Let’s face facts, people. Some of us come from families that are a little…eccentric.  You have to be sure that when you bring someone home for the holidays they can actually handle seeing you in your family element.

If you are brave enough to take someone home for the holidays this week, you should warn them about what to expect.  Especially if you have a wide cast of crazy characters in your family that could possibly embarrass you.  Let them know what to expect!

Have you ever gone home with your date for the holidays? Did it end well? How do you know if it is a good time to bring someone around your relatives? May I suggest you watch Meet the Fockers for homework before bringing someone over.  You can learn what to do when you meet crazy relatives of your date!

Who is the most outrageous family member that you actually worry about introducing your date to?

What are your Thanksgiving Day plans this year?

Continue reading Meeting the (Crazy) Family »

Sometimes women have a hard time just outright admitting how much she likes someone.  Although we really don’t like it when men do it to us, we can be just as bad with sending a guy mixed signals and being vague.

So how can men tell when a woman really likes him? Sadly, just because she is agreeing to go out on a date doesn’t necessarily mean she actually likes you.  There are other ways to tell she is happy you are in her life though:

1. She is genuinely concerned about your well-being. You may notice that she pays attention to something you need and then fulfill those needs.

2. She doesn’t criticize you harshly.  Women definitely pay attention to your behavior and can see when you are acting like a bonehead.  When she likes you, she can call you out in a respectful manner, handling your ego with care.

3. She doesn’t make outrageous demands on you to prove to her you like her.  A really smart woman does not require a man to spend a boatload of cash on her. In fact, when …

Continue reading She’s All In »

Today Gwinnett Arena is being descended upon by a lot of trucks and dirt for the Professional Bull Riders events that kick off  (no pun, intended)  tonight.  Later today, I have a meet up with PBR’s official “barrel man” Flint Rasmussen for an interview and hopefully I can get a crash course in man wrangling!

I’m secretly hoping he will be dressed just like this. Either outfit would work.

Some of the best advice I have received about dating men - who want to marry – has come from men who have done it and are happy about it.  That’s right, happily married men exist and they are chock full of good information single men and women can take heed to.

I just think it’s good practice to seek out people who have reached the destination that you desire. Often times they can offer great insight on their journey, including mistakes and pitfalls.

It could also be helpful to introduce someone you are dating to your trusted married friends.  Some of my married guy friends can spot a …

Continue reading Takes One to Know One »

I think my date double-booked on me. Last weekend, we agreed to meet up after work for a little “happy hour” and flirting.  After a couple of hours, he seemed to be ready to move on to the next stop. Needless to say,  I wasn’t invited.  He wasn’t exactly checking his watch every few minutes but sometimes a girl just knows.

He sent a text message the next day, I declined to meet up with him later in the weekend. It was not because of the double-booking, I had other plans already. I am actually guilty of double-booking guys in one day, so I couldn’t really get mad that someone did it to me.

When you schedule dates or agree to go out with someone, do you pay much attention to the time of day or the day of the week that they suggest?  If you are “penciled in” for drinks or meet up for coffee, do you consider that insulting?

My friend Greg said that he “threw me a date bone” because I only was granted the less then desirable happy hour hook up. I have to admit, I thought he was …

Continue reading Time’s Up »

After checking out the Professional Bull Riders’ official website, I am getting even more excited about seeing the riders in action. There is something about a man whose job is dangerous that is so, well intriguing, masculine, admirable, I could go on!

Seriously, can you imagine talking to someone about their day at work when he does something like this?

I always wonder, what motivates a man or woman to take on a dangerous career? Why do they do it and what does that mean about their seemingly fearless character?

I’ve dated a policeman and a fireman and I can remember having an ongoing uneasy feeling when they went to work. I can’t imagine living with that anxiety all the time if I were to marry into a dangerous career.  Yeah, the uniforms were hot, but could I really handle all that comes with being with them?

