Great Life Great Love is all about building a great life to attract great love, which is why we asked celebs at a Precious Oscar Pre-Party about the messages to women about building their self-esteem. Precious went through unimaginable challenges, and through the help of a great teacher and writing a journal, she starts building her confidence in this Best Picture nominated film. We were fortunate to interview Ashlan Gorse (E! Red Carpet Reporter and Event Host), Lee Daniels (Best Director Nominee and Event in his honor) and Dennis Haysbert (Actor who plays the President on 24) about the love lessons from the big screen (and yes, it took courage to ask these questions on the red carpet).
Click here to view the embedded video.

“For Precious Girls Everywhere”(Lisa Cortez, Executive Producer, Precious) , here are some self-esteem builders:

Top 10 Confidence Boosters:

1. Recognize that you are a Hot Ticket – Start believing that you deserve only the best!

2. Pamper Yourself – Take care of your body with makeovers, nails, new hair, and new styles – ask your friends for tips that will make you feel better about you.

3. Treat Yourself Better – Are you eating, sleeping and exercising enough?

4. Surround Yourself with Positive People – Find friends who are cheerleaders and make you feel good inside.

5. Define Your Own Sexy – Don’t dress to play a part. Dress in what makes you feel sexy.

6. Jump into your Passions – Make time for things that you love to do. You will plant a more natural smile on your face and attract the right dates and great love.

7. Try Something New – Try yoga, horseback riding or take a ski lesson to expand your world!

8. Follow a No Bull Policy – Be decisive and know that you can take it or leave it. If a date doesn’t fit right, just say Next!

9. Go After Your Dreams – Think outside your home box of possibilities and aim high with your dreams! By going after your passions, you will feel good inside.

10. Create a Dating Plan – The more you date, the more confident you will be. One book fan in Los Angeles told me, “You’ve given me so much more confidence about dating. You got me to practice and now I found a great guy who just gets me.”

You can beam with confidence too like Precious at the end of this movie. Be brave. Be bold and start making smarter choices in partners, jobs and life in general. If you want an extra dating cheerleader, contact us for Life Coaching and/or Dating Coaching. And for more examples of love lessons from the big screen, check out our Great Love Reviews. Everyone deserves great love, and we are here to help you make it happen!

(C) Liz H. Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010

If you’re looking for Mr. Right, let these Top 10 Man Code Oscars help you identify him faster with leading man movie examples just-in-time for the 82nd Academy Awards. The codes are taken from my first book, Smart Man Hunting, which includes 26 A-Z codes to help you identify the good guys, bad guys and mostly maybe guys. From the Love Match (Bradley Cooper) to the Young Explorer (Ryan Reynolds), make your love hunt and the Oscars fun with these codes in mind.

2010 Man Code Oscars

1. Best BA – Bachelor Available
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – (500) Days of Summer
If a guy chases you for 500 days, he is ready for a relationship.

2. Best CMM – Confident Metro Male
Gerard Butler – The Ugly Truth
Confident and funny men who have their career on fire are just HOT!!!!!

3. Best LM – Love Match
Bradley Cooper – The Hangover
If your guy makes your heart jump like Bradley Cooper does in The Hangover, you are in the love money!

4. Best TT – Tasmanian Traveler
Sam Worthington – Avatar
If a guy is willing to travel though a time machine to see you, he is really into you! We love this guy!

5. Best MBA – Married But Available
Peter Sarsgaard – An Education
If someone is a master at covering up things, watch out for what they might be hiding at home.

6. Best YE – Young Explorer
Ryan Reynolds – The Proposal
Don’t discount younger men from your dating opportunities. They have tons of energy and can be awesome lovers!

7. Best OO – Over-Achiever Obsessor
Robert Downey Jr – Sherlock Holmes
If a guy is totally obsessed with his career, you might be climbing an uphill road to get his attention. Look for the relationship clues to decide he’s really worth it.

8. Best KOF – Keeper of the Fire
Alexis Georgoulis – My Life in Ruins
If you meet a hot Greek hunk with all the right words and roses in Paradise, take a closer look at this romantic!

