Ladies: Is Love Really All You Need To Get Hitched?

Single Parent Dating

Come on, I know what you’re thinking. Most romantics would agree with the title. All you need is love. A lot of women believe this is the only reason to get married. It’s so easy to say, but when it comes down to it, is it really true? After all, times are different now. Back then marriage was about stability, a promised future, and certain social status. Today, you can marry any man you want and all you need is two witnesses and to be happy with his, um, assets. Before you make the plunge, consider the following points:

• The first thing we have to check out is how the two of you interact during a problem or crisis. Can the two of you really handle one another or do you find someone pulling more weight than the other? I’ve seen couples go both ways, but no matter what reactions they had there was a hidden balance. Balance being they were able to work with each other, not against one another. A husband should be like a secretary, if you call in for a week they should be able to take over right away and pick up your slack with ease. Teamwork is important. You can’t be a one woman team, if you want to be, go ahead and enjoy being single until you’re ready.

• A lot of people don’t admit it, but having security really is a huge part in a couple’s relationship. You might be finishing up a college degree while he stays at home and plays Call of Duty on his Xbox. Don’t get me wrong, a man having gaming habits is a nice way to receive some space, but if this is all he does, is it worth it? A man has to have a job or some kind of dream of becoming more. You know the women that stay with the starving and struggling artist, it’s because they truly believe he will make it big someday, no matter how long it takes. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is. Bottom line, ensure there is ambition within him or else you’ll be wondering why you never questioned it sooner.

• The biggest and most common question is the trust you hold within each other. You can love someone till the end of time, but if you’re torturing yourself day after day wondering if he’s seeing someone on the side based on his past, it’s not going to work. I say this because I care. Women are sympathetic, they want to be the ones to change their ways, but we have to accept the fact that sometimes it is not an option. Do not, I repeat, do not torture yourself if you question his intentions. You do not want to waste your time with someone who doesn’t care about you. By the time it’s over, you could have been happily married to some other guy for years. Don’t do it. Follow and trust your instincts on this.

Don’t get me wrong, loving someone is half the battle, but it cannot be the only thing you contemplate before making a life-long commitment. If you’ve honestly considered all of these ideas and still have some positive thoughts about your man, you have my personal blessing to get hitched. If later down the road you realize you’d made a horrible mistake, no big deal. You can always get your ring appraised and find out how much your diamond worth is and resell it.

Fran Delaney writes on love, relationships and marriage from her hometown of Los Angeles, CA.

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Women

Single Parent Dating

Valentines Day can send women into hopeful daydreaming, and because men know this, it can send men into panic mode. Fortunately, there are things you can do to make a woman’s heart flitter and stomach flip-flop (in the most romantic possible way, of course), and they don’t have to cost you a fortune, or a trip to the shopping mall. Need some ideas? Here are some great Valentines Day gifts for women:

A mix tape. You don’t have to find cassette tapes (and a tape recorder, for that matter) to create a mix tape, and a well-considered music compilation might just be the sweetest thing you can do for a woman (or anyone, actually). Need inspiration? Think of all the special, fun, or funny times you had together and include songs from that “soundtrack.” Also, be sure to include any song(s) that make you think of her, or your love for her.

Love Book. Visit the Love Book website to create a custom book all about the special woman in your life. From the easy to navigate interface, you can choose your book cover, title, pages, images, and text. You can even write your own pages, for a special touch. Love Book is a great way to create a keepsake that will make her smile every time she sees it.

Framed photos. In this day and age of digital cameras and smart phone pictures, you can make a great Valentines Day gift by making a custom piece of art out of a real photograph. Choose a special picture that you feel best represents your relationship, or even that depicts a memorable moment or a private joke, and take it to a custom framer to have it matted and framed. To go above and beyond, write a special message, or choose a favorite poem or text, and have it set into the matting.

Pampering. No matter what your woman’s tastes are, you really can’t go wrong with giving her a day of pampering at the spa. Show her how much she means to you by treating her to a massage, a facial, a pedicure and more. Call local spas and ask about their Valentines Day specials. You’ll be amazed at the deals you can find.

As you can see, there are many special things you can do to show your love on Valentines Day, and those things don’t require a lot of money. However, they do involve a lot of thought and consideration . . . which is exactly what she’ll be loving you for all the more the day she opens your gift.

About the Author: Gaylord Buhrman is an EKG technician on a tight budget. He and his wife have been married for 27 years and he knows that a thoughtful gift is far more important than a thoughtless and expensive gift.

Dating in a Foreign Country

Christian Singles

Traveling abroad is a unique opportunity to get completely immersed in an entirely new culture.  You have the chance to learn about history, taste traditional foods and beverages, explore city landmarks, and possibly practice a second language.  Why not share this amazing experience with a stud muffin from the area?

Dating abroad can be refreshing and incredibly fun!  That being said, many people are skeptical of foreign flirtation, so I’ve created the following convincing argument:

Why date abroad?

1.  Because the men in your city just aren’t cutting it.  Surrounded by elderly gents?  Military men?  Gangsters?  Move it or lose it, sister!  Get out of town and explore what else the world has to offer.  There are nearly 7 billion people on this planet.  The problem is they’re not all conveniently located within a 60-mile radius.  That would be absolutely terrifying.  Time to set your sights on a new land and a new man!
2.  Visit a foreign city’s hidden gems.  Blend in with the locals at the best pubs, restaurants, stores, and city hot spots that tourists don’t know about.  Yes, you’re probably using your date to be hipster cool in a foreign city, but he’s probably using you to look popular…sooo whatever.
3.  Opportunity to learn and practice a foreign language.  Si, oui, da…that’s what you’ll say when the cute guy asks you out.  In all honesty, dating someone who speaks in a foreign tongue can be the best way to learn a new language.  You pick up on vocabulary quickly, and you begin to perfect the accent.  One of the perks: If you mess up, you don’t get reprimanded; you get kissed.
4.  Learn from the movie thriller Taken.  Without a doubt, there are dangerous, manipulative men everywhere, and they target innocent, female tourists.  Don’t be naïve.  It’s incredibly important to be hyper aware of your surroundings.  Avoid travelling places alone and always let a friend know where you’ll be going.  It is probably a smart idea to meet in a crowded place for your first dinner date.  Good luck.
5.  What’s the worst that could happen?  Chances are you’re in this new place for a limited amount of time.  If you somehow manage to make a disaster out of your date, you can avoid run-ins with the guy for a very, very long time.  Takes a lot of the pressure off!
6.  Great storytelling!  Your friends back home will undoubtedly want juicy details from your travels.  They will absolutely love hearing about your date, and you will enjoy re-living the romance, humor, or drama.
7.  Dating is a great way to meet people anywhere.  No matter the place, you can always enjoy time spent with someone new, interesting, and exciting.  Every date teaches you something—about the place, the person, and/or yourself!
Convinced?  I sure hope so!  Start planning your next adventure abroad and be open-minded about the foreign dating game. You might fall in love with the place or the man…or both.  You can definitely find reasonable flights on travel sights, such as Travelocity.com.  Don’t forget to use a promo code for Travelocity to save!

Erin Prickett is a dating enthusiast and an experienced traveler.  She spent a summer in Mexico and four months exploring several parts of Europe.  Prickett recommends that you use a promo code for Travelocity to save on your next romantic adventure.