The Show-Off
Do not use pictures of yourself standing next to your car, your bike, or your boat.  You may think you are advertising the goods, and this will lure in a mate, but really I promise you this just looks pathetic.

The Mysterious Arm
Do not crop out the person that you have your arm around.  This just leaves a mystery arm or mystery shoulder floating around your profile pictures, and leaves us questioning who you are hiding: is it your buddy your ashamed of? is it your ex? All these questions will be running through your potential dates’ heads, and rather than find out the answers, they will likely just “x” out of your profile.

The Microscopic
If your potential dates will need to whip out a magnifying glass to make out your picture, don’t post it.

The 5 Year Ago
Do not use an old picture where you look great, but nothing like you do today.  If you, including your body as well as your hair, do not look pretty much the same as they do now, you are guilty of this!

The Cute and Fluffy, but Not Human
Sure pets are cute, and we’d all love to see a photo of you and your pup or kitty, but pictures of just your pet have no place on your profile.  (This goes for not only pets, but other prized possessions as well!)

The Scantily Clad
If your outfit isn’t something fit for walking around in public in, this would be you.  Even if you look great, The Scantily Clad picture screams run away.  Everyone appreciates a great body, but leave something to the imagination!

The Duck Face
I am as guilty as the next girl when it comes to too much wine and taking what I think of as cute kissy face pictures, which inevitably come out as blatant duck faces.  Luckily, I know better than to ever use them on a dating profile.  You should too.

What horrific profile pictures have sent you running? Let us know in comments.

Related Posts:

• What NOT to Wear on a First Date (For Him)
• The 6 Commonly Committed Sins of the Online Dating Message

Image Credits: Www.CourtneyCarmody.com/, bark, vanessa_hutd

An Offensive Shirt
Being that this is a first date, you don’t want to offend her and blow your chances at scoring a second date right off the bat.  As impressed as I am that you “Support Single Moms” swinging on stripper poles, your date just may not feel the same.

Worn Out/ Ripped Clothing
I get the fact that some clothing comes with tears in it — and it’s a fashion thing and all that — but I am talking about straight up holes and rips.  If your jeans, pants, shirt, or worse yet, shoes have seen that much action in their day, retire them from your first date gear.

Sweats
Does this really need an explanation?

A Tie
Aside from two exceptions, coming right from work or the date being somewhere that formal, if you get all decked out for dinner at the pub down the street you will just ending up looking like Mr. Desperate.

Flip Flops
I have never, ever, met a woman who likes feet.  My best advice to you is that you keep those things hidden as long as possible, if not forever!  This doesn’t mean to throw some socks on under those flops either, flip flops with socks is also very much not okay!

Man Jewelry
Just don’t do it. Unless we are talking about a necklace that can barely be seen because you where it under your shirt, leave your bling at home buddy.

Ill Fitting Clothing 
How do you determine if your clothes are too tight? Glad you asked! If your pants are so tight that, upon first glance, your date will be able to identify what kind of underwear you are wearing (or aren’t wearing), or if your pants are so short that your date will be able to identify what color socks you are wearing , your pants are not appropriate to be worn in public, let alone on a first date.  This goes for shirts as well, your date doesn’t need to see your nipple rings through your shirt, let them be a surprise!

Massive Amounts of Cheap Cologne
Just a few sprays, of the good stuff.  “Desperate” and “cheap” are things that women’s noses are fine tuned to sniff out.

What first date fashion faux pas have you had the displeasure of having experianced? Let us know in the comments.

Related Posts:

• 5 First Date Tips

Image Credit: Le ciel azuré

6. Filling your message with clichés

Remember, the goal of a first message to a potential date is to separate your message from all the other messages in their inbox.  So please, stay away from the common clichés that turn up in every other message such as “This is my first time using a dating site” or “I am looking for Mr./Mrs. Right.”

5. Rewriting your profile in your message

You told us your interests, what you are looking for, and all about your cat on your profile.  Please don’t repeat info that can be found on your profile in your message (aside from signing your name at the end of it).  If your potential date reads the message and wants to know more about you, they will head over to your profile to find out.

4. Overdosing on physical compliments

Be careful while dishing out those physical compliments, Romeo.  First off, it is obvious that you find the message recipient at least somewhat attractive, since you are messaging them. Although everyone loves being complimented, when you load your first message with them, you may come across shallow.  Instead of laying it on thick with physical compliments, why don’t you compliment your potential date’s extensive spoon collection, or their awesome taste in music?

