If upset with a boyfriend or girlfriend the majority of us would just bitch about them to our friends, send the ‘I am so pissed off with you’ text and depending on the extent of the ‘crime’, write a not-so-subtle facebook status telling the whole world that your partner is a douche. But when you’re famous, with a huge fan following and a lot of money, the BEST way to really let them know you’re angry, is to write a song about it.

Justin Timberlake & Britney Spears
Our favourite celeb couple of the early noughties, Britney and JT. Fresh from the Mickey Mouse club we all hoped that this beautiful pair would live happily ever after in their matching double denim forever and ever. But alas, it was not to be and sadly they broke up, expressing their heart break in the only way they knew how…through their mutual love of music.

JT’s Cry Me a River was reportedly about Miss Spears, suggesting that she MAY have cheated on him..
“You don’t have to say what you did,
I already know, I found out from him
Now there’s no chance for you and me, they’ll never be
And don’t it make you sad about it.”

No Britney, no!
 
Shortly afterwards Britney released (what we would argue is one of her greatest tracks), ‘Everytime.’ Its lyrics are a plea for forgiveness for hurting an ex-boyfriend. We feel your pain Brit.
“I may have made it rain
Please forgive me
My weakness caused you pain
And this song is my sorry.”
 
Fast forward 10 years and we have another musical couple declaring their love for each other with many a PDAs, only for it to end in tragedy just like the doomed Brit & JT (only without the double denim)...

Taylor Swift & John Mayer
The pair dated briefly but we can all assume that it didn’t go well as after their split, Swift released ‘Dear John'….

“Dear John, I see it all now, it was wrong
Don’t you think 19 is too young to be played by your dark twisted games,
When I loved you so?”
Ouch.

 
In an issue of Rolling Stone (June, 2012) Mayer commented on the song, saying the he felt “really humiliated.” Going on to explain, “it made me feel terrible…because I didn’t deserve it. It was a really lousy thing for her to do.”
And he then retaliated with Paper Doll:

"You're like twenty-two girls in one
And none of them know what they're runnin' from
Was it just too far to fall?
For a little paper doll"
 
(Oh, and the video starts with a weird exercise thing....not quite sure what you're trying to say there John...)
 
 
Don't worry, it's not all doom and gloom. Keep an eye out for when we do a blog about nice famous songs about famous people...
10:18
Telling someone that you don’t see a romantic future with them is tough. It tends to be around that 3rd date when you know if the ‘dating’ has the potential to turn into a ‘relationship,’ and if it doesn’t you’re faced with a pretty awkward conversation.
Plenty of people just bail out and don’t reply to texts or calls hoping that their date will get the message – but this is just not nice. Don’t do it. We’ve asked around the Flirtify office and everyone here think’s it’s far better to be upfront and honest.
So how exactly do you do that?
Firstly….are you sure?
If there is the slightest bit of potential, give them one more chance. The first few dates with someone new can be really nerve-wracking, and it can be difficult to be the best version of ‘you’ when you’re so nervous that you’ve forgotten how to string together a coherent sentence. So give your date a break – once they’ve relaxed a little and let those pesky barriers down, they could be great!
But, if you’re absolutely sure then don’t put it off – the ‘phase’ out doesn’t work and neither does the ‘avoidance’ tactic. Telling someone you’re not interested is NEVER going to be easy but there are ways that can make it easier…
Be Tactful
Don’t get personal on them, reasons like ‘you’re just not my type,’ can come across as offensive. It’s basically you saying, ‘You’re not attractive,’ which no one wants to hear. Approach the matter with a sense of maturity and coat it with a compliment, it’s difficult to argue with that. Something like, ‘I’ve really enjoyed hanging out with you, but I don’t see anything romantic happening between us,’ might just do the trick.
Don’t Be Vague
Make it obvious that you’re not going to change your mind. Saying vague stuff like, ‘I’m not ready for a relationship yet,’ will lead someone to think that if they stick around you might end up together at some stage.
Avoid the Clichés
Clichés just make everyone feel bad; ‘it’s not you it’s me,’ or ‘I want to focus on my career.’ No.
Remember, you’re not married and you’ve only been on a few dates. We promise that their world won’t come crashing down around them as soon as you say the ‘I’m not interested’ words. So don’t feel too bad about it; if you’re polite and honest, then you’ve done the right thing with grace and dignity to both parties!
If it hasn’t worked out then don’t resign yourself to a life of being the ‘third wheel,’ ‘gooseberry,’ ‘lemon’ or ‘cat lady.’ Just get back out there – there are hundreds of thousands of people looking for love, your guy or girl is out there somewhere!
Where can you start looking? Head on over to Flirtify>>
12:15
This week we’re up in Newcastle to find some of the city’s best date appropriate venues. Here’s just a few of the gems we found…

