No Guts, No Glory
By Sexy Susie on 27 Oct 2009 | 4 Comments
Here is our first real-life dating story from a HoN user. Enjoy!
I was out for drinks one Thursday night with a bunch of my girlfriends and there was this really cute guy at the next table. You could tell that he was on a first date and that he so wasn’t into it. His date was good-looking with perky, red curls, but her hotness factor plummeted as soon as she opened her mouth, which never, ever stopped flapping. She literally didn’t stop talking. I don’t think she even stopped to catch her breath. The poor guy looked bored out of his pretty skull.
My friends and I were whispering and laughing about what a horrible first date this was and we felt bad for the cute guy who had clearly been set-up with a dud. I excused myself from the table and went to ask the bartender for a napkin. When I came back to the table I said, “Does anybody have a pen?” We all searched our purses and found just about everything except a writing utensil. A fuchsia lip liner was the best we could do.
“What are you doing?” my friends asked, giggling.
When I finished writing, I slid the paper napkin into the middle of the table so that everyone could take a look. It said “Date not going so hot? Call me if you want to meet up afterwards” and then I put my name and number.
As soon as the hunky guy got up and went to the bathroom, I knew that it was now or never. I took my napkin and purse and went up to the bar like I was going to order another cocktail. I waited patiently for a few minutes and when I saw him exit the men’s room, I made my move.
“Hi,” I said, smiling flirtatiously as I stepped into his path.
“Hello,” he said and before I could say my next sentence, I slipped him the napkin and prayed that the makeup hadn’t smudged when I folded it in half. He opened it and his perfect lips spread into a smile.
He looked up at me, smiled radiantly again, and tucked the love note into his pocket. We hadn’t said anything to each other, but I was confident we had made a connection.
Later that night, my friends and I were dancing at a bar down the street from where we had witnessed the nightmare date scene. My phone buzzed. I had a text and it was from Dream Boy: “Where are you? Matt.” It was like we were already friends – no explanation about how he was the guy from the bar that I had tried to pick up. I texted him back and told him where we were and was so giddy when he said he’d be there in ten minutes. I felt my heart drop (I swear it crashed right through the dance floor) when I saw him appear next to me a few minutes later. He smiled and said hi and I returned the gesture.
Matt and I dated for five months and it was awesome. Things didn’t work out because he was a few years older than me and, as my mom says, we were at “different stages” in our lives. We’re still friends, though, and I’m so glad that I had the guts to take a risk that night, because it definitely paid off.
Lindsay, 23, from Madison, WI
Would you have the guts to do what Lindsay did?
HOT or NOT: Dead Celeb Halloween Costumes
By anna on 26 Oct 2009 | 1 Comment
With all the celebrities and pop culture icons (tragically) dropping like flies this past year, it’s highly likely that whatever party you end up at this Saturday night will be teeming with Michael Jacksons, Farrah Fawcetts, Patrick Swayzes, Billy Mays’, and a few Bea Arthurs, and DJ AMs thrown in for good measure. There’s no doubt that the costumes for these icons may be timely, easy, and fun to throw together, but do you really want to show up to your soiree and be in competition with the other Patricks and Farrahs whose costumes might be just a little more thought-out than yours?
If you really have your heart set on being MJ, then by all means be MJ (but only if you’re really going to do him justice) – just be aware that you’ll be surrounded by a whole bunch of MJ’s. We’re inclined to believe that if you put your creativity to work and come up with an original costume, you’ll fare better than your dead celeb friends at the party. You’ll stick out of the crowd and impress that guy or girl and show everyone how clever you are.
Think quirky cartoon characters, throwbacks like the stuff you watched when you were a kid. Doug Funny only takes a green vest over a white shirt and khaki shorts, while something more involved like a Smurf requires total blue body paint (and the guts to go shirtless, no pun intended). Or you could be a vine of grapes, if you can find some clever way to cover your body in small purple balloons. The key is to think outside of the box!
So what’s your verdict – is dressing up as a dead celeb going to be the hot thing this year, or do you think people are better off doing something original?
For more costumes ideas, check out: Hot Halloween Costumes for Girls and Celeb Couples Halloween Costumes.
What if real life were like Glee?
By anna on 22 Oct 2009 | No Comments
Who’s to say it’s not? There can be spontaneous outbursts of music and choreographed dancing anywhere, if you put your mind to it. Improv Everywhere, a New York-based improve troupe, have literally turned life into a musical. Check out this smile-inducing video of how they turned an ordinary produce section of a random grocery store into something worthy of their tagline, “We cause scenes.”
