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Ask A Guy: I Get Jealous When My Boyfriend Talks About Other Girls – How Do I Deal?

Ethan Fixell — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:00:16 +0000

How to stop being jealous

Dear Ethan,

My boyfriend and I have been together for almost eight months. His friends happen to be friends of mine also, so when we all hang out, sometimes I’ll end up being the only girl. Many times, all the guys begin to talk about girls from their past and girls who they think are hot. Sometimes my boyfriend chimes in and talks about other girls. It just really bugs me because I’m very insecure about myself and even though I know that he wouldn’t hurt me, I still feel hurt when he talks about other girls. I constantly try to tell myself, “it’s fine, he loves you, who cares if he thinks another girl is hot?” but then it just doesn’t work and I still end up getting hurt. I just want to know how to be happy with him all the time, even if he talks about another girl.

Before offering any advice, I want to point out that there’s a difference between a guy mentioning that a woman is cute and his exclaiming that he wants to play naked Twister with her: the former is a harmless observation, while the latter is a declaration of a douchebaggery. A boyfriend’s lewd comments about other women in your presence is not only disrespectful, it could also be an indication that he’s not to be trusted.

With that said, I’m assuming yours is a good dude, and is merely agreeing or disagreeing with his friends about how attractive other girls are. I have to tell you that whether or not they vocalize it, all heterosexual males will notice when a hot woman walks in the room. So as long as he’s speaking of these women with reverence, and not objectifying or degrading them, it could actually mean that he feels comfortable enough to be the same guy with you that he is with his best male friends, which is a giant compliment.

However, of course you have the right to request that he not do this while you’re around. As I’ve written time and time again, communication is always the key to any successful relationship — so gently inform him (in private) that his discussion of other women makes you uncomfortable. If approached calmly and lovingly, he might immediately understand and apologize.

On the other hand, if he’s like me, he might be a bit stubborn about having to hold back with his friends. Though you seem to be planted firmly in his social circle, he might not be willing to permanently change his dynamic with his pals. In that case, you might have to restructure the amount of time you all spend together as a group. Or, it could be possible that you need to be with a more mild-mannered guy.

But at the very least, opening up to your boyfriend should encourage him to do other things to reassure you that only you have his heart. If he values the right to speak freely around you, he must make it clear through affectionate words and actions that you’re the only one he really wants at the end of the day. And just knowing that you can feel a little insecure sometimes will hopefully inspire him to go that extra mile for you.

Good luck!
Ethan

Ethan Fixell is a writer and comedian from New York City best known as one half of comic “dating coach” duo Dave and Ethan. He is also the creator and editor of ActualConversation.com. For more on Ethan, visit EthanFixell.com…or call his mom, Robin.

Are you confused about a guy? Do you find yourself wondering, “What is he thinking?” Tell us everything in the comments! And if you have a question for Ethan, email him at askaguy@gurl.com!

Here’s How NOT To Get His Attention

Jessica Booth — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:39:48 +0000

Is the Internet ruining your relationships?

I’ve seen just as many crazy, ridiculous apps out there as I have really bad dating advice. And somehow, magically, this app manages to combine both into one huge tip on how NOT to get his attention.

HowAboutWe.com posted a review of the app in question, called Equala, and I couldn’t resist letting you girls in on it. Equala is an app that basically connects to your Facebook profile and fills you in on what music other people are listening to. On Equala’s website, they market the app as a great way to “rely on your friends’ music to be the best radio station!” It would be an app you could use if you needed some new music, but weren’t sure where to look for it.

If Equala was just all about that, it would be fine. I mean, kind of stupid and pointless (you don’t need an app to see what music your Facebook friends like. All you have to do is… go on their Facebook), but fine. Except that’s not how they presented the app to HowAboutWe… and the issue I have with Equala is how it claims to help your dating life.

