Strange but true, I moved into Cynthia Nixon’s old apartment. Understand that the small space which I know call home was the real life Miranda’s home before she was a household name. You learn something fascinating when you take over someone else’s space - in my case it meant kitchen cabinets that were beyond reach (Ms. Nixon has several inches on me), a bathroom that screamed of über modern fixtures and formica cabinets in the bedroom that were a flashback from my childhood.

There was even a leftover shabby chic Moroccan faux blue chandelier right in my entrance way, so the empty space arguable had some eclectic appeal, but not necessarily for me.

I was faced with the reality that there would be no sex in this city apartment living under these circumstances. Change was in order but my budget constraints did not permit a total home makeover. Instead I decided to give my space a lift and here are some quick and easy renovations anyone can do in a dash and on a dime.

1.       Restore/Replace Dated Fixtures:  Take a look around your place –are there small accents that can be swapped out for something a little more up to date? I discovered that new teacup lamp shades can lighten up a dusty chandelier, my kitchen cabinets looked brand new once I replaced the bright blue knobs with pewter handles and putting in a new medicine cabinet in place of the old rusty one gave my bathroom a clean new.

2.       Fake It with Fabrics:  Though unsightly, those eleven foot high Formica cabinets in the bedroom were terrific storage units and replacing them would have cost several thousand dollars. So instead I hung a curtain rod across the room and hid the cabinets behind two sliding bolts of patterned fabric which are much prettier to the eye.  You can use the same technique to divide a small space or add color to a room without the task of painting or hanging expensive art work (consider framing a beautiful piece of material).  You can also use carpeting or rugs to cover up blemishes or scratches on wooden floors.

3.       Don’t Let Space go to Waste: The boxes that covered the radiators in the main and bedroom were cumbersome and space wasters. They were quickly transformed into extra seating space once I added a touch of paint and topped them with thin bench pillows. If you let your imagination run wild you can transform space into the unthinkable – an extra closet can become the home office you’ve always wanted, an empty hall may be a great spot for a makeup vanity and hanging a few bottle shelves, a wooden wine crate or rack can turn a spare corner into a cocktail bar.

4.      Make Pieces Multi-Functional: No need to get rid of all the clutter, just rethink how to use it. A garden bird bath can become a rustic end table --- just fill it with dried flowers and add a glass cover on top.  Likewise, oversized vases and urns make for excellent umbrella stands, an old door can become a new tabletop and if you’ve grown tired of an old mirror, save the frame and use it to display something else like.

Great food, free booze and an evening of dancing, how could anyone ask for a better Saturday night out? From the perfectly manicured flowers right down to the martini bar nothing can change your mind, not even the endless supply of little cocktail wieners wrapped in flakes of crispy dough that awaits your arrival. It’s a party most people prefer not to miss but you are dreading it.

Weddings are the most joyous occasion in a person’s life unless you’re destined for the hinterlands, cordoned off at the single’s table where it’s you, the couple’s “Cousin It” and other stragglers. Having been there done that before (more than 30 times but who’s counting) I feel your pain. But I survived and am here to tell you the lessons I learned from getting stuck at the single’s table.

1.       Going Stag is better than Taking a Drag: The respectable couple has extended a “plus one” invitation and you’re determined to find someone, anyone, to be your escort? Before you get overwrought with panic consider the worst case scenarios like the diva who busts out with Elaine’s moves on the dance floor or the neighbor who just moved in next to you that gets drunk and greets your friends/relatives with a mouthful of food.  The one thing I learned about going solo is that there is no shame at the end of the night. 

2.      One Person’s Date May be Another Person’s Trophy:  All those happy loving couples that make weddings look so easy may not actually be romantic partners.  Don’t be shy about stating that you are single, one never know who may be eavesdropping from another table. And always keep in mind that the drag someone else brought along (see #1 for reference) may be your perfect treasure.

3.       Get Up and Dance Like No One Is Watching:  Staying glued to your seat gives off the impression that’s the place you want to be. Why wait for a brave soul to pull you away? Put yourself out there even if it means join in for the Horah or waving your hands up in the air for the chicken dance. Moving with the group is one of the best ways to meet guests and relatives from the “other side” who may be stuck in some far-away corner at a separate single’s table.   

4.    Keep it light, they’re pouring drinks all night: Women fighting over the flowers during the bridal toss; a special toast by a toasted you; a loud “disagreement” with another guest? Just some of the ugly situations you should try to avoid. It’s easy to lose control amidst the matrimonial madness, particularly if you make the bar your safe haven. Just remember too one too many beverages and all eyes will be on you rather than the bride.  

Sometimes, you have to smile, even though your heart is faking it. Weddings are no exception, but the chance of enjoying yourself, and perhaps meeting someone new, can only be enhanced if you keep these tips in mind and embrace the opportunity these occasions present.

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There was a time, not too long ago, when Saturday was the unofficial date night. Technology in all its guises has changed the playing field. With the onslaught of location-based applications, dating in Internet time has been accelerated to mobile minutes, making it possible for singles to make instant connections premised on proximity. While location-based dating applications are all the rage among the 20-something set, it’s not surprising that singles who have been out of the dating scene and are looking for love the second around do not necessarily have the gizmos, skills or desire to embrace on-the-go dating.

