International Romance Author, Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku, provides advice on how to have a successful marriage, and the mistakes singles and married people make.
One World Singles Blog - One of The Winners of The 2017 Black Pearls Literary Excellent Awards
A Blog for people of all colors, ages (18+) religions, ethnicities, and lifestyles. Bringing you informative articles and advice on dating, romance, love, relationships, featured romance authors, virtual book tours, interviews, events, movie trailers, and so much more.
Monday, March 27, 2023
Monday, March 20, 2023
5 best international wedding destinations - Written by Sneha Das
These international destinations will offer you the perfect backdrop for a dreamy wedding.
Destination
weddings are on a roll ever since power couple Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli
got married in
Photo by Emily
Sherwood
Photo by Josh
Hild
Vail in
Photo by Thomas Ward
Photo by Elvis
Vasquez
Photo by Mikhail
Nilov
Monday, March 13, 2023
Great Mysteries, Thrillers and Suspense Written by Remarkable Storytellers By Vivienne Diane Neal
Following are stories that will leave you wanting more. To purchase, just click on the title. Enjoy!
Dr. Glass (A Psychological Thriller) by Louise Worthington - A psychologist receives an ominous letter base on an article she wrote regarding filicide.
The Wrong Kind (Hannibal Jones Mystery Series) by Austin S. Camacho - A mother, living in a shelter, hires a private investigator to find her missing daughter who may be in danger.
Looking for Henry Turner (A Mo Gold and Bernie Mysteries - Book 1) by W.L. Liberman - A mother hires two private investigators to find her son who has been missing for 8 years.
Liar, Liar by L.G. Davis - A promising writer, with a dark past, discovers her husband is having an affair and creates a diabolical plan that will have dire consequences.
Not Guilty by Linette King - A successful talk-show host believes her husband’s mother does not like her because of her race.
Blood Rites: Rise of the Best by C.Y. Marshall - An enslaved, husband transforms into an avenging entity when a brutal owner kills his wife.
Acts of Betrayal by Sekinah Jackson - After almost hitting a man with her car, a successful owner of a lip-gloss company becomes infatuated with him, believing she has met her soulmate.
Professor Law by Jonathan D. Rosen and Amin Nasser - A successful divorce attorney, found dead from an apparent suicide, may be just another victim of foul play.
Monday, March 06, 2023
How Indonesia's New Sex Laws will Affect Tourism
![]() |
Photo by Lalu Fatoni |
As the
COVID-19 pandemic subsides, international travelers have been going back to the
popular resort
Recently, the
parliament passed new laws banning cohabitation and sex outside of marriage.
The laws apply to residents, foreign expats, and vacationers in the country.
Although the
changes are not expected to kick in for at least another three years, the new
criminal code could put foreigners off visiting that country and hurt its
global reputation, starving it of vital tourism revenues.
A Turnaround for Travel Operators
“From our
point of view as tourism industry players, this law will be very
counterproductive for the tourism industry in
The new laws
are a response to rising religious conservatism in Muslim-majority
Indonesian
lawmakers have defended the new laws, saying they were an attempt to satisfy
“public aspiration” in a diverse nation. Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna
Laoly said that it was not easy for a multicultural and multi-ethnic country to
make a criminal code that “accommodates all interests.”
Winastra says
that the new laws caught him and others off guard because they felt the
government had been very enthusiastic about increasing foreign tourist
arrivals. “Now there will now be rules and laws that will burden tourists and
the industry,” he added. Like most major tourist hotspots around the world,
However, with
the pandemic in retreat, government and tourism industry officials had been
forecasting a healthy revival, potentially bringing in billions of dollars of
revenue for the Indonesian economy.
The World
Travel & Tourism Council, a global industry body, forecast annual growth of
10% for
Local guide
Ken Katut told CNN Travel he believed things were “progressing in the right
direction” in the tourism industry after G20 leaders held a summit in
What Now?
