Breasts. We all have them. But oh, how these two hills on our chest have caused drama over the centuries.

For me, one of those dramas happened last week. You know, in a moment of weakness I went to a cosmetic surgeon for a consultation about breast enlargement.

Despite being blessed with C-Cup (occasionally D-Cup when I’ve enjoyed too many cheeseburgers), I wanted an expert’s opinion on whether they could sit a little higher, and perhaps maintain a consistent D-Cup despite my yo-yo weight.

I have to admit that I don’t mind those old breasts in a bra, but as soon as I lie flat on my bed they turn into pancakes. I’ve mentioned before that my man of the moment once stopped me during a nudie rudie session to tell me to stop holding my boobs up (cringe!) Seriously, I’m so worried about it.

Blame it on porn, where all women’s breasts seem to be erect no matter the angle. Blame it on Insta, where every influencer’s tatas are in gravity-defying bikinis. Blame it on the lame guy who made fun of me by saying my boobs looked saggy.

I’m ashamed to say that all these things added up, and so I found myself in a surgeon’s office, shouting into my top, ‘Help me, doctor!’.

Bless his cotton socks, he took one look at them and told me I was ridiculous and quickly put my concerns to bed.

However, he did share some very interesting information with me that left me shocked. He revealed that almost half of his married patients who get their breasts done leave their husbands within about a year.

His theory, and now mine, is that women come to him feeling grumpy, saggy, and unsexy, like they’ve lost their spark. They want their breasts to stay where they did pre-kids. They want to feel attractive again.

He said they are usually overlooked by husbands who once longed for them. Most complain that they are now seen as mothers and cleaners. Grim, grim, grim.

I contacted another surgeon to clarify that this really happens and yes, he confirmed it.

‘I see women in consultations who have reached their lowest point. They want to feel wanted again. They want curves and a feminine figure. They come back a month after the operation and I look at a completely different person,” said the surgeon, who wished to remain anonymous.

‘They have their zest for life back. They feel sexy and alive. Yes, I see many of them who are about to leave their spouses. Many of my patients also get breast enlargement after divorce. They’re getting ready to start dating again and want to feel confident and sexy.”

Veronica Lamarche, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Essex, recently spoke about why married women chose to get breast implants, saying: ‘They might seek changes they can easily control, such as appearance.’

‘When people are rejected, they are motivated to fit in with others, for example to become more attractive – we like positive enforcement. If change makes an ex-partner jealous, it can soften the rejection; if it opens up sexual opportunities with others, that can be valid,” she added.

When they talked about it with married friends this week, none of them were surprised. One friend admitted that she has hardly had sex with her husband since the children arrived. Not because of a lack of commitment to her. She said he simply stopped viewing her as a sexual partner and more as a roommate.

Another friend has been secretly fucking her boss since she got a boob job.

‘After a two-week break I walked back into the office to get my boobs done and it was like I was a whole new person. The boss treated me differently. In fact, men started noticing me in general,” she told me.

Her husband didn’t care about her new breast, but other men did. Suddenly she felt desirable again. Men wanted her, and to her surprise, she immediately wanted them back.

One of my divorced male friends has told me no fewer than three times about the time he paid for his (now ex) wife’s boob job, only to have her run off and let someone else play with them.

But here’s a question…did the breast enlargement lead to the divorce or was it done in preparation for it?

Everyone knows how shallow the dating pool is right now. Does a small tweak to someone’s appearance give them the boost of confidence needed to make the terrifying leap back in?

Oh well, we’ve seen men do it. Suddenly they’re going to the gym, eating better, and god forbid they put that terribly obvious hair dye in their grays to look younger. (Don’t do it guys, it’s much clearer than you think).

As superficial as it sounds, a good old-fashioned boob job can do wonders for a girl’s self-confidence. Heck, some women are now even taking part in the all-out ‘mummy makeover’ packages offered by many surgeons.

A surgeon who wished to remain anonymous told me that he could buy his second house with that package alone.

There’s no denying that better self-esteem leads to better attitude. Maybe these women just recognize that they deserve someone who makes them feel special and strive for more. I don’t hate that concept.

So beware, husbands. If your wife is going under the knife, you may want to take it a step further. You’re about to get your hands on competition. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

I don’t know who is coming up with the names for new dating trends right now, but we need to sit down and have some serious words.

You see, last year it was all about dating the “daddies.” You know, the older gentlemen who have their lives together. The sexy George Clooneys of the world who can make “have you filed your taxes yet” sound like a warm hug.

