Dating

With the holidays just around the corner, it is not uncommon to start thinking about that dreaded question: what kind of gift should I get for my new boyfriend or girlfriend? Well, never fret! There’s the perfect gift solution for those couples who are “newly dating.”

You should never feel pressured to spend outside your means when it comes to the holidays. This is especially true if you’re been with your partner less than six months. If your partner is with you for material reasons, best to find another partner now and buy yourself something cool than waste any more time on someone more interested in your bottom line than you.

When you’re “newly dating,” that’s not the time for expensive electronics or pricey jewelry. It is, however, a great time for you to let your partner know that you value their place in your life and went to the effort of getting something that suited their personality. Skip the stuffed animals and Wii video game systems. It’s not Valentine’s Day and you’re not a bank.

Here are some perfect gift suggestions for all you “newly dating” folk that should get you through the holidays is style – and still in love!

The eHarmony Blog wrote a piece about how cooperation in the pursuit of love gives singles an edge in dating. The eHarmony post is based on research published in this month's Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (PSPB) which we talked about previously in October (see Story).

As mentioned in our previous post the research that the PSPB published shows women groups tend to cooperate to repel unsuitable mates. Whereas men tend to help each other to gain access to desirable women.

eHarmony did add a few interesting points. Apparently if you are a guy, your best wingman probably are a group of women. Information from a woman about a man is usually better received by another woman. What also is true is, if the guy is surrounded by women, this sends a signal to other women who may be interested in the guy that he is accepted and acceptable.

Further reading reveals that all of these strategies are usually used in the presence of friends, instead of family and strangers.

For more information on the popular dating site mentioned in this post, read our review of eHarmony.

British scientists think they have found a reason why some women prefer a more feminine featured man like Orlando Bloom when compared to a macho men like the current James Bond actor, Daniel Craig. Researchers found in a study that was published in the Trends in Ecology and Evolution medical journal, that women who are on the contraceptive pill (when hormones are chemically controlled) are less likely to seek out more rugged and muscular men. When women are ovulating and not on the birth control pill, they tend to prefer a more masculine man and one who shows dominance.

I wonder, if specifying if you are on the birth control pill should be an option in a dating profile? 😉

We first learned about the study to find which gender is pickier when it comes to dating in July (see Story). In an article from Live Science we learned a few more details about this speed dating study by Eli Finkel and Paul Eastwick of Northwestern University.

The studies participants were 350 college students who were divided into 15 speed dating events. Each student went on 4 minute speed dates with about 12 singles of the opposite sex. After each mini date, each student would rate:

• How much self confidence they felt.
• Romantic desire for the person on the date.
• The romantic chemistry that the participant felt existed between them.
• Would you like to see this person again?

After the data was compiled from the speed dating events, it was found that the daters who rotated around the room to each participant who was sitting, that they experienced greater romantic desire and chemistry. This means the people who went from person to person were less selective than the person sitting waiting for the next date in the rotation. The study further confirmed that this fact was true for both men and women. Finkel & Eastwick concluded that it was the act of approaching, or being approached by a person, which determined who was more likely to be more selective in determining a partner.

If speed dating is of interest to you, check out our Speed Dating Services category for all dating sites that offer online and off speed dating events near you.

When you’re a dating senior, it might be tough to find the gumption to get back on the horse and enjoy riding in the dating game. First dates were hard enough when you started dating way back when, but now? Forget it! With online dating and matchmaking services coming onto the scene, you are able to set up dates with people you’ve never met. It’s no longer about asking the pretty girl to dance or hoping the cute boy from the football team will ask you out. It’s learning when to do once you’ve both agreed to meet.

To save you the frustration of trying to figure out the first date, we’ve done it for you! You’re a senior with a litany of life experiences to share – wouldn’t you rather get on with the business of finding a partner than figuring out your dating destination? Here are eight great ideas for first dates for seniors, designed to get you out from in front of the computer and into the swing of things with someone new.

When you're a dating senior, it's likely that the kids are grown and have moved away from home. However, that doesn't mean the kids won't be curious when it comes to who that "special someone" is in your life! Deciding the right time to introduce your partner to your family is definitely worth some thought, as these are all people in your life who are important to you. You don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but you need to make decisions you feel are right for you, your family and your new partner. Here are some tips to help guide you through the introduction of "new friends" to your family.

Make it a Joint Decision. If you and your new partner both have families, try to make introductions a bi-lateral decision. While this can be hard when kids are grown with families of their own and possibly living in different states, a joint decision can sometimes take the pressure off one party. This also serves as a good "status check." If one of you is ready to introduce families and the other isn't, then take some time to explore where your relationship it at. After all, you spent a lifetime raising your family - sharing them is a big decision!

Family Introductions Should be Fun! Your family is a great source of pride and you have a lifetime together of quirks, memories, laughter and love. Why not make the day they meet your new partner just as fun? Whether it's a backyard barbeque for the Fourth of July or a group dinner at your favorite restaurant, try to take some of the pressure off by actually enjoying yourself! You love your family. You love your partner. Help them get to know one another and develop their relationship by adding a little levity to the situation.

Have a Family "Cram Session." Just like you did before math test, why not set some time for you and your partner to sit down and do some studying of your own? Grab a bottle of wine or pack a picnic basket and make a date of going through family photo albums. Share your favorite memories of your kids so neither of you will go in blind. This will help establish a sense of familiarity before the big "meet my partner/meet my family" day and show your partner a side of you he or she has never seen before.