9. Best JJ - Justifying Juggler
Ashton Kutcher – Spread
If a guy is disappearing often without explanation, he might just be juggling multiple lusts. Run from JJs!

10. Best DGI – Dysfunctional Guy with Issues
Matthew McConaughey – Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
If you meet a self-absorbed bachelor with issues, enter with extreme caution!

Watch the 82nd Academy Awards with these codes next to your ballot. If you meet a guy who makes your heart sing like Gerard Butler in The Ugly Truth, check out his other codes (yes, you can be more than one) to see if there are any red flags that should make you run before you get too invested in a relationship.

And if you want some help finding great love, check out our Great Love Reviews with love lessons from the big screen. You can also give us a call for Life Coaching and/or Dating Coaching. Everyone deserves great love, and the movies can help us find it faster!

(c) Liz H. Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010

If you’re ready for a fun flashback to 1970s rock-n-roll love, you’ll want to check out the hot Sundance hit, The Runaways, with Kristen Stewart (Joan Jett) and Dakota Fanning (Cherie Currie). Not only will this movie take you on the road with Joan Jett’s first band, it shares the relationship challenges when dealing with fame. You don’t want to miss this film when it’s released in theaters March 19, 2010.

The craziness at the Sundance premiere seemed to parallel a popular rock concert or rocky relationship. After taking photos on the red carpet, and then fighting for a seat like musical chairs because they oversold tickets, we felt fortunate to see Joan Jett’s story based on Cherie Currie’s book. Some ticket holders were turned away, while others were in the waitlist line for 6+ hours and did not get in (despite 1270 seats at the Eccles Theater).

Joan Jett’s song I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll really says it all about the love lessons in The Runaways. It’s about challenges, twists and confusion that many of us felt as teens with raging hormones.
Click here to view the embedded video.

Rock-n-Roll Love Lessons

1. Rock-n-Roll Passions Challenge Love – What makes this movie so appealing is Joan Jett’s unstoppable passion to make her all-female rock band a success. While they are making history, their training is so intense that there is little room for romance. When their manager, Michael Shannon (Kim Fowley) has guys throw things at the girls during practice to make them tougher, it challenges all thoughts about romance.

2. Role Reversals Twist Romance – While we have seen many women succeed in their careers by thinking more like men, this role reversal can hurt the love department. When The Runaways’ manager advises them to think like a guy’s body part (fill-in-the-blank) when they perform, it’s so extreme that it twists what the teenage girls think about great love.

3. Love Experiments Create Complications – The girls experiment with love on the road with each other, in the shower and with other members of the road show. You’ll find this movie brings out the complicated feelings many of us felt about love as teens (and are so glad to be past these years!).

In this rock-n-roll history, it’s clear that Joan’s # 1 priority is becoming a superstar over making romantic connections. You can have both, but it’s a delicate balancing act. If you want some help finding great love, give us a call for Life Coaching and/or Dating Coaching. And go see The Runaways when it comes out in theaters. You don’t want to miss the rock-n-roll love and Dakota Fanning’s performance!

© Liz H. Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010

If you’re ready for an all-star cast, laughs, and every emotion in the book, check out Valentine’s Day with Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Garner and 18 other Hollywood box office leads. While the story plays like Love Actually where you’re following way too many relationships, there is one big love lesson in this romantic comedy that Gary Marshall cleverly brings out.

Ashton Kutcher is the “glue” that ties everyone together as a florist owner in Los Angeles, and ok it’s Valentine’s Day so everyone is getting flowers. From the high school sweethearts (Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner) to the MBA (Married But Available) aka Patrick Dempsey to the couple that’s been together forever (Shirley MacLaine and Hector Elizondo), you’ll be constantly entertained.
Click here to view the embedded video.
While delivering flowers with George Lopez, Ashton discovers the real secret to lasting love is marrying your best friend. And there are many messages in the flowers. Ironically, you’re better off receiving yellow friendship roses over red romantic roses. And if you get an orchid, watch out, the guy is really into you!

When interviewed on Jay Leno, Ashton shared more views of love and Valentine’s Day.

