Single & The Holidays

Now that Thanksgiving 2008 is over the official start to Holiday Season 2008 has begun! Now I know that some single ladies out there get depressed this time of year because they have no one special in their life. I used to feel like one of the misfit toys from from Rudolph, "I just don't fit in." The holidays seem to be all about family and your special man. It certainly doesn't help seeing all those Zales commercials that seem to be on an endless loop on my TV -- "Diamonds? For me? You are the most perfect man ever!"

While the holidays are a hectic time between shopping for gifts, work, holiday baking and general life, it's also a great time to be single. Between now and New Year's Eve there are parties, parties, parties giving us single ladies ample opportunities to meet someone new. Every group I belong to throws some sort of holiday gathering and someone's friend is always hosting a party in their apartment. I love it because it gets me out of my comfort zone and social circle -- and you just never know who you could meet by the cheese platter! And people tend to be in a more festive mood this time of year making conversation easier. Instead of the standard, "so what do you do?" line, you can ask about holiday plans or their favorite Christmas show (mine is the Grinch & Rudolph).

This holiday season accept all invites and see what happens! Now I am not saying that you will meet "the one" but you never know what can happen when you add in a little holiday cheer.

JDate After Dark

So it was a typical Sunday late night and I logged on to my Jdate account. I saw a guy online with whom I had engaged in some flirtatious IM-ing with from time to time. I wished him a belated Happy New Year and we started to chat and catch up. It was all fun and games and then he asked me the "boxers or briefs" question. Then, he proceeded to turn on his web camera and stood up. All he was wearing from the waist down was a pair of black briefs which he proceeded to model. Um, ok this is getting a little weird (Is he ... he's not... is he touching himself??!!). He then proceeded to tell me in graphic detail things he would do to me and what I needed. Yikes. Thank God that none of those details were shown via his web cam. This is what I get for logging on to Jdate after 11pm! Oy. I now get why this guy is still single, and why we won't be going out on a date. Maybe it's time to check out Match.com.

To Buy or Not to Buy

Recently, I was talking to a single friend who was discussing buying her first home. She found the perfect little home for herself. She was excited, but there were complications and she ended up not buying the house. She told me later she was happy the deal fell through as she didn't want to purchase a house by herself, she would rather buy a house with her husband. I couldn't help thinking about what she said and how society made her feel like this is another thing that single women shouldn't do on their own.

Back in the day men held the purchasing power and women were the homemakers caring for the house. Homes were bought when a married couple started their lives together. With men and women getting married in their 30s and 40s these days it only makes sense that more women will be home owners before they get married. How exciting! Most single women I know in NYC (myself included) consider buying their first apartment with a sense of pride and independence. And it looks like they are not alone. According to the National Association of Realtors, single women make up 22% of new home buyers compared to just 9% of single men. More than one in five home buyers is a single woman. Hmmm, seems like it's the men that wait until marriage before buying a home.

What do you think about home ownership as a single woman? Isn't it time for society (and my friend) to catch up to the reality that it's the single women who are the ones in the real estate market buying homes. Now if I could just figure out how to get that 20% downpayment.

Sex & the City Happy Hour

Come get "Carried" away with Swish and friends as we celebrate being single and fabulous and toast the upcoming "Sex & the City" movie. It's just a great excuse to get together!

The event will be at Madame X, 94 West Houston Street, NYC starting at 6:30pm. I bet you didn't know that Madame X was featured in the Season 1 episode about Twentysomething men.

In addition to Cosmos, what would a Sex in the City party be without some shopping? Swish shirts will be for sale along with the fabulous Smart Heel, information on the Singelringen, and more.

Feel free to invite friends -- the more the merrier! Men are, of course, always welcome!

Sex & the City Movie

I am very excited about the Sex & the City Movie coming out in 11 days. As if you couldn't tell by the Sex & the City Movie countdown timer on the right. Not only was I a huge fan of the show, their central theme of being single & happy was the inspiration behind Swish.

It's been 4 years and countless reruns on TBS later. I wonder what is going on with our Fab Four? Details have been hard to come by. The trailer reveals that Carrie is engaged to Big, Miranda is still in Brooklyn, Samantha moved to LA and Charlotte is pregnant. It also revealed Mr. Big's waxed eyebrows. Was anyone else freaked out by that? I am hoping that the show's humor, wit, fun and friendships translate from the small screen to the big screen. We won't have to wait much longer to see the outcome.

A Ring for Singles

I went to a party for a great company, Singelringen. The company designs a ring for single men and women. The company's website states: by wearing your Singelringen, you declare that it is OK to be single. You may wish to find "the one", or you are quite satisfied with life as it is. Regardless, you will show to everyone that you accept and stand for what you are, an attractive single. It is like giving an engagement ring to yourself, with this singelringen, I thee wed. How fun! Being a proud, attractive single person. Now that is something that Swish can stand behind!

The other cool thing about Singelringen is that once you purchase your ring, you become a member of the Global Singelringen Community, a social networking site for those who have bought a ring. You buy some jewelry and then you are connected with singles. What a great concept.

I have been looking for something special to buy myself for my birthday and I think that I may buy a Singelringen and declare my singleness to all of New York!