There are two common methods for opening a bottle of champagne.

Method 1: Unscrew wire cage. Shake bottle vigorously. Allow cork to pop. Wait for spray to stop. Or not. Pour into mouth.

Perfect if you're in the winning World Series locker room. Not so much for a New Year's Eve party. For that you'll want to employ Method 2.

Here's what you do:
1 -Take the bottle out of the refrigerator or ice bucket.

2 - Using a towel, wipe the excess moisture from the bottle.

3 - Drape the towel over the neck of the bottle, and loosely wrap, covering the cork. (This keeps the cork from knocking a guest unconscious, should it get away from you.)

4 - Holding your thumb over the cork, unscrew the wire cage and remove. (Useless trivia: Almost all wire cages are secured with 6 half twists.)

5 - Holding the cork in place, get a firm grip on the bottom of the bottle. Twist the bottle, not the cork, until you feel the cork start to release. Keep a tight grip on the cork.

6 - The cork should come out with a soft whoosh, not a loud pop. A loud pop means you've let too much air escape. And that's bad. You want to preserve as many bubbles as possible. Plus, women love a guy who can control his pop.

New Year's Eve is just a few days away. That means champagne. And nothing loosens up a crowd (read: women) faster than a little bubbly. Whether you'll be drinking it all night, or just for a private midnight toast for two, you'll need to know what, and how much, to get. And what to do once you get it.

Here's five things every guy should know about champagne:


1 - What is Champagne? All champagne is sparkling wine. But not all sparkling wine is champagne. The difference? True champagne is produced in the Champagne region in northeastern France. If it's made in California from champagne grapes it cannot be called "champagne". It is sparkling wine.

When buying a sparkling wine look for the words "methode champenoise", meaning the wine has undergone a second fermentation in the bottle. This is what creates the bubbles. Lesser quality sparkling wines create bubbles by adding carbonation. Just like 7-Up. Enough said.

Most champagne is made as a "cuvee", meaning it's a blend of three kinds of grapes, two reds and a white, usually Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

If you see "Blanc de Blancs" on the label that means the champagne is made entirely of white grapes and will have a lighter, more elegant taste. "Blanc de Noirs" means it is a white wine made from red grapes, like Pinot Noir, making the wine more full bodied, and giving it a golden color. "Rose" is made by blending in a little red wine and gives the wine a pink color. (Don't equate this with cheap rose wines. Rose sparkling wines are not lesser in quality.)

2 - What Does "Brut" Mean? The level of sugar in sparkling wine determines if it will be dry or sweet. "Brut" is very dry, and is considered the standard for fine champagne. The scale runs as follows:
Extra Brut (Too dry for most people)
Brut
Extra Dry (Which is not as dry as Brut, so keep that in mind)
Sec (this is where it begins to get sweet)
Demi-Sec (good with dessert and wedding cake)
Doux (could put you in a diabetic coma)

3 - How Much Should I Spend? This is a matter of personal preference. Rappers sing the praises of Crystal, and wouldn't be caught by the paparazzi drinking anything less. But they can afford the $300+ price tag. You, being the middle class warrior you are, need to be more realistic. You can get a great bottle of California sparkling wine - like Mumm Cuvee Napa NV or Roederer Estate Brut NV - for about $20. And when you're buying five or six bottles for a party, that's a helluva lot easier to handle.

4 - How Much Should I Get? Depends on how loose you want your guests. The average bottle serves six glasses. If your party is going all night, figure about a bottle per person. If you're not partying that hard, figure 2-3 glasses, or half a bottle, per person.

Guy at the liquor store trying to talk you into buying a magnum? And you don't know what a "magnum" is? Easy. It's a bottle equivalent to two regular bottles of champagne. If you really want to impress your guests, get a Jeroboam. That big boy is equivalent to four bottles. And women love a guy with a big bottle.

5 - How Do I Serve It? One word: cold. Champagne is meant to be served between 43 and 48 degrees Fahrenheit. Which means you should put it in the fridge for 2-3 hours before the party. Don't have that kind of time? Never put champagne in the freezer. The contents are under pressure and the bottle tends to explode in freezers. And you don't want to pop prematurely. You can chill it in an ice bucket filled with half ice and half water for about a half hour. And if you sprang for the Crystal and don't want the label soaking off in the water before your guests can see how much you spent? Don't worry. Champagne labels are adhered with waterproof glue. The label isn't going anywhere.

