Blog Posts by Marni

Everyone in the entire universe (with perhaps the exception of Mother Theresa and her other nun sisters) has been through a breakup. And no matter whether it's the first time or the hundredth, you probably feel like you'll never get over your ex boyfriend. It sucks. It hurts. And sometimes, it hurts A LOT.

But as much as it might feel like you've reached the bottom and it can't get any worse than how you feel right now, the good news is this: there is an opportunity to explore being the happiest when you're at your lowest, because it can literally only go up from there.

So when you're feeling low about breaking up with your ex boyfriend and need some help on how to get over your ex (without eating your body weight in mint chocolate chip ice cream), Dating with Dignity has some expert tips for you.

1. Keep your life full and busy
It's easy to want to sit on your couch, vent to your friends, and just stay at home all the time listening to your "best of Taylor Swift

If you're really into the new guy you just met, you might have some questions about how to show him you like him without being needy, clingy or freaking him out in a way that causes him to head for the hills. How much do you reveal and when?

First you'll need to decide if you're in one of two categories of people. Some of you Dignity Daters out there are naturally born with skills in the art of flirting.

And then there are those of us who are not… And for YOU, dear reader, we here at Dating with Dignity have come up with an airtight guide with tips on how to show a guy you like him in a way that is not only dignified but incredibly sexy!

This guy could be the man you're out with right now while you're reading this post (Stop it. Put your phone away!), the waiter who's serving you during Girls Night Out, your oldest guy friend, or a stranger at Starbucks. Use these tips, and we think he'll get the picture!

1. Find something small or insignificant that bothers both of

Wouldn't it be wonderful to know what's going on in your man's head, all the time? Okay, maybe not all the time. But it would be pretty great to know how to make your man fall in love with you.

I mean, you know he likes you A LOT. But it would be nice to know what those little triggers are that remind him how special you really are so that he falls for you hard, makes you feel like a princess, and respects you for who you are in all of your awesome-ness, right?

When a guy realizes you're the ideal woman for him on an innate level, he'll be ready to commit to you. So, how to get him to that point faster?

Dating with Dignity has a few tips for you.

1) Make him want to be the best man he can be.
Plenty of relationship-ready men we have talked with who are currently in successful, loving relationships told us know that one of the reasons they fell in love with their girlfriend or wife is because she made him want to be a better man. What that doesn't include is

So you're at a friend's birthday party, sidled up to that friend of a friend who you know is great match for you. (And you definitely have a crush on him.) But sometimes you need to know what to talk about when you find yourself face to face with a man you like OR you're just about to meet up with that great guy you met online for a second date and can't wait. BUT, you're worried that you might run out of things to say! No sweat! We at Dating with Dignity have got you covered.

If you need a little nudge in the right direction and want some hot tips on what to talk about when you're with a guy you could have the hots for, you've come to the right place.

Here are four foolproof Dating with Dignity-approved conversation boosters to make your crush swoon (or at least contribute to the conversation and have a great time with you!).

1. Ask questions to discover what you have in common. Then talk about those things without taking over the conversation OR one-upping him.

It could be possibly the biggest question in the history of dating. As a smart, successful and independent woman, how do we better understand men? Sometimes it doesn't matter how many classes we take or issues of Cosmo we read; it really is like they're from another planet altogether! (They did say they were from Mars, right?)

But here's the truth: It really is much simpler than you think. If you're dating, want to start dating, in a relationship or just getting out of one and you want to know how to understand men, we come bearing the gift of knowledge and ease!

Here are three Dating with Dignity-approved easy ways to get on the right path to understanding men.

1. Know that you cannot pressure a man into commitment.
He's either in or he's not. There's really nothing like pressuring a man into something he's not ready for. In fact, this type of pressure can cause a man to run in the opposite direction. Most serious relationships start to become exclusive within the

Here at Dating with Dignity we get this question all the time: how can I move on and grow from my past relationship? Since break up advice is some of the most sought-after information for Dignity Daters, we put it right here for you.

Getting over an ex is going to turn you into the new version of you! (A better version, too!) Our favorite breakup mantra is this: "Your breakup can be the BEST 'worst' thing that ever happened to you!" Once you do the work we suggest, you might one day realize you're no longer attracted to him.

As you evaluate where you are in your life, you may realize that what you thought you wanted is something he was unable to give you, or that perhaps your needs changed as the relationship developed and he was unable to meet them. Of course, we know you had feelings for your ex and breaking up is never a simple cut-and-dry experience;however, you can be on a road to a confident recovery if you follow our advice.

Here are two Dating with

The key to dating with dignity has everything to do with setting boundaries in relationships.

You'll not only have to set the boundaries, but you'll also need to stick to them-which can be the hard part.

We tell clients all the time, "It's all fun and games when we're talking about theory, a new idea, or an ah-ha moment. But it's somewhat meaningless until you put your new behaviors into action!"

At Dating with Dignity, we have three "must keep" boundaries that should definitely be present in your romantic relationships. If you can set appropriate boundaries, you'll be on your way to a successful and happy relationship and one where you can be yourself.

1. I do not drop my life for anyone.
We call this going on "Boyfriend Hiatus!" For example, when you're dating someone you like (especially when it's new), you find yourself on a Friday afternoon contemplating movie plans with friends on Saturday because you're waiting for your man to ask you out for the weekend.

Deal Breakers for Relationships When you first start dating someone, there are a few specific clues you could recognize as red flags. Nobody is perfect, but there are few characteristics and behaviors that should absolutely be deal breakers for you. Below you can find the Dating with Dignity List of Deal Breakers in Relationships so you can decide if you should hang on to your man or let him go.

Contrary to popular belief, these deal breakers don't include things like "he never wears matching socks" or "I didn't like the way he combed his hair." Instead, a true deal breaker is something that's truly non-negotiable, such as:

1. Not being supportive.

If the man you're dating doesn't ever back you up, then it's time to re-examine your relationship. Did you decide to switch careers and go from being an attorney to an interior decorator because it's actually your passion and you're good at it? Good for you, Dignity Dater!

However, if your boyfriend laughed, made a passing comment about the "next"