Tyneside Cinema
Book two cinema tickets for The Classic room at TynesideCinema. This beautiful art deco screen in the restored auditorium (that also has balcony seating!) is the perfect place for a cinema date that’s way above the norm. It’s the last surviving Newsreel theatre still operating in the UK, and plays new movies to cult classics.


The Suggestibles at The Stand Comedy Club
“One of the hottest comedy tickets in the North East” - The Guardian

The Suggestibles (‘You supply the suggestions, they supply the laughs!) are a well-known improv comedy group, playing the 2nd Monday of each month at The Stand Comedy Club. Comedy nights are a brilliant date option; bonding over laughter! And it will undoubtedly result in little ‘in’ jokes that you both find absolutely hilarious but no one else gets because ‘you had to be there.’
Victoria Tunnel
 
Be a tourist and book on to a tour of the Victoria Tunnel. This fully preserved 19th century waggon way under the city, stretches from the Town Moor to the Tyne and was used to transport coal from 1842 up to the 1860s.

We’d recommend the Thursday evening tour, that way after your super educational activity you can head to the pub for a nice drink!
Breakfast at Quay Ingredient
“A Small Coffee house underneath a big bridge. Homemade loveliness fresh from the true heart of Newcastle”

For the best breakfast in town head to Quay Ingredient; cinnamon pancakes, a full English, kippers…it’s just a whole load of breakfast goodness. And the coffee’s awesome too.
Peace & Loaf
 
Headed up by 2010 Master Chef: The Professionals finalist, Dave Coulson, Peace & Loaf is a culinary treat that will score major brownie points with your lucky date. Championing fresh, locally sourced produce in recipes inspired by British Cuisine with an innovative flair, this restaurant is worth a visit whether you’ve got a date tagging along or not!

But if you are looking to impress, then a meal here will most certainly do that.
 
A Lunch date at 9 Bar Coffee

9 Bar Coffee has a great atmosphere and stunning decor. With printed bespoke artwork on heavily rusted steal featured throughout the café – it’s a great talking point. As well as serving up excellent coffee they make the world’s best cheese toasties, fact. The perfect place for a casual lunch date.


A Drink at The Centurion
“Voted ‘Newcastle’s most impressive watering hole’ by the Observer, The Centurion is a former first class passenger lounge welcoming an eclectic clientele.”

Head to the Snug with a bottle of red and spend the evening getting to know your date in this really wonderful atmosphere.
If you’ve got any other suggestions that we’ve missed then do comment below!
Happy Dating (oh, and if you do need a date...try out Flirtify!) X
09:00
Spending 8 hours a day, 5 days a week with the same group of people will result in all kinds of office politics. You go through the highs and lows together; like the time you had to stay late for the good of the company, or the time when the boss cracked open Friday afternoon beers.  And all those times you laughed in the face of the corporate machine by pulling hilarious pranks on your colleagues, switching the instant coffee to decaf or messing around with a co-workers screen resolution. These are prime activities for bonding, and when the office Christmas party comes around and you’ve had one too many egg-nogs, Dave from accounts (who previously reminded you of Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory), begins to look pretty hot.

