Most girls love getting showered with affection and compliments from a guy they care about. Some girls can be insecure, and love getting reassured a lot. To be affectionate, just give her a gentle touch, put your arm around her, hold her hand, or do whatever you can do to give her a little bit of physical touch. This doesn't mean you have to use everything you have on her, pick the right moments to let her know you care and it'll mean a lot more than having your arm around her for four hours.  Giving her a little kiss on the cheek or a squeeze of the hand is another way to be affectionate. If holding hands isn't your thing, you can put your hand on the small of her back when you're walking. You don't have to transform your whole personality and start throwing your jacket over puddles to show the girl you love her. However, if you want to show her that you care, then yeah, you should probably stop belching and scratching yourself when you're hanging out. Otherwise, she'll feel like one of the guys, and you have to make an effort to make her feel different from your bros. Make sure to hold open doors for her, pull out her chair when you're on a dinner date, let her walk in front of you when you walk into a place, and give her your jacket when she's cold.  Being a gentleman will make her feel like you're paying special attention to her. If you want her to feel loved, then you've got to make that extra effort. It can be hard for a lot of guys to know what it means to be thoughtful. Basically, it means that you should really put some thought and effort into how you treat your girl, based on what you think she will or will not like. So, take the time to really listen to her when she speaks, and to know what makes her tick. If it's the morning before her dance recital, send her flowers. If she's having a rough week, write her a love letter. If you're at the movies, get up to get her her favorite snack. Take the time to get to know what will make her happy, and make the effort to give that to her.  If you know she's feeling low, acknowledge her moods and say, "I can imagine that you would feel..." while you shouldn't say you know exactly how she feels, put in the effort to let her know you've thought about what's going through her head. Pay attention. If she mentions a book she'd like to read or a new album she hasn't heard yet, give them to her as a small gift. She might say, "I can't believe you remembered that!" Now, that's love. If you want to love the girl, then you have to be understanding of the fact that she's only human and has flaws, needs, and desires, just like everyone else. You can't expect her to be perfect or to live up to some unreasonable expectations. If she makes a mistake, don't spend weeks being resentful and being dismissive of her. If she flakes on you once, don't sulk about it for days. Obviously, if she mistreats you constantly, then you should reevaluate your relationship, but if she has a few bad days here and there, don't act like it's the end of the world. Think about it: maybe she's having a really hard time adjusting to a demanding new job. Maybe she's suffering emotionally because her grandmother or mother recently passed away. Try to see things from her perspective before you get angry or start a fight. Part of loving a girl is knowing when you should back off a little bit. Maybe she's had a bad week and really wants to be alone; respect that. Maybe she wants to have a night out with her girlfriends; tell her you hope she has a great time and don't text her every five seconds to make sure she's not flirting with some other guy. If you don't smother her, she'll feel your love more, and she'll love the fact that you respect her individuality. However, it can be tricky. You have to recognize whether she really doesn't need your support, or if she's just saying that because she doesn't want to be a burden. You have to figure this one out on a case by case basis. If you want to love a girl, then you have to make some romantic gestures to let her know that you really care about her. Don't do anything that feels forced or just completely unnatural to you, but make an effort to make your girl feel extra special. This can mean sending her flowers, buying her a box of chocolates, or doing something a bit more original that reflects on the nature of your relationship. Here are some other ways you can be romantic:    Write her a sweet message in a card just because. Make her a delicious home cooked meal. Tell her you love her at the right moments. Write or recite her a poem. Take her dancing. Go on a moonlit walk. Have an impromptu picnic. Take her to a jazz concert. Write love notes to her. Serenade her with love songs.

Summary: Be affectionate. Be a gentleman. Be thoughtful. Be understanding. Know when to give her space. Be romantic.


Hush puppies are savory bits of fried dough (a little like non-sweetened donuts). Fried catfish and hush puppies is a classic example of "Southern comfort" food. This pairing is tremendously satisfying, but beware — it's very rich. If you're a Southern dish that's a little more nutritionally substantial, try this delicious combo. Red beans and rice make a very satisfying dish on their own, but you can add "extras" like sausage, vegetables, and more to "spice things up." Turn fried catfish into the perfect snack food with this Cajun condiment. Rémoulade is a spicy, savory mayonnaise. Not only is it great for catfish — it's also a good substitute for tartar sauce. Looking for something slightly more healthy to pair with your fried catfish? These vegetables, which are staples in Southern cooking, make great companions for any fried fish. You can try serving the vegetables plain or whip them into a maque choux (a sort of spicy casserole that also contains sausage).
Summary: Pair with hush puppies for a classic Southern feast. Try with red beans and rice for a wholesome dinner. Try making a rémoulade dipping sauce. Try with Okra and corn.