Under the new
criminal code, anyone – Indonesians or foreigners – found guilty of adultery or
premarital relations could face 12 months in jail. It is not yet clear how
these laws will be enforced.
“Do tourist
couples (visiting
“Now foreign
tourists will think twice about traveling to
Rights groups
have noted how the laws will disproportionately affect women and members of the
LGBTQ+ community, and added that they could “provide an avenue for selective
enforcement.”
Hotel
operators have also objected to the laws, saying it would be difficult for them
to enforce.
“Asking
couples if they are married or not is a very private area and it will be an
impossible task to do,” said Ida Bagus Purwa Sidemen, Executive Director of the
Indonesian Hotel & Restaurant Association (PHRI).
Sidemen feels that the Indonesian government will review the laws following a public backlash. “We just can’t be asking every couple about their legal marital statuses. It will create huge problems for us,” he said.
“But what is
going to happen to us now if the new laws scare tourists off? Will we go back
to how we were during the pandemic?”
Monday, February 27, 2023
Breakup Lines That Will Leave You Spinning By Miss Know It All
![]() |
Miss Know It All |
Breaking up with someone means the relationship is over. It is the end of a precious bond that you have put your heart and soul into maintaining. The ending can be a blessing in disguise or an upsetting occurrence. Either way, most of us have gone through a breakup and have heard some of the most baffling lines that people have used. With the onset of social media and various apps, the breakup has become even more outlandish. Maybe it is my age. There was a time when a telephone call, a face-to-face conversation, a Dear John Letter, or a note by snail mail would have sufficed.
What can be annoying are the reasons
folks give for breaking up. Some are hilarious while others are downright
confusing. Therefore, without further ado, the following are some breakup lines that
will leave you wondering, “What the devil was he or she really saying?”
![]() |
Photo by cottonbro |
It
is not you; it is I - This is one of the most commonly used
and very corny ways of saying. “I really did not want to tell you how exhausted
I am with our relationship, yet, I did not want you to feel terrible about it. Really?
I
need to focus on my profession right now - We all have thoughts about our careers, but that is something you should
have made clear before wasting each other’s time.
We
are better off as friends - I am a
firm believer that you should become friends first before getting into a
serious relationship, but what this really means is that the person is not
really into you. This is one way of saying, “I am a friend zoning you and do
not wish to date you. I really see you as one of my associates.”
![]() |
Photo by Vlada Karpovich |
I am not ready for commitment - These words are just bad. If being in a committed relationship is not your aspiration, do not make it a reason for not wanting to put the effort into maintaining that relationship.
I
do not want to hurt you - Unless you
are a sadist or masochist, I cannot see anyone wanting to be in a tactless
relationship. After all, love is not supposed to hurt.
![]() |
Photo by Jack Sparrow |
I think we are moving too quickly - The message means the person is not planning to be with you for long and is likely seeing someone else.
You
deserve better - The individual
should have realized that before forming a relationship.
These are just some of the breakup
lines tossed on social media. If you know of any breakup lines that left you
reeling, send them to info@oneworldsinglesblog.net
and we will post them soon.
Monday, February 20, 2023
News for Travelers
![]() |
Photo by RODNAE Productions |
News from Travel Noire
You Can Now Buy Your Own Private Jet Membership at Costco - Learn More
Dinner Reservations Just Got Easier, Thanks to Uber and Open Table - Learn More
![]() |
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko |
A Cautionary Tale Against Souvenir Stamps in Your Official Passport, What To Do Instead - Learn More
Lost Your ID Right Before Your Flight? Here's What To Do - Learn More
Photo by
Curtis Loy
Tips To Help You Navigate Your
Monday, February 13, 2023
Why African Marriages Break Up in the Diaspora
Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku, an international romance author, shares her reasons why African marriages break up in the Diaspora.
Monday, February 06, 2023
Bumble Reveals Dating Trends to Expect in 2023
You can say in 2022, dating has been a stormy ride. So what is in store for our love lives in 2023?
