Hi, loves! Will I see you tomorrow at the Rules seminar in NYC at 7PM? Details on their website. I look forward to meeting you!
Tag: Rules Girl
Today’s Tip: Safety First! (Again)
There were a TON of pictures to choose from to pair with this post: morbidly obese men sitting at the computer in their underwear, creepy, thin men smiling that smile we hope never to see in person, hidden cameras, mug shots, dirty old men wearing blatently suggestive t-shirts, the list goes on… I went this picture because of its generally ominous feeling.
So ladies, do me (and yourself) a favor. When you are giving a new man your email address, don’t give him the one that’s your firstlastname@whatever.com. I realize this might be helpful for work, for people that you’ve already deemed safe, but it’s dangerous to use this as your main email, to chat with new men, and with people you’ve never met. Online stalkers are crafty. From your name, they can find you on Facebook, Instagram, your high school or college alumni website, your company’s website, find your address, see where you check-in on Yelp or FB or Foursquare… and show up… (with their vans). Aside from the fact that Rules Girls don’t check-in and tell everyone what we are up to at every minute, make sure your profiles are private to the public. If you’re on any dating sites that give your last name because it’s linked through Facebook, and they want to “create a genuine atmosphere” or whatever, change your last name to something fake, or use initials or your middle name on FB. Better safe than sorry.
Love and Luck!
Today’s Tip: How to Make a New Rulesy Start
Hello, loves! On this eve of all eves I want to wish you a very happy beginning to a brand new year! I hope you all have some fantastic plans to ring in the New Year. Perhaps you’re seeing a man you’re Rulesing? Maybe a singles’ mixer? Hosting a party? Or a night out with the girls? Whatever you’re doing, I hope you have a wonderful holiday.
A fresh start! Don’t you just adore those? As I was searching through a stack of books yesterday, I found the Rules Journal that Ellen and Sherrie gave to me during the certification process. I don’t write in it because I prefer to do my journaling a bit differently from the way the book is set up, but the journal is genius. It’s set up so that every week you focus on one Rule (or piece of a Rule) at a time. With the beginning of the New Year, I thought this idea could come in handy for anyone that’s brand new to being a CUAO and CUAOs that are struggling to remember or stick to The Rules. Learning The Rules is a process that doesn’t happen overnight. So taking it one week at a time, practicing, and focusing on one Rule at a time, will help build your success, confidence, and trust in The Rules. If you don’t buy the Journal, you can still do this yourself. Have a little heart-to-heart with yourself and make a list of The Rules you find most difficult. Chat with yourself about why they’re difficult for you, and choose one Rule per week to work on. You will make progress in doing The Rules and learn a lot about yourself in the process: win-win!!
Happy New Year’s Eve!
Today’s Tip- Holiday Rule 2: What to Gift Him
‘Tis the season to be giving… But what should that look like? I know a lot of you are super conscientious and are already thinking about shopping for your boyfriend’s [insert your particular gift-giving holiday for the season here] gift. I’m going to give this one to you straight. Here are the “Do’s” and “Do not’s.”
What NOT to get him:
- Anything that is mushy/romantic (no pictures, poetry, jewelry, chocolate, cologne, or love songs). Let him be the romance factory in the relationship.
- Anything that tries to change him or forces your taste on him. (You want him to wear button-down shirts, but he doesn’t like them. You think he looks great in yellow; he knows he looks like Big Bird. You want him to read a book on politics or relationships or business…) You love him for who he is!
- Anything sneaky or manipulative (You want to place reminders of yourself in his home so you buy him throw pillows for his couch, or a blanket for his bed, or plates, or wine glasses, or monogrammed towels, etc. Pictures also fall into this category.) If he loves you, he is already thinking about you all the time. If he isn’t, why are you buying him a gift? Register for all that stuff together when you’re planning the wedding!
- Anything alive.