The press release Equala sent to HowAboutWe suggests using the app as a way to get the attention of the guy you’re crushing on. Their way of doing that? By pretending to like the stuff they like, obviously. Here are the suggestions on how to get his attention from their press release:

Get familiar with his top jams. Listen [to them] yourself (or at least, pretend to).

Make sure you share on social media how awesomely amazing his favorite bands/songs are (discreetly, of course).

When you see him next, use this musical insight as an icebreaker. For example, you cannot wait for their next show. You love the new single. You think their first album was absolutely epic in comparison to this one.

Hook, line, sinker. He will be interested. Music is the way into a dude’s heart. (Um, sorry, since when?)

Ummmm. Where should I start? So many choices, so many choices.

Let’s see… while there is nothing wrong with using social media as a way to get to know your crush on your own, there is something wrong with pretending to like what your crush likes just to get his attention. News flash, Equala and anyone else who acts fake in order to get noticed: guys, and people in general, like individuality. No one likes when someone pretends to be someone they’re not just so they can get what they want.

Look, if you want to get a guy’s attention, don’t do this. Don’t pretend to like his favorite band just to impress him. Don’t talk about his favorite band to him like you’re sooo familiar with them when in reality you just looked up the lyrics to their biggest hit song two days ago. That’s not cool and it will probably backfire. Either he’ll know you’re not being honest and will be totally weirded out or he’ll eventually find out the truth and get totally weirded out. Either way – you end up looking lame. Do yourself a favor and stick to being passionate about what you like. A guy will be more into your confidence than into the fact that you like the same song.

Would you ever download this app and use it to impress guys? Do you ever pretend to like something your crush likes just to get his attention? Tell us in the comments.

10 Ways To Know That He Doesn’t Like You

Jessica Booth — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 23:00:51 +0000

Real talk: a few years ago, I read super popular book He’s Just Not That Into You and it changed my life. Or, it changed my dating life. And no, that is not a dramatic statement. This book really did open my eyes to the behavior guys will exhibit when they like a girl and when they don’t like a girl. In all honesty, it’s easy to tell if he doesn’t like you – it’s just that sometimes, we’re so blinded by love that we just refuse to see it.

But seriously, girls? Opening your eyes and admitting to yourself that he doesn’t like you can only help you. Yeah, it sucks – but it can also stop you from continuing to put yourself in a position where you’re only going to get hurt. If a few of these reasons below apply to your crush who’s been acting weird, then it’s possible that he just isn’t crushing on you back. Your best bet is to move on and find someone who does like you. There’s no point in trying to change his mind. So, if you’ve been wondering if he’s into you or not, read this list – and remember this stuff forever.

He Never Calls Or Texts First

It's pretty simple: when a guy likes you, he wants to talk to you. And if he wants to talk to you, he's going to text you or call you. Sure, it's fine to sometimes be the one who reaches out, but if you're the only one initiating any sort of conversation, that's a good sign that he's not into you. If a guy really wants to talk to you, he's almost never too busy to send a quick text, so don't be so quick to buy his excuses for why he hasn't gotten in touch.

He Doesn't Talk Or Listen

When he does text you or talk to you, what does he say? If a dude is texting you and only sending a one word answer to your long paragraph, that's a sign that he's trying to subtly hint that he's not interested. If he never asks you any questions about your day or about you in general, that means he doesn't care to get to know you. And if you know nothing about him? That means he doesn't want to open up to you.

He Only Hangs Out To Hook Up

When a guy likes you, he wants to impress you - and only bringing you up to his dirty room to make out on the bed isn't exactly impressive. If a guy is into you, he wants to know more about you than just what you look like naked. He'll want you to know that, so he'll take you out or make an effort not to make everything about sex. If he only calls you after 11 PM to hook up, that is a good sign that the only thing he wants from you is to get into your pants - and please don't confuse that for a crush.