But that has been deleted. Yeah, dump your dad, because we’re going for a much better kind of man now. But clutch your pearls, ladies, because the term for this new “type” is equally disturbing.

They are called ‘baby girls’. Yes, all one word. And they are defined as ‘a man with energy who is vulnerable, attuned to his emotions and a little softer.’

You’ll notice that all the leading actors in films from the past year have adopted these traits. Jacob Elordi in Saltburn, Paul Mescal in almost every film/series he’s ever made, Pedro Pascal in interviews. They are in touch with their feelings, slightly gloomy and gentle souls.

They are the sensitive souls who rescue pets from the shelter and stop their cars to help old ladies cross the street.

Glorious beings.

Maybe this new “type” will really catch on because there is less stigma when it comes to therapy. By getting in touch with our feelings and learning how to communicate in a healthy way, we started looking for the same in a partner. It definitely worked for me!

Last year I found myself in an awkward situation with a man and realized I wasn’t making the best life choices. So I went to a professional therapist and asked him one simple favor: give me the tools to leave this relationship once and for all.

For the next eight weeks, my fantastic French, no-nonsense therapist did just that. By the time our sessions were over, I was in great mental health care, my self-confidence had been restored, and I was starting to make decisions that were in my best interests.

Sure, it took a box of Kleenex and some hard truths, but good lord, it was worth it.

I promised myself that I would never fall for someone who hadn’t done the work on themselves like me. That’s why I love this new trend!

There’s a meme doing the rounds on Instagram that says, “Guys, we don’t want to see your bank balance, we want to see your therapy receipts!” and to that I say EXACTLY!

If you’re like me, you’ve dated the projects, the disasters, the guys with a hint of toxic masculinity – and where do we end up? In therapy that is true.

Last week my best friend lost her family’s dog, and she was in tears – and so was her husband. They grieved together and it was a healthy way to deal with the pain.

If this had been twenty years ago, the man would have been expected to ‘hold it together’, put on a brave face and fight through the pain. But we all know where that ends. In a sudden outburst of anger or worse, compressed grief.

The “baby girls” are the ones who sit with us in our moments of sorrow. They possess the greatest of all qualities – empathy – and communicate their thoughts and feelings in an open and honest way.

Doesn’t it all sound rather progressive?

In the name of “research,” I did a deep dive on YouTube to find examples of what a “baby girl” is, and it was basically hundreds of videos of Jacob Elordi being cute.

He is completely comfortable in his own skin. He is a bit shy, polite and very sweet. Other videos included Harry Styles acting in a similar manner. Oh, and Keanu Reeves, definitely Keaun Reeves.

It’s the opposite of the fake alpha males we see on episodes of MAFS, or in the deep dark corners of the internet.

A “baby girl” would never tell another man to “muzzle your wife.” Yes, I’m looking at you Jack from ‘Married at First Sight.’

No, no, baby girls don’t have an ounce of misogyny in their bones. They are very comfortable in their own skin and it shows. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it makes them shine.

So ladies (and certain guys), we can make this new type of man undiscussable in 2024. Let’s embrace the partners that are good for our mental health and build us up.

Te-taa-loo bad boys. You’re so 2023.

I cannot possibly understand why so many couples deprive themselves of sex every Valentine's Day.

It's not rocket science: make your partner feel special and he/she will want to be naked with you.

If a day is literally dedicated to that, why not take advantage of it? Insanity.

Every time I hear, “Oh, we don't celebrate Valentine's Day, we think it's a scam,” I think, “WHAT?” You're missing the point. Valentine's Day = sex.'

I love Valentine's Day. I shouldn't do that. I mean, I haven't had a Valentine's date in years. In fact, I should despise it and boo and hiss at every happy couple as they walk past hand in hand. But I don't. I love it.

I love seeing the bunches of flowers delivered to my work. I love seeing girls' faces light up when they are delivered to their desks. I love watching her make rounds around the office 'looking for a vase', which is really just an excuse to show off her flowery harvest.

I really love seeing alpha guys sheepishly walking down the street with a big bouquet of flowers clearly on their way home to play the role of 'perfect partner'.

I love walking past crowded restaurants filled with slack, smiling couples. The day is like a cheesy Netflix movie and I for one am very much in favor of it.

So why do so many of you do it?

