Spring has officially sprung! It’s time to get out of those onesies, throw those snow boots to the back of the cupboard and get outside to enjoy the sunshine. So now that the sun has come out to play, how can you shake up your dates??

Visit a Botanical Garden

Where better to cultivate a blossoming relationship than a space that is dedicated to the cultivation of beautiful things? Ah, cute. But seriously, if it’s a first date especially, botanical gardens are a lovely date venue. You can wander around the gardens taking in the pretty scenery, and if the conversation ever lulls you can just point at a plant or tree and try and pronounce the name.

During Spring and Summer, botanical gardens tend to hold open-air theatrical productions and musical performances – so check the website of one nearest you for What’s On. Pack a hamper, a bottle of wine, some nibbles and sit beneath the setting sun!



Hire a Boat

Nothing says ‘we’re on a date’ more than a rowing boat for 2. We’d thoroughly recommend rowing on the Serpentine in Hyde Park if it’s not too far out of your way. They've got Pedalos too, so you can test out your team work.

 
Safari Park
Like a zoo, but better. You won’t get lost trying to find the monkeys because there’s a nice clear road for you to follow, and you won’t have to compete with the youngsters to see the bears because they’re circling your car. There's loads all around the country, including Woburn Safari Park, Longleat in Wiltshire, West Midlands Safari Park, Knowsley and more...

 
Day Trip to the Beach
It’s never too early in the year to go the beach. Great Britain has got some brilliant date worthy beaches featuring the latest in arcade games, the finest dunkin’ donuts, and the most thrilling fun-fair rides. It would be a tall feat to not have a good time, no matter how unappealing your actual date might be.

We'd recommend Brighton beach - once you've got bored of paddling in the sea, the promenade is packed full of cool bars and restuarants.



 

Put a Spring in your step and find a date over at Flirtify! >>
09:06
Planning a romantic night in and have no idea what to cook? We’ve got the perfect menu for you! To ensure there’s no Bridget Jones ‘Blue Soup’ type disasters or Mrs Doubtfire ‘bra’s on fire’  catastrophies, we’ve trawled the net to find the tastiest, easiest and most date appropriate recipes.

First Things First – Set the Scene
You want to be romantic, but in a subtle way...tea light candles and flowers are ok, a butler service and a string quartet are not. If you have a dinner table, dress it nicely - think placemats, your finest crockery etc. If you’re in a house-share with friends who aren’t so good at subtlety or privacy, then an indoor picnic set-up in your bedroom can be super cute and romantic. Throw a blanket and some cushions on the floor, light a few candles and flick on the mood lighting.

*IMPORTANT: Don’t forget the music! Make a playlist of your favourite tracks – it’ll be a great conversation starter. 
Onto the food…
Starters are off the menu - it’s a date, not Come Dine with Me so a few olives and nuts will suffice!

Option 1: Chilli Prawn Linguine
An elegant dish with a touch of heat, and it only takes 35 minutes to prepare. Leaving plenty of time to a) get ready and b) frantically tidy the house.Click here for the recipe >>

Option 2: Grilled New York Steaks with a Cherry Port Compote
 



You can’t go wrong with Steak, and this one comes with a fancy side serving of compote that on correct execution will make you look like an absolute God / Goddess in the Kitchen. Serve with chips, homemade ideally (but to be honest, your date probably wouldn’t question your integrity if you served up McCains).

We got this recipe from Spoon Fork Bacon, a fantastic food blog by Teri Lyn Fisher and Jenny Park. They’ve got delicious recipes for every occasion that'll suit all tastes. Also, their website is easy to use and looks beautiful!
 
Check out the recipe here >>
 One for the veggies...
Pasta with aubergine and tomato sauce – a classic Italian dish, suitably fancy and easy to put together. Jamie Oliver has got an awesome recipe for this dish, it will become a favourite. 
 
For Dessert?
 


Obviously for dessert, we call upon Nigella Lawson and her Molton Chocolate Babycakes...
If this sounds too tricky (or too time consuming), no one would say no to a tub of Ben & Jerry’s. And if they do, they’re probably not worth your time and effort anyway...
And to drink…

Always start the evening with a bottle of Prosecco, it creates a sense of occasion (without the champagne price-tag). That’s home-grown advice over at Flirtify, but as for the rest of your meal we’d recommend using the wonder that is the internet. Specifically this awesome website, Matching Food & Wine.
Created by award-winning food and wine writer Fiona Beckett, the site makes it really easy to find the perfect wine for your menu. Use the ‘Find A Match’ feature and you’re well on your way to becoming a wine connoisseur...
 
