Love Lounge: Four Relationship Trends We Need In 2016

It’s a new year, and you know what that means, don’t you? We all get a clean slate, especially when it comes to all things love and matters of the heart. Whatever happened last year, whether you got your heart broken, broke a few hearts yourself, said too much to the wrong person or never even had things get started in the first place (*raises hand*), that’s ALL in the past. None of that matters anymore. What matters is the here and now, and if we’re being really real for a second, I think we’d all agree that there are just some things that NEED TO HAPPEN this year. I mean, c’mon, it’s 2016 already — let this be the year for change, people! In that spirit, here are four relationship trends I’d like to see become the norm…


1. Chivalry is once again elevated to an art form: They say chivalry is dead. I’d even take it one step further and say that chivalry is rotting in the ground as people stomp and trample all over what used to be such a touchstone of dating. A chivalrous man was a gentleman indeed. And now? Well, it seems the standard by which we judge a guy’s “chivalrousness” is by whether or not he has the decency to return a simple text. How’d we get here?

2. A proper date becomes the new Netflix and chill: Yes, I know I’ve harped on this before, but my passion runs deep. I maintain that the Art of the Date needs to make a comeback. True, I may not have had my first yet, but when I do? I want it to be an event. A romantic dance, if you will. After all, a date shouldn’t just be something you do to pass the time or because you’re bored. It’s something special and therefore should mean something, you know? Translation: Dating is NEVER something that should be taken lightly. Both parties, regardless of who did the asking, need to make an effort — or what the heck is the point? What are we even doing?

3. Honesty FINALLY gets top billing: I’ll be honest (see what I just did there?) and say that this one might be a bit hard for me at first. But I’m sure ready and willing to give it the old college try because, really, what do I have to lose? What does any of us have to lose by embracing honesty? Tell people how you feel. Don’t let your feelings slink and hide in the shadows because I’m pretty sure they’ll die there without any sunlight. And, most importantly, don’t be afraid to say what YOU need; there’s a lot of power and respect in that. #BeBraveBeYou

4. Spinsterhood becomes the symbol of cool: You know that scene in Grease where the Pink Ladies are waltzing into the school on the first day, all nonchalantly with their jackets flung over their shoulders? That’s my dream for us single ladies! We’re “going to rule the school” — aka, the dating scene or, well, not rule it, I suppose. Either way, we’re going to make a statement about what it means to be living the single life in 2016 and how may — just maybe — this sort of life isn’t so archaic after all.

Whew! Something tells me that it’s going to be one heck of a year on the relationship front, friends! What trends would you like to see pop up? Any you’d like to see gone forever? Or at least sit on the sidelines for awhile? Good luck out in that dating jungle…we’re all in this together! xoxo

[Photos via We Heart It]

Twitter Hashtag Talk: #SingleBecause

There’s nothing I love more than an inspiring Twitter hashtag (hello, #HistoricalRealityTV!), so when I started seeing people tweeting about the single life a couple months ago, I was intrigued.

Did they have some wise knowledge to share? Yes! Here are a few more of my favorite gems, including some funny ones that had me chuckling all day…

What Twitter hashtags have you loved recently? How would you complete the #SingleBecause…? xoxo

P.S. I’d loooove to connect on Twitter, friends! You can follow me for lots of astute pop culture observations — and the occasional polo shirt photo! 🙂

The Secret To A Long Life

Meet Emma Morano. She hails from Italy and has led quite the remarkable life — and quite the long one as well. At 115, she’s the oldest living person in Europe. When it comes to the source of her very own fountain of youth, she credits two things: three raw eggs AND remaining single for most of her life. The New York Times ran an inspiring profile of her, and it brought such a huge smile to my face this morning.

“She is also convinced that being single for most of her life, after an unhappy marriage that ended in 1938 following the death of an infant son, has kept her kicking. Separation was rare then, and divorce became legal in Italy only in 1970. She said she had plenty of suitors after that, but never chose another partner. ‘I didn’t want to be dominated by anyone,’” she said.

