Don't know if any of you saw it but we got a mention in the Irish Independent yesterday - take a read of it.

We will be fully switching over to our new site in the next day or two - if you haven't checked it out yet take a look and let us know what you think....

Labels: dating, Media article, new site, Newspaper

I got a new dog recently and I can totally recommend them! Not only are they great fun, company and delighted to see you all the time - but they are the perfect bait for attracting the opposite sex! I have never been stopped so many times by people who want to discuss my dog and her antics! My partner also has been stopped on numerous occasions by women wanting to talk about the dog.

There is a definite way to do it though, you need to saunter along taking your time and seemingly enjoying the day. Best to have the dog on a lead because people will stop to pet the dog. If you can put something noticable on the dog all the better - on Paddy's day we put a green garland on the dog and she attracted even more attention.

So if you are debating whether or not you want a dog in your life I hope this helps to influence you in the right direction!.

Let me know if you've had any similar experiences with pets.

Labels: chat-up, dates, dogs, pets

This week's blog is from Neha Gupta who recently moved to Dublin from Cashel in Tipperary - here's how she found the experience....

I'm a country girl at heart. I have lived in a small town all my life with a population of only 2000 people. I know almost everyone in my town and my life was smooth and easy until the day I found out about my new job in Dublin city! I was excited but I was also very scared. I was going to move to a big, strange city where I knew nobody. The fear of loneliness was killing me inside - I had no choice but to face it!

Dublin is a very big and busy city. Nobody has time for anyone, compared to my town where everyone always has time for little chats. The culture and atmosphere of a city is totally different from a small town and you notice that the minute to set foot in the place. For country girls like me, big cities are like a whole new world. We are fascinated by small things and forget how to act in a big city! It's tough to fit in with the crowd and people know straight away we are "culchies".

The hardest thing of all is to make new friends. It is so hard to meet new people and the bigger the city the more difficult it is. I have a lot of friends in my home town but when I moved up to Dublin city I knew no one. I was home sick for a month. I didn't know where to go or how to make friends. I made a few friends in work but we were not that close. I used to see them at work and chat a little but that was it. I share a house up here with four other girls and because they all knew each other very well it was hard for me to fit in.

I hated Dublin, I wanted to pack my bags and move back home and I think it's the same story for many people who move to Dublin for either college or work. So how do you make new friends and enjoy city life? Well firstly get to know your housemates and work colleagues more by spending some time with them. Go to every work party and if people from work are going out for a few drinks, don't be shy, join them. It's the best way to get to know them. I didn't go to any work get togethers at the start as I used to get the first bus home after work every Friday!

After about two months, I joined my work colleagues for a few drinks after work and I'm so glad I did. I got know them better and I had a really good time. I also started to spend more time with my housemates by watching TV with them and the odd cinema night out. I then got to meet new people through them. We go to pubs and clubs where I meet their friends and friends of friends. So it is really important to socialise with your work or college colleagues.

One night one of my friend's told me about a dating site - MaybeFriends.com but I just laughed it off. After about a week though I was sitting at home and decided to give Maybefriends.com a shot. I filled in my profile and the next day I had got 3 flirts! I got all excited and I flirted back and without me even realising it I was on the site every night after work - it can be really addictive! I have got to know a lot of people through the site and made quite a few friends both men and women - many of them in the same situation as me. I'm due to go on my first date from the site next week!

Moving to a big city is tough but we can turn the challenge into a fun situation by socialising both on and off line - so don't turn the big move into a horrible experience, get out and make new friends and enjoy the buzzing life the city is offering!

Labels: city, country, friends, friendship, Irish online dating

The first date can be really exciting yet scary for both of you. You are thrilled by the thought of it, but you're also concerned about what to wear. Most people rummage through their wardrobe and go on a shopping spree for a new outfit! After all, someone's first impression can make or break a date! Don't panic - with a little help from maybefriends.com we can help you set the tone for a successful date!

Before you start getting anxious, find out what your date has in mind for the special occasion and dress appropriately for your date. Dress casual if going for a coffee on first date and dress up elegant if going out for dinner in a lovely restaurant. Girls, when wearing make-up, don't overdo it, as less is always more when comes to make-up. Don't go to extremes.

There is no need to be wearing designer labels or going on a mad shopping spree! Do not wear just to impress, wear something that suits you and your personality and which is comfortable as you would not want to be fidgeting every few minutes! Being uncomfortable would be rather embarrassing for you and might make your date feel apprehensive! It is always better to decide on what to wear for your first date a day or two before the date. If you leave it to the last minute, you'll be all stressed out and that's the last thing you want on a first date.

