By Dani

Before stepping out on that first date with the woman of your dreams, make sure you have a good idea of how you are going to keep the conversation flowing.

You don’t want awkward pauses or the fact that you have an entire room dedicated to Star Wars memorabilia to come out. Beautiful women can be intimidating, so you need to keep yourself level-headed. Keep the following tips in mind:

1. First of all, remind yourself that she said YES to a date with you! Be confident that she must find you attractive, smart or funny enough to spend time with! So keep your head up and act like you are worthy of her company! A little bit of self assurance goes a long way. Get a haircut, wear your favorite shirt (which preferably does NOT have glitter on it) and put just a splash of cologne on so you feel and look the part.
2. Don’t be overly confident. Nothing turns a woman off more than too much cockiness. If you catch yourself talking too much, take a breather and ask her some questions. If you notice that you have told her your entire life history but you don’t even know what she does for work, you need to stop talking and start listening.
3. Pay her at least a couple of compliments. The first one should come out right when you meet up. Take one look at her and tell her that she looks gorgeous. The second one can come out at your discretion. Try and hone in on something that she takes pride in. If she plays with her hair a lot, chances are that she is obsessed with her hair. Tell her that she has beautiful hair! If she tells you about her passion for fashion – tell her that you can tell because she has great taste. You can overdo the compliments so stick with 2-3 at the very most.
4. Women love talking about themselves. Heck, everyone loves talking about themselves! Ask her questions that aren’t too personal but allow her to tell you what she is passionate about – such as “how do you typically spend your Saturdays?” or “who inspires you?” Don’t turn to boring topics like the weather, her favorite color or the last political debate (unless you are both really into that).
5. The trick to having smooth conversation on a first date is finding common ground. This is where you need to ask the right questions to get her talking. Avoid closed-ended questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. Instead, ask her about her hobbies, where she went to school, where she grew up and what she does for work. Don’t get too personal or she will be put off. Make eye contact when she is talking – every woman values a good listener.

Remember to always end a date with “I had a really great time”. If you truly do want to see her again, tell her so. Chances are, if the conversation flowed smoothly and you had enough in common, she will want to see you again too.

5 First Date Conversation Tips is a post from: Dating Beautiful Women

Why Remember All Those Names

Few skills are as important for social relationships as remembering names. Dale Carnegie hit gold when he said “A person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” It’s really no less than that.

People often, because of one reason or the other, don’t commit as much as they should on this. Better for us: it’s a big handicap. You can make a great impression on people if you remember their names, even after just a one minute chit-chat. You’ll immediately stand out: they will start looking at you with different eyes.

And it’s easy. We are not talking about remembering complex topics, structures, words, etc… Just a name. It’s truly worth all the effort. Whoever wants to be a successful networker has to remember names.

Here are a few quick tips that will help you out:

1- Make it a habit

Only a loser will say he’s bad with names or faces. Perhaps you are not naturally good with it, but then it’s when you got to work hard and strive to get better at it. All it takes it commitment to work and not to give excuses.

If you want to remember the names of everyone you meet, make a clear decision of doing so. Every day you go out to work, to a party or to a meeting remind yourself of making your best effort to remember everyone’s name.

Don’t focus only on the big guys. Instead, try to remember everyone’s name. For example, if you take the same bus every morning, or eat somewhere too often, ask the guy’s names. Next time, a “Hello, XXX” will make the service even much better. It’s that simple.

2- Concentration

Be concentrated when you ask someone’s name. For those few seconds don’t get distracted and be completely focused on that person. He or she has to have all your attention so you make sure you’ll remember the name.

It could happen that you are introduced hastily and you don’t have time to clearly hear the name nor to concentrate enough. Then just politely ask for the name again. Same if you don’t understand: excuse yourself and tell them you are having trouble understanding. You’ll have to make sure you get the name right.

Then, if the situation is good for it, shake hands or kiss saying loud “Nice to meet you, NAME” while you have a smile on your face. This way is the best to show warmth from the very beginning

3- Repeat, speak

Repeat the name often enough so it gets a place in your memory. Do it immediately, then silently to yourself and also keep using it during your conversation. It’s good if you use phrases as “You know, NAME, …” as it serves the double purpose of repeating the name and of making the other person comfortable.

Also, if you have the possibility, introduce this new person to your other friends. Call one and tell him or her, “Hey, this is NAME.” Something so simple will leave a lasting impression on this person. It’s a perfect way of standing out from the mediocre rest.

