Fortunately, money is just the most often preferred means to an end. There are so many ways to show them that they are important. Here are a few ways to make this special day and a significant other feel important.

• The Fancy Dinner: Restaurants can be hotspots of turmoil and chaos during Valentine’s Day. Emotions run high, and not everyone there is happy. This doesn’t even consider the fact that every single remotely romantic restaurant is packed to the brim. Lovers who find their wallets tight or reservations beyond them should simply throw a fancy dinner right in their own home. Those who cannot cook can purchase fancy take home meals from the grocery.
• Gift Customization: Those who cannot afford expensive adornments may instead elect to go for something a little more heart-warming. You can give your partner a pendant with a picture of both of you inside. This gift can last him for years, if not forever. If pendants are not his thing, you can always customize a watch or similar item.
• The Handmade Gift: This gift varies, depending on the talents of the person involved. If you are a skilled artist, you can paint or make a picture of the two of you. If you’re particularly good, a stunning portrait of him will do as well. If you can knit, you can give him a scarf. This scarf will keep him warm during cold nights and remind him of you. Even those who lack artistic flair can follow a simple cake recipe. It is truly the thought that counts, though it is always better to give something of good quality. Go with what you are good at and the ideas will come rushing.
• Thanks for the Memories: A memory box may seem cheesy, but it can be made into a memorable gift. This box is something that will mean more the longer the relationship has lasted, but is also something that is best introduced at the beginning of one. A memory box is where couples can keep mementos of moments they had shared, from ticket stubs, to petals from the first rose he ever gave her.

These gifts are nice, but time is the best gift a loved one can receive – time spent on gifts and time spent with each other. Those who are available on not just Valentine’s Day, but on days important to their significant others will make them feel like they matter.

It is also important to remember that these gestures are not limited to Valentine’s Day. They can be done any day of any year. There is no reason not to make every day Valentine’s Day.

Related posts

• February 9, 2011 -- Valentine’s Day – Love it or Hate it?
• December 8, 2007 -- Holiday Inspired Ideas for that First Date
• November 2, 2007 -- Want to Plan the Perfect Fall Date?
• September 19, 2007 -- First Date Ideas for Fall
• June 9, 2007 -- Online Dating for Beginners
• September 14, 2006 -- Taking the Pressure Off the First Date
• January 2, 2012 -- 7 Go-To Excuses for Canceling a Date with a Guy

1. Give no excuse. Just ask to reschedule nicely.
No guy likes to have an anticipated date canceled, especially not last minute. Sometimes, it is effective to remain mysterious and stingy on the details, leaving him curious about your reason for ditching him. Is there someone else? Did you change your mind about him? Do you have something more important that you’d rather be doing with your time?

2. Tell him you accidentally double-booked.
While men do not like women who play games, they are competitive by nature. If you tell him that you said yes to the date without checking your schedule, it will make you a hot commodity. Canceling your date will let him know that there is competition for your attention. It does not matter whether it is from a good friend or a love interest.

3. You don’t own a cell phone, your watch’s battery died, and you had no idea what time it was. Rain check!
Most people own cell phones, so when a woman claims to not have one, it will intrigue her prospective love interest and cause him to take a double take on the woman who he would like to date—in a good way. She will seem different, and he will start to wonder about her hobbies, likes and dislikes. For example, does she read hardcover books vs. kindle-formatted books? Also, how many women still wear watches?

4. One of your friends just went into labor!
There’s no way a guy can get mad about your friend going into labor. Babies trump dates. Just never tell him your friend’s name because he might bring it up later in conversation. For the best results, keep this excuse short and sweet. After all, you have a hospital to get to pronto!

5. Your grandma is sick, and you have to stay in with her for the night.
Blame it on your grandmother’s health. There’s not much he has say about your grandma without coming off as a total jerk. He can’t insist that you blow her off or try to bargain with you. Just make sure that your grandmother lives locally to cover all of your bases in the future.

6. You have a work deadline that you overlooked in your calendar, and it needs to get done as soon as possible!
Be the ambitious career woman who puts herself first before any man. This attitude may sound conceited and self-absorbed, but men really dig confident women who know what they want. This little setback will only make a man want you more.

