Okay so you have met that person that gives you butterflies when you see them…now what?  Before you go forward with the relationship that you want, make sure that you have the key ingredients to make things work between the two of you.  After the first few dates, you know where you finally start to feel comfortable with one another, start paying attention to the other persons behavior more this is the time where you will notice if they were just “faking it” on the previous dates.  Since you have decided you want to be official with this person, make note of the key foundations on which a a healthy relationship is established.  Trust is one of them, if you don’t have trust you basically have nothing, because you cannot love without trust.  Compatibility is another one, if you don’t fit together very well, don’t force it, there is someone else out there for you.  Of course you have to love someone in order to be with them for the long haul, I want to see you have a successful relationship with that someone special so please take note of the things I have mentioned here and as long as you have these things implemented in your relationship you will have a happy one!  Good luck with your future dates.

I was having dinner recently at a local restaurant and somehow the waitress and I began talking about what I did in my spare time, of course I mentioned this blog, she then told me about this wonderful success story her and her, now, longtime boyfriend had by meeting online through a dating website!  I wanted to share it with you!  The two met while met searching to fill a void they were carrying around in their heart, they had spoken once before so she took a chance and contacted him again by sending a message first and says he didn’t respond.  She messaged again, this time asking what was up since they had such a great connection during their first conversation, he then responded.  The two talked back and forth for a while before deciding to finally meet out in public and although they didn’t run a background check on each other, the lovebirds did take precaution by meeting in a heavily populated public place.  It was a success after this encounter, they began seeing each other exclusively and are engaged to be married!

Dating online is a real possibility especially with the busy schedules that we have these days, so if you are searching for that one person you want to share your life with, don’t pass off online dating, just do it safely!  Your someone special is waiting!

Today I’m going to share a true story with you in hopes that you can relate and help end this madness between ex’s and your friends.  In every group of friends there is “that girl” that no one wants to introduce their new squeeze to in fear of her trying to make a move on him when you aren’t around.  My friend, Christy, is that girl! She is now dating one of her friends, Samantha’s child’s father! (I have changed their names for this story)  The two girls are constantly fighting about this issue, as they are best friends and roommates!  It is very obvious to me that Samantha is hurt by the actions that Christy has chosen and in my opinion they need to find a middle ground in all this mess.  If you are presented with this situation, you may want to sit your friend down along with the ex at some point to be positive you aren’t stepping on anyone’s toes by dating the new man or woman of interest that happens to be your friends ex!

This brings me to the part where I ask you all for feedback!  I personally would never even consider dating a friends ex, let alone the person that they had children with.  Do you think it is okay to date your friends ex, even without their consent?  If so, would you go this far?  Have you ever dated your friends ex?  I want to hear everything you have to say, and look forward to what you have to say about this.

Online dating can be just as competitive as dating the old fashion way, so make sure you are at the top of your game before creating your online dating account.  There are a few things you can do to make sure your gets noticed before the other people you may be competing with.

1. Profile Photo – Choose the best photo of yourself that you have available.  With online dating people often just browse photos before stopping to actually read your profile, so put your best foot forward and pick a fantastic photo!
2. Username – When you create your username, select one that reflects your personal interests.  For instance if you like the outdoors your username could be naturegirl/guy2010, of course this name was just a suggestion don’t forget to be creative and show off what makes you great!
3. Creative Explanation of Yourself – When describing yourself use specifics and try to avoid a boring list of adjectives that show up on countless profiles across the Internet.  The content on your profile is just as important as your photo, this is what separates you from the rest!

These are just a few tips on creating an outstanding profile to help you get the results you desire!  I hope this helps achieve your goals, good luck!

Online dating can be great for those of us who work many hours, have children, or have just moved to a new area.  While it can be a great alternative to the old fashion way of dating it can just as stressful sometimes.  When talking to someone online you need to make sure that you are still following some of the same rules as you would if you had met this person while you were out and about. When meeting someone new 1st impressions are everything, so make sure you portray yourself in a good fashion and no matter if you are a man or woman…respect yourself!  If you don’t no one else will!  Respect isn’t just a song sung by Aretha Franklin it is something that you should demand from others, especially in a dating situation.  Always remember that dating online is a great way to meet others, but please be safe while doing so.

Did you know that on average, 236 people are tying the knot thanks to eHarmony.com?  Believe it, it is a fact!  And chances are if you are reading this you are probably interested in dating online in hopes of finding that special someone.  Normally my posts are about how to stay safe on the internet, but I wanted to show you my positive side as well and tell you how wonderful I think eHarmony is for singles like you and me!

Eharmony was founded by by the research that both Dr. Neil Clark Warren and Dr. Galen Buckwalter had done for 3 years, before developing such a wonderful site! They of course applied and received a patent on what the site calls their Compatibility Matching System which is what makes the system work so well. I would definitely encourage you to visit the site and set up a profile…it is worth it! So, what are you waiting on?  Get over there and find you husband or wife today!  Good luck!  I look forward to your success stories!

