Only you.......

People can take as much as advice as outlets put out there. Whether you listen to anything I, or any others have to say about dating, you need to make sure that you keep true to yourself.

Meeting new people and developing relationships is a tough and scary thing. If you stay true to who you are, you will end up much happier in the end.

The best advice is the kind that you learn from experience. Its totally up to you what you do about a certain guy or girl problem. No matter what, you are the one that has to live with the consequences.

Dating isn't about necessarily meeting the person that you are going to marry, its about the ride to get there. Meeting new people and trying different things makes dating the adventure that it is.

So don't take every last bit of dating advice and stick to it strictly ( you will drive your self crazy doing this). Have fun and learn a little for yourself :)

The Pickup Artist....Listen close boys

The hardest part about dating is the first initial pickup of the person that you are interested in. Its usually the boy that makes the first move in starting a conversation with a girl. Many boys need help in this department, and VH1 has come up with a show to help them in that department. This video explains more about the show and game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcCBGGZwefk

To get an even more in depth look at The Pickup Artist check out:

http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_pick_up_artist_2/series.jhtml?source=globalnav

Baby its cold outside!

Yes, the holidays are upon us. Snow will be falling, decorations are being put, and stores are trying to get you to buy everything in sight.

The holidays are an amazing time for couples to spend time together, and throw in some holiday cheer. There are so many little activities for the two will make you appreciate your special someone even more.

When a holiday does come up, this might be a perfect time for you to meet the family. First though, make sure you break him in to mom and dad.

Some fun holiday stuff

• Bake cookies


• Go ice skating


• Watch a Christmas movie


• Drink hot chocolate or eggnog


• Go Christmas shopping (never go alone)


• A little romantic getaway


• Decorate a tree, house, or apartment

Here's some sites to help

• http://www.holidaysforcouples.com.au/


• http://www.mynippon.com/romance/romantic-holidays-couples.htm

I'm ready for internet help.........

We've talked about Internet dating sites in this blog, before and have even suggested a few. The truth is, there are more even dating sites that are more specific to the kind of person you are looking for. I found a website that categorizes dating sites to what you want, and that is http://www.directoryofdating.com/.

The directory as many dating sites specific to your needs. Let's say that you are a single parent and would like to date other single parents; they have a dating site for you. This site is a very useful tool to those that are extremely picky when it comes to finding someone. If you have high requirements for you significant other, this is the site for you.

Also, keep in mind to be careful when Internet dating!

I never though of that....

There is one thing that will keep the spice up in a relationship, and that is the creativity in the dating area. Many couples always do the normal dinner and a movie or walks on the beach, but there are other ways to have a good time with your date.

Now let's say that you are not a creative person at all, there is hope for you my friend. One website that has a ton of neat dating ideas is http://www.coolestdates.com/. This site comes up with fun date ideas so you don't have to rack your brain trying to figure out cool stuff to do.

The overall graphics of the website are not that great, but the information is well worth it. What coolest dates does is categorize by age and the kind of date you want to go on. Let's say that you and your date are 21, and want to know of an inexpensive date idea. They've got you covered. So stop worrying about if you are as creative at coming up with date ideas as Da Vinci was with art, and just visit the site.....We women remember the creative boys :)

Gag....

Its no question that us women love anything and everything romantic. One problem that we find is either a guy will be too romantic, or not romantic at all.

One of my ex-boyfriends thought he was the most romantic man in the world. He was always doing cute things and being extremely thoughtful.

I usually loved all of the romantic stuff he would do, but than it became nauseating. When he would get all mushy on the phone, I found myself throwing up in my mouth.

The truth is, people need a little guidance when it comes to romance. In the November 2008 issue of Cosmopolitan, Chris Connolly takes a look at cliche romantic things.

In his article, Connolly compares things that couples do that are overrated and underrated. These little helpful hints may spark spontaniety in a relationship, rather romantics that every person knows about.

Here's a few things that Connolly talks about as being overrated and underrated:

Overrated

• Dinner and a movie


• Love letters


• Roses on Valentine's Day


• Double Dates

Underrated

• Gifts for no reason at all


• Sexy text messages


• Flowers on random days


• Going to parties as a couple

Want a little more Cosmo help? check out http://www.cosmopolitan.com/

Whole lot of stuff

I found a nice little nugget of a website the other day that is the dating mecca. This amazing little guy is called www.onlinedatingmagazine.com.

