RELATIONSHIP Section- Part 1, Dating Statistics

The FIRST part to our relationship section is on all statistics of dating. I love this section, because in my analytical mind, these stats really do boil "it" down!

The idea of dating, for some people, comprise the objective of knowing or searching for the right person, making new friends, and seeing if the feelings you may or may not get from the other person, permit you to progress to the next level. But, not all of the people that are out there dating have such great ideas in mind when they start the dating game! Yes, game. Dating has become a game. Although there are people out there who are, actually, in fact, legitimately looking for love… you must also be aware of the possibility of the other you may encounter.

• The majority of unmarried adults are, in fact, looking for a long-term, committed relationship. (Hmmm, so all those out there, that you find when dating... really are?! Maybe, just maybe! :))
• 76% of men prefer brunettes over blondes. (Yay brunettes!!!!)
• Intellect, a confidence, and the same hobbies in life are attributes that singles are looking for in a partner. So, to dumb it down- if you are good-looking but do not possess some of these traits, you probably won't be getting the date!
• When speaking specifically about dating statistics in America, there are 100 single women for every 86 men who are single.
• Money is the top reason for arguments and differences in a relationship. It is okay to have arguments... but, this one is the main reason you may encounter.
• A large majority of adults think that they could be happy without getting married.
• Most adults, in the United States, think that it is okay to live together and decided not to get married.
• Statistics show, that, if you are a women, you have only 15 minutes to impress the guy you are on a date with. Wow! Talk about short attention spans.
• It takes a woman an hour to determine if she wants to date the guy again... or not.
• Infidelity ranks the highest when it comes to the cause of a break up. The percentage is more than 50%.
• Most peoples' top reason for wanting marriage is to have a partnership with another person.  
• Online dating service members include 40 million American users! That accounts for 40% of the single adults in America!
• Out of the people involved in online dating, 48% of the break ups are done through e-mail. Wow! I think if I met someone online and started dating them, this would still be a no-no for me!
• 51% of singles think that flattery is the best way to attract the opposite sex.
• 2% of men and 9% of women found a dating partner in the bar. So, you may think that that's "your place" to go to find a guy/girl... but, nope!
• 46% of woman want Italian food for a 1st restaurant date.
• 67% of men and 86% of women said that they prefer to date somebody who has a bubbly personality, over someone just for their physical (body).

MSN Chemistry Source
EZine Article Source- Dating Relationship Stats,By Kelly Purden
Buzzle Source, By Shalu Bhatti Published: 9/28/2010
It's Just Lunch Source
Photo Source

The BEST Soft, Buttery Homemade Pretzels Recipe- Like @ THE MALL!

LOVE those pretzels you can get at the mall? You know the ones... they're hot, buttery, salty or cinnamon-sugary?? I absolutely adore those pretzels, but it's not always so convenient to go visit the mall every time the craving hits! So.... here is the best recipe I know that makes them SO similar to the taste of the mall. And, with minimal ingredients (but a little time), they are perfect! You HAVE to try them!

Soft, Buttery Homemade Pretzels

• 4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 4 cups hot water
• 1/4 cup kosher salt, for topping
• Cinnamon-sugar mixture, if wanted (guesstimate how much you'll need, depending on how many you want this way!)
• Melted butter- 1 stick (1/2) cup

Directions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add the oil and yeast mixture. Mix and form into a dough. If the mixture is dry, add one or two tablespoons of water. Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 to 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In a large bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water.
4. When risen, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Once all of the dough is all shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet. (I then spray with a little "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray!) Sprinkle with kosher salt.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes, until browned. 
6. When they come out, dip in melted butter! 

ENJOY!

RELATIONSHIP Section!- Dating, Marriage, Statistics, Fun Facts

We are going to start a new section on RELATIONSHIPS! I am so excited to introduce this "section"/group of blog posts that we have, coming SOON! 

Almost all of us are or will be in some relationship now or at some point... whether we are single and dating around, in a serious dating relationship, in the first year of marriage, or have been married for many years (or something in between!).

You'll be able to read all about it HERE! What are the funniest things that've happened to you while in a relationship or on a date? What are ways make it through the difficult first year of marriage? What are the divorce statistics out there? SO much great information is out there... but it is such a strain to have to dig around in it all for the best relationship help out there that applies to and will help you! So, please bookmark the blog and get ready to read all about the in's and out's of "everything relationship"!

Work SOMEWHERE? Read this!

The BEST work quote... ever! It is my absolute favorite. If you work anywhere at all... you'll know this makes sense. :)

"Don't ever expect any individual to wholeheartedly support and 'own' any way of doing things that he or she has had no part in creating or developing. At best, you will only obtain 'buy in'."  Susan M. Heathfield

We're Old Soul Charming!

Want to see some of our Old Soul Charm business cards, promotional calendars, and more? Here's a little peak!
Want some of your own? Visit Vistaprint for tons of free options for business cards, websites, and other promotional ideas!

Home Decorating Inspiration Ideas- Curtains!

Need some home decorating inspirational ideas to get the juices flowing? I will be covering different ideas of this- called "Home Decorating Inspiration Ideas" throughout time in this blog! Today, we will give you a few ideas for curtains around your home! Now, I LOVE wooden blinds and shutters, but there is something about dressing up your windows with curtains (also) to really give it that at-home/ "home-y" feel. Open them wide during the day and let the light shine in and the breeze from the open window blow lightly across the rooms... ahh, bliss. Then, close them up at night and the mood changes... it becomes intimate, restful, relaxing. Perfect for an evening on the couch watching a movie! Here are a few ideas for kinds of curtains, how to hang (ie: how far above the window), colors, and just all around having fun with curtains! Enjoy the pictures and let me know of any other ideas you have for curtains- or pictures of them in your home! We'd LOVE to see and show them on our blog!