- “I don’t think guys really get that fired up about Valentine’s Day.”

- “If you’re with someone it’s like great, if you’re not, it’s like free day, hall pass!”

- “I tended to try to not to date for the months prior. “ (to Valentine’s Day)

- “You’ve gotta be careful on Valentine’s. You can’t set the bar too high. When you’re falling in love with a girl, you ‘re trying to woo her, you go for it…And then every Valentine’s Day after that, you’re setting yourself up.”

Valentine’s Day (the movie) will make you laugh during what can be a painful holiday with all the Hallmark pressure. I won’t blow it, but Queen Latifiah, Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, Topher Grace, Bradley Cooper and Jessica Biel will crack you up! And if you want some help finding your great love, give us a call for Life Coaching and/or Dating Coaching. We’ll give you an outsider’s view (things your friends won’t tell you), make suggestions and try to make you laugh too!

© Liz H. Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010

If you have any doubts about whether great love exists, The Romantics will change your mind with Katie Holmes (Laurie) and Josh Duhamel (Tom). This 5-star romantic comedy has an awesome cast that will make you cry, laugh, and walk away a believer! It was fate for me to get into the world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival to give you a sneak preview (no spoilers, just fun tips and interviews). It was also magical to be on the red carpet of a Creative Coalition event at Sundance where we captured Elijah Wood speaking about the cast.
Click here to view the embedded video.
When a group of college friends, aka “The Romantics” reunite for their friend’s wedding on Long Island, Josh is marrying Kate’s roommate and best friend, Anna Paquin (Lila). What happens next in this great love movie is simply magic.

Great Love Magic

1. Brotherly Love – Everyone has a brother or close friend like Elijah Wood (Chip). When he gets smashed at the rehearsal dinner, it is such a relatable scene that you will be on the floor laughing.

2. Musical Couples – When Josh goes missing after the rehearsal dinner, the couples decide to divide and conquer – only with different partners. Malin Akerman (Tripler) retreats to her college party days with Adam Brody (Jake), and everyone gets into all kinds of trouble.

3. Love Triangle Twist – Along with the drunken laughs, there is a serious love twist in this story (and I won’t blow the ending, I promise). When I asked the Director, Galt Niederhoff, during the Q and A, she explained, “It’s conflict between the heart and the head.” Josh’s heart tells him that he’s still in love with Katie, while his head is telling him to marry Anna.
Click here to view the embedded video.
In my book, you should never give up great love for a resume (but you’ll have to watch this movie to find out what Josh decides). If you want to some help finding great love, give us a call for Life Coaching and/or Dating Coaching. And go see The Romantics when it comes out in theaters. You don’t want to miss the romantic twists at this wedding on Long Island.

© Liz H. Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010

Great Life Great Love is about building a Great Life to attract Great Love. Since my passions are talking about love and movies, Sundance is my perfect match. To spice up your life, we went on a hunk hunt to capture these photos plus a special video interview with Lee Dahlberg. By taking more chances, most celebrities were open to talking after a movie, at the ski lodge and on Main Street. From Adrien Grenier (Entourage) to Tate Taylor (Winter’s Bone), the stars were out promoting their latest work in Park City.

Hot Hunk 1 – Taylor Nichols

We ran into Taylor at Flanigan’s Inn on Main Street with friends. He told us about his movie, Metropolitan, that was having an anniversary showing at Sundance. You recognize Taylor from CSI, 24, Grey’s Anatomy and many movies (The American President, Barcelona)

Hot Hunk 2 – Adrien Grenier

Adrien was at Sundance to promote his documentary, Teenage Paparazzo. We took this photo on the red carpet at the Creative Coalition Spotlight Awards dinner. You’ve seen Adrien play Mark Walberg ‘s studly character on Entourage.

Hot Hunk 3 – Lee Dahlberg

Inbetween his TV pilot shoots in Hawaii, we interviewed Lee Dahlberg at the Deer Valley Ski Lodge about the special Rose Quartz (aka the Love Stone) Rock Band that he designed to honor his mother. Lee has been seen in Bachelor Party 2, and his rock band was worn by Sarah Jessica Parker on Sex and the City. We love his Rock Bands and support his charity: http://www.leatherrockbands.com
Click here to view the embedded video.

