Winter Dating Survival Tips

How often do your plans get waylaid due to the bone-chilling temperatures or unexpected temper tantrums from Mother Nature?

December in Toronto can be cold, miserable and, quite frankly, isolating. Who wants to battle the harsh conditions outside when Netflix and hot cocoa sounds so much more inviting.

Tis a harsh season for those seeking social encounters. It's not easy to look like a 10 on the hotter-than-hot scale when you are wearing three layers of wool and a pair of long underwear.

Here are a few tips and ideas to help you muster up the courage to head out during the winter holiday season:

1) Everyone is Wearing Winter Clothes

A bundled up person can inspire tender feelings. While you may not be at your sexiness, you're probably rating pretty high on the cute meter. And everyone loves a person with confidence -- and that comes from feeling at ease in six layers of hoodie. So, gear up and head out to the local cafe, fireside table at the local pub or to the movies. Get your wooly self out and in the mix. 

2) Singles Potluck

Make your friends fight the blizzard conditions for a potluck dinner at your pad. Featuring warming items like homemade stew or the best dang chili ever is sure to bring a few smiles. If nothing else, it's a fantastic way to blow out a Sunday afternoon.

3) Cookie Baking Get Togethers
Speaking of blowing out an afternoon on food! Schedule a cookie baking get together with friends. Bake cookies and swap to make fun, edible gifts while being social!

4) Enjoy Winter Activities

It's cold but there are several things that are pretty darn fun to do in the lower temperatures like snowshoeing, ice skating or even watching a minor league hockey game at the community center. There's even scientific research that says our connection with others grow stronger with physical activity. 

5) Perfect Time to Test the Waters

From the first of the year to about Valentine's Day is the busiest time of the year for online dating sites as singles attempt to make good on their "find a mate" resolutions. Not to mention people have recaptured some of their personal time after the holiday flurry of parties, families and other expectations. In short, this is the perfect time for testing the waters of dating sites or matchmakers. 

6) Reconnect with Those Close to You

Okay, so you have elected to stay in, curled up on the couch. Fair enough. Use this time to call your best friend across the country or your sister on the coast. Nothing warms us faster than reconnecting with loved ones -- well, except for homemade hot chocolate.

Happy Holidays! 

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Get Your Flirt on This Halloween

Could your future mate be behind that Jason mask? Is the Game of Thrones character your soul mate in disguise?

According to an It's Just Lunch survey, forty-six percent (46%) of singles think you can and that it is the perfect occasion to meet singles.

While getting fixed up by friends and co-workers or surfing dating sites is a traditional approach to finding a soul mate, stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying some new dating avenues (such as a Halloween bash) expands your possibilities and increases your confidence ten-fold.

So, how do you go about catching Little Red's eye? How do you strike up a conversation with the sexy vampire? You're in luck. Here are a few tips for getting your flirt on this All Hallows Eve:

1) Look for the Why & How
Flirting is about getting to know someone else. People love it when you ask questions that let them show you who they are. Most people will only inquire about the surface things, such as "Great costume." "Love the outfit." Take it a step further by asking them "why" they chose their costume or HOW they ended up coming up with that unique idea. It will add interest on their part and set you apart from the other party goers.

2) Tell It Like It Is
Being vulnerable and honest, even from behind the Jason mask, is the slam-dunk, sexiest thing a man or woman can be. Go beyond "It's just something I threw together" with "She was my favorite character in 'Firefly'. I admire her strength and sense of duty."

3) Listen Attentively
Being a good listener is a potent aphrodisiac and an excellent ingredient for weaving your magic. Everyon loves teh feeling of being full seen -- and heard.

4) Make Meaningful Eye Contact & Smile
This 1-2 punch transports these simple actions from the realm of friendship to the world of flirting. Let your eyes linger on his/hers while you are talking and smile.

5) Laugh
One of the best ways to demonstrate your sense of humor is by appreciating the other persons.

6) Be Enthusiastic
when flirting, you want the person you are flirting with to feel good about you and to experience you as a fun, happy, great-to-be-with person. Enjoy the encounter -- no matter what happens. If you seem like you're glad to be mixing and mingling with the creatures of the night -- they will be also.

7) Go In For The Lean
Lean forward to convey interest -- this is easy to do over the background noise of music and conversation.

