What men and women notice on dates

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Dating costs plenty of dough, no doubt about it. But when it comes to spending your hard-earned cash, where should you invest it in order to get the most mileage when it comes to dating? In other words, before hitting the meet-and-greet scene next weekend, what’s really going to make you more attractive to the opposite sex — and what’s a waste of your dating dollars? Before you max out a credit card trying to win your date’s affections (or convince someone you’re hot), check out these interesting tidbits we dug up for more budget-conscious men and women. Because when it comes to putting your best flirting foot forward, it doesn’t always have to be about your shoes!

1. Men say that having gorgeous hair trumps a curvy figure. Trying to decide between a pre-date trip to the salon or Victoria’s Secret, ladies? Go for the fab hair option. According to a recent survey conducted by Pantene, 60% of men surveyed would rather date a woman with great hair than noticeable curves — and 74% of them said they notice a woman because of her hair. In fact, a full 44% of male respondents said that hair was the first thing they notice about a woman… even before her clothes (26%), legs (25%) and makeup (4%). Most of the men who took Pantene’s poll also said they’d be more likely to approach a woman at a bar with great hair than one who was wearing a low-cut shirt. This is great news, since monthly hair upkeep is more of a necessity than sexy lingerie if you’re a woman who’s on a budget. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t wear sassy underwear if you’ve got it — but when change is tight (like in this tanked economy), it’s good to know that a well-timed mane flip can still make you a main attraction.

2. Guys find pink or red lips more alluring than the sexiest pair of stilettos. Should you invest in a pair of high heels, or that new Chanel red lipstick? If you’re forced to choose just one of these items, research shows that rouged lips are a better bet. In a recent Match.com survey of over 24,000 men and women, 88% of respondents said their date’s laugh made a bigger impression on a first date; only 12% picked shoes (there goes that perfect excuse for buying a new pair of Manolo Blahniks, right?).

Add a pop of red to that smiling and laughing mouth, and your attractiveness spikes even more, according to a study from the University of Manchester published in the UK’s Daily Mail. Researchers tracked the eye movements of 50 men and discovered that that in the 10 seconds after meeting a woman for the first time, the average guy will spend more than half of his time gazing at her mouth. If she’s applied lipstick, he’ll find it even more difficult to look away: a dash of pink can hold his attention for 6.7 seconds, while red keeps him fixated for 7.3 seconds. According to the study, fuller pouts were the overall preference, though the appeal of thin-lipped women increased by 40% when lipstick was applied — but when the ladies went completely bare, men tired of looking at their mouths after only 2.2 seconds. So regardless of your lip type, it pays to paint your pucker on date night.

3. Women looking for real relationships are more impressed by traditional love tokens than an expensive ride. Guys like cars, sure — but are women equally impressed by them? It seems that if you’re a man who’s looking for the real thing, then you’re ultimately better off sinking your cash into thoughtful gestures (i.e., dinners, flowers, etc.) than those flashy wheels to get the girl of your dreams. A study of over 1,000 men conducted by researchers from Rice University, the University of Texas-San Antonio (UTSA), and the University of Minnesota revealed that being in possession of a Porsche did make a man more desirable to women than owning a non-luxury car, such as a Honda Civic. However, the attraction ended there.

While women found men showing off a flashy product (like a brightly colored sports car) to be more attractive when it came to dating, that same trait didn’t make men more desirable as marriage partners or for long-term committed relationships, the study’s authors explained. In fact, they found that women inferred from men’s flashy spending that they were only interested in having casual hook-ups with their dates. So if you’re looking for something more than a fling, don’t worry what you’re chauffeuring your cutie around in — focus on making her feel special instead.

4. Men and women agree: being physically fit makes someone more attractive and relationship-worthy to them. If you’re looking to up your sex appeal on you next date, what will serve you better: looking hot, or getting the two of you intoxicated? This may be a no-brainer, but if you’re thinking of having something more than just a fling, spend your dollars getting rid of your doughy middle and strive for six-pack abs instead. According to the 2011 Great Male Survey by AskMen.com, 38% of men think that great abs are appreciated the most by women (and most of us gals would agree). This gym expenditure goes for women, too: having a fit figure is definitely going to get you more long-term action than a martini ever could. In fact, 47% of men surveyed by AskMen.com said they’d dump their girlfriend for getting fat (OK, to give some men credit, 53% said they wouldn’t), and that’s some good motivation to hit the cardio circuit.

If that’s still not enough to convince you, keep in mind that working out will also increase your prowess in the bedroom. In fact, a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology indicated that treadmill exercise duration predicted sexual activity duration (specifically, a 2.3-minute increase in sexual activity duration for each minute of treadmill time). So the next time you’re tempted by the hottie who’s running on the gym treadmill next to you, why not ask that person out?

