Q: Being a guy's friend first gives you two great benefits: he gets to know you and you get to know him, without the awkwardness of being in a dedicated relationship. Treat him like you would all your other friends - be casual and comfortable around him. Guys will usually be more open with guys than girls, but that doesn't mean that you can't get close - that's usually where the magic happens. Just be careful though - if it gets too platonic, you might lose the romantic connection and sometimes it can be really hard to get back that spark once you are placed firmly in the friend-zone. If this happens, things can become too complicated and you might be tempted to give up. A little bit of flirtation throughout the relationship will keep things going nicely. This may seem like a no-brainer, but actually talking to the guy you like (rather than pining after him from afar) is of utmost importance when it comes to getting him to like you. Ask him stimulating, interesting questions; find out about his life, his family, his friends; tell him funny stories. Anything that opens up a dialogue between the two of you. If you can get the guy talking about something he's really passionate about - whether it's a favorite sports team, band, author - then you're on to a winner. When he's talking to you about something he loves, he'll start to associate the positive emotions he feels with you! Though this may come as surprise, guys love compliments just as much as girls do, so don't be afraid to say something nice to him from time to time. Of course, showering him with fake compliments is not a good idea - you'll just come off as insincere. Compliment something about his appearance, like his cute dimples or cool new haircut. Just don't overdo it - guys can be shy about that sort of thing. A simple "I love the color of your eyes" is all you need to say. However, compliments don't just need to be focused on appearance. If he's talking about something that he loves, tell him that you admire how passionate he is. You can also compliment his sporting performance or tell him what a great job he did on a class project. Finding activities that you can enjoy together can really create a bond between the two of you and allow him to appreciate how fun and interesting you are. Once he sees that you're someone he can share his passions and interests with, he might start to see you as potential relationship material. If he thinks of himself as the next premier league player, turn up at any football practices you're invited to and cheer him on. If he loves rock-climbing, ask him if he can show you how, and make a good-faith effort to see why he's so into it. Have an open mind. You can also invite him along to experience some of your interests. For instance, you could bring him along to a dance class or invite him to try out some unusual ethnic cuisine. Discovering that you're a person who can introduce him to new and exciting experiences can be a major attraction for a guy. Find out what the two of you have in common and exploit it! Shared interests are the foundation of many a successful relationship, so this step should not be overlooked. It doesn't matter what the interest is, it could be as simple as the ability to recite lines from Family Guy episodes or as intense as a fascination with astrophysics - as long as it leads him to see you as a kindred spirit. For example, If you both love a certain kind of music, ask him if he's ever listened to a particular artist and offer to play a CD for him. Or if a mutual favorite band comes to town, invite him to go with you. Guys love their friends, so its essential that any potential girlfriend gets along with them. For this reason, it is extremely worth your time to get to know his friends and let them see you as a "cool girl". This will let the guy see how easily you could slip into his life - no complications, no drama. If you can get his friends on your team, that's a major bonus. They will root for you and bring you up around your crush, even when you're not there. This will ensure that you're always on his mind. Be careful though. You don't want to flirt with his friends. This will send conflicting signals and may make you seem like a tease.
A: Don't be afraid to be his friend. Talk to him. Compliment him. Do things together. Find some common interests. Get to know his friends.

Q: If you want your cookies to stay fresh in the mail, then you should avoid sending soft, buttery, or moist cookies, because their moisture will make them more likely to deteriorate. Instead, opt for cookies that are drier and more crisp, such as shortbreads, sugar cookies, biscotti, or crisp gingerbread cookies. Here are some other types of cookies that you can send: Cookies that have a slightly chewy texture, like chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodle, and white chocolate-cranberry cookies. Macaroons and Pignoli. Though these cookies are more chewy and moist, their textures actually improve after a few days. If you bake the cookies on a Saturday afternoon, then they won't ship until Monday, which means you've wasted almost two full days of cookie freshness. Try baking the cookies the morning of the day you're going to send them, or at least the night before. If you want to consider a faster shipping method, you can also choose to express-ship the cookies through UPS or FedEx, or to send them as Priority or Express mail through your local post office. If you're mailing them over the holidays, make sure you send them enough days in advance that they get to their recipient before the holiday and don't end up waiting in a warehouse because the mail will be closed for a day or two during the holiday season. Once you've baked your cookies, you should let them cool for a while to get rid of any additional heat or moisture and to let them harden a bit. If you package them immediately after you take them out of the oven, you'll be packing them in with the moisture and heat, which will make them spoil faster. But once they've cooled, you should package them as quickly as you can to maximize their freshness.
A:
Choose the right cookies. Plan to mail the cookies as quickly as you can. Package the cookies shortly after you bake them.