3 Simple Steps to Summer Love

Around this time of year I always get an extra spring in
my step...

I'm sure it has a lot to do with the sun staying out longer
and the weather getting warmer, but I start feeling lighter,
more carefree and optimistic.

Can you relate?

If so, I'd like to encourage you to harness that energy and
positivity and use it toward creating a love filled (and drama-
free!) summer beyond your wildest expectations.

You *ABSOLUTELY* have the power to make it happen!

And if you need a little help getting into that positive
frame of mind, I can help with that too.

In fact, that's what today's email is all about. So slather
on the SPF, bust out your bikini, and read on for a DISH that
will prepare you to dive right into summer!

Are You Freaking Out Over Wedding Season?

Well it's officially summer, which means we've reached that
time of year again...

Every time you flip on the TV you're bombarded by another
"David's Bridal" commercial.

You can't drive anywhere on a Saturday without passing by a
park or church lawn that's crawling with a ginormous bridal
party involved in their post-wedding photo shoot.

And each time you open your mailbox, you find it's crammed with
"Save the Date!" reminders, "Come to Mindy's Bridal Shower!"
cards...

...and don't get you started on those wedding invitations
that weigh about four pounds and have a million little pieces
of paper in them ("Reserve your hotel room!"; "Directions to
the ceremony!"; "Tracy and Phil are registered at Bed, Bath
and Beyond!"; "RSVP to the post-wedding brunch!")

THEN out floats the most dreaded piece of paper of all:
the R.S.V.P. card:

(SFX: The theme song from the "Psycho" shower scene)

"You ... AND GUEST ___ will attend, ___will not attend."

ARGHHHHH!!!

It's like, "Oh THANKS, Tracy who I haven't heard from since college,
not only are YOU getting married and I'm not, but now I have to
stress out trying to figure out who my 'AND GUEST' will be?!?!?"

The only thing worse were if you had to be a BRIDESMAID!!!

(Can you tell I went through enough wedding seasons single to
commiserate?!?)

Well before you have a "wish-I-was-a-Bride"-zilla freak out,
your good friend Paige is here to come to your rescue!

We're gonna get through this together...

...we're going to do it with style and the fabulosity of a true
"Dating Without Drama" diva...

...and (GASP) we're even going to have FUN AND improve that
dating life of yours in the process.

(And who knows... it might just be Y-O-U sending out that four
pound invitation next summer! Wahooo!)

Are you ready to be SHOWERED with some Dating Dish tips?

Alright miss thing... let's DISH!

Who Pays The Bill on a Date?

Should you let him pay? Should you pay? You should split it? How you handle this seemingly small issue can make a big impression on your date. Learn how to make sure that impression is a good one with my Do's and Don't of Check Etiquette':

"Paige,
I stepped out of the dating scene for about 5 years and I am
truly rusty on a lot of basic things. I have a question that
I really need help with: 

When should we (or should we ever) as women offer to pay the
bill on a date? 

Your website has helped me out with my thought process on
dating. But I haven't read anything on 'who's paying for this
date.' Can you please write about that? 

Thanks,
Jahmalia"

What Should I Wear On A First Date?

Finding the right thing to wear on a first date is no easy task. Use these fail-proof tips to make sure you strike the right note to send the right message.

"Paige, 

I am about to go on a first date with a guy this weekend.
My question is what do I wear? Any recommendations? I want to
look nice but don't want to go over the top either. We are
meeting at a local coffee shop. 

Thanks,
Sheryl"

How Do You Avoid The Dangers of Dating?

When dating, you absolutely have to put your safety first,

always. That being said, it's not healthy to live in fear

either. How are you ever going to get to know someone special

if every guy who tries to put his arm around you gets a face

full of pepper spray and a kick in the groin?

Learn what to do with these DO's and DON'Ts OF SAFE DATING:

Funny "Worst First Date" Stories

When I announced the Dating Without Drama
WORST FIRST DATE CONTEST in my Dating Dish a while back,
I was looking forward to hearing from a few readers with
some amusing stories of dates gone awry...

I thought that a handful of people might want to share a
funny little anecdote about a date with strange eating
habits or bad taste in clothing.

I had NO IDEA what I was in for.

Mere moments after the newsletter went out, entries came
pouring in. We're talking hundreds. And they are nothing
short of HILARIOUS.

In fact, I had originally said I would choose 3 winners,
but there were so many fantastic stories, I had to pick 4!

First of all, my sympathy goes out to all of the women who
have had to endure such excruciatingly awkward, bizarre,
and downright painful first date experiences.

But I really have to commend you for having the STRENGTH
to get through them...

The CONFIDENCE to know that you can do WAY better...

... and the SENSE OF HUMOR to be able to look back,
laugh, and share the ordeal with your fellow daters!

I, for one, had a great time reading them and I
know that the Dating Divas reading today's DISH
will too!

So congratulations to:

Gayle W. of Costa Mesa, CA

Betsy A. of Spring Lake, NJ

Laura P. of Alberta, Canada and

Michelle A. of  Salisbury, Maryland

For your brilliant entries, you win a free copy of
my ebook "Dating Without Drama" plus the three fabulous
bonuses that come with it!

And now, for YOUR reading pleasure, here they are ...
the BEST "Worst First Date" stories!

Do's and Don'ts of Online Dating

There was a time when online dating was a hush-hush affair.

If you did it, you only told your closest friends about it.
And if you DID meet someone special online, the two of you
might have concocted a story about how you met ("He
accidentally put HIS milk in MY shopping cart at the grocery
store! Ha, ha, ha!")

Nowadays, though, online dating is about as common and
accepted as everyday e-mail. Millions of singles are finding
their mates online, and many of them with happy endings.

Of course, there are those NOT-SO-HAPPY endings-the e-mail
that goes unanswered, the men who seem to vanish into thin
air after what seems like a strong online connection...in
short, the kind of drama you might expect in a situation
where, up until the time when the two of you actually meet,
both parties have only a photo and a profile to stare at.

If you're in the throes of online dating and finding yourself
frustrated with the process - or even if you're just toying
with the idea of dating online - then today's DISH is
an absolute must-read.

Today we'll be taking a look at the TOP 10 DO'S AND DON'TS
OF ONLINE DATING...

...And how they can help you avoid some of the cyber-drama
that frequently goes hand in hand with the whole process.

While I can't guarantee you'll find love in the virtual world
(rather than the real world!), I can guarantee that if you
put my advice into practice, you'll get much better results
out of your online dating experience.

And who knows? You may just find THE ONE.