Hot Hunk 4 – Tate Taylor

Tate played the Sheriff in Winter’s Bone, which won the top Sundance Dramatic Award (Precious won this award last year so watch for this film next Oscar season). We ran into him in the Eccles Theatre lobby after the premiere. You know Tate from Six Feet Under, and he was the Director/Writer/Producer of Pretty Ugly People.

Hot Hunk 5 – Kevin Sorbo

We ran into Kevin at the Wow Gift Lounge at Sundance. You probably know him as Hercules, or as a regular on The OC. Kevin is a Sundance regular, and it’s always great to bump into him.

Stay tuned for more Great Love Reports and Great Love Reviews with the love lessons from the big screen on Great Life Great Love, http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com

**** All photographs are copyrighted by Liz H. Kelly. Please email liz@greatlifegreatlove.com for permission to use any of the website photographs.

© Liz H. Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http:/www.greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010

If you’re ready for a great love escape to Ireland, check out the romantic comedy, Leap Year with Amy Adams (Anna), Matthew Goode (Declan) and Adam Scott (Jeremy). While Anna is on a mission to propose to her boyfriend, Jeremy, who is on a business trip in Dublin, she runs into twists and turns that will surprise and entertain you. Anna’s quest is based on an Irish tradition that women can propose on Leap Day, February 29th. Sound good?

What we learned about love in this movie is that finding true love is not about having an agenda. While it’s great that Anna takes a leap of faith to propose to her boyfriend, it feels more like something on a checklist versus from the heart. You want to leave room for spontaneity and sparks in your life and relationships.
Click here to view the embedded video.

Irish Spontaneity and Sparks

1. Get Creative - When Anna’s plane from Boston to Dublin gets detoured to Wales, and then delayed due to a storm, she gets creative by hiring a boat to take her across the sea to the cliffs of Ireland. Anna’s plan did not include landing in a small town with one bar and bed and breakfast – both run by Declan.

2. Take Timeouts for Treasures – When Anna hires Declan to take her to Dublin; she is so focused on her schedule that she almost misses the treasures. When Declan asks Anna to check out Dunamase Castle with him, she resists because she doesn’t want to miss their train. When Anna finally goes, it’s a spectacular view.

3. Take the Kiss Test – It’s so true that a kiss tells all. In my first book, Smart Man Hunting, you’ll find a Kiss Test that can define the chemistry for a couple. Watch the kisses in this movie for a magical moment. When you’re looking for love, listen to your heart first and make plans second.

When Anna finally gets to Dublin, there are even more surprises. This great love story movie gets 4 stars in my book. If you want to get a jumpstart on your Great Love journey, contact us for Life Coaching and/or Dating Coaching. Everyone deserves spontaneity, sparks and Great Love!

© Liz H. Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010

What are the Dos and Don’ts for Social Media Sites when trying to build relationships? It’s getting pretty tricky when you start mixing business and pleasure online with your updates. You really have to think twice before posting on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin because they’re so different.

Based on my Dating Coaching and Social Media Marketing experience, here are 10 New Social Media Relationships Rules to guide you through the maze.

10 Social Media Relationship Building Rules

Relationship Building Dos

1. Be short, positive and informative in your posts on Facebook. Share helpful information to become a hero versus noise. If you want to promote a product, share it with tips or a joke versus a blaring announcement.

2. Invite conversations on Facebook and Twitter that people can relate too. No one wants to just read about you. Instead, ask people for opinions on movies, the latest news or sports teams that have mass appeal.

3. Keep Twitter posts even shorter (140 character limit) and share information with broad mass appeal because your posts will get picked up on Google. People would much rather read posts about the latest trends over your trip to the gym.

4. Build relationships with other experts in your field on Twitter by Re-tweeting their posts, list friends in your #FollowFriday tweets and thank tweeters for mentions regularly to build relationships on Twitter.

