Top 3 Pre-Date Primping Rituals,4 Ways to Exit a Relationship
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Top 3 Pre-Date Primping Rituals By Dana B. Myers Ten years ago, I met my husband on Match.com. I was on my Husband Safari, ready to meet him whether it took three months or three years. I was simply committed to theprocess . If you’ve ever done it, you know that the dot-com-dating experience can be exciting, daunting, thrilling, annoying and exasperating. It can boost your ego or leave you totally deflated. As I made my way through the online dating numbers game, I felt all of that and more. But one thing I hadn’t expected was how much time and effort the whole Husband Safari would take – specifically, the time it took to get ready for all of those first dates that went nowhere. Fergie and J.Lo may have teams of stylists to craft their every look, but as a mere mortal, it was just me and my make-up brushes left with the task. Of course, beautifying oneself to attract positive attention from others is a basic human behavior. It wasn’t as if I was going to show up with a bare face and a bad attitude. So, instead of begrudging the effort it took to prep for dates, I chose to create seductive beauty and body rituals. Related Link: What to Wear on a First Date These sexy, simple pre-date rituals became one of the most powerful tools I had for shining up my inner sexy self- confidence. And you know what they say, right? Confidence in a woman is sexy. Related Link: Why Amazing Confident Women Remain Single Below are three of my best pre-date, primping rituals. They’ll give you a chance to flirt with yourself, meditate on what you truly want from a mate, and also have some fun. Check it out: 1. Compliment Your Curves: Choose a flirty chemise to wear while you do your make-up and hair. A chemise is a much more curve-flattering option than a bulky towel for the in-between time after your shower, before you dress for the evening. (Leighton Meester wore Stella McCartney’s sumptuous blue Clara Whispering Chemise on a recent Gossip Girl episode.) You’ll instantly feel flirtatious and more feminine. Admire your gorgeous self in the mirror — you’re irresistible! 2. Get Bedroom Eyes: With your brushes and shadows ready, prepare to create a soft and smoky look. Use pictures of Emma Stone and Keira Knightly as your eye-inspiration. As you apply the make-up, gaze into the mirror and imagine you’re looking into the eyes of a future partner. Lower your lids a bit, and tilt your head slightly up and down; raise a brow seductively, never breaking eye contact. 3. Say “Eau Yes!”: Choose an eau de parfum that matches your mood for the night — fresh, sultry, playful or mysterious. Then dab it on a few spots, like below your belly button, on your ankles, or on the inside of your elbows. Those less traditional spots will be your secret. The sense of smell can be very powerful when it comes to physical attraction, so use it to your best advantage. Take a page from Jennifer Love Hewitt, and choose a perfume infused with pheromones to elicit an intense reaction that your date will forever associate with you. Bonus Ritual: Affirmations When your sexy beauty rituals are complete, say a self-loving affirmation out loud to help make a solid connection to loving your beautiful self. It’s the ultimate self-confidence booster as you’re preparing for your date. Dana B. Myers is the author of The Mojo Makeover, which provides tips and tricks on beauty, love, sex and dating. She’s also a sexy lifestyle expert and the founder of Booty Parlor. 4 Ways to Exit a Relationship Gracefully By Dating Diva, Jennifer Oikle, Ph.D., for GalTime.com how to break up with your head held high You know it’s time to move on from your current relationship, but every time you think of it, you cringe. You hate to be the bearer of heartache, so you’ve been putting it off. But now things are getting worse: he knows something’s up, the irritations are piling up, or the energy is draining you. Bottom line? You’ve got to woman up and get the job done so you can both move on with your lives. But not just any break up will do. How you call it quits is important. It can either be so ugly that it makes it hard to move on or, if done elegantly, it can be a useful springboard to your next relationship. Thankfully, there are some savvy exit strategies which will ensure that both you and your new ex are able to transition as smoothly as possible from one romance to the next. EXIT STEP 1: CHANGE YOUR VIEWPOINT As long as you think about breaking up as breaking his heart, it’s hard to take the plunge. But the truth is, if you aren’t the right match, then splitting now is the biggest gift you could possibly give him and yourself. Because then you’ll both be free to pursue the right relationship that can last. So take a moment to adopt a new mindset and go into the next steps knowing you are giving him the most precious gift possible: his freedom to be loved. EXIT STEP 2: GIVE A HEADS-UP Nothing, and I do mean nothing, is worse than being blind- sided by a breakup. When it seems like a breakup comes out of the blue, it’s truly traumatic. People hate to feel out of control, like something is being done to them, rather than participating in a decision. So never let The Conversation be the first time you’ve talked about going your separate ways. When things start to get hairy, be sure you bring it up clearly, and attempt to problem solve. Then, if the problems aren’t resolving, it won’t be a surprise to anyone, and emotional preparations will have paved the way to separate. EXIT STEP 3: HAVE THE CONVERSATION, GRATITUDE-STYLE These days, it’s so easy for people to wuss out and break-up the weenie way: via email, text, or voice message. You don’t want to be that person. Value yourself and your new ex enough to end it, face to face. But not with just any sad or angry conversation, you want to part ways with graceful gratitude. So prepare ahead of time by thinking of the things you appreciated about your partner, the lessons you learned, and the gifts you offered to each other. Then at a good time, sit down and be super clear about your decision to move on. Provide whatever level of detail your partner needs to understand the why’s. But do so in a gentle, kind way by sharing all of the things you are also thankful for during your time together. Invite your partner to share in a similar way, despite the pain or discomfort of the circumstance. EXIT STEP 4: MAKE A CLEAN BREAK Break ups have a way of being messy, on again-off again affairs, which only end up causing more pain. So once you’ve celebrated your relationship for what was good, and shared the reasons you no longer can be together, it’s time to agree to a No-Contact Period. In the weeks immediately following a break up, it’s really hard to move on if you keep touching base via email, text, or phone. It’s like pulling the scab off your wounds- they take longer to heal than if you just leave it alone. By agreeing to not connect with each other for a period of time, say 2 weeks to 2 months, you give each other the space to grieve, begin emotional separation, and let go to stand on your own two feet again. Be sure you agree on a time frame you can each live with, and if you both wish to remain friends, you can reconnect after that time. After your parting, give yourself time to heal and move on before dating again and you should be ready to start from a fresh, clean, positive place! What’s the BEST break-up you’ve ever had? Comment below. How to Handle the Morning After a One Night Stand By Daniela Agurcia You’re single, and you’re on the prowl with your friends on a Friday night out. You meet a hot potential one-night-stand at the bar, you find yourself having casual conversation and a drink that turns into laughter and some more drinks, and eventually you’re dancing with each other and saying, “Let’s get out of here.” Throughout this entire spontaneous and exciting night, you don’t tend to hold back, and maybe that’s exactly what you need at the time. With a flirtatious night that leads you back to their place, the last thing on your mind is how the next morning will be. In the moment, you find yourself feeling as if you’ve known this person for months while chatting, laughing, and dancing away with them, and then the next morning will most likely be soberly…awkward. Here are some ways to prepare yourself for the morning after a one night stand: Related Link: Single Celebrities We Want to See Hitched 1. Laugh it off: The best way to handle an awkward situation, like waking up next to someone you’ve only known for a couple of hours, is to just laugh it off.