Welcome to Ask the Dating Expert! My goal is to provide you with fun and useful advice to help you navigate your way through the dating world. I welcome you to submit your personal questions or enjoy reading my responses to previous questions. I have also written many articles on Dating so please enjoy those too! Sometimes the dating world can feed you so many mixed messages so check back in as often as you like for more advice.
Cara Anderson - Dating Expert, Cara Anderson became President and CEO of Six Minute Dates Inc. in October 2007. After many years of searching for “her passion”, she met Christine Hart (founder of SMD) at a lecture that she was sponsoring. They got to talking and Cara found her career path so fascinating, she decided to try out an event. One serendipitous meeting, one night of speed-dating, many conversations later, and she bought the business.
Matchmaking always came naturally to Cara as she has been the catalyst for many of her friends’ love lives. Currently four sets of her friends are married with children due to her matchmaking skills.
The dream of running her own business is what drove her to Calgary. Being originally from Edmonton, and then living in Red Deer for 7 years, Calgary seemed like the next logical move. Moving to Calgary in 2005 only furthered her ambition to start a business in this vibrant and progressive city. What a great place to start a new career!
Previous to Six Minute Dates Inc., she enjoyed 9 years of recruiting students for a rural college just north of Calgary. Travelling across Western Canada talking to students, parents, counsellors afforded her ability to talk to anyone, anywhere. Learning to get to the heart of the issue became the skill she used most often due to the short time frame in each location. This skill is essential when talking to people about dating and love.
What do you REALLY want in your life? This is often one of her first questions to people.
She has a strong business sense and an entrepreneurial spirit, which she combines with a passion for event planning and talking to people. Cara is dedicated to helping singles meet in an enjoyable and sophisticated manner. She can’t think of a better way to spend her days than helping people find love and friendship in their lives!
Ideas for the First Date What is a good thing to do on a first date? I'm not sure how things are going to go so I want to do something fun but not commit to a long night. - Alex
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What to wear on the First Date I don't want to be over or underdressed for my date. What are some good rules for dressing for a first date? - Annette
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Am I Date-able? Hi Christine,
I'm concerned about my 'dateability'. I'd really like to meet a great girl but I fear that some things in my life might be holding me back. Here's a summary:
I'm 36, 5'8", 150 pds, great physical shape but starting to go bald. I re...
Dating my Hairstylist I always want to ask out the girls who cut my hair. I don't know why. Am I just transferring, ie. the doctor patient thing with therapists... Should I just keep it strictly business?...
Her Parents Don't Like Me Hi. I'm 17. I've been dating a girl for a few months. I'm a VERY paranoid person. VERY. When I met her mother she got the COMPLETE wrong idea of me just because the color of my hair. This may sound like a joke to you right about now, but PLEASE take ...
But what about my ideas? I have been dating this guy for about a year now, I am always the one that is trying to do things that he enjoys, but when it comes to something I want to do he comes up with excuses why he can't. When I try to talk to him about it and tell him that ...
Am I too smart? OK, Christine here's one for you . . . I am a smart, very well-educated lady and I always feel as if I have to "dumb-down" when around men. I like to express well-founded, well researched opinions. Yet when asked questions, actually "knowing" the an...
Is my body type an issue? I am an over-weight female In your experience have you found that people with my body type (5'8", 250 lbs) have found success with your service?...
Why am I always just a friend? Hi There,
I'm a fairly attractive guy in my mid 30's living in the West End of Vancouver. I have been single for the last 5 years after having a serious long term relationship end badly. I have only recently gotten interested in dating again. Now ...
He's sending mixed messages
Dear Christine,
I met a guy through work and we seemed to really hit it off. So far we have gone for "business" lunches that last for around 2hrs because we both seem to lose track of time! I have made some pretty obvious suggestions that we s...
He's so last minute Dear Christine,
I have been going out with a guy for one month (fyi no intimacy). He is 32 and I am 29. He always asks me out one hour before the time to go out and then after we go out, he may not call for a day or two. I have asked him to call m...
Are guests at speed-dating events good-looking? Christine,
My friend and I are seriously considering giving your Six Minute Dates service a try. My friend has tried some chat lines and finds the people he meet have lots in common but are physically unappealing. This is not meant to sou...
How do I improve my small talk skills?
Christine,
My question is I seem to have trouble keeping the conversations going with women. I know it's a two-way street, however, maybe I lack confidence with small talk.
What are some things I can practice doing or thinking about so I can ge...
How do I know if she's interested? Hi Christine.
Love the advice you give. I have a question for you. You indicated how to read men's body language, but how do you read women's body language? What are some obvious Clues she likes you? Also who should make the first move?
Signed...
I keep getting the brush off Hi Christine,
I think I've heard every "brush off" line known to man. What does this sound like to you? "Our personalities are somewhat different (even in spite of you overcoming your shyness) ... do you think you could stand me for a whole date...
Reminding vs. Nagging Dear Christine
Do you know anything about dating a brain injured engineer? He is sweet, sensitive to me as well as tender thinking and acting toward me, always bearing gifts.
