10 Dating Tips I Really Wish I'd Followed While I Was Single

Sometimes you're so focused on finding the right person that you don't take the time to enjoy being single, and you go about dating in the wrong way. YourTango has some expert advice on how to get the most out of dating, so you you won't have any regrets in the future.

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Can This Simple Trick Make You Fall in Love? I Tried

"Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?"

I asked my date as I watched the grease drip off my pizza, like the sweat from my palms.

I was nervous. I've never been good at science. And now here I was treating a date like a science experiment, Psychologist Arthur Aron's 36 Question Love Experiment, to be precise, that you can try too.

You may have heard of Aron's test. It gained attention recently when New York Times author Mandy Len Catron wrote about it after applying it to a date in her article "To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This." It seemed to work for her; she wrote she is now in love with her date, saying that love is an action and she's in love because "we each made that choice to be."

Love as a science experiment does make sense. Isn't that what dating is essentially? An experiment to see if you (the control) and your date (the variable) are compatible? You test this compatibility through different settings: dates alone, dates with friends, dates to Ikea, and eventually the meeting your parents. You hypothesize the future of the relationship over monthly catch-ups with your close friends: "Jake is great. But I don't think it'll last much longer. He still seems pretty hung up on his ex," you'll confess to your friend Emily over a bottle of Pinot Grigio.

Aron's study took place over 20 years ago in a lab, when a straight couple of strangers sat face to face as they took turns answering increasingly personal questions (like how do you imagine you'll die), followed by a silent four-minute-long staring contest. The result of this experiment? Six months later, the couple was married and the whole lab was invited.

Aron's study took place sober in a laboratory; about 20 years later, the New York Times writer (Catron) tried this experiment buzzed at a bar in Vancouver. My test took place sober (me) and tipsy (him) in downtown Los Angeles on a second date. It was about a week ago, the air was brisk, as we faced each other in a pizza shop, followed by a staring contest in his Prius. Passersby probably thought we were doing a drug deal, as this was downtown.

I did not fall in love. If anything, I fell out of lust. Here are the flaws I found with this experiment:


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10 Date Ideas Inspired by the Most Glamorous Old Hollywood Movies

Nobody did romance quite like Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and Marilyn Monroe. The golden age of film was filled with love stories that have been replicated and idolized for years now, so why aren't we taking cues from some of Hollywood's most cherished relationships? We rounded up our favorite date ideas from the greatest classics to help you incorporate a little glamour into your real-life love story. Keep reading to check out all our date ideas — and keep dreaming that your dates are Cary Grant and Gregory Peck.

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Why Bald Boyfriends Are the Best

I like bald guys. It's not just that I don't mind if a guy is losing his hair. I think it's hot. While I recognize that not every 16-year-old girl has a crush on her balding biology teacher, I think women should give bald men another look. In my well-informed opinion, they make the best boyfriends. So find yourself one, or don't, because that means more for me.

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Engagement Shoots Inspired by Movies

If you're planning an engagement shoot, you probably want to set a romantic, emotional mood, and what better way than with a theme from a movie? We've rounded up some of our favorite cinematic-inspired engagement photos, from sexy The Notebook and Atonement sessions to a sweet Up-inspired shoot. There's something for every type of movie-lover, and you can go all out with the theme or just use it as a guide. I love how dead-on the Notebook-inspired one is and how hilariously silly the flying Harry Potter one is. So grab some popcorn, and check them all out now!

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30 Truths About Marriage

30 Truths About MarriageThe football field was lit up by a pathway of candles, leading the way to a picnic set up underneath the goalpost. There were two chairs, a table, a dozen roses, a guitar, yummy food, and most importantly . . . him. The 21-year-old boy of my dreams was standing there. I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear!

After dinner he sang our song and played his guitar. I cried like a little baby! It was our first official date since he had been gone for two years out of the country! We did it! We survived our two years of being apart, and he was now sitting in front of me — in real life! No more letters. No more long-distance phone calls on Mother's Day and Christmas. We were finally together — and I wasn't letting him go!

Our waitresses (aka our little sisters) brought out dessert and on the platter, there it was. A small black box with something so special inside . . . yep! It was THE ring. He got down on one knee and asked if I would be his best friend forever, and I obviously said yes! It was the happiest day of my life, thus far. I was getting married!

Leading up to the wedding day was so exciting! Plans, plans, and more plans — it felt like it ruled my life. But so much attention was set on the wedding day that one night we decided we needed to talk about what was most important: the MARRIAGE.

After all is said and done, the wedding colors will fade, the flowers will die, and the reception will end. But what is left? Of course . . . the bride and groom — and a life to live!