References

1. eHarmony FAQ

I wanted to share my knowledge with you about going back to the ex….yes that’s right, going back can be a mistake if you don’t protect yourself correctly.  Although if played correctly it can be a beautiful thing.  I was once one of those people that said I will not go back to someone after breaking up with them, however I did make this mistake more than once with the same person.  We all have that “somebody” that we have gone back to a time or two, no matter how dysfunctional the relationship was.  I always let it slip my mind that we didn’t work well together until this last time.

It is possible to make an old relationship work if you are willing to step up and acknowledge the reason you broke up in the first place.  Once you identify the problem(s) (sometimes there are several) that caused your breakup, sit down and ask yourself if this is something you can let go of and work through.  If you answer yes, you may want to ask your significant other the same thing (this generally depends on who caused it, and who made the ultimate decision on breaking up)

People normally deny the fact they may need couples counseling and do not pursue it although it is greatly needed.  So swallow your pride and find a licensed counselor that suits the needs of you and your mate.  Once you have done so, you will be able to make the decision on whether or not you are going to be able to make it as a couple again after your therapy is complete.

When you finally meet someone new you normally are so excited you fail to see anything wrong with them.  So, the next time your “match” calls or messages you for a date think carefully before accepting the invitation(s).  You should ask yourself a series of questions before accepting the invite! And always keep track of how many dates you have gone on, because if you aren’t feeling it by date 3…he isn’t the guy for you!

1. Am I genuinely interested in this guy?
2. Do I see a potential long term partner in him?
3. Is this someone I would introduce to my family and friends?

If you answered “NO” to one or more or more of these questions, than you know to move on and find another man that better suits your needs. These questions are key to a healthy relationship and clearly you want a healthy one as well or you probably wouldn’t have opted for online dating.  So good luck to you and be sure to leave your comments on how the dates went after using these 3 questions as a tool to help you find that perfect mate!

Being safe on social networks like Myspace is a big concern for many, especially those with children, like myself.  Myspace has over 100 million users, which means there are more than just a few “bad eggs” out there.

There are several things to consider before and during the use of social networks.  I have put together a few tips on how to implement safety into your Myspace experience.

• Remember that people aren’t always who they say they are, so don’t believe everything someone tells you while online.
• Think twice before posting something you wouldn’t want your friends, co-workers, or parents to see.
• Don’t post something that may embarrass you later.
• If you are a parent, speak to your kids about what they are doing online.  The more you talk to your children the more information they will be willing to give to you.
• Never use your full name. ( I know that you are asked to supply it, but you have an option to say no)

• If your child wants to meet an online-only friend, tag along with them. (if the person is in fact an online predator they will more than likely leave as soon as they spot you with your child.  (Predators generally try to shy away from discovery and embarrassment)
• You don’t necessarily have to use a photo of yourself, you can always find an avatar that suits your personality.
• Only allow people on your “friends list” to access your profile. (if you or your child is under 14 your profile is automatically set to private)
• Be weary of messages sent to you from people you do not know in the “real world”. (if you do decide to reply, proceed with caution)
• Before allowing your child on Myspace teach them how to properly use it or suggest setting up the page for them.  This will ensure that the privacy settings are set to a level you are comfortable with.

Please be safe when using Myspace and other social networks, there are tons of creepers out there!  Don’t let one of these people into your online life!  Good luck and have fun using your Myspace page for socializing.

A quick story: My friend Danielle was skeptical about dating. Having had success myself, I urged her to join a dating site. She had never been married and at 28 years old was ready to find love after several failed attempts.

When she signed up a few profiles stood out at her. A hunky guy really caught her eye. She pursued him, and after IM’ing for a few days, she agreed to meet him at a popular coffee shop.

The date went well, but she later realized this guy had a list of misdemeanors on his criminal record, mostly unpaid traffic violations. Was he dangerous? Maybe not. But Danielle was frustrated. I told her she could have avoided this from the start had she followed my 3 rules of online dating:

1. Keep it simple, silly! (K.I.S.S.): Let your intentions be known clearly from the beginning. Communicate clearly and visualize your ideal situation before talking to new dates.
2. Notice the warning signs: Does your date avoid topics? Do they leave out their contact info? Do they write well-formed emails? (You might not care but I do!)
3. Run background checks: Tell your date up front that you intend to run a background check. They will either cooperate or run away.

I recommend Net Detective for checking up on your dates. They have millions and millions of records and can tell you things you never thought you should know! Like age, marital status, estimated income, real phone number… and a lot more.

Click Here For Net Detective!

In this case, Danielle said goodbye to her date and hello to many more potentials until she finally found someone she could fall in love with. And she did!

By keeping it simple, paying attention to red flags, and exercising caution (running background checks), you spend less time with the people you don’t need and more time with the people you want.

Thanks for reading. And please share this with your friends! Share