Photo by Abdullah
Alsaibaie
Over
the past year, relationship priorities have shifted, with people favoring
increased vulnerability and mindfulness, as well as giving sober (curious)
dating a whirl. A new trend called Winter Coating has emerged, whereby people
reach out to former partners and exes to rekindle an extinguished flame so they
will have someone to keep them warm during the winter. The cost of living is
also having a major impact on dating habits, with many opting for "cash
candid dating" — increased transparency over their finances (and money
worries) in the early stages of dating. Environmentally conscious singles are
opting for "green dating" and eliminating potential matches not
aligned with their views on climate change.
Dating
app Bumble has released its annual predictions for what we can expect in the
New Year. Warning, emotional needs are high on people's list of priorities.
Photo by cottonbro
studio
Naomi
Walkland, Bumble’s vice president for
New Year - New Men - In a survey of 14,300 Bumble users around the world,
seventy-four percent of men say they have looked inward and analyzed their own
behavior more than ever and have a clearer understanding of toxic masculinity.
The term toxic masculinity refers to a set of beliefs and behaviors, including
hiding your emotions or distress, using violence or "tough-guy"
behavior as a way of showing power, and exhibiting an appearance of
"hardness". Fifty-two percent of people on Bumble are actively trying
to challenge the gender stereotype men should not show emotions out of fear of
seeming "weak". Over a third (thirty-eight percent) of people now
talk about emotions more openly with male friends, and half of the men think that
dismantling gender roles in relationships and dating will benefit them.
Photo by Mikhail
Nilov
Guard Railing - Setting boundaries is essential in all kinds of relationships —
whether you have just started dating, you are at work, or in any other
situation involving interactions with other human beings. Sixty-three percent
of daters say they are clearer about emotional needs and boundaries, and
fifty-nine percent are more thoughtful and intentional about how they put
themselves out there, with fifty-three percent aiming to not over-commit to
socializing.
Love-life Balance - Many people have been redefining what work and professionalism mean to them in 2022. It makes sense, therefore, that people are also inspecting the values they seek in romantic partners. Looking good on paper and prioritizing professional success are not at the top of everyone's list these days. In what people are looking for in a partner, fifty-four percent of people surveyed care more about their work/life balance than their career status. One in ten people will no longer date someone who has a very demanding job, and fifty-two percent of people are actively trying to make more space for rest in their life.
Photo by Kampus
Production
Open Casting - One in three daters is now more open to considering dating beyond
their "type". In the
Ethical Sex-ploration - Let us talk about sex. Forty-three percent of daters are
navigating sex and intimacy in a more exploratory and open way, while
fifty-three percent believe it is paramount to express sexual wants and needs
early in a relationship. Over the past year, twenty percent of daters have
explored their sexuality more, and one in eight people are considering ethical non-monogamy.
These figures do not mean people are having more sex. However, in the
Photo by Ketut
Subiyanto
Wander Love - Thirty-three percent of people on Bumble is now more open to having
relationships with people not in their current city. With more jobs allowing
for flexible work arrangements and even "digital nomad" arrangements,
fourteen percent of daters have explored the prospect of becoming a digital
nomad and dating people from far-flung destinations.
Dating renaissance - Many of us know someone who had a pandemic breakup. Per
Bumble's data, thirty-nine percent of people on the dating app ended a marriage
or serious relationship within the past two years. These individuals are not
entering a second chapter — a renaissance if you will — and some of whom
(thirty-six percent) are using dating apps for the very first time.
If
2022 was anything to go by, we are in for more changes in 2023 — hopefully
positive ones, like those listed above.
Monday, January 30, 2023
Women Share What Made Their Valentine’s Day So Memorable
St. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. If you are still
wondering how to make this holiday memorable for that special person in your
life, we got you covered. The following women share what made their Valentine’s
Day unforgettable:
![]() |
Photo by Michelle Leman |
“People normally want to go all out for Valentine’s Day, but my
favorite dates ever have been the simpler ones. We made dinner, watched some
movies, and talked about how much we cared about each other. I even got him to
take the Love Languages test!” Ariti, age 32.