He Bails On You Without A Backup Plan

If you guys make plans, whether it's to go out or just to hang at his house, and he bails on you, pay attention to what he does afterwards. If he just says, "Can't make it tonight, sorry," and nothing else? Not a good sign. If he says, "Can't make it tonight. Are you free tomorrow instead?" Good sign. That means he genuinely feels bad about cancelling and still wants to see you. If he bails without saying anything else, that means he really doesn't care. And if he keeps bailing and making more plans and then bailing again? That means he doesn't have the balls to tell you he's not interested.

He ALWAYS Has An Excuse

This is similar to bailing on you without a backup plan. Maybe he never asks you to hang out, so instead you decide to take the reigns and ask him to hang out. If he constantly has some sort of lame excuse, that again means that he doesn't have the guts to just say no. He's hoping you'll eventually just stop asking so he doesn't have to be the bad guy (makes no sense). An excuse once in a while can, of course, be legit, but if it happens more often than not, it's probably not. If a guy wants to see you, he WILL find a way. Trust me.

He's Weird In Social Situations

If you two really hit it off when you're alone cuddling in bed together, but he gets weird the second you're somewhere public, take it as a bad sign. If he acts super distant with you in school or at a party, that means he doesn't want other people to think there's something going on. That's not only mean, it's also shady. If a guy likes you, he won't be afraid to flirt with you in front of his friends or your friends.

He Flirts With Other Girls In Front Of You

Story time: One night my friend Doug was hanging out with a bunch of my friends and I. We took some pictures that were totally innocent and one of them was of me and him. When I put it on Facebook, he texted me to ask very nicely if I could take it down because he didn't want the girl he was pursuing to see it and get the wrong idea. THIS, ladies, is what a guy will do when he likes a girl. He will make sure you don't think he's interested in other girls because he doesn't want to lose you. If he's obviously flirting with other girls in front of you? He wants you to know he's not tied down.

He Talks To You Like Your His Buddy

At the same time, if he has no problem telling you he thinks another girl is hot, that might also mean he doesn't really care about you. When I first met my boyfriend, he was hesitant to even admit to me he found Mila Kunis hot. I mean, come on. If a dude is talking to you like you're just one of the guys, that more than likely means that that is the only way he sees you.

He Panics If You Get Too Close

If he freaks whenever you bring up the word relationship or ask for plans for next weekend or anything like that, it could mean he's just scared of commitment... but it probably means he doesn't want a commitment with you. A guy once told me that dudes who say they don't want a relationship really mean they don't want one with you - because if they find the right girl, they'll be willing to take the leap, scared or not.

Your Friends Are Weird About Him

Sometimes our friends, who are outside of the situation, can tell when our crush isn't into us. But since they're our friends, they don't want to hurt us by being the bearer of bad news. If your friends get kind of weird when you bring him up and try to steer you away from the guy, it's a good indicator that they think things aren't going to happen for one reason or another. Ask them to be completely honest with you about what they think and pay attention to their reaction - you'll be probably be able to tell if they're being genuine or not.

Did these tips help you? What did I miss? How do you deal when you find out your crush doesn’t like you? Tell me in the comments.

10 reasons guys cheat

10 Signs You’re Ready For A Relationship

Meg Malone — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:00:14 +0000

Relationships take some work. They require us to accept a person into our lives and figure out how to balance their needs with our own. It can be a lot of navigate and if the timing isn’t quite right when you enter into a relationship, that can spell disaster.

Usually though, there are some signs that you are ready for a relationship. Often times, they are also things you can think about ahead of time, rather than waiting until you’re already dating someone. Whether you have been in a relationship before or not, here is a checklist of ten signs to help clue you in as to if the present is a good time for you to be in a relationship.

You've Defined Relationship

Do you know what a "relationship" means to you? Because it can mean different things to different people. Before you jump into a relationship, you should have an idea about your definition of relationship. That way, you can share it with your potential partner to make sure you two are on the same page. If you still aren't sure what a relationship is to you, you may want to do a little soul searching before you jump into one and realize your definition doesn't match your partner's.