7. You’re really sick and don’t look or feel your best for a date.
Avoid putting on your “work call-out” sick voice with the extra cough to seal the deal. A fake sick voice will only make the situation more dramatic than it needs to be. Keep your voice low and just tell him that you are feeling under the weather. Say that you were looking forward to getting to know him more, but hopefully you guys can still do that another night. If he asks you what is wrong, tell him that you have a touch of the flu and refrain from going into details.

Canceling a date can be tricky. There is no right way to cancel. The only guide that you have is your desired outcome. If you don’t care to speak to the person again, you obviously don’t have to pay too much attention to what you will say to him. If you would like reschedule the date, extra measures have to take place. Whatever you do, always say it with a smile. Put a smiley face via text messaging, and most men will be less reluctant to blow you off for the next woman.

Related posts

• February 10, 2012 -- Love on a Budget: Four Valentine’s Day Ideas
• August 10, 2011 -- Don’t be This Gal if You Want a Second Date
• October 17, 2010 -- Aiming for a Second Date
• December 8, 2007 -- Holiday Inspired Ideas for that First Date
• November 2, 2007 -- Want to Plan the Perfect Fall Date?
• September 19, 2007 -- First Date Ideas for Fall
• August 14, 2007 -- YouDate?

1. Don’t Start With “Hi”

While “hi” is a perfectly nice thing to say, it’s not incredibly interesting. Almost anyone who receives their fair share of attention on a dating site with IM features routinely gets so many “hi”s that they become easy to ignore. Your opener should make it obvious that you read their profile and were so interested that you simply had to IM them. For example, asking someone their opinion of the book that they just read cries out for a response much more urgently than a generic greeting. Think of something memorable and unique to them. The effort you put forth will put a smile on their face.

2. Ditch the Small Talk

Chit-chat about the weather or what you both did last weekend won’t do much to increase their interest level. Flex your conversational muscle. Be funny, witty, and always interesting. They’ll love the way your IMs keep them on their toes. Don’t be afraid to be confident and respectfully flirtatious. It’s a much bigger risk to be boring and safe, especially during a conversation that can end immediately. Don’t have them close your window with a yawn — keep it lively.

3. Keep the Conversation Short

Don’t overstay your welcome. Once it’s clear that they’re interested, bring the conversation to a gentle close. Leaving them wanting more is infinitely preferable to a long IM session that exhausts all conversation and has them ending it with a bored “Anyway…” Unless the interest level is through the roof for both of you, you probably shouldn’t ask for a date immediately. But you should advance the idea of a face-to-face meeting in the near future. Tell them about a cafe you love or a new restaurant you’re dying to try. Make it obvious that you’re interested in their company and that you intend to raise the stakes sooner rather than later. A little forwardness can work in your favor. Even during a first conversation.

4. Be Interesting — But Be Interested, Too

In your conversation, make it very clear that you read their profile. Ask them questions about themselves, about their careers and extracurricular passions. A genuine interest will be much more attractive to them than any line. Listening skills can be apparent even over IM. And, yes, they’re very attractive.

5. Use IM to Quickly Move Past IM

Even the most fascinating IM sessions will soon lose their thrill. After two or three (at most), ask for a face-to-face meeting and a number. Too many IMs will make them wonder if you’re looking for a chat buddy instead of a romantic partner. Once you rapidly escalate the interest level via IM, you should strike while your text banter still makes them smile. If you wait too long, they’ll undoubtedly move on to someone with more initiative.

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Meager Bird
This just in: men are becoming wise to the fact that women also need to eat to stay alive. The secret is out; eating two grapes and some lettuce without dressing is not nearly enough to provide the proper nutrition you need to sustain a healthy body. Nevertheless, women often order the most meager selection on the menu for their first date. Contrary to popular belief, this actually makes many men uncomfortable, feeling self-conscious about what they have ordered and wondering if it’s perceived as too much. This doesn’t mean you need to order the biggest steak and potato dinner on the menu, but at least order something you actually enjoy. Your date will notice you enjoying your dinner, and will likely feel you are a confident woman who can order and eat whatever she wants, whether you are a size 2 or 22.

