Tag Archives: love

Romance In Modern Age: 52% of Women Would Contribute To Engagement Ring

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The New Engagement Etiquette in the Age of Equality

TV diamond expert, Vashi Dominguez, Founder and CEO of Vashi.com reports that in a recent survey, over 50 percent of women admit they would make a contribution to their engagement ring to ensure they got the ring of their dreams. 52 percent of women answered that ‘yes, I would probably consider [contributing to my engagement ring]’ or ‘yes, I would definitely consider it as it would mean I could have the style and size I want.’ A further 7 percent of women surveyed had already contributed to their engagement ring. The statistics also reveal that a quarter of women surveyed would partake in subtle hinting, such as comments to their partner when walking past jewellery stores, to ensure they received the engagement ring they wanted.

engagementring

Pear Cut 0.6 Carat D/VS1 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Engagement Ring | £1,899

The financial crisis of the late 2000s caused employment rates for men aged 25-44 in the UK to decrease by 3.2 percent. The employment rate of women in the same age range dropped by a lesser 0.7 percent. Consequentially, more couples now share the cost of living; large expense items such as a new car, holidays or an engagement ring are now more likely to be a shared expense. Couples’ finances in general are now so interlinked prior to engagement that an even higher percentage of women could be contributing to their ring subtlety through linked finances.

The survey results also strongly suggest that engagements in the UK are planned (more frequently than being spontaneous) due to men’s financial circumstances and budget constraints. However, a relatively large proportion of men did not plan romance around the planned engagement – this is according to 24 percent of women who revealed their partner did not plan anything specific for their engagement, with another 13 percent of women stating that their partner did not get down on one knee.

In light of the survey results, Vashi.com anticipates a growing number of sales will be a result of joint decisions made by a couple. Post-survey, Dominguez stated: “These results represent a welcome shift in the way couples approach engagement now. The team and I notice more women being involved in the process compared to previous generations. Traditionally, men were the breadwinners and often as a result, the decision makers. However, we’re beginning to experience a new engagement etiquette. Our male customers are relying on their partner’s input too, whether it be financially or at least from an aesthetic point of view. Not only this, now vashi.com is receiving an increasing proportion of business from female customers.”

Vashi Dominguez continued, “women know what they want and our survey shows they’re not afraid to contribute to ensure they get what they want!”

1000 women aged 20-50 were surveyed UK-wide.

Source re survey: Census Wide on behalf of vashi.com

Source re recession: The Labour Force Survey from 2007 Q1 – 2007 Q4

 

2 Out Of 3 Think Modern Men Have Lost The Art Of Chivalry

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· 2 out of 3 Brits believe modern men have lost the art of chivalry

· 67% of over 55s have experienced a romantic gesture from their partner in the last year

· Listening and spending time with each other are valued more than materialistic gestures

 

As the nation gears up for Valentine’s Day, it seems ‘the Facebook Generation’ of UK men may need to brush up on their romantic skills. A survey by over adult only hotel group Warner Leisure Hotels has revealed that 2 out of 3 Brits (27,999,654) believe modern men have lost the art of chivalry. Women are suffering from the lack of love, as one fifth has admitted that their partner hasn’t done anything romantic in the last year.

Jaine and Tim Hewett, celebrating Valentine’s with 400 roses at The Warner Leisure Cricket St. Thomas Hotel in Somerset

Jaine and Tim Hewett, celebrating Valentine’s with 400 roses at The Warner Leisure Cricket St. Thomas Hotel in Somerset

Love needn’t cost the earth as the study found the little things in life – listening to your partner (25%) and never going to bed angry (10%) are the best ways to keep romance alive. 10 million (9,971,806) Brits value spending time with partners and the survey by Warner Leisure Hotels also revealed that going on holiday is important to 2 million (2,014,010).