You've Witnessed Real Couples

We can often get caught up in our dream relationships or what we see on TV, but before a relationship you should have been able to learn and observe about relationships in real world settings. Relationships surround us every day, so even if it's not immediately obvious, just think on what dos and don'ts you've observed from watching your parents, your friends, even your past relationships. You get a sense of real relationship challenges, but also what the good ones look like, too.

You Have The Time

If your daily schedule is packed completely tight, now might not be the best time to jump into a relationship. Dating someone means needing to make time for them, and if you barely have time to do all the things you want for yourself, it wouldn't really be fair. You should stop doing what you love just to be in a relationship, and it's also not to say that you can't be busy and have a BF — it just requires you to take a hard look at how you manage your time and see if it's really possible at this time to commit to someone else.

You've Developed Communication Skills

Communication is so important in a relationship, because it's also the foundation for other aspects like trust and honesty. If you have trouble communicating with people, that could forecast a tough time in a relationship when you need to express how you feel. Instead of throwing yourself into a relationship, just practice being a little more open in your friend and family relationships until it starts to feel more natural so when you are dating someone, you have a solid foundation.

You Can Set Boundaries

It's easy to let a new relationship become your one and only focus in your life. While it's good to share time with this new partner, it's not really a good idea to completely lose yourself in the relationship. You should think about setting and discussing boundaries that let you maintain your own life while sharing in this new relationship. If you haven't thought about what boundaries could look like for you, you may want to think about that before starting a relationship.

You Know Why You Want One

Think about the reasons you want to enter a relationship - is it because you really like this certain person? That's great. However, if you can trace it back to jealousy that your BFF has a boyfriend or you recently got dumped, those seem more like situations where it's less about what you want and more feeling like you need a relationship to prove something. If you're facing that kind of pressure from yourself, now probably isn't right for a relationship.

You're Cool Just With You

Are you able to be single and enjoy time just with yourself? Being able to spend time with just yourself is super important and it can give you a lot of clarity about your hopes, dreams and goals - and knowing these things can make you enter a relationship more clearheaded. Developing a relationship with yourself is important. If you want a relationship simply because you can't stand being single, you may be trying to force something before you are ready.

You're Cool With Sharing

Just as you should be okay being on your own, when you do transition into a relationship, you should be okay with sharing and compromising with them. If you don't feel comfortable with the idea of needing to factor another person into your plans or life, than now probably isn't the right time for a relationship.

You Respect Others' Decisions

Even if you are ready for a relationship, you can't make another person be ready. You have to be both patient to people who are still trying to figure out for themselves if they want a relationship, and understanding if it turns out that's not what they want. A relationship involves another person, so by showing you care about other people's dating decisions actually shows that you are someone who would be supportive for your partner in a relationship.

You Trust Your Gut

The bottom line though is there's no magic way to ever know if you are 100% ready for a relationship. A lot of it also comes down to just trusting your gut. Everyone makes mistakes in relationships, even if they were pretty prepared for the commitment, but the important thing is that you learn from them and you'll be even more ready to handle relationships in the future.

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When did you know that you were ready for a relationship? What are other signs that you think show someone is ready for a relationship? Tell us in the comments!

Should I Tell My Crush I Like Him?

Ask A Guy: Do Guys Care If You’re Popular Or Not?

Ethan Fixell — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:00:13 +0000

Do you need to be prom queen to catch his eye? | Source: ShutterStock

Dear Ethan,

I like one of the most popular guys in my school but I don’t know if he knows I exist. But I have a HUGE crush on him and I think we could be cute together… but I’m not popular. Here’s my question: do guys care if you’re popular or not?

