Welcome to the world of online dating. A fairly new and controversial concept widely utilized among young Americans. Sites such as OkCupid, Match.com and Plenty Of Fish have been recently taking over the dating world. These sites make it simple for users to find others with common likes and interests or those they are just physically attracted to. Basically you sign up, and begin shopping for your soul mate. It’s that easy. Or is it?

While many are skeptical of this fresh new form of dating, others find it itriguing. Addicting even. The ability to be percieved as whoever you want to be and meet whoever you wish to meet can be an exciting venture. But is it healthy? Or is such an idea detrimental to our human nature. Does it impact our ability to interact in real life with potential partners? To argue on the side of technology, the number of successful real life love matches from online dating sites are, in fact, growing at a rapid pace. This statistic proves internet love searching not such a bad idea after all. Whether you are a workaholic, bored with your usual routine or just socially awkward, the internet now makes it possible for anyone to discover love.

So yes you caught me. I have taken part in the search for online love. Mostly out of boredom, yet there was another part of me curious as to who I might meet once all barriers were broken. I mean, the possibilities are endless! Once signed up, I noticed right away how users try to make themselves as desirable as possible, as if they were in a competition. Maybe they were? Then there was me. A young, successful, and attractive female. You can only imagine all of the hopeful messages I immediately received. Most of which were rejected. Only few men were lucky enough to meet me in person and most ended up being utterly depressing. Not at all what they had portrayed themselves to be over the web.

These encounters made me wonder if I was the only person whose profile gave an honest definition of themselves. Some men I met up with were at least a foot shorter or 50 pounds heavier than they had claimed to be. Another whose voice sounded like that of a middle school girl. Did they think I wouldn’t notice? Or had they been hoping I would have something secretly wrong with me too? The unfortunate thing is that at that point when you meet in person you are then virtually obligated to hang out with them……and then never contact or return their messages EVER again.

I have heard other stories similar to my experiences, and also stories from those who actually did find a good match through the internet. Being an optimist, I decided to take another chance. Convinced that if it worked for them, it could work for me too. Plus I had nothing to lose and found online dating sites to be quite the time killer while at work or when I was bored at home. Then after a couple months I finally did meet someone normal. I am now fortunate enough to say that my online love story is indeed one with a happy ending.

Online dating in my opinion can not be classified as good or bad, safe or unsafe. There are always going to be people that lie, cheat and who are not really who they say they are. This is the same in real life. You don’t want to forget though that there is always that chance that the person you have been chatting with might be your soul mate or someone you will at least form a close friendship with. Just like in the real dating world, its all about taking chances and having faith. If you haven’t already I suggest you take that chance and open your mind and heart to the world of online dating. You never know who you might find

Online Dating Tips<3

1. Read all of their stats. Pictures are easily misleading.
2. Trade facebooks. You can tell how credible of a person they are by the networks they belong to and people they know.
3. Never meet at their house. This means they either have no money to take you out or are a pervert.
4. Pay attention to the length of their profile. People who have thorough profiles show that they are serious about finding someone and hence a better candidate for a serious relationship.
5. Spelling and grammatical errors. Let’s face it. Not all of us are geniuses but there has to be some telling point. “Sup baby” “Hay cutie” = No message back.

Surfs up! Grab your swimsuit and put on your flip flops this seasons’ hottest new series, Good Vibes, is here!

Good Vibes, a quirky new animated comedy tells the story of a Jersey teen, Mondo, and his new life in sunny Playa Del Toro, California. Mondo moves west from New Jersey with his eccentric mother, portrayed as a typical “ Jersey Shore” girl, after numerous delinquencies. She hopes to build for Mondo a better life in Playa Del Toro and to live the California Dream.

Mondo finds his new home in California to be far from that of in New Jersey. Typical days are comprised of surfing with his best friend Woodie, eating fish tacos, chasing bikini babes and crashing beach parties. An endless summer or what some would like to call, the good life! Paired with an array of hilarious characters who perfectly portray the California lifestyle, this show truly does bring the beach to your living room!

As we all know, it is highly plausable that how you spend your New Years Eve predetermines how you will spend the rest of your year. Now, I am sure this is not always the case. But to be safe, this year I wanted to make sure I spent the night exactly where I wanted to be, with whom I wanted to be, doing what I wanted to do. The funny is, I did not know exactly what that was. So decided the best thing to do was to get in the car and drive. We packed up the car and the dogs and drove West.

It wasn’t until the next day after a night of car camping, we found the perfect place to bring in the New Year. Rockaway Beach Oregon. Rockaway beach is a quaint, one road beach town located between Cannon Beach and Newport. The people are friendly, there is one market, a few bars and restaurants and small shops. The beach was sandy and the waves huge. Out in the distance an arch, similar to the arch of Cabo. It was a beautiful place to be.

Quickly we found a place to spend the night, took a quick nap and continued on with the last day of the year. Dinner was decided to be at a not so classy Mexican Joint/PUB. It was perfect. People were friendly, drinks were strong and food pretty decent. Decision was made to return here in a couple hours to bring in the New Year. A place I never pictured myself being when 2012 arrived but I knew it was exactly where I was supposed to be.

15 minutes before mignight we find ourselves making use of the video game machines and smoking one last cigarrete before the New Year. When we went back inside the countdown had started. 5…4…3…2..1 Happy New Year! At this moment my body tingled all over and a contagious smile crept upon my face. The most amazing feeling. People everywhere coming together all over the world to celebrate a new beginning and hope for the future. Surrounded by strangers in a place I’ve never known before with the one I love. Time called for a midnight kiss and a bonfire at the beach.

As I sit in front of the fire and watch the ocean waves, I am the happiest girl in the world. New Years Eve is not about what party you go to, how many people you are with, what you wear or sees you wear it. It is about the promise of a new beginning. It is about hope and Happiness. You only know how to find your true happiness. I found mine in this beautiful little town, with a bonfire, beach and the other half of me. If this is what the rest of my year is going to be like…This just may be the best one yet

No matter how you spent your New Years Evening I wish everyone SO MUCH love and prosperity in the year to come.

Happy 2012!

dream. n.

a succession of images, thoughts, or emotions passing through the mind

In my life things happen so fast I don’t really realize how it happens. So since January I have found a new job making great money, bought a new car, moved in with my mom to get away from bad surroundings. I really left my house I was renting and moved in with her. It was very much worth it. That time alone helped me to reconnect with myself and others who actually care about me….those I should have in my life. This time has also helped me to weed out those I don’t need in my life and those who don’t really care about who I am as a person but rather see me as another party acquaintance.

So after staying with my mom for a month, I decided to move again. I finally feel like I am over who I was and back to who I am. I am ready to move on with this new year and new life. I moved to Lake Stevens in an awesome house on the lake. I live with two friends who I really believe to be good people to have in my life. I hope they think the same of me! Well..we have a beautiful house on the lake with our own dock, summer is coming up. I am going to San Diego next week and Costa Rica next month! What more could I ask for? Since I found myself I feel like everything is finally falling into place perfectly like it used to.

Living in Lake Stevens I thought would feel like back tracking. Rather it feels comforting, like home. Everything feels right. I am constantly reminded of my high school memories growing up here and of all the events that led me to where I am now. Overall, I accept and cherish both the good and the bad times. Everything that has happened to me, especially last year, has made me a stronger person today. Some people may think of their negative past experience as “speed bumps” or “detours”. I think of them more as “taking the scenic route”. Without the way I went, I wouldn’t be here today writing this now. So like always…I am thankful for everything.