If you grew up in the 90’s and have never played out even a single moment of your life to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” lyrics, I’m going to question the inner workings of your childhood. It was (or is) a rite of passage, and aside from starring in every one of my basketball warm-up mix tapes from the year it was released in 2002 until I graduated college in 2006, I can still hear the words playing in my ears through a variety of noteworthy life experiences. Spoiler alert. I’m from Basalt, Colorado. Not to be confused with 8 Mile. But, here, while cruising up Kensho chair in Breckenridge... Read More

Winter is not a fun time to date.  On the coldest of days you might not feel like going anywhere or doing anything.  You’re bundled up in your warmest, perhaps least sexy-feeling clothes and have hat hair.  So how do you break out of the winter dating funk? Here are some tips to make your winter dating experience a little brighter. Tell your friends.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help from those who love you. There’s a feeling of trust that comes from meeting your friends’ friends. It can be scary to tell people that you’re looking for love, but 39% of people report meeting their mate... Read More

When you meet someone, online or in person, you might think the worst possible thing that they can say to you is no. The absolute worst thing I’ve ever heard/read in a dating situation is “I don’t know.” For me, indecision is the worst situation because if you can’t decide if something in your life is worth it, it probably isn’t.  So, when I read a profile, on Bumble for example, and the guy answers the question, “What are you looking for?” with “I Don’t Know,” I swipe left!  That may seem like a shallow reason to do so, but let me tell you why. Being indecisive is a choice. ... Read More

The smell of his leather seats lingers in my nostrils, a scent more intoxicating than the taste of the second round of Tito’s and soda that he’d slid to me across the marble countertop just an hour before. My hands are jammed underneath my thighs while my wavy hair slides haphazardly across my cheeks. His face is glowing in the redness of the stoplight; words are patiently waiting to escape his lips. And, I want to freeze here, in the magic and the madness, before those syllables roll off of his tongue. My sister loves you. My roommate loves you. And, they don’t understand why I can’t tell... Read More

Let’s talk about boundaries. I have spent the last month in a state of increased awareness about my absolutely terrible ability to set boundaries. Or, maybe the problem is that I’m really good at setting them, or knowing what they should be if I were to set them, and I have an absolutely terrible time of following through with them. Whichever the case, I am currently hypersensitive to the fact that boundaries are a necessary part of respecting my self-worth, and on a traditional grading scale, I’d over-generously give myself a D+ in this category. Before I expand on this reflection, I feel... Read More

Cuffing season is upon us, officially starting on November 1, running until Valentine’s Day. The Urban Dictionary defines cuffing season as follows: “During the fall and winter months people who would normally rather be single or promiscuous find themselves desiring to be ‘cuffed’ or tied down by a serious relationship. The cold weather and prolonged indoor activity causes singles to become lonely and desperate to be cuffed.” A simpler definition is singles who venture out looking for someone with whom to spend the winter and dump them before spring arrives. Recently get into a relationship?... Read More

Once upon a time, in a galaxy not so far away, I came across a guy on Bumble who immediately proclaimed in his bio that faith was the number quality that he was looking for in a woman. Okay. He then proceeded to say how much he loved positivity and hated photo filters: “Real is beautiful.” You got it, bud. I second the filter hate train. I mean, I’ll send you a dumbass video of me with cheeseburgers circling around my head, but a hard no on the cat ears for public visibility. In true Stephanie fashion, I led with: “Should I start sending all my Snapchat filter selfies now or later?” (don’t... Read More

According to the 2010 census data, 15 million people live together without being married, a 138% increase since 1990. According to the Pew Research Center, 18 million adults were living with an unmarried partner in 2016. With more people moving in without putting a ring on it, it makes sense to talk about what happens when you move in and what you should plan before you move in. Moving in together is a big change! Now you’ll see one another all the time, and find out about all of your partner’s warts.  Before you cohabitate with your significant other, here are a few things to think about. Make... Read More