5. Bad hygiene is a universal turn-off, regardless of what you’re wearing. While Mark Twain famously said that “clothes make the man” (or woman, as the case may be), all the designer duds in the world won’t impress your date if you haven’t had a shower first. In fact, a recent Match.com poll asked nearly 35,000 men and women to name their biggest turn-off on a date. The responses included bad breath (11%), dirty fingernails (1%), body odor (16%) or all of the above (72%). Not surprisingly, bad hygiene is a mood killer for romance.

In terms of dating economics, it doesn’t matter if you’re dressed in Prada, Armani or something from Old Navy (just make sure to wear whatever fits well and makes you feel confident). What absolutely, unequivocally matters is that you’re clean and smell good before you arrive. Brush your teeth, wash your hands, and use deodorant; for maximum marketability, always put your money where your mouth is!

Sensual Zodiac - Aries - March 21 - April 19

Sensual Zodiac 

Aries - March 21 - April 19

You were born on the most important day of the year! Sensual Zodiac reveals hidden influences about your arousal, your sexuality and your foreplay preferences. These astrological insights give you a richer, deeper understand of your sexual nature. Discover new intimate secrets about yourself as well as find the keys to your sexual happiness.


Zodiac Secrets of the Sensual Aries Woman..

You are among the people most likely to have a fan club.
Why? Because anyone who has ever made love to a Sensual Aries woman remains devoted forever!

People find you amazing.
Everything about you commands attention. You wear your sensuality like other women wear diamonds. From your flashing eyes, to your charming smile, to your wild, warm ways - you captivate and fascinate. You were born with an ability to attract attention like a moth to a flame.

Dynamic, Dazzling and Daring
You are unquestionable one of the most exciting women in the Sensual Zodiac. If they ever name a fragrance after you, a great name would be "Fire and Ice" because there's nothing in between about you. You're either burning red hot or ice cold.

Here's something we are all curious to know:
Where in the world do you get all that get up and go? It's amazing to watch how easily you multi-task. You have a gift for juggling five or six things at once without breaking a sweat. Your vibrant positive energy makes being in your presence as warm as being surrounded by the radiant rays of the sun.

A kind heart with a huge appetite for love.
Your sensual nature comes as easy to you as sleep. Passion is part of your essential makeup. For you, life without romance is dismal. When you're not in love, you feel like a tree without leaves: bare, naked and incomplete. But when you are in love, you ooze sensuality.

How to seduce you?
With the three mental aphrodisiacs: attention, affection and admiration. Your ultimate lover is one who is willing to take a risk with you. He must be evolved enough to give you love on many levels, while leaving NOTHING on the table. To love a Sensual Aries woman, like you, takes an exceptional man. But, you are totally worth it.

Three little known bedroom secrets about you:
1. You are used to being in control, but you long to surrender.
2. Surprises are a great way to seduce you.
3. Because you're already an adventurous person, you are more likely to find yourself becoming more curious about fetishes or more apt to try something forbidden like anal play.

Best Passion Product for you:
Pure Satisfaction®
Why? Because nothing builds up tension, desire and anticipation like this gentle, topical UNISEX Sexual Enhancement Gel..

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO:
Next time you have a date night, start preparing in the morning. A dab of Pure Satisfaction will enhance genital sensitivity and arousal all day. Apply a little more as you get ready for your date and prepare yourself for a passionate encounter with the one you love. Not only will he have your full attention, you'll have his. He's going to LOVE hanging you right at the edge as much as you love being there. Best yet, he'll have no idea what's driving you... but he'll love it no matter what! Have fun!

Sex Secrets of the Sensual Aries Man
Ultimate Sensual Aries Celebrity: Kenney Chesney

Who is the Sensual Pisces man?
Do you see that masculine guy standing apart in the crowd? That's right. He's the guy with that unmistakable sense of self-confidence that surrounds him like a magnetic force. He's the one that gives off the aura of raw sexual magnetism. He's a highly motivated compelling leader who talks fast and moves even faster.

More about your Sensual Aries man...
This flirtatious and mischievous rebel is totally against mediocrity. He's wild at heart, untamed in life. This sensual ram is an intensely sexual man. Unmatched as a lover, the Sensual Aries man finds himself sitting comfortable atop the food chain of sexual victors among his male counterparts.

He has an aura of power that women find irresistible.
He is one of the most masterful men you have ever known. He knows how to play your body like Beethoven plays a piano. One expert kiss from his lips and you melt like ice under the hot summer sun. Watch out. As a lover, he's the ultimate sexual explorer. He'll take you as far sexually as you'll let him. And then a mile further after that. And as unpredictable as this man can be, deep down, beneath the turbulent surface waters, he's a wide-hearted man with expansive emotions and powerful feelings.

How to seduce your Sensual Aries man:
He wants a woman that will challenge him, tease him and inspire him. He craves to be free enough to totally be himself without judgment. He's looking for a lover who's both friend and playmate. Someone he can share his hopes, dreams, fears and sexual fantasies with.

