How to Deal With That Long Distance Relationship

Many college students are involved in long distance relationships. Whether they began their college years with their boyfriend from high school who is enrolled at another university across the country, or met someone on a crazy college getaway, long distance relationships are not easy.

They may not be easy; but they're not impossible. It takes work, and trust and if you don't have either, yes, the long distance relationship could be impossible.

The first idea to making your long distance relationship work is finding the benefits of it. You don't get to see your man or lady every day, but when you do get to see them, it is so much more exciting. The phrase "absence makes the heart grow fonder" explains the feeling perfectly.

Long distance relationships also allow you more personal time. Since you are not bombarded by the person 24/7, you have the opportunity to spend time with your friends, your work, and yourself.

Missyourmate.com is a website dedicated to getting through the hard times of long distance relationships. From sending picture messages and setting up webcams to sending a thoughtful gift to the person, it gives good advice on how to have a successful long distance relationship.

No matter how hard you try to keep your different area code man in your life, you need to truly want it to work, because if you have doubts, chances are your just postponing the inevitable.

College Dating 101: Out of the Classroom

An article I found on CollegeNews.com, has touched on a few points I find to be perfect regarding girls in college and some quick rules about dating.

These things should be well known but it appears that it is not the case.

• First off, You're only in college for so long, don't waste your time dating losers or guys that aren't worth your time.

I suppose everyone has to kiss a few frogs before they find their prince, but don't waste your time dating that frog for too long!

• Secondly, respect yourself.

If your feeling that the only way to get a guys attention is to sleep with him, you have found the WRONG guy, or in other words, you have found another frog!

• Act like you have an education.

Men like a girl who is smart and knows what she wants out of life. If you walk around looking like a ditz, chances are, you'll pick up a few boys who think they can play off your air-headedness. You're in college for a reason, remember?

The article says that in college, you learn about 30% from the classroom, and the remaining 70% from experience. So try and make the best decisions to shape healthier experiences.

Poor Economy Means Dating Rules Have Changed?

Everyone is feeling the financial squeeze in some form or another with the way the economy is looking in early 2009. But does that mean dating should be put on the back burner while the funds and being stretched?

Dating these days has become a little different. The man can't always wine and dine his way into a woman's heart anymore, meaning he has to become a little more creative, or , she has to help pick up the check.

There was an article on upnorthlive.com, touching on how couples are working on continuing their dating trends, and how new couples are starting up.

College students on a budget are needing to be a bit more creative, and think about how they spend their money. With students with loans out and the fear of not getting that dream job after graduation, pennies have to be pinched in certain areas. Sometimes this just means not splurging on that special date, even if you really wish you could.

Many girls wouldn't mind helping out with the check on the second date, or even the first if it seems appropriate, because chances are, they understand and are feeling the budget crunch too.

Online Dating Application Now Available for iPhone

Many college aged people are involved with the social networking site, Facebook, so much so that they have applications downloaded to their cellphones so they can check their Facebook account on the go.

Facebook is seen as a place for friends and photo sharing, but you can also download an application from Facebook called "Are you Interested." This allows you to find people on the site and click if you're interested in them, possibly enough for a date.

The iPhone has a similar application available for free download right to the users phone, called "SNAP."

According to a press release available on Market Watch.com, the application allows its users to:

• Browse photos of singles in their area and click "Yes" on people they like.


• View their "Matches" and find out who is interested in them.


• Check out the "Buzz" and meet singles in their area who are online right now.
  
• Contact singles, and send and receive winks and messages.

This is yet another way the Internet is changing our lives, from every day life to dating.

Online Dating Site Goes Green

Most everyone has heard of Internet dating sites such as EHarmony or Match.com. These types of sites are a general dating service where you post your information on your profile and experts working for the site try to match you with someone who has a lot of common interests. The strange thing about these sites is many times you don't end up with very many matches of people with common interests, even though there are thousands of people on these sites.

On Earth Day, in 2006, a new dating site was launched. It's called PlanetEarthSingles.com, and is geared only towards the environmentally friendly, earth conscious, recycling fanatics out there. What makes it different, is if you go on this site, you already have a common interest with the rest of the members, your green ways of life.

So if you're conscious about your carbon footprint, avoid meat products, and have a different bin for everything that needs to be recycled, and you also happen to be single and looking, this site may be for you! There was a press release released for it if you're interested in checking it out.

Lady in Red

Every woman has an outfit or color that seems to be theirs. A color that suits her and compliments her features would be a color a woman can rightfully claim is their color.It seems however, that men have found her color as well. That color that men find most appealing on a woman seems to be the color red.

A psychological experiment testing the way men reacted to the same women wearing different colors all showed the most favorable color to be red. Women wearing red were rated as “significantly more attractive and sexually desirable” by men than when they were wearing other colors.

The experiment showed that women wearing red were "rated as more attractive and sexually desirable." It also said that if a woman is wearing red, they are more likely to get asked on a date or on a second date!

An interesting aspect of the study gave historical precedence to why men are attracted to women in red, and dated it back to our chimpanzee and baboon primates. Apparently, before our existence, a male baboon would be more attracted to a female baboon during the females time of ovulation, or "red time."

