Situationships 101: How to Tell If You’re In One

You’re texting all day, hanging out on weekends, maybe even sleeping over… but if someone asked what you are, you’d freeze. Not because you don’t like them — but because you honestly don’t know the answer.

Welcome to the world of the situationship.

It’s that gray area between casual dating and a relationship. It’s fun… until it’s not. At first, it feels so exciting, all flirty energy, no heavy conversations. But after a while, the uncertainty starts to feel less like freedom and more like confusion.

So how do you know if you’re in one? Let’s break it down.

1. You’ve Never Defined the Relationship

The national anthem of the situationship is: “We’re just seeing where it goes.”

If you’ve been “seeing each other” for months and there’s still no clarity on what you are, that’s a sign.

Casual dating can move forward into something more — a situationship just… stalls. It’s like circling the block over and over without ever finding a parking spot.

2. It’s Consistent… But Only to a Point

They text, they call, they hang out — but it’s never in a way that deepens the connection.
Dates are more like hangouts. Weekend plans? Sure. Meeting their friends or family? Absolutely not.

It’s giving “I like you enough to spend time with you” but not “I want to integrate you into my life.”

3. The Effort is Just Enough to Keep You Around

Situationships thrive on “breadcrumbing” — giving you just enough attention so you won’t walk away, but never enough to truly commit.

They’ll call you “babe” but never ask you to be their girlfriend/boyfriend. They’ll make you feel special one week, then disappear the next. It’s inconsistent — but the highs are just high enough to keep you hooked.

4. The Future is Always Vague

Bring up “What are we?” and suddenly they’re changing the subject or making a joke.

Future plans are next weekend, not next year. They’ll talk about wanting to go on vacation “someday” but never actually book the flights. You start to feel like you can’t even bring up commitment without “ruining the vibe.”

5. You Feel the Uncertainty More Than the Fun

In the beginning, the situationship feels electric — the freedom, the excitement, the not-knowing. But eventually, the lack of clarity stops feeling cute and starts feeling heavy.

If you catch yourself feeling more anxious than happy, more confused than secure, it’s a sign the situationship is running its course.

The Takeaway:

In your mid-twenties, you don’t have time to waste. Go for what you want and communicate it clearly. If they’re not giving you that, it’s your cue to look in another direction.

If these signs feel familiar, you’ve got two choices:

1. Ask for clarity and see where they stand.

2. Walk away and make space for someone who’s sure about you.

Either way, you win — because nothing is more attractive than knowing what you want and not being afraid to ask for it. 🥂

Not convinced yet? Let’s put it to the test — your results might just spill the tea.

5 Reasons Why First Dates Should ALWAYS Be Over Drinks… (Even an Iced Coffee)

Dinner on a first date? Risky. Movies? Even worse. But coffee at 2 p.m. or wine at 7? That’s where the magic is.

Hear me out: the best first dates happen over drinks. Not because you need alcohol (A mocktail or a Diet Coke are just as effective), but rather because there’s something about sitting across from someone with a drink in hand that makes conversation flow easier, chemistry easier to spot, and bad dates easier to escape.

Here’s 5 reasons why:

1. Low Commitment, Low Pressure

Here’s the thing — drinks are short. If there’s no spark, you can politely finish your latte, thank them for meeting you, and be on your way in 30 minutes. Dinner? You’re stuck for at least an hour and have to wait until the bill comes, silently praying your food arrives faster so you can make a quick exit.

Case in point: my best friend once went on a dinner date with a guy that she knew 15 minutes in, it wasn’t going anywhere. They ordered a margarita pitcher — romantic in theory, right? Except he poured himself a glass and didn’t pour her one. It might seem like a simple gesture, but in my eyes it's a big one! So, my friend poured her own glass and sat there watching him sip away until the food came, trying to make conversation while mentally planning her escape. When the bill finally arrived, he suggested they split it. That was her first and last date with him.

2. The Atmosphere is More Relaxed

First dates can feel like interviews, and no one wants to feel like they’re applying for the role of “girlfriend.” Drinks break that tension. Coffee shops feel cozy and casual, cocktail bars feel a little more exciting, and wine bars give you that instant “we’re sophisticated but fun” energy.

The setting matters. Lighting matters. Music matters. Even the way the drinks are served can set the tone. 

