Bumping into your Ex.. Now What?

Have you ever run into your ex-significant other unexpectedly? It's definitely happened to me! What do you end up doing in that split moment?

When it has happened to me, it caught me off-guard. Once a relationship ends, I do not end up on talking terms with my ex-relationships. My last relationship ended on an okay note but something happened that made it horrible and that ended on bad terms due to insecurities with his new fling. I ended up running into him at a party in our college town but we didn’t end up speaking to each other. It was a bit awkward and I literally saw him walk in, see me, turned around trying to avoid me, and ended up walking really quickly past me. I expected nothing less but I didn’t know what else to do either!

So what would you advise someone to do if they run into their ex-relationship? My personal advice: keep it classy, cool and short. There’s no better revenge than seeming cool, calm and collected when running into your ex-relationship! Even if you are boiling with anger at seeing your ex-relationship on a date with another person or full of awkwardness, keep it inside and don’t lose your cool! 

Busy Bee... But Too Busy for You??

Relationships require hard work! There's always that one couple that seems "perfect" to everyone- doesn't get into arguments, both lead seemingly "perfect" lives, amazing connection!

However, I honestly believe that no matter what, relationships take a lot of hard work to keep one going. Both partners in the relationship need to put in effort, not one over the other. Sometimes one may feel that he or she is giving more in the relationship but that hopefully is not the real case with the relationship. Otherwise, it may be time for a talk.

Another scenario: Peter is currently immersed in his life: school, work, sports, social life. His girlfriend, Mary, currently feels that she is being a bit left out of his life. She understands that Peter is busy and the fact that they both go to different schools doesn't really help because of the short distance. However, she feels that he squeezes her in his schedule whenever it is convenient for him rather than for the both of them. She just wants him to put aside a few minutes at the beginning or end of the day so they can talk about their day or anything... any reassurance that their relationship and connection is still the same. She doesn't know whether or not to express this to him or just to hide her feelings and stick it out. What should she do?

My personal opinion is that she should talk to Peter about it! I have been through this certain experience before and if I had hid my feelings, I might have just bottled it up until one day it burst out and made the situation worse than I intended. I think tone and reasoning are extremely important in this situation because if handled in the wrong way, Peter may take Mary's feelings in the wrong way and take the situation in the way that Mary is being too sensitive and wanting Peter to take on less things in his life and spend it with her instead. However, Mary also has to realize that she has to find the line between being too sensitive and actually justifying her emotions. If she is able to convey that she understands that he is busy with his commitments but asks that he put aside 5 minutes at the end of the day to catch up and say good night to each other with him understanding that she is only trying to help their relationship, it will hopefully end well for the both of them. (Compromise always works well!)

What's your opinion? Do you agree or disagree with my handling of the situation? Have you been through this before?

Did You Know About This??

Today I bring you some more shockers about dating and relationships!

Some not so shocking but interesting data:
1) Couples usually wait around 6-8 dates until they are both willing to enter into a monogamous and exclusive relationship. I agree with this. However, people do enter into relationships within maybe 2 dates but each person rolls their own way, right? I can completely agree that this seems average though.
2) The most common time for a break-up of a relationship is around 3-5 months. I also agree with this. A good amount of relationships end up being over after the "honeymoon period" where one person in the relationship may start getting annoyed with the other's habits that they may have glossed over before. There are also other reasons of course.
3) 92% of single parents would rather date other single parents instead of singles. Honestly, if I was a single parent, I would also want to date another single parent. I just feel like the other person would understand what I have been through or am going through. There's also always that chance that if the person I was dating, hadn't mentioned that they did not want or like children. There is no future in that and ends up being a waste of time for the both of you.

Here comes the shockers:
1) 33% of online daters form a relationship, 33% do not end up in a relationship and 33% end up giving up. Those numbers made my eyes open wide... also the fact that all the numbers are 33%. However, those numbers also seem plausible as well. It makes me sad that some people could end up with nothing though.
2) There are 95.9 million unmarried people in the United States. 47% of that 95.9 million are men and 53% are women. Nothing to say except that 95.9 million is a whole lot of people.
3) If you want to create an instant link with a date, say his or her name at least twice in the conversation. It will show that you are paying attention to your date and flatters the other person.
4) HOT DEBATE: What is the appropriate time to call after you meet someone? It is usually 2-4 days but does not go beyond 4-5 days. However, calling too soon can seem desperate but calling too late can seem like you're playing a game.

What do you think? I honestly thought the factual data was interesting but found it relatively true and not-so-shocking. I also found the shockers actually surprising. I agree that #4 is a hot debate between people though... I personally prefer for a man to call me sooner than later but to each their own right?

Friends, Friends with Benefits, or Friends Zoned?

We've all heard about friends with benefits and being friend zoned, right?!