Is it because the idea of ​​it makes you cringe? Well, fear not, because I've come up with nine rules that will take the “eww” out of Valentine's Day and get you naked in no time!

1. You won't be the ultimate libido-killing bogan and rant about how Valentine's Day is a “Hallmark money maker.”

It makes you sound cheap and like a negative party pooper. You know, one of those glass half empty things that takes the fun out of everything. Lean into the day and let yourself be carried away by the romance. If only for the nudie rudie reward at the end of it.

2. You'll think outside the box for the perfect date night

Let's be honest: the cost of living is real right now, so don't worry about an expensive restaurant booking. Stop by your local take-out restaurant, order her favorite food, then go to your local liquor store and buy her favorite bottle of wine. Buy a rug and presto, you have a romantic picnic for under $100. Heck, $50 if she likes a cheap and cheerful bottle of glitter. Valentine's Day doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. It's all about the thinking and attention.

3. You leave the phone at home, or at least in your pocket or handbag

Nothing says I enjoy your presence as much as your full attention. For an entire meal, leave your phone out of reach and reconnect. Maybe you'll find that spark that's been missing for a while. Instagram can wait, your partner cannot.

4. You send flowers to the office, NOT home

Do your partner an honor and let him or her parade that beautiful bouquet of flowers in front of their colleagues. You look like a knight in shining armor and she gets to glow in the office blinds.

5. You'll check in on their single friends

I may be an anomaly when it comes to V-Day. I love seeing happy couples, but many single people find this day difficult. It can emphasize the loneliness you've been trying to avoid. So check out your friends. Send them a fun 'Galentine's Day' meme, or if you're the singleton, why not gather your fellow comrades and spend the night together watching horror movies and eating all the carbs. This day does not have to be reserved only for the loved one.

6. You are not allowed to contact an ex

There is no denying that this day will put the spotlight on your current relationship status. When you're single, you feel EXTRA single. Don't let that be an excuse to contact that toxic ex you ditched. Gather your friends, delete Instagram from your phone for a day and even delete his number for 24 hours to avoid temptation. You don't want to wake up the next day with regrets. Oh, so sorry.

7. You will make an effort about their appearance

This is not a day for gym gear, shorts or torn underwear. Oh no. This is the day you bring out that cute lace set or sexy boxer shorts. Spray on some fragrance, brush your teeth (extra points for flossing) and put on an outfit that makes you feel va-va-voom. The aim of the game is to try to tear each other's clothes off at the end of the game. So why not remind them why they fell in love with you in the first place? Your shameless good looks.

8. You will avoid garlic

Nothing kills sexual desire like a whiff of stinky breath. Of course, any pasta dish works better if you mop it up with some garlic bread, but don't miss it for one night. In the name of sex, people!

9. Thou shalt cover thy cock

Valentine's Day lasts one day, not 18 years to a lifetime! Don't get so caught up in romance that you forget about contraception. No 'oopsy daisies' allowed.

Go now and enjoy the day, in Cupid's name! If only for the extra bonus at the end. Wink wink.

By Monique Friedlander for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 7:36 PM EST, February 4, 2024 | Updated: 7:49 PM EST, February 4, 2024

Oh lord, I upset some people last week. And by some people I mean half of Australia's male population. Oh, I made them very angry! Still, I wholeheartedly stand by what I said.

To summarize very briefly: I had just returned from an adventurous trip to New York and was starting to recover from the horny atmosphere the city left me with.

The men there have no shame. They will approach you in line for groceries, in a park, and even at the security desk at JFK Airport. I said that Australian men should take note because they have become a bit 'snobby' when it comes to lovemaking.

A grunt in our direction or a swipe on the dating apps is about the most they can do to woo us, and I for one have become very bored with it.

Anyway, the guys didn't like my opinion on this. Oh no. The best word to describe the reaction was triggered. I woke up to literal essays on Instagram, with men ranting over and over about how we women are all too single-minded these days – that we have to get over ourselves and worry about the fact that they never look inward.

Sigh.

As I scrolled through post after post, there was one thing that really struck me: these men were not oil paintings. Most were overweight, unkempt, with messy stubble or scraggly beards, beer bellies and bad haircuts. Oh, and don't even get me started on the clothes. They weren't exactly shouting, “I'm a catch.”

They were actually hot messes and yet here they were whining to me about women not wanting to date them. No of course not. Because you look like you need a tetanus shot and a healthy dose of vegetables.

What these guys didn't understand was something oh so simple. People are attracted to people who look good.

