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Why Now is a Great Time to Get Out and Start Making New Friends

We all enjoy socialising and making new friends whenever we can; it’s fun and it makes us feel more connected to the people around us, not to mention an excellent way of exploring new avenues for relationships and enthralling new experiences.

But what about this time of year, when the long nights start drawing in and it just seems to get colder and gloomier – should we be staying in every night?

Of course it’s nice to curl up in front of the television once in a while, especially now it seems so miserable outside. But chances are, you’d missing out on a wealth of fantastic opportunities to get out there and have lots of seasonal fun with your peeps. That’s right folks, carpe that diem!

Keeps us happy

In fact, going out and enjoying yourself is never more important from a ‘health and happiness’ stand point than right now. The benefits of making new friends and keeping in regular contact with your existing ones can really help alleviate those winter blues we often hear about, and sometimes experience for ourselves. Feeling supported by others can do wonders for your state of mind; your confidence, your self-esteem, and your general sense of wellbeing. Now who wouldn’t want that?

Keeps us trim

Yup, we know it’s mighty tempting to stay indoors with a box set of Breaking Bad and a bowl of your favourite munchies, just because it’s getting cold outside, but prolonged periods of inactivity can lead to unnecessary weight gain and you don’t want to be slogging it in the gym come January when you could be enjoying yourself.

There are plenty of fun activities you can do together in the day or the evening to keep active; paint balling, go karting, indoor tennis… the possibilities are literally endless. Not only will they provide excellent opportunities to make new friends and try new things, but they will also keep your body and mind in great shape.

Keeps us looking forward

With the new year just around the corner, now is a really good time to meet up with friends and start making big plans for what’s to come. Nothing stirs up inspiration and aspiration like a group of people getting together and sharing their hopes and dreams for the future. If anything else, it’s a pretty good excuse to just go out and have some fun.

November 14, 2013
MixingOut’s Good Night Out Checklist: 4 tried and tested tips to consider before going out to make new friends

So you’re on your way out, revved up and rearing to go – excited to meet up with loads of folk and ready to make new friends along the way… but are you sure you’ve got everything?

Spontaneity is all part of the fun of going and and meeting whenever you feel like it. After all, the best nights out are the ones you never plan. But sometimes it’s a good idea to do a double-take and make sure you’ve got everything you need – and the ditch the things you don’t – because you’re going to want to make a super good impression with any newbies that are going out!

So with that in mind, we thought it a great idea to share with you some tried and tested tips taken from our MixingOut community members, who have learned one or two things along the way to meeting new people and making friends.

Be prepared to take photos…

Oh yes, a nice easy one to start with. Charge up that smartphone and make sure you’ve got plenty of free memory, because taking photographs is the perfect way to get to know each other, whatever you’re doing.

It doesn’t matter if you’re out on the town, dressed up to the nines, or caked in mud and splattered with paint. Take plenty of pics to commemorate the occasion and make sure to get anyone you don’t already know to tag themselves on social networks. It’s a fab way to stay in touch with people you’ve just met and an even better way to prompt another get together.

If you’re hitting the town, grab a bite to eat before you go…

We don’t want to sounds like everybody’s mum, but having some food in your tummy before a big night on sauce will reduce the risk of that dreaded hangover the next morning. And if you don’t listen, then you’ve only got yourself to blame!… Okay, that does sound creepily like everybody’s mum.

Ditch the ‘ice-breakers’ before you head out…

Conversation Starters have been done to death. The best way to get to know somebody is new is the same way you’ve been doing you’re entire life… just by being your fun self. You’re outgoing, friendly and you’ve already got loads to chat about, so don’t force it.

Dress to impress (or at the very least, dress for the occasion)

Wear the right clothes. You have no idea how many times we hear of people (usually the fellas) not getting into clubs because they were wearing the wrong shoes. C’mon guys, we’ve yet to hear of any girls turning up for paintball in their high heels – so get it sorted!

November 8, 2013
MixingOut’s Guide To A Spontaneous Night Out With New Friends

We’ve all been there; planned the ultimate night out with new friends and watched it deteriorate miserably as each passing moment fails to live up to your expectations. How many times have you hyped something with your friends, being like “This night out is going to be INSANE. It’s going to be EPIC, OMG I CAN’T WAIT…” blowing more and more hot air, until the whole thing bursts in your face like a cheap party balloon.

Don’t Expect it

You should know by now the most memorable nights happen spontaneously. Things may start off unremarkable, but all of a sudden they take a step in the right direction, almost completely out of the blue, and everybody follows suit. There’s really no explaining it. Other than taking note that the major key to having a great night out is to not expect it.

Shake things up (without even trying)

If you try too hard to have a really great time, then you’re going to set yourself up for massive failure. It’s that simple. Instead, think of ways you can shake things up gradually, without putting too much emphasis into it.

