Tips

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of holiday season, where you're sure to be invited to parties, dinners and other festive events. It's a great time of year to meet people, so why not take advantage and try out some new flirting techniques (or maybe just brush up on some oldies but goodies)?

1. Positive attitude. People do pick up on body language and demeanor, so if you walk into a room angry, tired, or depressed it will show. This is not the way to attract a great guy or girl to you! Pick yourself up beforehand so you can walk into a party feeling like your best self---listen to your favorite music while getting ready, try out a new hairstyle, or buy a new lipstick to help put you in the mood to have fun.

2. Smile and make eye contact. This may seem like a no-brainer, but many people don't smile or make eye contact when they are talking to someone. If you want to flirt, this is the best way to get someone's attention. If you are across the room, making eye contact (without looking away) will send a signal to the guy you're interested in to come over and talk.

3. Laugh. Parties are great places for casual conversations and funny stories. If you have one, share it, and if he has one, don't be afraid to laugh or reply with witty banter. No need to go overboard, but this lets him know you're interested.

4. Don't be a wallflower. If your tendency is to stand by the punchbowl until someone approaches you, then be prepared to wait. Instead of being a wallflower, introduce yourself to new people and join in conversations. Circulating is the best way to network and increase your potential for meeting someone new.

5. Don't hover. If you're interested in someone and try to hang around him all evening, it tends to work against you. Keep a little mystery alive. Spend some time with him and move on. If he's interested, he will come back to you.

6. Have fun. Most importantly, don't take yourself or anyone else at the party too seriously. After all, you're all there to have fun. Enjoy your friends, relax, and have a good time with no expectations of meeting the perfect guy or girl. When you're having fun, you're attractive to others.

Many singles come away from a first date feeling excited, only to have the budding relationship fizzle before it even gets started. But what is really going on? Are you misinterpreting signals or body language? Does she know you find her attractive? Is she really interested in you?

If you want to pursue her, there are a few things to look for to gauge her interest. If you do feel a connection, the best practice is to pursue her and see what happens. Most women aren’t initiators when dating, so be honest and let her know how you feel. Following are some tips to help you figure out if the feeling is mutual.

1. Body language – if she holds her arms close or crosses them in front of her, leans back, or doesn’t make eye contact, chances are she is not interested. If she leans in, touches your hand or arm, or acts in an affectionate or playful manner, those are clear signals that she feels some chemistry.

2. She engages you in conversation - if a woman is interested, she asks you questions and responds to yours with thoughtful or flirtatious answers. If you find her responding to questions with a couple of words, or with a lack of interest, it’s probably time to move on.

3. Responsiveness – like men, women are very responsive to someone who they find attractive. If you find your texts and calls going unanswered, or your dates getting postponed, that’s a sign that she’s not interested. Don’t take it personally, but likely she is unwilling to be direct and let you know that she isn’t interested in pursuing a relationship. So, stop calling her and move on.

4. She asks you about the next date. If a woman ends a date with the question, “so, when can we see each other again?” she means it. Most women wouldn’t offer this right away if they weren’t genuinely interested, so by all means don’t wait to call her in a couple of days before scheduling your next date, do it now!

We're in the middle of the holiday season, and for many, it's a time of feeling more noticeably "single" when attending parties and family gatherings. For those who are looking for partnership, this can be rough. But being single over the holidays is far from a bad thing...in fact, there are many reasons to embrace your single status.

When it seems like grass is greener for those in relationships, remember there are many reasons to rejoice if you're spending this holiday without a significant other. Following are a few:

• You can travel/do whatever you want. Instead of being tied down to family obligations, you are flying solo, so that means more options! If you want to take a trip to Cancun and unwind, go for it! There are plenty of resources if you'd like to join a travel group for your dream trip.
• You can decorate how you want. If you don't feel like decorating a tree or lighting a menorah, there's no reason you should. If you'd rather go all-out and string lights all over your house, you have that option too.
• You can meet more people at parties. When you're single, you automatically attract more interest and attention at parties where other singles are in attendance. Since the holiday season is a time for parties, you can put yourself out there, have more fun, and expand your network. Go ahead and flirt.
• You don't have to choose who to be with. When you have a partner, you usually end up splitting time with families over the holidays, or having to choose. This can create added travel expense and a drain on your time. Instead, you can be with your family if you choose, and travel wherever and whenever you want.
• No in-laws. If you are in a relationship, chances are you have to spend time with your significant other's family. If you don't get along well or you're meeting them for the first time, this could make the holidays incredibly stressful.
• New Years Eve! What's more fun than party-hopping on New Years' Eve? It's a chance to hang out with your friends and have fun. The best part? Most singles are out, so it's a chance to meet people who you wouldn't normally run into at other times of the year. When it comes to dating, taking a few chances and putting yourself out there could reap unexpected benefits.