A few ways to quickly spot a blossoming romance? Just read on. NB the below information is also handy for couples that want to keep their relationship under wraps (I.e. what not to do)…

Unnecessary Smiling

When a team member opens up an email and instantly sports a secretive smirk, there’s something going on. Don’t believe her when she says that Alan from IT just said something funny, she’s definitely playing ‘Flirty Email Banter’ with the guy sitting next to you.
In-difference

Where two of your colleagues used to wind each other up in meetings, criticise the other or question their facts; you know romance is blossoming when they stay schtum. They won’t want to draw attention to any form of relationship and so will maintain a sweet indifference to either’s presentations.  
Suspicious Water Cooler Chat

So you’ve found the two that you suspect and they‘re both in the kitchen chatting quietly. Guaranteed if you go over, one will (unnecessarily loudly) say, ‘That meeting was a waste of time,’ or some other generic office based chat. This is an attempt to cover up the fact that they were just talking about taking each other’s clothes off. 
 Unchanged Clothes
Perhaps the most obvious tell-tale sign; they’re wearing the same clothes as the day before. A sleepover. Made even more obvious when one arrives swiftly after the other (presumably the ‘other’ was hiding in the car park to avoid arriving together).
So now you know you can start playing the classic ‘they don’t know, that we know, that they know, that we know, you know?’

Happy Monday!

p.s if you want to avoid office romances then try out Flirtify instead...
09:41
Relationships in your 20s can be a bloody nightmare. If you’re lucky enough to meet the guy or girl of your dreams the likelihood is, you want to keep hold of them. But how do you balance that around your own aspirations?

If your career takes you elsewhere and puts hundreds of miles between you and your partner – how do you make it work?

Make Skype Your Friend
A good thing about long distance relationships is that you’ll consciously take time out of your day to chat with your partner. Really chat. Lots of couples take it for granted that they see each other every day and so never really ‘talk’ to each other. Make sure you plan regular Skype dates; uninterrupted time where you can catch up without distraction.  

Trust is Key

You’re at home in your pjs, eating Doritos for tea, and your significant other is out. Roll on the gut wrenching images of he/she grinding to R Kelly with someone far more beautiful/handsome, and then going home with aforementioned person who later falls asleep on your side of the bed. No, no, no – you absolutely mustn’t give in to such crazy premonitions! 

Living apart means living independently, and you have to let your partner lead their life without persistent ‘where are you’ and ‘who are you with’ texts.

Trust is essential in a long distance relationship, and if you don’t have trust it’s just not going to work.

Focus on the Positives

Your relationship won’t lose its spark. Every time you are together it will be all Hollywood romance; passion, sex, fireworks etc etc…
Not going to see each other for a couple of weeks? Plan something really special for when you do finally get together. So if you ever have a ‘this is so difficult’ wobble, you can distract yourself with preparations for your next date.


What’s the End Goal?
You both need to know why you’re trying to make a long distance relationship work. Ultimately, you’re not going to be able to only see each other on the weekends for the rest of your lives; so at some stage someone will have to compromise. You don’t necessarily need to decide who straight away, but you do need to have an end goal in sight.

Remind Yourselves How Awesome You Are

Essentially, you have both made the decision that your partner’s ambitions and aspirations are incredibly important. By not letting your relationship dictate their career choices, you’re being super supportive and affirming how strong and loving that relationship is. It’s these sorts of qualities that mean you’ll probably end up with that ‘happily ever after.’

To conclude, if your career takes you elsewhere it’s not the end of the world. You can still maintain a loving relationship, and drawing upon that age-old cliché, it’ll make you stronger.

 
So love birds, spread your wings and be happy!
10:51
Creating the right atmosphere is crucial for a date, as is choosing the right background music! We’ve picked out some great albums to have on hand for any date situation…

Dinner Date
John Mayer – Where the Light Is

American blues-rock musician, John Mayer, is suitably romantic without crossing into the realms of cheesiness. Although make sure you stick to this album, he did a song called ‘Your Body is a Wonderland’ which will definitely freak your date out. There's no such things on this album, just cool bluesy riffs and great vocals...



Late Night Drinks and Stuff…
Fink - Biscuits for Breakfast
Definitely a late night album; it’s chilled out, intimate and very brilliant…


 
Summertime Picnic
Fat Freddy’s Drop – Based on a True Story
Grab a hamper, a blanket, your iphone speakers and get Fat Freddy's Drop on the go - it's got summer written all over it.


