Have you ever considered online dating?  I have a friend who has recently decided to give it a shot and in all honesty, I think it’s an amazing choice for someone like her.  She’s constantly working and never seems to find the time to get out and meet people.  Thanks to the advancements of modern technology, my friend can now find dating sites online and meet others who are also looking for a relationship!

I used to be completely against the idea of online dating.  I guess I just associated it with stranger danger and figured that men used it as a way to find cheap dates and hook-ups. In recent years, though, things have definitely changed.  Online dating is a wonderful alternative to those who, like my friend, don’t have enough time to get out there and socialize in hopes of finding a partner.  Not only are online dating sites not for perverts, but you can actually find some amazing people, just like yourself, who are just looking for a relationship with someone who has the same values and interests as themselves.

So whether you’re dating in London or checking out potential partners in the US, online dating can be a great alternative than hitting the bars and hoping to hit it off with someone who genuinely interests you and isn’t just looking for a one-night-stand.  By finding your partner online, you’re able to build a real relationship with someone before you even meet them in person!  This is a great way to work dating into your hectic lifestyle and meet the person you’re meant to be with.

If you’re anything like my husband, then the thought of buying a gift for your spouse – or anyone, for that matter – is completely terrifying.  Since the first gift we bought for someone as a couple, my hubby has put the entire job of purchasing, wrapping, and delivering all gifts in my lap.

Don’t get me wrong, his name definitely goes on the tag and when asked, he smiles and says that WE picked the gift out specially for the receiver, but in reality, I do all the work!

The most recent gift we bought for someone together was for a family member of ours.  It was her birthday and we wanted to get her something we knew she’d been wanting -  a manicure/pedicure day at the spa!  While buying gifts for her is usually difficult because she tends to buy things for herself whenever she wants something, we knew this was something she wouldn’t be splurging on for herself any time soon.

As predicted, the spa day was among her favorite of all her birthday gifts. After a long day standing on her feet working, I’m sure the spa trip was exactly what she was needing.

Are you a horse lover?  Do you see a horse in the pasture and dream of riding it through an open field, wind rushing thru your hair and all your worries behind you?  If so, you’re probably quite familiar with the term “equestrian” and all that comes with actually learning to ride one of these majestic animals.

Now I’m not an equestrian; not by any means.  I like horses and all, but to be honest, I’m really scared of them!  THEY’RE HUGE!  Because I grew up in a rural area, I was familiar with seeing horses around.  It wasn’t out of the question for us to see a rider, decked out from helmet to chaps, and their horse trotting down a dirt road next to the highway.

One of my favorite horse back riding experiences was in Hawaii with my mother.  I have to admit, I was terrified to get on the horse!  I could tell my mother was, too, but since it was HER idea to go horse back riding in the first place, she tried to play it off.  Seeing those large creatures decked out in their horse equipment would be intimidating to anyone who’s never actually ridden horses before!

A few years after riding horses in Hawaii, I met a friend who cared for and rode horses professionally.  I was always amazed by how well she seemed to communicate with the horses.  I guess it explains why she took part in show jumping.  Her and the horses she rode seemed to talk without talking and sometimes I wondered if she wasn’t better friends with them than she was with me!

Gabrielle

A few years ago, I had a manager of mine bring me into her office to discuss the attire I had worn to work.  Since it was in an office that was never frequented by customers {I had a behind-the-scenes desk job answering phones}, I didn’t really see the point in getting dressed up beyond some jeans and a baggie t-shirt.  It wasn’t until my manager explained things to me that I began to understand why I should take a little more pride in how I present myself, even if nobody was going to see me.

During this meeting with my manager, we discussed how much better we feel about ourselves when we look nice.  No, this doesn’t mean we have to spend three hours in the mirror every morning piling on make-up and doing our hair up all pretty with some of those fancy clipless curling irons, but it does mean taking a moment to actually LOOK in the mirror!

While I will admit, the meeting with my former manager left me a little depressed for a while, it didn’t take long for me to realize how right she was.  Taking pride in how you look and taking the time to make eye contact with strangers as you pass them on the street can do wonders for your self-esteem.

It’s amazing how much better we feel about ourselves when we take the time to actually get presentable in the morning.  Whip out the top hair straighteners; brush on a little make-up; do whatever it takes to make you feel attractive to YOU!