5. Tie Linkedin posts to your business goals versus vacations. Join discussion groups tied to your speciality to build career connections. You’re last place to look for dates should be LinkedIn!

Relationship Building Don’ts

6. Leave your ex baggage off Facebook. No one needs to know and it just makes you look bad. I advised one dating coaching client to take a Facebook time out until she got over the anger of a breakup.

7. To protect your privacy, don’t post your personal phone number or email on Facebook. You never know who might read it. Similar to what I recommend for internet daters, give an alternate email and business number instead of a home number.

8. Don’t post a relationship status on Facebook unless you are married. If you are dating, this is too much information And if you break up, it gets really awkward to change your status to say you are no longer in a relationship with “Tom.”

9. Because Twitter goes to the masses on Google posts, do not be as casual as you would on Facebook. The world just not need to know about your personal life online.

10. Because LinkedIn is for professional networking, do not post casual, personal updates. The first place recruiters go today is Linkedin so keep you profile and updates in the boardroom.

It’s like the wild wild west with everyone trying to figure out the best way to use social networking sites to build relationships. If you want more tips on social media, you can follow me on Twitter @lizhkelly or visit my PR and Marketing consulting site, Sunrise Road Media.

If you want to join the discussion on this topic, please post a Comment and/or come to the Thurs, Jan 14, 2010 Social Media Club LA Event about how Dating and Relationships are merging with Social Media.

Happy Posting, Tweeting and Relationship Building Online!

© Liz H. Kelly, Great Life Great Love & Sunrise Road Media, http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010

If you love mysteries, London, and Big Ben, then Sherlock Holmes can take you there. However, if you’re looking for romance in this film, it’s even more of a mystery to find for Sherlock (Robert Downey Jr), Watson (Jude Law), Irene (Rachel McAdams) and Mary (Kelly Reilly). The biggest love lesson in this movie is avoid falling for a mystery man who is totally obsessed with work. Below are 3 romance clues that signal trouble based on this movie.

Romance Clues that should make you Run!

1. Watch out for Mystery Men with Mixed Messages

While we all love a little intrigue, Sherlock is so nonchalant about love that he becomes dangerous. When Irene notices her photo framed on his desk, he does not even flinch. Even though there is clearly sexual chemistry, Sherlock chooses to avoid any acknowledgement of feelings. He’s so busy playing detective that he gives Irene mixed messages. If a guy is ready for a relationship, he will not let you get away, and especially twice.

2. Avoid Lovers with Obsessed Business Partners

Not only does Sherlock mess up his love life, he tries to destroy Watson’s engagement to Mary several times. It’s no surprise when Mary throws a glass of red wine at Sherlock at dinner. If you find yourself competing with your love’s business partner, try setting boundaries. If that doesn’t work, cut your losses.

3. Three Strikes and That’s Enough

When Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) tries to conquer London, Sherlock, Watson and Irene team up to trump him. When Irene confesses to Sherlock that he is the one way that Lord Blackwood knew how to get to her, Sherlock has a stone face response. Ok, that’s it. Hasn’t Irene had enough of this Mystery Man?

You’ll need to watch the movie to see if Watson’s romance with his fiancée Mary survives. While a Sherlock sequel is likely, romance will probably not be a priority. If you’re ready for a relationship and tired of dating the wrong partners, contact Great Life Great Love for Life Coaching and/or Dating Coaching. We’re here to help you build a Great Life to attract your Great Love.

© Liz H. Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010

We had a great time talking Dating and Relationships with a group of fun industry experts and me (Author of Great Life Great Love series, Dating Coach and PR/Social Media Marketing Consultant at the Social Media Club of Los Angeles on Thursday, Jan 14, 2010 from 7-10pm at 12th & Highland in Manhattan Beach, CA. Exactly one month before Valentine’s Day, we discussed internet dating trends and how social media is changing the love game online.

Did you know January is the biggest month for internet dating memberships? Live from a park bench in NYC, below is a Great Love Review video (filmed recently in Dec 2009) of the movie You’ve Got Mail with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan to get you on the right track for 2010 with your Internet Dating Profiles. We’ll share more tips with experts on your Facebook, Twitter and MySpace Profiles at the Social Media Club LA event.