Road Trip
Paul Simon – Graceland
 
Will you be in a car for longer than 20 minutes together? You’ll need some music…


BBQ
The Cat Empire – The Cat Empire

Ok, probably not a date situation. But should you find yourself outside in the sunshine, enjoying a burger, cider and great company, this album is the PERFECT accompaniment…


Music, sorted. Date? Find one at Flirtify! >>
09:37
We hear Manchester, we hear Morrissey, and we don't necessarily jump to the conclusion that the city is an inspiration for love, romance and joyful times....*note* Heaven knows I'm Miserable Now:
In my life
Why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die?
Two lovers entwined pass me by
And heaven knows I'm miserable now
In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
But don't worry, Morrissey also wrote these words...
Yes, we may be hidden by rags
But we've something they'll never have
For the good life is out there somewhere
So stay on my arm, you little charmer
So really, he is an eternal optimist. And so Manchester must be a really great place to date, obviously. 
But, where to go, where to go?!
Revolucion De Cuba
This stunning 2 floor bar and cantina, just off of Manchester’s Deansgate, serves Latin food and delicious cocktails, perfect for that first date! Revolucion de Cuba also boasts an unrivalled selection of premium rums from all over the globe – so if you like your rum then this is definitely the place for you! But be careful…we would not recommend getting blind rum drunk on a date, perhaps order some food too…

If you’re planning an evening date, then check out what live music is on in the Havana Club Rooms - get up close and personal, salsa style!





















The People's History Museum
The People’s History Museum is a national centre for the collection, conservation, interpretation and study of material relating to the history of working people in Britain. Sure, it doesn’t sound like a romantic venue, but you’ll undoubtedly come away feeling enlightened with lots to talk about.
We’d suggest following up this educational activity with a trip to the pub…so you can feel mighty smug about your educational adventure whilst enjoying a pint or two!



Afternoon Tea at the Teacup Kitchen
Enjoy a classic date at the Teacup Kitchen! We would recommend the Afternoon Tea option; your choice of any loose tea, with a selection of delicious savoury and sweet snacks. And, if you’re feeling particularly flash indulge in some bubbles - nothing makes the heart grow fonder quite like a glass of champagne.
 






















Much more casual than a formal dinner date, but also much more fun - any date at Manchester’s Oklahomen treasure is almost certain to be a success. Why so great? Their locally sourced meat is slow smoked in their Oklahomen wood burning ovens for up to 20 hours. They also serve very good cocktails. 
 
 
Picnic in the Park
Go for a romantic stroll around Manchester’s beautiful Heaton Park and take a picnic hamper with you for extra brownie points. Whilst you're there, check out the Animal Park - they've cows, alpacas, goats, rabbits and lots more little creatures, it's like having a safari park on your doorstep! Sort of. 

The Cornerhouse Cinema
An international centre for contemporary visual arts and independent film, the Cornerhouse Cinema is a fantastic alternative to the classic cinema date. With 3 floors of art galleries, 3 screens showing the best of independent cinema and a bar, you and your date are in for a cultural treat!
 













Manchester has got so much more to offer, but these are just a few of our favourite places. So grab your date and go explore!

Now you know the best places to go, find your date on Flirtify! >>
12:10
The age-old question; is it ok to sleep with someone on your first date? Attitudes towards sex and dating have changed completely over the past few years; with apps like tinder making casual hook-ups the norm and the media’s obsession with all things sex, we’re much more comfortable talking about it, and being open about our own experiences.

But is there still a stigma about girls who sleep with guys on a first date? We all still fear the dreaded ‘slag’ comment, and despite our new found openness many of us are still reluctant to reveal our magic number. But if we put those things aside, our worries about what other people might think, is having sex on a first date even a good idea?
YES

It depends what you want, entirely. If you’re not looking for a relationship and just want to have (excuse the phrase) ‘a bit of fun,’ then in theory, why not? If you have an instant connection and sparks are flying all over the shop, then you might just want to skip dinner and take he/she straight back to your beautifully prepared bedroom. And – it’s not unheard of that many a long term relationship has started in this way. If there’s a mutual attraction and respect for each other, then there is no reason why after sleeping with someone on the first date, it couldn’t blossom into a fully-fledged romance.