I didn't say attractive, I said composed. What we present to the world is what we attract. It's basic science.

Holding a dead fish while dressed in tattered boardies with a big old beer belly hanging over the top doesn't make our ovaries rumble with a desperate need to reproduce with you.

Mike Thurston, a popular health and fitness YouTuber with over a million followers on Instagram, put it well in a recent podcast.

'I don't understand why all men don't want to try to improve their physique and appearance. It's crazy how many doors it's opened for me and how much confidence it's given me,” he said. 'If you're unhappy with your life, or something isn't going right, the easiest thing to do is start working on your physical appearance, and the benefits are serotonin and self-confidence. Good things will come after that.”

And this comes from a little king, who has the ladies lining up for him. As much as we don't want to believe what he says, it's true.

I remember a guy at a party I went to late last year. Was his face attractive? Not really. He had a block head, but what he did have was a healthy tan and ripped muscles. The girls at the party loved him. All this guy did was go to the gym a few times a week and enjoy the sun. It didn't take a huge bank account or a high-paying job to keep the women flowing.

So guys, stop whining and sign up for a gym membership. It's literally that simple. We women put in a lot more effort, whether that's wearing a nice perfume, dressing up for a date, getting our legs waxed, Botox, fillers, but many men don't put in the same effort, but want the same result. Ridiculous!

About a year ago I was scrolling through the messages on my phone and came across a man with a simple request. He explained that he wasn't getting any swipes on his dating profile, and would it be good if he sent me some screenshots so I could tell him where he went wrong.

I appreciated the courage it took to ask me that, so I said “go ahead.” Within minutes I was reviewing his Tinder profile and could see exactly where he went wrong and how to fix it.

All the shots were from an unflattering angle into his truck. Some with beards, some without. No friends in the photos, and it gave off a slight 'Wolf Creek' vibe. When you know, you know.

I gave him three simple tasks. First, keep the beard (it flatters his face), but trim it a bit, take the photos from higher up and show some of him doing activities or with friends.

Fourteen days later he sent me the most beautiful thank you message. He started getting matches and had gone on three dates, one of which looked very hopeful.

I was happy!

All the man needed was a few adjustments in the way he presented himself to the world, and the world suddenly became his oyster.

So it's time to take a good look in the mirror. With a healthy fitness plan and a better diet, you will find that not only will you start to get the attention of the ladies, but you will also feel a lot better about yourself.

So simple.

Last week I hopped on a big jet plane and headed to New York City. It was the start of a new year and I was looking for a big, glorious adventure – something that would bring my spark back after a year that felt a bit like groundhog day.

I love you guys from Sydney, but you guys aren't really doing it for me lately.

I didn't know I would be flying to the hottest city in the world. Huzzah!

I had promised myself to leave my ego, my overthinking brain and any form of hesitation behind in Sydney. When I landed, I was going to embrace my inner bravado and head out into a storm. No 'type' was off limits. White collar, blue collar, downtown, downtown, I wanted to meet them all.

I also wanted to avoid the apps because, as I've said before, they can be a total waste of time. Plus, I wanted to see if I could really make my own “meet-cute” moments happen.

I had no time to waste, I had seven days in this glorious city and I wanted to make them count.

The first sign that this city was a horndog of a city appeared as I was going through customs after a long 21 hour journey from Sydney to New York. It's safe to say I didn't look particularly appetizing, but when I handed over my passport and told the semi-handsome security guy where I was staying, he boldly exclaimed, 'Oh, that's right near me! Are you going to take me out for dinner?'.

Hello New York!

I was a little grumpy after my flight and had to deal with a grumpy driver via text message who threatened to leave me at the airport, so I barked “No!” and then ran to the exit.

Nevertheless, I vowed that the next time I was faced with a dating opportunity, I would be a little more open to the idea.

My next stumbling block was the weather; it was the coldest week in New York in recent memory. Sure, I packed thermals, a big winter coat, and a few pairs of jeans, but the rest of my wardrobe consisted of cute outfits that I thought would catch the eye of a New York gentleman or two.

Nevertheless, the next day I dressed up for brunch and a party with some girlfriends and wore a black miniskirt, stockings, black velvet knee-high boots, and a black turtleneck.

The bar was packed, because if there's one thing New Yorkers are particularly good at, it's brunch! I was thrilled to discover it was 50/50 men and women (a welcome change from the 90 percent women's ration of Sydney brunches), so I marveled.

