Tips

You really like a woman you met through an online dating site, and you want to impress her. But making a plan has never exactly been your strong suit. You prefer hanging out with your friends at the same local bar, which is fine, but probably not something you want to do with a date.

Instead of stressing out and asking people for advice on where to go or what to do, it's time to do a little homework yourself - with help from your smartphone.

We're all attached to our phones these days, which gives us instant access to news, reviews of the places around us, and ideas for what to do. So it's time to make your phone work for your dating life, too.

Following are some tips for how to use your phone to create a dating advantage. (But remember to put it away when you're actually on the date...)

Read reviews. Yelp can be your best friend if you're trying to pick out a restaurant to meet. So can sites like CitySearch.com. Look for restaurants that have many reviews as opposed to just one or two so you get a better overall opinion base. Also, you can see what to expect as far as ambiance and pricing by the descriptions - it's better to go with someplace on the quiet side so you can hear each other talk.

Utilize apps. Do you download apps all the time, or are you loyal to just a few? It will help your dating life to branch out. There are apps for everything - Cor.kz will help you choose what wine goes best with your dinner, Waze can help you navigate through bad traffic so that you're not late for your date, The HappyCow VeginOut Guide tells you which restaurants offer vegan or gluten-free options for your date with dietary restrictions. And if the date isn't going so well? eHarmony's Bad Date Rescue will make a fake emergency call to your cell phone to help you get out of it. (You can even specify the time in advance, and what the emergency will be, just in case.) If you have a question, likely you can find an app to help.

Keep up with the news. I don't recommend delving into politics on a first date, but it is good to be familiar with the headline news so that she knows you pay attention to the world around you. An app like Pulse aggregates headlines and lets you scan the stories you find most interesting.

Do your homework. There's no excuse for not knowing a little something about your date before you meet her. In addition to reading her online profile, do a Google search. You might be surprised to find that she has a blog or that she's won some awards for her sculpture art, or that she's training for a marathon. These can be conversation starters if you find it difficult to get started.

If you're dating this holiday season, don't rely on the same old places to meet - like bars or coffee shops. There are so many seasonal places and activities to enjoy, so take advantage. It's a great time of year to not only date, but to do some of the things you enjoy and get into the holiday spirit.

While many of you might not celebrate Christmas, there are plenty of options regardless. Take a look at some of these date ideas and see if you get inspired. If you want dating to be fun, it's good to use a little creativity and mix things up!

Outdoor ice skating. This activity is not just for people living near frozen ponds anymore! I live in southern California, and I've found that pop-up ice rinks are the latest craze in the warmer climates. Check your local areas for where they might be - usually in parking lots that aren't being used. I love going at night when the crowd is a little older and the stars are out - it's also a great precursor to grabbing a warm drink at a nearby bar.

Tour decorated neighborhoods. Who doesn't like to see holiday lights on houses? Pick a neighborhood and go for a walk or drive. Some streets go all-out and post their celebrations in the paper, so check your local listings. There's nothing to put you in a holiday mood like a stroll in the cool air along a lit-up street.

Fondue and s'mores. If you're sick of the usual restaurants you frequent with your new love interest, try staying home instead. There's nothing like roasting marshmallows in front of a fireplace, or crafting a chocolate or cheese fondue for dipping strawberries, biscotti, vegetables, or bread. Put on a movie and your night is complete.

Holiday shopping with a twist. While you might not tolerate the crowds when you're by yourself, going with a date could make the whole experience better. Do you have a hard time choosing gifts for friends and family, or maybe you don't know where to look? Going with your date could turn it into an adventure. Don't choose a standard mall - instead, pick a quirky street with eclectic shops, or go to an outdoor market, like a farmer's market. You can find bargains at second-hand stores and art galleries, too - items you'd never thought of. It will spark your creativity. Plus, you can check it off your holiday to do list.

Happy holiday dating!

