How to please your woman...outside of the bedroom

As men, we are macho...we think we are better than we are, we are prideful, arrogant, selfish...but we can be amazing as well. We can be caring, selfLESS, sensitive, attentive, thoughtful and even romantic. However, in order to be these things, we need to LISTEN to what our significant other actually says.

This goes for husbands, serious boyfriends, couples that are dating and even those men preparing for their first date with a lovely female. There is always something that you can do to knock the socks off your significant other. For those married men, knocking her socks off with loving gestures that are a surprise will end up knocking off more than her socks...

Fellas, here is a little FYI for you, just as a point of understanding. Most women aren't going to tell you that you do a great job attending to her needs. However, they are going to tell their friends and especially family. Those ladies that talk to their mother every day are going to sing your praises to her if you are attentive and assertive, great things will be said about you when you aren't around and that is really the ultimate goal here.

All women love surprises. I don't care what they say, they love surprises. They key is to listen, no really, actually listen to the words that they are saying because you will start to hear common themes along the way that will be key indicators to the things she likes. For those men that are in the early stages of relationship or just going on a first date, just start with flowers. All women love flowers and its always viewed as thoughtful. I continually surprised by the amount of women who tell me they have never received flowers from a guy. Early on in the dating relationship, just do it. Nothing crazy...just some flowers.  Go to Costco and buy their bouquet of roses. Simple. Cost-effective and a home-run.

For those fellas that are further along in the relationship status game and maybe even have a commitment across the magical Facebook network...you need to go above and beyond. The Costco bouquets are what you give your significant other on a random Tuesday, just because. To hit a home-run, you need to deliver a pre-arranged bouquet from one of the more expensive delivery floral houses such as Ballard Blossom or City Flowers. These places are expensive, but you get what you pay for and it usually comes back to you later in the evening if you are ahead of the game and you aren't buying her flowers because you made a mistake.

Fellas, don't get intimidated of feel obligated by these suggestions. If that happens, she will know and then the effect is gone. Know your significant other. That is the over-arching theme here. If you know your woman, you will know and understand what makes her tick and what gets her excited. It could be flowers, it could a bottle of wine, it could be a 6-pack of Bud Light, it could be cooking her dinner, it could be as simple as planning a date night or it could just be quality time together - alone.

Know your woman's love language. Read this book and what I am saying will make much more sense. The amazing truth is that the journey is never over. Women are so complex, the good men are constantly trying to understand and uncover new, exciting levels of knowledge and understanding of their woman. That is the fun part. When you care about someone so much that you want to understand the deepest levels of her being and her emotions, that is what becomes exciting.

Finally, as I leave you tonight, one final point. Never underestimate the power of a great mix CD. Our women love music just as much as we do, and sometimes even more. The trick is to learn what type of music she likes and make her a CD of songs that she likes. The true creative aficionado's will plan a date around a mix CD theme. Just some ideas.

The key is really just knowing your woman and understanding her likes. If you pay close attention to her needs, she will pay attention to yours. And finally, you will actually enjoy make her happy. This week, try it out and report back. The modern man wants to know. Enjoy the journey.

Reactions From Augusta

After a long week of incredible golf and both heart-warming stories, and ridiculous stories of a fallen star who was warmly welcomed back between the cleverly coordinated confines of Augusta National and the Masters.

Tiger was welcomed back with open arms by the patrons at Augusta, but his rustiness was clearly evident on the golf course...and as for his new "calmer" demeanor, well...that didn't really last more than a few holes (pardon the pun).

 

Thankfully, the weekend culminated with an actual family man (as far as we know), winning his third green jacket and hugging his wife and children on the 18th green with tears flowing. Jim Nantz and the the rest of the brass at CBS were eating up every minute of it. Thankfully, CBS and NBC weren't covering this event together. As the drama unfolded I could imagine Jim Nantz and Bob Costas fighting for soliloquies and clever adjectives as Phil walked up the 18th fairway.

Phil made shot after amazing shot, never buckling under the pressure of the moment until he embraced his wife who is battling breast cancer. One can only hope that the glory of the story and the family image presented was genuine. It's certainly unfair to assume anything otherwise and the only reason anyone would assume is because of the dirtbag champion we have been reading and watching for five months.

This years Masters champion is a true champion. A champion who loves his wife, stands by her during hard times and genuinely loves his kids. When his wife and mother were diagnosed with breast cancer in the same week, Phil responded by actually taking five months off from golf and caring for his family. He wasn't texting random women, he was by his wife's side and by his mother's side.

