If you've read the MIRL blog before, you know that our site's founders set up Meet in Real Life for some pretty selfish reasons: we wanted new friends who shared our interests! All of us had great friends, mind you, but we all wanted new friends and activity partners in our area who we could go out and mountain bike, sail, work out, jog or hike with. Finding new people in this manner just did not seem possible on the various other social networking sites we are part of.

Of course, we all have friends from work or school, some of us have roommates, and I've even met some great people out at the bar! But one of the best ways to make new friends is online.

Here are some tips that have worked for me when making new friends:

Make a Plan. Tell your potential friend that you're going to get a pedicure on Sunday, or are going mountain biking this Friday, and ask if she wants to come along. Your friendship will kick off more quickly if you suggest an actual event and day. Lunch or meeting for an early morning coffee to "pick her brain" about some topic she's an expert on and you'd like to learn can be low-commitment ways to kick off a friendship, especially an online one. Once you get to know each other a little better you can pursue your mutual interests or introduce each other to your significant other(s).

Keep Your Plans, and Don't Be Late! This is SO important, especially the first few times you meet up with someone new. Canceling at the last minute or running chronically late sends the message, “I'm more important than you.” If you have a friend date, especially if it's one-on-one, don't cancel at the last minute unless it's a dire emergency. Call your friend as soon as you know you might be running late, and try hard to never let yourself be late twice. Your friends have lives too, and have probably moved their calendars around to accommodate you.

Be Persistent. If the people you approach about a potential friendship seem too busy at first, keep in mind that persistence (within reason) often pays off. Ladies, remember that guy who asked and asked, called and called, and eventually you broke down and went out with him? He was probably pretty laid back and low-pressure with his requests, and they didn't come often, but often enough that you knew he was sincerely interested. This bears out in friendships too. Almost everyone I know LOVES being invited to dinners, movies, parties, whatever. Most will probably be very happy, even flattered, that you asked. Keep it light.

Follow the Rules of Conversation. Be mindful and abide by a "give-and-take" conversational style: ask about her, let her talk for a while, she asks about you – and so on. Just as on a date with the opposite sex, never share your personal crises with a friend you're just getting to know. And never, ever gossip! This means don't talk disparagingly about someone who is not present to defend themselves. You truly never know when someone might be a mutual friend or acquaintance. Remember that gossips cannot be trusted: when someone trash-talks others, you can be sure they will be quick to divulge your confidences as well. This goes for both you and that new person you are getting to know.

Agree to Disagree. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it. Don't always weigh in with your opinion if the topic doesn't affect you. Just be a friend.

Become a Student of Relationships. This point will help you in all aspects of life, from family dynamics to your career to your friendships, new and old. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I highly recommend starting with the classic sales book "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie. His principles are just as useful today as when the book was published in 1937! His key points are summarized well on this website:

How to Win Friends and Influence People Summary

Another excellent resource is KeithFerrazzi.com. Keith's "check your ego at the door" advice is focused on business success, but there are some great take-aways for relationships of all kinds. I especially like his "principle of generosity": deciding to help with no expectation of payback or attachment to outcome. How refreshing!

In short, abide by this golden rule of friendship and all good things will come to you. "Be the kind of friend you want to have," and you'll have friends for life.

We are so excited about the success of our site! For those of you new to MIRL, the founders of this site are real people who wanted to create a place online where we could connect with and meet people with similar hobbies and interests. I wanted to post a brief description of what we're all about and how to use MIRL most effectively.

MIRL is not a social networking site - MIRL is for people looking to meet others with similar interests, platonic and romantic, through activity posts and event suggestions.

MIRL makes it easy to connect with someone new or try a new activity every now and then, and we're not looking to keep you here for long periods of time. You won't find games or anything intended to waste your time here. The whole intention of our site is to help our users find someone with a mutual interest, make a connection, and Meet in Real Life offline. What a concept!

We do our best to filter out those "scary" folks you might run into on some of the other sites. If you run into any of them, please let us know - this is YOUR community, let's keep it clean! MIRL is enjoyed by couples, married folks and singles alike looking to find new friends and connect with existing ones. Anyone looking for anything related to NSA, for example, will likely have their profile flagged and deleted.

The perfect post on MIRL suggests a specific activity the user is interested in. For example, "Looking for After Work Running Buddy in Chevy Chase, MD" or "Have Extra Ticket to U2 Concert at Verizon Center" are excellent examples of MIRLs that will get noticed. Being specific helps others find you, and helps you connect with new friends quickly and easily.

So get posting, and get out there! You'll be glad you did.

For those of us with young children, spring can't come quickly enough! While you are waiting for temps to get warm enough for a playground playdate to work, why not consider getting together at an indoor gym, library, children's bookstore, or mall play area? Last week we hit the play area at our local mall (there's a Starbucks conveniently located within 25 yards of said play area - bonus!), and I had the pleasure of visiting my local Discovery Zone this week with my toddler. We had a great time! My friends in New Jersey told me about an indoor water park they visit with their little ones to help beat the winter blues.

Check out the web for places like My Gym, The Little Gym, or check out your local museum or nature center. Here is an online directory of indoor water parks listed by state for the more adventurous Moms out there. (Hint: your kid will DEFINITELY take his nap after a day at the water park!)

If you have a new or creative way to get out of the house and beat cabin fever, please share with the group by commenting here. Of course as a parent remember, safety first. These are public places, so be sure to do your homework before introducing your child to a new person for the first time. Use MIRL to set up a playdate with a new friend today!

You probably don't want to do this at your next tailgate party ...

... although it does make for a great story! Football season is here and so is tailgate madness. Tip of the week from Tailgating.com is to create your own laminated tailgating checklist so you never forget your all-important party supplies. JUMPER CABLES & TOILET PAPER should always be on that list!

Tailgating with friends is also a fantastic way to save money.

Gas isn't cheap, and parking can be in the neighborhood of $30 per car (Denver’s Mile High Stadium). As we at MIRL often say, the more the merrier! Pile in a car, split costs, share food and stake out that prime grilling space together.

Check with your alumni or professional association, who often offer discounts. For example, Vanderbilt alumni can get a $48 special to cheer on the Commodores. This includes a game ticket, food, soda and beer.

Beer can be great currency! If you're not grilling, try trading a few Buds for a spicy brat and save on those jacked up stadium prices.

Above all, have fun! Grab a few MIRLers, don your team colors and get out there! You'll be glad you did.