Relationships

Want to take your dating practices to a new level? A green level? There's a lot of mention in the news as of late on green dating and now relationships have a new "eco-sexual" aspect. Maybe you're a recycling pro or opt for the bike before the car. Whatever your bent, there are ways to make your dating experiences green in a kiffy with these easy to follow tips and list of resources:

• Transportation: If you want to stay uber-eco, keep your dating green by choosing destinations along public transit routes. Subway, bus and light rail are all great ways to get around. Not only does shared transit help lessen your carbon footprint, it keeps you from those pesky DUI's if you and your date have had a little too much fun.
• Know Your (Geo) Limits: Ardent biker? You may want to limit your dating geography to those matches who live in a certain mile radius so you can bike to the one you like year-round. As an alternative, make arrangements with your date to explore dating destinations around your local area and if you need to make a hike to a destination further away, explore the option for public transit to get you there safe and sound.
• Cook Smart: Sharing cooking duties is a sexy way to spend an evening. Why not make it eco-sexual? Shop for goods at local farmer's markets, buy only in-season produce and cook in resilient cast iron cookware (your grandmother had it right with this awesome cooking tool!).
• Keep it Local: So many local businesses these days are going the extra mile and supporting other local businesses. Look for restaurants that use local produce, coffee shops that use fair trade beans, teas and local dairy, and stores that offer artwork and goods by local and fair trade-certified vendors.
• Water Smarts. Ditch bottled water and opt for his and hers reusable water bootles. Steel and the new BPA-free Nalgene bottles are great options! Fill them up and make them apart of every date day out on the town.

Congrats! You took the plunge and have indulged in some online dating. One site, maybe a couple...your social life is bumping. How do you keep the rhythm going even through the inevitable lulls that come along with holidays, vacations and the electronic online dating waiting game? Here are six tips to keep you busy and out in the open while you wait for your inbox to fill-up.

Local Meetup Clubs
Just do a web search for "meetup" and you'll be taken to one of the most popular sites people in numerous locales use to find other people just like them. Whether you're a cyclist or a knitter, there are folk out there just like you with regular events and gatherings.

Local Sports and Recreation Departments
Think that city sports are just for inner city kids? Well, they're for big kids, too! Tons of cities host intramural and recreational sports leagues through their recreation and parks divisions. A quick web search should get you on your way to everything from kickball to softball.

Volunteering
Your favorite charity and local zoo/museum - they can always use a helping hand. Not only can you get out to meet people who share your passions, you can spend time around things that you love the most!

Book Nooks
If you're a reader, why not indulge yourself with a tour of local bookstores? Try to visit two new destinations each week. Not only will you likely find some new places to hang, but it makes for a great story when you share it with your fellow bibliophiles.

Get Out
Take the dogs or just yourself and head outside. Whether you ski, hike, climb, bike, run or all of the above, doing what you love is a great way to pass the time and meet fellow enthusiasts. Keeping yourself moving while waiting for the inbox to fill is an ideal distraction and makes you feel better for the date that's just around the corner.

It's no secret that some people are not looking for love online but rather some sex. Hey, to each is own and I for one don't have a problem with it as long as everyone is upfront about what they want. If you're using online dating sites to look for sex then you are certainly not alone and are actually in great company! This means that finding a person-or several-who are looking for a little sumthin' naughty is definitely doable. You just have to do it right if you want to make the most of online dating sites and your quest for the nookie.

Say it Loud and Proud!

Don't be afraid to admit that you're not looking for romance or commitment. Being upfront about the fact that all you are looking for is a physical relationship is an absolute must. There is no shame in being honest about the fact that you are looking for something casual so don't feel like you need to sugar-coat or lie in order to find sex through online dating. Admitting that you're looking for a no-strings-attached (NSA) relationship doesn't make you a pig-lying does.

Choose the Right Site or Category

Most online dating sites do offer a category specific to those looking for a casual relationship or encounters while others are geared specifically to sex (adult dating sites). By choosing the right site or category when looking for sex through online dating you are saving yourself and others the time and hassle of having to weed through members who are looking for something completely different. This means less time spent explaining why you don't want a relationship and more time spent on finding exactly what you're looking for.

Play Safe!

When looking for sex online you need to remember to not let your hormones get the best of you so much that it impairs your better judgement or common sense! All of the same online dating safety rules apply whether it's sex or love you want; meet in a public place, don't share your personal information, take separate cars, tell someone where you will be, etc. And, you a also add to that safe sex. You need to always be prepared with condoms if you're heading out on a date with someone you're meeting using an adult dating site or the likes. That quick drink could easily turn into impromptu sex if the chemistry is right so be prepared just in case.

