TresSugar

Awkward! What's Your Sign?

TresSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0800

"What's your sign?" This might be the most direct way to find out a person's astrological sign, but often the curiosity is disguised by less ugh-inducing words. "When's your birthday?" is what I often hear. "So you're a Pisces? Aries?" And then, inevitably, silence. Quietly judging silence.

The last time this happened to me, I fired back with, "What does that mean to you?" I never got an answer. Why ask the question if it's not going to segue into a new discussion?

Don't get me wrong - I read my horoscope almost every day, so it's not like I don't want to believe. It's just that I wouldn't use astrology as a tactic to get to know someone or, worse, seek a rationale behind someone's actions. Do sign seekers, overt or covert, ever make you want to unleash some Scorpio-style wrath?

(By the way - if you have some awkward tales of your own, join our Awkward! group to share etiquette questions and stories with other readers.)

Source: Flickr User Leo Reynolds

Edward vs. Jacob: Which Guy Is More Your Type?

TresSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:46:39 -0800

You don't need to be a fan of Twilight to understand the difference between the two leading men (can we call vampires and werewolves men?). On the one hand, there's Edward - think of him as the sophisticated older man type. In fact, he's 108. If you go for introverted, devoted, and beautiful men, Edward's your type of guy. Then we have Jacob, the good-natured hunk. Jacob's the extrovert with a sense of humor who knows how to have fun. Which type of guy would you rather date: the mysterious guy or the outgoing guy?

"I'm In Love With a Younger Man"

Tres Community — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

This post comes from our Confession Booth group in our TrèsSugar Community. Feel free to add your advice in the comments!

I've finally fallen in love. He is everything I have ever dreamed of. We are a perfect match in every way. He makes me feel calm. He makes me feel complete. He complements me in every way. We're on the same level and we are equals.
He's crazy about me and I'm wild about him. We've been together almost two years and he's the best thing that's ever happened to me.

He is almost six years younger than me and while I don't think about it, others point it out. I'm almost 30 and I hate feeling like I'm doing something wrong by being with him and wanting a future with him. Sometimes I just feel old even though he does nothing but make me feel beautiful. He's the most amazing person I know.

There's lots of great stuff going on in our community - join it, check it out, share your posts or advice in the great groups and maybe we'll feature it here on TrèsSugar!

Ask a Party Planner: Should I Date Outside My Religion?

TresSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Conventional Wisdom is a different kind of advice column. Your questions will be answered by people from all walks of life rather than by advice experts. If you have a question you'd like answered on Conventional Wisdom, you can submit it here.

This week, a party planner offers advice to a woman unsure about a new love interest. After you read her answer, be sure to check out our Group Therapy group where I found this question.

Today's Question:

I'm a single 32-year-old woman and I am under immense pressure to get married from my family and community. I have been single for two years since my last relationship, and four months ago I met this guy and started dating him. We quickly got close and we really care for each other. He wants me to be his girlfriend now, however there a few issues with us - he is only 28 and from another religion. If this goes anywhere, then we are sure to face opposition from both our families. We are from cultures where our families mean a lot to us.

We have talked about this being a long-term relationship, but we have yet to figure out if we will end up married since it's obviously too early. I'm wondering if I should date other guys while we figure this out. I really don't want to, but my friends warn me to not put all my eggs in one basket, especially when he is four years younger than me. I also worry that our religions will come between us in the future.

What should I do? Date other guys, or be his girlfriend and see this through?

Signed, Unsure

To see the party planner's answer, read more.

Dear Unsure,

It seems like there are two issues here: first, his age, and second, your religions. Let's discuss.

I think you should not worry about his age. Twenty-eight is old enough to be in a serious, committed relationship if that's what he wants. Like you said, it's early in the relationship, so you can't predict whether you two are going to get married. But there is only one way to find out - by dating him exclusively.

As for the religion issue: this is something to seriously consider. But I think you need to figure out if you're willing to date someone with a different background - is it worth it to you, not your family, to work through the inevitable obstacles (like choosing how to celebrate holidays, or how to raise kids)? As for your family, I think that they will be more supportive than you think. If you're happy, they should be happy for you too. And you say this guy really values his family, so I think it's great that you found someone who thinks his family is important - just like you do.

If you really like this guy, it's worth giving it a chance. Good luck.