Chatty Cathy
Women have a natural tendency to talk far more than men, and this is only magnified on the first date because of nerves. Because men process information more quietly, they need a break from all the chatter to digest what you are saying. So before your first date, practice allowing moments of silence in your conversations, so you are not perceived as a Chatty Cathy, which can be overwhelming to a man. Practicing these moments of silence and then using this skill on your date may even result in your date taking the opportunity to talk more!

The Princess
So maybe your food is not perfectly prepared, or it’s too humid outside which makes your hair horrible, or perhaps your feet hurt from the four-inch heels you are wearing. Your first date is not the time to complain about every single thing that bothers you slightly. Instead of focusing on the things about your day or week or year that have gone wrong, focus on all those things that have gone wonderfully, and mention those things to your date instead of complaining. Making a list beforehand will do wonders in helping you prepare, so you don’t come off as The Princess to your date.

With a little preparation before your first date, you will be ready to avoid being these types that send your brand new guy running for the door, and it may even lead to another date and another down the line.

Related posts

• July 31, 2007 -- How to Break the First Date Ice
• February 10, 2012 -- Love on a Budget: Four Valentine’s Day Ideas
• January 2, 2012 -- 7 Go-To Excuses for Canceling a Date with a Guy
• October 13, 2011 -- Is She Playing Hard to Get? Decode Mixed Signals
• October 17, 2010 -- Aiming for a Second Date
• July 19, 2009 -- Genetic Profiling And Dating
• January 21, 2009 -- Three Types of WOMEN to Avoid on Dating Sites

So what does dating mean today? It can mean going out in groups, going to specially arranged social functions for single people, and participating in trendy activities like speed dating. And with the Internet penetrating every facet of modern life, it was only a matter of time before people began using the web to meet potential dating partners. With the evolution of the cell phone from simply a mobile phone to a multimedia device, the tendency of using Internet connections to find dates has become even more pronounced. Three types of dating that have grown in popularity in the 2000s are online dating, mobile dating, and virtual dating.

Online dating is fairly straightforward. There are many dating sites, some of which are free, and some of which charge fees. Some are for casual daters, and some are for people looking for a potential spouse. Typically the way they work is that a person interested in meeting someone new creates an account on a particular dating site. This usually involves entering some personal information, uploading a picture, and describing a desirable potential partner.

Online dating sites have different methods of connecting people online. Usually, members can browse other members’ profiles, or conduct a search based on age, gender, or geographical region. Members may contact other members by sending them a message, or a “wink.” The allure of online dating is the sheer volume of potential dates. For people who don’t mind traveling, even geography becomes a secondary consideration.

Mobile dating is believed to be “the next big thing” in the dating universe. People looking to meet others create a brief profile on their phone. They can search for other profiles online, or by phoning the mobile dating service’s number. Often these sites are free, only paying the text message fees imposed by the mobile phone provider. For mobile dating members who live in the same community, it is even possible to be notified if someone they’ve expressed interest in is in the near vicinity.

Virtual dating is more of a game than Internet dating and mobile dating. There are a number of sites on which people set up personal accounts, and then create an avatar, or an online animated version of themselves to interact with other avatars on the site. Both sides have to agree to reveal their real identities if they want to take their relationship beyond the virtual stage.

Dating has changed dramatically in the past few years, and it is likely that over the next decade it will change in a way most of us haven’t imagined yet. The great benefit of Internet and mobile technology is the vast number of people who can be connected regardless of where they live. It has given shy people a way to shine, and brought together loving couples who might never have met otherwise.

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It is true that as you get older, the population of single people may diminish. And, by older, I just mean older than the largest age group of singles who are looking for love, which are people in their early twenties.

But, one of the biggest reasons people don’t find love is that they don’t make time for it. You see, as we mature, we make a life for ourselves, which is good. It’s not a good idea to put off doing the things you want to do because you’re waiting for the right mate to come along. However, when we make too good a life for ourselves we may be reducing our chances of finding that mate.

If your life is filled to the brim with work, friends and family, you may be preventing yourself from finding a mate. If you can’t find time to search, how will you make time for the right person when he or she comes along?

We have to strike a balance between having a fulfilled life as a single person and devoting time to finding a mate. The right guy or gal is not going to knock on your front door tonight (or any other night) while you’re watching television. Once you’ve exhausted the obvious avenues for meeting singles, like work, friends of friends and social clubs, it can be very tempting to say that there’s just no one out there.

