on the game include bowling, hoola hooping, golfing, jogging and step aerobics. For the indecisive or A.D.D. girl (including me) there’s a multitude of options depending on the mood you’re in. Plus, the great thing about Wii is that you actually feel justified in your video game playing since it burns at least some amount of calories. (I mean it’s not exactly the gym, but it’s still a whole lot better than sitting on your butt watching Desperate Housewives.)
Also in the more “active” category of video games falls another favorite of mine called Dance Central 2, for the girl that likes to get down.
Dance Central 2 (XBOX360) for the Dancer
This game features 44 songs to dance to from Ciara’s “Goodies” to “You’re a Jerk” by New Boyz to “Sandstorm” by Darude. The Kinect tracker calculates your points throughout the contest to show you just how well you did keeping up with the choreographer’s dance moves. Imagine the same basic premise as Dance Dance Revolution (like you see in movie-theatre arcades,) but more awesome since it isn’t just about stomping on plastic buttons below you. It takes the whole body movement into consideration from head to toe and it counts the calories burned along the way. Lastly, every song features a “freestyle” portion where you can break away from the set choreography and do your own funky moves. After you’re done, it plays back a video of your dancing, only in super sped-up fashion. Hilarity ensues.
Okay so video game #4 is a game you may have heard of before.
Mario Party 9 (Wii) for the Retro Throwback
You may remember driving around in Mario carts or playing with characters including Princess Peach, Yoshi or Luigi. Well, they are all back in Mario Party. It is a sampling of a lot of the old games you used to play, just with enhanced features. Some things are just classic and can’t be left behind.
Lastly, for the adventurer girl, I want to highlight a game called Unchartered 3.
Uncharted 3 (PS3) for the Adventurer
Uncharted 3 is an action adventure game (kind of like Indiana Jones) where you control Nathan Drake as he explores ancient ruins on a search for mysterious treasure while fighting off bad guys along the way. It’s very visually appealing, and is largely plot driven, so even if you’re just sitting back and watching someone else play, it is entertaining and interesting (which not all of your boyfriend’s videos/ videogames are.)
I hope you now have the courage to dive into the wide variety of games available to your specific tastes. If I left off your favorite game, please share it in the comments!
You may have seen Huffington Post's list of "30 Things A Woman Should Know by 30" getting a lot of buzz on the internet. Or maybe it was the Thought Catalog version... Either way. Men have shared what they think we need to know ASAP. Now it's our turn....
1. How to do simple fixes on your car and around the house (i.e. change a tire, fix a faucet). Playing the handyman is extremely sexy, and saves money over the years.
2. Your Own Strength.
3. That you should have a nice dopp kit and decent luggage--sports bags don't count.
4. When you unbutton your shirt past the second button you look like a douche.
5. Being the loudest person doesn't make you right.
6. Guys get mani/pedis too.
7. All the money in your bank account won't help you if you're morally bankrupt.
8. If she marries you for your money she won't stay with you when it's gone.
9. When, where and how to make a dinner (or lunch, or brunch…) reservation.
10. You can care about someone without controlling them.
11. There are other movie genres besides action.
12. “Bros before hos” doesn't work if you want to get married.
13. How to keep your room as clean as your car.
14. How to love your mom without being a momma's boy.
15. That emotional intelligence is just as important as cognitive intelligence.
16. On what occasions to give a woman flowers.
17. Not to underestimate the power of a tailored suit.
18. You can be a good dad even though you didn't have one or didn’t get along with yours.
19. Start planning for the future. If you haven't invested in a retirement plan, do it yesterday. “The future” will be here before you know it.
20. It's OK to cry.
21. Always be working towards something. Continuing to set goals keeps you from falling into a rut, and will help you better yourself, too.
22. It's OK to not have it all figured out. As long as you keep trying new things, what's right for you will present itself.
24. Sometimes you don't always have to wait until the cards line up right. Sometimes you have to step out on a leap of faith.
25. How to cook at least one meal really well.
26. How to prove a point without being condescending.
27. The importance of having a mentor--and how to be one.
28. That making a living is not the same as making a life.
29. The point in a relationship when “your plans” become “our plans.”
30. How to tie a tie.
So, what do you think? Did we miss anything? Tell us in the comments section below!
We here at Made Woman write a lot of articles, especially articles geared towards women. But we haven’t forgotten about our male readers. I know that this world of technology has made it almost pointless to pick up a phone and actually call a woman because you can just text, email, facebook, instagram, tumblr, tweet or skype her to get your point across. But, texting can be a problem when you are typing all of the wrong things to send the woman you like. So, to help you, we have compiled a list of texts NOT to send a Made Woman.
1) What we read: “Can I come have sex with you tonight?” Ok seriously, some of you guys need to stop with this one! If we wanted you to come over, we would ask you. Furthermore, the thought of you being this pushy and indirect is a turn off. Try replacing this one with: “Want to grab some frozen yogurt?” It’s casual, and hey, shows that you are at least attempting to get out of the house.
2) What we read: “Here’s an unsolicited picture that you probably don’t want to see, but I’ll send it anyway”. Think about this one real hard before you send us a picture. If we wanted a picture, we would ask for one. Do you really think we are interested in seeing your headshot, picture of your family or your pet, your genitalia, or the interior of your car? (We here at Made Woman have seen A LOT of picture messages).
3) When all you do is text us, you set the stage for nothing but impersonal communication. At that point, we are not even sure if you are interested in knowing what our voice sounds like. We are almost guaranteed an awkward time if we do actually get around to hanging out with you because we don’t know you beyond text messages. Replace this with: An actual phone call.
4) This is a classic case of what I like to call the “redbox date.” When a man thinks spending a dollar on a movie and calling you over to ply you with cheap liquor is a good date. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that we ladies can’t ever be satisfied with a nice calm evening. But the “redbox date” should come later in the dating phase. If you are suggesting this within the first month: we have a problem. A made woman likes to feel you put some effort in to taking her out. It’s not about spending the most money, it’s about thinking beyond sex. When you text this sort of thing, you appear “pressed” to get us in bed. Then we label you all kinds of ways like “thirsty” and “stupid”. Replace this with: Anything else.
made woman everywhere
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