What's his biggest turn on?
Enthusiasm!

Keep it playful...
Especially in bed, because the Sensual Aries man loves to have fun. For him, making love is a sensual adventure filled with new possibilities. This man loves sensual excitement and mental stimulation. He enjoys the eternal mysteries of a woman. And he is fascinated by women who are spontaneous and willing to try new experiences.

His Secret Sexual Fantasy
1. To be watched
2. To be dominated
3. To be YOUR boy toy for a night

Best Passion Product for the Sensual Aries man:  Passion Adventure Kit and Feather Snapper
The Sensual Aries man longs for playful, sexual adventure - something that's challenging yet exciting.

(Excerpted rom "Your Sensual Zodiac" by Suzie Johnson)

5 Things We Can Thank Feminists For

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Oh, those wacky feminists.  Always burning their bras and eating granola and asking for equality 'n' stuff. Like, you know, the right to vote, control your own money, and leave a man who beats the crap out of you. Crazy stuff like that.

In honor of Women's History Month, we bring you 5 things we can truly thank feminists for -- and 5 more things we still need to work on.

5 Things We Can Thank Feminists for

1. The right to own property
In 1848, the State of New York became the first in the U.S. to pass a law granting married women the right to control their own property. Prior to that, women ceded all legal rights to their husbands upon marriage in a practice called coverture. By 1900, every state had given women substantial control over their property.

2. The right to hold public office
Although women still couldn't vote in 1788, the United States allowed female citizens to run for election to federal office. In 1932 Hattie Caraway (D-AR) became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate - and she won by a landslide. Currently, 17 of the 100 U.S. Senators are women. Of the 435 members of the U.S. Congress, 76 are women.

3. The right to vote
Women achieved the right to vote in 1920 with the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits any U.S. Citizen to be denied the right to vote on the basis of sex. (Unfortunately, women still cannot vote in Saudi Arabia.)

Are you making the most of this right? In the 2008 presidential election, 66 percent of eligible women voters actually voted. (Only 62 percent of eligible men voters did.) But of women aged 18-24, only 52 percent voted. Sigh … if only we could vote by text message.

4. Access to education
The first U.S. college to admit women, men, and people of color all at the same time (gasp!) was Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH. One of Oberlin's most prominent graduates was noted abolitionist and women's rights pioneer Lucy Stone.

What was available before Oberlin admitted women in 1833? A handful of single-sex education institutions. One of the first women's colleges was the hilariously named Single Sister's House, which is now Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC.


 
 
 
5. The right to choose whom to marry* -- or not to marry at all
In 1791, British writer Mary Wallstonecraft became one of the first women to prominently argue that women should not be forced into marriage or traded like property. She also believed that only with a real education could women enter into the contract of marriage with full consent.

Currently, the United Nations states that "men and women of full age, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage during marriage and at its dissolution. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses." *Note: the right to choose whom to marry may depend on your state. Congratulations, Marylanders!


5 Areas That Still Need Help

 
 
1. Let's work on: Child care
Finding affordable, quality child care continues to be at the top of the priority list for pretty much every working mother, ever. The average annual cost for child care is $11,600.




2. Let's work on: Buying into the myth that looks are more important than anything else
According to the American Society for Plastic Surgeons, women had over 12 billion cosmetic procedures done in 2010, ranging from Botox injections to breast augmentations. Despite this craptastic economy, we spend a staggering $10 billion a year on plastic surgery.

American women also reportedly spend an additional $7 billion a year on cosmetics and other beauty products, averaging out to $100 a month. I like a new lipstick as much as the next gal, but the Young Women's Christian Association notes that if $100 a month were saved and invested, in five years you'd have enough for a full year of tuition and fees at a public college. Something to think about.



3. Let's work on: Crazy uncomfortable underwear
Foot binding may have ended, but the 1800s called, and they want their underwear back. Apparently, women today live in constant fear that (gasp!) their panty lines will show, or something. The amount of products out there designed to squish our bodies into a specific shape is staggering. If you're trying to be sexy, note that I have never heard a dude say anything remotely like "ooh, baby, those Spanx are so hot." Why the eff do women wear these things?

 
 
4. Let's work on: Not cutting each other down
I have a feeling that the "war" between working moms and stay-at-home moms is almost entirely a myth perpetrated by the media. But it's true that women do a lot of critiquing of other women, whether it's on how we look or how we parent. Try having a conversation about breastfeeding on Facebook if you want to see how vitriolic things can become.


 
 
5. Let's work on: Lack of women in politics
There are clearly not enough women in politics. As proof, I give you the sausage-fest that was last month's Congressional hearing on birth control. The House Oversight Committee, which hosted the hearing, has 40 members, of which only two are women. The panel of witnesses who testified about birth control contained exactly zero people with a uterus. If that doesn't make you sit back and say WTF, I don't know what will.