The next level- Bio Card

One of the most eccentric tips Patti has for finding love within a year is creating your own personal bio card.

Basically, this reminds me of something between an actor's head shot and a baseball card.

It includes full length and face photographs, as well as a short bio of your interests and background. I actually asked Patti on twitter what to include specifically, and although she responded to the wrong person, she did respond. "On your bio card your stats, height, weight, age, occupation n interests...plus how to contact you!"

First of all, I'm not putting my weight on this thing! It would even feel awkward to put my height. I mean really? Sigh, but I figure since I have no idea what I'm doing in this "bio card" arena, I should just follow her advice blindly.

The purpose of the card is to give it to your friends and family, for them to give to men who might be a good match. I'm actually interested to see how this turns out.

One of my friends took pictures for the card last week. I'm about halfway done with the design and bio writing. Then time to print and disperse! 

Calling in reinforcements

I'm a solid 2 months into my 12 Month Love Action Plan, and I figured it was time to bring in reinforcements. Yes, I ordered Patti's book- Become Your Own Matchmaker: 8 Easy Steps for Attracting Your Perfect Mate. Because let's face it, a 60 minute DVD is little sustinance for a year's worth of relationship building.

One of the topics she hits on in her book for this phase of the game is date data-collecting. She says that even if you hate the early phases of dating like she does, you can have a good time by making a game of seeing what information you can glean from each experience.

I think this is a good point. I firmly believe that each date, no matter how lackluster or awkward, provides you with ample learning experience, so it's good to go into it with such an attitude.

One way I'm trying to work this into my life is by dating types of guys I usually don't go for. I will admit that I've had a pretty specific "type" and now I'm looking into guys I would normally write off, because well, my own type hasn't been going so well for me, has it? I will say it has forced me out of my comfort zone (in a good way!) and made me drop some preconceptions and prejudices I've had. And who knows, just maybe I'll be proven wrong.

I should be happy!

The first step in the "12 month action plan for finding love" is DATING DETOX. Remember that phrase- it's important! 

Based on the length of my last relationship, my dating detox should last 30 days, according to Patti. And dating detox is essentially as it sounds.  No dating! No pursuing dating. Focus on yourself- improving yourself, learning about yourself, celebrating yourself.

There are several steps. The first one I want to focus on is "listing 10 things that make me happy." I need this in my life. Lately I've found myself growing resentful and bitter, and that ain't me! I need to snap out of my funk, and this is a good way to do it.

TEN THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

1. Sunlight
2. Gardening
3. Photography
4. Watching 30 Rock
5. Listening to NPR
6. Yoga
7. Pilates
8. Hiking
9. Cafe au lait
10. Blueberries

Single in the City

How trite is that for a first post title? Well it's true. I live in The City. I have a great job that I love and at which I'm very good.

And I'm in my late 20's and I'm single.

Like many ladies in my demographic, I also enjoy a little guilty pleasure of Bravo's Millionaire Matchmaker. Starring Patti Stanger as matchmaker, this show follows the ups, downs, joy and horror of looking for love.

Patti has been awfully enterprising lately, expanding her brand into many commercial endorsements and side businesses. One was the recent release of a DVD entitled Patti Stanger: Married in a Year.

I pre-ordered the DVD well in advance, because I was intrigued by what advice she might give. So much so that by the time it arrived, I was actually in a committed relationship. Talk about a quick way to freak a guy out! I watched the video and enjoyed it, but never mentioned it to the Boyfriend (of course).

I remember thinking at the time that it would be pretty interesting to live by Patti's guidelines for a year and write about it, but at that time it wasn't feasible as I was in a relationship.

But guess who is single now! 

So here I go. I'm setting out to follow the Patti Stanger plan for finding love and marriage within a year, and will share the details with you my friends.

Here's to trying new things!