You've met that special person and now, you want to WOW them! But how do you create the perfect "romantic" date? Some days, matching your socks in the morning is a big step, so with a little help from the experts, even YOU can plan a romantic date with a great person.

Tip 1: Plan Lightly
You don't have to go overboard to have a romantic time with that special someone. Choose a few things you can do to make the event a special one and let the rest of the time flow freely. Nothing kills romance like a stiff schedule!

Tip 2: It's About THEM
You might have some ideas about what you consider to be romantic, but a romantic date is about YOUR DATE. Think about what they like and try to plan a date around their likes, preferences and favorites. Even if you're newly dating, you can ferret-out some clues with some simple questions.

Tip 3: Plan Ahead
While we're telling you to plan lightly, definitely plan ahead. If your ideal date night calls for rain and you were going to take a horse and carriage ride, give yourself a plan B. It's less stressful in the long run and even if you never need it, you'll have an idea for a future date already planned out!

Tip 4: Pack Light
Make those spontaneous picnic lunches highly portable. Keep the baggage to a minimum. You'd be surprised how lugging things around can put a damper on an otherwise cool date! If you want to share a gift, see if you can drop it by your date destination beforehand.

Tip 5: Smile!
No matter how the evening or date goes, you tried your best. While best laid plans can always go awry, you've got a pretty good chance to be seen as a rockstar in the eyes of your date. Don't get mad if things don't go exactly to plan - just go with the flow and smile. Smiles are contagious!

Today we live in a world that is increasingly about instant gratification. It's not a slam on any one generation; it's all of us. Have a question? Look it up on the internet. Out at dinner and not at the computer? Look it up on your phone. Feel like watching a movie? Watch it instantly from a website.

Some things, however, can't be rushed. Emotions and relationships are frustratingly archaic in their slow development. And that's something we need to remember when we embark on online dating.

One of the great benefits of online dating is that it's a time-saver; no longer do you have to hope you'll just run into someone who happens to share common interests and be attractive to boot. Fill out a few simple forms and voila! Dozens of potential matches, right at your fingertips. The decision-making begins immediately: rather than talk to every potential match, you can choose whether or not to even contact them. And for some, that decision is almost instant.

Then, however, you send off an email to someone you think is worth a closer look. The situation is now out of your hands: you have to wait for them to even see the email, then decide if they want to pursue a conversation. And a conversation isn't a guarantee that you'll get a friendship going.

You'd be surprised how many people get completely annoyed by the fact that making an online dating profile, even getting an email returned, doesn't guarantee an instant boyfriend or girlfriend. But I've gone through all the appropriate steps! they think. Let's get this show on the road!

This is a dangerous trap to fall into. If all you're looking for is the end result – a significant other – you'll not be fully invested in the relationship process; becoming friends, falling in love. And, ultimately, it will cost you. Any relationship where you're not fully engaged will fall apart, sooner or later.

So as you construct your dating profiles and begin your search, remember: you're looking for a starting point, a contact, nothing more. Perhaps you'll wind up with a significant other, a title, a status – but the journey is just as fun as the destination. Enjoy it.

Want a green date? No, not the color. The practice, silly! Green dating is making a huge upsurge in the online dating and dating scenes in general What's there to know about the green dating scene? We'll tell you!

As reported by USA Today, green dating is creating a significant influx into therapists offices nationwide as couples spat over eco-friendly matters. Wild salmon versus farmed, buying energy offsets or carbon footprint be damned, there are a plethora of eco-sexual issues facing today's couple.

If you're interested in meeting someone with the same eco-bent as you, you can visit green dating sites like EcoDater, Green Singles and Earth Wise Singles. Planet Green even has a green dating quiz you can take to find out if you're a Great Green Date. If you're of the eco-friendly bent, you can even get out and meet like-minded singles with groups like Green Drinks International and Meet Market Adventures. Nationwide groups like Meetup.com also offer a great way for the eco-sexual to get out and find someone who feeds their need for green. In a hurry? NPR offered a great story on speed green dating with their piece Finding Carbon-Neutral Love.

If relocation is in you future, don't forget to check out the top list of green cities. From recycling practices to air qualities, this list puts the nitty gritty out there for your green dating pleasure. Another cool tool for your next green date is the Green Restaurant Association - take your eco-sexy to a whole new level and wow your date so he or she is green with envy of your resourcefulness.

Bottom line? If your eco-sensitive ways are essential to your search for the perfect mate, there are a bevy of online resources to help you like green, date green and stay green once you've found that special someone!