Dinner at My Place?

So, you've met someone special now, huh? You've had the innocent cup of coffee, the polite lunch, and the intimate dinner for two. You've perhaps gone to see a couple of sappy chick-flicks, shared a sundae, and maybe even gone dancing. And now you're ready for the “dinner at my place.” Granted, this can be a stressful situation for anyone (regardless of culinary ability and housekeeping habits), but there are a few steps that you can take to reduce the level of stress and hopefully get the night started off right.

First, don't overdo it with the cleaning. Sure, you want the house to look tidy when your special friend arrives, but let's be honest here, nobody expects your home to smell like a fresh mountain stream, bed of roses, or gigantic lemon-sprouting pine tree. So, dust off the knickknacks, sweep the floor, and scrub the toilet – do what you need to, to make the place look presentable, and then forget about the rest. Face it, if you're so concerned with the crumbs behind the refrigerator, you're going to be far too stressed out to enjoy yourself, and your date will probably assume that you are either desperate, a control freak, or a serial killer attempting to destroy any and all DNA evidence.

Second, assume that your date will probably be poking about the house a bit to learn more about you. I think we've all overheard a date opening the bathroom cabinet before to scrutinize it's contents. So, be proactive – hide whatever you don't want them to find. Antifungal lotions... Star Wars action figures... that jar of foot fuzz that you keep beside your bed for some reason, would all be good things to hide before your date arrives.

And third, start the night off with a joke. Wear a tacky “Kiss the Cook” apron, play some David Hasselhoff music, or post a “Nudist Colony” sign on your front door. Not only will you and your date start the evening off laughing, but such jokes might also help you end the evening smiling.