So what kind of gift DO we give the man in our life? Something he will like, fits his interests, and doesn’t break the bank (no more than $50-100). Here are some ideas:
- Bottle of whisk(e)y (rye, scotch, bourbon), rum, brandy, or tequila
- Small batch craft beer (You can customize a 6-pack in a worthy beer store.)
- Beer recipe book (recipes that mimic famous brews) since everyone is into brewing these days
- A book on a (nonromantic) topic he would enjoy: sports statistics, woodworking, horror or sci-fi novel, a travel book about what/where to eat in Japan because he will be there for business next month (not the honeymoon trip you’re dreaming of), the Civil War, the history of tattoos, etc.
- A hat: baseball, flat cap, winter
- Hoodie/sweater/button-down/polo shirt
- Gloves and/or a scarf (Store-bought. Do not make these.)
- Sweatshirt/T-shirt of his favorite sports team
- Cigars
- A video game
- A DVD (documentary, action movie, superhero movie, Best of xyz Sporting Event) he’d like and some snacks: Sriracha popcorn, pistachios, mixed nuts, pretzels, beef jerky, etc.
- Miracle Berry Tablets and a bag of lemons, limes, and oranges (And I highly recommend some Tums for after he raids the entire fridge.)
- Geeky gadgets or t-shirts
- A fancy straightedge razor
So what do you get the guy…
…you’ve been seeing for a month? Nothing! It’s only been a month! Don’t scare the dude away.
…you’re married to? Anything he would like!
Today’s Tip: Holiday Rule 1
The holiday season is upon us! That being the case, there are a few Rules we really need to keep in mind at this time of year. Over the next few weeks I will review them all, but let’s start with this one:
Let him lead!
This Rule has a lot of branches, but the one you need to focus on the most during the holidays is that you shouldn’t be introducing him to your friends before he introduces you to his friends… Or your family before you meet his family. I know it is tempting with all of the gatherings and get-togethers. And the best friend that’s in from out-of-town. And the aunts that sit you down every holiday to itemize the efforts you’ve been making to meet a man. And you’ve gone to the last 2 Thanksgivings alone. And it’s what I call “Diamond Season.” But you have to let things develop at the right speed. If you don’t rush and you play your cards right, you could be celebrating your own engagement by this time next year!
Today’s Tip- Wednesday for Saturday
Well, it’s Thursday! Do you have a date on Saturday? Did he ask in time? You are far too amazing to sit around waiting! So, if he didn’t ask by yesterday, it looks like you’re free! What plans are you going to make? Here are some ideas:
Dinner/drinks with the girls
Rollerskating/bowling/shooting range
That movie you’ve been wanting to see
Hunkering down for hurricane Joaquin with Netflix (Do you have emergency supplies, just in case?)
One of those painting classes that are all the rage right now
Switch out that summer wardrobe for the winter one or vice versa
Brunch
Hiking in the woods to enjoy the fresh air
Visit the family
Join a Meetup- they have a lot of singles’ mixers
See if there’s something on your bucket list you can check off or plan for
Reread The Rules
What woman is interested in sitting around waiting for a last-minute invitation to do something on Saturday night? We have far too much to keep us busy. Friends to see, other men to date, hobbies, classes! Okay, maybe we don’t *always* have something to do… But that doesn’t mean we are interested in being an afterthought, a last-minute-last-choice, “what-are-you-doing-tonight?” date. I don’t know about you, but I prefer a man that asks me out with plenty of notice (by Wednesday) for Saturday. You can tell a lot about how he feels about you based on when he asks you out for Saturday night. If he thinks about you during the week, can’t wait to see you, and is worried you might be whisked away by another man, he will pin you down so you’re definitely his date on Saturday night! He will research the restaurant so you’re sure to like it. He will book tickets to something he knows you want to see… Something to make sure he impresses you and makes you happy. Some men even ask for next week at the end of every date so he’s SURE he gets to see you. If he’s not doing these things, but calling you on Saturday afternoon to “hang out tonight,” how smitten could he be? Worse, how do you know his first-choice date didn’t just cancel on him and now he’s settling for your company? You, my loves, are much more than a consolation prize!