This could be anything from moving on to the next bar to staying put and playing a round of pool, starting up a friendly competition and slowly building the group’s level of participation. The more everyone’s engaging with one another, the better the night will be!

Have an (emotional) one night stand

No not that kind… Nothing cements a truly awesome night out than sharing it with someone else on the same level. When you’re out and about with huge groups of people, there’s plenty of opportunities to make a connection with somebody – even if it’s only for that one night – and having a great time together, chewing the fat, and putting the world bang to rights!

November 1, 2013
MixingOut’s guide to partying hard: meet friends, have fun & feel fresh the next morning

You know the score: You’ve arranged to meet friends for a wild night out on the town – the kind of night you hope to read about in the morning papers. Well, just because you’re going to smash it, doesn’t necessarily mean you want a smashing reminder the next day.

So with that in mind, we’ve trawled through some of the best ways of preventing a hangover, alongside some of the myths, and taken some alternative suggestions from members of the MixingOut Community. That way you can make the most of a great night out, meet friends, and not have to worry about paying for it the following morning.

Before you start drinking…

The Myth – Drinking milk: Remember this one? Milk coats the lining of your stomach and that helps minimise the amount of alcohol you absorb – which depending on how much is ingested, causes the noticeable after effects we commonly associate with being ‘hungover’.

At least, that’s the theory. There’s no real evidence to suggest drinking milk before you go out actually does anything to prevent a hangover, but a lot of people still do it anyway. It’s a remedy as old as the hills. But if you really want our opinion, we like our milk in tea and coffee, and over our cornflakes… and not as something we’d drink before a big night out.

Top Rated – Eat something: Everybody knows you shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach, but still forget to eat something before heading out. A lot of people (the guys in particular) recommend fatty foods because the fat sticks to the stomach lining longer and absorbs more alcohol. But in actual fact, the main idea is to put volume in your stomach, as this will dilute the effects of alcohol. So listen to what your mum used to say, and be sure to eat something before you go out!

And Alternatively – Take multivitamins: Drinking depletes the nutrients in your body, and taking multivitamins beforehand can help minimise the loss, which reduces that groggy, nauseous feeling you would typically get the next morning. And that sounds brilliant to us!

When you start drinking…

The Myth – The tactical vom: Somepeople seem to think that forcing themselves to be sick while they’re out can help reduce the effects of the alcohol they’ve already ingested. When in actual fact, all this does is dehydrate the body even further and makes a hangover worse the next morning – not to mention leaving a mess down the front of perfectly nice clean top. D’oh!

Top Rated – Drink water constantly: Yeah, yeah, we know it sounds counter intuitive to ‘having a good time’, but matching every drink of alcohol with a drink of water will keep you from getting drunk too fast, and (this is where you’ll thank us) from feeling the effects the next day. So order one bottle of water with every drink if you want to keep things even.

And Alternatively – Don’t mix your drinks: Let’s face it, most drinks don’t mix too well and your body is going to have a tougher time trying to handle them all together. So make a decision to drink just beer, or wine, or spirits and stick with it for the rest of the night.

And when the drinking is done…

Give your body time to recover: There’s only one sure fire way of recovering from a hard night out, and that’s plenty of rest. Give your body one or two days recover before you head out again, and drink plenty of water and eat plenty of food in the meantime. Even party animals need to take a break now and then.

October 28, 2013
Things To Do: Meet Friends For Afternoon Tea, It’s The New Rock ‘n’ Roll

Sometimes there’s nothing more satisfying than getting together to meet friends over a lovely cuppa and a big slice of cake – or for the connoisseurs amongst you, afternoon tea and scones.

Yup, more and more people are meeting up and flocking to their local tea rooms, and not just because it’s getting too glum and dreary to sit outside these days – tea rooms and ‘coffee crawls’ are fast becoming a hot social scene among folk who feel like getting together in a chilled, relaxed setting so they can just hang out and have some fun.

It’s official. Beer gardens are out, afternoon tea is in (if you’ll pardon the pun).

That’s right, afternoon tea is the new rock ‘n’ roll. And in case you’re still in any doubt, we’ve lined up a few of our favourite establishments that we think would make an excellent place to get together with a friends for a fun, chilled time out. Or at the very least, change the way you think about tea…

The Cheerful Chilli

Where: East Chevin Road, Leeds, LS21 3DD

With a name like The Cheerful Chilli, you wouldn’t expect anything less than some place fun, current and very, very lively – and that’s exactly what you get here.

On top of their wide selection of teas and hot drinks, they also serve up some tasty treats, light lunches, as well as an extensive menu of rustic home-cooked dishes and puddings. Intimate and friendly, it’s a great place to meet up if you feel like trying something a bit different (and by different, we mean pubs and bars). It’s still got the same kind of hustle and bustle you would find in a trendy bar, with the same kind of atmosphere, but with a pleasant change of pace for those of you who don’t fancy having a drink.

