Online Dating

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of MeetLocals.com. All opinions are 100% mine.
I am a happily married woman.  Seriously.  I am.  I have shared the story of my first date with my husband several time before, so I will not bore you with it again.  Let's just say that we were a successful "blind date".

Fifteen years ago, blind dates were set up by friends with good intentions.  Nowadays, there are online dating sites where you can have virtual blind dates before ever meeting the other person.  Do I believe you can find your soul mate on one of these sites?  Absolutely.  How are they any different than a friend setting you up with someone, or meeting a guy (or girl) in the grocery store.  Or a bar.

Not only are ordinary people using dating site, but some "celebrities" are, too.  Back in June, Heidi Montag tweeted "maybe being single wasn't such a bad idea after all," followed by a link to Shop4Guys.com.  About thirty minutes later, her ex-boyfriend Spencer Pratt tweeted "HAH!! while Heidi shops, I'm meeting hotties" followed by a link to Meetlocals.com.  Apparently, these are two of the newest dating sites on the web.   I wonder if either of them made a connection on either of those sites?

How about you?  Have you ever used a dating website?  If so, what did you think of it, and did you find that special someone?

Virtual Dating

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Smingle.com. All opinions are 100% mine.
In this day and age, if you are single, you don't need to hang out at bars or in grocery stores to meet that someone special.  Nowadays, all you have to do is get online.  There are so many different dating sites, and it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which one is best for you. 

If you are looking to get to know someone before meeting them in person, check out Smingle.   I signed up, just out of curiosity, since I am happily married.  I didn't use my real name (shhhh....) and they won't let me do much because I will not upload a picture.  I know that it's important to see what a person looks like, but I was hoping I could check out the virtual dating without uploading a photo. I could get three months free if I do upload a picture, but since I don't plan on using the service myself, I'm not going to.  I think it is an awesome idea, though, getting to know someone online, without the use of video chat.  In fact, the European Journal of Social Psychology says that "People who go on virtual dates first tend to like each other more when they meet and are two times more likely to go on a second date."  

If you are single, and looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right, going on a few virtual dates might be fun. You use your 3D avatar to interact with the other person's 3D avatar.  From what I read, it sounds like a lot of fun.  Who knows, you might find the person you are meant to be with.

December 22, 1994

On this day, fifteen years ago, I met my husband. I know I have told this story before, but for those of you who are new, I am going to share it again. For those of you who are regulars, you'll have to suffer through it one more time! lol!

I had moved to SC from NY in April of that year, after a three and a half year long relationship ended. I was broken hearted, and had no idea what direction my life was going to take. I was depressed, and spent the next few months just moping around my moms house. I finally got a job working fast food, and made some great friends. A few of these friends decided it was time for me to find someone new, and they made it their mission to make that happen. The first guy I was set up with was my age, and had a little boy. We talked on the phone for a few weeks before we ever met, and we got along great. We had a lot in common, and I was looking forward to spending time with him. I think it was at this point where I finally realized what it's like for people who hook up online in free vampire chat rooms or on dating sites. I was amazed that I could get to know someone so well by just talking to them, and never actually meeting them.

Well, a few weeks later, he decided to come to where I work, so we could meet face to face. Now, back then I was a skinny minnie with a nice figure (I had just lost about 50 pounds) and I was very confident. He comes in the store, and we "met", and then he left.

And he never called me again.

To this day I am still baffled, because I am not by any means ugly (tooting my own horn here). The friend who set us up claims that he drove by my moms house after he left the store, and decided that I was too "rich" for him. He didn't think he would fit into my world. Yeah, okay. I was working fast food and living in my moms house! I was not rich by any stretch of the imagination. But, whatever. It was his loss, and it was not soon after this that I met my husband.

When my best friend at the time decided she knew the perfect guy for me, I was hesitant. I mean, I had just been "dumped" by a guy right after he got a look at me, and I didn't really want to go through that again. But, she was persistent, and a week later Junior called me. He wanted to meet at a bar, and I told him I didn't drive. He laughed, and then agreed to pick me up. We had a nice time at the bar, talking, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I had never been a big drinker, and as most of you know, my husband used to be an alcoholic. So we left there, and just drove around talking.

After that night, we were pretty much inseparable. His family wasn't exactly welcoming to me, and some of my family had issues with him. To be honest, he brought that on himself, and has been paying for it for the last fifteen years. He proposed on my birthday in February, and it was that night that we conceived Ryan. (I am sure you were dying to know that!) We were married on June 22, 1995, exactly six months after we met. It was a small, civil ceremony at the courthouse, because I was pretty pregnant by then. People said we wouldn't last a year, and here we are, fifteen years and three kids later, still going strong. Not bad for a blind date, right?

