say sweet things!!

If you can cook at all, cooking the woman a meal is not so much an ‘I’m her b!th’ thing to do so much as it is an incredibly sweet and pleasant surprise. It can be something as simple as pasta, what matters is that it has a personal touch– say, you prepare the sauce yourself, and put in a signature spice (don’t get any wrong ideas, that’s for later, when you make love if things go as planned). Cooking is relatively inexpensive, and if you are going the simple route, (i.e., a simple recipe), you can further intensify the romantic atmosphere by adding candles, particularly scented candles. I reccomend something subtle, especially if you’re on a budget… frugally priced aromatic candles can be any sort of flower or ’spring’ scent and if theyre a certain scent, they end up smelling something like PineSol or laundry detergent almost always. Vanilla scent is something harder to botch, no matter what price you pay for the candle, and it’s subtle and **** in an androgynous way (not overly affeminate at all). Another great scent, which is great because Autumn is taking off, is pumpkin pie, which is very homey, with a touch of barely detectable spice that your girlfriend may be able to notice and appreciate. Another great thing about scented candles, other than the fact that they can be greatly affordable (and purchaseable at the super market, even– you need not go to a specialty store), is the edibly scented ones (like vanilla and pumpkin pie) will trigger something in the brain and make your girlfriend’s mouth water. This can work one of two ways– (A), she gets the munchies and you hopefully have dinner all prepared, or you ate before hand; (B), she’s all over you in a heartbeat, smothering you in wet naughty kisses

The important thing with romance is not that you stick to something conventional, but that you show your girlfriend how much you appreciate her, and her alone. Demonstrate attention to detail with the little things. It’s the little things that often go the longest way, especially with women, who really get the poetic nuances of things.

If you don’t have a lot of money– it’s very college, but you can set the scene in your place or hers by stringing up some icicle (white light) christmas lights around the apartment. The glow always reminded me of candlelight… way chic and romantic.

Keep in mind that romantic moments can be highly individualized, so suggestions could improve if I knew more about her. Is she athletic, outdoorsy? Make a picnic at a nearby park. Star-gaze on rooftops. Go dancing, or mix a cd/tape with songs that all remind you of her (or you two as a couple) and dance together around your apartment or set up boom box and do it in a deserted parking lot. Serenade her. Write her poetry. Cuddle her.

The bottom line is that money is not everything. It’s seriously the thought that counts. More often then not, you can demonstrate that you care about someone with a greater investment of thought and energy in the planning, not so much money.

Best of luck and best wishes.