2013 ~ a Dating Year in Review

Ahhhhh, as promised the "Best of 2013"

Seems like everyone is compiling their lists of "Top 10 _________ of 2013", so I figured why not give a shout out to all the fun this year of dating has brought!

I chose my order of ranking not by the men & our compatibility, but on the experience of our time together...some were a blip, some short & sweet, other's I at least remember their name ;)

Here we go...

#10. Didn't Have to Leave my Couch Guy ~

ok, I'll admit I did get off the couch to do my happy dance when he stood me up! 

We met at speed dating, got the email "we're a match", the texting began, which led to the phone call to plan our date, or so I thought...it actually turned into an hour & 1/2 whine-fest about his life, saved by my "dying" battery we left it in his court to pick our restaurant & was never heard from again - YES!! Cracked open a bottle of wine & had the best date in with myself!

#9. The Napper ~

You gotta wonder when at some point in every conversation we had he talks about his naps - how often is this guy awake? I woke him up one too many times...

#8. The Sext-er ~

the 1st Tinder casualty, he had the amazing talent of turning every conversation sexual, even when I'd call him out on it, he'd slide right into sext-er mode.

We never even made it to voice-on-voice contact...

#7. Slouching Buddha ~

the name says it all

#6. Mr. Accent ~

ok, we all know I'm a sucker for an accent, especially a British one, throw in tall, wears glasses & is an artist, I was a goner...

if only we had found common interests to share, oh & I wasn't bored out of my mind...cheerio

#5. The Nice Guy ~

what can I say, he was a very nice guy...just not "my" nice guy. Thank you for some lovely evenings! There's a nice gal out there for you :)

#4. The Vanisher ~

probably the most enjoyable date of the year conversationally...never to return again

#3. The Cheshire Cat ~

a mixture of characters this gentleman was as he regaled me with tales of his directing feats, for movies of the week are  

 such creative faire. As he puffed on his electric cigarette, the red glow was all I could see...was he? Could he be? The hookah-smoking Caterpillar? Or, no wait! I recognize that floating grin, for its the Cheshire Cat in the dark corner of the hipster bar Wonderland...

#2. Mr. Fun ~

I like to refer to him as my "palate cleanser".

He arrived after a series of blah dates & invigorated my dating spirit! Lots of laughs, 

a great kisser & quite the tequila connoisseur - ole!

Drum rollllllllll please...

& the #1 spot for best date experience 2013 goes toooooooo

#1. Mr. A.D.D. ~

what can I say? You never know whats gonna happen next! 

From impromptu drinks to elegant dining, racing through the city streets on the back of his bike to warm & cozy by the fire...fun & exciting, yet lacking focused connection, but hey I can focus in other areas...let's get on the bike & go! Such a rush!

So there you have it ~ the top 10 men of 2013!

On the line-up for 2014 ~ warming up in the on deck circle...

Our conversations (email/text/phone) have been had, 

now its down to in person...batter up!

Here's their stats ~

The Librarian ~ new in town, this Canadian librarian has blue eyes & book smarts...I could get lost in this combo.

The Restauranteur ~ genuine smile, witty & quite charming...only thing is - he sounds exactly like my gay boyfriend Marc on the phone...let's hope in person he's straight!

The 2nd Time Around Guy ~ a few years out of his divorce, 2 teenage kids, seems stable, had a great 1st date, makes me laugh...we'll see :)

While it looks like I'll have to wait another year to experience my 1st New Year's Eve kiss,

I have a really great feeling about the year ahead!!

And sure, there may still be some frogs along the way, but the romantic in me believes love might just be around the corner...

Until then I wish you all a happy, healthy & wonderful 2014!!!

I leave you with one of my all-time favorite "feel good" movie scenes ~ enjoy!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!

xo,

Carlie

Love Me Tinder-ly

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

Hope you're all enjoying a wonderful holiday season!!

Heading back home to Colorado soon, with my fingers crossed for a white Christmas, and figured I'd share a lil update on the dating scene...

oh, I should do a "Best of 2013" list, hmmmm that could be fun! ~ stay tuned for that one ;)

So, where were we?

Ah, yes, I was having some self-discoveries & decided to step back from the fun fling guy...

Logical next step ~ Speed dating!

Packed up the car with water, snacks & lipstick in preparation for my journey to the Westside.

The evening's event was being hosted by a few Meet-up groups & was taking place in an alehouse that sounded like a cool place to check out.

Also figured it was good to change up the locale, check out the Westside male offerings ;)

It was fun.

Met some cool ladies prior to it starting, which is always the case, (there's a lot of great single gals out there, c'mon guys!) 

We chatted as the men started to arrive. All anxiously wondering if this is the night we may meet "him"...

Wellllll...

 It was a very diverse group, which is cool, there's a type for everyone.

I, myself, met 15 men in LA I did not need to know further.