8) Be Open and Accessible
Smiling and talking to various people (meaning: break free from your pack) sends the signal that you are approachable.

Above all else, have fun. You never know when cupid will strike. As long as you keep your expectations in check. Go with the intention of making a friend rather than expecting to meet your life partner. You'll have more fun and experience way less performance anxiety.

Happy Halloween!

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Second Chance: Why You Should Say "Yes" to A Second Date

So, the date is coming to a close and that confident, funny, super-sexy self that cruised through lunch just flew out the window.  At this point you are in one of three places:

• Excited and can't wait to see him/her again;
• You're convinced that this isn't the one for you;
• Or perhaps you're unsure.

If you're digging him/her, let them know and ask for the second date.  If not, this might be a great time to thank your date for a wonderful lunch and leave it at that. Tell them whether you're interested in seeing them again or not. Most people appreciate it when you speak your mind, but make sure you don't just dump your feelings on them. Be responsible and kind. 

But if you are on the fence after the first date, consider pursuing a second one. Some people, even though they try their best, just can't relax until the second date.  Or maybe last time they were having a bad day and you didn't get to see the absolutely charming individual they really are.  A lot of people suffer from first-date jitters. In fact, fear is the number one cause for first-date disasters and often leads to over-talking or out-of-character shyness.

Change things up for attempt number two with a round of golf, a bike ride or a game of tennis. A number of people find it easier to open up and connect with someone when they are moving around. 

Trust your instincts and you'll be surprised at how perceptive you really are when it comes to love.

An instinctive gut feeling can draw you to Mr. or Ms. Right, even if they don't match all your criteria on paper. You probably have friends who are with partners who you would never have thought they'd be with. What brings people like that together? They trusted their gut.

Basically, we all want the same things in a partner: honesty, trust, good communication, confidence, fun and understanding. If we can add chemistry to that -- then bingo!

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Is Our Dating Life Already Hardwired Into Us?

We attempt to program our lives all the time-we DVR our favorite shows so we can watch them whenever and where-ever we want. We bookmark our favorite websites so we can visit them more conveniently. We even have  the numbers of our friends and family programmed in our cell phones, so we can reach them with just a touch of a button and never have to remember the actual number. But, have we been doing this with our dating life as well?

A while back we at It’s Just Lunch® conducted several important surveys on dating, that covered major topics impacting men and women’s decision to date certain people, such as career, education, and money. The results produced quite a stir and brought up thought-provoking ideas from the psychological, sociological, and professional communities about how we “choose” our partners and how specifically men and women differ in this area.

In a recent Wall Street Journal Article discussing our survey, Psychiatrist Scott Carroll said that the emerging field of evolutionary psychology views "dating upward" as being in-bred in females. "Current scientific thinking is that women's tendency to seek more successful males is part of a genetic survival program. The exceptions to this rule are when women will seek either a physically dominant male for physical protection or a more nurturing male if the woman is more masculine and highly successful herself."

Lawyer and blogger Chaton Turner disagreed. She said, "I think that it comes from conditioning as opposed to genetics." She added that she had always bucked the trend; dating a variety of men regardless of age, height, and wealth. 

So, what do you think? Visit us on our Facebook page to join the conversation. 

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Skip Logging On & Log Some Quality Time

It's Just Lunch helps busy professionals make the most of their mid-day breaks, according to "The Rules of Engagement" article in the February 2012 Canada edition of Reader's Digest.  "The pros take care of the compatibility question, scheduling and restaurant reservations; you just show up with an appetite and an open mind," the article said about the face-to-face value of It's Just Lunch's Canada offices.

Right now is the best time to try something new.  According to a recent survey conducted by It's Just Lunch, many singles see Februrary 14th as a day to try something new or even expand beyond one's dating boundaries.  Over 83% of respondents said they would accept a first date request if it falls on Valentine's Day,and over 70% said they would be open to being set up on a blind date.

When it comes to first dates, It's Just Lunch is the one to count on to get the ball rolling.  Over the past 20 years, we have helped thousands of busy professionals in over 100 locations worldwide find a fresh approach to dating. 

So, what do our clients have in common? They have made a decision to change their approach to dating and made a simple phone call.   Why not be one of them?  Call It's Just Lunch today at 604-633-9980 (Vancouver and Victoria) or 416-703-3900 (Toronto) and start dating tomorrow.

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