So, if that is indeed fact to why men were originally attracted to women wearing red, does that mean men are very similar to baboons? I'm sure many women would love this conclusion to be true!

But red is also known as a bold color and a color of passion. Men could just be more attracted to a bolder woman, or they could just like the color. Whatever the reason behind the idea, it looks like ladies on the prowl would have more luck finding a date if they dress in red.

The Idea of Love at First Sight May Only be in Fairytails

Many young girls head off to college with the idea of dorms, classes, new friends and most importantly it seems, new loves. Young 18-20 something girls fill college campuses eager to get away from what they were used to in high school, including boys and previous relationships.

College is what many use as a stepping stone for accomplishing the "out with the old, in the new" mindset. Meeting new people and establishing new relationships is a huge part of college. However, as time goes on and girls date boys and start growing up, the whole "cheerleader dating the football player" and "love at first sight" ideas don't seem as appealing.

According to a study done by a large South Eastern University, young girls, (age 19 and younger) believe in love at first sight more than girls 20 and older.

As girls get older, it seems they are opening their eyes to the idea that not all love is a fairy tail. Sometimes it takes work to to make an important romantic relationship fit into ones busy lifestyle.However, if a relationship is more work than anything else, maybe it time to go separate ways.

A working long term relationship may be best started as a friendship and gradually grow into something more.

"That Girl Can Drink!" Yikes.

Over the years, the thought of what goes on while in college wanders beyond just books, class and all-nighters. There is another thought behind the idea of going away to college that has high school kids glowing and alumni and parents reminiscing on their college days- that idea is partying. Let's narrow it down a little bit more; drinking.

It is a stereotypical yet somewhat true aspect of what college life is all about, the drinking, the partying, the ladies. But, what if you are one of those ladies, and you drink A LOT!

Some girls like to think that a man likes a girl who can drink. And surely a man likes a girl who can have a drink or two and not go streaking around the party or pass out on the bathroom floor, but what about the girls who try and keep up with the boys and their drinking habits? Do guys find a girl who can drink to be an attractive quality?

Many girls may think that their high tolerance for alcoholic beverages is a positive quality in a mans eyes. However, an article on ScienceDaily.com regarding a study done by Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, shows that men aren't as interested in how much a girl can drink as the ladies think they are.

The study showed that girls thought a man would want them to drink nearly twice as much as the man actually wanted them to.

Actually, this reminds be on a scene from the 2007 movie "Superbad," only backwards. The guy is trying to impress the girl in the movie by drinking heavily, and in turn makes a fool of himself.

Hopefully, there are not too many nice young college girls out there trying to out-drink those frat guys in hopes for a date, because first of all, no man is worth that, and secondly, that doesn't seem to be a good quality in their eyes after all!

The Perfect Memorable Gift

Holidays and birthdays of your friends and family can creep up on you without warning at times. Though as a good friend or family member you should remember these special days, sometimes busy schedules can get in the way of your usually good memory.

For someone close to you, and card, a quick dinner or flowers can usually be picked up pretty quick in a time that you happened to forget that special day.

However, what do you get that someone you are in a "not quite so serious yet, but somewhat romantic relationship" with?

Hopefully, you didn't forget about the upcoming holiday or birthday. Flowers, cards, and dinner are just fine if you want to come off and nice, sweet and uncreative, but if you want to really impress her or him, you have to use your imagination.

The best ideas are those that are thoughtful and heartfelt. Something the other person really likes and can not access readily, or something that symbolizes an inside joke the two of you have, or just something silly. Laughter is the best medicine you know!

Is there a special food he or she loves from their hometown and can't get it here? Check the internet- chances are, you can find it there and have it shipped right to their door!

For example, someone originally from Cincinnati may miss some particular ice creams and chili only available there, however you can buy them online and even have them packaged into a gift basket!

Do the two of you ever share a common hate for a particular product over advertised on an infomercial? Something you make fun of on a regular basis and have fun doing it? Why not slap down that $19.99 to get the buy one get one free deal of that silly product? He or she will love it and love you for the thought you put into it.

The truth is, it really is the "thought that counts."

The Post-Date Grace Period

Oh, that dreaded "grace period." It doesn't matter how old you are, if you are really into someone, the wait feels like it may kill you.

So you've met that special someone who you either spent a great evening with after meeting them at a party or bar, or even have already had an actual first date. So how long do you wait until you make the call? Or, the even worse part of the situation, how long should you be waiting to receive the call?

First of all Gentlemen, the same rules still apply. YOU should make the first few calls, and NO texting should not count 100%. It's lazy and stand offish. If you're really interested, calling shouldn't be that difficult.

Ladies, being the first to make that call should not be done by you. If you do decide to call, do it only once until you hear from him again. This may be a time where a single text message could come in handy.

An article done by the University of Alabama's newspaper, The Crimson White touches on the same issue.

If you hear nothing from him after a week, it may be time to forget about it. Chances are, you'll run into him again and you can try and start over. That first meeting or date may not have gone as well for the other party as you had thought it went for you.