I’d like to believe that today’s American youths are more open minded than British elitists circa 1912 (see Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw)… or SoCal high school students circa 1999 (see She’s All That* with Freddie Prinze Jr). From my experience, most teenaged guys don’t dismiss possible love connections merely because of a girl’s social status (and if they do, they are jerks not worth getting to know in the first place). I know plenty of guys (myself included) who have looked beyond “popularity” to date some really cool girls.

What more often prevents love connections from developing is a lack of common interests, and therefore, interactions. Sometimes it’s as simple as not being physically around a guy enough to keep him from noticing that you exist. If he doesn’t have the opportunity to hang out with you in the first place, it can be difficult to get his attention.

Fortunately, social status matters less and less as you get older and cliques slowly break apart. My senior year of high school was kinda magical, when social boundaries almost entirely dissipated. Eventually “nerds,” “jocks,” “thugs,” and everyone in between began to hang in larger groups at parties, a phenomenon captured time and time again in movies such as The Breakfast Club and Can’t Hardly Wait. (I like movies, okay??) In college and later, in “the real world,” social confines only continue to blur further.

The best thing you can do right now is to actively make your presence known to him. The next time you see him at lunch, after class, or at a party, introduce yourself! Keep the conversation going by initiating once or twice more. If it’s meant to be, and he’s truly as cool as his popularity suggests, he’ll pick up on the signals and reciprocate. You’ve got nothing to lose!

(*I’m proud to report that this is the second time I’ve referenced that film in this column).

Good luck!
Ethan

Are you confused about a guy? Do you find yourself wondering, “What is he thinking?” Tell us everything in the comments! And if you have a question for Ethan, email him at askaguy@gurl.com!

Is he really busy or is he just blowing me off?

Beat your first date nerves with these tips, hot stuff!

Want To Know What Guys Do Before A First Date?

Jessica Sager — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:26:42 +0000

Guys quell first date jitters by Facebook stalking us before a date–and we do it too! | Source: ShutterStock

You obviously already know how you prepare for a date, but have you ever wondered what guys do before a first date? If you think dudes don’t sweat the first date, you’re totally wrong – as it turns out, guys actually get pretty nervous and there are a few things they do to prepare themselves (We can’t blame them for being a lil’ nervous, because we’re pretty great!). One of those measures? Facebook stalking you!

As for women and men, about a third of us admit to having “crippling nerves” before a first date, and sometimes being nervous can lead us to say and do stupid things–which explains why eight percent of us have called a date the wrong name. (Yikes!) Also embarrassing? Two percent of guys admit to being so nervous on a first date that they actually fell over. I’m not even judging them for this because I’m the clumsiest person on the planet, and really, it’s sort of endearing, isn’t it?

Other first date issues? Awkward silences, which roughly equal amounts of guys and gals admit terrify them.

To prevent being super nervous before a date, the study says that guys sometimes booze it up for liquid courage–we don’t recommend this, because it can impair your judgment, so you may not really realize how much you do or don’t like someone!

The most common practice before a date for both sexes? Good old Facebook stalking. It does give us some sort of an idea of what we’re getting into when we get to know a new person (“Oh hey, he likes The Walking Dead too!”) which can help with ice breakers.

But it’s also important to remember that a person can act and appear pretty different online than in reality, and that you may not be getting the whole story. Just like you wouldn’t want to be judged for a goofy pic with your BFF taken out of context, make sure you don’t dismiss a potentially awesome dude just because he has a few shady looking shots on Facebook! (But we bet now that you know guys are Facebook stalking you before a date, you may be a bit more careful of what you post yourself. Smart!)

What do you do to calm your nerves before a first date? Have you ever made a guy super nervous before a date? Would you ever Facebook stalk guy before a date? Tell us in the comments!

And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

8 Tips On How To Get A Guy To Like You!

Jessica Sager — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:44:23 +0000

If you’re wondering how to get a guy to like you, we promise: It’s a lot easier than you may think. Chances are you may barely even have to change a single thing that you’re doing already, because you’re fabulous and any guy worth his salt knows that already.