The best way to keep romance alive in a long-term relationship as surveyed by OnePoll *

· Listening to your partner: 24.25%

· Spending time with each other: 20.30%

· Small gestures e.g. giving compliments, buying small gifts: 9.50%

· Never going to bed angry: 9.95%

· Letting the small things go: 9.95%

Though diamonds are allegedly a girl’s best friend, keeping the spark in a relationship doesn’t have to mean ostentatious gestures – the classics are still the best. With the over 55s leading the way in the art of wooing, younger generations have a lot of catching up to do:

Ways a partner has been romantic in the last year (over 55s) as surveyed by OnePoll *

· Complimented you in some way: 35.28%

· Bought you flowers: 24.54%

· Bought you chocolates: 20.61%

· Cooked a romantic meal: 18.41%

Hannah Sardar, PR Manager for Warner Leisure Hotels

Chivalry is not dead; it’s clear that with a little guidance and a few tips from those who know romance the best, the younger generation can keep romance alive. Relationships and romance require quality time together, trying new things as a couple and investment but the small things – cooking a meal or going on a spontaneous trip for the weekend – really do make a difference. No matter your age, it’s always important to make your partner feel special.”

 

Single Doctors Get Hearts Racing This Valentine’s Day

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  • Teachers and doctors among the top professions looking for love
  • Men begin their quest for love much sooner than women, as 32% more men in their 20s are looking for an online date than women

guardiansoulmates

Another year, another Valentine’s Day, and for singletons it can be a frustrating time. However, we have cause to be more positive this year as research from Guardian Soulmates today reveals that there are far more eligible single men and women than we may have expected. Ever wondered where all the doctors are? All the teachers? Mr/Mrs Right you expected to have married by now? Well they’re on your doorstep, and more importantly, they’re single!

From its dating database of over 200,000 singletons, Guardian Soulmates has found that there are more teachers and academics looking for love than any other profession, with media professionals and doctors coming in second and third respectively. And it’s not just doctors and teachers; those who own their own businesses are also up there with the UK’s most eligible singles, making up 5% of the sites daters.

Sectors with the most single men and women:

1. Education

2. Media

3. Health

4. Self-employed

5. Finance

6. Marketing / PR

7. Third sector

8. IT / telecoms

9. Government

 

Encouragingly our teachers and doctors don’t all fall into one group, and there are opportunities to meet your match regardless of age. Guardian Soulmates’ research shows that men and women in their 30s are the most prevalent daters; of those on the dating website 31% of men and 34% of women are in their 30s. There’s good news for those in their 20s too, particularly any young ladies who are apprehensive about getting online for a date before they turn 30, as 32% more men in their 20s are looking for an online date than women at the same age. Not only are men getting online early, they’re also continuing their quest for love in later life. The research also shows a trend that there are equal numbers of men and women in their 40s and 50s looking for love.

Age does, however, appear to define the type of date you may wish to go on this Valentine’s Day. The research reveals that there are trends in dating patterns across age groups, and even across regions. Those in their twenties are least likely to cook a romantic meal for two, whilst 79% of 30-something daters are cooking enthusiasts and would prefer a comfy night in. For those who believe the way to the heart is through the stomach, London and the North West are fertile dating grounds, as 67% of daters in London and 40% in the North West are cooking fans. Surprisingly, if you want to impress a lady you’re better off asking her out for a drink than a dinner date as 64% of single women enjoy a drink, versus just over half of single men (53%).

 

The Cost Of Love

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We love this infograph about love from prezzybox.com Check it out.

thecostoflove

Dating Party At The Top Of The Shard

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If you are single and looking to meet someone, we have found a rather cool dating party. It’s the ultimate ice breaker night 800ft above London at The View from The Shard 48 hours before Valentine’s Day – will you find Mr or Miss Right just in time? Even if you don’t, you will have an incredible night with lively London singles.

shard

Reaching new heights of dating, DoingSomething.co.uk in partnership with The View from The Shard have announced the arrival of the World’s Highest Urban Ice Bar and the first ever dating party on Levels 69 and 72 of Western Europe’s tallest building – an exclusive one-night only event on Wednesday 12 February with a bespoke built ice bar and an igloo for singletons to snuggle up in.

 

Watch the sun set over panoramic views of the London skyline from the cosy 5ft tall, two tonne igloo created by internationally renowned ice artist Percy Salazar – decked out for comfort with blankets. Ice artist to the stars, Percy has previously worked on ice sculptures for the Queen, Stella McCartney and Lawrence Dallaglio.

 viewfromtheshard

The spectacular 360 degree views take in London’s most famous landmarks for up to 40 miles, including the Olympic Stadium and Canary Wharf to the east, Hampstead Heath and Alexandra Palace to the north, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye and Wembley Stadium to the west, and Crystal Palace to the south.

