Spring is officially here, and the new season is the perfect time to set out on some new dating endeavors. If you're heading out with friends to enjoy the pleasant weather, complementing your girlfriend adventures with online dates can hopefully add to the springtime fun. If you feel like your profile isn't working, or if you're getting loads of messages you're not into, you're in luck. I've got you covered with five fresh ways to breathe new life into a tired online profile.

1. Get a new picture. Forget a picture of just your face. I know you think it's your best, but a potential suitor is going to want to see what you're working with. Whether you're a teeny tiny lady or you're rocking some gorgeous curves, a head shot without a body shot is a little bit of a red flag. You've got to flaunt it, especially since one study found women who show off "controversial" traits like tattoos or an imperfect nose, get more attention. To make the whole thing feel a little more fun, think about inviting some friends over, get all dressed up, start shooting some new profile pictures, and then hit the town.
2. Get real. This may seem super obvious, but please, don't lie. Why would you want to set strange or unrealistic expectations of who you are — or what you're not — before you've ever met someone in the flesh? Go back into your profile with a keen eye, and pretend that you have a red pen. Take out all the things that sound or feel inauthentic, and in their place, say what's real. Put in your age and occupation, if you have kids, and most importantly, what kind of relationship you're actually looking for. Not what you think some hot dude wants to hear.
3. Get confident. No need to be super humble here. As strange as it seems, you're trying to sell yourself a little bit here, sister. And get a little sexy! If you're not getting the kinds of responses you want, try putting yourself out there a little more. Talk about the things you love, what you're good at, and what you're really looking for in a relationship.

Keep reading for two more ways to spruce up your dating profile.

The new year inspires a sense of renewal in everyone; with this fresh start comes the notorious concept of New Year's resolutions. While I'm all for putting pen to paper to map out your goals for the year, half the time we feel more guilty about not keeping our resolutions than we feel inspired during the process of writing them down. With that said, setting goals in your love life that are attainable can bring a lot to your outlook on relationships. Whether you're single or seeing someone, here are eight loving resolutions that can actually stick for 2012.

If you're in a relationship. . .

• Practice random acts of relationship kindness. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in our work obligations and other distractions that we forget about the people who love us the most. No need to make a big deal about these things to your partner. Simply go out and buy their favorite candy, cook up their most loved meal, or put on a little something sexy just because.
• Make a point for quality time. If you're living together, coexisting in the same space can feel safe and secure, but be sure to also try to get out and do some activities together that can enjoy together. Go for a long hike. Check out some local film festivals. Take a cooking class. Planning these special activities together will strengthen your relationship and show your partner that you care.
• Update your family and friends on the good stuff too. We all have a tendency to call the people who love us to vent about our relationships and what's going wrong. Make a point to tell your support network about the positive things going on in your relationship also. It will make things easier for you and your partner in the long run when you spend time with your crew. And I know there's nothing that makes my family happier than when I tell them how sweet and good things are going.
• Do more double dates. If you and your beau feel like you're spending all your time together, it's probably because you are. Mix things up by socializing with other couples or going out with a big crew. Bringing others into the equation should only make you cherish your relationship more.

If you're single. . .

• Stop getting hung up on a bad prospect. Don't waste too much time on someone just because they look good on paper. When you feel it you know. Just because someone is nice or handsome doesn't mean that they're necessarily the right match for you. I'm all about giving everyone a shot. But if you go on a date and you're not into it, the next time he calls, put on your big girl pants and say you're just not interested.
• Rethink your dealbreakers. If I had a penny for every time I heard a girl talk about the six-foot rule, I would be a very rich lady. Yes, tall is nice, but there are so many other things that you need to consider in order to build a lasting relationship. Instead of focusing on how he looks, how much money he makes, etc., focus on how he makes you feel and how he treats other people. This is way more telling of how a guy will act in a relationship than how much dough he has in his bank account.
• Be cool with where you are. Above all else, if you have any single dating resolution for 2012, I urge you to be comfortable and confident with where you are at. Fixating on lack will only bring more lack to your dating life. Recognizing that you're exactly where you need to be will only make you more confident, secure, and therefore sexy to a potential suitor. And all those people who say, "It happens when you least expect it." They're not lying.
• Challenge yourself and try something new. If you feel like you're in a dating rut, stop complaining and put yourself out there. Maybe you've shied away from getting set up on a blind date or the concept of online dating in general, but a new year means a new you. Trying new things with an open mind can only help your dating life.

Are you setting any resolutions this year? Share them in the comments below!

Ever since we saw Liz Lemon dish her advice on 30 Rock, this concept of dealbreakers has been all over the pop culture stratosphere. While it's important to have a set of standards that you hold yourself and your partner to, sometimes the things we think are dealbreakers can be pretty trite. For example, how much money he makes, how tall he is, or his favorite band are not the key ingredients for a solid relationship. It's pretty ironic; we somehow seem to overlook things that are more obvious and important when it comes to love. Interested in where I'm going with this? Here are four dealbreakers that are actually dealbreakers.