3. Using slang, bad grammar, and chatspeak

You never hear, “he had me at ‘Yo sexi, howz r u?!’” That is because these messages don’t land you a date, let alone the love of your life.  Oh, aNd WhiLe wE ARe On tHe ToPic, pLeaSe RefrAin FroM TyPiNg LikE ThiS. How about showing your potential date that you can properly construct a sentence?

2. Cut, Paste, Repeat-ing

Do not cut and paste the same generic message to a bunch of people.  It’s not as smooth as you think; trust me, we notice.  Make sure you write each message for the specific person you are mailing. No recycling here, buddy.

1. Being vulgar

Unless you are on a site that specializes in purely sexual relationships, please leave details of all the naughty things that you would like to do to your potential date out of the message.  Along with those details, leave your bra size, penis measurements, or worse yet, graphic photos out of this message as well.

What sins have you experienced? Share them with us in the comments.

For the “Do’s” of first message writing, check out:
6 Simple Steps to Writing a First Message That Will Get a Response

Happy Sin-Free Messaging!

1. Have a well written profile. Chances are that upon receiving your message, your potential date will go check out your profile before deciding whether to reply to, or even read, your message. An empty profile, or poorly written profile, isn’t going to help your cause. Before even attempting to mail potential dates, get your profile filled-out.
2. Have at least one picture up on your profile. Messages from daters with pictures on their profile are far more likely to get responses than those from daters without any pictures. In fact, some sites even have settings where a member can block messages from those without any pictures. Do yourself a favor and add some pictures!
3. Comment on something in their profile. Mention a common interest which you discovered that you both share, or perhaps comment on something which you found interesting about them. Commenting on something you discovered in their profile shows that you took the time to read their profile, instead of just sending out a generic cut and paste to hundreds!
4. Ask a specific question. Asking your potential date a specific question not only shows that you are interested in learning more about them, but it also makes it very easy for your potential date to have both a reason to respond to you, and something to begin their reply to you with. In essence, you take the work out of it for them; they already know what their reply will begin with — an answer to your question. Ask a specific question about something you read about one of their hobbies, interests, somewhere they traveled to, or something that you noticed in one of their pictures.
5. Say that you look forward to hearing from them. Instead of ending with a simple “bye,” end your message with saying that you “look forward” to hearing from them. This parting statement implies that you will be hearing back, which leaves no question to whether they should reply. You have already made up the decision for them!
6. Spellcheck. Plz do ur best 2 avoid slang, tYpos & abbreviations in ur 1st message. Show that you can in fact spell and type out entire words. Proper spelling and grammar are your friend!

With all 6 steps followed, rest assured that you have written a super first message!

What strategy do you typically use when messaging a potential date for the first time? Tell us in the comments.

Image Credit: Rennett Stowe

Increasing Your Odds
There are plenty of fish in the online sea.  Like it or not, online dating has become a huge phenomenon. 1 in 5 single Americans have dated someone they met online (Chadwick Martin Bailey, 2010).  With 20% of Americans getting dates online, it seems that almost everyone is doing it and you should too.  If you want to increase your chances of meeting that special someone, online dating seems like the best way to put yourself in touch with tons of new potential dates.

You do Everything Else Online
You use the internet to keep in touch with friends, to read the news, to pay your bills, and even to shop.  We are doing everything else online these days, so why not meet new people online as well?

It Works
A survey of recently married Americans discovered that online dating is the third most common way for new couples to meet, behind meeting through friends/family, and through work/school (Chadwick Martin Bailey, 2010).  If it works well enough to make marriages, clearly it works well enough to at least get you out there dating again!

What is the reason that you have found to look for love online? Or, if you haven’t, what is holding you back? Tell us in comments.

Image Credit: Timsamoff

• Think of all the positives of being single on Valentine’s Day.  Think of the money you are saving on expensive gifts and dinner. Or about how Valentine’s Day is such a commercial holiday — all the flowers, chocolates, jewelry and stuffed animals that couples are encouraged to buy one another.  Focus on the freedom you have on this day; no one to have to impress, no one to pamper, and no expectations to live up to.  Think of the fact that many couples spending this holiday together truly aren’t happy, and at least you know you aren’t  “settling” for the wrong person!
• Get dinner & drinks with friends or family.  Since Valentine’s Day is after all a holiday of sharing your love for those you care about, why not spend the day with your family, or with some friends?  Catch up, enjoy a nice glass of wine, and some good conversation!
• Pamper yourself.  Take a nice long bubble bath with your favorite book and a glass of champagne.  Pick yourself up a box of chocolates.  Spoil yourself by buying that awesome, but expensive thing you have wanted!
• Go mingle with other singles.  Many bars host a “single’s night” on Valentines Day. Even if you cannot find a bar nearby that has a special “single’s night,” I am sure any bar you walk into will have other singles there to mingle with — watch out though, there may be some major desperation and whining going on with some of the singles… and this you will want to run away from!  It should be a day of celebration!
• Make a plan. If you are single, and wish to begin dating — whether it be just to meet new people and have some fun or to meet that special someone — then use this day as an opportunity to formulate a plan of action to make it happen!