Today I have compiled a list of 30 TRUTHS ABOUT MARRIAGE. Married life is the real deal! And even though it is mostly fun and great, sometimes it is hard and a bit challenging. If you are getting ready to marry the man of your dreams, here is a little heads-up for what you are in for. And if you are married, I am sure you can relate.


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What Happens During a Female Orgasm?

For those of you who have had the pleasure (pun intended) of having an orgasm, you know that it is a sweet and satisfying sensation like no other. All women are different — some are quick to orgasm (remember when Jaiya had an orgasm just by thinking about it?), while others need to be warmed up for quite a while, like we saw on the Discovery special Curiosity. When it happens, though, your entire body and soul feel utterly amazing. So do you ever wonder what exactly is happening when you are about to reach your climax? Here's the deal:

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How to Stock the Bar at Your Wedding

While the bar is one of the most important aspects of every wedding, arranging the menu and hiring bar tenders can be an extremely hefty task! Check out these great tips from Bridal Guide on how to setup the bar at your wedding with ease, and provide your guests with an unforgettable experience. Consider the bar: it's a gathering spot, a place to mingle, a design focal point — and on the big day, it's essential to get it right. "Your bar will be one of the the most important elements of the reception, visited throughout the evening," says Laura Ritchie, founder of Events in the City in Washington DC. "People are loving their cocktails these days," says Harriette Rose Katz, founder and president of Gourmet Advisory Services in New York City, "and they love to congregate around the bar."

To that end, discover all you need to know about setting up the bar, from selecting its overall design to choosing what libations (and how much) to serve:

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Single Ladies! Be Bold and Take Our 30-Day Challenge

It matters not if you think single life is a plight or you find it to be a breeze; it's never a bad idea to push yourself out of your comfort zone and see what happens! We've come up with 30 ways — both daring and simple — that you can change things up in 30 days! Maybe you won't find "the one," but we guarantee you'll end the challenge having learned something valuable and feeling a new wave of pride in your single-girl life. Like maybe you'll be reminded of the fact that boyfriends are definitely not everything! So . . . what are you waiting for? Get to work!


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9 Tips For Getting Over Your Ex

Getting over an ex is never an easy process. With advice coming from all different directions, it is hard to decipher the best way to handle a breakup and move on. Thankfully, AskMen has created a list of tips to help you get over your ex once and for all.Getting over your ex is one of the great dilemmas of manhood. It's rarely a quick and easy process, and it's often complicated by all the things that the two of you still have in common, like friends, favorite hangouts, and even living quarters. Maybe the most frustrating thing about the whole process is that even if ending the relationship was the right thing to do — even if she cheated on you — it can still be hard to bury all those memories and move on with your life.

Here at AskMen, we're in the business of getting you back in the game, so we've put together a list of the nine tips for getting over your ex. Follow this program from start to finish, and you'll be back to your old self in no time.


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Jenny Slate Won an Award For Her Abortion Rom-Com and It's Kind of a Big Deal

If you thought you couldn't love Jenny Slate more than you already did — think again. The star of Obvious Child accepted a Critics' Choice Award last night for best actress in a comedy, an honor that is pretty incredible considering the subject of the movie, which has since been labeled one of film's first "abortion rom-coms." Movies and TV shows have touched on the subject in a variety of ways, but Slate's portrayal of a woman who discovers she is pregnant after a one-night stand is touching, hilarious, and most of all — realistic. Clearly not one to shy away from sensitive subjects, Slate spoke again at the award show about the importance of a woman's choice.

"Thank you very much for having me here tonight and to the critics for shining a light on our film," she said. "I am so proud to be in a movie that is joyful and thoughtful and depicts a modern and authentic experience of unplanned pregnancy. I think it's beautiful." She then thanked Gillian Robespierre and Elisabeth Holm, "who wrote this movie and who assert that even while we're fighting for our rights, we can do so creatively," emphasizing the idea that "activism and creative expression can go together." Watch the video to see the full speech.


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4 Things You Need to Know About Having an Engagement Ring

You are finally the proud owner of a gorgeous engagement ring, but there is a lot more to caring for your ring than you may realize. Check out these great tips from Brides on how to best protect your shiny new bling.Congratulations on your engagement! And that ring — wow! Everybody loves it, you've been sharing pictures of it on social media, and you don't ever want to take it off. Here are four things you need to know about having and wearing your new bling:

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10 Stages of Celebrating Valentine's Day in a Relationship

Have any Valentine's Day plans yet? Through the years of a relationship, how you spend the day of love totally changes. Check out all the stages of how your Valentine's Day evolves with a significant other, from a new couple to the pair that's been married for decades.



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Have a Heart! The Ultimate Girlie Gift Guide

Whether you're shopping around for Valentine's Day or you just love yourself a good heart, you will fall head over heels for these gift ideas. All kinds of love-filled items will make perfect presents for your BFF or even better — yourself. Check out our ideas and get ready to fall hard.