For a movie example concerning friends with benefits, let's take "Friends With Benefits" starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. It was a hilarious rom-com (aka romantic comedy) and tugged at our heartstrings when Timberlake rejected the idea of him being with Kunis with her overhearing it. Do you believe that you could be in a strictly friends-with-benefits relationship?

I know that people say they are satisfied with a "hook-up only" relationship with no strings attached. No cuddling, no having to commit, no "real" relationship. However, a lot of these friends-with-benefits-only relationships end up with one person having feelings for the other but the other person may not reciprocate the same feelings, ending up with hurt feelings and a damaged relationship. This may not be the case for everything but rarely have I seen a friends-with-benefits relationship that has yet to work out but then again, not many friends of mines have done just a friends-with-benefits relationship.

On the other hand, I've seen a million and one of my friends get friend zoned. It's really hard once you get into that area to get out of it. It stinks that one person works up the courage to tell their friend that he or she has feelings but the feelings are not reciprocated as well. Some people just keep hoping and wishing that maybe someday, their feelings will be the same for each other. However, when is the time to either move on or to keep hoping? There is no real answer that I can give you; if you two are friends and happy, then that's what you should remain with for now. It may or may not happen but if it is supposed to, then it will. Sooner or later, you never know but everything about being friend zoned is unpredictable!

HAPPY LAUNCH DAY!

We have finally officially launched!! Please come celebrate with us at FeaturedDate.com!

P.S. Check out the prices! ;) Hint, hint.

Since we have officially launched, I'll be writing at the blog on that website. Just go visit the website and click on the "Blog" tab to read my ramblings on relationships. Thanks for being readers of this blog and I hope you continue to do so. :)

VISIT US AT FEATUREDDATE.COM !!

What are some turn-offs and turn-ons of pursuing a possible relationship with someone?

I know some people are picky about what type of person they want to get involved with. There’s someone looking for a quick, no strings attached hookup. There’s another person who wants to have a boyfriend but not even trying to look ahead to the distant future. Then there’s another person who wants to find true love and can’t wait to start thinking about the future, what house to live in, and how many children to have.

What are some turn-ons and turn-offs that you have from approaching somebody? Looking online, some top female turn-ons* are: 1) a man who can make you feel like a woman (respect is a big turn-on- a man who can respect a woman and appreciate her for who she is), 2) a man who is not afraid to take charge (mental, physical or spiritual strength), 3) a successful man (needs to be able to support himself and his family; ambitious, passionate and confident!), 4) a man with a brain, a sense of humor and can hold a conversation (smart, funny, intellectually challenging!). Some top male turn-ons** are: 1) women who leave something to the imagination (women who maintain a certain degree class are more attractive than women who bare and share everything), 2) has a strong sense of self-esteem (women who can think for herself, believe in herself and has the confidence to speak her mind), 3) loves her body (confidence! Men love a woman who appreciate what she has and isn’t afraid to show it. Embrace your body!), and 4) independent women (self-sufficient, can have fun, not needy. You can live your own life and share with your man!).

Be confident, be smart. Be able to laugh at yourself! Love yourself because you are who you are meant to be. Remember that you do not need someone to feel completed, but you want someone who will love you for who you are and only make life better.

*For more top female turn-ons, visit: http://socyberty.com/sexuality/top-10-female-turn-ons/
**For more top male turn-ons, visit: http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/top-10-male-turn-ons-77.html

Christmas is coming...

Thanksgiving just passed but it's almost time for my favorite time of the year -- Christmas!! I love the Christmas songs that start playing on the radio (judge me all you want but Justin Bieber's Christmas album from last year is so good), the Starbucks red holiday cups, the cold weather and Christmas cheer in the air. Friends on winter break, annual Christmas traditions, exchanging presents and being thankful every time. Can you believe that it's almost 2013?? Cliche, but I remember the end of 2012 like it was yesterday.

So what's your favorite thing to do during this time of year? Do you have a favorite memory?? For me, one of my favorite memories is this annual Christmas gathering my friends and I have done for the past 3 years, this year being the 4th time. Even though it's different every year, it's nice to have something that has been here so long. Every person has definitely changed- grown up, gone somewhere else for college, hangs out with other people now but we come together this one time of the year and just hang out like we did before years ago. I'm grateful for the people who still attend and I get to see them one of the few times of the year. It's just good fun!

My other favorite thing is when my family and I travel somewhere during Christmas. For the last few years, we've gone to Reno/Tahoe where we usually go skiing or another snow-related activity (we've done dog sledding and snowmobiling!). I'm not sure what we will do this year but Disneyland or Florida have been thrown in the mix!!

One favorite thing I've done with a significant other has just been lie in bed and relax while watching movies on TV. The usual snacks and everything, and then waking up the next morning to exchange gifts. Sounds a little boring but honestly, the simple pleasures in life are sometimes the most rewarding.

So what are some of your stories/memories?? Love and cheer in the air!