But if you’re certain that the guy you’re crushing on doesn’t know you exist, or just sees you in the friend zone, there are a few surefire ways to get his attention so he comes to his senses. Here’s how to get a guy to like you–hopefully he can handle it!

Watch Him!

If you don't observe him, how will you know what he's into? Keep your eyes open . . . and hopefully his curtains. Then use that knowledge to your advantage!

Lose 10 Pounds!

It'll be so much easier for him to sweep you off your feet if you fall over more easily. If you look too sturdy, you're going to intimidate him--but if you appear frail, he'll want to play prince to your damsel in distress (and starvation).

Show Off Your Boobs - All The Time

Sure, guys care about your personality... but let's be real: they're also really into your body. Especially stuff like boobs and legs and butts - so why not show them off? Wearing a lot of low-cut shirts, short skirts or really tight pants will absolutely make every guy notice you.

Wear A Lot Of Makeup

You can't just go out looking totally natural all the time. If you want dudes to really notice you, then you need to stand out and look really pretty. So, wear a lot of makeup. Foundation and bronzer will make your skin look better and pretty eye makeup will make you look awesome.

Source; ShutterStock

Find Out What He Likes And Start Liking It Too

Is he really into football? Learn everything about the sport and his favorite team ASAP so you two can chat about it. Does he love cars? Find out what his favorite car is and become an expert on the subject. Put aside your own interests for a little while and focus on what he likes - but totally act like it's what you've always liked.

Become BFFs With His Mom!

When a guy's mom likes you, he definitely will too. Also, a sneaky way to get him to ask you out? Suggest she ground him if he doesn't.

Rent Out Your Marching Band!

Have them spell out "Mike, I love you!" Then arrange an elaborate color guard choreography that involves you doing naked cartwheels. He won't be able to say no!

Wear A Wedding Dress!

Know you're going to be running into your crush? Plant the seed in his mind: Rock a wedding dress to the party or dance so he knows just what you want.

Just Kidding!

April Fool's! You already know if that if a dude is dumb enough not to notice you, you're too good for him anyway. Also, you should know that we would NEVER give you these tips. Like, ever. These are the worst!

Check out the 10 best April Fool’s pranks from ’90s TV!

Do you have any recommendations on how to get a guy to like you? What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to get a guy to like you? Tell us in the comments!

And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

From The Message Boards: Should I Move On With The Love Of My Life?

Caitlin Corsetti — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:00:27 +0000

Source: Shutterstock

Love is a fickle thing, y’all. It’s messy and complicated, but also wonderful when you find someone you really feel right with.

Most of all, love can be really confusing. So this week, y’all are talking about what to do when you’re in a relationship but meet someone else. Should you end your current relationship and move on? Or should you wait for your relationship to fade out before getting involved with someone else?

What did y’all have to say about the topic?

animperfectteen said:

If I was in your situation I would fast forward time. It sounds like that person makes you happy so always do what’s best for you.

flamingoccm said:

In my opinion, a relationship with a time stamp was over as soon as you set that time limit.

Go for the person who lights up your life. Truth is, you don’t know how long you have and it makes no sense to do anything but what makes you happy. If you’ve found the person you want to be with for the rest of your life, then be with them every single day.

hotjamale said:
I think you’re thinking way too much about the future, and need to think about the now. Don’t worry about the time stamp, don’t worry about spending your life with this other guy forever, just do what you want to do right at this present moment. If you want to be with the guy with the time stamp, do it, regardless of the inevitable break up. That doesn’t matter – all that matters is now. If you don’t, don’t. Don’t make it about the future, though. The future doesn’t exist, only the present does.

Also, you may THINK you want to spend the rest of your life with this guy, but that means very little to be perfectly honest. If you aren’t presently dating him and living with him, and if you want kids in the future and haven’t had them with him yet, what you think currently could, and very possibly will, change VERY drastically very quickly. It also could not, but it’s for the best to not put expectations like this on relationships, especially when you aren’t even dating the person yet.