I was thrilled to discover that the guys there are BIG fans of eye contact. There were flirty looks all around the bar, but by the time I worked up enough (rosé) courage to strike up a conversation, it was time to head to a party across town.

Now here was the next stumbling block. When we entered the bar, I saw that there were large TVs everywhere. It was the NFL playoffs and every guest at the bar was actively involved.

Seriously, I could have walked across the bar naked and not a single man would have noticed. Fortunately, the game was finally over and the men were fired up with post-game endorphins. (Go exercise!).

My friends and I were chatting with everyone, including a gentleman wearing a charming hat that said “Show Me That Butthole.”

Um, did I mention this city is hot?

I struck up a conversation with a handsome, bearded gentleman and found myself reliving my high school disco days as we walked in the corner as teenagers. Glorious.

Before long, jet lag hit me in the face like a brick wall, so I slipped and slid to a taxi.

The next morning I woke up to a few thirsty texts from the guy, but I wasn't here to date just one guy. So, after a day of looking around, I got dressed again and went to Pete Davidson's bar with a wonderful gay friend.

This time I didn't make the mistake of dressing like a shady fraudster. I had found a few articles saying that New York was all about “Mob Wife” fashion vibes this winter, so I put on a sexy red knit dress, gold hoops, the same black velvet boots, and a killer gangsterish cheetah printed jacket.

When I entered Pete's 'Pebble Bar' downtown, I was immediately struck by that BDE (big d**k energy) he is famous for. This bar was sexy! With large black leather booths, sleek retro wallpaper and red velvet lounge chairs, it was one big aphrodisiac of a bar.

It was in this bar that I discovered one reason why this is a hot city. Martinis. Very generous free-pour martinis. As my handsome boyfriend Andrew and I downed the dirty gin concoctions, I was ready to go for the primal.

Andrew left for a date and I decided to stay and chat with the locals. Within minutes I was sitting in the check box with the attendant flirting up a storm. As he took coats and I handed them the receipts, we chatted about life, love and the dating scene in each other's cities. It turns out that the men of New York are just as baffled when it comes to dating as us ladies.

I eventually said goodbye and ended it, but not before trading Instas for healthy flirting.

The next day I decided to treat myself to a day of shopping and a wonder around the Met, before popping into a bar (which looked suspiciously like the Cheers bar) for a glass of wine while I read my book.

Let me just say for the record that I didn't look cute. I had my big snow coat, a woolly hat and snow-soaked hair. It seemed I had waged a war with the weather and lost.

I wasn't there to pick up, so what happened next was a pleasant surprise. I was sitting at the bar and two men who could have been sitting anywhere in the empty bar sat next to me. I quickly ducked to the toilet to see if I could perk up my look and when I returned to the bar there was a hot cider and rum shot waiting next to my book.

I looked surprised and one of the men said to me, 'We noticed your Australian accent when you ordered your wine and we thought you were probably not used to this cold, so we thought this might warm you up'. Soft!

Even though I looked like a snow beast, the men of New York will still have a crack.

The next night I made an epic dating blunder, but in my defense, Your Honor, it honestly wasn't my fault.

I had been out to dinner with the same girls from brunch, and we decided to visit a bar that I discovered catered to New York's “finance brethren.”

It was here that I saw a Frenchman with a very handsome beard and decided to embrace my inner New York goddess and approach him. Within minutes we were chatting and drinking free martinis again. My friend was looking forward to his friend and so they were happy days.

Did he eventually come back to my hotel? Yes, yes, he did. After a really nice night I put it out and woke up to some very romantic French lyrics. Sweet.

Well, that was until my boyfriend called an hour later and revealed he was married. She heard about it from his friend that morning and rushed to tell me.

Gaaah. I was looking for adventure in New York, but not that kind of adventure.

Unusually, I chose not to confront him about it. I was leaving in a few days and decided to just block him and move on. Drama was not on my agenda.

A few days later I boarded the plane back to Sydney with a big smile on my face and the promise of bringing that hot dating culture back to Sydney.

If there's one thing I've learned from this journey, it's to just go for it. No need to swipe left and right. Just make eye contact, strike up a conversation at the bar or wear something quirky that you can start a conversation with.

The one thing New Yorkers don't do is overthink things. It's a numbers game and those numbers will occasionally be in your favor. Ladies, honestly, if you're craving some good old fashioned flirting in a city that can't get enough of an Aussie accent, you need to book that trip.

