We use the internet for absolutely everything, and with our lives becoming more and more busy it gets harder and harder to meet people, so why not opt for internet dating?
Internet dating allows you to be matched to people with similar interests, values and goals and who are most importantly looking for the same thing as you - a relationship!
What's great is you can meet people that you otherwise may have never met, from anywhere, you're not limited to people that live in your neighbourhood and go to the same places you go to.
You can slowly get to know the other person intellectually before meeting them in person, and you don't have to give away any personal information until you are ready to and comfortable with it. You can make a great first impression, with time think about what you will say in your messages, with the benefits of backspace and spell check on your side!
It's safe, you don't have to see anyone, and if you get any unwanted contact or don't want to talk to certain people any more you can easily block individuals from messaging you or even seeing your profile.
Photo: gideon_wright (Flickr)
Guy in a bar: "Excuse me, how much does a polar bear weigh?"
Girl in a bar: "I don't know"
Guy in a bar: "Enough to break the ice. Hi I'm..."
Ever happened to you? Here are some of our favourite and most effective for breaking the ice with someone that's caught your eye.
Compliment them.
It's simple, but effective. Focus on one thing you like about the way they look and pay them a simple but honest compliment.
Ask for advice.
Try not to seem too phoney, but asking a cute guy or girl at the bar if the drink they're having is any good before ordering yours is an easy way to start up a conversation. It works the other way around too, offer advice to a cutie who's struggling to choose what to eat, drink, buy, whatever!
Send over a drink.
If you see someone you like, or a group that you and your friends want to get chatting to, sending over a round a drinks can work a treat, it's only good manners for them to come over and thank you and you can take it from there.
Go with the cheese.
Sometimes using the cheesiest line in the book works, it shows you've got guts and will make them laugh if they've got any sense of humour, then you can offer to buy them a drink to make up for it.
Photos: missmareck / colonnade (Flickr)
So you've got a hot date and want to be prepared, great! What you don't want to do is worry, over-prepare or flat out ruin it before you've even got there. So to help you, here are our top five things you should not do before a date.
1. Stalk. Don't go creeping through their Facebook, wait until you see them to find out what they're all about.
2. Do something new. Wear a trusted outfit you look good in, do your hair the way it suits you and wear the make-up that makes you most confident. Leave your experimenting for other days.
3. Skip lunch so you feel skinnier. Your stomach will seek revenge by gargling and grumbling as soon as you are in the quiet company of your date, you can count on it.
4. Have a drink for Dutch courage. Bad idea, bad, bad idea. It's easy to over-do it and end up a little tipsy which will look very weird to your date, and booze breath is a massive turn off.
5. Call your date and check that they're coming. We know, being stood up is horrible, but don't be needy and ask for reassurance.
When you're loved up with a new partner, it's easy to think you're falling for them. But are you? Here are 15 signs that you might be in love!
1. You've thrown away your old relationship souvenirs
2. You don't care about your ex's love life, or your ex at all!
3. You're not interested in your former crush
4. You’re more adventurous in the bedroom
5. You don't care about physical imperfections
6. You open up about your future plans, hoping they'll be a part of them
7. You’re happy to go to their family's events
8. You show them off
9. You’re happy doing nothing together
10. You moan to them about what's bothering you - work, friends, whatever!
11. You aren’t afraid to get into an argument with them
12. But you hate arguing with them
13. You care more about their happiness than your own
14. You don't mind changing your money habits for them
15. You let them see your true self