This is a really complicated situation. I personally think if you’re dating someone, and you already think the relationship is going to end then you shouldn’t lead that person on. You should never keep dating someone if you’re not into it. It’s not fair to you or the other person.

As far as moving on with someone else, regardless of if you want to spend the rest of your life with them or not, maybe you should give it a try. I think people who are truly committed in a relationship won’t fall for another person so if you do, maybe it was meant to happen.

I can’t speak to much on wanting to spend the rest of your life with someone because that hasn’t happened to me. I think it’s easy to get caught up in someone and fall in love very quickly, but you should always make sure you really know someone before jumping into the deep end.

Have you met the “love of your life” while in another relationship? Have you ever ended a relationship because you fell for someone else? Tell me in the comments!

Need advice on a different topic? Do you have a story you want to share? Post your own thoughts and questions in our boards and start chatting with other girls.

Is there something wrong with you if you’ve never been kissed?

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

7 Tips For Getting Set Up By A Friend

Meg Malone — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:37:11 +0000

In case anyone was looking for further proof that Jennifer Lawrence would make a sweet BFF, it turns out she also sets up her friends with her co-star and fellow celeb Bradley Cooper. Learning this news now means I will begin daydreaming about my bestie JL setting me up with her Hunger Games co-stars.

Being set up is sometimes used in television or movies for some wacky hijinks, but it actually can be a great way to meet someone. While it might be awkward to know how to broach the subject of wanting to get set up, it’s a totally acceptable thing to ask a friend. Need a quick guide about how to be set up? Well, here you go!

Ask, Ask, Ask!

Your friends can't read minds! You should actually be glad your friends aren't constantly on your case about setting you up because that's annoying. But since you do want them to set you up, I'm sure they'd be glad to help - you just need to make sure they know that's what you want.

Ask A Friend You Trust

Yes, asking is the big step, but you also want to think about who you're going to ask. Do you have a friend who is always good for relationship advice? Is she friends specifically with a guy you're interested in? Maybe you just think she has good taste in guys. Either way, don't just ask any friend, but one that you think will really put time and thought into who she sets you up with.

Communicate What You're Looking For

Just because you may have honed in on a friend with similar taste, that doesn't mean you would necessarily go for exactly the same kind of guy. You can definitely give your friend some guidelines to work from, especially by letting her know your deal breakers. She probably wants this to work out just as much as you do, so feel free to give her a place to start.

But Also Be Open To Something New

Sometimes friends have a way of being able to tap into parts of ourselves that we didn't even know were there. If you've picked someone you trust to set you up, be open to letting them help you out, even if the guy they pick isn't someone you'd immediately go after. Hey, you never know if that guy with a totally different style than you could be your perfect match!

Have Reasonable Expectations

When someone sets you up, they really want to feel like they'e done a good job, so they might use words like "best," "most," maybe even "perfect" to describe the guy they picked. It's totally natural to daydream a little about this seemingly awesome date, but just try to keep things in perspective. Maybe this person is all of those things, but it's also likely that your friend setting you up just really wants you to have a good time.

Make It A Double Date

If you're nervous, see if you can go on a double date with your matchmaking friend. It's nice to have someone there who can help facilitate the conversation. It takes a little bit of the pressure off of you for this set-up, and maybe this even gives you the chance to set her up for this double date! Paying back the favor if she's interested is definitely a nice move.

Thank Your Matchmaker

If it went well, give your friend a little credit! Let her know how much you appreciate her for helping set you two up. Even if the date was kind of a bust, don't get mad at your friend for it when she was just trying to help. Also, don't go off badmouthing what was wrong with the dude. If she set you up, she's still a friend of his and you don't want to put her in a weird situation - especially if she's willing to help set you up again in the future.