Celeb Couple Halloween Costumes
By katie on 21 Oct 2009 | 1 Comment
Seems we’re all obsessed with fame these days. Not everyone gets to live it up in the spotlight, but we can at least pretend for a night, can’t we? Here are five famous couples that you and your honey can dress up as for Halloween.
Bella and Edward (Twilight) – It’s gonna take a crapload of pale cover-up to achieve the milky complexion of the undead Edward and the precise shade of Bella’s “I’m-from-Arizona-but-am-forced-to-live-in-Oregon” pale.
Edward: Mess up your locks and douse them with Dep hair gel and then steal your girlfriend’s hairspray and use all of the remaining goo to make sure that your ‘do retains its disheveled sexiness for the entire evening. Insert fake blood suckers (unless you’ve got a pair of your own). Smear pale foundation (your girlfriend will know what this is) all over your face, hands, and neck. Now, apply glitter to every part of exposed skin and you’ll shine exactly like Edward does when he gets caught in the sun – a rare occasion in the drizzly town of Forks, but if you’ve seen the movie you’ll know what we mean. You can bet your ass that nobody else at the party will have diamond vampire skin.
Bella: Ditto as Edward with the pale make-up. Tousle your hair so that it looks like you haven’t brushed it or washed it in seven days. Wear jeans, a plain t-shirt under a plaid shirt (unbuttoned), an oversized jacket and black, high-top Converse. Now you must pout, pout, pout until your lips hurt from pouting so much that you can’t help but really pout because now you’re sad. If you feel like smiling, ask yourself, “What would Bella do?” and pout!
Kurt and Courtney (Nirvana) – The unstable royal couple of grunge, Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, make for a timeless costume idea.
Kurt: Obviously, greasy blonde locks will be essential here. Hopefully you’ve thought this through and you bleached your hair last month and now you’ve got some sweet rock’n’roll roots. You’ll also need to borrow your grandfather’s favorite fuzzy cardigan and, in Seattle in the early ‘90s there was no such thing as too much plaid, so the same goes with this costume. You’ll need the classic black Chuck Taylors that Kurt worshipped. For props, a cigarette (or candy Popeyes if you’re a nonsmoker) and big buggy plastic sunglasses (we like the red ones!) to hide your bloodshot eyes are all you’ll need.
Courtney: We’re going for Court’s grunge glamour look here: platinum blonde hair with greasy three inch roots. Eyes rimmed with heaps of charcoal liner, heavily smudged. Your pucker will be most accurate if you sloppily apply it with fire-engine red lipstick. A white, low-cut satin dress (get it a bit dirty first) and – you guessed it – a pair of black high-top Cons will give you Courtney’s edgy red-carpet look. Borrow a doll from your younger sister, dress it up like their lovechild Frances Bean, and you’ll have the entire Cobain clan in the house.
Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen (The Sex Pistols) – Into self-destructive bad-asses, but detest ‘90s fashion? Fret not – channel 1970s wild child Sid Vicious and Nancy, his troubled, rebellious girlfriend.
Sid: Dye your hair black and then spike it all around the circumference of your head so that you look like a frightened porcupine. You’d be so hardcore if you went shirtless for this costume (Google Sid and you’ll see why), but if you’re gonna whine about your cold your nipples all night, then please make sure you have a leather jacket on standby to protect your wimpy torso. Wear motorcycle boots, your black drainpipe hipster jeans and a thick chain around your neck with a dangling padlock on it and you’ll look so damn punk that you’ll probably start dressing like this all of the time.
Nancy: Nancy kind of looks like Courtney Love (or should that be the other way around?), except she gets to wear fierce leather pants. But we think Nanc hit the fashion jackpot when she wore a punklamorous outfit of a mini black-and-white striped sweater dress over shredded pantyhose and black pumps. You’ll need from-a-bottle blonde hair that is frizzy and teased to infinity and so much dark shadow around your eyes that they look like two vacuous blackholes. Enter the party with a subtle drugged stupor and people will instantly ask you if Sid’s coming, too.
Wayne and Garth (Wayne’s World) – This is a costume for a party-on couple that could be hilarious if the chick doesn’t mind dressing up as a dude (but Garth kinda looks like a lady, anyway). Excellent!