 
Mastered the Dinner but don't yet have a date? Find one at Flirtify! >> 
09:41

New research has shown that couples who meet through online dating are 25% less likely to separate than couples who meet through more traditional means. Psychologists from Chicago University studied almost 20,000 people who had married between 2005 –  2012, and asked them a series of questions about their relationship to ultimately rate how happy they were. Those who had met online were the most satisfied in their relationship, ahead of those who had met through work, in a bar or on a blind date.

So why is online dating proving so successful?

Huge Volume of Opportunities

With millions of singles looking for love online, the odds of meeting a potential partner are much higher than they would be at your local pub. You literally have the world at your finger-tips and loads of people who are eager to connect. As the saying goes, there is someone out there for everyone – ‘out there’ is a big place, and online dating has given us the means to explore it.
Availability of Advance Screening

Gone are the days when you meet someone in a bar (slightly under the influence), arrange a date, and when sober discover that you have nothing in common, and that your initial judgements were very, very mistaken! Online, you can screen potential dates ensuring that you only meet people who meet your personal preferences, from hair colour to hobbies and even income. Ok, so it might seem a little clinical but as the research suggests, it works.
Honesty's the best policy!

And here lies the key to a happy couple. Everyone knows that honesty is the best foundation to any relationship and online dating gives singles the opportunity to be absolutely open about what it is they do and don't want. Whether you're looking for a long term relationship – marriage, kids, the full works, or just someone to share a nice bottle of wine with, you can make sure that you only meet the people who want those same things.
The Words Out...

There used to be a time when dating sites were a bit taboo. No one wanted to admit to being on one, and couples who had met online were reluctant to say so. But this has all changed. Online dating has become the easiest and most convenient way to meet new people, fitting seamlessly into the modern busy lifestyle. And with success stories popping up all over the place, more and more people are signing up!
 
11:04

It’s a big day – and some people really do go all out. These brave chaps in particular, be prepared to shed a happy tear or two:

1) Isaac's Live Lip-Dub Proposal

Alot of preparation must have gone in to pulling this off - marching bands, neighbours who dance and wear flat caps, what appears to be Greek dancing (could be wrong), and excellent lip synching. A little bit of all of us probably wants to marry this guy now.

 

2) Flash Mob Proposal

A casual walk in the park, maybe go for cake too....oh wait, NO! There's a dance troupe rocking out to Michael Jackson and a Marching band all for this lovely lady.

3) When Zach Braff helped this guy propose to his girlfriend...

Zach Braff?! How on earth did he manage this? ...

4) When this couple made the movies jealous...

When a trip to the cinema turned into a marriage proposal! Matt Still's created a a beautiful video; recording the moment he asked his future Father in Law's permission to propose, followed by his dash to the cinema to pop the question....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

08:30
'Courting' has been part of our history since the very first caveman bought the very first cavewoman a bunch of flowers to adorn her boudoir (ok we don't know how true that is), and along the way we've picked up a few traditions that are as relevent today as they were centuries ago... 

Why do we kiss?

This romantic gesture has a much less romantic back story. In fact, there’s a whole science dedicated to the study of kissing (philematology),that seeks to discover why we do it, how it benefits us and what it really means.

CNN Health reported that kissing provides sensory clues – including taste, sound and smell, that instinctively help the kisser decide if they want to kiss the kissee again.

So why are these sensory clues important? Well, according to Helen Fisher, author of ‘Why Him, Why Her: Finding Real Love by Understanding your Personality Type’, women are normally attracted to men who have a different immune system makeup from their own. They subconsciously detect information about a partner’s immune system through smell, during kissing.



 

Why do men give women flowers?

A tradition that is losing favour in more recent years, presenting flowers on a first date has origins from centuries ago! In 1700s Charles II of Sweden returned from a trip to Persia, bringing with him “the language of flowers.” Different flowers would be presented to communicate different sentiments of meanings. There were books published about the meaning of flowers and how you could have a whole conversation with only a bouquet!

Unfortunately these days, if a guy shows up with a dozen red roses on a first date, they’re likely to come across as a little keen…




Traditionally men should escort women on their left arm…

This tradition originates from medieval times, when men would escort women around town and through fields. It was important that they were on the gents left, as should their honour require defending, the man’s sword hand would be free – giving him quick and easy access to his weapon.


 

Why do we wear engagement rings on the fourth finger of our left hand?

This one comes from the Egyptians, who believed that this finger was directly connected to the heart via the vena amoris, ‘the vein of love.’