Finally, once you left the place, write down the names of the people you met. Do it along some small facts about their lives and looks you’ll later use to associate. For example: Bob, brown hair, lawyer, basketball fan. Make it a habit and the pay off will be, in the future, huge.

4- Practice and associate

If your memory is really bad and you just can’t remember people’s names, sit down and work. Take all those memory games, cards and materials around and practice. Memory is like a muscle: the more you exercise it, the better it will work. And you want it to work as best as possible, right?

To help out, also try associating. Associate the person (and the name) to whatever feels the most comfortable to you. Some people associate to their impression of the person, others to joke, others to words, etc. To what you associate it’s depends just on you. Find what kinds of associations make it the easiest for you to remember.

5- Social networking

Social Networks made it really simple to remember people’s names. If it’s possible and won’t look too intrusive, add your new friends to networks as Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. You’ll have their names, personal information and photos for you to keep in the loop.

I also like social networks because they are especially great to take care of acquaintances. Perhaps you don’t have anything important to speak about in the short term, but a few tweets, messages and updates can keep you off that person’s metal attic.

Do you have any other tips or techniques to remember people’s names? Let us know!

Photo credit: russelljsmith

How to Remember Everyone’s Name is a post from: Dating Beautiful Women

By Dani

We have all heard it: breaking up is hard to do. When you realize that the woman you are dating is not right for you, there is only one thing to do. Stop wasting your (and her) time and end the relationship.

It’s no secret that she won’t be thrilled about you ending the relationship, regardless of how long it has been. However there are ways of severing a relationship that don’t need to result in uncontrollable sobbing or theatrics. Whether you wish to make an attempt at a friendship or just make a clean break, you owe it to her to send her away feeling respected.

If she is prone to emotional outbreaks, meet her somewhere public like a coffee shop. This may sound insensitive but it is really going to save you both some embarrassment. If you break up with her in public, she will be less likely to scream at you or throw things at you (I hope).

Whatever you do, DON’T dump her via text message, email or by Facebook. These are cowardly techniques that will speak poorly of your character. Dumping over the phone is not preferable but if done tactfully can be acceptable.

Be kind and respectful. Tell her that you really enjoyed the time you had together but you just aren’t feeling the chemistry any more. Be honest but not cruel. If you can’t stand the giant mole on her back or think she is gaining weight and can’t deal with it, try to keep that to yourself. If you say something that will hurt her feelings, she will be telling the entire town about what a jerk you were. Leave her with the feeling that you have a great deal of respect for her but just don’t see a future.

While we’re on the subject of honesty – don’t tell her that you want to be friends if you really don’t. It’s perfectly acceptable to sever your ties; most relationships end this way. However, if you give her false hope that she can keep calling you, she probably will. Once you have a new girlfriend in your life she will feel betrayed and hurt.

Be firm. If she tries to tell you that she will change for you, don’t waiver. If she tries to seduce you, don’t fall into her trap. Breaking up will not be any easier if you let it drag on for weeks or months. Breaking up is akin to pulling off a Band-Aid – just do it quickly and eventually the pain will go away. If you pull it off slowly, it hurts way more for way longer.

Don’t disrespect her behind her back. Calling your ex crazy, psychotic, needy or high maintenance just makes you sound spiteful. Women don’t like to hear you speak poorly of others because it makes us feel like you might say that about us one day!

When breaking up with someone, it is important that you respect both the woman and the relationship. Give her time to digest the information. If she cries, let her. Hug her. Part on good terms for both the sake of your reputation and out of courtesy to the woman you (hopefully) still had a good time with.

How to Graciously Dump Your Girlfriend is a post from: Dating Beautiful Women

By Dani

Once you have secured a date with the woman you have been fantasizing about, you have to master that first date.

You groom yourself to perfection, prepare a romantic surprise and then proceed to sweep her off of her feet. If her response is lukewarm, this might leave you wondering: Is she right for me?

The only way to know for sure is with time. Don’t perceive her aloof attitude incorrectly – she may just be shy. The best way to know if she is into you is to ask for a second date. She won’t agree if she isn’t interested.

