Blessings From Home » Dating

2012 Best Free Dating Site

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:44:45 +0000

Finding a decent free dating site about a decade ago was an impossible task; they just didn’t exist. Plenty of Fish changed that playing field forever, and now there are more free dating sites popping up every day that I can keep track of.

We’re just at the last stretch of the 2012 Dating Readers’ Choice Awards, and I’d love to know what free dating site(s) you love. Last year OkCupid took the prize, with Plenty of Fish and Mingle2 in a tie for second. There’s no log in requirement anymore – just a quick form to fill out and a submit at the bottom, to nominate your favorite, free hangout to meet other singles online: 2012 Dating Readers’ Choice Awards.

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Best Overall Dating Site 2012

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:48:01 +0000

A few weeks have passed without much fanfare in the 2012 Dating Readers’ Choice awards. Nominations haven’t been pouring in like they did last year (likely because of the sign-in requirement to nominate) although you can now share your nominations via Twitter and Facebook. This time last year I had thousands of write-in nominations – and would love a similar number this year for the final voting period. Last year’s nominees for Best Overall Dating Site included eHarmony, Match.com, Mingle2, OkCupid, and Zoosk. This year, I’d love to see other well-known sites on that list, such as Plenty of Fish, JDate or Chemistry.com, or up-and-comers that have a lot to offer but don’t have a huge following, yet, such as HowAboutWe, easyflirt, or Engage.

Want to nominate a dating site that, you feel, offers the best overall experience for singles today? Feel free to comment on this post, or fill in this form: 2012 Best Overall Dating Site.

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Reader Asks For Some Senior Dating Help

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:44:50 +0000

Stuart is a 60-something single gay man who hasn’t dated in over 30 years, mostly because he’s been taking care of an ailing parent in a challenging situation. He’s eager to meet someone, and specifically wants to find a kindred soul that understands his unique situation – but he has no idea where to start, much less how to navigate the senior dating waters – which admittedly are very different from those we tread in during our 20s, 30s, and beyond.

Stuart would like suggestions on how to find someone as well as how to make time for a new relationship, and is eager to hear from other singles in similar life circumstances, especially those who identify as being gay or bisexual. I’ve got my own ideas for Stuart which I’ve posted (When Taking Care of an Ailing Parent, How Do You Date?), but I’d love to hear what you think.

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Couples Dating

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:44:36 +0000

Several websites have recently cropped up that cater to couples looking to meet other couples for friendship, according to The Times Argus and The Telegraph.

The concept is simple: couples wanting to meet other couples for social encounters (not adult dating or swinging, however – there are many sites that cater to that niche market already) can sign up, log in, and create a profile for the kind of couple they are looking for. Think of it as Friendster for couples, or as both of the websites mentioned above call it: couples dating.

I may have been single for a while, but I would never have thought of using a website when in a relationship to meet other couples for friendship, and was surprised to see how many already exist – although all of them are still building their user bases. Kupple already has more than 2500 couples listed, Couplets is offering free memberships to anyone who joins before the site hits 2500 members, Couplicity.com is offering a free six month membership to build its user base, and CouplesWorldWide.com offers free memberships to anyone who hosts a couples dating event in their community.

Do you think couples dating is the newest trend in social networking sites? And for those of you in a dating relationship, would you sign up at one of these couples dating sites to meet new people?

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How Long Do You Wait To Have Sex?

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:44:40 +0000

A handful of reader questions of late have focused on sex: when to have it, what frequency is normal, and what to do if one partner isn’t into it. Coupled with some recent research study findings that women are seeking more casual dating relationships, and

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Single Men: How To Be MANLY

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:45:28 +0000

Hi, guys! Looking around the web dating scene, particularly internationally, I notice that some of you tend to have some problems with this whole being-one-of-the-guys thing. No, it’s not your fault! We’ve had a couple of generations of declining marriage (more single parents, fewer dad role models), “political correctness” (and the people who mis-apply it), and “feminazis” (as opposed to true feminists). This tends to sap the testosterone out of the dating pool until we have a bunch of metrosexuals standing around complaining that they get friend-zoned all the time.

If that means you, here’s the emergency fathering in the art of manliness you should have had:

Never say “It’s too hard.” or “It’s not fair.” Say “I’ll handle it.” Guys are not sexy when they’re passively sitting there waiting for life to happen around them. What are you, a feather blowing in the breeze, or a charging bull who will take charge of their own destiny?

You don’t have to explain for yourself so much. Why did you go out for a walk alone last night? Because you’re a guy. Why do you insist on fixing your own brakes instead of turning the car over to the shop? Because you’re a guy. Why do you swear so much? Because you’re a guy. No, don’t even explain that part. Just be. And please stop announcing “I have to go to the bathroom” and then standing there like you’re waiting for somebody to give you permission to pee.

When you hit on a girl, make it clear. Not “Do you maybe want to hang out some time?” like you’re inviting your sister to your clubhouse. It’s “I enjoy being with you and I’d really like to take you out next weekend at 6 PM.” Wow! Decisive, confident, assured!