Many singles dread this time of year. Thanksgiving weekend marks the beginning of the holiday season, filled with parties, dinners, and a lot of social interaction with friends and family, most of them wanting to know why you’re still single. While getting together can be fun, it also presents a lot of stress, especially when you are not satisfied with where you are in your dating life.

Following are some tips to help you get through, and have some fun in the process.

1. Attend parties! It may be a hard time to be single, but this is the best time of the year for socializing and meeting new people. For the record, the two weeks before Thanksgiving are the most popular weeks of the year for breaking up, which means new singles are on the market (just saying…). So instead of feeling depressed and isolated, recognize that there are a lot of people out there, so accept invitations and have fun. (I met my husband at a New Years’ party I didn’t even want to attend!)

2. Make plans with single friends. Instead of spending all your time with family this holiday season, make plans in advance with single friends. Sometimes, we need a break from the stress of family get-togethers with others in the same situation. So make plans ahead of time so you are already scheduled out.

3. Don’t apologize for being single. Maybe you’re afraid Aunt Sally will corner you in the kitchen and ask you why your latest relationship didn’t pan out. Remember, you don’t have to engage when family members ask you personal questions about your love life if you aren’t comfortable or you think it will result in unwanted criticism. Instead of going into detail, answer in a sentence or two and then ask her questions about her life. Keep the focus off of you.

4. Pamper yourself. If you’ve wanted to get that massage or a new dress, now is the time to indulge. Pampering helps us feel good about ourselves, which reflects in our interactions with others. Put your best foot forward.

You’ve written emails back and forth and talked on the phone a few times. You’re feeling more excited about your first meeting with your new online love interest. How can you better prepare yourself for the big day?

Following are some tips to make sure you’re steady on your feet when you finally meet:

1. Don’t drag out the process. Instead of emailing and talking for hours on the phone prior to your first face-to-face encounter, keep it short and simple! Our expectations are built up when we prolong the first meeting, so it can be much more of a let-down if the connection isn’t as great as it seemed over the Internet. Instead, send a couple of emails and then ask to meet for a quick cup of coffee.

2. Dress to impress. I can’t tell you how many men I dated felt it was appropriate to show up to our first date in board shorts and flip flops. Also ladies, there’s no need to let your cleavage hang out or wear short shorts. If you want to make a good first impression, dress up a little and leave something to the imagination!

3. Keep the date short. Even if you feel this could be the one, keep the first date limited to coffee or a drink. Remember, if it’s good, you’ll leave him wanting more, and if it’s bad, you can beg out early.

4. Calm your nerves. You may be nervous, but remember, this is only a first date! Instead of trying too hard, keep your approach light and try not to stress about the future, what he thinks, or anything else. Be in the moment.

5. Don’t scrutinize. If you have your checklist of what you want at the ready, you will likely not have a good time on the date. You’ll be too busy analyzing his actions, and likely be quick to judge before you really get to know him.

6. Be honest. If you’re not into him, let him know before too much time goes by. Even if it’s hurtful at first, most people appreciate knowing there’s no chance for a relationship than wondering what happened.

Though many of us are familiar with online dating, every once in a while it's good to approach it with a new perspective. The most important aspect of the process is your introduction, or your profile. Many people don't understand its importance, but it is the gateway to attracting the right person to you. The best strategy I've found is keeping your profile current, logging in regularly, and responding quickly to emails and communications.

We all get discouraged sometimes, but it is possible to enjoy the process and have an easier time while online dating. Here are some basic do's and don'ts to help make your online search as fruitful as possible:

DO: have a friend or two read your profile and give suggestions. Be open to their comments, because they want to see you happy and can give you perspective on how others may perceive you.

DO: find a single friend to join you in your online dating search. It's much more fun to share stories and compare notes with people, as well as getting some encouragement to "get out there" and date.

DO: change your profile pictures on a regular basis. Like your Facebook photos, profile pictures are important and should stay current. Have a friend photograph you doing something interesting rather than just posing. Also, try to have a variety of shots, including a full body shot.

DO: use a profile name that expresses who you are. Instead of going for sexy (SexyGirl1 doesn't really appeal in any specific way), try associating your handle with something you like (LinaTravel or Luv2Cook for example).

DON'T: be intimidating. Men like to pursue and flirt. If you demand responses or state in your profile such warnings as "no drama" or "no cheaters", it sends the wrong message out (i.e. you are high maintenance or you have a lot of baggage). Be light, flirtatious, and discuss your interests. Ask questions and get to know him. Leave your past relationships behind.