 

To keep the party alight, there will be live sets from London’s hottest DJs Nick Decosemo (Editor of Mixmag), Luke Brancaccio (Founder of hip new West London house label City Seven), Le SoSo (dance stage curator for Cornish boutique festival Leopallooza) who will all be playing cool dance grooves. And Goldbars and Lexicon (For the Love of Mic: the rap club night with a sense of fun) who will be spinning ice cold classics for people to warm up to including: Ice Ice Baby (Vanilla Ice), Cold as Ice (MOP) and It Was A Good Day (Ice Cube).

 

Naturally, waiters wearing penguin suits are on hand to provide perfectly chilled cinnamon flavoured Smirnoff Gold cocktails served on arrival at the World’s Highest Urban Ice Bar. Taking singletons to new heights, a choice of themed Smirnoff Gold drinks with real edible gold flakes will also be available at the first ever ice-breaking dating party on Level 72, including the ‘Iced Gold’ and ‘Cloud 72’ cocktails.

 

As if this wasn’t enough the first 200 guests will receive complimentary sorbetto and gelato courtesy of Snowflake Luxury Gelato. There are two artisan gelatos for guests to choose from including Hazelnut and the Valentine’s Special, Blind Date and Honey Gelato. Alternatively try a sumptuous sorbetto, flavours include Raspberry, Mango and Passionfruit and the award-winning Extra Dark Chocolate.

 

Daters will witness a new Guinness World Record on the night as the one-night only ice bar will become the World’s Highest Urban Ice Bar.

 

BOOKING INFORMATION

 

Wednesday 12 February – 8:00-11:00pm

 

Tickets priced at £35 for singles. Or just £30 each if you buy a pair for you and your Wingman/Wingwoman.

 

Includes access to The View from The Shard’s viewing platforms on Levels 69 and 72 (worth £30) throughout the night, an after party, and one month’s subscription to DoingSomething.co.uk (worth £29).

 

Managing MIL: You And Your Mother-in-Law – For Better, Or For Worse? Book Review

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mother-in-law- advice-bookThis book starts off with a joke: “My mother-in-law fell down a wishing well. I was amazed; I never knew they worked.” Les Dawson, this joke highlights that, traditionally, it is men that have problems with their mother-in-law. However there has been a rise in women clashing with theirs, and a number of my friends like to have a moan about their husbands mother. Marriage is hard, but even harder when there are three people in it.

Some of the real-life stories in this book are horrendous and shocking, and a few are nice. In fact the real-life stories are what I like most about the book. Learning about other peoples experience always make you feel less alone and helps to get through a rough spot. The best way to learn is from other people.

The book has rules and even suggests you start your own DIL (daughter-in-law) Club to unlock the secrets of a good mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship. Where you get a group of like-minded women together and all vent anger, or share experiences: good and bad.

This is a good book. A lot of the advice is common sense: be polite, decorum goes a long way, see things her way. The book is also intelligent enough to see things from the mother-in-laws view; sometimes she cannot do anything right. All in all I thought the book was great. There is also top advice from leading relationship experts.

The top tips for managing your mother-in-law are good and this is a helpful book. It takes the view of both the daughter-in-law and the mother-in-law to make it fair. Full of good advice and highly recommended.

Managing MIL: You and your Mother-in-Law – for better, or for worse? will be released by Peridot Press. You can buy it in e-book form or as a proper book.

Does your mother-in-law drive you to distraction? Are you a desperate daughter-in-law? Who is to blame? It’s hard to know when you’re stuck on the inside.

Journalist Katy Rink looks at the best and worst of this frequently tricky relationship and provides smart advice for keeping your cool, your sanity and your family intact.

How do you survive a weekend with the in-laws? Should you ever go on holiday together? How do you manage a new baby and MIL? What are the dangers of accepting that friend request on Facebook? These are just some of the tricky topics tackled.

The author calls upon the experiences of fellow daughters-in-law in her home town – at secretive get-togethers that came to be known as DIL Club – to illustrate the highs and lows of dealing with his mother.