Wayne: Ingredients: 1 long black wig (with bangs, for best results). 1 black t-shirt (slim fitting, but not douchebag-tight). 1 black trucker hat with a “Wayne’s World” decal (ask your mom to iron it on for you). 1 pair light denim jeans, ripped in both knees. 1 pair black, high-top Converse. 1 toothy grin and a perfected “Schwing. Double-schwing!”
Garth: If you have long blonde hair then you won’t need a wig, just lots of hairspray (and again, preferably bangs. If you don’t have them, cut some. Everyone loves enthusiasm and realism in a Halloween costume). Like Wayne, you’ll need worn, holey jeans and black Converse high-tops. A heavy metal band t-shirt layered under a ratty plaid shirt is all you’ll need in terms of wardrobe. Finish off the look with a pair of thick, horn-rimmed frames and let’s not forget Garth’s awesome chuckle and that awkward, no-top-lip grin.
Marilyn Monroe and JFK (Zombie edition)– Get creative and imagine what Ms. Monroe and JFK would like look if they rose from the dead to recreate their steamy, 1962 affair with a graveyard romp.
JFK: Start with a stately black suit, a skinny tie and a silk hanky to go in the pocket. Now, cut the bottom off the pants unevenly, loosen the tie so that it hangs low from your neck, and wrinkle the hanky. Part your hair on the side and use gel to achieve smoothness fit for a President, then blow it with a hair-dryer to mess it up and add leaves and twigs to it (remember, you’ve just clawed your way out from underground). Zombify your skin to make it look pale, bruised and bloody and replace that famous pearly smile with a pair of false rotten teeth.
Marilyn: Find a glamorous, low-cut dress with a wide skirt. Do your hair in rollers and wear false eyelashes and lots of glam red lipstick. Like your dead lover, you’ll want to add debris from your lawn to your hair and get your dress real dirty and ripped (don’t be too slash-happy though and turn this into yet another opportunity to be an uber-slut on Halloween when you’re an otherwise respectably dressed gal). Get your skin all bloody and bruised, buy the same rotten smile that Johnny Boy has and, remember, Marilyn might be dead, but no one will buy your costume if you don’t perfect her oh-so-signature sexy voice.
Which celeb couple will you be this year? Click here for more hot Halloween costume ideas!
A Tribute to Tracy Jordan
By katie on 20 Oct 2009 | No Comments
We rejoiced last Thursday night at 9:30 when we turned on our TVs and saw Jack Donahgy’s handsome mug welcoming us to season four of our fave school-night comedy fix, 30 Rock. We were relieved that a summer break hardly dulled Liz’s brilliance, or her neuroses, and that Jenna was the same skanky narcissist that she was last season (and still sporting those signature necktie blouses). Frank’s “Disco Fries” hat was righteous and good ol’ Kenneth stood by his gee-golly morals and organized a page strike, refusing to back down until Jack admitted that he was a big fat liar – and put it in writing to boot.
But it was Tracy Jordan, the show’s “talented,” former alcoholic with questionable parenting skills, who made us crack up hard with the realization that he was losing touch with his roots, which was as sobering to him as seeing Jenna doing a pole dance wearing nothing but a cowboy hat. Megastars that are oblivious to the fact that not everyone serves Dom Perignon to their cats and who throw diva tantrums because they can’t make friends with street folk deserve to be laughed at.
Here’s a look at five other priceless Tracy Jordan moments, thanks to Nerve.com.
Who’s your favourite 30 Rock character?
Fall Date Ideas
By anna on 19 Oct 2009 | No Comments
Fall is arguably the most romantic time of the year (other than summer, because that’s when everyone is nekkid). The leaves are changing into beautiful colors, and the weather is getting colder – there’s nothing like to it to make you want to snuggle up even closer with that special someone. So, here’s a few fall-themed date ideas to help you make it happen (Halloween-related ideas are included, of course).
- Apple picking – the obvious choice. Spend a day admiring the scenery and foliage at a farm while picking fresh and delicious apples. If you really want to wow your woman with your culinary skills, suggest making an apple pie with the batch you bring home.
- Oktoberfest – we’re proponents of boozing it up on a date, but only if you’re confident that you can drink in moderation. Getting hammed and sloshing your beer all over the place ain’t sexy, but sampling beers together could make for a wonderful date.
- Pumpkin carving – show off your artistic skills and strength in this fun seasonal activity. If you’re extra ambitious, impress your date with an unconventional Jack-o-Latern design (or, you know, do the best you can to carve a straight grin).