Master bedroom white, ceiling to floor silk curtains. Hang two panels in a room accent color from a pretty decorative rod as high as you can on the wall to the floor, laying in a soft puddle. Instant glam and lengthens the room!

Living Room dual panel brown curtains with gold and bronze-ish- brown accent center valance. Hang two panels in a room accent neutral color on a striking wooden or metal decorative rod directly above the window. In the center, like these, a matching accent valance adds the perfect added dimension to the windows- and room!

Bright gold, red, and amber striped pinch-pleated drapes are the perfect style for the dining room. Hung at least 12 inches from the top of the window from rings that match the decorative rod (at least 1/2inch-1inch larger circles to easily slide on the rod), these curtains keep the formal dining room looking, well, formal! Double thick decadent fabric enables the privacy for a dinner party at night!

 

 

 

 

Have a basement room that is now considered the "mancave"? If you're anything like me, and you do, you probably want to still make it look nice (meaning, you decorate it, maybe not your man ;)). These gold curtains flow from ceiling to floor in a nice, "hard" fabric- they hang straight and are easy to shut to block the sun during the big game! And, in the team colors (cough*Iowa Hawkeyes*cough), HE will love it!

 

Showing Respect and Consideration

 

"Treat someone badly and you can expect they'll return the favor. Treat a person well and you've earned a friend. Even the most devoted person gets fed up with continual bad treatment, but few can resist someone who treats them with respect and consideration."

-Excerpt from 365 Treasured Moments for Couples

Ohhh how true! To me, this is one of the biggest deals in life, in terms of relationships (with anyone). It should be a given that if you treat someone good, they'll treat you good in return. If you treat someone badly, they'll treat you badly. Remember the saying "treat others like you want to be treated"? This is why! If you believe in karma... you put something good out there and to others, and you earn a friend back! The second half of this paragraph talks about how even the most loyal, committed, dedicated person is going to, rightfully so, get down, depressed, and sad they have constant, ongoing negative interactions with someone they love of care about in their life. We all have either been or know someone that is in this situation... you feel this way about your husband or wife, you have a family member, a best friend, co-worker... someone that you know who feels this way. We all deserve to have that thoughtfulness, admiration, and value placed on them from those that they love.  Remember that.

So, if it's you, or someone you know, please enjoy and pass on these few sentences.

Top 10 Host/Hostess Gifts

I am going to one of my neighbor friends' homes this weekend, and it got me thinking... what are some of the BEST hostess gifts out there to give? So, here I compiled a list of the TOP 10 host/hostess gifts to take to your next gathering or party!

1. Are they into baking? I LOVE this Nordic Ware Bouquet Pan for baking. It adds SUCH a fun element for spring and summer baking. My favorite things to bake in these are little mini cakes and banana bread!
2. Is he or she in to wine, or trying to be? The occasional drinker that you think would benefit from an easy to use wine opener? The Screwpull Metal Trigger Lever Corkscrew, by Le Creuset, was named Consumer Research best wine opener.
3. Into vintage decor? What about this Vintage Gold Mirror Vanity Tray, or any other charming little "finds". You or a friend like vintage home decor? Visit my Old Soul Charm Etsy store for more! (oh, and handmade little treasures, too! :))
4. Note cards or stationary, I think, is another lovely choice for a hostess gift. It is the old-fashioned (or, "old-school", if you will) way to tell someone you're thinking about them, missing them, or thanking them. I love this simple old soul charm touch, and use it often myself! These Folk Art Birds Note Cards are adorable for any of your friends.
5. An apron! This is often one of those items, I believe, that most cooks don't think to buy for themselves, but can always come in handy. For the female hostess, try Jessie Steele Bib Josephine Café Toile Apron. It goes with any apparel, and looks adorable in use! For the male host, how about a fun Deluxe Embroidered Apron with "All This...and I Can Cook" written in white across the chest? How fun!
6. Have a green thumb?Another perfect idea is a lovely potted plant or herb garden.This Italian Herb Garden Trio is such a usable, fantastic idea. They will then have fresh herbs for all their home-cooking before long!
7. Dishtowels! You can never have enough of these babies. Try Now Designs Set of 3 Floursack Towels, Olive Series... they are "flour-sack towels", which are my ABSOLUTE favorite. I think they are the most absorbent, easy to use dishtowels... ever!
8. Gourmet coffee or tea! Are they the usual basic Folgers people? That's okay and all... but this is your perfect opportunity to give them a new variety to try. Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew Vanilla Flavored Coffee is instant coffee.... but don't lose me yet! Trust me when I say, it is WONDERFUL!!! It is perfect to stick in a briefcase, purse, or bag... all it needs is hot water, and it's done. Dunkin' Donuts Ground Coffee, Cinnamon Spice is probably my favorite make-at-home coffee right now. It is delicious. Adagio Teas Tea Chest is a great idea for tea drinkers. It has a great variety, and is more gourmet than regular old Lipton (which I still enjoy!).
9. Picture frame. Who doesn't have or take pictures these days? It is a great idea for those with kids or grand kids, too, as they will always have plenty of photo's. Lawrence Frames Venice Bronze frame is inexpensive, but beautiful! Have a cute picture of you with the host's? Just print it to the size of the frame, stick it in, and you're done! Such a nice personal idea.
10. Everyone likes cheese, right? Yes, just about everyone does. Go this route instead of one of giving them desserts or chocolates. igourmet's Favorites - 4 Cheese Sampler is SO amazing. It has Mountain Gorgonzola, Extra Aged Gouda, Gruyere, and Vermont Cheddar making up the sampler. The host's will love this for an snack, any time of the day!