We've all done a few things in our personal lives that we might regret later. This is especially true at parties where we might be drinking and flirting with that guy or girl we just met, and maybe hooking up.

But when it comes to work parties, there's a special kind of embarrassment that can follow you around if you decide to let your personal inclinations run wild. Your behavior might result in a little office gossip, but it could also affect your chances for a promotion or your career trajectory, especially if there are clients or bosses present who could really make things difficult for you in the long run.

With that in mind, following are a few things you can do to have a good time at your office holiday party, but still keep your reputation in tact.

Don't drink too much. This might seem like a no-brainer, but many people don't realize how much they've been drinking because they get nervous, especially at social functions with work colleagues. So limit yourself even more than you would normally - to only one or two drinks, or don't drink at all. You'd rather be alert if your boss approaches you to talk about things, work-related or not. Also, you can make better decisions about how to behave when your head is clear.

Think about your office environment. Some workplaces are more laid-back than others (like an Internet start-up versus a government office). Just be aware of how you usually interact with your work colleagues, and keep the interaction at a party similar. In other words, don't approach that woman you've never talked to before and start asking her personal questions. And if your office is more formal, then don't assume a party will make everyone less tight-lipped. Just follow typical protocol. Keep it light and respectful.

Rethink using social media. If you want a normal group shot of your co-workers at the party and they agree to it that's fine, but don't take an embarrassing snapshot of a colleague and post it to Twitter or Facebook. This is not funny and makes you look bad.

Don't hook up at the party. If someone sees you making out with Joe from shipping while you're by the punch bowl, it will be the subject of office gossip come the next morning. Keep your attractions to yourself. If you want to go out with a work colleague, do it after you leave the party. (As long as it's not against company policy and it's not your boss!)

Thank your boss and/or the party host. It's good to show your appreciation and good manners. Your boss will remember, so make the rounds and initiate a conversation. Thank him or her for the party.

Have fun!

The holidays can be a stressful time of year, especially for navigating romantic relationships. If you're single, you wonder how to meet someone new. If you've just started dating someone, maybe you're debating whether or not to ask him to your office party or a friend's holiday gathering.

There are no right or wrong answers, but it's a good idea to take a deep breath and concentrate on enjoying yourself this season. After all, the holidays are a time for us to express gratitude, do kind things for others, and indulge in a little holiday eating. The stress is something we put on ourselves, but recognize that you don't have to. Follow these simple steps for dating during the holidays:

If you're single:

Go out. Accept those invitations to parties, office happy hours, and family gatherings. Even though time is short and we often feel stretched, it's a good idea to make time to cultivate relationships, especially this time of year. Don't put pressure on yourself to find someone special, just meet people, circulate, and have some fun. Open yourself up to new experiences.

Ignore the nay-sayers. There will be friends and family members who ask you about your love life, but you don't have to make excuses or go into detail about why you broke up with your last boyfriend or why you're still single. Instead, if you'd rather not talk about you, change the subject to focus on them, what they're up to - and don't feel pressured to answer their questions. If they keep pushing, feel free to excuse yourself and walk away.

If you just started dating:

Parties aren't mandatory. That is, don't feel compelled to ask your new love interest to go to your office party or to your Aunt Jenny's Christmas brunch just because you're dating. Taking a date could bring up all sorts of uncomfortable questions or make Aunt Jenny think it's more serious than it is. There's plenty of time to introduce him to your family and co-workers after the holidays at your own pace. Don't feel bad if he doesn't invite you to his work party, either. Both of you are allowed to do your own thing.

Gifting isn't required. It's a good idea to talk about gifts before the holidays, and whether or not you want to exchange them. There's no need to put pressure on yourselves and the relationship if you've just started dating, so I say refrain and wait on giving gifts until you've been dating longer. If you're really excited to get him something, don't do it with the expectation that he will give you a gift in return - unless you talk about it first.

Most importantly, enjoy yourself and the festivities of the season. Happy holidays!