Panelists

Liz H. Kelly (@lizhkelly) is a Relationship Expert, Great Love Reporter for the Ultimate Movie Site and Author of Smart Man Hunting who puts a new spin on relationships with love lessons from Hollywood Movies and Happy Hearts in her Great Life, Great Love series (Http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com). In her second life, Liz is a PR and Social Media Marketing Consultant, Sunrise Road Media (http://www.sunriseroadmedia.com), who used to work for MySpace running their biggest advertising campaigns. You can follow her updates and dating tips on Twitter @lizhkelly

Linda Sherman (@lindasherman) is a Social Media Marketing Consultant with a solid background in corporate marketing and finance. She set up Coors Japan and was responsible for creating and executing a unique and successful marketing and sales strategy for ZIMA that is still sustained as a premium brand there today. Linda managed 500+ employees as CEO of Club Med Japan. Linda’s current clients include http://SingularCity.com where she is acting Community Manager. Linda’s company is http://couragegroup.com. Her blog is http://ItsDifferent4Girls.com.

Julie Spira (@juliespira)
Julie Spira is known world-wide as The Cyber-Dating Expert™ and is the author of “The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online.” She is the host of “Ask the Cyber-Dating Expert Radio Show” and has been featured on FOX News, BBC, Men’s Health, KTLA, and the Los Angeles Business Journal for her expertise in online dating. Julie is the LA Dating Advice Columnist on Examiner.com and a contributor to The Huffington Post. She currently holds the position of Executive VP/Director of Social Media for Brandloft – a marketing and branding firm. Visit her at http://CyberDatingExpert.com and http://SocialMediaMore.com

Evan Marckatz (@evanmarckatz)
A combination of Dr. Drew and Adam Carolla, he has traveled cross-country with his powerful, laugh-out-loud observations on dating. Whether addressing a ballroom of singles at the Washington Hilton or running a series of seminars for JDate at Club Med, Evan shows that there’s no contradiction between education and entertainment.

Analis Flox (@avflox)
A.V. Flox is the editor of Sex and the 405, a sex news site, as well as a sex and relationships columnist for BlogHer, the leading women’s network on the web. A geek at heart, she got her start on the web in the 90s, and has been using it to her advantage in dating since. She has written several articles about using technology to connect with potential matches and swears by Twitter (How To Get Laid With Twitter for lalawag, How To Get Noticed By A Chick On Twitter for Manolith), but she’s also aware of how the web is changing our interactions (Online or Alienated? for BlogHer) and that constant connection and lifestreaming can also lead to complications in established relationships (The Disconnect In The Age of Ambient Awareness, and Go F*cking Blog About It on her blog). Digital has collided into analog–for better or worse. Let’s play.

Dating + Relationships Panel Questions
1. Why is January the biggest month for internet dating? What are the new trends for 2010?
2. How is social media changing the rules of dating? (exs as friends, people who you meet on Match.com checking out your FB profile, how to use Fan Pages for people who are not really friends)
3. What new types of humor and actions are happening with social media and relationships (ie proposals on twitter, marriage status changed on FB during wedding, wedding videos on youtube, etc)
4. How are social media sites now monetizing dating and relationship services? (FB is now partnering with a dating site – need to get name)
5. How is mobile changing the way singles interact? Dating apps? (Julie can take the lead on this question – Liz can also answer – GPS, everything is real time)
6. How can you build a community online for dating and relationships
7. What is the best way to manage your online personality and perceptions in your profile, photos and tweets? (personal branding, photos, messaging, tone, videos, etc)
8. What advice can you share for a first date for guys – and for girls?
9. What internet dating and social media conferences do you recommend?
10. Where do you see internet dating and social media going in 5 years?

RSVP on this Facebook page Dating & Relationships: The Game Has Changed

Venue Info
12th & Highland, Manhattan Beach CA 90266
Contact: geoffabrown@gmail.com / 310.418.4347 for sponsorship or speaker requests.