“A few years ago, my now-fiancé and I were planning a trip to
“My first actual date with my high school boyfriend was on
Valentine’s Day! Obviously, we did not really plan for it to be a V-Day date—it
just happened that way. However, he still showed up that night with a single
red rose for me. Some might call that a little over-the-top, but I thought it
was incredibly sweet.” Alexandra, age 26.
“My boyfriend and I rarely celebrate Valentine’s Day because our
anniversary is only a week later. But one year I wanted to do something
special, but still keep it low-key, so I ordered in a bunch of sushi and
surprised him with a little at-home V-Day date.”
“My ex and I both loved going out to eat. However, since we went out
to pleasant restaurants regularly, it would sometimes feel even more special to
spend a night in. On our first Valentine’s Day together, he cooked an amazing
meal for us at his place and we just enjoyed a romantic evening in.” Elissa, age
28.
“I have a major sweet tooth, which means my favorite V-Day tradition
is the post-Valentine’s Day candy sales! Regardless of what I do and/or who I
happen to be dating on the actual day, I always plan a full day of me-time for
the 15th, featuring as much discount chocolate as my heart desires.” Julia, age
32.
“We went to my favorite band’s small little venue concert, picked up
fish tacos on the way home, and baked cookies together that night.” Jaylon, age
21.
![]() |
Photo by Tim Samuel |
“This was, like, ultimate bougie, but my girlfriend and I went to an
all-inclusive resort in
“I found myself in a bit of a Situationship with this girl around
Valentine’s Day a couple of years ago and was not sure if we were official or
not, so I was not really expecting to celebrate V-Day with her. (I did not want
to get my hopes up.) Well, she ended up surprising me by not only making plans
with me but also cooking a very fancy dinner with pasta, bread, salad, and some
of my favorite desserts. Like, she did not cook regularly, so this was a Big
Deal. It was so sweet because it was her way of showing me she cared, and we
became official that night.” Michelle, age 25.
“My favorite Valentine’s Day was cooking a new recipe together (
“My best Valentine’s Day ever happened last year when I was single.
I had the ultimate ‘treat yourself’ day and got my favorite lunch, a mani-pedi,
and then bought my favorite coffee. Instead of being sad that I was alone, I
created an opportunity to celebrate the love I had for myself. I even made it a
promise to myself to do it every year. Even though I have a boyfriend this
year, I will still do it!” Catherine, age 25.
“My boyfriend jokingly used to complain how men don’t get the same
treatment as women on Valentine’s Day by receiving cards and chocolates, so I
surprised him by making an edible arrangement of bacon roses and gave it to him
in the morning before waking up so he could have breakfast in bed. I also gave
him a card where I wrote the biggest surprise of all: tickets to a helicopter
tour of our city. Ten years later, we are still together, got married, and that
is still one of the best Valentine’s Days we’ve ever had.” Rachel, age 29.
“Several years ago, my boyfriend at the time (now husband) earned
major points on Valentine’s Day. First, he dropped me off at a salon to get my
hair and nails done. Then he picked me up, brought me to his place, and made me
dinner. From there, we went to a comedy club and laughed the night away. It was
such a thoughtful date that I will remember forever.” Jacqui, age 28.
“The cutest Valentine’s Day idea that I had was making a time
capsule for our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple. In three years, we
get to open it up and we’ll get to relive so many glorious memories.” Alyssa, age
31.
“My partner’s birthday is the day after Valentine’s, and our
anniversary is just two weeks later, so for our first Valentine’s together, I
wanted to do something special. I am a firm believer in more is more, so I
surprised her with a trip to
![]() |
Photo by Marko Klaric |
“Last year, for Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend and I celebrated a little differently than most. We are both individually very serious about getting out of student loan debt in one to two years, so we added an extra couple hundred dollars onto our February debt payments so we could get that much closer to becoming debt-free. To me, it was so sweet because it’s so us!” Joanna, age 23.