Once the bottle is open, (and a detailed explanation of how to open a champagne bottle is coming tomorrow), pour into thin flutes about three quarters full. Never fill the glass to the top. And never use wide, shallow glasses. Flutes preserve the bubbles. And you know how she loves it when the bubble tickle her nose.

Since I spent the last couple of days doing my own last minute Christmas shopping, I got a little behind in the shopping tips. Here are the last four tips from the pros over at RomeoShops.

Day 9: Panhandling

You like your porterhouse steak and your plasma TV. You've even treated yourself to a kick ass Audi and hot tub at your pad. So why aren't you getting this quality of gifts each holiday season? You usually get the ties, sweaters, pajama bottoms and the occasional stocking cap.

Outside of some boring clothes and accessories, we know you don't get a ton of gifts that you really want. So this year, be proactive about telling everyone what you really want for Christmas. Whether it's the newest video game for your PS3 or the DVD box set of the Godfather, you need your goods.

You can flip through the latest GQ or Maxim for cool gadgets that can be cut out and taped on to a sheet for each of your friends and relatives. You can also go online and e-mail your wishlist off on sites like Kaboodle and Target, and of course our favorite: JulietShops.com (our new sister site).

Do you need to dock your iPod in the bathroom on your toilet roll dispenser or perhaps get a Swiss Army Knife that has a USB flash drive built it in? Our guys that personally buy for the site all agree that the duct tape wallet and Zagat golf guide are also great finds. Tis the season for giving... and getting!
-- Elise, (with help from Mark and Ben), Gift buyer


Day 10: Pimpin'

So you've got a few women on the side. Carrie is cute but talks in a really annoying voice. Leslie has a hot body and a "butter face"... And there's the occasional booty call with Krista, but that's heading nowhere fast.

But each girl thinks there's more to it, and you certainly don't want to jeopardize the nice setup you have with each one. So what do you do? We suggest a few things: First, make sure that none of them know each other, (we're hoping you've covered this already), because you'd hate to have them run into each other wearing the same bracelet you bought them both.

That leads us to the second point, which is not to buy the same gift for more than one woman. Even if you get something for your mom and girlfriend, it's inevitable that they'll talk and you'll look like a lazy son of a bitch.

Last, you should always match a level of gift price with the level of commitment. It's weird when we get a present from a guy worth a few hundred bucks and we've only gone on a few dates (and gone to third base at best). The same holds true on the other end of the price spectrum- don't buy something cheap for your love of the last 4 years. That would lead either to the doghouse or an impromptu visit with Krista.
-- Michelle, Owner, RomeoShops.com


Day 11: Pride

Your reputation precedes you. Articulate, athletic and very GQ. So how does your gift giving stack up in terms of your personal brand? Are you seen as "thrifty"? Or maybe a little sketchy? Every time you give a gift to anyone (your assistant at work, your brother's wife, the various women in your life), it should reflect a good understanding of her likes as well as a personal touch that reflects your personality.

If you're really into quality and brand, buy her that Bose system for her iPod or a nice Coach purse. If you're known for your style and sophistication, get her a subscription to Wine Spectator and a cashmere robe. If you're a "guy's guy" and like to hike and fish, buy her something that's more low key and casual like a unique scarf set. It's not just WHAT the gift is, but what it says about YOU.
-- Katie, Gift wrapper and professional flirt


Day 12: Party!

You made it. The stress of holiday shopping is complete and now all you need to do is sit back and relax. And of course, consume large amounts of alcohol, turkey, and hang out with family and friends.

Have any other questions about love, life, and the pursuit of women? Stay connected with the women at RomeoShops.com all year round by e-mailing or calling. Happy holidays and enjoy those hottie toddies!!
-- The Crew at Shakespeare Enterprises - Michelle, Elise, Jennie, Katie, Whitney, Mark, Dan, John & Duke

Why Michelle hates gift cards...

Day 8: Personalization

Gift cards suck. I know what you're going to say, "But it's just like cash and she loves shopping at The Gap, so it's perfect" or perhaps "It's easy for me and then I won't buy her something she hates".

These are good points, but totally irrelevant when it comes to giving a gift with any real sentiment for a woman. Whether it's your girlfriend, mom, sister or friend, we love the personal touch of getting something really cool and unique from you. Now don't get me wrong, if your other option is to buy something last minute at the local drugstore, please refer back to Day #7 and get her the damn gift card instead.

But you should know the real secret: women totally think this is a cop-out to getting a real gift. Sure, it's like real money and who wouldn't want to spend $50 at Bath and Body Works, but you get even more brownie points if you've scouted out a gift from a cool boutique store or have something custom made to her tastes (a monogramed terry robe is always nice...).