For example, Brewology is always one of my go to spots whether it's for a date, or to catch up with my best friend. The vibe is unmatched: cozy lighting, great music, amazing coffee and espresso martinis that don't miss. It's the kind of place where, even if the person across from you isn't “the one”, you’re still guaranteed a good time. 

3. You Can See Chemistry Fast

There's just something about sitting across from someone with a drink in hand that invites a little flirtation. With drinks, you’re focused on each other — no menu stress, no awkward bites mid-sentence. You’re watching body language, making eye contact and figuring out if the conversation flows naturally. Drinks create the little moments where chemistry can flow naturally without the pressure of a big, formal date. 

You can tell a lot in 45 minutes over a cappuccino or a glass of wine. Is there laughing? Are there follow-up questions? Does he seem present? Is he glued to his phone? And yes… does he make sure your drink is filled before his own? Those little actions matter.

4. The Built-In Exit (or Extension) Plan

One drink gives you an easy out. If you’re not feeling it, you can wrap up naturally: “This was fun, I have an early morning tomorrow.” Done. No awkward looking around, waiting for the check.

If you are feeling it? That’s when it can get exciting  — “Want to grab another round?” becomes “Want to check out that place down the street?” and suddenly you’ve turned a 30-minute coffee date into a three-hour adventure.

And let’s be real… the drink date also lets you see how they handle the bill. My personal rule? If he doesn’t pick up the tab on the first date, there’s no second date. It’s not about the money — it’s about the gesture. Call me old school, but the first date is about showing genuine effort. If he’s not willing to invest in the smallest way, he’s probably not going to invest in bigger things down the road.

5. It Shows Their Social Side

Maybe it's just the waitress in me, but how someone treats the bartender, handles a busy Friday night crowd, and how they tip says a lot. 

A drink date gives you a front row seat to your dates manners, patience and how comfortable they are in a social setting. If they're rude to the staff, or glued to their phone, BIG red flag. If they're friendly and engaged, it's a green light!

The In Between Sips Takeaway

The best first dates aren’t always the fanciest — they’re the ones where you feel comfortable enough to be yourself, laugh a little louder, and lose track of time between sips. No matter what your choice of drink is, drinks set the perfect stage for connection.

So skip the awkward dinner commitment and opt for something simple. The right person will make it feel anything but simple. And if they pick up the tab? Even better. 🥂

More Than Just A Sip…

I used to think life was all about the big moments: the job offers, the breakups, the butterflies.

But lately, I’ve started to wonder… what if the real magic happens somewhere in between?

Like over a perfectly timed coffee with your best friend, where you end up deep diving into each other’s dating lives.
Or during that second cocktail when you finally admit how you really feel about him.
Or on a random Tuesday night when you get dressed up with nowhere to go, just to talk about everything and nothing over wine.

Right now, I’m in one of those mid 20s in-between phases — not quite in the next chapter, no longer in the last. This blog is my way of pressing pause — of romanticizing the mess, the magic, and all the conversations that make life interesting.

When I think about the moments that have shaped me most, they all have one thing in common: they happened in between sips, whether over coffee, a cocktail, a mocktail, or an ice cold Coke.

It’s the family dinners filled with laughter, passed plates, and “cheers” to whatever we’re celebrating that night.
It’s date nights with my boyfriend, where one glass of wine turns into hours of dreaming, and planning.
It’s long afternoons with my best friend, sipping on an iced coffee, a lot of “exacctlyyyy” and solving every relationship problem in the world — or at least think we are.

These are the moments I hold onto — the ones that seem ordinary at the time but somehow become the stories we tell for years.

That’s what In Between Sips is all about.

It’s not just a blog — it’s a girlfriend group chat you can join anytime. A place to talk about love, dating, friendship, and figuring out life without taking it too seriously. Sometimes it’s a story, sometimes it’s advice, and sometimes it’s just a reminder that you’re not the only one overthinking a text.

It’s everything fun, but also everything real — the kinds of things we’d talk about if we were sitting across from each other, lattes in hand or wine glasses half full.

So whether it’s coffee, a cocktail, a mocktail, or even a Diet Coke — welcome. 🥂

The best stories are rarely planned… more often, they start in between sips.

Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.