Challenge yourself. I don’t mean “challenge yourself” to finish the last eight levels of Call of Duty on nightmare difficulty, either. I mean take up new skills, seek a promotion at work, fix things, strike out for new horizons, climb a mountain. It’s not so much the sexist ideal of “be a hero for your damsel”, now it’s more about “quit being a mama’s boy still living in your parents basement who whines about everything.”

Read! I know, you’re reading this blog right now. But do you know when we poll women and ask “what’s the first thing you notice when you visit a guy’s place for the first time”, one of the top answers is “whether he has books on his shelf”? A guy who reads is someone with an opinion more relevant than “I dunno” and conversational topics beyond sports and video games. He’s someone who thinks and has ideas. Even just a couple of dime-store paperbacks tossed around for appearances’ sake is something.

The 2012 Dating Readers’ Choice Awards

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:44:47 +0000

For year two of the Dating Readers’ Choice Awards, I’d like to add a significant number of categories for you, the readers, to nominate and vote upon as being your favorites. These are the categories we started with last year, and with links to the respective nominees and winners:

During the nomination period, I had several dating site owners, readers and experts suggest other categories that I’d missed, and so I took note to add them to this year’s list. Therefore, the new categories for the Dating Readers’ Choice Awards, are:

Nominations open January 18th, 2012 for this year’s awards, so I’ll post the forms and final categories soon. Until then, what do you think, dear readers? Have I forgotten an important category in the dating world that needs adding? Are there too many categories?

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Being Alone During the Holidays

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 03:45:12 +0000

A few times in my life, I’ve had nothing to do for Christmas, or during the holiday season in general. Both of my parents passed away when I was young, and I’ve always felt self-conscious inviting myself over to a friends’ place for Christmas dinner. Throughout the years I’ve done various things to keep me busy, distracting myself from the thought of being alone:

Creating a tradition to share with a friend, which at the time was going to see an animated or kids movie in the theater on Christmas Day;
Volunteering at a soup kitchen or Meals on Wheels;
Watching sappy, romantic holiday movies; and/or
Inviting everyone I knew over for Christmas dinner.

Some years however, like this one, I’ve found myself grieving a loss and not feeling much like celebrating. Friends and family have kept me cheerful, and the Secret Santa exchanges I participated in this year warmed my heart. One gesture in particular from a group of my colleagues here at About.com made me feel more grateful, humble and thankful than I have in years, and I can’t thank them enough. It reminded me that people do care and want to help those struggling in any way they can.

So for those of you feeling alone this time of year and with whatever celebration you normally recognize, this post is for you. I’ve written an article about Being Alone During the Holidays in response to this feeling I’ve had since mid November-ish, and I hope it provides assistance and comfort to those who need it. For everyone else, I’d love it if you shared how you cope with being single, alone, or otherwise sad during the Christmas season, or how you’re currently struggling with it and how you plan on working through it.

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Finding Passion and Inspiration In Our Dating Lives

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:44:37 +0000

Last night, I went to see Prince. The ticket price was well over what I’ve ever paid for a concert in the past, and I was somewhat leery that I’d get my money’s worth. Once I arrived at the arena however, I had nothing to worry about. When I got to my seat I was both flabbergasted and overwhelmed: I was maybe a foot or two from the stage, at eye level of The Artist himself, and smack in front of the piano – right where a lot of the action took place. I was so close, I could hear him singing without the microphone at times, could see the sweat on his brow, and all of his facial expressions, little moments and other tidbits that folks sitting further away missed completely. I laughed, I cried, I sang and danced, and felt inspired, passionate, and alive. It was worth every penny.

So what does this have to do with this dating blog? For me, lots. I want to help create that sort of feeling, excitement, and passion in all of you, just like Prince did for me last night. And although I’ll never be a rock star, I’d like to think that what I write here helps people, makes their lives better, and helps us all to find, keep, maintain and nourish the kinds of relationships we all long for.

So I ask you, dear readers: What can I, or any dating blogger or expert for that matter, do create that kind of positive energy in your life, in your relationships, and in your heart?

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Christmas Music and Your Partner

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:45:31 +0000

There’s a lot of holiday-themed posts on my Facebook page of late, but none that grabbed my attention as much as one about Christmas music. Without breaking any confidences, the person posting stated they love this time of year and the happy feelings it engenders in many of us,but that if they had to listen to one more Christmas tune from their partner’s playlist, they’d go berserk.

What followed was a fun debate about what kinds of Christmas music was appropriate to share, and which tunes make us all cringe and wonder why we’re in a relationship with the person enjoying said music in the first place. Some folks bemoaned the Celine Deon, Jessica Simpson and Justin Bieber Christmas CDs, while others suggested trying the holiday editions of Annie Lennox, Rat Pack and Putumayo. While I don’t normally listen to Christmas music at all, I’m quite fond of Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas, or Boney M’s Christmas Album. For me, a tad odd, since these are both CDs that came out well before my time, and don’t fall within my normal music-listening spectrum.

What about you? Do you enjoy listening to the same holiday tunes as your partner, or do you cringe each time they load their playlist, CD player or start signing along to the radio?

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