Not only is Phil an incredible golfer, he is also by all accounts a great family man. Who doesn't love a story like that? Even Tiger's mistresses have to appreciate that outcome. How can they not want to be Amy Mickelson? Every woman wants and deserves a man who is willing to put his life on hold to care for those close to him.

An amazing tournament ended the way it was supposed to end - with a true champion dawning the green jacket. Phil's holier than though image may actually be a genuine representation of a man who loves his family more than his work and pours 100% of his energy into both and the results are the stuff of storybook dreams.

Zombie Advertising

By now, you all have seen it. The first Nike advertisement with Tiger Woods since Thanksgiving revealed an emotionally, morally, spiritually empty facade of a man. Since then we have seen the headlines, read the reports, watched the contrived press conferences, speculated on how many more are out there and even marveled at his incredible golf ability.

Nike has done something remarkable here. They have the entire country talking about them. Nike is very similar to the software giant in our backyard - Microsoft. Few people really "like" them or give them excessive praise, but everyone uses them, or their software. Nearly everyone has a pair of Nike shoes or some article of Nike clothing. They aren't the most glamorous company, the most by the book company, or the most respectable company, but they are compelling in their advertising.

Nike's new Tiger ad portrays the fallen golfer as a wounded hero. The ad is black and white, showing an emotionless Woods staring straight into the camera with no emotion. Tiger blinks five or six times throughout the 33 second spot, but that is all.

The voice you hear is that of his father Earl Woods. His father who died in 2006 after a bout with cancer. The ad portrays Tiger being lectured by his father asking him if he has learned anything from his carousing. The answer to that question remains to be seen, but his sincerity can certainly be viewed fairly plainly. Since Tiger's orchestrated statement, it was been three months and as of today, he is back on the golf course. It doesn't appear that he has a great concern for his family back home in Florida or Sweden, or wherever they are this week.

The creepiness of the advertisement is palpable. Tiger's deceased father lecturing him or giving him advice while his zombie-like son stares directly into the camera is enough to make even Nike stock-holders squirm.

Take a look for yourself. Listen to Earl. Look into Tiger's eyes and try and see sincerity. Good luck.

Boudoir Beauty

As the flowers begin to bloom and the days grow longer, we are approaching a very important season of the year - that's right - its Wedding Season!!!

Who doesn't love weddings? Well besides the woman who is asked to be IN them, but can't ever find someone that actually wants to wed her. But even then, weddings are fun. The glitz, the glamour, the dress, the tux, the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, the pampering, the champagne, the strawberries, photos, video, bouquets, table settings, speeches, the whole experience is great fun. Typically both the bride and the groom feel like stars for a day, but lets face it, the focus is really on the bride - and rightfully so. 

Then there is the wedding night itself. When the cameras are gone and the party has died down. There is that moment of connection between the new husband and wife that can never be forgotten or recreated. The epic ride of emotion and connection makes Disneyland look like your backyard sandbox.

Is there a way for those feelings of passion and glamour to be recreated for both parties? 

Absolutely. 

I am here to tell you how. Ladies who are engaged or married, take what I am about to tell you as an order. Your husband will be extremely thankful. 

Get a boudoir photo shoot done. 

Get your hair done again. Get your makeup done again. Get glammed up and release your inner animal for your husband. If you are engaged, don't give him these pictures until your wedding night. Married women, obviously you can dole out the goods whenever you want.

As good husbands, we don't ever want to leave you, but the reality is that there are times when we have to. Work, travel, whatever. Create something classy and beautiful that we can take with us. 

Ladies, for this operation to a be a complete success, you must hire a photographer that is not only talented but one that makes you feel both comfortable, beautiful and glamorous. I have a few references for you. Contact either Amy Craver-Walton or Andria Lindquist and make this happen. Both are local photographers and both are fantastic at what they do, not to mention fantastic people. Search them on Facebook, check out their websites or shoot them an email. 

Amy Craver-Walton

Andria Lindquist 

Both of these ladies will help you bring back those feelings from your engagement day and your wedding day and you will provide your husband with a host of 'other' feelings as well - all of which he will appreciate. 

Be creative with it, have fun. Use props, multiple outfits and multiple poses. Also, if you have already done this once, don't be afraid to do it again. We will certainly appreciate that as well. As husbands, we love and acknowledge the fact that your beauty as women is vastly superior to ours as men so show it off!! To us only of course, but still. 

Have a great time, let these wonderful photographers help you crack that outer shell you might have and give your husband or husband to be the gift that keeps on giving day after day.