New York, you're a hot city, and I just can't get enough of you.

READ MORE: Dating expert reveals the top warning signs a guy isn't into you – and the CODEWORD they use when they don't want anything to do with you

Jan Kramer received a very special “push present” from my fiancé. Allan Russell after delivering their first baby together.

“The band here is a gift Allan gave me when I had Roman,” Kramer, 40, said in an Instagram Story Q&A video on Wednesday, January 17, as she showed off her new bauble. “Those are the birthstones of all three of my babies.”

Kramer, who gave birth to Roman in November 2023, also shares two older children with ex-husband Mike Caussin. The One Tree Hill alum and Caussin, 36, coparent daughter Jolie, 7, and son Jace, 4. (Russell, 42, also shares son Troy, 16, with a former partner.)

Kramer's new bling — which she's wearing alongside her engagement ring from Russell after proposing in May 2023 — features a delicate silver band with three small stones in the center. “And I love it,” Kramer said Wednesday.

Kramer confirmed in January 2023 that she had rekindled a romance with Russell, a Scottish football coach.

“I definitely found my person,” Kramer said exclusively We weekly in April 2023. “He's incredible. He's just very safe. I'm just different with him. I am calmer. And again, I've never felt safe in a relationship and it's just – it's really nice to feel that.”

She continued at the time: “A relationship used to equal happiness for me, and I broke it off last year before I even met [Allan]. I thought, 'Okay, I have to be happy with myself or I'll never be happy because a friend can't make me happy. A husband can't make me happy.' … I ended up in a good place – and then luck came too.”

Kramer, Russell and Caussin have also created an amicable co-parenting dynamic for Jolie and Jace's benefit.

“I have so much to be grateful for, the biggest part of which is my family,” Caussin wrote via Instagram in November 2023. “I am incredibly grateful for where @kramergirl and I are in our relationship. We both found a way to thrive for ourselves and, more importantly, for the children. The fact that she found someone like [Allan] only adds to my gratitude towards the whole situation. Jolie and Jace have the gift of three parents [who] love them and will do anything to protect them. As a father, what more can I ask for?”

In addition to co-parenting her oldest children, Kramer is also currently basking in baby happiness with two-month-old Roman.

“[My] the day starts at 7am. Every 3 hours. Feeding, playing, napping,” she wrote in a follow-up slide on Instagram Story on Wednesday. “The goal is a nap of 1.5 to 2 hours. …Reminder: Do what works for you and your baby. You're doing great .”

It’s official: dating apps are dead.

If TikTok and my most recent findings are to be believed, they will be sent into space with barely a proper journey. RIP you carpal tunnel inducing app of false promises.

You see, all I heard during the holidays were friends whining and complaining about the fatigue of dating apps and how no one looks like them in their heavily filtered photos. How their personalities never match their text banter. How often they are stood up, ghosted or canceled at the last minute. And a quick scroll of TikTok will tell you the same thing.

There’s video after video of people saying goodbye to the dating apps of 2023 – only to not return in 2024. Gen Zers are deleting their Tinders, scrapping their Bumbles, and picking out their hinges.

Sure, they catered some weddings, but for every wedding they also provided a hundred million bad date stories. Some even make the news.

Now blame it on the annual revival of the famous Christmas movie ‘The Holiday’ or a simple desperation to return to the good old days BA (before apps), but singles like me are now opting for a much better way to to date. And the results don’t lie.

Yes, I’m telling you that 2024 is the year of the meet-cute. A popular new dating term used in movies or television shows as a funny or cute first meeting between two characters that leads to the development of a romantic relationship.

In recent years, I’ve had much more success with a “meet-cute” situation than with dating apps.

Take for example the time my newly single friend decided to host a lunch and instructed us, his single friends, to bring another single friend. The single guys brought their single friends, the single girls brought their single girlfriends, and it was a huge success. Two couples went out after that lunch and one couple is now even engaged.

At Christmas I went to the local pub for lunch – planned by a friend who happened to invite ALL the singles. Guess what, it was another huge success. I met a really cute farmer who I hugged near the taxi stand (I know, cringe a bit!) and two of my girlfriends went on a date.

It was like going straight back to ’90s-style dating. You know when you would fall in love with a guy on the dance floor and one of your friends would ‘accidentally’ push you into him? The original ‘swipe right.’

