by Amanda Cupido

Created on: June 08, 2008

The make it or break it moment is at the end of a first date. No matter how horrible a date could have gone, the last moments are the ones that can erase the awkward pauses, judgements or mistakes.

Impressing a girl starts with appearance. When it is evident that thought was put into a man's outfit - or hair, or even simply shoes - it screams, "I knew I was about go out with you and I wanted to impress you." Suddenly, the girl feels important. Worthy of time and effort.

Asking questions is commonly done on a first date. An attempt to "get to know" the other person. Inquiring about education, jobs or life goals is nice. Just nice. Brownie points go to the man who asks about something little. Something that is barely noticeable in passing. Jewelry is always a sure shot. Asking about a ring or necklace (that was probably carefully chosen by the woman) will allow for a story... or the realization of an important fact. If she admits to wearing an ex-boyfriend's necklace, then you can save yourself from being the dreaded rebound.

After the first appearance and small talk, comes the hard part. The real interaction. The flirting, the conversation flow, the way you eat your meal and even the way you treat the waitress. The little things. Flirting can be annoying if it seems fake. It's better to have one meaningful complement instead of five pre-planned flirtatious remarks.

Being a picky eater will always knock off points. Not eating the red nachos because you don't "like their taste" is something that might be considered cute. On a third date. Not the first. Don't order nachos if you have a weird color fetish. Of course, this is merely an example of unimpressive behavior.

Treating a waitress with respect is always noted. Flirting with her is too. There's a middle ground where men should stay. It doesn't seem like a difficult task, but many men are unable to find that happy medium.

If the date is less than enjoyable, then the man should realize that the last minutes are his life line to getting another date. Saying that you had a good time is one thing, but meaning it is another. Look her in the eyes and tell her that you truly want to see her again. Being specific about when you are going to contact her is always crucial. Sticking to the time frame you provided is even more so.

The final farewell is yours to figure out. Make it memorable without making a fool of yourself.

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