What do you think of the men and women who work in a risky career? What about the daredevils who have some pretty dangerous hobbies?  Does it take a special kind of …

Continue reading Men Without Fear »

I have pretty much been on all the traditional dates you can imagine. You know, the safe and predictable ones. I know that I am not the only one who is tired of going to dinner and a movie for a first date, am I?  I think it’s time we all shook things up a little.

Why not use the remaining weeks of 2009 to think outside the “dating” box and move out of our ridiculously safe (read: dull) comfort zones.  Let’s all make a list of the most outrageous, non-traditional, completely out of your character date activities you can think of and then go do it!

We all need to participate so we can all report back to share how great/terrifying/outrageous thinking outside the dating box really is.  We could even vote on who has the best idea and who was the bravest!

You know a great place to start? How about in a bull pen!

The Professional Bull Riders are charging in to town (har!) this weekend at the Gwinnett Center. Ladies, if you want to meet men you have to go where they have a good …

Continue reading Think Outside the Box »

Sometimes I marvel at the fact that we singles even manage to make it to the first date.  Some of us get up hung up in the approach, showing interest, and determining compatibility part that comes with dating.  I think a lot of times we take it way too seriously, pretty much sucking the fun part out of the whole process.

Keeping it simple is virtually impossible.  I know women have a tendency to complicate matters when they shouldn’t be, but I have met and dated men who do the same thing.  Is it so hard to play it cool until things develop?

There is nothing wrong with being excited about spotting someone you want to get to know more.  However, acting desperately can be a real turn off. Nobody likes it when people come on too strong. How do you handle it when someone is a little over the top in pursuing you?  Do you find it flattering, annoying, or are you confused by it?

If someone you are interested in seems to be playing it cool, do you take it as a sing of disinterest …

Continue reading Playing It Cool »

There is nothing like the emotions you go through when you are falling for someone.  I liken it to what I think falling out of an airplane would feel, but I haven’t skydived yet so I am speculating.  You are taking a calculated risk. You have your parachute and your tandem partner that you trust completely.

You take the leap and you have an initial feeling of utter bliss and joy.  The moment you fall out feels surreal and unbelievable.  Then perhaps you look at exactly how high you are and maybe start to panic a bit.  You hope that your rip cord works and that you and your partner won’t fall too badly because you know it will hurt if your parachute doesn’t open.

I know this makes falling in love sound terrifying and exhilarating all at once.  That’s kind of the point, really.  It can be the best feeling in the world when it’s good.  When it’s bad? Ouch.  It doesn’t matter how scary it is, most of us won’t stop chasing that feeling of being in love.

Have you ever been …

Continue reading Hurts So Good »

I’ve heard a lot of my single friends voice concerns about getting to know a person and making the decision to get in a relationship with them.  Whether you meet online, at church, or through friends, you still have to put in the work and effort it takes to peel away the layers of a person’s personality.

My male friends are especially concerned about women who impersonate a sane and mature woman when she is really the exact opposite. Psycho and immature women are the leading cause of property destruction and restraining orders. (Ok,  I just made that up but you know what I am saying!)

Men have a real fear of falling for the wrong woman who has pretended to be someone she’s not just to land him. I think this is one of the main men don’t like us to change after they get with us. Why is she changing after I am “all in to her” and who is she now?!

My friends and I have literally found that some men not only are posers, they actually make up or omit a lot about themselves in an …

Continue reading Alice in Imposterland »

In an attempt to understand the male psyche, I asked a few men the question that a lot of women have pondered.  Why won’t men tell everything? I got a lot of great insight about this.  Apparently, it’s one of those “be careful what you wish for” kind of things that we think we want but probably won’t like it.

What makes some men avoid telling it all is the reactions they think they will get once the disclose what they are truly thinking.  It’s not about any fear (well not physical fear, hopefully) of women, but it is the dread of getting the cold shoulder, bad attitudes, and having the sex come to a screeching hault.

It takes a long time for some men to even trust their mate with their inner thoughts.  During that time, he is observing how the woman responds to stress, disappointment, anger, etc.  This tells him a lot about her character and maturity.  Once they get that trust, often times they are more willing to share with you what they are thinking and feeling.

Guys, …

Continue reading Full Disclosure »