He was thought to never walk again but does! He does have short term...
Girls keep breaking up with me Christine,
After dating a lot of girls over the past 5 years I have found that the majority of the relationships were ended by the girl. This seems to be a common trend that I want to get rid of. What is the secret to maintaining a lasting relatio...
How do I successfully speeddate? I have been at a few of your speed dating events now and have not received one match. I have no clue why. I have picked people I think I am attracted to but they obviously are not attracted to me. I am doing some things wrong obviously. I need some ...
We broke up and he won't tell me why Hi, I was just recently dating a guy for about five months and things were going really well. He did all sorts of nice things for me, things where he was really going out of his way but then suddenly he ended things with no real reason. I asked him t...
Date Juggler Christine, part of my problem is juggling all the wonderful and eligible men that want to date me. Often they are friends with each other, or travel in the same social circles, and end up getting offended that I'm trying to keep my options open to s...
I blurted out she should stay the night Hi,
I'm 26 and recently started dating a 21 year old woman. We went out a total of 4 times over a few weeks, and I know we were both really attracted to each other. She was over at my place on the 4th date, and I kind of blurted out that she shou...
I was so nervous, I ignored him This guy has been glancing at me for months now and we got to know each other on one occasion where he introduced himself. Unfortunately, when he did, I ignored him (because I was nervous). Following that, on two other occasions when I saw him, he se...
I'm low on the priority list I've met a man who I like a lot - he has grown kids and a 6yr old from his last marriage. The problem is I'm never a priority. He feels we WORK because I FIT IN-meaning I don't complain when our weekend is at the build-a-bear store. I've noticed when...
I'm not being pursued Dear Christine,
I have read dating advice from multiple sources that you (as the female) should wait for the guy to pursue you, to be sure that he is really into you. Also, that when you are just getting to know people, it is good to date a few p...
Why did he call it off? Dear Christine,
We've been dating for 7 weeks, seeing each other once and sometimes twice a week. We have a great connection and really enjoy our time together. His job is extremely time-consuming and he's very tired most evenings. Things were go...
Am I his girlfriend? Dear Christine,
I met a guy in a club over a month ago. He's a friend of a friend, but I didn't know him very well. Although we've dated three times, he still doesn't seem to have a positive response to me. We have been intimate, but when I ask hi...
High School Mixed Signals Dear Christine,
There is this girl at my high school and she has a boyfriend. She says she loves him but I think she just says that because their relationship is a lie. Her boyfriend tells her she can't talk to me but she doesn't listen and sneak...
Should I call to thank him for the date? Dear Christine
Follow up call, does that apply for females as well - when is it appropriate to call if you had a great first date and he hasn't called?
Signed,
When Do I Call?
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Dinner Date or Not? I asked her to dinner and she said yes. This sounded good but she wasn't sure what her schedule was. Is this the big brush off or what it sounds like face value?
Signed,
Not Sure...
He only talks about himself
Hi Christine,
I seem to have the same problem with almost every man I date. That is that when we're initially getting to know each other on the first or second date, they talk incessantly about themselves and don't seem to show a lot of interest...
Dating as a Single Mom Hi Christine,
I'm a single mom and I'm in my 20's. I've been out of the dating pool for 5 years (my choice). How do I dive back into the pool and stay afloat . I don't really have anything to talk about with people unless it's about kids. Advice i...
Then suddenly, he was gone
Dear Christine,
What if you both have not verbally broken up, but your ex boyfriend is back with his ex? This to me is a break up. But tell me what is wrong with this man to not even tell me we were done after 1 year? Oh and by the way he still...
Short-term BreakUps Dear Christine,
Scenario: You've been dating for a short period of time (say, about a month...4-6 dates).
You feel that its not the right situation for you and don't want to continue seeing this person. However, the other person seems to fee...
Why am I attracting Dear Christine,
I'm an attractive, smart, fun 37 year old woman (although I look 28-29).
I seem to keep attracting men who are in transition phases (want to see me but not ready for a relationship, on the rebound, or playing by "The Code" etc...
There's a girl at work I like... Hey Christine,
I was wondering what the first steps would be to entering into a relationship? I know of this girl at work who I am really interested in and the feeling seems to be mutual. It's just been all small talk so far though. Can you give ...
How long should I wait to call her? Hi Christine
I've just started seeing a single mom (25). I'm 27 and really like her. We've been on 2 dates. How long do I leave it to call for a third date? I don't want to appear clingy. I really like this girl but don't want to play it too cool ...
Moving a double date to a single date With still learning this whole dating thing I find it hard sometimes to figure potential 'dates' out. Recently I was introduced to very nice guy who I think we liked each other after that first meeting. It was going to be a hand shake good night, b...
I get so nervous! Hi Christine,
I'm a very outgoing person in most situations but, when it comes to dating, I get extremely nervous and have a hard time being myself. Is there anything you can recommend to loosen up and just enjoy myself?
MR
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