- Haunted House – this is cheesy fun in the best way possible. Whether it provides laughs or spooks, you can have a date full of Halloween spirit by visiting a haunted house.
- Decorating for Halloween – show your love for holiday fun by getting into it. Do it up at your house with fake cobwebs and glow-in-the-dark skeletons. Light some creepy candles and set the perfect mood for cuddling up with your date.
- Make a costume – get crafty and make your Halloween costumes together! Hit up the nearest craft/party store for supplies and spend an evening working on your get-up. (Hint: check our previous post on hot Halloween costume ideas for girls.)
- Football – if you’re a sporty couple, then there’s nothing better than incorporating football into a date. Whether it’s tossing the pig skin around, watching a game in the fresh air, or vegging out and watching a game on your couch, there’s a way to enjoy this sport for any mood you might be in.
- The zoo – this may look like the odd one out on this list, but let’s put it this way – zoo’s are considerably less smelly in the cool weather than in the heat.
- Scarf-knitting – everyone could use a new scarf for the fall and upcoming winter (granted you live in a place where it gets cold enough). If you’re a girl with some knitting skills, you could turn this into a lesson and show your man that knitting isn’t just for girls – plus, tell him it proves that he is skilled and dexterous with his fingers (wink, wink).
What’s your favorite fall date?
Balloon Boy: Fresh Prince of the Air
By anna on 16 Oct 2009 | 2 Comments
Perhaps the best thing to come out of the balloon boy saga and media debacle…
Via Reddit.
4 RomComs That Are Sweet On-Screen But Would Be Effing Creepy in Real Life
By anna on 15 Oct 2009 | 1 Comment
Oh, romantic comedies. Chicks love them, guys claim that they can’t stand them (but that might be a lie), and at the rate they get churned out, they remain a force to be reckoned with in the Hollywood money-making machine. But have we ever really considered the scenarios that these cheese-filled guilty pleasures present? Though sweet and romantic, we’re willing to bet that if these situations were carried out in real life, most would lead to one thing: a restraining order.
So let’s break down the scenes from some well-known and classic romantic comedies that your girlfriend and little sister hold as the pinnacle of romanticism but are actually creepy and stalkerish.
1. While You Were Sleeping – There’s a stranger that you’re obsessed with from afar. You (meaning Sandra Bullock) pose as his fiancée after saving his life and dupe his whole family into believing that you’re the real deal while he lies comatose in the hospital. Finally, you come clean about the whole hoax because you realize that you’re actually in love with his brother. Either that, or the guilt is just eating away at you.
So, someone remind us again – how is being an imposter to get closer to the man you’re creepily obsessed with from afar romantic (or normal)? Oh right. It’s not.
2. Say Anything – The down-trodden, futureless Lloyd (John Cusack – a classic romcom staple) falls head-over-heels for prissy class valedictorian Diane (Ione Skye). The two start seeing each other, but Diane is going off to college in the fall and wants to break things off with Lloyd. Lloyd is persistent, however, and in his efforts to keep Diane’s heart, he finds himself standing outside her house with a boombox raised over his head, blasting Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes.”
Every girl who has seen this movie is ga-ga for Lloyd, but let’s get real. If a guy stood outside your house, blasting the sappiest song ever written, and waiting for you to give him the time of day, we’d be seriously concerned. File that behavior under “stalker.”
3. Sleepless in Seattle – Though this movie is the epitome of romance for some, we don’t know what’s crazier: believing you’ve found your soulmate when you hear someone on the radio or read someone’s letter, or flying across the country and stalking out their address because you want to meet them so badly – which is precisely what happens between Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in this romance-fest!
Pursuing total strangers whom you know nothing about is not a good idea under any circumstances!
4. Maid in Manhattan – Another classic case of falling into a mistaken identity and not saying anything about it (we’re pretty sure that’s called lying)! Marisa (JLo) works as a maid at one of NYC’s most posh hotels. One afternoon, her fellow maid dares her to try on a beautiful dress they find in a rich lady’s hotel room while they’re cleaning. Wearing this designer gown, Marisa bumps into Chris (Ralph Fiennes), a well-off man who is running for Senate. Assuming Marisa is the rich socialite, Chris spends the afternoon with her and is smitten. Chris later calls her to set up a date and finds the woman in that hotel room is not the woman he met. Marisa then has to live down her lie to try to pursue a relationship with someone leagues out of her social class.
The fact that romance can happen between two extremely different people is great, but a situation where someone leads another person on…kind of disturbing and not romantic!
