Blame it on the cooler weather, constantly gray skies and darkness at 4 p.m., but right now, I’m burned out on dating.

I’ve been on Match for almost a year and starting in January, I’m taking a break. Sure, I was HOT right out of the gate but lately, the pickings have been slim, guys have been non-responsive and honestly, I’m not feeling like all the effort of online dating is totally worth it.

I’m not saying I’m closing the door on online dating but maybe if I step away and get through winter, the grass will be greener on the other side.

Why is dating harder in winter? Well let’s take a look:

• Season depression makes first dates look more like a Debbie Downer skit on SNL than a fun night out

• When it’s dark at 4 p.m., a nice dinner out isn’t as attractive as sweatpants and a cozy apartment

• It’s hard to look sexy when arriving on a date wearing a heavy coat, hat, gloves and snot is running out your nose (rawr!)

• Holidays and New Years pressure

Okay maybe there isn’t “pressure pressure” around the holidays but those are times for close friends, family and loved ones and, well just starting to date a guy then can make it uncomfortable.

Two years ago I was at a New Year’s party and a girl brought a Match.com guy as her date. She brought him along due to the inevitable holiday connotations and when he didn’t get a midnight kiss, they broke up in front of everyone. Awkward!

So what about you, do you find dating in the winter more difficult? Or do you find it just harder to be social in winter? Hibernation can be fun.

No pants!: I’m so glad I’m not the only one on the “leggings as pants” bandwagon. I understand some prefer to leave leggings back in their childhood memories (or nightmares) but being pantsless is liberating too. Hmm I don’t think I’ll wear pants on Friday, can’t wait!

I could say that the Tiger Woods drama didn’t inspire this post but that would be a lie.

And really, this post isn’t about him, but reading online about his “transgressions” and his apologies to his family, it got me thinking about…cheating.

I’ve been cheated on and it sucks but I always find it strangely interesting why guys/girls do it.

I’ve never cheated on someone and although I’ve been tempted, I never did it.

When the Tiger drama started blowing up, a friend and I were gossiping about it and got to the core of our curiosity: why do people do it?

Famous or not, why do people cheat?

Is it the thrill of being caught? Or the overconfidence that you can do it and no one will know about it?

Or is it that after awhile, when relationships change and grow over time, that you get bored and look for excitement elsewhere?

When Peter cheated on me, it was primarily because he wasn’t happy. Yes, I would have preferred he told me that rather than cheat on me but in that case, I found cheating to be a coward’s way out. Rather than face our relationship issues, he gave me a reason to break up with him instead of doing it himself.

And if you’re always looking for something better, why have your boyfriend/girlfriend/fiance or husband/wife be collateral damage?

And sure, I was surprised Tiger cheated (allegedly) but in reality, it’s not just one type of person that does it. Even the good girl or the guy next door can do it. I guess how you move on is really trying to regain that trust.

So I guess there isn’t is a real POINT to this post moreso than to just pose that question out there: why do you think men/women cheat?

Review blog update: Okay so this review really isn’t related, but I’m reviewing MAC’s Tinted Lipgloss on my other blog so check it out! Perfect for holiday parties.

Also, I know I’ve been a total slacker on the review blog but I’m in desperate need of finding new things to review so there may be some delays or silly stuff, but I am working on updating this regularly!!

First, I’m bored with my workout, now I’m in a dating rut. Must be one of those weeks.

So, I’m still on a dating “break” but ever since things with JohnBoy ended and I tried to reverse my boy karma with Dan, the thought of dating exhausts and intimates me a little bit. But one part of my mind isn’t giving up on the search.

Hello, where is Prince Charming? I’m here, chillin’….call me!!

Oh.my.god, I know, I need to wake up. But sometimes, it’s nice to daydream a bit about the Prince showing up :)

Relationships are work and require compromise, those themes were definitely reinforced when I hit the jackpot on Match early on. And now that I’m in an online desert of dating possibilities (minus the 24 and 50 year old guys that “wink” at me), a part of me is scared that my too early “peak” is it for me again for another….oh….10 some odd years.

That’s dumb, I know, my friends tell me that the right guy will come along again, but that fear that this rut will turn into a permanent curse, still lingers.

So I’m not giving up or giving in, I’m still doing the Match thing, seeing if anyone tickles my fancy and thinking about looking into other local speed dating evenings out just to give it a try (if you want to go with me let me know! Safety in numbers!) just to make sure that I don’t totally lose myself to a wallow of “wah wah no guys want to date me.”

I need to get back to grabbing dating by the balls (not literally) and say, “hey, I’m not giving up. But you should buy me dinner and a drink and maybe put out later.”

Oh and those two guys on Match who I was interested in and “no thanked” me before 10 a.m. on a Monday. Your loss.

So the question for tonight is, have you been in a dating rut before? And if so how did you get out of it? Or have you ever had that feeling after a break up that you’ll never date again?

Thank you everyone too for the exercise suggestions! I think I am going to pick up a class schedule and give it a try and the Shred is coming out. I’m up for a good, solid a** kicking.