Are we really in the age where the big gift of the year comes wrapped in a credit card-sized envelope with a dollar amount attached?? You can do better. Need some ideas to match the gift to her personality? Answer this questionnaire and a few gifts will pop up that match her personality. Now that's easy.
-- Michelle

www.RomeoShops.com
For details on winning the $500 RomeoShops.com shopping spree click here.

Here's another tip from Whitney...

Day 7: Procrastination

Admit it, you're that guy who's flailing through the mall on Christmas Eve, trying to find a last minute gift for your girlfriend. Of course, you're like the other 99% of men who are also at the mall looking for last minute gifts. Yep, it's a true sausage fest when you get that close to Christmas Day.

Walgreens happens to be another busy place on Christmas Eve. The real problem is that there is no conceivable way you're going to impress her with a gift from a drugstore. Whether you're reaching for the chocolate covered cherries (with the printed bow on the box, of course) or the Hallmark card, chances are she's going to be way pissed that you didn't put any thought into the process.

Since you have a couple of days to buy a last minute gift, hop online to a few e-tailers that can still do overnight shipping. There's RedEnvelope, Uncommon Goods, and Amazon that will all have some good ideas for last minute gifts.

You can also hop on our site, and we'll gift wrap for free and ship off the same day. Wherever you decide to go, do it now so you don't get stuck standing in line exchanging pleasantries with the other last minute guys at the drugstore. Good luck!! -- Whitney

www.RomeoShops.com
For details on winning the $500 RomeoShops.com shopping spree click here.

Kelsey is back with another tip...

Day 6: Practicality

Practicality - noun: 1. the quality or state of being practical.

This actually describes most of the guys I know. These are guys that own all the right tools for fixing things, grocery shop for the exact items they will be eating during the week, and own cars that either get them from point A to point B in the most fuel efficient way, or the fastest. They do their laundry in big loads.

This is contrast to most women who hang out at the grocery store to find new and "interesting" salad dressings and gossip magazines, and buy cars based solely on color (and if she thought the sales person was "nice"). We prefer heavy stock stationary that we can write long thank you notes, rather than any kind of lined, yellow paper. And we spend hours making sure our clothes are cleaned properly (lingerie and pantyhose are placed in delicate washing bags and washed with lavender scented Woolite to protect those dear thongs).

Clearly, are there major differences between the sexes. All we ask this Christmas, though, is to branch out a bit and buy us something outside the realm of practicality. We don't want the washing machine, vibrating massage chair or electric blanket. We want bling, we want comfy, we want unique. We need to see that you actually listened when we showed you the magazine featuring a cool necklace, or the J Crew catalog with the cozy pajama set.

So this year, step outside your fuel efficient car, in your perfectly practical Carhart jacket, and explore some new gift ideas that we won't need an electrical outlet for.
-- Kelsey

www.RomeoShops.com
For details on winning the $500 RomeoShops.com shopping spree click here.

Today's RomeoShops.com gift giving tip is from Katie.

Day 5: Pacification

Tis the season for brandy soaked egg nog, fun ski trips and Christmas engagements. (Insert record screeching and "what??") I know, it's crazy but I've heard all my girlfriends talking about their beau proposing on the big night. Unfortunately, they aren't talking about a "big" romantic evening or a "big" vacation together, they are actually referring to a Christmas day engagement.

Now, I'm not religious and I'm pretty sure that Christmas is more of a consumer plea to buy a new plasma T.V. rather than an historically significant date, but really... what guy wants to propose on Christmas?

My friend Maggie definitely has the marriage bug. You know the type I'm talking about: incessantly talks about getting married with her girlfriends. And constantly puts her boyfriend on the spot with remarks like “Well, if we ever get married, John and I are going to buy a house right in this neighborhood” and “You know who has a great ring, John? Becky does. It’s like five carats or something. I think I would only need a 2 carat at most, maybe more if it’s going to be an emerald cut...”

Thinking about proposing during the holidays would be caving into this already out of control notion of showiness in marriage. My point is that there is plenty of heavy stuff to deal with during the holidays (your half-lit aunt at Christmas dinner, for instance). If you're in the market for marriage, for God's sake please wait till next year.
-- Katie

www.RomeoShops.com
For details on winning the $500 RomeoShops.com shopping spree click here.

Everyone's got that one friend. The guy who never has a girlfriend. Or even a date. He sits on the couch watching TV all weekend. Instead of showering and heading out someplace where he might actually meet someone. Then complains to you he can't find a girl.