“In college, my boyfriend went out and bought a bottle of champagne,
two glass champagne flutes, chocolates, and flowers for me. I got him cigars
and chocolate cigars. We still lived in the dorms, but his roommate had moved
out, so we took both mattresses and put them side by side on the floor to make
one giant super-bed. We drank champagne, ate lasagna, and watched A Walk to
Remember from the floor on the super-bed. All these years later, I still have
the boyfriend, the champagne flutes, and the cork from the bottle that night.
We use the flutes every Valentine’s Day.” Rebecca, age 26.
“We’re broke and in our early 20s, and we do not spend much
money. However, on Valentine’s Day, we like to go out to eat for dinner,
wherever we want, and buy whatever TF we want. Our normal $30 to $40 bill is
about $120 with multiple drinks, apps, main courses, and desserts. We just
treat ourselves, and I love every minute.” Santina, age 22.
“My girlfriend at the time surprised me with a staycation in our own
city. She booked a hotel downtown, reserved seats for us at the rooftop bar,
and had our bed decorated with rose petals and champagne when we returned.”
Alicia, age 36.
“The guy I was casually hooking up with—not even really
dating—surprised me by making a reservation at a trendy restaurant in our city.
The weather that day was extremely cold, but we layered on coats and went out,
anyway. When we got to the restaurant, they lost our reservation and did
not have any available for a few hours. We went to a dive bar around the corner, shared some beers, and had a super-laid-back dinner at a
restaurant with a prix fixe menu and open seating. It was all super, unexpected, and just being together, even if we were hungry and freezing, made me realize
this was significantly more than a hookup thing.” Caitlin, age 25.
“One of my favorite Valentine’s Day memories is when my boyfriend
made a home-cooked meal. He surprised me with a dozen roses, a giant fuzzy
heart with chocolate inside, and a handmade card. We had little money back
then, and he still lived with his parents, so he brought up a bunch of chairs
to his room and used his nightstand as our table. He also lit candles, put on
Frank Sinatra, and opened a bottle of Moët. We spent the rest of the night
watching the first movie we ever saw together and playing video games. It was
the best.” Riley, age 20.
“One year, my girlfriend surprised me with a super-romantic
wine-tasting tour. It was such a shock because I never even thought about wineries
being open during the colder months, but many are! We had such a fun time
getting tipsy and drinking delicious wine together, and then we took the train
home, watched a movie on our laptop, and had a nice dinner together. And I got
to be in bed early, which is honestly my favorite thing.” Sarah, age 27.
“You really can’t go wrong with breakfast in bed, which also is the
best Valentine’s Day I ever had. My husband makes me chocolate chip pancakes
with extra chocolate chips just the way I like them, and I do not get up until
![]() |
Photo by cottonbro studio |
“The best Valentine’s Day I’ve had was the first one with my boyfriend. We knew it was supposed to snow later that day, so we had to alter the plans we had previously made to go to an extravagant dinner at a fancy restaurant, instead went out to brunch, and spend the rest of the day at home. We exchanged gifts after brunch and spent the afternoon simply being together and enjoying our uninterrupted time. That night, we made a delicious dinner at home and watched many corny Valentine’s Day movies. It was perfect because it was simply us spending time together and enjoying the love between two people.” Rachel, age 21.
“We started the evening by cooking a meal together and it was
amazing. Getting to create something romantic together was beautiful. After we
finished dinner, he brought us to the same place where we had our first date,
“My long-distance boyfriend was too busy with his new job to visit
me regularly, but on Valentine’s Day, he mailed me a plane ticket and told me
to come and visit him. He even rented a hotel, so we could be alone without his
roommates. When we got there, he had laid roses all over the bed and there was champagne
and a fluffy robe. We ended up ditching dinner reservations and staying in all
night with room service. It was like a movie.” Amanda, age 21.
