Lights, Camera, Costumes

The 17th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition at FIDM

It was a very special day for members of the Costume Council at LACMA where several of us were treated to a private tour of FIDM’s 17th annual Art of Motion Picture Design Exhibition the day before the official opening of the two month show.

Cyber Love Story of the Week – Mary and Rich

In the category of “Let’s be friends” sometimes it pays off to stay on good terms with your cyber-dates. And so the story goes with Mary and Rich who indirectly met on Yahoo! Personals.

Mary went on a first date with a man she met on Yahoo Personals in 2002. Her online date took her to a birthday party at the home of his best friend.   After just three dates, the eager fellow asked her to move in with him. Knowing that it was too much too soon, she politely declined but decided to remain friends with her online date.

Five years later, the Yahoo! Personals buddy fixes Mary up with his best friend. I hope you are keeping up with me, because it was the same man who hosted the party she attended five years earlier. After only four short months the best friend proposed to Mary and she accepted. If there was a category for indirectly meeting online, then Mary and Rich would be high on the list. Then again, that is the void that was filled years later with GreatBoyfriends.com and GreatGirlfriends.com.

Congratulations to Mary and Rich for being the Cyber Love Story of the Week at CyberDatingExpert.com. Sometimes it pays to share the love.

For consideration in the Cyber Love Story of the Week, please send your submissions to info@CyberDatingExpert.com.

Read More Cyber Love Stories

Praise for the Book

Praise and rave revues for Julie Spira’s online dating book, THE PERILS OF CYBER-DATING: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online.

“It’s like Sex and The City in a Web 2.0 World.”

~E. Jean Carroll
Columnist, “Ask E. Jean” Elle Magazine

“Anyone who has ever tried online dating will relate to Julie Spira’s stories and not feel alone. The Perils of Cyber-Dating gives hope to singles everywhere with an email address that they can successfully meet someone online.”

~ Dr. Pat Allen
Author of the best-seller of Getting to “I Do”

“Thank goodness there are still hopeful romantics left in this world!”

~ Cheryl Woodcock
Producer and Correspondent, Entertainment Tonight-The Insider

“I’ve seen too many women put in jeopardy by unscrupulous Internet dating contacts. That’s why this book is your must-have navigation guide to help you safely travel through the perilous landscape of cyber-dating. Plus, Spira’s personal stories are a hoot and a half!”

~ Diane Dimond
Journalist and Author

“Online dating memberships should come with a handbook and many doses of humor. Julie Spira provides both. A wonderful companion for singles looking for love online.”

~ Julie Ferman
Founder, Cupid’s Coach

“Julie Spira tells a compelling story, shares intimate moments, and transforms her experience into means of larger good.”

~ Veronica De Laurentiis
Best-selling Author of Rivoglio La Mia Vita

“This book is a fantastic journey that takes you through the jungle of online dating adventures! It reads like an entertaining and fun novel, and teaches you along the way. Julie dishes like she is your best friend, as she takes you into the heart of her vast dating experiences. Definitely pick it up!”

~ Dr. Diana Kirschner
Best-selling Author of Love in 90 Days

“There are always telltale signs whether or not a man is “The One”. Read this book and learn from Julie so you won’t be caught in a “Bermuda triangle” of Internet dating.”

~ Donna Sozio
Yahoo! personals dating expert and author of Never Trust a Man in Alligator Loafers

“This book is a must for this generation of singles, both male and female, who are into cyber-dating. It is possible to find someone if you know the rules.”

~Dane Robert Swanson
Santa Monica Daily Press

“As relationship experts, we love to recommend Julie’s advice for online daters. A must-read!”

~ Matt Titus and Tamsen Fadal
Co-Authors and Relationship Experts

“Julie Spira’s a Very Glam Gal.”

~ Patrick McMullan
Celebrity Photographer and author of Glamour Girls

The Big Event Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner

JBBBS Board Members-Julie Spira and Craig Diamond; Nancy Grando, Grando Jewelry

It was a festive and heartfelt evening where over 600 attended the Jewish Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Los Angeles Lifetime Achievement Award dinner at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Honoring Dan and Linda Rosenson who received the Syndey J. Rosenberg Lifetime Achievement Award, and Joey Behrstock who received the Big Brother of the  Year Award, guests at the black-tie event learned about the 94 year old organization and all the amazing work that is done for the children of our community.

I was a member of the Event Committee which was co-chaired by DeeDee and Karl Sussman along with Irene and David Smith. Guests enjoyed mingling at the silent auction cocktail reception prior to the awards dinner.

Sayesha Mercado

The dance band, Impulse, kept everyone on their feet for the remainder of the evening. Besides the guests of honor, we were treated to a performance by 2007 American Idol finalist, Syesha Mercado.

It is such an honor and privilege to be a member of the Board of Trustees of JBBBS and a a Big Sister in this community.

Internet Dating Conference Review

Authors, Julie Spira and Liz H. Kelly

It was a chilly three days in Miami where about 400 people attended iDate, the Internet Dating Conference, along with the Social Networking Conference. Unfortunately,  I didn’t check weather.com before packing and snuck two bikinis in my suitcase. Upon arrival to Miami I was stunned to see people bundled up in their parkas. It was a cold wave and we felt like we were in Alaska.

