This is something that comes up a lot: "How often should we be talking?" or "She hasn't texted me all day. Is that normal?" or "Should I text him first?" And I get it! Early stage dating can be anxiety inducing. My answer is almost always the same: If you like someone, communicate about how you communicate.

One of the hardest (but most important) lessons I learned when I started dating after my divorce (10 years ago!) was that I was holding new people I met to husband standards. No wonder I was always disappointed!

One thing I notice over and over again is that men and women usually describe what they want very differently, but when you peel back the layers, they're usually looking for the same thing.

Quit playing it cool. OK? One of the biggest dating misconceptions is this idea that you can have the deep intimacy that you desire while avoiding vulnerability. You can’t. I see this constantly. People want closeness, CONSISTENCY, emotional SAFETY, reassurance, and PARTNERSHIP… but at the same time they’re pretending not to care, holding back emotionally, and trying so hard to “play it cool” that nobody actually knows how they feel.

If you walk into the grocery store without a list, without a recipe in mind, and without any real plan… you’ll probably wander the aisles tossing random things into your cart based on what looks good in the moment. Before you know it, you’ve spent $400, get home, and somehow still don’t actually have the ingredients to make a real meal. Dating can work the exact same way.

I spent this past week in NYC at the Global Love Institute conference with 150+ dating and relationship professionals from around the world, and I have to say… one of my favorite parts of this work is the incredible community of colleagues I’ve come to know, love, and collaborate with. I can't even count how many client-to-client matches I left there ready to present to my private clients. My heart (and to-do list!) is so full!

In the last 30 days, we’ve coordinated a record-breaking number of dates, sending over 60 carefully selected singles out on first introductions. It has been a full, fast-paced time, and I have to say… it truly fills my heart. Even more meaningful many of those have already unfolded into second and third dates, which is where real potential for connection begins to take shape.

When I say “the JUICE is in the JOURNEY,” I’m not kidding. I see it in my own life, and I see it in the couples I’ve matched. It’s not just in the dating journey to a partner, but also in those early stages of a relationship. Finding someone who is compatible and aligned is only half the story. Once you’re actually in it, getting to know someone and integrating your life with theirs, that’s when things really start to surface.

It was a true LoVe fest. This past week I had the absolute honor of celebrating my client, Chris marrying his now wife, Abby. It was the kind of weekend where you don’t just witness a couple, you witness two families coming together, blending, expanding… CREATINGsomething even bigger than the two people at the center of it. And as a matchmaker, those moments never get old for me because I remember the very beginning - the introduction, the early dates, the decision to keep g

Hello from Turks and Caicos! I’m delighted to be here celebrating LOVE as my client, Chris, marries Abby. Yes! Another Jillin’ It success story. My heart is so full! Moments like this never get old for me. Because behind every wedding, every “we set a second date,” every “you nailed this”… is something much simpler: Just two people who decided to show up, stay open, and give something a real chance.

I had a realization after my divorce that completely changed how I dated. I was going on first and second dates… and feeling constantly disappointed. Not because the men were objectively doing anything wrong. I couldn’t put my finger on it. But eventually I realized it was because of what I expected from them. The truth is, I was holding them to husband level expectations. I expected this stranger to be what I wanted from my husband.

You won’t believe the question I answered on the Love Line this week. Let’s just say if dating has started to feel a little… transactional lately, you’re not alone. Rachel from Avon, CT shared that she went on a date, had a nice time, but didn’t feel a romantic connection. She let him know kindly in a text message the next day. His response? A thumbs up… followed by an Apple Pay request for half the bill. AH!!!

Everyone wants “chemistry,” but few people understand what actually creates it. Polarity is a word that gets thrown around a lot in dating right now, but not everyone actually knows what it means. At its core, polarity is the dynamic tension between two different energies (often described as masculine and feminine) that creates attraction. It’s the push and pull, the spark, the feeling of chemistry that makes interactions feel engaging instead of flat.

What if you knew you were only… 20 rejections away from the “yes” that could change everything? The introduction, the opportunity, the relationship that makes all the first dates along the way well worth it. You’d probably start moving through those rejections a lot faster, wouldn’t you? You’d probably start asking for what you want more often and more boldly. Right?

Communicate about communication? Yep! One thing I am constantly reminding singles to do in early stages of dating is to simply talk about how they like to communicate. Not just what you say but how (and how often) you say it. Some people love texting all day, some prefer a quick check-in and then connecting in person, and others would rather hop on a quick call than send 25 messages back and forth.

There’s a lot of conversation right now about dating more intentionally…fewer alcohol-fueled first dates, more clarity, more presence. And I fully support that. Being grounded enough to actually feel the person in front of you? That’s so powerful. But here’s the nuance…

Finding lasting love can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. With so many dating apps and social options, it’s easy to get overwhelmed or discouraged. That’s where professional matchmaking services come in! I want to share with you why these services are truly valuable and how they can transform your journey to finding a meaningful relationship. Let’s dive into the matchmaking benefits explained and explore how personalized connections can make all the d

Valentine’s Day has come and gone. (Phew!) The roses are gone, the pressure is off but winter is still very much here. If you feel that subtle emotional defrost happening… that quiet longing for something new… you’re not alone. This is the time of year when singles get honest and still have time to sit in it. Honest about app fatigue. Honest about wanting something real.

Hoping you had an acknowledgment of LOVE in one way or another yesterday on Valentine’s Day. Remember that romantic love is only one form of love. Look around and you will see that friends, family, and even your pets all contribute to the love that fills your heart and your days.

Valentine’s Day can feel complicated for singles…especially if you’ve been genuinely showing up and putting yourself out there for a while. If this week brings up a mix of hope, fatigue, or quiet discouragement, you’re not alone. Dating burnout isn’t a sign of failure; it’s usually a sign that you care and that you’re discerning but you’re going for it anyways. The goal isn’t to harden or retreat, but to stay open in ways that feel supportive and sustainable.