AskApril

Christmas Party Date
Q: I need advice. The guy I have been dating has asked me to go with him to three different Christmas parties and as we get closer to the date, the more nervous I'm getting about it. Is this normal?
Sincerely,
Christmas Party Jitters

A: Dear Christmas Party Jitters:
Going out as a couple, in public, is always a significant relationship landmark. The reason that it can be nerve wracking is that you are going to be judged on him -- or vice verse.

Dateless New Year's Eve
Q: New Year's Eve is the worst night of the year to be alone, and I don't have a date. What should I do?
Sincerely,
Home Alone (New Year's Eve)

A: Dear Home Alone:
Indeed, New Year's Eve ranks up there as being one of the top three loneliest nights of the year if you are alone, and not by choice. But don't worry -- while it may be a well kept secret -- the truth is, most singles are either home alone or staying in with family.

Gift Giving Guide
Q: I've been dating my girlfriend for five months and I'm stumped about what to give her (and how much i should spend) for special occassions and Holidays. Can you help?
Sincerely,
Gift Giving Confusion

A: Dear Confused Gifter:
At five months you may or may not know how serious you are about this woman, but you can be sure that your gift is going to telegraph a crucial message to her. It's going to tell her a little more about how you feel about her.

How to Throw A Fabulous Party
Q: I hear about, and read about, all of these great parties, but I've never been invited to one, and I've always been afraid to give one myself. Can you give me some tips on how can throw a party that all my guests will love and remember?
Sincerely,
Wanna Be Party Girl

A: Dear Party Girl:
Help is on the way! Control your own destiny and make Christmas Eve or Valentine's Eve (or any elected evening) a night to remember. It's easier than you think. Just follow these tips and advice for a "heart-y" night of ingenious party planning.

Holiday Depression
Q: My brother was killed in the World Trade Towers, and every Christmas since then, I get really depressed, because he's not here with the rest of the family. How can I get through this Christmas?
Sincerely,
Holiday Depression

A: Dear Holiday Depression:
Losing a brother - or anyone - to an act of violence like the terror at the Twin Towers - is life changing. That you lost a family member - someone you grew up with and spent every day and night with as a child, makes the loss even more profound. Not getting to say goodbye --and coping with them being ripped out of your life suddenly, without warning, is something that is very difficult to get over, let alone to understand.

Meet the Family
Q: My boyfriend just invited me to spend Christmas Eve with his family and I don't know what to do. On one hand, I'm excited that he's bringing me home to meet his family. On the other hand, I'm freaked out All these questions are racing through my mind now like should I reciprocate, and invite him back to my house? I'm so embarrassed of my own parents. I really like this guy. Help me!
Sincerely,
Guess who's coming to dinner - me!

A: Dear Dinner Guest:
You're probably not the only one who's nervous. Introducing a boyfriend or girlfriend to your family for the first time is a major step in any relationship that announces, "We're serious." No one should introduce a boyfriend to your family unless this is someone you want to go all the way with -- and I DON'T mean sex.

Resolutions & The Relationship Component
Q: My New Year's resolution is to lose weight and get in shape - but I've made this resolution for the past five years, and haven't been able to keep it. Why?
Sincerely,
Weighty Problems

A: Dear Weighty:
Your medical doctor can tell you about your particular weight issues for your body - and that's a great place to start to make sure you're healthy before you begin a change in diet and exercise. HOWEVER... there is more to weight than meets the eye.

Xmas Weight Watcher
Q: Every year I end up putting on weight at Christmas, only to become absolutely panicked and desperate to get it off. I hate myself when this happens. I just can't stop eating at parties, peoples' houses - and then I'm mad at myself. How can I stop gaining weight during the holidays?
Sincerely,
I Love Christmas Cookies

A: Dear Cookie:
Childhood memories of the holidays include the intoxicating smell of Christmas cookies in the kitchen, a succulent ham for dinner or someone carving a turkey and preparing gravy and oyster dressing. Or maybe your mother or grandmother fried up salty potato pancakes for Hanukah. Romantic sensory thoughts, right?

Stop Holiday Stress
Q: I am overly stressed when the end of the year comes close, especially because of holidays, gift givings and all activities related to it. What can I do to make things easier for me?
Sincerely,
Ms.Stress

A: Dear Ms. Stress:
Holidays are crunch time. You have more to do in a day than you usually do as work grinds more in the first two weeks of December, gearing up for the vacation days and party days in the last two weeks of the month. You also have parties to give and to go to, babysitters to arrange for, clothes to buy for the events, massive shopping to do, packages to get to the post office in time for Christmas Delivery -- all that day to day busy work alone is enough to put anyone over the edge, and if that isn't enough, you have the stress of family to increase the risk of fighting.

April In The News

April's Readers Poll Results

When asked "Are there more married women cheating today than there were 10 years ago?", respondents voted:

80.9% voted:Yes
6.4% voted:No
6.4% voted: About the same amount
6.3% voted: Not Sure

43% of all respondents were male and 57% were female

Express Yourself: Overall, do you think Americans have more or less morals, family values, character and integrity than they did 5 years ago?


