I can’t believe it’s July 1 already! But I have to admit that I’m pretty pumped, even though the first half of the year seemed to disappear before my eyes. The Champ Report is the July monthly sponsor of www.iwearyourshirt.com (check out the July calendar here - http://budurl.com/t3qx), and all month long Jason Sadler is going to be telling the world about all the good stuff that’s going on over here. You can expect some great content this month, some fun contests, and pretty sweet prizes to boot. Like I said - I’m pumped!

Jason and I were talking a little bit last night about “first dates” and the do’s and don’ts that go along with the first time we’re taking a girl out. It surprises me sometimes the basics that guys forget about or simply neglect to take into consideration before and during the date. Here’s a mix of ten do’s and don’ts - all of which I have seen - that need to be considered for a successful first date - and beyond!

1. DO shower before the date. This means using soap and shampoo and washing behind your ears, just like your mom used to tell you. Brushing your teeth is also appreciated by your date and anyone else around you. Sound too basic? You’d be surprised.

2. DON’T be afraid to be genuinely polite. Some feminists might rail on me for this, but I think it is still appropriate - and appreciated - to do little things like opening doors and giving sincere compliments. Sincere is they key word here, and timing is of the essence. If it’s a first date and you’re in a crowded restaurant and you’re blathering on and on about how sexy she looks, this could embarrass her.

3. DO be conscious of what you’re eating if the evening includes dinner. Why would you order the garlic fish with grilled onions?!? All the breath mints and gum in the world won’t cover up the stench in your mouth, and if you get the least bit nervous later, you’re going to sweat and smell like a garden. Go for the grilled chicken and steamed vegetables instead. After all: you don’t know what awaits you after dinner. :-)

4. DON’T mix browns and blacks when dressing. Sure, some fashionistas may disagree with me, but generally speaking, brown dress shoes paired with your thick black belt looks… well… weird. Brown pants and a black polo? Nope. Black linen pants and a brown t-shirt? You’ve got to be kidding me. Sure - the activities that you have planned for the date will dictate the attire, but if you’re just grabbing a bite, a cup of coffee, or a drink, a little “Fashion 101″ will go a long way. Women notice these things.

5. DO feel free to wear cologne or a fragrance of some sort, but be careful! Think about the smallest amount that you could wear so that people can smell it **only** if they are right next to you. Have that amount in your head? Now cut it in half. Wearing too much fragrance is just as bad as eating garlic and onions. A little bit of fragrance, however, can be very appealing.

6. DON’T fart, spit, or burp loudly. Ever. I have yet to hear a good reason why any of these things would help a guy on a date. ‘Nuff said.

7. DO feel free to take charge regarding the itinerary of the date. How many times have you heard this:

Guy: “Dinner was nice. What are your plans for the rest of the night?

Girl: “Oh nothing, probably just going home and relaxing.”

Guy: “Oh really…? Well, if you’re not up to anyting particular, do you want to hang out a bit more?”

Girl: “That sounds great! What did you have in mind?”

Guy: “Oh I don’t know… what would you like to do?”

Girl: “I don’t care. Whatever you want!”

Guy: “Well I don’t care either - we can do whatever you want to do.”

Girl: “No really, let’s do whatever you want…”

This is not good. If she wants to continue enjoying your company, have something in mind that the both of you could do. You could grab a drink at another bar. You could, if things are going really well, head back to your place and watch a movie. But whatever you do, have a suggestion, offer it, and if she doesn’t like it let her tell you “no.” It’s okay to take control.

8. DON’T press the issue if she does hate the suggestion you come up with in number seven. If you suggest going back to your place to watch a movie with her and she goes, “Well… I’m not sure if I have time for that,” what she’s most likely thinking is, “I’m really not comfortable going back with you alone to your apartment quite yet.” If you press the issue and try to “convince” her to come back, you’re going to come off as creepy and you’ll never see her again. If she hates your suggestion, take it back a step and think of something that’s less threatening and takes less time. If she doesn’t want to come back to your place, perhaps you could just grab a quick cup of coffee or some ice cream with her on her way home. This goes a long way to demonstrating she can trust you and sets you up for date #2!

9. DO “research” prior to the date if you don’t know the woman all that well. Google can tell you a lot when you type in someone’s name. You might find she’s a big fan of cross country skiing, or that she has an interest in scrapbooking. She might like to play volleyball or she could volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. If you know these types of things going into the date and the conversation dries up, you can have some questions in your back pocket to keep the conversation going. For example, “Do you do an volunteering or work in the community?” - OR - “How do you keep active? Do any jogging, bike riding, or sports?” This opens the door for her to talk about things that she loves.

10. DON’T be too obvious about the research that you did in number nine or you’ll come off like a Facebook stalker. If you know she loves to ski it’s going to be pretty damn obvious that you did some internet digging when you ask, “So, have you ever been cross country skiing?” Do your homework, but be artful in how you present your research.

While there are exceptions to every rule, these 10 do’s and don’ts will give you a good place to start from going into that first date.

Have you seen any examples of people following - or NOT following - these do’s and don’ts?! I want to hear about them!

Again - I can’t be more excited about our partnering with www.iwearyourshirt.com. Keep your eyes peeled for some fun contests and good information this month! And as always, let me know how I can help YOU!

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