Happy Single Awareness Day!

Image Credit: CarbonNYC

1. Valentine’s Day card – This may seem obvious, but trust me it isn’t.  Without a doubt you should at least have a Valentine’s Day card with a personal message written inside.  Don’t show up to your Valentine’s Day date without it!
2. Tickets for a concert, show, or sporting event – You can order and print tickets right at home from your computer from Ticketmaster.
3. Love coupons – You can whip up some love coupons for anything from a free back rub to cleaning their apartment.  Better yet, make a whole book of them! You can handwrite them, make them on the computer, or use this handy Love Coupon Creator!
4. Dinner in – So you didn’t make reservations, or even if you simply don’t want to eat out this Valentine’s Day… why not order some take-out and enjoy a dinner in? Ditch the paper plates and use the real thing, open some wine, light some candles and dim the lights to set the mood.  Volia! A romantic dinner for two.
5. Pamper him/her – Pick up some lotions, candles, bubble bath, body oils, and champagne.  Draw a warm bubble bath, light candles, pour a glass of champagne, and after the bath, give him/her a nice long massage.
6. Flowers – Grab a bouquet, or even just pick up a single rose.
7. Gift certificate – Not a very personal gift, but desperate times call for desperate measures.  Gift certificates are super awesome last-minute gifts since they can even be printed online from many stores now-a-days!
8. Box of Chocolate – Picking up a heart-shaped box of chocolates has to be the easiest gift to grab last-minute; they are for sale at nearly every food store, pharmacy and convenience store.

There you have it – 8 great last-minute gift ideas!

Your best bet: a combo of the above, such as Dinner In, Love Coupons, a card, and a rose.

Happy Gifting!

If you use any of these last-minute gift ideas, we’d love to hear how they worked out for you!

Image Credit: danielmoyle

Now, when it comes to planning your first date, keep these 5 first date tips in mind:

• Skip the movies.  Although it seems that dinner and a movie is the go-to date idea, a movie theater really isn’t the ideal place for a first date.  How can two people who just met get to know each other while sitting silently next to one another in a dark room and focusing their attention on a film?
• Do something fun. This may seem obvious, but it is still worth mentioning.  Don’t do something super serious on your first date, but do something that is fun, and even better yet, something that will have you and your date giggling together!
• Think of your common interests.  Have you discovered that you and your date both enjoy bowling? Go to a bowling alley! Your date and you share an interest in art? Hit up a gallery!
• Avoid/Limit alcohol intake. A first date is a time for getting to know one another.  While a drink or two may calm your nerves, be very careful because you don’t want to overdo it and end up embarrassing yourself, making a bad first impression, or worse yet, throwing up on your date.
• When all else fails, do dinner.  Although the movie is out, dinner is still a tried and true favorite first date choice.  A dinner date allows an ideal amount of time for two people to do some chatting and get to know one another, but not so much time that if the date isn’t going well your stuck in an awkward situation all night.

Do you have any tips or advice when it comes to first dating planning? If so, share them with us in the comments.

Happy Dating!

Image Credit: jmayer1129

Although there are different degrees of acknowledgment and gift-giving, you basically have just 2 options: to acknowledge the holiday with a gift, or to not acknowledge the holiday with a gift. And your date has just 2 basic reactions to each of those options: she can be happy with your decision, or she can wish you had chosen the other option. All of this boils down to 4 possible outcomes.

1. You acknowledge the holiday, your date is glad, WIN!
2. You acknowledge the holiday, your date wishes you hadn’t, FAIL! (your date isn’t as into you are you are her)
3. You do not acknowledge the holiday, your date is glad,  WIN! no… FAIL! (your date isn’t as into you are you are her)
4. You do not acknowledge the holiday, your date wishes you had, FAIL!
   

If you do not acknowledge the holiday it is an automatic FAIL! No good will come of this.

The only true WIN is if you put yourself out there and try. Definitely do something to acknowledge Valentine’s Day if you are truly into this girl (to the degree you are most comfortable)!  Worst case, you find out your date just is not as into you as you are her.  And trust me, it is better to find that out now than waste anymore of your time.

Happy Gifting!

What are your gifting plans this Valentine’s Day? Or, what are your Valentine’s Day plans in general? Share below, we would love to hear!

Image Credit: elninosincero