Another thing to think about is wearing something that is appropriate to your age. If you are a 40 years old, don’t wear something from an 18 year’s old wardrobe! A good fit and a colour that brings out your eyes as you will be spending a lot of time staring deeply in each others eyes. It is very important that you wear right footwear too. Boys, if going out for dinner, do not wear runners; wear a nice pair of black or brown shoes. Girls, try to avoid big thick platforms or really high heels, wear a pair of nice shoes with decent slim heels. It is also important to smell good but do not spray the entire bottle on yourself as you don't want to give your date a headache!

Remember it's all about confidence, if you feel comfortable and great then you'll come across really well. The majority of people would much prefer to date someone who is fairly average looking but dresses really well then to date someone who is a stunner but can't get it right in the clothes department.

To wrap up, just try to be yourself. Let your simple, stylish clothing make a statement; let your clothes state that you have a great sense of style and excellent taste. Remember, comfort brings confidence and style brings class!

Enjoy your date - I look forward to reading your comments and ideas.

Labels: clothes, confidence, Dating., First Date, Maybefriends.com

This is just the cutest story I have ever read so I had to share it with you...
It's about a 5 and 6 year old German "couple" who tried to Elope to Afria to get married - they even brought her older (7 year old) sister as a witness - have a read it really with make you go ahhhhhhhh.... Here is the link

Labels: couple., Cute, elope

I got an email this week from Jenny and Tim - aka Josie and Tim4u who met on the site in January 07. They got married in Wicklow on September 11th and sent me this beautiful photo of their great day. You can read their story on MaybeFriends.com
My congratualtions to them and I hope they have a wonderful life together.
It's stories like this that really make me realise how lucky I am to have this job. It is fantastic to hear about people who's lives have been truly changed by maybeFriends.com - not just those that got married but also the many thousands of people who have made great friends and had a real confidence boost through the site. We all know how hard it is to get out of a rut. If you are surrounded by married friends it is difficult to get to meet new people, so I am delighted that MaybeFriends.com can play a part in helping people to take control of their lives and get out, meeting new people, flirting online, going on numerous dates and generally widening the net of people that they meet.
If you have any stories about people you have met on MaybeFriends.com, friendships made, funny experiences, please let us know - the best story wins a months free membership on MaybeFriends.com
Congratulations to Toffee on winning the best comment on the last blog.
Best wishes and happy dating over Christmas.
Jill xx

Labels: flirting, friends, friendship, Ireland, Irish Dating, Love, Married, Single, wedding

Well it's time to get out the glad rags, this is the opportunity you've been waiting for, finally you get to chat-up that person at the other end of the office that you've been eyeing up all year, oh yes ladies and gentleman it's the office party!
We've all heard the horror stories. The person who told the boss what they really thought. The girl who got so drunk she fell off her chair. The guy who did his amazing (in his opinion) impression of Superman!
People always advise not to have a relationship with someone you work with, not to flirt or have a fling with someone at the office party - well I beg to differ. I see this as a great opportunity - especially if there is someone in the office that you fancy - but one that must be approached with caution. So here are my top tips for the office party.
*Girls - watch the dress sense you are mixing business with pleasure here so nothing too short, too tight or too low cut but at the same time go with something glamorous that shows off your best features - this is an opportunity to show people how well you clean up!
*Lads, we know you can be hilarious and your wit is second to none but we don't need a constant demonstration of it that gets louder and louder as the night goes on - one or two interjections are great just keep it to that!
*Keep the bitching and gossiping for another time - you never know who is behind you.
*Regardless of how much you think you deserve that rise or how much overtime you did for free this year your boss has paid for this event and has invited you to it so be gracious - you can do your salary negotiations in the office not at the party.
*If you do fancy someone in your office and see this as your great opportunity then do it discretely and tactfully. You don't want the entire office watching a soap opera unfold before their very eyes.
*Try to ensure that if there is a meal you get to sit at the same table as them. *Don't be all over them but do show interest in their conversation and do make eye contact with them.
*Girls tend to know when a guy is interested in them, however, guys are not quite so good at picking up the signals so girls when your talking to them do occasionally touch their arm and make a lot of eye contact.
*Try to keep the drinking under control - I know it can be difficult especially if there is a free bar, but you don't want to wake up the next morning with that feeling of dread over what you said or did - and then have to face everyone in work the following Monday.
* If you think your getting a bit too tipsy then have the odd glass of water during the night -it just helps to slow down the effect.
*If the person you are after gets way too drunk then really that is not the time to make your move - after all you want them to remember it!.

Most of all - have a brilliant time and if you do hit it off with the cream of the office crop enjoy!

if you have any tips for the office party then please let us know - best tip wins a month's free membership to MaybeFriends.com

Congratulations to MrHazeleyes for winning the best comment on the last blog.

Labels: christmas, flirt, flirting., Irish Dating, Office, online dating, party, the boss