So, even though you know it's a disaster waiting to happen, you go ahead and fix him up with a girl from your girlfriend's office. And the four of you go to dinner. Awkward? Unless the conversation involves Peyton Manning's passer rating, or what Howard said this morning, he just sits there. Uncomfortably. Staring at his plate. Not exactly the spark to ignite the flames of romance.

You want to help. You try to help. (Only because you're tired of hearing him whine about it.) But nothing you say sinks in.

Apparently there are whole sections in book stores devoted to this sort of thing. Entire "relationship" sections. Filled with advice books. I can't say for sure, because I've never been there myself, but I hear women just flock to them. Lonely and confused. Vulnerable. It's probably a great place to meet someone.

All of that of course, is just an obnoxious way for me to make a point: Men don't read advice books. Women love them. Men hate them. And getting a guy who is having a tough time in the dating world to read one is nearly impossible. Unless it's funny. And has cartoon characters. And uses sports metaphors.

Enter the guys who bring you the nationally syndicated comic strip, "Girls & Sports", and their new book: "Opening Lines, Pinky Probes, and L-Bombs. The Girls & Sports Dating and Relationship Playbook." I'd review it for you but after typing in the title, I have no more room left. I will tell you it is a hilarious in-depth collection of strips, charts, graphs, sidebars, guides and advice on everything from the bar scene to dating to parties and more.

Even the most jaded, or clueless, among us can glean plenty of useful advice from its pages. And be entertained at the same time. Stuff a copy in your buddy's stocking. Or just leave it on his coffee table. It might motivate him to leave the couch. Showering? That's another book.

$14.95 See clips and samples at www.girlsandsports.com

Today's RomeoShops.com gift giving tip is from Elise.

Day 4: Priceless

One package of lime colored crew socks: $6.
A dozen roses from the convenience store (with the price tag affixed): $10.
A lifetime of bad gifts... priceless.

Any woman you talk to has a story about receiving a bad gift from a guy. And most guys freely admit to giving a scary gift or two. I think there are a couple of big mistakes that guys fall into - shopping at the wrong places (i.e. convenience stores), waiting until the last minute (procrastinating has never saved anybody money and usually ends in a bad purchase), and buying the wrong size.

If you can find stores where you know she shops (Gap, Barnes and Noble, and Victoria's Secret are all relatively safe), you've got a good chance of finding something that works. But also explore the small stores in trendy neighborhoods, as they usually have spectacular finds.

Next, let's address the procrastination. You've got what, a week before you can realistically still go Christmas shopping, so why not get it done today? The presents look better under the tree and the anticipation of seeing her nicely wrapped gift is... well, priceless.

Last: the size issue. Most of the time you're heading right into a train wreck when you try to buy something that fits her. There are some sites (RomeoShops.com, for instance... shameless plug) that do provide instructions on how the sizes are supposed to be calculated, but overall, this is an area you're better skipping if you're not 100% sure.
- Elise

www.RomeoShops.com
For details on winning the $500 RomeoShops.com shopping spree click here.

Day 3: Penniless

We know, occasionally guys are broke. Maybe you bought too many shots for your "friends" at the bar, or you're still paying off those student loans from last decade (as well as your bar tab from college).

It's definitely a myth that women want expensive gifts from guys. Well okay, we do love the occasional indulgence on vacations or a spa retreat, but there are plenty of other great gifts that barely cost a thing.

In order to find the cheap stuff, start with what you have readily available. Maybe you work at a bar or record store with plenty of cool promotional materials or band posters. Maybe you have a corporate job with plenty of office supplies. (We're not advocating theft here, we're just saying...) In any case, use whatever free things you can find to make her cool mementos that come from your heart. For example, old record labels of her favorite songs make great coasters, and you can turn plain corporate file folders into personalized holders for clippings of her favorite cities she's traveled.

This is exactly the kind of crap women totally eat up, and it will earn you a ton of mileage. If you've got a small budget this season, find a few places she likes to shop and buy her an inexpensive bracelet, wine charms, or a book. Just be sure that it reflects her personality or has some meaning for her.

Of course you can always check out the "Gifts Under $25" section on RomeoShops.com and get her something picked out by a bunch of fashionable women (shameless plug)!
- Michelle

www.RomeoShops.com
For details on winning the $500 RomeoShops.com shopping spree click here.

[This week I have the experts from RomeoShops.com giving their advice on how to give the woman (women?) in your life the perfect gift. Here's Whitney...]