Many of your everyday dating questions can be answered on ODM, and they even provide many interesting articles for your benefit.

I was not very impressed by the overall appearance of the site, but it has a ton of information. Everything from dating humor to dating services can be found on this site.

With anything in life, you should not get your information from just one source. Dating is a major topic that you should discover different avenues for all of you "help me!" questions.

Is it written in the stars?

Many of us have to go check our horoscopes everyday to see what the day may hold. Astrology is really interesting and sometimes very helpful. A lot of people do not believe in astrology, but sometimes, its just fun to look at.

I love astrology and find it very interesting. Not only that but at times, I feel like my horoscope is speaking directly to me. The zodiac all has to do with your date of birth and that is how you define which sign you are.

When it comes to dating, astrology can be really helpful. You can see what sign your sign is most compatible with by taking a closer look at the zodiac. This all may sound a little strange, but honestly it may frighten you how accurate it is.

If you don't normally look at horoscopes and don't really know that much about astrology, check out:
www.tarot.com

This site will teach you everything you need to know about astrology!

One stop shop

We women love convenience. The easier, is the better for us. Lets say you are running extremely late and have a date that evening. The mall needs a great deal of time and devotion, and there's no way that you could possibly make the date on time. Target to the rescue!

Target is an amazing department store that can service all of your date requirements. You can find a trendy outfit to where, and all the accessories to go with it. Not only that, but you can also get the makeup you need and the perfect shoes to top it off for a decent price.

The only downfall to this store is that you always wind up buying more stuff than you actually needed.

Check out the site:

www. target.com

Yes! That has happened to me before!

We watch television to sometimes escape from reality. Then a wonderful thing called reality television came along and changed up everything. Many times, we try and find shows that we can identify with on a personal level. One such show for most young females to watch and relate to is The Hills on MTV.

The Hills is a reality television show that follows the lives of a group of young twenty-something women in Los Angeles, California. These girls go through dates, friends, and betrayals together all for our viewing pleasure. I have been watching the show since its beginning and am a die hard fan.

What connects The Hills to its viewers is the fact that although these gorgeous rich girls seem to have everything, they still encounter the same problems every girl faces with dating. You watch the show and instantly relate the girls to your own group of friends and your own relationships. Sometimes, its easier to learn from other people's mistakes and The Hills shows us what we may be doing wrong in the love department.

Watch The Hills at 10pm on Monday on MTV.

Better safe than sorry.....

Okay kids, this is life and things happen, so you want to be prepared for when they do. When you start dating someone, you want to be ready for when things could go to the next level.

Yes, I'm talking about sex. You never know when things are going to get kicked into high gear and the birds and the bees start swarming.

Contraceptives are things that you need to consider when you begin to become intimate with someone. Preparation is key when it comes to intimacy.

Before you go out on your date, throw a few condoms in your purse or wallet. Girls, even though it may seem like a guy thing to do, you'd rather be safe than sorry.

Here's a few websites that could help you learn more about contraception:

www.contraceptiononline.org/

http://www.healthywomen.org/

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/

Trick or Treat!

Ghosts, witches, goblins......Yep its Halloween! This holiday is especially fun for all of you single people out there, and even for couples.

I personally love to celebrate holidays for more than one day. Halloween is a great holiday to drag out for a week.

Whether its with a group of friends, or with a significant other, here are some fun ways to celebrate Halloween:

1. Carve pumpkins


2. Watch scary movies


3. Go to a haunted house


4. Bake a pumpkin pie or pumpkin seeds (you know, the ones you got from the pumpkin you carved)


5. Come up with creative costumes


6. Go to a Halloween party at a bar or club


7. Pig out on candy

Do I have to?

Okay, so Joe Mama really wants to hang out with you tonight. Here's the problem: The thought of changing into a hot outfit makes you physically sick. If you continually back out on dates, he's not going to keep calling you.

So this is what you do: Settle for something low-key like going to a Starbucks to get a cup of coffee. This is the type of place where it is completely acceptable to show up in sweatpants and a hoodie. Guys like when they see that a girl can still be sexy dressed down.