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Love Lessons

J.K. Rowling dropped a BOMB when she told Wonderland Magazine (in an interview conducted by Emma Watson) that Hermione should have ended up with Harry Potter instead of Ron. While it's impossible to imagine the series without the romance between Hermione and Ron, if taken from a completely realistic perspective, I can see how Ron wouldn't have been intellectually stimulating enough for the clever heroine. (Although if that's the case, Harry wouldn't have been a good fit either). Emma — who should know, having essentially lived the character for a decade of her life — put it thus, "I think there are fans out there who know that, too, and who wonder whether Ron would have really been able to make her happy." When I asked the cast about J.K. Rowling's comments, I especially loved the response from Evanna Lynch (who plays Luna Lovegood):

"With any relationship you can look back and say, 'Oh, I shouldn't have had that relationship; I shouldn't have been with that person.' But you were! It happened and it made them into who they are. So I think even if J.K. Rowling would feel a pull towards it, history is written. You can't change it. I think Ron and Hermione have something really beautiful and different. They're not a typical pairing, which I found more interesting."

One of my favorite things (of many) about the Harry Potter book and film series is that it's not a cheesy romantic story on the outside — hello mystery, adventure, and badass female heroines — but at the heart of it, it is a love story. There are various romantic pairings that slowly develop over the course of the series, and there is, of course, the love of Harry's mother that steers the entire plot. So using GIFs and quotes from the movies and books, I'm sharing 32 of the best love lessons J.K.'s series has taught us about the magic of love.


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You KNOW You're at Least 1 of These 40 Types of Friends

Whether we care to admit it or not, we all play a specific role (or roles) when it comes to our friendships. It's easy to pinpoint your most responsible friend or your most adventurous friend, but let's get into some specifics. Like, which one of your friends have you literally never seen without a Diet Coke? (I'm sure a name is popping up automatically into your head.)

But it becomes a bit more challenging to figure out which quirky, hilarious role that you yourself fulfill within your circle of friends! Perhaps you're the single friend with tons of flings who your taken BFFs live vicariously through — or is that just me? At any rate, we've compiled a list of the quirkiest, most hilariously accurate, and highly specific types of friends you either are or definitely know. Check 'em out, and let us know which one was so accurate that you felt it in your soul.


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This Rainbow-Meets-Retro Wedding Inspiration Is Making Us Starry-Eyed

When photographers Ben and Jenn of Two Sparrows Photography noticed a lack of fresh inspiration for same-sex weddings, they decided to create some inspiration themselves! With a band of enthusiastic vendors, they got to work. Their end product is this adorable and ultravibrant wedding look. Here's what the photographers themselves had to sayTo accompany the rainbow color palette, they also gave the wedding a very retro 1960s vibe with details like the seafoam-colored scooter, as well as the lace romper and voluminous updo worn by one of the brides. There are so many unique, glittery, and colorful dimensions to this shoot, many of which were DIY projects!


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Harry Potter Characters Are Reimagined in AMAZING Fan Art

The news that a fully illustrated Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone will be released this year got us in a Potter-loving tizzy, so after gushing over the beautiful images, we sought out some fan-made illustrations — mostly from DeviantArt — that rival the professionals'. No one knows and loves the wizarding world quite like die-hard Potterheads, so we weren't surprised to find some breathtaking artwork that has us reminiscing about events in the books and movies as well as reimagining relationships and scenes with a new perspective.

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5 Major Signs Your Guy Is an Emotional Psychopath

Before you ruin your mascara by fighting with your guy, consider that it might be him and not you when it comes to relationship issues. YourTango compiled five warning signs that show your man might be an emotional psychopath. If any of these fit your significant other, it might be time to leave.My ex-husband was abusive: physically, sexually, and most of all emotionally. (Whoever came up with the expression "sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me" obviously lacked any ability to harbor feelings.) In short: my ex was an emotional psychopath. When we split after a nearly eight-year marriage, he left with a suitcase packed with pieces of me: my pride, self-worth, hopes, dreams. He didn't take those things using his hands; he took them using his words. But here's the sly thing about emotional psychopaths: they're very good at not coming across as psychopaths, so good sometimes that it's tricky to spot when you're being emotionally abused. Learn from the clues I (eventually) picked up o


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How to Throw the Ultimate Galentine's Day Party For Your BFFs

If you're not celebrating Valentine's Day with a significant other this year, don't fret. Seize the opportunity to have the girliest celebration ever and throw a Galentine's Day party for your close friends. You are guaranteed an excellent time as long as it's filled with drinks, pink, and good conversation. Keep reading to find out how you can be the hostess with the mostest during the season of love.

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