There are plenty of anecdotes to amuse and entertain, including the DILs who received engine oil, chin hair removal cream and paper knickers as Christmas presents from their MILs; the MIL who provided itemised receipts for ice creams and charged for petrol; and the MIL who greeted news of a pregnancy with “I can’t believe you haven’t had her sterilised yet”.

You can also try and recognise your MIL from a cast of hilarious caricatures including The Apologist, The Snob, The Manipulator and The Social Climber.

But amid the horror stories there are heart-warming tales of when (and how) it all goes right, and when peace breaks out.

 

Doctors And Nurses Most Fanciable Workers In Britain

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Doctor most fanciableThe NHS may have its troubles but its caring staff are the most fanciable workers in Britain, new figures revealed last night.
Doctors are the most dateable men in any uniformed profession while nurses remain the number one choice for the nation’s men. And it is their caring qualities and ’empathy’ that make them more appealing to singles looking for love than soldiers, sailors, police officers, firefighters and others.
The poll of more than 1,500 adults by matchmaking website Uniformdating.com included both those who wear a uniform to work and those who don’t. Asked which man or woman in uniform they would most like as a partner, 29 per cent of women went for a doctor followed by 12 per cent who went for a firefighter and the same who said a member of the armed forces.
Among men, 26 per cent chose nurse but a further 17 per cent said doctor, suggesting some of the old Carry On stereotypes are being reversed. Asked why a health expert appealed so much, both men and women said it was their role to care and empathise with their patients that were their most attractive qualities.
Doctors are also seen as intelligent – though many women admitted a decent pay packet also helped! And one in four of the female nurses polled in the survey said they still thought their uniform meant men did not take them seriously.
Women still lust after hunky firemen, brave policemen and dashing pilots as well as fiery chefs and men admit they fancy female members of the armed forces, flight attendants and policewomen.
Police officers are seen as loyal, reliable and honest in their work which would be attractive qualities in a relationship.
But there were few votes for postmen and women in the survey, attracting just one per cent of the male vote and two per cent of the female vote.
And many said they were turned off having a member of the armed services as a partner because of the long periods spent away from home.

 

Chelsea Named as Britain’s No 1 Mistress Hotspot

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If you are a newly wed then don’t move to Chelsea, it is where single women prowl for married men to have affairs with.

And ‘staid’ Tunbridge Wells comes second

Chelsea is the no 1 hotspot for single women seeking affairs with married men, according to new research from AshleyMadison.com.  The world’s leading dating site for extra-marital affairs has found that 43.96% of its women members who are seeking affairs with married men in Chelsea are actually single.

UK.mistress.hotspots

Noel Biderman, AshleyMadison.com founder and CEO says: “Chelsea is part of London’s richest borough and home to some of the capital’s wealthiest men. Single women are drawn to status, to men who have made something of themselves, even if that includes having a wife and family. As Oscar Wilde said and James Goldsmith famously paraphrased, “When a man marries his mistress he creates a vacancy.” It’s no accident that so many mistresses live in Chelsea and our female members such as Lady Catherine and Rosetti Lover are looking for their own Jimmy Goldsmith.’

At Mistress Hotspot no 2, Tunbridge Wells has a more conservative image with its prep schools, Georgian architecture and spa heritage. Yet 42.04% of the women there are single and actively seeking an affair with a married man.

Noel Biderman says: ‘Does ‘Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells’ have an alter ego as Ashley Madison’s HardAsRock or RugbyJunky? There are a lot of well heeled, successful men there, however staid they may or may not be. A Tunbridge Wells man obviously holds promise as a lover, even if he is married.’

St Albans is 3rd on the list for would-be mistresses and Loughborough comes 4th.

With Oxford bottom of the list, it seems that while the single women of the city are inclined to stick to their studies, the academic world is not immune to passion.

Mistress Hotspots: % of female members who are single:

Chelsea, London          42.04%

Tunbridge Wells           42.04%

St Albans                      41.01%

Loughborough              39.17%

Dartford                        38.91%

Hemel Hempstead       38.36%

Chester                         36.94%

Newcastle upon Tyne  36.55%

Bristol                           35.70%

Oxford                          35.45%

Are you going to avoid these areas?