In my opinion, Starbucks carries the best coffee and also has a variety of caffeine-free drinks. It also always has great music playing and has a very relaxing atmosphere. Starbucks is a great place for two people to get to know one another.

Some drinks to try:

• Caramel Macchiato


• Pumpkin Spice Latte


• Strawberries and Cream Frappachino


• Hot Apple Cider


• Cinnamon Dolce Latte

Check out the website: http://www.starbucks.com/

Donkey or Elephant?

As election day draws closer, the topic of politics is on the minds of every American. This may even include the person that you are out on a date with.

Let's say that politics some how comes up and the two of you have different party affiliations. At this point on the date, you quietly start to freak out.

In order for the conversation to keep calm and not escalate into a heated political debate, there are some things to remember:

• Everybody is entitled to their own opinion.


• Not everybody was brought up the same way.


• Do not argue if you do not agree with what he/she is saying.


• Try not to make your views sound like the only way of life.

Politics is an extremely important and interesting topic. Its okay for you and your date to discuss politics, just keep in mind my helpful hints so you get a second date.

To learn more about the two presidential candidates, check out their websites:

http://www.johnmccain.com/

http://www.barackobama.com/

This is my new bible!

Move over Cosmo and step back other dating books, the men are here to tell us what to do. I stumbled upon what she be every women's bible and that is http://www.askmen.com/. This might be the perfect way for us women to get inside the man's head.

The site itself has things for both men and women. With articles on everything from sports to dating commandments for guys, this website is a very useful tool for both sexes. When first looking at it, you get a very masculine feel. Yes ladies, of course they have pictures of girls in bikinis! They have to get their male viewers attention somehow.

All subject areas are covered on this site and the articles are also very entertaining. One that really stuck out to me was the article dating commandments to all men. I recommend going to read this article especially because it could save you so much grief when it comes to trying to figure those boys out.

He seems normal on his Facebook profile

Facebook and Myspace has revolutionized the way my generation goes about their everyday lives. I can not do anything for the day until I check my Facebook page. Sad as this may seem, most of the people I am in contact with are the same exact way. These two networking sites have also brought couples together. Like all Internet dating, you have to be extremely careful. I made this mistake when I was in high school when I met somebody on AOL.

I was a freshman in high school and I was just on AOL on night. I received a random instant message from a screen name I did not recognize. We began to chat and sure enough, he was my age and lived around me. The next day, we decided to meet at the mall by both of us. I ended up going to the mall with my family, and walked away from them with my friend. As I was away from my family, this creepy looking kid came toward me and it ended up being the guy from the Internet. I talked for a minute and then said I had to go. SO SCARY!

From that point on, I realized that Internet love was a little creepy and not something I was into. Then came Facebook..... My freshman year of college this guy sent me a message saying that he thought I was attractive and that he thought him and I had a bunch in common. He was cute in his pictures and I decided to meet him at the Starbucks on campus. (NOTE: Always meet someone at a public place) We met and hit it off and ended up being a little fling for awhile.

The point I am trying to get at with this blog is that you need to be careful when it comes to the Internet. You never know what kind of people are out there....

Word to all men

I have usually given all of my handy advice to all of my female sisters out there. Today, you men get a little lesson when it comes to women. I know that we can be hard to read, but when it comes to movies we are easy.

If you want to invite a girl over to watch a movie, there are certain things you should always remember when it comes to choosing what to watch. The movie can either make or break your whole evening together. Girls will react in certain ways depending on what genre of movie you put on.

Romance: She will be attached to your hip and mushy for the rest of the night.

Comedy: Your chicky will probably act normal, but also laugh at every joke you make.

Horror: She will be screaming the whole movie and grabbing on to you. This could work out in your favor because she probably will not want to sleep alone that night :).

Mystery: You'll spend the whole night talking.

Musical: She'll be singing around the house and you will probably want to put in ear plugs.

You pick!

Let's say that you and your dat do not have a set place to go have dinner. He doesn't want to pick and neither do you, so the two of just drive around. One restaurant will make both of you happy and that is Cheesecake Factory.

This restaurant has a menu that is almost as long as a small novel about food. I have been to Cheesecake Factory a great many times and hae never left unhappy. The price varies depending on what you order. The food is amazing and they carry everything from Italian to Chinese.

