PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

I cannot tell you how many times I've been on a date with one guy or another, and within minutes they've managed to creep me out and/or ruin their chances of a second date. How? Well, my friends, there are certain dating faux pas that you absolutely must avoid… especially if it's a first date.

One evening, a nice man I'd met at a coffee place earlier that day had invited me out to dinner. He was charming, sweet and very respectful – in an age where chivalry seems dead, he was the quintessential "knight in shining armor," so to speak.

I had high hopes for the night, but about halfway through the meal this man had to completely ruin it. Every time a blonde woman would walk by, he had to make a reference about how his ex-girlfriend dyed her hair blonde. After that, it was incessant chatter about his ex. Even when I would try to change the subject, we would invariably end up back at square one.

Even though his comments about his ex-girlfriend were nasty, he made the ultimate dating blunder – you never, I repeat NEVER talk about an ex when you're on a date. Never! Not only will this make the other person think you are still carrying a flame for your former lover, you should be concentrating on the person you asked out in the first place.

Needless to say, he didn't get a second date.

Another dating faux pas you must avoid is the first-date jitters. I'm not saying you shouldn't be nervous – that's natural, and honestly, it's expected. But if you are so self-conscious that you need to constantly ask your date if you look okay, if your breath smells minty fresh, or whether the shirt you're wearing makes you look fat… that's a problem. Obviously, you were asked out for a reason – and I doubt it's because you were the self-conscious ninny in a corner.

Act confident (even if you aren't) and you'll do just fine. And please, whatever you do, if you feel the urge to ask about meeting the parents, how many kids I want, and other way-too-personal questions for a first date do us both a favor… and get the heck out of dodge before those questions pop out of your mouth. The last thing anyone wants is a play-by-play of your future together… on a first date! If you want any hope of a future…bringing up babies and parents and other personal things is not the way to accomplish that.

First dates are complicated enough without adding these ultimate dating blunders to the list. Relax, be yourself and let the night take you where it will. But please – avoid making these dating faux pas!