Remember, however, that you’re out there. So, certainly there are others like you. It just might be a little harder now to find them.

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As an eternal optimist when it comes to love; I do believe that spring opens up some new possibilities on the dating front. As the weather warms, so do our spirits. We may be a bit more adventurous when it comes to approaching someone. Or, we may simply look happy to be alive on those first warm sunny days in spring; which may make others more likely to approach us.

Warmer weather also brings with it some great possibilities for dates that don’t exist during the winter. Picnics in the park, strolls along the water, and outdoor sports offer fun options that can make dating in the spring more fun.

So, sport your new glow proudly, bare your arms and legs and put on your sunniest spring smile. Right now, the warm days don’t come all that often, so you must take advantage of them when they do. But, soon, we’ll see lots of blooming flowers to brighten our moods, and, hopefully, there will be lots of love in bloom, too.

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This is a great time of year for speed dating events, many of which will likely be held in a warm coffee shop. And, even if you don’t meet anyone special, these can be a great way to get yourself out of the house when you normally wouldn’t.

This is also a great time of year to enjoy less expensive dates, too, like cooking a pot of chili at home and watching a movie or just sitting in front of a cozy fire. Plenty of time to talk and get to know each other can be a good thing when you’ve found someone you think might really be a good match.

So, don’t get the winter blues about your dating life. Enjoy the down time to talk and figure out the new match in your life. Spring will be here soon, along with plenty of opportunities to get outside. Just be sure that by the time the weather warms, you’ve done your best to see that your heart is warmed to someone who’ll enjoy the spring flowers with you.

Related posts

• February 10, 2012 -- Love on a Budget: Four Valentine’s Day Ideas
• February 9, 2011 -- Valentine’s Day – Love it or Hate it?
• December 21, 2010 -- December Dating Ideas
• November 29, 2010 -- Great November Dates
• September 9, 2010 -- Inexpensive Date Ideas
• February 8, 2010 -- Battling The Winter Dating Blahs
• January 14, 2010 -- Things To Do In A Snowstorm

Don’t overdo it. Even if you think this person is “the one”, don’t plan some huge Valentine’s Day “thing” or buy a big gift. If the other person isn’t on the “same page”, he or she might go running for the hills.

Talk about it. If you’re both reasonable people, you’re both probably feeling the same uneasiness about the holiday. If you talk about it, and come to some agreement on how to handle it, you’ll get some good insight into how well the two of you can communicate honestly.

Make it fun. If you decide to remember the occasion in some way with your new interest; keep it light and fun. A box of chocolates, a rose or a stuffed animal is a great gift for a woman. For a man, try a six-pack of specialty beer or a good bottle of wine tied with a pretty red ribbon. They make Valentine’s Cards especially designed for someone you’ve just met, too.

Find a comfortable way to enjoy this Valentine’s Day that is lighthearted and doesn’t put pressure on either of you. It’s a great way to increase the chances you’ll still be together next year, when you can really celebrate!

Related posts

• February 10, 2012 -- Love on a Budget: Four Valentine’s Day Ideas
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In fact, in one study, just 9% of women and 2% of men reported ever finding a relationship in a bar. That pretty much says that it’s no better place to find a relationship than, say, going to church. In fact, going to church might be a better way, because you would, theoretically at least, immediately have your faith in common with someone you met at church. In a bar all you can count on having in common is alcohol.

Now, we’re not trying to discourage you from hitting happy hour Friday night with your friends after work. It’s a great way to relax, unwind and have some fun with your buddies. If you like to dance, going to a dance club is a great way to meet some new people or connect with your friends.

The important message here is to view going out to the bars and clubs for what it really is: a fun way to hang out with your friends. If you’re relying on the bar scene to help you meet your one true love, you’re likely to be very disappointed. And, to make matters worse, if you do make a match in a bar, it’s less likely to pan out than matches you make elsewhere because it’s typically based solely on looks and fueled by drinking.

So, look for some new ways to meet people. Take a class in something you’re interested in, like cooking, photography or a foreign language. Join a club or take up a sport. You’re more likely to meet someone you can really be compatible with – and you can save happy hour for your friends.

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