While “love at first sight” is a romantic idea, it is not all that common. True love takes time to develop and nurture. There are a few signs that could indicate that your feelings for her are more than just lust:

1. You can’t stop thinking about her. This is normal in the first few weeks of dating someone new. However if you are out with your buddies, at the football game or on a bachelor party in Vegas and you keep wishing that you were with her instead, you might have been hit by cupid’s arrow.
2. You can’t wait to introduce her to your parents. This is a huge step for many guys and not one to be taken lightly, especially if you are close with your parents. Don’t scare her off by throwing her into an uncomfortable situation before she is ready. Wait at least a few weeks and ask her if she would like to meet them. Then prepare her for it.
3. Everything is more fun when she is around. A true “soul mate” will be your best friend too – someone who makes you laugh and you have fun with no matter what you are doing.
4. You can picture a future with her. The right woman will fit into your future plans perfectly – even if they involve moving to Alaska for work or traveling Egypt to visit the pyramids. While all relationships take compromise on major life decisions, a good relationship will feel natural and comfortable despite what life throws at you. The best relationships will be able to weather any storm.
5. She challenges you to be a better person. Long term relationships require work and excitement. You don’t want to be sitting on the couch watching your waistline grow in 5 years. Pick a partner that you can go out and have fun with, while learning new things like cooking, martial arts, hiking, etc.
6. Your chemistry is undeniable. Let’s face it – the “honeymoon period” wears off in any relationship. If you and your partner can keep things fresh and fun both inside and outside of the bedroom, you will grow stronger together as a couple.

There is no magic formula that will tell you whether a woman is right for you. It is a feeling that comes from within you. While attraction is important, your strong bond is what will keep you yearning for each other as time goes by.

Top 6 Ways to Know If She Is Right For You is a post from: Dating Beautiful Women

Snorers – those bastards. How many times did we lose a good night sleep because of the unstoppable, terrible noise coming from these guys? Sometimes they are friends, sometimes they are not – but rest assured, in that moment all we want is them to silence.

If you a traveler, especially one who roams around hostels, you’ll know what kind of problem snorers are. Dorm rooms, usually with four beds or more, are the typical place to encounter them. And it’s a disgrace – after hours and hours of walking around, visiting museums and partying hard all you want is a good, SILENT time to rest.

A science then developed – during my time on the road, I learned techniques and strategies to finally silence snorers.

1- Get Earplugs

Simple and straightforward – all backpackers and travelers alike must have earplugs. They are a cheap, fast and effective solution to silencing noise. You won’t need to worry about the snorer if you just can’t hear him.

This strategy won’t attack the ‘core’ of the problem (the other ones will), but, unless you are dealing with a dinosaur snorer, you’ll be able to get your good night sleep. If you wake up with an alarm clock, just make sure it’s loud enough to still wake you up.

2- Clap Hard

I’ve learned this technique while traveling in Bolivia – and it’s surprisingly effective. When you hear a consistent snoring go ahead and make a loud and hard clap – make it so loud that your hands hurt.

In most cases (70%+), this sole action is enough. I don’t know what plays in here – but the clap immediately stops the snorer AND it doesn’t wake him up. It’s kind of a miracle, and I’ve seen this technique succeed many times.

If one clap doesn’t work, go for a second one, then a third one and up to a fourth. If he still doesn’t stop, move on to technique #3.

(For the record, a big snorer in my Rome hostel just two days ago, the inspiration for this post, was completely silent after my third clap.)

3- Wake the Snorer Up

Many would think it’s rude to do it – especially when dealing with people you don’t know, but this is nevertheless effective. Wake the snorer up and he’ll stop snoring – it’s dead simple. He’ll be pissed, he’ll probably hate you – but who cares. You need to sleep, and for that you need him to be quiet.

In a hostel environment, others will celebrate you. Few people have the guts to go and wake the snorer up – if you do, all those others trying to sleep will love you and thank you for doing what they were afraid to.

Usually the snorer will be back to sleep (and snoring) soon after. Fall asleep before he does, or otherwise you’ll have to wake him up again or proceed to the last technique.

4- Call the Police

As ridiculous as it sounds, I saw this happen at a hostel in Vienna. In a weird turn of events, an Aussie friend and I were sharing a room with an Algerian guy and two 60+ years old women.

You can’t imagine how big of a snorer the Algerian was – I had never seen (or heard) something like that in my life. It was probably easier to fall asleep in a heavy metal concert than in that hostel room.

It was the first time that I actually stood up and woke someone up. I was shy, but desperate – it was a real pain to even be there. The others were grumbling and cursing, especially as the guy went back into his concert two minutes after being awoken. Terrible.

While I was utterly resigned, one of these old women stood up, put a coat on and left the room. Ten minutes later, she was back and with a policeman next to her. The policeman woke the Algerian guy and took him away.

I never saw the Algerian again.

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Photo Credit

How to Silence a Snorer is a post from: Dating Beautiful Women