Whether you meet online or are just on a blind date, everyone agrees that there are definite “date killers” that will almost guarantee that your first date is going to be the last one. Here’s a list of things that can make or break a first date.

1. Looks nothing like their picture. Everyone wants to put their best foot forward but a picture that is too unrealistic or is from 5 years ago before you gained 30 pounds is going to convince your date that you are, at the very least, deceptive.

2. Bad hygeine. Bad breath, body odor, dirty fingernails or just plain slovenliness shows your date how you should look after a hard day in the mines, but if you are an accountant, there’s no excuse for not cleaning up a bit.

3. Drinking too much. None of us are at our most attractive when we are sloshed, so try to keep alcohol consumption to a minimum.

4. Being too forward. Let your date show you she’s interested and make sure she’s receptive before you initiate physical contact. Better yet, let her know you are recptive and let her make the first move.

5. Talking about ex’s. Chances are if he/she is your ex, there aren’t a lot of good things to say. It’s a turn off when the conversation revolves around someone who isn’t even there and you could come off sounding embittered and angry. Not a good first impression.

6. If you smoke, be open about it. Even if your prospective date doesn’t object to smoking, it’s makes you look deceptive if you say you are a non-smoker then chain-smoke through the entire date.

7. Turn off the cell phone. It’s annoying if a date takes calls on a cell phone all night and makes the other person feel as if your concentration is elsewhere. If you have to have the cell on in case of an emergency, explain why (maybe you have a child with a babysitter) and turn the ringer off. Never text message during a date.

8. Don’t talk only about yourself. If you are your only interest, your date may wonder where he/she fits in. Do spend time asking your date about himself/herself. You’ll learn a lot and it’s hard for anyone not to like someone who finds them interesting.

9. Complaining. If you complain about the service at dinner, your seats at the theatre, the price of the taxi, etc., he/she will get the impression that nothing will satisfy you and feel that all these minor details are more important to you than the company.

10. The best advice: Be yourself. Don’t try to impress, don’t lie or exaggerate. You are who you are and want to find someone who appreciates that person.

Valentine’s Day will be upon us soon and the pressure to find the perfect Valentine card, gift and way to spend the holiday can be daunting. But saying “I Love You” isn’t something that should be reserved only for birthdays, anniversaries and other special days - find a way to say it every day and the flame of romance in your relationship will never die out.

Here are some simple ways to say “I Love You”:

Leave your lover special notes Write little love notes and leave them in places your significant other is sure to find them. A sticky note on the bathroom mirror or a special love note tucked inside a pocket that he or she will find later. It’s a wonderful way to let your lover know you are thinking about her or him all the time.

Cook a meal together For a really special dinner, prepare it together. Sharing the duties and creating your meal together will make it all the more enjoyable and there’s always the opportunity for a little hug and kiss to add spice and flavor.

Turn off the TV and dance Put on some of your favorite music and dance together. You don’t have to go out to a club to share a romantic dance and you may be surprised where it leads.

Flirt At unexpected times, give him/her a longing look and tell your lover how attractive he/she is to you. A little flirting goes a long way in keeping romance alive.

Public displays of affection This just means that you hold hands, hug, or share a brief, affectionate kiss. More than that may not be appropriate behavior in a public place, but the fact that you show affection in front of others will do a lot to let your lover know that you are glad and proud to be with him/her and aren’t afraid to let others know it too.

Love must be nurtured to thrive and grow. Be creative and find ways to say “I Love You” every day.

Here’s my short list of movies that will make you feel warm and romantic and have a little bit of holiday cheer thrown in.

White Christmas It isn’t Christmas until you have watched this 1954 classic musical. Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen, it has everything a holiday romance should. The costumes are lush and the music unsurpassable. The finale is completely satisfying with love in bloom while the snow falls and Bing croons the famous song from the movie’s title.

While You Were Sleeping Sandra Bullock and her disarming charm add personality plus to this sweet tale of finding true love in unexpected places. Sandra falls in love with the handsome traveler she sells train tokens to and rescues him from an oncoming train after he is mugged. Peter Gallagher is the handsome stranger who spends most of the movie in a coma while a misundertanding makes his family believe that Sandra is his fiancee. Complications arise when Sandra and Bill Pullham as Peter’s brother begin to see romantic sparks fly between them.

The Christmas List This 1997 film was made for TV but boasts Mimi Rogers as Melody Parris, a perfume saleswoman whose life and romance is going nowhere. At the urging of a friend she writes her Christmas wish list which the friend capriciously drops into the store Santa’s mailbox. Mysterious things begin to happen and a holiday romance is not far behind. Stella Stevens turns in a wonderful performance as Melody’s mother. Should become a Christmas classic. Watch for it on TV this season.

Romance and marriage are no longer thought to be only for young people. Increasingly, seniors are dating and getting married, often throwing elaborate weddings that rival those of first marriages.

Experts agree that there are great emotional and psychological benefits to being married. Research shows that married people are happier and less likely to suffer from depression. This may be especially true of older adults whose families have long ago grown up and are involved in their own lives and families much of the time. Often widows and widowers miss the closeness of a marriage relationship but don’t believe they can find love a second time.

Sharing your life with someone you love brings benefits at any age. This couple recently wed in a retirement home. The groom is 85 and the bride is 92.

Don’t let your age or the opinions of others keep you from finding love, and if you find it, realize you are doubly blessed to have found love the second time around.