Advice for Women

When I first started reading this Los Angeles Times story about a new dating reality show featuring plus-sized contestants, I was pleased. I liked this. I liked the pictures they showed of plus-sized yet attractive people. I liked the way the bachelor, Luke Conley, was portrayed. The producers posted a Craigslist ad searching for a full-figured girl, and Conley responded with “Sugar, look no further. I am the man for you!”

Cute, right?

But as soon as the cameras started rolling, things got ugly. In one sequence, Conley actually makes out with five women, one right after another, at a spa.

Gross.

I know this is “reality TV” and everything’s about ratings … I just wish they didn’t keep coming up with shows that seem to imply that all men are pigs and all women are desperate.

July 26 is Savvy Auntie’s Day, a day of celebration for professional aunts.

Too often, single women who are aunts are overlooked. Last year, Melanie Notkin filled that void with SavvyAuntie.com, an interactive website and online community for aunts.

Are you a PANK (Professional Aunt With No Kids)? Are you the favorite, crazy aunt to your brother or sister’s kids? Head on over to SavvyAuntie to connect with other aunts, get advice on being an aunt and celebrate with other women like you.

As a woman with two adorable nephews, I’m pleased there is now a special day for aunts. There’s Mother’s Day and Father’s Day–why not Savvy Auntie’s Day, too?

Here are some tips on how to celebrate your special day:

• Get ice cream for your nephews and nieces, and take pictures of it dribbling down everyone’s faces in the July sun.
• Take the kids out of the heat and into a kids’ movie.
• Invite your other single girlfriends who are aunts, and have a girls’ night out. Exchange cool auntie gifts. 

Robert Redford is taken.

Reuters has reported that the 72-year-old actor and director has married his longtime girlfriend, Sibylle Szaggars.

I love this story for a few reasons. One, it shows that even 51-year-old women can get married. (Yes, she’s a refreshing 51, not 21!)  Two, it shows that eventually men will settle down. Three, the woman Redford married is not a famous actress; she’s beautiful for sure, but she also looks quite normal. Which is an inspiration to the rest of us.

What does this teach single women?

Be patient.

I’m quite certain Ms. Szaggars did not spend the last 10 years of her life nagging her boyfriend to marry her, pitching fits when he said he wasn’t ready, nor storming out of the room after tantrums about how he doesn’t love her enough.

Just a thought.

A news report today from MSNBC has an interesting story on how to avoid breaking the bank when you’re online dating.

The best way, I think, is to be very realistic when you start a subscription to either an online dating service or a matchmaking service. Never pay more than you can afford, for example. And realize that some people wait a year or more to find someone special on these sites.

Online dating services do work well for a great many people. But there are so many variables involved. Go into all dating services with an open mind, and watch out for scams by checking all companies at the Better Business Bureau site before making a decision.

Another thing to keep in mind while dating online is that one service may work better for you than another. That’s why there’s so many options out there.

Who the hell is Bradley Cooper?

He’s a B-list actor who recently appeared in “He’s Just Not that Into You” (required viewing for all single women).

Apparantly, some of the gossip mags pegged him and Jennifer Aniston as an item. Instead of doing the gentlemanly thing, which would be to say “No comment,” this jerk actually denied it, vehemently. According to People, he said, “I only met her 3 times in my life.” He went on to blab “she’s just a friend.”

This is a whopper of a lie. There’s no way that he met her “just” 3 times if he worked on a movie with her.  

Is dating Jennifer Aniston that repulsive to him that he felt the need to completely deny he even KNEW her? What is going on in the world?

And who the hell does this guy think he is?

Would you take dating advice from Ashton Kutcher or Justin Timberlake?

The celebrity whores over at Glamour magazine are offering dating tips from these two men this month. Justin Timberlake’s dating do’s and don’ts include not dressing too trendy, while Ashton advises women to stay away from players.

I don’t much care for Timberlake and his many women, but I actually am a fan of Kutcher because I respect men who marry the women they love.

There’s a new article over at CollegeNews about why men cheat. Actually, it’s about the excuses men give when asked why they cheat. Typical responses from men include “You’ve let yourself go,” and “I’m sick of your nagging.”

I’m not sure there’s anything that a woman can do to prevent her man from cheating. Look at Jennifer Aniston. Even she couldn’t stop her husband from cheating on her. So what hope is there for the regular gals?

I don’t believe that all men cheat. But I do believe that some men are not hardwired to stay monogamous. I also don’t believe that every cheater is doing it because of a deeper reason (like problems in the relationship). There are probably men who cheat even when nothing is wrong, even when they completely love their wives.

Research does show, however, that when men cheat, it’s usually not about the sex, and they feel like something is missing from their primary relationship. They may even cheat with a woman who’s significantly less attractive than their girlfriend or wife. Men who cheat seem to do so because they’re feeling under-loved or unappreciated. Check out Oprah’s article based on research done by marriage counselor M. Gary Neuman. According to him, men cheat because they feel insecure in their relationships.

Recently, I’ve been looking at some of the dating forums out there, and a question that keeps coming up is: Why hasn’t he called?

I’m here to give you the cold, hard truth. The reason why he hasn’t called is because he doesn’t want to talk to you.

I’m really sorry to be so harsh. But let’s face it: If you’re asking why he hasn’t called, chances are, you know the answer already.

I’m a big believer in the fact that all answers can be found within ourselves. The problem is, we don’t want to face the truth. This is natural; the truth is often painful.

If you’re standing by the phone right now, getting a friend to call you to make sure your phone is working, staring at the phone, willing the phone to ring, do yourself a favor and get out of the house right now. Go for a walk or a run. Go to the movies. No man is worth wasting your time over.

Just found an awesome site that’s offering a free ebook: 101 Romantic Ideas. Aimed at men, the ebook gives super cute tips on making your loved one feel special. Follow the author at @romanticdate on Twitter for more date ideas for men.