Day 2: Passion

I agree with what Kelsey said yesterday, and also think guys put too much pressure on themselves to find the perfect gift. And the result is usually a last-minute, poorly conceived idea of a gift. Sorry guys, but it's true.

I've dated guys who have given me things like pizza cutters ("But you love pizza!"), a five-speed blender ("But you love to drink!"), and the worst, a picture of his family in a wooden frame. (This is why the saying "It's the thought that counts" is so glaringly wrong.)

The point is not to wait till the last minute, because there are plenty of great gift ideas, if you stop to take a minute, and think about her. So, after your list has been made (see yesterday's tip here), contact her best girlfriend. She'll have lots of good ideas.

If your girlfriend has recently traveled, to Europe let's say, Google the name of her favorite city and find a perfume or stationery from there. If her favorite purse brand is Louis Vitton (well, she might have a little bit of a spending problem if she's buying Louies, and she might be to HM for you anyway), you can find other products with the same brand including iPod holders, collars for her dog, or small clutch purses. Paying attention to the brands she likes pays dividends, boys.

Lastly, think about her life experiences. Maybe she's gone sky-diving, built a house for Habitat For Humanity, or partied in Vegas. Is there something you can give her relating to those times in her life that she's had the most fun? Maybe another trip in the sky, a framed picture of her habitat crew (not wooden, por favor), or original playing cards from Bellagio. Think of something she'd never expect and you're golden.
-Whitney

www.RomeoShops.com
For details on winning the $500 RomeoShops.com shopping spree click here.

We are just about two weeks away from the biggest gift giving day of the year, and chances are good you haven't done any shopping yet. Of course not. Procrastination is one of guys' most endearing qualities.

To help you make better gift giving decisions this year I have enlisted the help of the very lovely ladies of RomeoShops.com. Even better, they are giving away a $500 shopping spree to a lucky reader as well. (Click here for details.)

Here's Michelle:
Ah, the joy of the holiday season is here... crammed malls, black ice sidewalks (if you live in the frozen tundra I call Minneapolis), snot nosed bell ringers and yes, the visceral feeling every guy has right now about shopping for holiday gifts. I'm not talking about a slight irritation about what to get your girlfriend for Christmas. I am talking about the paralyzing realization that you have to A- Find a parking spot which may require you to cut off an old woman or two, B- Enter above mentioned mall, and C- Actually get her something that will change her usual response of "You shouldn't have. Really."

Sound familiar? Yes, 'tis the season for bad gifts, pissed off guys, and black ice.

So, this year we're going to introduce the "12 Days of Christmas: How Not To Spend The Holidays In Purgatory". From now until Christmas, my girls and I will show you how to master the art of tasteful gift giving for your woman, mom, sisters, girlfriends, friends with benefits, etc. So let's get started. Here's Kelsey with today's tip...

Day 1: Pressure

I think guys put a lot of pressure on themselves to perform. Er, I mean, to perform the feat that is shopping for a woman.

Where do you start? Usually it's a frantic conversation with yourself that goes something like... "How about jewelry? Where do I find something nice? But not TOO nice. I don't want her to think that I'm totally in love with her... But I like her a lot. She'd look great in a heart shaped necklace. Diamonds? Scratch that. Sounds too expensive..." And so on, and so on.

There's always clothes or sexy lingerie. But you'll have to worry about size. And as a woman, just trust that there's nothing worse than getting a "small" in tight lingerie when you're stacked in the back like J Lo, and couldn't fit into a size 2 if your life depended on it. (Speaking from personal experience.)

My best advice? Just relax. Seriously. This will take a load off, especially as we're heading into the last couple of weeks before Christmas.

Here's how to make things easier. Grab a pen and paper and answer the following:
1 - Where has she traveled and where would she like to vacation?
2 - What has she told you about her life experiences, and (I'm crossing my fingers here) hopefully you were listening.
3 - What are her favorite bands, colors, brands of purses and places to shop?
4 - Who are her closest friends and relatives and what are their e-mail addresses?

Now you have some key information that will eventually lead to gift giving mastery. It's a small step but you have to do it. And once you have a few things on paper, you can relieve some of the pressure that leads a lot of guys to head to the mall aimlessly and waste good money on bath salts and snowman sweaters.

Tomorrow, Whitney will talk more about what to do with this list, and how you can plan to give her something that will have her returning a lot of favors (*wink)...
Kelsey

www.RomeoShops.com
For details on winning the $500 RomeoShops.com shopping spree click here.