Now, if this is a new relationship or you realize you’re in a bad habit of accepting last-minute dates… It’s possible he really does like you but he’s been spoiled in the past by your or women who do say yes to last-minute invitations. When he calls past Wednesday, just muster up a sweet voice and say “Oh I wish I could but I already have plans…” (Don’t tell him what they are, and don’t counter with another day that you are free.) If he’s really interested, he will eventually figure out to ask you out sooner. If he doesn’t, better you know his level of interest now. Win-win!
Today’s Tip #2- Where the Men Are
Have you been having trouble figuring out where to meet men? Bars are either too crowded, loud, not the right vibe… You work with mostly women… Your hobbies are typically of the female persuasion… Your friends have dropped the ball in introducing you to anyone… The dating sites aren’t getting you very far… Whatever the reason, you’ve got to start thinking outside of the box to meet Mr. Right.
Step #1: Start thinking about the kind of man you want to meet. Is he into art? A sports fan? An avid reader? A firefighter?
Step #2: Get your butt to an art museum or gallery opening, a baseball/football/volleyball/hockey/soccer game, the book store/library, or a chili cook-off!
In my case, I love a good food festival! But I’m not going to go to a wine and cheese festival in the hopes of meeting a straight guy; it just doesn’t happen… No, typically, those attendants will be couples, groups of girlfriends, gay men– all good people… It’s just not the place to go to meet my Mr. Right. What is a good place, you ask? Well for me, it’s THIS:
Pig Island. It’s a festival of men’s favorite things: unlimited beer, whiskey, and meat. To quote straight from the website…
“…the tasting event will be tasking area chefs to create ambitious dishes using hogs from Flying Pigs Farm as their inspiration. For attendees, it’s about … delicious bites of pork, from pulled pork to whole-roasted beasts to hot dogs and beyond… In addition to all the pork belly (and shoulder and chops and ribs), they’ll have plenty of free-flowing beer, cider and wine (all included in the ticket), plus a brand new ‘Whiskey Tent’ that sounds both amazing and dangerous.” The Gothamist, Pig Island Preview.
So if you’re going to be in the NYC area (I know, I knowwww! It’s Brooklyn… But you don’t have to live there, just visit for the afternoon) on Saturday, September 12, 2015, from 11:30-4:00, go enjoy some delicious food, have a drink or two, and mosey around so Mr. Right can find you. Just remember to let him talk to you first!
Here’s a link to Pulsd Pig Island $65 General Admission ticket. (Have you heard of Pulsd? It’s similar to Groupon.) They have tickets at a 30% discount from the official Pig Island website.
Enjoy! :@
Hello!
Welcome to Advice by Alicia! I am thrilled to be here to answer your dating scene questions and spread this wealth of knowledge known as The Rules (TM).
Having been a Rules Girl, or CUAO (Creature Unlike Any Other), for sometime, I decided I should make it official and become a Certified Rules Dating Coach. Many of my friends and I live and breathe The Rules(TM). We practice dialogue with each other, take turns being strong and steadfast in The Rules when the other is weak, and share in our Rules successes!
When I started this blog a few years ago, my bestie was engaged and planning her wedding to a wonderful man thanks to The Rules! They had a beautiful, intimate beach ceremony and have been happily married for years!
I met my Mr. Right just a few months after becoming officially Rules certified, got engaged, married in the sweetest intimate ceremony, and had a champagne brunch reception! Beautiful and perfect. …and now… we just had a baby!
I cannot wait to help you find your path to being as happily married as I am. There’s nothing like it. Plenty of people are married; but not everyone is so lucky to have found The Rules.
What are The Rules? Visit my About the Rules page to find out more!
Advice by Alicia 