So when people tell me they met their significant others online, in chat rooms, or on a blind date, I get it. I know it's possible to find the one you are meant to be with in an unconventional way.

I'm living proof of that!

Recovery Date

Junior used to be an alcoholic. Our first date was a blind date, and he took me to a bar. It was the one and only time we ever went to one. I was very uncomfortable, because I wasn't a big drinker. A week or so later was New Year's Eve, and we were at a party where he got fall down drunk. I told him the next day that it was the alcohol or me, and obviously he made the better choice. :)

Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to stop drinking cold turkey, and not everyone has someone to support them during their recovery. That is why I think RecoveryDate is a really great concept.

Basically, it is a place where people in recovery can go to find others who are in the same situation. You can meet people who are going through the same things you are, and you can offer support, or be supported by people who understand how hard just facing each day can be. I truly believe that the relationships that last are the ones that start off as friendships. Recovery Date offers the opportunity to form friendships, and who knows where those friendships will lead. If you are lucky enough, you might just find your soul mate.

How Did You Two Meet?

Do you have a special story about how you a met your significant other? Junior and I were set up on a blind date, and that was almost fifteen years ago. He took me to a bar, and that was the one and only time we went out drinking. I know these days it is getting harder and harder to find the person you were meant to be with. People are turning to christian singles chat rooms to find their soul mates. Chat rooms are great, especially if you use the free video chat option. You can see and talk to someone who shares your interests.

Are you still looking for that someone special, or do you already have your special story?

I Had A Weird Dream Last Night

I usually don't remember my dreams, but for some reason this one is bugging me. In my dream, I was a single mother. I don't know where Junior was; he just wasn't with me and the kids. It was weird.

I know the only way I would become a single parent is if something happens to Junior. I don't believe he would ever leave me. We have been through so much already, and made it through together. We have had money issues our whole marriage, and I have read that that is a big contributor to divorce.

Anyway, if I was to find myself suddenly single, I know I would be terrified of the thought of dating. How do people with three kids find the time to date? Where do they go to meet people? I would most likely end up on an online dating service. The problem is there are so many out there.

There is one service called West East Cafe and it's for Europeans looking for that special someone, a friend or someone to help them speak better English. Sign up is completely free, and within minutes of filling out your profile, you will show up in the results of other people's searches. If you find someone you want to connect with, you can email, instant message, or even video chat with them. I prefer the video chat, that way there aren't any surprises with what the other person looks like. I have heard that a lot of people fudge a little when describing themselves.

I hope that Junior and I are together for many, many more years, but it's nice to know there are options available where I can find someone, if that time ever comes.

Looking For Love?

Do you love horses?

Are you also looking for someone to share that love with?

If so, equestrian cupid is the perfect place for you to meet that someone special. Unlike other dating sites, this is a community of horse lovers. It's a place where you can meet people, and share all the things you love about horses and riding. You can discuss the best trails, and maybe find new places to ride that you were never aware of. They offer FREE sign-up, so you have nothing to lose by checking them out.

I was browsing the site myself, and found that they have a chat room. I think this is a great way to get in touch with people before actually doing the face to face thing. They even have a listing of equestrian blogs. I know from experience that you can tell a lot about a person by what they write online. You can watch videos all about horses, or check out their forums.

So if you are looking for a horse lover to share your life with, this is the place to be. The sign up form is simple, and shouldn't take more then a couple of minutes. Just answer some basic questions, and you will be on your way to connecting with people who share your love horses.

Getting The Girl

In a few weeks, my son will officially be a teenager. He is reaching that age where it's all about getting a girlfriend. I'm sure at thirteen, the boys need some pick up tips so they don't act like fools in front of all the beautiful girls. Come to think of it, there are probably some grown men who could use some tips, too.

Need A Date?

The first time I met my husband was on a blind date. My best friend's husband's sister's husband was his best friend. I had just moved from New York to South Carolina, and didn't know very many people. I was working at a fast food restaurant, and met my best friend there. She claimed to know the perfect guy for me, and it turns out that she was right. I met my husband on December 22, and exactly six months later, on June 22, we were married. I don't think I am the only person in this world who needs a little help finding their perfect mate, the person they were destined to be with. With True.com, you can create a profile, and meet people who share your interests. I was reading some of their success stories, and it amazing how easy it can be finding your true love. It could be a smile, or common interests, or just a "feeling" you get from reading someones profile. Whatever it is, meeting people couldn't be easier. True.com even offers informative articles, giving advice on how to handle that first face to face meeting, and tips to keep you safe, online and off. So if you are still looking for that special someone, check out True.com. Since you can search for free and sign up for free, you have nothing to lose. You just might have a lifetime of happiness to gain.