Ever met someone special while shopping for your groceries?

I can't say I've ever met the man of my dreams, but I have at least met a few guys in the grocery store. In every case, the guy walked up to me, checked out my cart, and commented on something I had in there. (A standard "opening" when it comes to asking someone out.)

Since I was someone that bought a bouquet of flowers for myself every week, I also had a few guys that asked if they could purchase the bouquet for me. It was a sweet gesture, and a great opening. (I mean, really, how can a girl turn down an offer of flowers followed by a cup of coffee?)

One article I recently read even suggests that "supermarket dating" is becoming quite a trend across the world. It says, "Throughout the world, supermarket dating nights are becoming increasingly popular with young singles - and even some not-so-young singles."

Next time you need a cup of sugar, head to the supermarket rather than borrow from your neighbor. You just never know what (or who) you will find.

Check out this list of 25 Fascinating Love Facts for a quick interesting read. I especially loved the very first fact that men who kiss their wives in the morning are apt to live five years longer than those who don't.

Hmmm.....

I'd heard the second item on the list, about which side people generally tilt their head to when going in for a kiss, but I wasn't aware that when we get dumped " for a period of time we love the person who rejected us even more." Eeek! No wonder so many people freak out after a break up! It makes sense - don't you feel a little loopy when you get dumped? Even if you wanted to end the relationship? Thank goodness that doesn't last.

The point I found most interesting was the one that suggested daters should go out with a dozen people before choosing a long-term match. I know I dated a lot more than that. How about you?

Call me old-fashioned, but I don't think people should sleep around. I think they should date casually until they meet someone they want to get more serious with. Dating casually means you date many people very platonically. You basically get to know people on a non-sexual level so that you can see if you want to become sexually involved.

When you want to "kick up your relationship" by adding sex, you should absolutely have the talk that asks if the other person wants to see only you. Don't assume it's going to happen. Ask. But only when you're ready to move forward.

That's not to say you have to talk about marriage or any of the traditional "where is this relationship going" type conversations that some daters love to have. What you should be doing instead is never worrying if the person is seeing someone else while you're dating casually. Don't pressure them to be "exclusive" and instead date a few more people (casually) yourself. Remember, though, "casual" does not equal "sex."

There's an article I recently read that makes me think there are probably a lot of people out there who are jumping into the sack rather than getting to know each other at a relaxed pace. They're so quick to start up a relationship, that they try and rush it with sex. And if you want a relationship that means something, you can't. There isn't a short cut to this.

That doesn't mean you should be a prude and never get involved. It means get involved physically when you know someone a little better. Date platonically a little while longer, and then bring up the sex subject. But remember, the sex subject should go hand in hand with exclusivity. Don't assume you are exclusive until you talk about it.

Boy, I couldn't agree more with this advice. So often people ask what they have to do differently to find Mr. or Mrs. Right. I always tell them to shift the focus from searching from someone to simply LIVING. Sometimes, they look at me like I'm nuts.

What I'm trying to tell them is in order for someone fabulous to pay attention to you, you have to be someone equally as fabulous. It doesn't mean that you need to be a different person physically (so for all those people who think I mean that they need to lose weight - think again!)

Instead of searching through dating sites or dieting until you're about to pass out, work on doing the things you enjoy. Engage in hobbies. Take a class and learn something new. Even if you're lonely (and we've all been in a position of extreme sadness or isolation) still go about and live your life. Most importantly FORGET ABOUT DATING.

For how long? A few months. Longer, if you've been going from relationship to relationship and have NEVER been alone. Do it until you're stronger than the feelings of loneliness. Until, basically, you don't NEED someone to come into your life but you WANT them to because the rest of your life is so great it'd be nice to share it with someone. When you're at that point, you can fully recognize that great person once they finally appear.

I caught this article on "How to Be a More Empowered Woman" and even though it wasn't necessarily written about dating, I think it applies to that as well. After all, being an empowered woman often means that you're able to attract the very best guys. The more empowered you are, the more desirable to the opposite sex.

I especially liked the first point on here, which is to always keep learning. Doing that helps with more than just your brain power. First of all, increased learning means you have a wider point of view and will be a better conversationalist. (And who knows, you may meet someone at one of the classes you take!)

And while I don't necessary agree with the one of the things listed in the second point (I think women should ALWAYS have a cell phone with them in case of emergency), I do agree that it's healthy to be able go to dinner or for coffee by yourself. I know of a few women who aren't happy in their own company and tend to glum on to any guy that comes along. And is THAT attractive? (Hint: No way.)

The point of the article is simply that to get the great life and relationship you want, be the type of interesting lady that no man can resist. Be someone who is so fascinating that a guy will want to be a part of your world for who you are. Not what you look like, or how much you weigh, but for you really are inside. That's the way to find a real and lasting relationship.

Why do we hear so many bad things about online dating? It really is a good thing. That's why I love articles like this that talk about the benefits of online dating.

The first benefit listed was the ability to meet people in the comfort of your own home. I couldn't agree more, but want to add that a "meeting" doesn't mean you KNOW the person. It means you were introduced, and still need to do the hard work of getting to see what the person is like.

The second point of the article, judging people on their personalities rather than looks, is also true. Smart online daters will read a person's profile and try to correspond with them before deciding if they are the right one for them. They won't just go by a photo alone.

If you have some great benefits that weren't listed, voice your comment below!