*Note:* Friends, Ross & Emily and their ‘first date’ weekend in Vermont.

Although to be fair, that didn’t end great...

NO

Many girls and guys would say, ‘if you sleep with a guy on a first date, he won’t respect you.’ There is sometimes truth in that, but if he DOES lose respect for you then it’s hypocritical, it takes two to tango as they say. If there is a lack of respect or an element of judgement from either party, don’t pursue that relationship (casual or serious).

On a lighter note, sometimes it’s just nice to wait. It creates anticipation, and allows you to build up a level of trust meaning that when you do have sex, you'll both feel completely comfortable (and so, probably enjoy it a lot more). It’s the general consensus that Nick and Jess’s eagerly anticipated first kiss was the hottest thing on TV c.2013, aahhh....

REMEMBER

….any decision you make should be without fear of judgement. Once that fear is out the way, you are free to do whatever the hell you want, but above all things (and we hate to put a downer on it), you need to remember your safety. It’s never a good idea to take a completely new person back to your house before you have got to know them. Equally when you do have sex, you put yourself in an incredibly vulnerable position so you need to KNOW that your partner can be trusted.

It’s also important to remember that sex can mean something different to every person. Where someone is able to detach it from emotion, others can’t. So whatever you do, make sure you’re both completely open and honest about what it is you want.

And just because, we'll leave you with these wise words….

14:35
How to Date without Drinking

.....It can be done!

As a nation we drink a huge amount; whether it’s after-work drinks, a night in with a DVD and a bottle of vino, a night out (jeagur shots compulsory) or bucks fizz Sunday mornings (just us??) – drinking is a firm part of our culture and our lifestyle.

But abstaining from alcohol is becoming more and more popular. Our lifestyle choices are changing, and gradually we’re moving away from cider fuelled nights in the local car park into a world of healthy eating, exercise and good old fashioned ‘fun.’ So where does this leave dating? Most traditional dates revolve around alcohol, and if it doesn’t, many of us indulge in a wee dram just to calm the nerves (just us, again??)

In theory, it should leave our dating lives in a much healthier state. Imagine; you go on a date, you stay clear of mind and your judgements aren’t in the least obscured by that second glass of wine. Guaranteed you’ll have a better idea of your compatibility on a sober date then you will if you’d have spent the night downing shots and drinking all the cocktails.
It’s a bold statement we know, but in the initial stages of dating someone new, avoiding alcohol infused situations might actually be a nice way to go. But ‘What on earth do we do instead?!’
Chocolate Tasting

Yes this is a thing! Many independent chocolate shops run evenings of chocolate tasting; an opportunity to learn about the origins of chocolate, and of course to eat a lot of it. They often start with an unrecognisable bar of bitterness (100% cocoa), and throughout the evening move down towards the more familiar tastes of milk chocolate. It’s a fantastic evening for any chocolate lover and is a fun experience to do with a potential suitor.

Coco Wonderland – Sheffield
 
Rock Climbing

Unless you’re a pro, rock climbing is a sport that’ll take you out of your comfort zone, so if you’re already there you might as well take a date along too. It’s a thrilling sport and provides a sense of achievement giving you a rush of those happy endorphins – putting you and your date in an excellent mood!

Picnic

Pack a hamper of home-made treats (or just go to the picnic section in M&S), and find a quiet spot in a park over-looking a pretty view. Just like a restaurant date but more intimate (and you’re sitting on the floor, batting away wasps). If you want to go super romantic take some candles and your iphone speakers along…'I made this playlist for you’… he / she will love it.

*image via http://www.beingtazim.com/

A Dance Class

If your compatible doing salsa then you know, that can only be a good thing. Getting up close and personal in a dance class will help break the ice and rid you both of any inhibitions without the help of our friends, Jack and Jim.