The Official AskApril Newsletter
December 2006 Issue Latest Articles Christmas Party Date Dateless New Year's Eve Gift Giving Guide How to Throw a Fabulous Party Holiday Depression Meet the Family Resolutions & The Relationship Component Xmas Weight Watcher Stop Holiday Stress About April Masini X-Mas Sale For Him For Her April In The News April's Readers Poll Results New Articles Here are the latest articles on AskApril.com: Christmas Party Date Q: I need advice. The guy I have been dating has asked me to go with him to three different Christmas parties and as we get closer to the date, the more nervous I'm getting about it. Is this normal? Sincerely, Christmas Party Jitters A: Dear Christmas Party Jitters: Going out as a couple, in public, is always a significant relationship landmark. The reason that it can be nerve wracking is that you are going to be judged on him -- or vice verse. Read More Dateless New Year's Eve Q: New Year's Eve is the worst night of the year to be alone, and I don't have a date. What should I do? Sincerely, Home Alone (New Year's Eve) A: Dear Home Alone: Indeed, New Year's Eve ranks up there as being one of the top three loneliest nights of the year if you are alone, and not by choice. But don't worry -- while it may be a well kept secret -- the truth is, most singles are either home alone or staying in with family. Read More Gift Giving Guide Q: I've been dating my girlfriend for five months and I'm stumped about what to give her (and how much i should spend) for special occassions and Holidays. Can you help? Sincerely, Gift Giving Confusion A: Dear Confused Gifter: At five months you may or may not know how serious you are about this woman, but you can be sure that your gift is going to telegraph a crucial message to her. It's going to tell her a little more about how you feel about her. Read More How to Throw A Fabulous Party Q: I hear about, and read about, all of these great parties, but I've never been invited to one, and I've always been afraid to give one myself. Can you give me some tips on how can throw a party that all my guests will love and remember? Sincerely, Wanna Be Party Girl A: Dear Party Girl: Help is on the way! Control your own destiny and make Christmas Eve or Valentine's Eve (or any elected evening) a night to remember. It's easier than you think. Just follow these tips and advice for a "heart-y" night of ingenious party planning. Read More Holiday Depression Q: My brother was killed in the World Trade Towers, and every Christmas since then, I get really depressed, because he's not here with the rest of the family. How can I get through this Christmas? Sincerely, Holiday Depression A: Dear Holiday Depression: Losing a brother - or anyone - to an act of violence like the terror at the Twin Towers - is life changing. That you lost a family member - someone you grew up with and spent every day and night with as a child, makes the loss even more profound. Not getting to say goodbye --and coping with them being ripped out of your life suddenly, without warning, is something that is very difficult to get over, let alone to understand. Read More Meet the Family Q: My boyfriend just invited me to spend Christmas Eve with his family and I don't know what to do. On one hand, I'm excited that he's bringing me home to meet his family. On the other hand, I'm freaked out All these questions are racing through my mind now like should I reciprocate, and invite him back to my house? I'm so embarrassed of my own parents. I really like this guy. Help me! Sincerely, Guess who's coming to dinner - me! A: Dear Dinner Guest: You're probably not the only one who's nervous. Introducing a boyfriend or girlfriend to your family for the first time is a major step in any relationship that announces, "We're serious." No one should introduce a boyfriend to your family unless this is someone you want to go all the way with -- and I DON'T mean sex. Read More Resolutions & The Relationship Component Q: My New Year's resolution is to lose weight and get in shape - but I've made this resolution for the past five years, and haven't been able to keep it. Why? Sincerely, Weighty Problems A: Dear Weighty: Your medical doctor can tell you about your particular weight issues for your body - and that's a great place to start to make sure you're healthy before you begin a change in diet and exercise. HOWEVER... there is more to weight than meets the eye. Read More Xmas Weight Watcher Q: Every year I end up putting on weight at Christmas, only to become absolutely panicked and desperate to get it off. I hate myself when this happens. I just can't stop eating at parties, peoples' houses - and then I'm mad at myself. How can I stop gaining weight during the holidays? Sincerely, I Love Christmas Cookies A: Dear Cookie: Childhood memories of the holidays include the intoxicating smell of Christmas cookies in the kitchen, a succulent ham for dinner or someone carving a turkey and preparing gravy and oyster dressing. Or maybe your mother or grandmother fried up salty potato pancakes for Hanukah. Romantic sensory thoughts, right? Read More Stop Holiday Stress Q: I am overly stressed when the end of the year comes close, especially because of holidays, gift givings and all activities related to it. What can I do to make things easier for me? Sincerely, Ms.Stress A: Dear Ms. Stress: Holidays are crunch time. You have more to do in a day than you usually do as work grinds more in the first two weeks of December, gearing up for the vacation days and party days in the last two weeks of the month. You also have parties to give and to go to, babysitters to arrange for, clothes to buy for the events, massive shopping to do, packages to get to the post office in time for Christmas Delivery -- all that day to day busy work alone is enough to put anyone over the edge, and if that isn't enough, you have the stress of family to increase the risk of fighting. Read More Author of the critically acclaimed Ask April advice column and the driving force behind AskApril.com, April Masini is also the best-selling author of four books: Date Out Of Your League, Think & Date Like A Man, 50 First Dates and The Next 50 Dates. Nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media and interviewed for over 2,300 national and international articles, radio and television shows...Read More April In The News Men's Health Magazine, Playing with Matches, December 2006 CareFair.com, Window Treatment by April Masini, December 2006 The Arizona Republic, Dating Advice, November 29, 2006 Read More April's Readers Poll Results When asked "Are there more married women cheating today than there were 10 years ago?", respondents voted: 80.9% voted:Yes 6.4% voted:No 6.4% voted: About the same amount 6.3% voted: Not Sure 43% of all respondents were male and 57% were female Express Yourself: Overall, do you think Americans have more or less morals, family values, character and integrity than they did 5 years ago? Much Less Somewhat less Character? A conscience? Who cares about that? Honesty, integrity and trustworthiness no longer matter About the same More morals, family values, and integrity Tell us about yourself: I am Male Female	Dating Books ON SALE NOW!
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December 2006 Issue

New Articles

April In The News

April's Readers Poll Results

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