Hello Ladies!
Not only do I have an inspiring romance to tell you about, but I also have some amazing date venues to check out in NYC! I recently met an adorable couple, Kari and Gareth, who were happy to share their story and their love of music. Over a year ago, they met at a music gig and have been happily together ever since. “Gareth and I were flirting and having fun when I fell forward off the stool and onto another stool. I can’t believe he hung out with me after that!” Kari told me. “The best date Gareth took me on was to see Mates of State (my favorite band)”. After hitting it off as a couple, Kari and Gareth decided to heat things up musically. They formed their own band Smart Set. Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/thesmartset. Being the nightlife gurus that they are, they gave me several great locations around the city to meet sexy singles.

First up is the ultra-intimate Knitting Factory (www.knittingfactory.com). It’s a great date environment and a great place to mingle because it’s fairly dark and is sectioned off into smaller rooms. This way you always have a great view of the bands and a romantic atmosphere to meet people. Knitting Factory has awesome musical guests and a bar with delicious drinks. The next venue they highly recommended is the Blender Theater. Upcoming bands include Finger Eleven, IAMX, Pretty Ricky, and many more. Blender is a really cool venue because it always has great entertainment, features bars on either side so you never have to wait long for drinks, and is located in the heart of Manhattan where sexy singles are sure to frequent. There’s also a bar downstairs to sneak off to and share a more intimate conversation. Last, but definitely not least, is The Slipper Room (www.slipperroom.com). It’s a small bar, with sexy lighting, and various types of entertainment, including Burlesque shows, book readings, live music, comedy and theater.

So Ladies, here is the formula for dating success, good music + tasty cocktails + dim lighting = a love connection for sexy singles everywhere. So, be sure to visit these venues as you explore New York City nightlife. Even if you are not a New Yorker, concert halls and music lounges are fairly easy to scout out. So, go enjoy a night on the town and find yourself a hottie to make sweet music with! And don’t forget to write in and tell me all about your dating successes. You just might find your inspiring story of romance posted next;-)

Hello there my Fabulous Ladies!
Wow, do I have a puzzling and exciting scenario for you! So, I just talked with a woman recently whose best male friend of nearly ten years confessed that he has feelings for her. Talk about taking it slow! Now, that is a loaded confession. Although she admits to having more than platonic feelings for him, she told me that the most important thing to her is maintaining their relationship because it has been a constant in her life now for nearly a decade. They have already been through thick and thin together, so she asked me, should they “just try it and hope for the best?” Well, Ladies, this situation has the potential to be the romance of the century, yet not everyone’s story has a When Harry Met Sally happy ending. Here are some things to think about when deciding if you are falling in love with a friend or simply flirting with disaster.

1.) Is the timing right? For example, if one of you just got out of an intense breakup, take the time to properly heal from that situation and then explore those more-than-friendly feelings. Often times when we are feeling vulnerable during heartbreak, the lines between friends and lovers get blurred because we want to bandage up the wound with another relationship. What better and easier way to do this then with someone who already knows you inside and out, right? WRONG. You two may be a perfect fit, but if you go for it before the heartbreak has been healed, you may find yourself in a rebound situation. Also, are you close to each other geographically? You want to go into this with the odds stacked in your favor, so I wouldn’t recommend starting something up until you two can be near each other on a consistent basis. Long distance is doable, but usually after the romance has had a chance to build. Taking friendship to the next level is fragile, so make sure your head and heart are in the best possible place when making this transition.

2.) Is your friendship strong enough to bounce back if the romance aspect doesn’t work out? I know we cannot predict the future. Who really knows how either of you will actually feel if you realize that romance just isn’t in the cards for the two of you. But, you can at least make an educated guess by examining your friendship past. If you two have had real conflicts before, and you have been able to discuss them and work through them, then this shows you are both in this for the long hull and have good communication. However, if this is the first serious thing you two have ever discussed, than your risk factor could be higher. Also take note of your friend’s exes. Are they civil with each other? Not to say that your relationship would follow suit, but it’s helpful to see how your friend deals with failed romance. Of course, it’s always helpful to talk openly about the future of the friendship should the romance not work out before you take the leap.

3.) Are you attracted to each other? This can be a hard thing to decipher. I mean, you have so much in common, your witty banter is so intellectually stimulating, and you are both attractive people, so does that mean it’s a love connection? I think we all know deep down if the attraction is there. Yes, maybe for the sake of the friendship, or out of respect for relationships that either of you were in, you extinguished those flames, but you know if they were ever there. Sometimes we can have an awesome platonic connection, but for some reason, the thought of kissing the other person just doesn’t really do it for us. And sometimes you find a spark in the least likely place. So, before you take it to the next level, really try to imagine being physical with your friend and see if that mental picture entices you. Or better yet, talk to your friend about your sexuality. Talk about what you like and ask what gets him riled up. See if all of this talking and imagining gets you excited!