Any other romcoms to add to this list? Leave a comment!
What’s Hot: Women’s Fall Fashion 2009
By vanessa on 14 Oct 2009 | No Comments
Yes ladies, it’s that time again! The temperature is dropping, the store windows are changing and we need to prepare our closets for fall! Magazine racks are filled with a million ‘Trends to Follow this Season’ and you’re left bewildered and confused. Don’t sweat it! We at HOT or NOT have compiled a super list of What’s Hot this fall. 
Hello 80’s! : There’s no question; fall 2009 fashion reeks of the 80’s. However, before you dig out those precious pieces from your time capsule, keep a few things in mind. The modern day woman can add a little 80’s to her wardrobe with metallic colors, peplum, sequins or a top with strong shoulders. As for you vintage lovers out there, balance your outfit with old and new; sporting too many 80’s looks may be a little over powering.
Over the Knee Boots: Over the knee boots deserve a section of their own, why? Simply because I love them! I purchased my first pair 2 years ago, and naturally, fell in love. The OTK boot is to fall as the gladiator sandal was to summer, flat, high, whatever material- get them.
Ankle Booties: This is a purchase we guarantee you will not regret. Trade in your sky-high pumps for some sassy booties and you’re feet will be thanking you once temperatures drop.
The Boyfriend Trend: The boyfriend blazer still reigns this fall but don’t you forget about those loose fit button ups, tees and denim- oh my! Oxfords are a fabulous alternative for flats and add spunk to any outfit. As for those wondering how boyfriend jeans will fit into their fall wardrobe, the answer is simple. Pair them with a pair of boots (e.g. lace-up or motorcycle-esque) which begin where the jeans end.
Comfy Knits: Knitted goods are the peak of fashion meet function. Fair Isle sweaters are making a strong comeback alongside saggy hats (as seen in fall 2008) and circular scarves.
Military: Whether you’re a combat boot chick or a military jacket matron, add a little kick to your fall wardrobe with something military inspired!
Leather Legs: Update your legging collection with a pair of Leather/look leggings. They add texture and shine to your outfit without skimping on comfort!
Heavy hardware: This season’s leather and accessories are beefed up with plenty of heavy hardware! Think studs, chains and buckles meet big, bold and beautiful. To achieve this look layer bangles, rings and necklaces, and don’t forget the bigger, the better!
Sheer: As the end of summer approached *sigh*, we were introduced to sheer. If you’re feeling a little insecure about wearing this trend, opt for a garment with sheer accents for equal sex appeal.
Now that we’ve got that settled, one last word of advice; being trendy, age appropriate and accentuating your assets is totally possible! Get out there and shop!
Tips for Basic Members
By katie on 13 Oct 2009 | No Comments
A Star Membership makes it easier to meet people on our site, but there are lots of FREE ways that Basic members can improve their HOT or NOT profile and their overall experience on the site. 
Add more photos: It’s totally FREE to add more photos to your HOT or NOT profile! You might look entirely different from one shot to the next and adding more pictures lets people see more aspects of your personality, style, and lifestyle. For example, are you outdoors a lot, or always hanging out at a pub, or constantly snapping shots of yourself while pumping iron?
Beef up your intro: There’s nothing lamer than a profile intro that says “I’ll fill this in later,” or “I have nothing to say.” These intros send a strong message that the user is not serious about meeting people on the site, or sharing things about his/her life, interests, or personality. It might also be interpreted as complacency, or laziness – probably not the message you want to broadcast if you’re actually on the site to meet people.
By popular request, we have recently extended the length of the intros. So, those users who wish to keep things short and sweet (but still captivating!), can certainly do so, while long-winded users now have the freedom to express themselves, without feeling constrained by a 500-word limit.
Poke someone you think is hot: Poking someone is fun, simple, and – best of all – FREE! Poking one of your Double-Matches is a good way to let someone know that you like their profile. If you’re a bit shy, this is a great way to get someone’s attention – even better if you can follow it up with a message.
Send a FREE note to someone: It’s totally FREE for a Basic member to contact a Star Member, since only one person needs to have a paid account to correspond through our messaging feature. But, if you’ve seen a profile of someone you just can’t resist and you’re both Basic members, you can still let them know you think they’re groovy by clicking on the “Send Note” link below their profile picture on your Double-Matches page. One of you will need to purchase a Star Membership if you want the correspondence to continue beyond the initial note (and hopefully you do!), but it’s still a great way to say something nice to someone without spending a dime.
