Online dating has taken over and become one of the most popular ways for single people to meet others, make new friends and maybe even enter into a relationship with someone. Particularly now, in a world governed by technology and COVID-19, the likes of Hinge, Tinder and Bumble have become increasingly popular, with more dating apps popping up every so often.
While they make for an excellent and efficient way in which to meet people, it is important to ensure your own safety when using any dating app. Take a look at some of the most reliable tips for making sure you stay safe on your quest to find love.
Valentine’s Day is typically filled with box boxes of chocolates and mountains of candy, but for anyone watching their figure this holiday can spell doom and gloom. After gorging on all those delicious sweet treats, the despair and self-loathing sets in, leaving one feeling less than sexy. Which is exactly the opposite of what we hope for on this special holiday.
Dating in the twenty first century has changed significantly thanks to the rise of smartphones and mobile apps. Today, you can access potentially thousands of suitors through various apps right on your phone. It’s as is you already know each other and can chat via text.
Dating can be a difficult and overwhelming affair, especially for anyone that’s either never done it before, or who are going it to it again after a long spell being single. There are countless magazines and online articles describing the perfect first date, but all this does is add pressure to a situation that’s already stressful to begin with. Here, we are going to look at some helpful hints for a first date that are based more in the interactions between two normal human beings rather than a romantic fiction.
In a perfect world, we only need to go on a single first date to meet the perfect person, after which we can throw in the towel and be happy. But the real world is far from perfect, and it’[s important to recognise and acknowledge that not everyone we meet along the way is gonna be good for us.
Fortunately, before committing more time and effort to a new person, there are a number of red flags to look out for that can make dating both much more difficult but also much easier in the long term.
This is a tough one and is a question that many have struggled with. Questions that have gone through many a would-be suitor’s minds are:
- Should I bring a gift to a first date?
- What gift should I bring?
While it may seem like overkill, and not necessary in this day-and-age, bringing a gift to a first date shows the person that you really are looking forward to spending time with them and have taken the time to pick out something especially for them.
So, if you’ve decided that you want to buy that special someone a gift on your first date, what should you buy?
You can’t go wrong with flowers
A good first date gift is flowers because they don’t say anything too personal – like you’re already planning how many children you’ll have! – but show that you’ve been thinking about your date. For example, St Joseph’s Lillies are a great flower to take as they are incredibly beautiful and will blow your date away!
Be classy but don’t miss the boat
When you do buy your first date a gift, be classy but don’t let your gift say something that you don’t mean. For example, don’t rock up with a huge diamond ring as that will just get the other person screaming for the hills!
On the subject of jewellery, try to avoid it at all costs on the first date. If you make it to date 5, by all means drop in a subtle piece of jewellery. Jewellery is an incredibly personal thing. Some people adore their jewels while others hate them. Some like big flashy jewels while others prefer understated pieces.
Do your homework
If you have known each other for a while and have been moving in the same friendship circles, consider asking your date’s best friend about what they like. This is less creepy than Facebook stalking but will still make sure that you get the perfect gift and avoid embarrassing situations – like if they’re trying to lose weight and you rock up with a box of chocolates…
Chocolates usually work!
If your date is not on a diet, a good first date gift is a box of chocolates. And the more refined the chocolate is, the better. Great ideas are chocolates that have a high percentage of cocoa or truffles. Avoid bog-ordinary supermarket chocolates like the plague.
Beyers Chocolate has it right when they say that chocolate is the perfect gift because there are so many types of chocolate so you’ll definitely be able to find one that your date will love.
So, when choosing the perfect gift for your first date, try and see if the other person would actually want to receive a gift from you. If the answer is ‘yes’ then, by all means, buy one – it’ll impress them. But if they wouldn’t, steer clear of getting a gift – rather wait until you have gotten to know the person better.
Why do you watch rom-coms? We’d bet good money that it’s not for the action-packed scenes or the historical drama and rather because of that unbelievable feeling you get when the heroine and hero finally get together after spending the entire movie to’ing and fro-ing.
For centuries, chocolate and romance have been inseparable. Americans alone buy more than 26,000 tonnes of the confection in the week leading up to Valentine’s Day, but why is the sweet such an enduring symbol of love?
We often hear of people talking about Valentine’s Day, saying that these days, it is simply a commercialised concept that is designed to make money, and that the idea behind it has long been lost. While this may be true to some degree, it’s still a wonderful day to celebrate your loved one, even if you do so all year round too.
Buying a loved one roses is the perfect way to display your affection. These beautiful blooms have been prized for years for their amazing looks and stunning scent – but did you know that there are meanings behind their different colours, too?