09:17

For that first date, you need a place where you can chat easily, where there is enough distraction to fill potential awkward silences, and that is neutral ground. Pick one of the three C’s (coffee, cocktails or cinema) and you can’t go far wrong!

Coffee
The perfect day date; choose a coffee bar that is cute and quirky. There will be plenty to talk about, 'Are you a cappuccino or flat white sort of girl?', 'Why don't Coffee Shops in the UK look like Central Perk?' etc etc. Also, going for coffee is fairly non-committal, which means that if the date’s not going well it wouldn’t seem out of place to have one coffee and leave after an hour, but if it's going wonderfully, the relaxed atmosphere means you can stay for as long as you like. Order another coffee, eat cake, try their Panini’s and so on..

We’ve put together a handy Pinterest board of some of the Best Coffee Shops in the UK (perfect for first dates), featuring these little treasures amongst others:
Shoreditch Grind, London
 
 
 
 
 
 
Small Batch Coffee, Brighton
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tamper Coffee, Sheffield
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Cocktails
A note to all the male readership out there, most girls will want to dress to impress on the first date. So if arrangements have been left in your capable hands, choose a cocktail bar where smart attire is a must. First impressions count, and if you're meeting for the first time, well, it's nice to look nice!

Also, cocktail bars make easy conversation, from ‘What’s your favourite cocktail,’ to funny anecdotes about your vodka induced antics. But remember, mixing spirits will catch up on you so go easy on those martinis. Falling over, throwing up, getting lary – is not good form for a first date.

Cinema
A lot of people think that the cinema is a terrible first date idea because you can’t really talk. But that’s why it’s perfect for anyone that gets a little nervous about meeting new people. You can have a pre-cinema drink to talk about the film you’re about to see, romantically share popcorn and a diet coke, and follow on with a post-cinema drink and a discussion about what you thought.

Sometimes, actually doing something can feel a lot more natural and a lot more comfortable than a more formal meet ‘n’ greet.

For something a bit different, head to an independent cinema. They tend to play a great variety of old and new films, and the atmosphere is much more special than your average Odeon. Scouting across the UK, we’ve found a few suitable places for such dates, check out our favourite independent cinemas here >>

A Final Thought
Online dating has some advantages over the more ‘traditional’ means of meeting. You get to chat to your date for as long as you like before you meet; discuss interests, talk about your hobbies and discover things you might have in common. And so really your first date could be a little more adventurous than the above.

If you both like sport, why not meet for a friendly game of Tennis? Or if you love rock music, head to a gig. You can be quite sure about what the other will enjoy and not enjoy before you meet, so explore a variety of different options before settling for a more classic choice.

Ready?? Go and get your date on over at Flirtify >>
09:22

It's that time of year again; we're on our 5th bag of mini eggs and have forgotton what a day without chocolate feels like. So in the spirit of all things sugar and cocoa, here's a few ways to use up all of that left over Easter chocolate (and some are most definitely date appropriate)...

Make Your Own Truffles

This is a lovely date idea, and not as complicated as it seems. Jamie Oliver has a beautiful and easy to follow recipe for chocolate truffles, so you and your date can make them yourselves!

 

Add Guinness and Whiskey

After many an hour on Pinterest we stumbled across this tasty recipe for Salted caramel Guinness Brownies, and Jameson Whipped Cream…

What better way to a man's heart than Guinness, whiskey and Chocolate? They've got domestic Goddess written all over them.


Use the Microwave...

You don’t need to bake to make a cake, try out a Chocolate Mug Cake! You probably couldn’t get to the finals of GBBO with this innovative creation, but you could put that microwave to good use for a late night chocolate treat.

Get Cosy with a Bailey’s Irish Cream Hot Chocolate

It’s not Christmas or Winter, but it doesn't matter at all, this is delicious. Try this recipe for Bailey's Irish Cream Hot Chocolate, put on a Rom Com and invite your date over for a cosy evening.

Add Bacon

Bake Bacon Brownies! That's points for some excellent alliteration, creativity and baking prowess.

And remember, bacon makes most things taste good, so chocolate will be no exception. Try out Nigella’s Bacon Brownies…














Melt it

Fondue! Melt all that left over chocolate greatness, purchase some strawberrys / marshmellows / possibly bananas? And go crazy. Everyone loves a Fondue, and where there's love, there's a great date. Check out a recipe for this melted chocolate mass of goodness here…





Watch Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory whilst eating Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’s chocolate…

Cute hey? Watching the film as a child you probably imagined how great it would be if Willy Wonka chocolate actually existed, and now IT DOES. Fabulous.

