The only problem with the place is that it can get very loud in there. My date and I had this problem two weeks ago when I literally had to scream across the table to him. Just make sure you always get a booth and always get dessert!

Recommendations:

• Crab wontons


• Chicken Madeira


• Pasta Da Vinci


• Crusted Chicken Romano

Let's play a games :)

I have gone on many road trips and have figured out many ways to entertain myself. The game "I Spy" doesn't exactly cut it, so you have to get more creative. What does this have to do with dating? Well one such car game is a great way for you and your date to get to know each other. The game: 20 Questions. The rules: Answer each question honestly.

Here's an example round of some questions you might ask:

1. What's your favorite cereal?
2. What is your dream job?
3. Where would you most like to live?
4. What's your favorite kind of car?
5. What's your favorite TV show?
6. Whats your favorite color?
7. What's your biggest fear?
8. Who is your dream girl/guy?
9. What's your favorite food?
10. What's your favorite movie?
11. What's your political party?
12. How many kids do you want?
13. Who is your favorite actor/actress?
14. What's your favorite animal?
15. Where did you grow up?
16. What's your favorite candy?
17. What's your favorite sport?
18. What's your favorite drink?
19. What's your favorite childhood toy?
20. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Can't stand how much I love you

So far in my blog, I have focused on helping all the single gals out there. The truth is, committed couples need some help too. Let's say you have been in a committed relationship for awhile now, and you are at a point where you are bored. Encouragement helps people in any situation, even struggling couples. One book will help you realize just how much you appreciate your partner and that is Couplehood by Paul Reiser. This book is absolutely hilarious and will make you wish you have someone if you are single. Reiser talks about all the silly stuff couples do and how much silly stuff can get on each other's nerves.

He talks about everything from:

• Eating habits
• Driving together
• Telling stories
• Showering together
• Working out

And everything in between.

Watch and learn.......

Television can keep our attention for hours upon end. People can literally plop on the couch with some snacks and watch the tube all day long. We've all had those days where getting out of bed just isn't going to happen. If this is the case, you should prepare be renting seasons of the hit TV show Sex and the City. Starring Sarah Jessica Parker, this show answers all of those relationship questions that most of us ask ourselves. Based in New York City, this show follows the lives of four very different friends and the relationships they go through. One of the four, Carrie Bradshaw (Parker), writes a column in a newspaper where she asks and answers all those questions all of us females think of. Sex, dating, and love are all areas Bradshaw covers in her column as shes endures them in her life. There's sex, there's love, and there's the city; all characteristics of a good show.

And the lived happily ever after :)

Oh how we women love romance.....Everything from Prince Charming to the Knight in Shining Armor will make our hearts absolutely melt. I absolutely love to watch and read anything with romance involved. One author has led the pack when it comes to romance novels, and that is Danielle Steel. Her books have everything from love and sex, to suspense and mystery. A few of Steel's novels have even been turned into Lifetime Movies that makes her words come to life. I have read a great many of her books and two of my favorites are Jewels and Message from Nam. On one of those nights where you just want to stay home, grab one of her books. Pour a glass of wine, get some pajamas on, curl up in a blanket, and get carried away with some good, old-fashion romance.

In my opinion........

The main problem with most women is that we lack self-confidence. Whether we think we are too fat, too flat, or just hate ourselves in general; our self esteem affects our relationships. Nobody wants to be around a "Debbie Downer", especially when out on a date. As hard as it may be for you to act confident, you need to in order to have a successful night out. NOTE: Confident does not mean cocky.

Being cool, calm, and collected will give you success in any circumstance. In my experience with dating and with watching other relationships, there is a certain code of conduct that is most effective with dating.

On the date:

• Smile :) it makes you and the other person more comfortable
• Try to avoid awkward silences
• Be a good listener, he likes when you act really interested
• Don't over-analyze everything, go with the flow
• Do not put yourself down at all
• Don't go on and on about your past relationships; you can't start a new chapter if you are still stick in the last one.

What am I doing wrong?

So many people have great relationships, that out of nowhere, end. Out of the blue, he'll call you and give that whole "it's not you, it's me" speech and you're left confused. If this is a common occurrence happening with you and your "significant others", it just might be you causing the breakup. Sometimes little things we do can irritate somebody to the point where they are ready to bailout.