I LOVE this! What a wild adventure she must have had plowing through life and charting her own course, especially during a time when it was rare for a woman to be unmarried. But it looks like Morano didn’t care, and that is so refreshing. So often, we hear women bemoan, “I’m going to end up an 80-year-old spinster in a tiny apartment with cats,” as if that is some sort of fate worse than death. Their lives would be completely ruined if that happened. Very seldom do we hear the term spinster in such a positive light, which is why Morano is making the hearts of single ladies the world over swell with pride!

How awesome is she? Do you know anyone like her in your own life/ Live long and single, friends! xoxo

Guest Post: Single in the city

A few weeks ago, I received an email from Zillow, the online real estate database, about their city spotlight project. When I heard that the series combines two of my favorite things — love and Chicago — I immediately got excited. Check out the top four Chicago neighborhoods for singles, and look for my own take in the coming days!


**Please note: This is not a sponsored post, but merely a fun collaboration with Zillow.

More than 40 percent of Chicago’s population is single. The city is a bustling hub of business, culture and trendy hot spots, while arguably one of the best cities to meet that special someone. Singles just need to know where to look. Consider relocating to one of these four neighborhoods in Chicago. They all have high demographics of singles and close proximity to bars, restaurants, shopping and entertainment…

Lincoln Park
Home to more singles in their 20s and 30s than Chicago’s average, Lincoln Park has a fun and vibrant college-town atmosphere with DePaul University at its center. Lincoln Park is a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood where singles socialize throughout the wide array of pubs and restaurants. The Lincoln Park Athletic Club is another convenience the locals enjoy and is a great place to meet singles getting in shape for the warmer months ahead.

Lakeview
Home to Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs, Lakeview is the perfect neighborhood to meet like-minded sports fans. Almost 60 percent of the locals are single, known as corporate climbers who have up-and-coming incomes and are looking to grow their professional careers. On the weekend, the neighborhood is buzzing with busy restaurants and bar-hopping groups. Throughout the warmer months, the streets come alive, playing host to food festivals and the famous Pride Parade held the last weekend of June.

Old Town
With easy access to Lake Michigan beaches and nearly 19 miles of running and biking trail, Old Town is the ideal neighborhood for active singles who enjoy the outdoors. The Old Town neighborhood is predominantly home to established singles who draw handsome salaries and have reasonable living expenses. The neighborhood offers numerous apartments and condos for single living. Compared to Lincoln Park and Lakeview, rent and home prices are higher in Old Town. However, residents see the expense as a trade off for the luxury and convenience of being close to beaches, trendy retail and a popular nightlife scene.

The Loop
Famous for being Oprah’s old stomping grounds, The Loop is filled with great places to eat, play and shop. It’s home to established singles predominantly in their 20s and 30s who enjoy an upscale life in the urban center. Recently, dozens of exciting new restaurants and cafes opened to tantalize and entertain social singles in the neighborhood. The area is popular for street festivals such as the Randolph Street Market Festival held the last weekend of each month from March to November.

Singles on the market should take the time to research neighborhood demographics, rent and home values before relocating. A little fact-finding makes the difference between a potentially unfortunate living scenario and the perfect place to find love.

Let’s talk being single!

As a lifelong singleton, I know all about flying solo. All. About. It. In fact, I’ve sort of got it down to a science by now, and I might even make it look easy. At parties. At weddings. On random trips to the grocery store. And with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it can be easy for us singletons to feel like we’re Rudolph sometimes — you know, standing next to all those couples, our big red noses lit up like gigantic neon signs.

But! Valentine’s Day is still one of my all-time favorite holidays, and if you ask me, celebrating your love for yourself is just as important as celebrating your significant other. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be sharing the amazing photos and stories you’ve sent me for our first-ever Honest Selfie Challenge, the ultimate way to celebrate the awesomeness that is YOU!!

A couple years, I asked you what you loved about being single, and I’d love to know if your opinions on the single life have changed. As you’ve gotten older, do you think there’s more of a “single stigma” or not so much? Are you currently single? Let’s chat, friends! xoxo

[Photos by Virginia Galvez]