However, it was an informative few days of meeting and greeting online dating executives about the latest trends in the industry.  I came early and attended a pre-conference session led by Mark Brooks, Principal Consultant of Courtland-Brooks and editor of the Online Personals Watch. Brooks is the king of statistics in the Internet industry and gave an in-depth presentation to the crowd. I learned that there are 92 million singles in the U.S. just waiting to try Internet dating. After attending the pre-conference introduction to the online dating business, guests were treated to a cocktail reception at Monty’s Raw Bar in South Beach.

On the first official day at the Miami conference, our speakers included Mandy Ginsberg, General Manager of Match.com USA along with Dr. Helen Fisher, Chief Scientific Advisor for Chemistry.com. Fisher spoke about her newly published book, Why Him? Why Her?: Finding Real Love BY Understanding Your Personality Type.

Markus Frind-Plenty of Fish

Marcus Frind, founder of Plenty of Fish, who is on the cover of this month’s Inc. Magazine, spoke to the crowd about the free online dating model at POF and answered many questions. The evening ended with a party at the infamous Nikki Beach where matchmakers, technology folks, authors, and Internet dating industry executives mingled.

On the final day of the dual conference, I attended a session at the Social Networking Conference on Sales and Marketing 2.0: How to win in the Facebook Era. In the afternoon, there was a lively final panel debate from those in the know including Marcus Frind of POF, Mark Brooks from Online Personal Watch, Martin Byish of Make Friends Online, Ravit Abelman of OmniDate, Sam Moorcroft of ChristianCafe.com, and Dan Abelon of SpeedDate.com.

I left shortly afterwards for the airport and unfortunately missed the after-party event held at the Skybar. And the verdict is…..the online dating industry is continuing to grow and in tough economic times, people are flocking to Internet dating sites. Outside of the success of the free site, Plenty of Fish, the largest growth is in the niche online dating sites.  Interested in trying one out? Check out the Dating Community at CyberDatingExpert.com for some suggestions.

Peril of the Week – Photo ID Required

One of the reasons online dating works so well, is that you have the opportunity to view the profile photos of those who write to you or those you are interested in contacting.  A profile without a photo usually gets a low response rate and sometimes causes a red flag. I had a conversation recently with a gentleman who did not provide a photo with his profile and offered to email it separately. I initially wondered if he suffered from low self-esteem and was not proud of his photo, however the picture once emailed, showed a fairly normal looking handsome man.

We graduated to a phone conversation where the gentleman caller firmly advised me that he requests and requires his dates to provide a photo ID on the first date to confirm that they are indeed the same person they claim to be online.  I replied that I would be insulted if someone demanded that I provide my photo ID which clearly matches who I am.  I told him, that most women wouldn’t appreciate that request and he should rethink how he communicates with a woman if he wants to be successful in online dating. From a man who won’t provide his own photo online, one needs to wonder why.

Champagne Risotto With Shrimp

1 Tbsp. of unsalted butter

Your Mother-in-Law Should Know

Best-selling author, Sally Shields, who wrote the book, The Daughter-in-Law Rules: 101 Surefire Ways to Manage (and Make Friends with) Your Mother-in-Law! has provided us with some great advice in her book to ease the stress of the wedding planning for the bride.

Sally’s vision is to inspire more harmony among 20 million mothers and daughters-in-law worldwide by providing tips on how to get along with your future mother-in-law.

Sally gives five tips for remaining on good terms and happy with your mother-in-law.

1. Send Your MIL Cards and Flowers on her 3 Special Days (birthday, anniversary, and mother’s day)

2. Call Your MIL Regularly (preferably weekly)

3. Ask Your MIL for Her Advice – Frequently (And then follow through)

4. Tell Your MIL What a Great Job She Did as Mother  (She’ll love the compliments)

5. Compliment Your MIL’s Looks–Often! (If she looks young, let her know)

Cyber Wedding Album – Jaynine and Jerry

Jaynine and Jerry – Jacksonville, NC

Met in November, 2006

Engaged in January, 2007

Married in January, 2008

Met on Yahoo! Personals

Jaynine created a teleclass in October, 2006 to help couples find love online using the Law of Attraction. Following her own advice, only one month later, she met Jerry on Yahoo! Personals.

The couple got engaged in January, 2007 and were married a year later in January 2008. Jaynine is proof-positive you should practice what you preach.  We welcome the happy couple to the Cyber Wedding Album at CyberDatingExpert.com.

For consideration in the Cyber Wedding Album, please send your submissions to weddings@CyberDatingExpert.com. The winners will receive a free digital download of the book, The Perils of Cyber-Dating.

Date Night at Donald J. Pliner

It seems everyone is gearing up for Valentines Day which is now less than a month away. Last night, I stopped by the Donald J. Pliner flagship store in Beverly Hills where they were co-hosting “Date Night” along with Angela Oldani and her social networking group,  ”The Guest List.” 

I don’t know whether to admit that I am the proud owner of over 40 pairs of Donald J. Pliner shoes, or whether I should be embarrassed by the fact.   The bottom line is, I love Donald J. Pliner shoes. They are so comfortable that when I find a pair that I like, I tend to buy one in every color.  At the boutique, they were serving passion fruit martinis as singles mingled together and looked at the selection of shoes that were on sale.  We all discussed the various online dating sites we have tried, and several singles were talking about changing their online profile photos for the New Year. I recommended Look Better Online to those attending who wanted help with their online photos. 

Donald’s quote is prominently displayed at the store and what shoe fanatic would argue with the well-known designer who says, “If the feet are comfortable, so is the body and so is the mind.” Donald will be making an appearance at the Beverly Hills store on March 28th, so if you are in the area, try to stop by and Donald will autograph the shoes on your feet.

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