The movie How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days is a perfect example of how the little things a girl does, can drive a man crazy. Starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, the movie is about a journalist (Hudson) who is writing a story on how a girl can lose a guy in ten days. Hudson starts to do all of the wrong things a girl does in a relationship to ruin it.

Here's some of what she does to aggravate him:

• Calling a million times a day



• Being needy



• Putting girl stuff in his place



• Causing fights between him and other guys



• Not giving him space



• Making him do everything you want to do

God I hate men!

Listen sweetie, these horrid creatures are not going to go away... The more we don't want to like them, the more we do. One thing that is for certain is that we will never fully understand them and they will never fully understand us. As much as you may hate asking for other people's help in the love department, one magazine can easily become your best friend. Cosmopolitan is one of the best magazines for women when it comes to trying to understand the opposite sex.
This magazine deals with issues that every girl can understand from dating to clothes and everything in between. They also offer men's perspectives on certain issues that only they can answer for us. With quizzes, advice and stories that will make you feel a whole lot better about yourself, Cosmo is the perfect women's guide to what exactly we should be doing to land a man!

Check out the website!
www.cosmopolitan.com

AHHH! I have no clothes!

So you got the date, but your closet isn't looking too promising. You hate everything and feel like a cow in all the clothes you've tried on. As if you weren't nervous enough about the date! Have no fear! Forever 21 is here!
A girl can get any kind of outfit for any occasion at this store. Forever 21 has trendy, fun clothes for a very reasonable price. You can also accessorize like crazy at this store and not have to worry about completely killing your bank account! With fun colors and stylish looks, you'll leave him speechless!

Tips for the date outfit:
-Nothing too flashy
-Black is a slimming color
-Find out the place first so you know how dressy your outfit should be

Shop Online!
www.forever21.com

I'll have romance with a side of candles!

Most girls want one major thing when going out on a date: ROMANCE. The place can either make or break the whole night. The setting should be a place where the two of you can have a nice dinner and a good conversation.
Two restaurants in Boca Raton that have good date ambiance are Pranzo's and Sushiyama. These two places offer the kind of atmosphere that will make a date more relaxed and more romantic.
Pranzo's
- Italian food
- Normal pricing for a Boca restaurant (meals go from around $15.00 and up)
- Indoor/Outdoor setting
- Great Location: Mizner Park
- Music:Dj or Live Band

Sushiyama
- Japanese food (Lots of sushi!)
- Located at 7050 W Palmetto Park Rd # 30, Boca Raton
- Reasonably priced
- Little secluded booths!
- Great place for conversation!

Love from my computer?

Believe it or not, many people rely on websites to find their perfect match. I personally have never tried on of these sights, but so many people have met their significant others this way! Like speed dating, online sights are designed for people that don't necessarily like finding meeting people at bars and clubs. Not only that, but many of these sights base everything on compatibility.
Worried about paying a ton of money for nothing? No worries, most of these sites give you free trials!

Check out:
- www.eharmony.com
- www.match.com
- www.sugardaddy.com
- www.chemistry.com

Where can I meet a guy tonight?

Listen up ladies! If you want to go to a place to have a little fun and maybe even meet a cutie, check out AUTOMATIC SLIMS! Its located in downtown Fort Lauderdale in Riverfront and is a great place to meet some men!

You should go tonight because:
@ NO COVER CHARGE!
@ FREE DRINKS FOR LADIES!
@ CLUB AND BAR ATMOSPHERE!
@ YOU CAN BE DRESSY OR CASUAL!
@ OPEN 10PM TO 3AM!

So instead of sitting on the couch and watching television, go out and meet somebody!

Speed Dating!

The most important part of dating is the actual meeting of the person. Many girls and even guys have a huge fear of talking to another person they are attracted too. This is where an even like speed dating can be very helpful. You are forced to go around and meet different people through this kind of event. Not only that, but by the end of the night you'll have maybe met a possible significant other!

Advantages to Speed Dating:

• Cheaper than many dating serivices.
• Can find events in your area.
• You have a series of little dates in one night in comparison to one.
• You can do it online!
• Less likely to be rejected.
• Looks like fun!

Some websites to check out for speed dating:

• www.hurrydate.com
• www.fastlife.com
• http://mingle2.com
• www.amazingsingles.com