1. He hates on his mom or sisters. If he grew up without respect for women, it's going to be a hard gig to try to turn him around. Being rude to his mom or his sisters constantly or refusing to listen or connect with them when they reach out is an absolute dealbreaker. If he sees no importance at all in being a mench now, it's not going to change later.
2. He's stuck in his ways. If he's lacking an open heart or open mind and isn't willing to see things from a different perspective, cut him loose. A solid relationship is built on a foundation of compromise. Without an ability to see things from another person's POV, you're going to have a lot of trouble moving through conflict together.
3. He doesn't have a close network of friends. I never thought this was a dealbreaker, but it has been coming up time and time again in conversations with women in successful, consummate relationships. You can't be his whole life. Guys who smother typically feel a serious lack of friends or community. Therefore, you become the center of his world, and that's a full-time job. He's got to have his own life. If he can't keep a group of friends — I'm sorry to say it — that's a red flag, sister.
4. You don't feel good when you're around him. Yes, I get it. This one seems pretty obvious, but you'd be surprised how many girls I know stay in relationships with guys they simply don't like. Recognize that you deserve someone who makes you feel happy and light, not someone who continuously brings you down.

Do you have any dealbreakers that are absolutely nonnegotiable? I'm dying to know! Add them in the comments below.

With the holidays just around the corner, you're probably well on your way to making a list and checking it twice. If you've recently embarked on a new relationship, the whole process can be a little overwhelming when you hit the stores. Is this gift too big? Is it too small? What's something that he'll love? Is he planning on getting me a gift? As you're being inundated with photos of big-screen TVs and fine luxury vacations all around you, here are four simple rules to keep in mind when picking out a sweet gift for your new honey.

1. Think things through. Make sure you choose your gift wisely. Something too big will come across as over-the-top, but don't just throw something in a bag and expect him to love it. Give the gift a little bit of thought. Is he a die-hard basketball fan? Get him something from his favorite NBA team. Does he love old movies? Gift him a few of Hitchock's best. Keep your guy's preferences in mind when you're getting him a gift. Don't just pick something you'd love to see him wear.
2. Don't break the bank. There is absolutely no reason to drop a hefty chunk of change on someone you've just started seeing. This may seem obvious, but those courtside basketball seats are not going to make him appreciate or love you any more than he already does. A gift is not a game changer in a relationship. Don't put a price tag on your new beau.
3. Expect nothing. I'm not saying that there won't be a gift waiting for you under the tree. But don't build up expectations in your head of what kind of gift your beau is going to get you or how romantic the whole experience will be. If you go into the situation feeling grateful and happy, regardless of the gift you'll receive, you'll come out of the holidays feeling even more happy and grateful than before.
4. Don't be weird. When it comes time to exchange, don't put any unnecessary pressure on the gift, the situation, or your partner. Just focus on what the spirit of the holidays is all about: happiness and sharing things with people we care about.

Any other tips for exchanging gifts with your new significant other? Share below!

Source: Flickr User shimelle

We are so excited that Young Adult hits theaters today! Charlize Theron plays Mavis, a girl who used to rule the school and is now dealing with some deep-rooted issues. She heads back to her sleepy Minnesota hometown to live out a sick twisted fantasy that she and her high school boyfriend are destined to be together. Doesn't sound too sick or twisted yet, right? The only problem is he's happily married with a sweet wife and newborn baby girl who Mavis refers to as "it." The movie makes you laugh and cringe in a way that only Diablo Cody could pen. But the icing on the cake? A constant influx of '90s references. If you're a girl who grew up in the '90s, here are five reasons you've got to see Young Adult.

1. Waverly Prep reminds us of the girlie books we grew up with. Whether you were a lover of Sweet Valley High or Judy Blume, the Waverly Prep teen-fiction series that Charlize Theron's character writes will make you want to pull out those old books and dive back head first.
2. The jocks still dated the cheerleaders. Buddy and Mavis were the picture-perfect high school couple of the '90s. Too bad Buddy has moved on and Mavis is stuck in the past.
3. We enter an epic 1990s girlie bedroom. When we enter Mavis's untouched high school bedroom, there are enough colorful scrunchies and high school Glamour Shots to satisfy any '90s girl craving for nostalgia.
4. There is talk of the lost art of mixtapes. From the opening credits of the film, a yellow mixtape with the song "The Concept" by Teenage Fanclub plays a remarkably central role in the novel and Mavis's twisted vision of her lost love. While modern playlists are pretty awesome, I'd like to start a movement to bring the mixtape back.
5. Diablo Cody went to high school in 1995! This girl lived out all the 1990s high school magic first hand. If we have to go back to high school, we're glad Diablo Cody is the writer to take us there.
Source: IMDB