I totally enjoyed our "mini" dates, conversations were good, but I was having trouble getting past the basic starters.

I wasn't going deep & hard-hitting with my questions. I wasn't revealing much about myself either. 

And, yes that is challenging with the allotted 5 minutes.

I'll admit I may not have been at my "A" game, but I was out there....

Funnily enough, during the evening I got a text from Mr Fun in the Meantime.

I hadn't heard from him in a while.

I will say I had never reached out to say "I'm moving on", kinda just figured that we were that casual to fade away...

Nope  ~ boot-ay text mid-speed dating!

Its always so interesting to me how they "sense" the interest shift away from them...no, wait, remember me, we should hang out again, or at least tonight...

Decision time

Answer OR ignore the text?

I went with Answer. If I'm going to date w/dignity, I gotta answer.

Played it cool, sussed out the situation, definitely was a boot-ay text.

Decision time

Have some fun, cuz none of these 15 guys panned out OR honor your desires for a real relationship?

I decided to respect what I had already learned & not to go down that path again that ultimately left me lonelier than before.

I told him he was a great guy, enjoyed hanging out but I'm looking for more than what he's admittedly willing to give.

**a HUGE moment for me!! Speaking my needs, even if/when its scary** 

 He totally respected it, said I was awesome, enjoyed all our dates & wished me well.

It felt so genuine, that it caused me to pause...maybe? maybe he is a cool guy & I'm giving up too soon?

Thankfully it only took me 2 seconds to catch myself. He wasn't saying he wants what I want, he wasn't trying to convince me to give it a go, he was just being a great guy, validating our time together.

Done...next?

So I think I may have ranted previously about the latest dating app that everyone seems to be doing & how I couldn't imagine doing it...

yeah well, I'm doing it & LOVING IT!

I think it was my Pilates instructor relating it to video poker that I began to see the FUN in it. I was being way too serious about it before & viewing it as just another vehicle for possible rejection seeing as its so visually based...

Screw that! Its a riot & seriously addicting!

Its like winning in Vegas when you click "yes" on a profile & you're a match, a new screen pops up, your pics roll together & voila - a match! 

If only the sound of coins chinging happened, that'd be perfection - jackpot!

I'm currently taking the stance of sitting back & letting the men contact me first 

(which is texting via the site)

My rationale is that my "liking" of your profile shows my interest, step up to the plate, let's see what you've got...

In the future I may reach out, but so far I've got too many conversations to keep track of... 

Being a week in to the game, I've already had some pretty fantastic dates!

Cocktails in a log cabin

Disco Christmas drinks & laughing the night away

To a 2nd date that had adventure written all over it that I couldn't say no to, no matter how scary some parts sounded
(you'll laugh at what scared me)
This guy is pretty intense, knows what he wants, direct questions, digs deep, is spontaneous, & fun ~ I kinda dug him.

For the 2nd date his plan was ~ Motorcycle ride...Hollywood Hills...cocktails, dinner...fireplace

Oh yeah, this sounded GREAT! Except the fireplace part scared the bejesus outta me!

Never been on a motorcycle before, did that scare me? Noooo!

Exhilarate me, yes! The nervous scariness of that is a rush in the moment.

And the fireplace can be that same exhilarating rush too, & even better WHEN its with the right guy...but c'mon this is date 2, let's just have fun, keep getting to know each other...

The ride through the city & the hills was AMAZING!!! Cutting through the crisp air, flashing past the holiday lights, holding tight, leaning in to the curves, the rev of the engine, picking up speed, passing the cars & off in to the open - oh my god!

Yeah that's a rush!

Dinner was a surprise, 

I had no clue what to expect since I don't know his tastes well enough, or at all really.

Well, from racing through the streets of LA, we shifted to completely different gears and had the most delicious 5 course tasting & pairing dinner that was so exquisite I don't even know how to describe it.

Oh I wish I had a menu to share, each course was a food I had never had before and was sooooo amazing!

Truly an adventure at every turn on this date!

Its crazy how fast 2013 has gone!

 It has been a whirlwind of emotions, of men, of self-discovery.

Its been a year I wouldn't change for the world, all the good & the bad, through it I have gotten to this wonderful space where I truly love my life & everyone who's in it!

I've learned so much from all these dates, more about myself, more about what I desire, what the ideal partnership looks like for me & most importantly how to be open to the process of falling in love again.

From the Asst director to the Architect, the 50year old, to the sweet young 30-something from Texas, and all those in between, you've touched my heart this year & I thank you!!

I am beyond excited for the new year ahead & am claiming 2014 as the Year Of Dating Fearlessly!!

And who knows, but its looking likely that I'll experience my FIRST KISS at midnight this year!

xoxo

Have a safe & happy holidays!! Here's Percy Faith with "We Need A Little Christmas"

Enjoy!!!