Many of us are addicted to Facebook - or at least we try and check it a couple of times a day. And while it's a great tool to connect people virtually, it can wreak havoc on your heart after a break-up.

Instead of using Facebook as a weapon or retreating from your online life altogether to lick your wounds, there are some basic guidelines to help you navigate your social media world to avoid confrontation, unhappiness, and just general bad blood between you and your ex. (Pay special attention if you're in the middle of divorce - your Facebook status updates and comments can be used in court.)

Avoid these mistakes when you're posting and commenting on FB.

Watch those party pictures. Don't post photos of yourself out partying with other girls if you just broke up with your girlfriend. Even if she dumped you for another man. Allow some time and distance first, and don't do it in retaliation. You'll thank yourself once the anger passes. You don't want to come off looking desperate and jealous.

Avoid posting on his/her wall. There's no need to get snarky with comments or blow off steam by posting a rant on your ex's wall. Even if you need to get something off your chest, don't do it in a public forum where your words could be easily misconstrued (as those of a crazy ex). Instead, talk in person or over the phone if you need to air out your grievances. Don't do it over Facebook.

Don't stalk. While it's tempting to see what your ex up to every minute, refrain from looking at his Facebook page. You don't need to question who all of his new female friends are, or see what he did last night. This will keep you stuck in the past, dwelling on him and what might have been. If you can't help looking and have to de-friend him, then do it.

Your wall isn't a blog. Avoid writing all the gory details about your break-up for all to see. They don't want to know all of the circumstances leading up to it, and once it's out there, it's hard to erase. Err on the side of caution and use restraint.

Don't involve your FB friends. They don't belong in the middle of the fight you might be having with your ex. They aren't social media referees. Instead of engaging them in a three-way conversation with your ex, keep it classy. If you want to vent to a friend, that's fine, but take it offline.

Have you tried to use this social network as a dating tool? To find out how you should read our Facebook review.

We all have little voices in our heads from time to time, telling us what we're doing wrong or if we should be doing one thing instead of another. Many times, this little voice prevents us from taking chances. And the voice only gets louder when we date.

The problem is, life is about taking risks, and that's especially true when it comes to relationships. You're trusting your emotions with someone else, which requires vulnerability - that's no small thing.

But the little voice in your head may want to talk you out of feeling hopeful, or thinking that you'll meet the right person. Maybe it tells you that you'll never find a lasting relationship, or that online dating is pointless because you haven't yet met someone special. Does this mean that the voice is right?

Hardly. But we have to learn when to pay attention and when to shut it off. Most of the time, these negative thoughts aren't true - and they can steer you in the wrong direction. Too much negative thinking can impact your relationships and life in general.

Following are some dating myths you might tell yourself, and why you shouldn't:

Myth #1 - There are no good men/women out there. More than 50% of U.S. adults are single, so there are plenty of good men and women out there. Of course the majority aren't going to click with you on an intimate level, but does that mean you should discount everyone? Of course not! Keep an open mind and sense of adventure.

Myth #2 - It's too late - I'll never find anyone. Again, not true. People of all ages find real love. It requires patience, vulnerability, and being willing to take risks - no matter where you are in life.

Myth #3 - I'm a failure at relationships. Just because you've had a few unsuccessful dates or boyfriends doesn't mean you're a failure. It's a challenging process to not only find someone special, but prepare yourself to partner with someone else. So give yourself a break - every relationship gives you better perspective for the future.

Myth #4 - I'm not successful/pretty/thin enough to find someone. Everyone has different tastes, so don't assume you know what someone else's are before you've even met. Also, don't judge yourself by only one aspect you might see as a shortfall. You are a whole package, so make a list of all of your good qualities if you have to!

Myth #5 - If I keep dating, it's more of the same. Again, this is negative thinking. Instead of getting stuck with this voice in your head, expand your dating opportunities. Accept invitation to parties where you don't know many people, strike up a conversation with a stranger at a coffee shop, take more risks. Then it won't be the same old, same old.