A Small, yet VITAL Dating Rule …based on real life dating faux pas that my friends and I have dealt with.
Image credit: Flickr
Never go on a date a guy or girl who’s name you don’t know. Allow me to expand, because I’m sure you’re all thinking DUH, that’s not a new rule, gimme my money back. Hold. Read the rest of this entry »
Do you guys watch the Real Housewives of New York? I do. I love that show. The gals are crazy and unpredictable and go to fashion shows and live the life of luxury (or at least look like they do.) On a recent episode of the show one Housewife (Kelly) called another Housewife (Bethenny) a “ho-bag.” I’m not sure anyone uses the word ho-bag anymore, but since she brought it up, I’ve heard people chatting about the use of this word and what it really means.
Dating brings all kinds of unique, funny, and odd situations, and online dating is no different. There’s a difference, however, between a light-hearted dating horror story and a dangerous safety issue. One reason online dating gets a bad rap sometimes is that people expect “the worst” in every situation. Daters are smart to be cautious whenever they meet someone new. Not just in the online world, but when a stranger asks you out, when you get set up, or when you simply just don’t know the person you’re out with like you think you do.
The “horror stories” I encountered had to do with the following. Chances are you might encounter these as well.
This past weekend I went on a lot of dates. At least a lot of first dates for me. I was the energizer bunny of dating…I just kept going and going, because…why not? Well. While some may argue that you never know unless you try and go out with every guy who asks you, because he may be THE ONE. If I’ve learned anything this weekend, it’s that there are so many fish in the sea and while most are great…all weren’t necessarily great for me. I’ve always thought of deal breakers as these huge bright red flags that will come slap me across the face…but there are the hidden ones, the ones that pop up mid dinner conversation and leave you wondering how soon you can get out of there and what your friends are up to. I’m also a horrible serial dater because when I meet someone I like, BOOM, I’m all about him.
This weekend though, I was a certified man-eater. Lessons learned…
What’s the worst thing you can do in your online dating profile? There are a few big no-no’s that will hurt your chances of finding true love.
Profile Mistake #1: Listing Things About Yourself Without Any Detail
Hey, not everyone is a professional writer, so if you’re guilty of listing things in your profile it’s understandable. But if you change this one thing today, you are more likely to attract someone to you tomorrow. Here’s an example of the mistake most online daters make, along with the fix:
Sooner or later, all your online relationships will become real, or at least they should. That’s the whole point of online dating, right? To get offline, to get real. I was talking to my friend Jenn and she told me about a guy she met online, who was handsome, funny, intelligent, blahblahblah…they had a great couple of dates but then he ended up peeing in her bed. Sober. So that was the end of that. Luckily, Jenn found someone else (online!) who is even better and would never urinate in her bed.
In the days and months following a break up, some guys and girls like to jump right back into the dating pool. They may go from one relationship to another without really giving thought to who or what they want in their life. While it can be lonely at times, staying single can help you find the best possible relationship for you. Here’s how.
Being Single Means You Rely on Yourself
Some people hate to be alone. They can’t stand for a minute that someone isn’t there to hang out with. But spending some time alone can actually mean that you begin to find out things about yourself. Maybe you really don’t enjoy watching so much TV, or maybe you do love to sit with a good book now and then. Any knowledge that helps you learn about yourself also helps you to choose the right person. Not just someone that happens to be around. Not just a warm body. But the right person.
So, you’ve met someone! Or are in the process of meeting someone. You like him or her a lot already, but you’re still getting to know each other.
Perhaps you also have a blog. A website. Twitter. Maybe you even write for a dating site. Or fashion sites. I’m just saying. No specifics…
Maybe your blog is super personal, and you write about everything from your past loves, to nail polish-sometimes in the same post and most definitely in the same week. Your blog is a place for you to vent and share, to tell random ridiculous stories, obsess over shoes, talk about certain dark periods of your life, and also your passion for sangria. Maybe just your close family and friends read your blog, or maybe…thousands of people read your blog everyday. Either way, it’s yours. It’s mine. But it’s just one part of me. Read the rest of this entry »
Flirting is an important part of dating. How else can you get a girl to notice you? If you’re a guy, there is a delicate balance between flirting and being smarmy. If you’re wondering the right way to flirt with a girl, here are some suggestions.
Compliment Her Eyes or Smile
Many guys notice a girl’s features, like the color of her eyes or her beautiful smile, and it’s a natural progression to compliment her on these things. But complimenting any other body part? A big no-no. Even if a girl has, say, nice legs, a guy is wise to limit his comments. After all, flirting is done to try and get a girl to go out with you, and you only have a limited chance to pull it off.
When I’m looking through online dating profiles, or checking out the profiles of guys who have emailed me-for the most part, everyone sounds SO wonderful on paper. For some reason, I attract a lot of outdoorsy/adventurous types-mountain bikers, world travelers, surfers…almost all of them have a Master’s Degree and love sushi, wine, snowboarding and are looking for someone serious. Hmmm…if only that was the case when I met them in person!
While I haven’t had any of the cliche’ horrible experiences-you know, meeting someone who posted fake pictures or pictures from years ago (DO. NOT. DO. THAT.), or having a date with someone who is a complete fraud, there have been incidences where the profile and the person just don’t match up, and it’s definitely a let down, but I’m not so quick to judge and automatically assume that he is a misleading person, and a fake. For the most part, I don’t think that. Read the rest of this entry »
