Blog Posts by Smitten, Glamour Magazine

By Christian Rudder, Glamour magazine

Hello. My name is Christian Rudder, and I work for OkCupid, the biggest free dating site in the United States. As my job has taught me, there's a certain amount of basic information that needs to be covered on any first date: Where are you from? What do you do? How many siblings do you have? But it's hard to get a full read on a new guy over one glass of wine in a noisy bar! So the team at Glamour asked us to reveal some conversational cues that will help you get to know the real him much faster (like, five-minutes-after-you-meet-him faster).

Related: 12 Secret Signs He's Into You

We took our assignment seriously. Using data from our 7 million users, we developed some statistical models that allow us to predict the questions to ask that will actually tell you something about him. We looked for superficial, chitchatty stuff that gives real insight into deep and significant things-so you can make small talk and find out about the big issues while

By Rosemary Brennan, Glamour magazine

Earlier this week, a good friend's younger sister (who describes herself as "fairly awkward") confessed that she was super excited about this weekend because a pal of hers offered to be her wing woman when they hit the bar on Saturday. But she was sort of curious about the duties that come along with this volunteer position.

What exactly does a wing woman do? Because I've been with the same dude since I was 21 (seriously!) I've acted as the wing woman dozens of times. Here are a few tricks of the trade I've picked up over the years:

Related: What Your Jeans Say About You (According to Guys!)

1. A good wing woman encourages you to be yourself when you start talking to a guy you fancy. She'll also helpfully nudge the conversation along if she notices an awkward lull.

2. A good wing woman encourages you to give a fake name and number when some creep starts chatting you up. She'll also helpfully supply you with said fake name.

3. A good wing woman

By Rosemary Brennan, Glamour magazine

If you're casually dating a fellow, when should he meet your pals? Let's help one Smitten reader decide, shall we?

Related: What Your Jeans Say About You (According to Guys!)

Writes one anonymous reader:

I'm currently dating someone non-exclusively (we met online) I'm having some friends over for a party in two weeks. Should I mention the party to the guy? By then we will have hopefully gone on five or six dates. I don't want to scare him away or make a big deal by introducing him to my friends too soon.

A cheese platter and sushi? Clearly these stock photo party people know how to have a good time!

And here's what I think:

Thanks for reaching out, darling! Meeting each other's pals can be a nerve-wracking step in a relationship even if things aren't super serious between you and your beau.

Related: 12 Secret Signs He's Into You

If you're having a big bash or even a low-key get together, I'd say go ahead and invite the new guy. Be mellow in

By Rosemary Brennan, Glamour magazine

So many of my friends are pregnant or have recently had babies. Like Beyonce, a few of them had a certain age in mind when it came to being a mother.

Related: What Your Jeans Say About You (According to Guys!)

One gal wanted to have her baby at 29 and another wanted to have her little bundle before turning 32. I'd like to be a mother within a few years, but I don't have a certain age picked out. 31, 33, 35? They all seem like ages when I'd be ready to become a mother but one doesn't seem anymore appealing to me than the other.

Related: 12 Secret Signs He's Into You

What about you? Do you want to be a mother by certain age? Or maybe you have a range of ages in mind? If you already have kiddos, did you know you wanted to become pregnant at the age you did? And if you don't plan on ever having kids, does anyone (annoyingly) tell you that by a certain age you'll change your mind?

More from Glamour:

• 19 Cute Celebrity Haircuts to Consider
• 10

By Rosemary Brennan, Glamour magazine

Oh Henry! According to People, Prince Harry and model Florence Brudenell-Bruce have called it quits. The two had been dating since June. Apparently their breakup has something to do with career and distance. I think many of us can relate.

Related: 12 Secret Signs He's Into You

While the Prince and his gal had a ball canoodling this summer, the royal now wants to focus on his military career. People and the Daily Mail report that Harry "doesn't want to commit to any relationship while he's in the midst of getting 'combat ready' in his helicopter training." Plus his training will soon take him across the pond; he and his unit will be hitting the deserts of Arizona, where they'll remain until the holidays, to prepare for combat.

Breakups are never any fun, but in this case, I totally applaud the couple's decision. Long distance relationships are hard no matter what, and if you've only been dating a short time-especially if you're not terribly

By Kim Fusaro, Glamour

Look, the rules change a lot from high school to college-and there are plenty of mistakes to be made. But if you know better, you don't have to make them.

Related: 12 Secret Signs He's Into You

DON'T travel in packs. It's tempting, when you have a posse of 12 awesome new friends, to travel everywhere together. But when you're rolling a dozen deep, it's harder to get into parties. Plus, it's intimidating for a guy to wade through a gaggle of girls to chat up the one he wants to talk to.

DON'T sleep over just because you can. Not having a curfew (at last!) is liberating. Still, there's no need to spend 12 hours straight with a guy-especially if it's the first night you've met. I recommend getting some daytime visits in before you commit to an overnight one.

DON'T hook up with two guys on the same dorm floor at the same time. Or two guys in the same fraternity. Or two guys on the same sports team. Guys blab just as much as girls do. (Sometimes more, I suspect.)

By Meredith Bodgas, Glamour magazine

We talk a lot about weddings here, but what about after the honeymoon? Start off your married life right by avoiding these don'ts.

Related: 12 Secret Signs He's Into You

Don't live with anyone else…if one of you doesn't like the roommate(s).
I know plenty of newlyweds who moved in with Mom and Dad during those first postnuptial weeks (while they figured out more permanent housing plans). And guess what? They actually enjoyed themselves! But any bad blood between one half of the couple and the person or people sharing the space would make that living arrangement disastrous. Dreading going home to your husband is not a way to begin a marriage.

Don't take a trip without your spouse…if you can avoid it.
Sometimes this just isn't possible. Work obligations may pull you away. So might a friend or relative's destination bachelorette party. But the beginning of your marriage is an exciting time that you'll want to spend together, not apart. It's totally

By Jessica Radloff, Glamour magazine

If you've been watching The Bachelorette, you have to cringe every time Ashley asks, "When was the last time you cried?" or "How do you see me fitting in your life?" Plus, who can forget the moment that she suggested Ben (or was it Constantine?) kiss in their minds? Whatever the case, I get that we often have to ask the hard questions (because good luck getting your guy to actually bring something up if you don't!), but sometimes asking the seemingly easier questions will get him to open up even more. So, drumroll please… I came up with six sure-fire questions that'll get him talking-and you the answers you want.

Related: 21 Flirty Little Date Outfit Ideas

1) Any sport, any athlete, who would you want to practice with?

Why you should ask: Unless you're just starting out, it's not a question that will give you any ground-breaking answers, but it will show him your playful side-a huge turn-on for guys. But more importantly, it should also prompt