There’s something glorious about waking up the next day with fond memories of flirting with someone in a bar. Make eyes. See if they look back at you. The expectation that they will ask for your number. If the evening is a real success, even a quick caress before jumping into a taxi. Or better yet, they jump with you.

Oh meet-cutes are just the best!

That said, it’s also normal to feel a little overwhelmed by the idea of ​​meeting someone in real life again. Oh, how we loved hiding behind the screens of our little phones. But you see, you don’t have to launch yourself into a bar full of strangers and force the nearest hottie to make eyes with you. Good lord, you need balls of steel for that. Or at least a pitcher of margaritas.

No no. Meet-cutes can be arranged in advance. Simply ask your coupled friends to bring their single friends to the next BBQ, catch up in the pub or dinner. There’s no pressure from an annoying blind date because you can just pass it off as a catch-up between old and new friends. If the singletons succeeded there, hurray, great success. If they don’t, that’s no problem. There will always be another pub outing, another barbecue, another divorcee to play with.

But if you would like to have a nice meeting, I have come up with quite successful methods to meet someone in real life:

1. Go to places where your ‘type’ is most likely to go. For example, if you like warm tradies, go to the local pub. If you prefer banker types, why not visit a fancy wine bar?

2. Use friends as your superpower. Ask them to invite other single friends they know to the next event. Ask them if their partners know some friends they can put you in touch with. Ask them if there are any nice singles at their work. Friends who can play cupid (and give you a good reference) are worth their weight in gold.

3. Make cheeky business cards with your number. Okay, so a confession. One evening, after quite a few wines, I decided it would be a good idea to order some business cards online with my number on them so I could give them to handsome strangers the next time I was out. You know, like they used to do in the ’90s rom-coms. “Hey, take my business card. Let’s chat’. Here’s an example of the cards that arrived in the mail a week later. Have I ever mustered up the courage to use them? Not yet, but I plan to!

And listen, if you’re not quite ready to get back into the real world, maybe do what my last date did. Slide into the old DMs. At least Instagram profiles give us a much better background check than the potential catfish swimming around the apps.

Now go out and be brave! Your libido can thank you for it!

By Monique Friedlander for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 10:15 PM EST, January 3, 2024 | Updated: 10:24 PM EST, January 3, 2024

Jan Kramer brought sexy back – and reminded Us she’s a hot mom – as she showed off some skin at her 40th birthday party.

“The best 40th ever with the best friends,” Kramer, 40, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, December 2. “So. Blessed.”

The A cowboy Christmas novel actress brought the heat in a figure-hugging black dress with sheer lining on the bodice and a halter neckline. Kramer completed her birthday look with a white scarf, black satin gloves and strappy heels. She opted for a wine-colored lipstick and wavy locks as she celebrated her special day with her fiancé Allan Russell.

Russell, 42, looked dapper in a cream suit, black bow tie and wingtip dress shoes. The pair, who revealed they were engaged in May, posed for photos next to a decorated Christmas tree and white stocking hanging by the fireplace. Kramer and Russell’s vintage wardrobe matched the theme of the One Tree Hill alum’s party, a murder mystery event.

“Blast!!!!” Grey’s anatomy alum Sarah Drew replied in the comments section, while Hallmark’s Cameron Mathison added: “Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!.”

However, Kramer’s fans couldn’t get over her post-baby smile as the actress welcomed her and Russell’s first baby, son Roman James, just weeks before her milestone birthday.

The little one, who arrived on November 13, is Kramer’s third child. She shares daughter Jolie, 7, and son Jace, 4, with ex-husband Mike Caussin. Russell also has a 16-year-old son from a previous relationship.

“There’s no way you just had a baby!! Happy 40th!” one user wrote in the comments. A second follower agreed, adding: “Shut up. I was still wearing my c-section adult diapers at the time You look great mom. Welcome to club40!”

Although Kramer looked fierce as she toasted the new decade of her life, she revealed on social media that her big day wasn’t exactly what she expected. “Anyone who has known me since I was 30 knows my 40th birthday plans. It was one of the many things I wouldn’t shut up about ,” she wrote via Instagram on Saturday next to a photo with her children. “But as they say, you make plans and God just laughs at them. When we found out Roman’s due date was my birthday, I knew all along that God had a much better plan than I could have ever imagined.”

The “I Got the Boy” singer added: “This is exactly what this was always supposed to look like and I wouldn’t trade it for anything or any beach in the world. I am at home, with my family… The greatest unanswered prayer of a gift for my 40th.”