Create Your Own Evening of Romance

Whether or not you're dating someone special you can enjoy an evening of romance. Cook a nice dinner, set the table with all the trimmings, even candles if you have them or pick some up. Use napkins, add a flowers and a centerpiece on the table, serve wine, just as if you were setting things up like a fancy, glamorous restaurant. If you aren't dating anyone do it all the same, just for yourself. Treat yourself to a romantic dinner. You're worth it!

Cook, Bake and Be Merry

Don't stop cooking and baking just because you live alone.

There are great things like cookie exchanges and baking parties around family holidays. Give away your baking rather than eating it all, a lovely cake you made yourself is a great birthday present for a friend.

But, more importanly, you should treat yourself well. That includes eating well versus something frozen that comes in cardboard from the grocery store.

Substitute Ingredients for Variety

You can change up a recipe you use a lot by substituting basic ingredients. For instance, buttermilk instead of milk. Yogurt and cream cheese make a cheesecake creamier. Instead of cracker crumbs crush some cookies instead and you've got a different crust for your cheesecake as well.

Lighten up the fat by switching canola oil for butter, or go with half butter and half canola.

There are endless variations you can try, just use some common sense and taste it as you work.

Be a Home Repair Diva

Don't be afraid of DIY home repairs. Pick up a book as a guide, keep basic supplies and tools under your kitchen sink (or somewhere that works for you) and you can fix a lot of little things, yourself! It saves money, makes you feel accomplished and it's one more thing you can do to be independent and self reliant.

Get a Rechargeable Flashlight

Keep a flashlight where you can always find it and stock batteries. There are rechargeable flashllights which you keep plugged in all the time, they double as a night light in the evening.

As a back up have candles and matches too. When the power goes out you will know where to find a source of light without stumbling around a lot first.

Pocket Your Keys

Have one place in your purse, a side pocket or an inside one, where you always put your car and home keys.

Get into the habit of returning the keys right back to their pocket as soon as you get in the doorway or sit inside the car. This way you know where they are and are less likely to accidentally leave them in the door, or anything else you will regret later when you have to call the auto club to rescue you cause the keys are locked inside the car.

Twitter yourself a Date

On your Twitter profile use a link to your best (or favourite) dating profile. You just add it where it asks for your blog or home page. If you don't have a blog or site of your own why not link it to something that will work for you?

Take Time After the First Date

On a first date have a plan for the initial meeting and stick to it. Even if he seems like the guy of your dreams don't spend more time with him until the second date. Especially, do not sleep with a guy you are just meeting for the first time.

For your own safety you need to be sure he isn't going to become a possessive nightmare.For your emotional health don't be loved and left. If you wanted a quickie you wouldn't have called it a date.

Also, give yourself that chance to reflect on how the date went, who he turned out to be and decide if you really do want to get closer to him. Sometimes that time apart, away from temptation, is a really good thing.