Sushi Making Class

Learn all about rice, fish and nori, rolling your own sushi and preparing a tasty meal! You can either impress your date with your skills as a domestic God / Goddess or bond over your mutual terribleness at it.

Coffee & Cake

Chat all night long over a cappuccino and slice of cake, super chilled and perfect for those first dates.

Obviously we’re not suggesting a full on dating drink ban – just a few alternative ways to rid yourselves of the inhibitions that often prevent us from really getting to know our date. See, you can do it without 'stawpedo'ing a bottle of wine or downing a yard of ale!

With so many lovely things to do, now you just need to find your date! Head on over to Flirtify >>
10:51
After years of experience dealing with cheesy chat up lines, rejection and down-right crazy girlfriends / boyfriends, many of us are pretty clued up in the realms of dating. We know the etiquette, we’ve mastered the text & response time span, we’re equipped to the methods of ‘phasing out’ an undesirable date, and we know how to say ‘no’ when approached at a bar. These lessons have been learnt from centuries of dating traditions handed down from one little black book to another.
Online dating however, is a whole new kettle of fish. And we’re all in it together when it comes to working out the do’s and don’ts. Through our experience we’ve learnt a few lessons that we’d now like to pass down to you…

What to say in the first message…
There are thousands of people online. Sending a generic ‘hey beautiful’ or ‘wanna chat?’ basically means ‘This is a blanket message that I send to everyone, I haven’t read nor am I interested in, your profile.’

So what do you do instead? You have one chance to catch this person’s attention, so make an effort. Read their profile and comment on something they’ve said, showing that you have a genuine interest. Like, ‘Is one of your photos taken in Thailand? I went there a couple of years ago,’ or ‘So you like to read? Me too! I’m currently reading….’

*A handy little tip* Include a key word in your profile. At the end of your About Me section, tell the reader that if he/she wants to message you please include the word <insert>. That way you know if they’ve actually read your whole profile!
Not interested?

Someone’s messaged you and you’re not interested. Do you reply? We’d say that there are 2 basic rules to stick to in this tricky situation:
1)      If the email was generic; ‘What’s up?’, ‘How’s it going,’ ‘You have a lovely smile!’, then ignore it. The sender hasn’t put his/her heart and soul into it so you don’t need to respond.

2)      If however, they’ve clearly read your profile and have written a nice long message touching upon your interests and asking questions, then the polite thing to do is to respond. Obviously don’t list the reasons why you’re not interested, because no one wants that! Just try a general, ‘Sorry but you’re a little too far away!’ of ‘thank you for getting in touch, but you’re a little out of my age range’…..

Is it ok to date more than one match?
So you’ve planned a date with a match, but another eligible guy or girl has asked you out too. Is it ok to date more than one person? Absolutely! Online dating is about meeting new people, exploring your options and having fun; by doing these 3 things the theory is that you’ll end up with one great person who is perfect for you. It’s an unwritten rule that you’re allowed to talk to as many people as you like, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t meet each of these potential suitors for a date.

If things are going well with one particular person then you probably won’t want to date anyone else. So just trust your instincts on this one and do what feels right.
 
When should you remove your profile?

You’ve been on a few dates and things are going so well that last night he went in for the hand-hold. What does this mean?? Is it time to remove your dating profile and send out your ‘Save the Dates’? Maybe hold back on the latter, but it may be time to discuss the whole dating profile thing. Remember, you both met online so you're both in the same predicament.
It’s not a necessity to sit down and talk formerly about the issue; if you don’t want to date or talk to anyone else online, then remove your profile. If you’re both into each other, then the likelihood is your new ‘sort-of partner / person you’re seeing’ is going to do the same thing. Just wait until it comes up naturally.
And if further down the line you discover that he or she Is married / is bonkers, or it’s just not working out, then you can re-activate your profile and get back in the dating game.

We’ve just touched upon a few of the FAQ’s of online dating today – so keep your eyes peeled for more blog entries discussing the do’s and don’ts of finding love online.

Thinking about Online Dating? Try out Flirtify today; it's free to join!
10:43
Copyright © 2015 Flirtify | Designed by VeeThemes.com
Copyright © 2015 - Bauer Media