Those are just a few things to consider as you make this important decision, but of course there are always a hundred other things to evaluate when it comes to the complexity of our relationships. Running the risk of being absolutely cheese-tastic, let me just say that relationships are life’s most precious gift, whether platonic or romantic. So, take your time making this decision, there is no need to rush, if it is meant to be, well, there’s no stopping it! Lastly, I know you are all foxy females and I am sure you have friends and strangers approaching you for dates on a daily basis. Well, I want to know all the juicy details! So, please feel free to post your experiences and comments. I’d love to hear your stories and thoughts on friends becoming lovers.

Hello my Dashing Divas!
So, I have an extra special treat for you today! I interviewed the utterly fabulous Carmindy (www.Carmindy.com). I am sure all of you know her gorgeous face from TLC’s WHAT NOT TO WEAR. We had a very eye-opening conversation about makeup, and I am so excited to share her pearls of wisdom with you! Her advice has certainly made me rethink some less-than-glamorous makeup choices I’ve made in the past:-) Let’s all take in what she has to say, and discover how to be our most beautiful selves…

CARMINDY: Now, I actually did a case study to see what men like in terms of makeup. The results, less is more. Show exactly who you are. No false lashes, heavy lip gloss, and caked on foundation. Men say over and over again that they want to see what you look like. Check out my book “5 Minute Face” to see how to achieve your most natural and beautiful look without a lot of fuss.

JULIETTE: How can makeup help women to feel better about themselves on a date, and also in their everyday lives?

CARMINDY: My philosophy is this…always enhance your natural beauty. Rather then looking in the mirror and focusing on your flaws and then proceeding to cover everything up, look in the mirror and select your favorite features. Once you have honed in on your sexiest features, play those up. This allows you to celebrate who you are!

JULIETTE: Now, Carmindy, you are a professional, and you are extremely talented at your craft. So, how can the average Jane achieve glamorous makeup without the professional experience that you have?

CARMINDY: Men love it when you play up the eyes. This is actually really simple to do. All you need are two complimenting tones, a highlight for under the brow and inside the corner of the eye and a mid-tone shade from the lashline to the crease. Then just add some mascara to finish it off and you have an easy, natural and appealing look that anyone can do themselves. Just remember, for fair skinned women use a sheer white shimmer for the highlight, for medium toned women use a champagne color, and for darker women, pale gold is the most complimentary. Every woman can use a sparkling brown for on the lid. This is the universal color. My Mountain Eyeshadow palette is perfect for achieving this look. Next, a little rosy cheek is always nice. Again, keeping everything natural. I’d recommend Sheerest Cream Blush, and finish off the look with my Moisture Plump Lip Balm. It has a hint of color, but isn’t thick or sticky. All the products I mentioned are available from the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy makeup line.

JULIETTE: What is the biggest mistake to avoid when applying makeup for a date?

CARMINDY: No heavy lipstick or gloss. Nothing too red or shiny. You don’t want to wear anything on your mouth that will scare him from kissing you!

JULIETTE: What is a makeup trick that really attracts men?

CARMINDY: If it’s a 2^nd or 3^rd date and a woman wants to rock some more intense makeup, then try a smoky eye. Men looooove this look! Try my Storm Palet to get this effect. It has all the colors you need to get a very sexy smoky eye effect.

JULIETTE: Lastly, Carmindy, what does a woman’s makeup choices say about her to the world?

CARMINDY: Typically, a very confident woman will be comfortable just being natural; showing off who she is to the world, and playing up her natural beauty. A lot of times, insecure women feel the need to cover up, to wear lots of makeup, and hide their true selves.

JULIETTE: That makes a lot of sense! Thanks so much Carmindy! I’m sure all of my Ladies can’t wait to look in the mirror and pick out all their favorite features to play up, rather then searching for imperfections. Thanks again for all of your great advice. I know my Ladies will work your fabulous Sally Hansen line!

Hello there my Fabulous Females! I know we all want to be money conscious, yet not have to sacrifice the quality of our dates to save a few dollars. So, here is a little list I put together to inspire you to think creatively when planning budget smart dates! After all, when you really like someone money doesn’t make or break the date;-)

1. Make sandwiches and snacks with your date and then set up a picnic in the park.

2. Look for specials at your local Art Museums & Galleries as often times they will have free events or donation based exhibits.

3. Head to the beach. (trust me, it’ll be fun rubbing sun block all over your sweetie’s muscles, not to mention seeing him without his shirt on!)

4. Look for local street fairs or carnivals. It’ll bring out the kid in both of you!

5. You don’t have to go to Broadway to see great theater. Check out local plays, music gigs, and stand-up comics.

6. Go hiking, enjoy nature. This will show you can be an outdoorsy girl and men love that! Later down the line, try camping out!

7. Find out what cultural activities are happening in your city (outdoor movie night, free concerts, dancing)

8. Get Active (bowling, bike riding, roller blading, jogging, tennis, volleyball). This will give you a chance to see each other’s competitive side! Come up with a special treat for the winner.

9. Cook dinner at home. Yes, this is basic, but cooking together and lighting some candles is always a sure fire hit! You can also enjoy more intimate conversations this way as you won’t have to worry about the table next to you listening in.

10. Game night!! This can be paired with dinner at home, but this enables friends to join in. Organize a group of people to play Spades, Celebrity, Taboo, or any other number of fun and energizing group games.