Find a match with a mutual love of chocolate over at Flirtify >>
12:00
There are 3 things a profile should do; present you in the best possible way, be interesting and make you stand out. So…how do you do it?

First things first…

As much as we don’t like to believe it, when there are so many profiles to explore and people to meet we do tend to judge a book by its cover. So it’s very important you get the profile picture right. Follow our quick tips (as illustrated by these guys, who are rocking it)...

Smile!

You want to come across as happy, positive and someone who's fun to be with. As attractive as your Keira Knightlyesque pouting selfie may be, a smile is much more approachable.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Go Solo
It’s a good idea to have a few pictures in your gallery of you with your friends, but for that profile picture make sure it’s just you. No one wants to play Where’s Wally in the world of online dating.
What do you love?

Profiles pictures aren’t just a way of showing what you look like, they can also be a great way to show another side of your personality. Love walking? Pose for your photo on a scenic country stroll. Love to ski? Get your best holiday snaps out. Everyone looks beautiful when they look happy, so use an action shot – show off your personality.



             

 
 
 
 
 
Absolutely no web-cam shots!
It is the easiest option, but it is also incredibly boring and unimaginative, and the lighting is always terrible. If online daters can see that you’ve put effort in to your photo, they will be much more inclined to find out more.
The Gallery

Your perfect profile pic has got their attention so now you need an awesome gallery to back it up. This is where you can be a bit more creative and use pictures that best express who you are. The classics….skiiing, cuddling a tiger, on top of a mountain etc do well. Make sure to include a few full length snaps and as mentioned above, get some friends involved! When we’re browsing through profiles you want to know that a potential date has friends. It means that they’re probably not weird.
 








 
 A Little Bit About Me
Imagine your ‘Personal Profile’ summary as the blurb of a book. You’re right next to thousands of other books and you’ve just got this one chance to attract someone’s attention. Keep it fairly short (around 200 words) and remember to...

Be Positive
A good profile is effectively just good marketing. You want to highlight your best features and present the traits that you find most appealing and interesting in yourself. Ask your friends to write a description of you and use some of their words, they’ll see only the best in you and that’s what you want a potential date to see too.
Be Specific

So many profiles read, ‘I love travelling…’ ok, that’s great but so does just about everyone else. Talk about what you love about travelling, where’s been your favourite place so far, where would you like to visit in the future? Insights like this not only make you sound super interesting, but they provide a conversation starter for that first message.
Keep It Light-hearted

Meeting new people is always a little bit daunting, so don’t scare people off by jumping straight into a description of your 5 year plan. Detailed info about your past, goals and ambitions are things that you discover when you start dating – that sort of insight isn’t for your dating profile.
Interesting Insights

Wired magazine pulled together massive amounts of data from dating websites and came across some surprising facts…

“Yoga and surfing are the most popular activities for men and women alike"
“The single most attractive band you could mention is Radiohead”

For the full article, click here >>

We hope these tips have helped. Once you're ready, head on over to Flirtify and get started on your profile!
Happy Dating! X

11:44



As of 21st April Flirtify's dating website is up and running and blowing away the cobwebs of many a single's social calender. Head on over to flirtify.co.uk and see what eligible guys and girls are just waiting to be taken out for coffee / cocktails / dinner....(or waiting to take you out, of course).

We're pretty freakin' excited about the whole thing!

Before you dive head first into the dating pool, let us tell you a bit more about Flirtify and what makes us so great...

Mobile Friendly

Flirtify is mobile friendly so you can sort your love-life on the go. On that commute to work, during your lunch break, in your meetings etc...

Advanced Search System

Our advanced search system make's it nice and easy to find your ideal date, search by age, location, looks, occupation and loads more!

Tips & Advice

As fun as meeting new people is, dating can be daunting, which is why we'll be offering up regular tips and advice to help you out, every step of the way.

And finally...it's free to browse! So you can check out the singles in your vicinity...

Enjoy! X

Go To Flirtify >>

09:00

A new online dating experience coming soon, and we need your help!

There are 3 million first dates every day across the world. That's a lot of dinners, cocktails and coffees...

Tweet us @FlirtifyUK, with your pictures of cute date ideas; think picnics in the park, fancy restaurants, fish 'n' chips on the beach (the list goes on...), and the best ones will feature on the Flirtify homepage when it launches on 21st April!

And you'll also get a 1 month free membership, so you can put those ideas into action.

See you there soon! X

#OnADate @FlirtifyUK

09:51
Copyright © 2015 Flirtify | Designed by VeeThemes.com
Copyright © 2015 - Bauer Media