![]() |
Photo by RODNAE Productions |
“My girlfriend surprised me with a downtown tour of our city. It is
hilarious because we have both lived here our whole lives, but we got to see
the city from a tourist perspective and learned things we never knew. It was
cheesy, but that’s what made it so freaking fun.”
“My boyfriend at the time had left the cheesiest teddy bear in front
of my dorm room on Valentine’s Day along with a note that said, ‘I’ll pick you
up for dinner at 6. Dress warm!’ We ended up having a super-romantic peanut
butter and jelly sandwich dinner with a bottle of wine on this giant hill that
overlooks our campus. It was probably the sweetest date ever!” Kelly, age 20.
“My high school boyfriend asked me to come over to his house on
Valentine’s Day weekend to help him with chemistry homework, which I thought
was really weird because he was taking chemistry classes and I was obviously
not, but I didn’t hesitate to come by. I went to knock on his front door and
there was a note saying ‘walk in’ on it. I walked into his house and heard my
favorite sappy love song playing, and [there was] a huge trail of rose petals
leading into his living room, where he was sitting with all my favorite things.
There were candles, and Disney stuffed animals, and it was so romantic. Even though
we’re not still together, it will definitely be in my top Valentine’s Day
memories!” Jessica, age 21.
![]() |
Photo by Lisa Fotios |
“I was out of town on business for Valentine’s Day and it really bummed my boyfriend because he had this whole big thing planned. When I came home a week later, he ended up making a whole Valentine’s Day meal and celebration, anyway. He cooked steak and even bought a super-sweet cake that said ‘Happy (kind of) Valentine’s Day.’ He also got me flowers and chocolate. It was so sweet, especially because he sucks at keeping secrets and I did not know he was planning this.” Sally, age 23.
“Last year was the first Valentine’s Day my long-distance boyfriend
and I got to celebrate together in person. He came to visit me on Valentine’s
Day and we went on an amazing hike. When we got to the top of the mountain, it
had a beautiful view and we got to sit down and eat a late lunch together while
watching the incredible sunset. Before we hiked back down, he grabbed my hand
and told me he wanted to be together forever and gave me a promise ring. I was
so surprised!” Lauren, age 21.
“My boyfriend and I had made plans to go out for dinner, but we waited
too late to make reservations. He told me to leave it up to him and that he
would find us a place. The morning of Valentine’s Day, he showed up at my house
with roses, and bags full of groceries, and told me he was making me dinner instead
of going out. I was hesitant about his cooking because he had
never done it before, but it turned out pretty well. He made some yummy
enchiladas, and best of all, I did not even need to get dressed up. Afterward,
we cuddled and watched a movie. It wasn’t the most extravagant date, but it was
the sweetest.” Michelle, age 22.
“The most memorable Valentine’s Day was when I showed up at my
boyfriend’s house and he led me downstairs to his basement, where he’d prepared
an indoor picnic. He knew I was tired from my week and did not feel like going
out, so we stayed in. He does not really cook, so he went around buying all my
favorite foods from different restaurants like chicken and beef skewers, Indian
bread, and chicken Caesar salad. I was so surprised because I had never
actually told him my favorite foods, but he had figured it out from the times
we went out to eat. Then for dessert, he made chocolate-covered strawberries.
We ended the date by watching the movie we watched on our first date. It
brought back memories of when we first started dating and we were both so
nervous that we did not hold hands until the very end. There were no dimly lit
mood candles or expensive presents, but it made a lasting impression on my
heart.” Kim, age 21.
“My boyfriend’s birthday is only a couple of days before Valentine’s
Day, so usually we skip celebrating V-Day. A couple of years ago, we went up to
the
“I know it sounds so simple, borderline tacky, but the most
wonderful Valentine’s date I ever had was spent in a dorm room. We picked a
movie we both loved, and to surprise each other, we each ordered a Seamless
delivery with the food we thought the other would love most. It was lazy and
comforting, but still cute and romantic!”