Burnt Out from Dating?

Take a break from it. Give yourself a few months to just enjoy your life guy-free without trying to meet somebody. It will be a liberating experience. Pamper yourself. Buy yourself some new clothes, sexy heels, or lingerie to feel good.

Buy some new music. Plan a brunch outing every month with some girlfriends. Take some time out for you. Get in touch with what makes you truly happy. Recharging the dating batteries is one of the best things you can do when you're sick of dating and can't meet anybody decent.

True Blood's Joe Manganiello

Holy hotness.


(Via Oh No They Didn't)

The Beauty in Appreciation

I have a girlfriend. She's in her 30s, has had several tumultuous relationships, has been deeply hurt in the past, has dated her share of losers, alcoholics, moochers, narcissistic guys who didn't care about her feelings; and through it all, she believed that one day she would find a fantastic man. And, she did. When we discussed this new man in her life, I remember something in the conversation that really resonated with me: She said "If I had met him anytime earlier in my life than I did, I wouldn't have appreciated him as much as I do now.

I met somebody recently. I am constantly amazed by how wonderful he is and how well we click together. I know exactly what my girlfriend was talking about. I don't think I could possibly have appreciated him years ago than I do right now. It's as if I had to go through all the bullshit to get to where I am today, to feel what I do for him, to recognize how incredible he is. All I can be is grateful that I found somebody at the exact right time in my life. They say timing is everything, and it is.

When You Close a Door

I let go of hoping for a future with somebody, and I closed the door once and for all. When I closed the door, a new door opened. I met somebody, and I can't even believe how wonderful he is. I'm the luckiest girl in the world. It's the best door I've opened in a while...

I just realized that I met him a couple weeks after I wrote this post about my painful experience last year...new beginnings indeed.

Savage Beauty

Alexander McQueen was a tormented genius: Just look at this dress.

Music I'm Listening to...

How Did I Get Back Here?

I hate when you meet somebody who has a special hold over you, and no matter how much time passes, that feeling never seems to fade. It never weakens, and sometimes it seems as if it's stronger than before.

I fell for somebody hard 2 years ago. I loved everything about his personality, his sense of humor, and his big heart. He had just broken up with his girlfriend of 6 years. He was 23 at the time. There's a 10 year difference between us, so it's not the best situation. He's 25 now.

He's young, and he has a lot of living to do. I'm 35, and I've already done a lot of my living. I went through my 20s. I was foolish, irresponsible, and I made lots of mistakes. He needs to do the same. At the moment, he's stuck in sand, living in the past and not moving forward in any aspect of his life. Maybe he will, maybe he won't. But none of it is my problem. He needs to figure it out on his own.

I hadn't seen him in 2 years. I visited him at his family's country home in Vermont. I fell again even though I didn't think I would. It was like time had stood still. Nothing had changed between us. He was still pining over the ex whom had left him, and I was still wondering why he couldn't see how amazing I was through the haze of his last relationship.

Nothing had changed. I wondered "How did I get back here again?" I left him as I always do, with a pit in my stomach, and my heart hurting from how much I wanted to be with him. The feeling subsided in a couple of weeks, as I knew it would, but leaving him is so hard. It always has been. I'm guessing it always will be.