Dulcie Butterfly

Where: Woodland Drive, Leeds, LS26 8DW

For those of you wanting to experience a good old fashioned tea room with a modern vibe, you’d be hard pressed to find any place better than Dulcie Butterfly.

Set in stylish, shabby chic surroundings with a warm and fuzzy atmosphere, it’s the ideal place to meet friends, grab a quality cuppa and share some of their scrummy homemade cakes and finger foods. They have an extensive range of luxury teas, from the traditional Yorkshire brew to French Violet, coffees, lattes and cappuccinos, all served in classy vintage china – so you can feel all proper and sophisticated while you dunk your biscuits!

Shaky Jakes

Where: North Lane, Leeds, LS6 3HG

Okay, so admittedly this place isn’t an actual ‘tea room’ as such. But they do serve a variety of hot drinks, including teas, coffees and hot chocolates (which are all perfect for this time of year).

However, what Shaky Jakes is best known is their crazy take on the afternoon tea, which is why we had to stick it on the list. If you fancy scones with clotted cream, or cakes of any sort, they’ll gladly blitz them in a blender and whip up a batch of rich, tasty milkshakes to share with your friends. We told you afternoon tea isn’t what it used be!

If this sounds like your cup of tea, be sure to check the MixingOut community for the latest afternoon tea events and other fun get together in your area.

October 22, 2013
MixingOut’s Halloween Survival Guide: Best places to meet friends & have fun

You’re probably sitting there thinking that Halloween probably isn’t for you, that it’s something to celebrate only when you’re 12, but you’d be wrong. Dead wrong.

There are plenty of fun and exciting things to do on the spookiest night of the year, whatever your idea of a great time might be. That’s why more and more people are getting together to meet friends every October, embracing the Halloween spirit, and having a devilishly good time while they’re at it.

So don’t get stuck indoors handing out the treats all night. Take a look at some our MixingOut ideas on making this Halloween a night to remember and try them for yourself.

Find out what your local clubs and bars are putting together

Halloween is perhaps the one night of the year you can stagger home like the walking dead and not look out of place – so if you and your friends are up for a really hectic night out, we’d definitely recommend it. There’s always an event going on that draws a lively crowd to the local cub scene, usually with plenty of drink offers and other fun stuff to take part in. Here’s a few that have caught out attention:

Where: The Victoria Inn, Derby

What’s going on: Halloween Zombiefication

What to expect: The Victoria Inn is famed for their live music and lively crowds, so this October 31^st they’re hosting a big night of spectacular DJ sets, ranging from French House to Garage. Entry is Free and everyone who dresses up receives a Free ‘blood’ shot at the door. They’ll also be massive bottle of Moet Champagne for the best Halloween costume, horror movies being screened at the bar area and other really fun spooky goings on.

Where: Havana Bar, Wakefield

What’s going on: Monster Mash Up

What to expect: Monday 28^th October is going to be a night packed with ghoulish entertainment, live Dj sets and queue jump for everyone in fancy dress. There’s also going to be some amazing drink offers, including a Jagerbombs for £1 and Vodka mixes for £1.50. There are lots of people already expected to be in attendance, and if you confirm now on their Facebook page you and your friends could be in with a chance of winning a bottle of bubbly.

Where: O2 Academy, Leeds

What’s going on: The Voodoo Halloween Showcase

What to expect: Unprecedented Halloween entertainment, expect huge crowds, great music and a lively atmosphere. It’s going to be a very popular event to meet friends, have a drink with your mates and party till the sun comes up.

Fancy trying something a little different?

For those of you who’d rather leave the clubbing until the weekend and your werewolf costume in the closet, there’s still plenty of activities where you can get together, meet people and take part in the Halloween fun. Here are just a few on offer:

Where: Stockeld Park, Leeds

What’s going on: The Magic of Fright Night

What to expect: A mile long ghost walk through the haunted forest at Stockeld Park, full of spooky goings on, interesting facts and tons of other scary surprises along the way. If you and you and your friends are up for something very out there this Halloween, then it’s definitely worth checking out. Be prepared to be scared!

Where: Espresso Bar, Leeds

What’s going on: Halloween Film Night

What to expect: Immerse yourself in a spooky screening of Tim Burton’s Edward Scissor hands at the Espresso Bar, which will transformed into a scary, but stylish haunt for the evening. They’ll also be a trick-or-treat welcome drink for everyone who attends and tasty three course dinner included in the ticket price.

Where: Beaver Works, Leeds

What’s going on: Halloween in Space

What to expect: As well as the standard Halloween party rooms, Beaver Works are also hosting an all-night LaserQuest event for those of you who feel like getting together and taking part in a friendly-come-competitive game of laser tag. Expect fun and mayhem in equal proportions, and plenty of banter too.

Has this inspired you to head out this Halloween and tear things like a monster? Be sure to check with the MixingOut community for more great ideas to try this Halloween and let us know know what you’re doing.

October 10, 2013