So what if we could turn back time, press the rewind button and go back to dating the old fashioned way? Well, here’s some good news for you - some of the industry’s most formidable online matchmakers are taking the conventional approach by offering offline services to their members.  Leading the pack is Shaadi.com, the largest matrimonial website for South Asians, which inaugurated the first brick and mortar matchmaking center in North America. At the Toronto-based love clinic singles will find a trusted team of advisors devoted to helping them find their soul mate without a mouse or computer. This type of hands-on dating service is a refreshing offer for many individuals given the strict cultural rituals of the South Asian community, and also bodes well for an increasing numbers of divorcees (up 84% in 2010) and suddenly single boomers who are not equipped to handle current technologies.

Though Shaadi.com is the first to jump into the rink at this level, other niche providers are also taking a less virtual approach to dating. Here are some examples of companies where singles can meet, play and date:

Meetcha.com: Brainchild of Jeff Taylor, former C.E.O. of Monster.com, Meetcha.com caters to the 40+ singles that may be tired of or turned off by the bar-scene. Meetcha.com is a social platform that brings people together much the same way as Meetup.com but with the purpose of bringing fun back to dating through group outings. The company is pushing their concept of “PODS” - People Out Doing Stuff™ “by launching organized events that take singles who share the same interests away from their computers into a real-life group setting where there is less pressure and more likelihood of meeting new people who may be a match down the road.

How About We: Also new to the scene, this site encourages users to “go online to get offline.” The concept is simple – members can propose and post date ideas to the online community (how about we…go to a baseball game, a piano bar, etc) and whomever is interested in the offer can respond. Inventing crazy, wild and romantic dates put the fun back into dating and eliminates the monotony and pressure of searching and connecting with others based on personal profiles and pictures.

CHEEK’D: Sweetly named after founder Lori Cheek, this service is for the socially shy or the brave depending how you look at it,  It’s similar to sending a secret crush letter or slipping your business card onto someone’s table, only with CHEEK’D you give a code-inscribed calling card to strangers or passersby who catch your eye. Making the first move is a lot easier with these flirtatious notes, and missed connections are avoided if the recipient takes the next step and tries tracking you down on their website. 

Jdate.com:  This Jewish-centric matchmaking site has been number one in the non-virtual arena for a long  time, but now they are organizing trips and events throughout North America that are age, sex and status specific. Speed dating soirees are offered to 40-55+ singles, missions to Israel for members in their 20s and for outdoorsy types living in the Northeast there are popular weekends to Camp Getaway and anyone who can take time off for a week away at Club Med. Last year the company hosted a “Cocktails and Cupcakes” meet and greet at Dylan’s Candy Bar as well as SingleEdition’s “Live Your Life Event” seminars for single women in NYC, which they plan to resume this fall.

“Life is like a golf course, and a sand trap runs through it” is quintessential Charles Schultz. The cartoon creator who gave us Snoopy and the ensemble of peanut-sized characters that we all grew to love often alluded to these life lows in his popular comic strip. You can mope, cry or scream at others like Lucy Van Pelt but at the end of the day the only person who can dig you out of the rut is yourself.

Here are some suggestions on how to do it in all areas of your life: 

On the Job: Dissatisfaction on the career front can start as soon as one becomes comfortable and complacent in one’s role. When your work makes you feel like you are living from Monday to Monday, you’re likely in need of a challenge or change.  Be on the lookout for new internal assignments, or be the one to initiate an innovative project for the organization. If there are no opportunities to shake things up, find things to do on the side that will increase your marketability while you devote your energies to finding a new job.  If you’re really ambitious look for work you can do in your downtime or on the side (check out FlexJobs.com). 

During Your Workout: Oops, you stopped training again! Routine is precisely what’s causing  the fitness slump you’re in. A change of scenery may be just what you need to mix things up and get you motivated. Try taking your workout to the park or a facility that specializes in a sport you have not tried before. Indoor spin studios, like Flywheel in NYC or Synergy in Boston, are popping up across the country and offer intense and super- focused training programs. Or get yourself into one of those high energy Zoomba classes which are now being offered at most dance studios.   

In Diet Mode: Weight watchers, beware: eating the same things every day may feel safe but it can rob you of your willpower and can also lead to plateaus. The quickest fix in this case is to mix up your meals and the types of foods in your diet. Instead of eating the same tuna salad each day, swap it out for chicken, shrimp or something completely different like a wrap, hearty soup or sushi.  Or, if you’re following a protein or carbohydrate heavy diet, switch to another plan for a couple of days – this simple change will trick your body into fresh diet mode and may help you lose more.

Drained Out by Dating: Following a strict dating regimen is no different than being on a restricted diet  - it can leave you dissatisfied and hungry for more. If you’ve been on a marathon to meet someone new, it’s time for some healthy moderation. To recharge your batteries, take time off from your search and enjoy the summer break with no strings or expectations attached.