While Mother Nature may still be busy making up her mind, one thing is for certain: spring is here. It’s safe to say we can finally store our UGGs away for the season and bring out our flip-flops and dresses from the closet. With a salute to spring, we can finally relax and enjoy the great warm-weather activities that make the spring season so great. In describing her perfect date, Cheryl Frasier (aka Miss Rhode Island) said in Miss Congeniality, “A perfect date is not too hot and not too cold. All you need is a light jacket”. And she’s right. And what better way to celebrate spring than with your significant other? Steer away from the cheesy dinner-and-movie dates and think outside (literally) the box with these fun date ideas.

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[lead image via Sweetlana / Shutterstock]

I was at the exact perfect age — high school seniordom — when the Red Sox achieved that wonder of wonders and won the world series for the first time in 87 years. To understand how momentous that was for Bostonians, you really had to have been there — my headmistress declared a day off from school, there were parades and people dressed up in Red Sox outfits every day that week.

The curse was reversed! Even more than that miracle, though, was the miracle that some people who had less than zero interest in sports (like yours truly) suddenly became excited by the games.

All of us, no matter what our sports background, were on the edge of our seats as the Red Sox struggled to beat the Yankees, our mortal enemy, and then the Cardinals. Each won game was one more day we were still alive, and I still remember the excited discussions at school. People who had never held a baseball in their lives were talking strategy and statistics; Red Sox caps came out in every possible color.

It reminded me of how fun and exciting it can be to pretend to be a tomboy even for a little while, especially in the summer, and get your head and heart into a game. Sports are made not just by the playing, but by the watching. Every great athlete dreams not just of winning, but of having the crowd go wild. Read More »

There are only two days left to buy the guy who never forgets to call you back the perfect Father’s Day gift. But what does a middle aged man really want besides a jumbo screen TV, a flashy car, and a prolonged vacation on a tropical island? Probably lots of other very expensive things we can’t afford.

All kidding aside, finding something your dad will actually like can be a difficult task. This is why I have arranged ideas by budget in order to get your gift giving vibes flowing:

If you’re loaded: Maybe you have a killer summer job or maybe you run some type of sketchy monetary operation. Either way, you’re looking to spend the big bucks on dad.

BBQSauceoftheMonth.com membership- $19.95/mo ($240/yr)- Dads are known as universal masters of the grill. This website will send your dad two new barbecue sauces each month to experiment with. This is a plus for you if you like to eat because it will prompt your dad to throw some steaks or ribs onto the fire.

Snap-On Tools-$25-$500- Not all dads are handymen, but some can get pretty serious about their tools. Snap On tools are revered in male circles as one of the most respectable tool brands. Get a male friend or boyfriend to chat your dad up and see which tool he’s lacking. Then head online to snapon.com. You may want to check out eBay before making any purchases, because some of these items can cost more than a crappy car. Read More »