Signed,
A party planner

iPhone App Helps Men Keep Score of Chicks They've Scored

TresSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0700

Pepsi's Amp Up energy drink (another one?!) has created a free iPhone app that gives players "up-to-the-minute info, feeds, lines" so that they can talk to their favorite kinds of women - "24 in all."

Basically, men can either get tips before they score, or they can upload details of their hookups as a result of these indubitably useful apps after they score. Nice touch, Pepsi.

I would rename this the "wishful thinking app." Because what guy who would ask his phone how he should speak to a "punk" woman because she's "staring holes into him" is really scoring at all? I love when the guy in the commercial clicks on the punk cartoon girl and it takes him to a definition of punk ("Punk rock is a genre that . . ."). Wow.

This app may try to help a man score one of 24 types of women, but it seems to be marketed to only one kind of dude: a loser.

(Tell GeekSugar the weirdest iPhone app you've ever seen and read about Pepsi's official apology.)

Do Tell: What Was the Worst Pickup Line You Ever Got?

TresSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Our friends at Em & Lo have listed the 10 rules of the pickup, some for men ("Never look someone in the boobs while talking"), but some which are addressed equally to women ("Do not wordlessly dry-hump a stranger from behind on the dance floor"). Damn! There goes my main move.

When I was an undergrad, I was assigned Venus in Furs for a literature and psychoanalysis class and was reading it intently at a cafe. Now, the book is an erotic tale about a man obsessed with a dominatrix, and the cover had an arresting image of a woman in a red fur coat. A guy kept walking back and forth past my table, and finally, when I looked up, he gave me a creepy look and said, "That is my favorite book. May I sit down?"

Needless to say, the answer was no, but that probably wasn't even the worst pickup line I ever got - just the one I can remember. What was the worst pickup line you ever got? What was your reaction?

Would You Go on Vacation With a New Love Interest?

TresSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0700

One of my friends has been going out with this really fun guy for about a month now. They met through mutual friends and seem to have a lot in common.

Well now this guy has invited her to go along on a trip he has planned to Thailand with his best friend. My friend has been wanting to take a relaxing vacation, but hasn't been able to get friends on board. She sees this invitation as a great chance to explore a new part of the world, but she can't help but worry about making international travel plans with someone she's still only casually dating. Would you do it?

Source: Flickr User flydime

Do You Like to Double Date?

TresSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Last night's How I Met Your Mother was all about double dates and the couples who love them - and the couples who hate them.

In the episode, married couple Marshall and Lilly get so excited that their friends Barney and Robin are together because finally have another couple in their group of friends.

Unfortunately, Marshall and Lilly's previous attempts at double dating haven't gone too well. The eager pair comes on really strong and ends up scaring couples away. The same thing happens when they invite longtime friends Barney and Robin over for a couples night of cheese, charades, and margaritas. While they're enjoyable under normal circumstances, the fact that it's an official double date turns Marshall and Lilly into an overbearing and annoying duo. Barney and Robin have an awful time and end up trying to avoid any future double dates!

When you're in a relationship, do you avoid the classic double date, or are you eager to hang out with other couples?

Photo courtesy of CBS

Have You Ever Dated the Same Person as Your Friend?

TresSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Last night on How I Met Your Mother, we saw the rare benefits that can come from dating a friend's ex. On the episode, Barney (played by Neil Patrick Harris) looks to his best friend Ted for tips on how to date his new girlfriend Robin. If you don't follow the show, I'll fill you in. Robin and Ted dated for a while, broke up, and remained friends. Now, Robin is dating Barney.

To help out his friend, Ted gives Barney a lesson in Robin 101. Conveniently, Ted is a college professor, so he and Barney meet in his classroom where Ted spills the beans on everything, from Robin's surprising erogenous zones to a crucial list of five things never to do in front of Robin. Needless to say, Robin is not thrilled when she finds out about these lessons.

While watching the episode I couldn't help but think that the characters make the potentially awkward situation of dating your friend's ex seem pretty fun and easy. Have you ever had a lover in common with your friend?

Photo courtesy of CBS

Sunday Confessional: She Pushes Them Away

TresSugar — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:00:00 -0700

We're scouring the juicy (but anonymous!) secrets posted on Truu Confessions and letting you weigh in. This week, a confessor admits that she sabotages her love life.

"I once considered myself to have high standards. Though this is true, I have noticed when there are men that meet all the 'standards' I push them away by whatever means necessary."

Do you think this is a big deal?